tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59723422854688748542024-03-05T06:37:31.038-05:00Love Inspired AuthorsThis is the blog of authors of Harlequin's Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, and Love Inspired Historical lines.Shelley - Website Administratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08682753306317623482noreply@blogger.comBlogger1190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-58425577303235844072018-09-05T02:00:00.000-04:002018-09-05T02:00:04.927-04:00The Power of Story by Leann HarrisIt been a while since I posted and I'm excited to announce my latest novella, Going Home, is out. I signed up for this story a year ago, then was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. That story along with good dose of faith helped me get through the months of treatment. Having to type the story into the computer helped my hand movements and concentration. My heroine was faced some challenges herself, having quit her job as a CPA in Denver and go back to her family's ranch on the eastern plains of the state. Her mother had just died in a car accident, and no one in her family dealt well with the situation. Of course when you throw the hero into the mix, you have complications especially if he's your older brother's best friend. Nate could take it. It was a joy to write. Blizzards, being stuck at the hero's ranch with his parents, and being the one who kissed him first causing the uproar was fun.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9UGGqDvVHA0RmoVBwcpdhE_FKnO7DNd4Dooh77ZRmWjowqAUt0sm63nKYrm6ru0FULoEQVt3YjdNphtsgbxrwhjLYZ5AU3k_xd-ngtP1lGrzt3-ooPoqnR4r7TDSiloPsXGxbmqD7Ck/s1600/Going+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9UGGqDvVHA0RmoVBwcpdhE_FKnO7DNd4Dooh77ZRmWjowqAUt0sm63nKYrm6ru0FULoEQVt3YjdNphtsgbxrwhjLYZ5AU3k_xd-ngtP1lGrzt3-ooPoqnR4r7TDSiloPsXGxbmqD7Ck/s200/Going+Home.jpg" width="144" height="200" data-original-width="1153" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>Leann Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10840850473156676151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-16542135618377562842017-09-27T04:00:00.000-04:002017-09-27T04:00:27.433-04:00An Early Christmas Idea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-indent: 0in;">
<img height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrqZOJFFicdWfAVum2rICa508hnVNDZJsH_6XiCttJD9Vngz8dz8cq5aubDpHGT513_8bkBkRSlMM5Vugskm7TxKi3GS5D98bvk2pVTBWc0yt7SVeGli3QUTVVRC0cnMHiwvsY_Jh96kE/s200/Louise+M.+Gouge+photo.jpg" width="151" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Louise M. Gouge here with you today. When we authors create our characters, we try to make them likeable and relatable. So, since most of us have more than one thing we’re interested in, I like to give my heroes and heroines extra pastimes readers might relate to or appreciate, such as hobbies or talents beyond their job or career.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCvpQvZ51TfhUe72ncJwCemrrmgaHOP99ETZ2UtWpI9kEkRxx_U32zuY6uyPOSLbvySb7ZfKay6uC9AJ0nSiVYX9B4k3xZSAiGwmtCHXpv5EeDfrlTyJXPAB2w31xPSaloKJEYkKXCX5E/s1600/CLCR+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCvpQvZ51TfhUe72ncJwCemrrmgaHOP99ETZ2UtWpI9kEkRxx_U32zuY6uyPOSLbvySb7ZfKay6uC9AJ0nSiVYX9B4k3xZSAiGwmtCHXpv5EeDfrlTyJXPAB2w31xPSaloKJEYkKXCX5E/s200/CLCR+Cover.jpg" width="126" /></a>In my October release, <i><span style="font-family: "times new roman cyr" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Lawmans-Christmas-Reunion-Stones/dp/0373425430"><span style="color: blue;">Cowboy Lawman's Christmas Reunion</span></a></span></i>, my
hero is a no-nonsense small town sheriff who can cause outlaws to quake in
their boots. But he also has a talent for carving. Having enjoyed a Grand Tour of
Europe as a young man, he took particular notice of the German displays of toy Christmas
villages. In my story, he sets out to delight the hearts of his hometown’s
children by carving a similar village for them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
It’s quite an ambitious project, and all the while he’s working on it, he
has an ongoing conflict with the beautiful widow lady who was once his fiancée.
So, of course, I had to give her a talent for painting the delicate houses,
church, trees, and people he has carved. The village must be finished by the annual
Christmas pageant and party at the church, so this puts them together quite a
bit, even though neither of them wants to be. Will they finish the project in
time? And will they discover being together is not such a bad thing? I hope you’ll
read <span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"> <i><span style="font-family: "times new roman cyr" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Lawmans-Christmas-Reunion-Stones/dp/0373425430"><span style="color: blue;">Cowboy Lawman's Christmas Reunion</span></a></span></i> </span><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis">to find out.</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1Uw1Z3SQPymsFtc80c5lUoq2t2DNdtRJbqitJjyhK8SXdBJWEc-mlkv75rxByxGmP8zSVeam6JukCMw38iBxfdI1e5sVhd7O6mIY5X7EQjlzVHATGjNWYxd2m4bX3EVjmEeK6vjT0dR_/s1600/Decorative_Christmas_village_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1200" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1Uw1Z3SQPymsFtc80c5lUoq2t2DNdtRJbqitJjyhK8SXdBJWEc-mlkv75rxByxGmP8zSVeam6JukCMw38iBxfdI1e5sVhd7O6mIY5X7EQjlzVHATGjNWYxd2m4bX3EVjmEeK6vjT0dR_/s320/Decorative_Christmas_village_3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
In trying to find pictures of very old toy villages, I ran into the usual
problem of copyrights, but I did find this lovely little village that offered
free use. Isn’t it a delight? The lights that brighten it would not have been
available in 1887 when Sheriff Justice Gareau carved his small town, but I know
the children and adults were just as delighted in their time. Perhaps if they
were careful, they could use candles, as they did on Christmas trees back then.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk494102065"></a><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Decorative_Christmas_village_3.JPG"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Decorative_Christmas_village_3.JPG</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;">, </span></span><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Juliancolton" title="User:Juliancolton"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-size: 9.0pt;">Julian
Colton</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-size: 9.0pt;">:</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.0pt;">I, the copyright holder of this work,
release this work into the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:public_domain" title="w:en:public domain"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: #663366; font-size: 9pt;">public domain</span></b></a><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.0pt;">.
This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if
so: <i>I grant anyone the right to use this work <b>for any purpose</b>,
without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
Here are links to other lovely villages: <a href="http://alfa-img.com/show/lemax-christmas-village.html">http://alfa-img.com/show/lemax-christmas-village.html</a>
and <a href="http://vitalsignsblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/perfect-place-for-christmas-village.html">http://vitalsignsblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/perfect-place-for-christmas-village.html</a>.
If you click on the links, be sure to check out the details of these beautiful creations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNY7CvxTM9uUjpdnIVgypFchcYlvn4K9zh2nHu3LOY5_zxHJiNRgb2kTRkF6eTBfIMW3rT992m6BxDdECT66y83CCANheoUTYtYMKVU4diY843k4VIaKj0AkIp6uSwREx3yL3xUR2Pn1RX/s1600/Carved+church+interior.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNY7CvxTM9uUjpdnIVgypFchcYlvn4K9zh2nHu3LOY5_zxHJiNRgb2kTRkF6eTBfIMW3rT992m6BxDdECT66y83CCANheoUTYtYMKVU4diY843k4VIaKj0AkIp6uSwREx3yL3xUR2Pn1RX/s200/Carved+church+interior.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rfo43_QaIFp2Bswb8MQawcD5iYDM-jhElCO-rfElqTqBaagOcXXc-pyGeqFwku_sMgPFHao3UcYP5cfB6FUr2-k8h9hJWlQRTHNGDuvKEeOGRR6REFEcfxhe34n9wcFyW3JsdtxOVTAB/s1600/Carved+Church+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rfo43_QaIFp2Bswb8MQawcD5iYDM-jhElCO-rfElqTqBaagOcXXc-pyGeqFwku_sMgPFHao3UcYP5cfB6FUr2-k8h9hJWlQRTHNGDuvKEeOGRR6REFEcfxhe34n9wcFyW3JsdtxOVTAB/s200/Carved+Church+3.JPG" width="200" /></a>Finally, my daughter-in-law has this lovely carved church she sets out
each Christmas. Notice the details inside. This was an inspiration to me as I
wrote about my carving sheriff.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="text-indent: 0in;">At our house, we love Christmas and all of the trappings. We have about
fifteen Nativity scenes we display, but I’ll save those picture for another
time. Do you have any special decorations you put up for Christmas?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
Tell me about your Christmas decorations in the comment section below,
leave your email address, and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a copy of <i><span style="font-family: "times new roman cyr" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Lawmans-Christmas-Reunion-Stones/dp/0373425430"><span style="color: blue;">Cowboy Lawman's Christmas Reunion</span></a></span><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis">.</span></i><span class="MsoSubtleEmphasis"> Sorry, U.S. residents
only.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtA_XpeCYzHhqxo9GXUhDzrZy_UBqt1658jo1yNQmL0tj2SuItfgGM2M4MT6Rzcztef0ByciF4c44gU-4mPH3s4-BNgX0b-GBd2TXaX8XWOG92fScb7qR9uvI5Wz2ZEl7xvOnQp4cMEQR/s1600/15th+book+badge+from+Harlequin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtA_XpeCYzHhqxo9GXUhDzrZy_UBqt1658jo1yNQmL0tj2SuItfgGM2M4MT6Rzcztef0ByciF4c44gU-4mPH3s4-BNgX0b-GBd2TXaX8XWOG92fScb7qR9uvI5Wz2ZEl7xvOnQp4cMEQR/s200/15th+book+badge+from+Harlequin.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman cyr" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Lawmans-Christmas-Reunion-Stones/dp/0373425430" style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Cowboy Lawman's Christmas Reunion</a><i style="color: blue;"> </i>is my fifteenth novel to be published by Love Inspired Historicals.<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span>Here’s the story:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Sheriff Justice Gareau can make outlaws quake
in their boots…yet coming face-to-face with Evangeline Benoit once again takes
away all his composure. She broke their engagement, and his heart, to marry a
wealthy older man. Despite his reluctance, Justice can't avoid the widowed
single mother of two when they're collaborating on a Christmas village for the
town's children. </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The loving boy Evangeline once knew has become
an unyielding lawman. Forced to flee New Orleans over false allegations, Evie
doubts Justice will take her side when the past follows her to Colorado.
Especially when he and her troublesome son butt heads. But perhaps the spirit
of Christmas will soften his heart and give them a second chance at love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman cyr" , serif; font-size: 9pt;">Copyright
</span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">©</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman cyr" , serif; font-size: 9pt;"> 2017 by
Harlequin Enterprises Limited, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman cyr" , serif; font-size: 9pt; text-indent: 0in;">Cover art
and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises. </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; text-indent: 0in;">®</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman cyr" , serif; font-size: 9pt; text-indent: 0in;"> and </span><span style="font-size: 9pt; text-indent: 0in;">™</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman cyr" , serif; font-size: 9pt; text-indent: 0in;"> Limited or its affiliated
companies, used under license.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman cyr" , serif; font-size: 9pt;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-81318512462951406812017-04-07T03:00:00.000-04:002017-04-07T03:00:01.253-04:00Glynna Kaye Welcomes Spring --- and a New Release!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjJazwYrrDA_o6ilrrsWjNLfz6vq3VfCr_eYz40GDsrfrbBn8XpJKXtGn47yUWIJMqk04x5NhmiN_rGZ9HhGjU6QPGdTGOML50C1R8QpIx5J_Al_GxZEaUnlbIr1P8wtSuIPB41dquL3m/s1600/GK+LI+-+April+2017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjJazwYrrDA_o6ilrrsWjNLfz6vq3VfCr_eYz40GDsrfrbBn8XpJKXtGn47yUWIJMqk04x5NhmiN_rGZ9HhGjU6QPGdTGOML50C1R8QpIx5J_Al_GxZEaUnlbIr1P8wtSuIPB41dquL3m/s320/GK+LI+-+April+2017.JPG" width="292" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;">It’s been a typically crazy winter
in mountain country Arizona where my “Hearts of Hunter Ridge” series is set.
Deep freeze temperatures and record warm ones. Multi-footer weekend snow
systems or an overnight sixteen inches that buried little hyacinths just
starting to bloom. That’s what you get most years when you’re at an elevation
higher than Denver!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;">But springtime is around the corner here--and in just a few
weeks, my latest release <em>The Nanny Bargain</em> (#4 in the 6-book The Hearts
of Hunter Ridge series) will be on store shelves!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSduVabKsjbvhHgkygaMLNek7CTCRbVO79stifN-W2RQBsguk8YQo6j6Edj_PSM88KuAITKpnZ3VsJ6mib0ZKU05YzCdc4_lYnTY_SqcfCYCcpShRL26wMhO1k36EU9sylB69YcdWbnus/s1600/GK+LI+-+April+2017-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSduVabKsjbvhHgkygaMLNek7CTCRbVO79stifN-W2RQBsguk8YQo6j6Edj_PSM88KuAITKpnZ3VsJ6mib0ZKU05YzCdc4_lYnTY_SqcfCYCcpShRL26wMhO1k36EU9sylB69YcdWbnus/s320/GK+LI+-+April+2017-3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;">This was a fun book to write
with a cute set of twins whose big brother is fighting an attraction for their
pretty nanny. Both Sawyer and Tori have issues from their past that they need
to let go of so God can bless their future. So it’s a rocky road on the way to
their happily ever after!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;">While this part of the country is still a number of
weeks away from flower planting if you don’t want them to get nipped by a
freeze, in anticipation of that event I want to share previous years’ photos
from a local nursery—and my own barrel of pink petunias!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ6NuRxLOBhlhwRSPNHrsRowHNT90T4ODA8S2pzN5ZwQKuyFF05ENFh-_cOYbt4VtAGfNnKcXfMBXIiYMUWHZ11pqVdxI2GkQCPU-IqekVxwKGQ4t1q1FiNdqG_hVK9H_Mg4Hl-YVqOPg/s1600/GK+LI+-+April+2017-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEi5fa1fcK_spwZWRIpL8sVXczrR6OD-SnDPPEMfz30gacJn2yEMmz3MGP3xu7qW6vv40sVego2XjCdbEq1ItVNZnnmZeUzOt_mmpfGDgjsWHozRDL7gLJgV5dOp6AQk_q2ciKyu22KIvF/s1600/GK+LI+-+April+2017-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEi5fa1fcK_spwZWRIpL8sVXczrR6OD-SnDPPEMfz30gacJn2yEMmz3MGP3xu7qW6vv40sVego2XjCdbEq1ItVNZnnmZeUzOt_mmpfGDgjsWHozRDL7gLJgV5dOp6AQk_q2ciKyu22KIvF/s320/GK+LI+-+April+2017-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;">I’ve always LOVED
gardening—flowers and herbs and fun things like miniature pumpkins. What about
you?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;">Due to a high elevation that makes growing season incredibly short--and the
poor soil—I don’t dare plant seeds if I want to see any blooms at all. So these
days I stick pretty much to patio pots and hanging baskets!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzskGSScPN2k433KKHRUyoIKonirQ_INaCD_3WdHsrwk4ZmUDRGS8pIXKkRW66z8s9_D-m9oaTllBcvU3Xvax2QpFUvbQEGiGREMPZg5mAv7LSG-vg0wy-izS2C8IvQJi_UvcMcas0EiRE/s1600/GK+LI+-+April+2017-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;">I hope you’re having
a <em>beautiful</em> Spring whe</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;">rever you are! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>Glynna</em></span></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfxTQkt5lNt1QRt1xIfkOL9jTh5LSCcaG5-GmwrMUzkqcs-CnkiV9R7OdnowDCZul-D1v8vpmtvh1JXtFT0XaLe1PPnfm_7h79am3TqnnF2VQF1E_xOAWlATh-yoVPItOpi2bBY94U2wx/s1600/The+Nanny+Bargain-Glynna+Kaye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfxTQkt5lNt1QRt1xIfkOL9jTh5LSCcaG5-GmwrMUzkqcs-CnkiV9R7OdnowDCZul-D1v8vpmtvh1JXtFT0XaLe1PPnfm_7h79am3TqnnF2VQF1E_xOAWlATh-yoVPItOpi2bBY94U2wx/s320/The+Nanny+Bargain-Glynna+Kaye.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>THE NANNY BARGAIN.</strong></span> Concerned
for his orphaned twin brothers, outdoor-gear shop owner Sawyer Banks urges new
employee Tori Janner to apply for the nanny position their grandparents are
advertising…and spy for him. With plans to start over in Hunter Ridge and
dreams of reviving her quilting business, Tori takes the job—but refuses to
report to Sawyer unless the boys' welfare is in danger. But soon it's her own
heart that's in jeopardy. Because after spending time with the committed
bachelor, she starts to see the depth behind his easy charm—and begins to
imagine herself as his wife.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt;">Keep an eye out
for “The Nanny Bargain” (Pre-order <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nanny-Bargain-Hearts-Hunter-Ridge-ebook/dp/B01N3RZH66/ref" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">HERE</span></a>) and, in October 2017 “Mountain Country Cowboy,” another story set in Hunter Ridge!</span></div>
Glynna Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914006944057671962noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-23497120844545285662017-03-28T02:00:00.000-04:002017-04-12T18:06:50.716-04:00A New Adventure by Leann HarrisI've be having fun the last six weeks writing my first novella for a Fourth of July collection I'm doing it members of my ACFW chapter. The story is set in West Texas and McDonald observatory. My heroine, Star, grew up in Alpine and wants to become an astronomer. My college roommate was from Marfa (the next county over). We visited her parents for a book I was writing early in my career. It's a long way between small cities. Not many folks brave living in that part of Texas, but there's a stark charm about the scenery. It would not appeal to a lot of people, but I enjoyed the trip. Out there were there are few city lights, you can see the night sky. I remember growing up and watching the stars come out and laying in the yard seeing the constellations. I'm so sorry my children and grandchildren won't see the beauty of the night sky. Those are the seeds that gave birth to the story. It was fun to write.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzP94yeSwKd6dYGTVvqRg7oOTT-cbh0U-gii5O63rIbwsJlVmEMDqGQA2WACoqxnXstglMjsOxUYj4jAXegMhKUt98FSaF32YWZwBiF4cLRs3eBU0L5UUXp189Z4dYBAQytGovPiWIDY/s1600/McDonald_Observatory-233_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzP94yeSwKd6dYGTVvqRg7oOTT-cbh0U-gii5O63rIbwsJlVmEMDqGQA2WACoqxnXstglMjsOxUYj4jAXegMhKUt98FSaF32YWZwBiF4cLRs3eBU0L5UUXp189Z4dYBAQytGovPiWIDY/s320/McDonald_Observatory-233_0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjv8o0TD14m1CbVfvFMumuFgJ7PFYRbQrQqARmY0vycjQFaXLmDaHisDBT6KQly9xJgv2PQ0t8cLB3LqmS22vWfAT4f2czJgJeuJUiD9AeRDpDWEnPhX0ClTXfiKlicuSPO1XkBXQ7xy0/s1600/McDonald_Observatory-1_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjv8o0TD14m1CbVfvFMumuFgJ7PFYRbQrQqARmY0vycjQFaXLmDaHisDBT6KQly9xJgv2PQ0t8cLB3LqmS22vWfAT4f2czJgJeuJUiD9AeRDpDWEnPhX0ClTXfiKlicuSPO1XkBXQ7xy0/s200/McDonald_Observatory-1_0.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJGWDGNz7o0GJyRWMPu_Gng12Xi0iQztXCGaiAPyj8mpeX6bNP8PC1TpkR8U9Mej_uSv1Gq4QHlLAe2EBKrnN9c2jl_EZo872CVWaAQ4OS9GZfqRM0Es1GZbc4Qkv0jIKCBADt_1j9Mk/s1600/mcdonald_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJGWDGNz7o0GJyRWMPu_Gng12Xi0iQztXCGaiAPyj8mpeX6bNP8PC1TpkR8U9Mej_uSv1Gq4QHlLAe2EBKrnN9c2jl_EZo872CVWaAQ4OS9GZfqRM0Es1GZbc4Qkv0jIKCBADt_1j9Mk/s200/mcdonald_3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Leann Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10840850473156676151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-76461322945575666822017-03-27T11:11:00.003-04:002017-03-27T11:11:57.977-04:00STARTING A NEW SERIES by Marta Perry
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a reader, I love series. Once I've become familiar with a place and a cast of characters, I like to visit again and again. So, in both my inspirational romances and romantic suspense books, I've created a number of series, most of them based on particular places which become very real to me while I'm writing about them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The beginning of a new series is always a scary time. Will readers like it? Will they want to come back again and again? I can only hope, and so here is an introduction to my new series:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Welcome to Echo Falls, Pennsylvania! This small, isolated
Amish and English community looks like a haven of peace and security. But dark
secrets lurk here, as elsewhere, and events are coming which will crash through
the serene, pastoral landscape, and all the strength and compassion the
community can muster will be necessary as never before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First up in the Echo Falls trilogy is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ECHO OF DANGER</b>, available on April 25<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. Here's a look
at it:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<b>In peaceful Pennsylvania Dutch country, a young mother discovers a
shocking danger—and an unexpected ally </b><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
A whisper of a threat looms over widow Deidre Morris. She and her young son
have unwittingly become prisoners of her intimidating father-in-law's power.
One wrong step could find her son torn from her and in the hands of the
influential judge. But when Deidre collides with an intriguing stranger, the
prospect of a new friendship gives her renewed hope…until a devastating murder
rocks the quiet community of Echo Falls and Deidre learns first impressions
can't be trusted. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Attorney Jase Glassman's assignment is straightforward: befriend Deidre,
gather incriminating evidence…and allow her dogged father-in-law to take
custody of her child. Anything else, including losing himself in her honest
charm, will compromise the job he was hired to do. Yet when a murderer ushers
danger into the town, Jase's only instinct is to protect Deidre and her son—no
matter the sacrifice.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhQuJD76DWr33E2Mi1KOmpM9mOmC3YRA6rinngJFeTx8RdnwNzZk3hnmZBono4A17ZEUE_zQ3EeZHp_t9_innY5KWCtQAO1HZNKzAt5Rr0cYsfLsx0x9pLPIaBjWIX-pvMYST4nEpiCs/s1600/Echo+of+Danger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhQuJD76DWr33E2Mi1KOmpM9mOmC3YRA6rinngJFeTx8RdnwNzZk3hnmZBono4A17ZEUE_zQ3EeZHp_t9_innY5KWCtQAO1HZNKzAt5Rr0cYsfLsx0x9pLPIaBjWIX-pvMYST4nEpiCs/s320/Echo+of+Danger.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ECHO OF DANGER</b> is
available now for pre-order on Amazon and other online retailers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Echo Falls is based on several small towns in the scenic
mountain areas of north-central Pennsylvania, and the falls itself is a twin,
in some ways, to the beautiful falls to be found in Ricketts Glen State Park, a
long-time favorite spot of ours for hiking an picnicking. My children grew up
enjoying those trails, and now our grandchildren love scrambling up and down
beside the falls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of my favorite memories is of climbing the trail up the
falls with a group of teenagers. We stopped on a ledge of rock halfway up for
a time of quiet meditation and prayer in God's beautiful creation before
continuing on our way. Recently one of those teenagers, now long-since grown up
and with a family of his own, confided in me that it had been an important
spiritual experience in his life. For me, as well!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blessings,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Marta<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Marta Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425961141421225777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-82115609065667887612017-03-20T19:53:00.000-04:002017-03-23T00:04:46.698-04:00Springtime.....maybe, and a renewal of faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlHTS6unurYsBA9VTnQKWxBTI3_2lQOqi_Nz-csTEkjdG3z3-U3Omag6b-Vep_bMe0en1gn2qbYDvHKzUWCf51JxG2HRHGsajXeJC9bYbm7zhl_RN-O20TP7uMFusoO7KwpZa9-EhRxE/s1600/P1000523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlHTS6unurYsBA9VTnQKWxBTI3_2lQOqi_Nz-csTEkjdG3z3-U3Omag6b-Vep_bMe0en1gn2qbYDvHKzUWCf51JxG2HRHGsajXeJC9bYbm7zhl_RN-O20TP7uMFusoO7KwpZa9-EhRxE/s320/P1000523.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
by Roanne Rustand<br />
<br />
This has been a confusing winter! The red wing blackbirds came back during a long stretch of warm and sunny days in early March, the trees started budding and our hostas burst up from the wood chip mulch by our garage, Then we got our first measurable snow...more warm days..and now a cold snap is on its way. Still, it seems like spring is around the corner and I am eagerly awaiting the appearance of all the roses we planted last year. Without anything colorful to photograph in our yard, I am slipping in a photograph I took of a bouquet on our kitchen table. But I can dream about what is to come! Do you like to garden? What do you grow?<br />
<br />
New beginnings of spring...and some sad changes, too. My husband and I belong to a Bible study group, and one of the members is now in hospice. We hadn't seen her for quite a while, but signed up on the online Meal Train site, to join other friends in bringing the family meals. and last night we brought them supper. Our friend and her husband are the loveliest people, so kind and welcoming and giving; people of deep faith, yet we arrived feeling sad and just wanted to be careful to not intrude for too long. We soon realized that in our expectations, we had totally underestimated our friend.<br />
<br />
Despite being in bed now, cared for by hospice and her family, she was filled with gratitude for every aspect of her life past and present--so thankful for every extra day she has been given to be with her friends and family, deeply grateful to the Lord for the joy she feels here on earth and over what is yet to come. We went hoping we could uplift her in some way, but left feeling as if we'd experienced the Lord's love and peace through <i>her </i>ministry to us. What a gift she is to everyone who visits her--what a testimony she is to the presence of God here on earth and power of faith.<br />
<br />
Today, as I think again and again about this wonderful, sweet woman, I find myself wanting to be a better person...to focus more on my own faith and on ways I could help someone else. And, it also reminds me of what a blessing it is to be able to reach others, in some small way, through the books all of us with the Love Inspired line are writing.<br />
<br />
Have you had people in your life who have deeply touched you, and helped you on your own faith journey?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAIVaeErsSE717GXoY7ixs02qqCmmQi0Yag-0huRMHsF7ulVrl93S9ALGK19GsoXyH3amD9zQ9WVLFyvzAXnUYpKn1Yv_UavOjntM-WCn1vBScu0ABIMmdhpKOB0G3-PNu-vsWS7nUqs/s1600/Roxanne_Flower+website+MEME_2017_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAIVaeErsSE717GXoY7ixs02qqCmmQi0Yag-0huRMHsF7ulVrl93S9ALGK19GsoXyH3amD9zQ9WVLFyvzAXnUYpKn1Yv_UavOjntM-WCn1vBScu0ABIMmdhpKOB0G3-PNu-vsWS7nUqs/s200/Roxanne_Flower+website+MEME_2017_3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Wishing you all blessings and peace,<br />
Roxanne Rustand<br />
<br />
<div class="signature" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1473187115416_5993" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1490055084227_9962" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: x-small;">USA Today Bestselling Author<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" />Falling for the Rancher, LI 6/2017</span></div>
<div class="signature" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1473187115416_5993" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1490055084227_9960" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: x-small;">An Aspen Creek Christmas, LI 11/2016</span></div>
<div class="signature" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1473187115416_5993" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1490055084227_9959" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: x-small;">The Single Dad's Redemption, Love Inspired 7/2016</span></div>
<div class="signature" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1473187115416_5993" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1490055084227_9927" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: x-small;">www.roxannerustand.com <br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" />www.facebook.com/Roxanne.Rustand </span></div>
<br />RoxanneRustandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443712316288965799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-30623823683692783022017-03-15T00:00:00.000-04:002017-03-15T00:00:00.203-04:00Things That Go Bump In The Night
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6cmzj7IYqkv6dGQU0sKQf7NLupE6fc9fGZ8SbIHggIGli0siGtI_aZkrOcfOusCuvOy80n_6-EK4MDsQGQRuk7H82ilvdhDEJLfVjFOJN7L260Y7oI6HtnQxWXRgEFXULYz9aXnQalc/s1600/bigstock-Intruder-with-Knife-82135247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6cmzj7IYqkv6dGQU0sKQf7NLupE6fc9fGZ8SbIHggIGli0siGtI_aZkrOcfOusCuvOy80n_6-EK4MDsQGQRuk7H82ilvdhDEJLfVjFOJN7L260Y7oI6HtnQxWXRgEFXULYz9aXnQalc/s320/bigstock-Intruder-with-Knife-82135247.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What scares you? We each have something that makes us
fearful. Sometimes it a figment of our imagination. And somethings it’s the real
life horror story we’re going through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was fairly young, I saw the older version of Night of
the Living Dead with some friends at an outdoor movie theater, and let me tell
you, it scared me and gave me a few nightmares as well as sleepless night. Looking
back, I’m wondering if that’s what got me interested in writing suspense. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While there are dozens of things that scare us when the sun goes
down…an unknown bump in the night, a noise that sounds like a footsteps. A
light that could be the beam of a flashlight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But as many unexplained terrors as there are out there, real
life fears can be much more frightening. A death of someone close to you
renders you paralyzed with grief. Financial worries that makes for many
sleepless nights. A critical illness that can bring you to your knees. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rSZaimGRC9l8ABpNimJe_4Y45CnbDwDAXWjHIZZfwszyYQkiULVrQcX67WODMKy4h4Zi-XkTUDcZumt5m6Q-LCioj1w2L8fdxOvBhBvdExImWxo9UzOf8B8BC9Q3aEx10SUR5EfbAHI/s1600/bigstock-Danger-At-Night-71703301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rSZaimGRC9l8ABpNimJe_4Y45CnbDwDAXWjHIZZfwszyYQkiULVrQcX67WODMKy4h4Zi-XkTUDcZumt5m6Q-LCioj1w2L8fdxOvBhBvdExImWxo9UzOf8B8BC9Q3aEx10SUR5EfbAHI/s320/bigstock-Danger-At-Night-71703301.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whether our fears are real or imagined, the one constant that
stand the test of time is that no matter what we’re going through, God is there
with us through it all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">John 14:1-3 says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do
not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you
that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be
where I am.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So whatever you’re facing, know that you are not alone no
matter what. Even when something goes bump in the night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All The Best…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mary Alford<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="http://www.maryalford.net/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">www.maryalford.net</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdmIrhZB1TDLnyrSomakoPhWaNMY6Cy1lWMLgXkpjfcxPNec68g0OGe9tkKeosf77h3engXaiJ5Oac0CIxov6rA0Ch-zLAJOXW5PmULbIzWLEZEN2Eix9JQpZo_wZvDJu8t4H7gqSuRY/s1600/deady+memories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdmIrhZB1TDLnyrSomakoPhWaNMY6Cy1lWMLgXkpjfcxPNec68g0OGe9tkKeosf77h3engXaiJ5Oac0CIxov6rA0Ch-zLAJOXW5PmULbIzWLEZEN2Eix9JQpZo_wZvDJu8t4H7gqSuRY/s320/deady+memories.jpg" width="202" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deadly Memories – Coming June 2017<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amnesia may be keeping Ella Weiss from remembering her
past—but not from saving the little boy who's been her fellow prisoner the last
seven years. After managing to escape her cell, all she wants is to find where
little Joseph is being kept. Instead she runs straight into CIA agent Kyle
Jennings. Kyle isn't sure if Ella is actually a kidnap victim or if she's
working for the gunrunner he's been after. One thing he is certain of is her
uncanny resemblance to the wife he thought he'd buried. To save a child's life
and stop a terrorist from slipping through his fingers, he'll need to uncover
the secrets of Ella's past—and whether or not she's really the woman he's never
stopped loving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Available at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Memories-Love-Inspired-Suspense-ebook/dp/B01M3X4Q8Y/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1489328587&sr=8-5&keywords=mary+alford" target="_blank">Amazon</a>: </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Mary Alfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03137022593378590187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-5744587265892391372017-03-07T02:00:00.000-05:002017-03-07T02:00:13.722-05:00Good Morning by Leann HarrisI am not a morning person. I taught for a long time and had to leave the house around 7AM. Once I stopped teaching, I didn't keep up the early routine. I wake later but isn't my optimum time. Talk to me around noon.) But these last few weeks as I'm making hot tea in the morning, I look out in my yard and see all the daffodils and hyacinth and papperwhites blooming. They greet me and it's as if God says good morning. It makes me smile.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCIkhQLuQC8dsXWlKW6BAHnU-_w50W-uyKQ6vqnmUouGAB2axGi1AnxRsNLfir7H6BOyl4A4Vp9Wvs13j4nHgUACGcC1xOKvpzf2xZRPNSa4R1DYw7-iBcOGCptw3FpXV6SK8kw8CYMs/s1600/DSCF1082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCIkhQLuQC8dsXWlKW6BAHnU-_w50W-uyKQ6vqnmUouGAB2axGi1AnxRsNLfir7H6BOyl4A4Vp9Wvs13j4nHgUACGcC1xOKvpzf2xZRPNSa4R1DYw7-iBcOGCptw3FpXV6SK8kw8CYMs/s200/DSCF1082.JPG" width="200" height="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdE2CbzwvxEeMqE69KXSCP8Etsfdus7zZ2_iRzP8m-BxExKLHIyVndBN0B9VGpLek9G76-adolHFtX057dmHOChlZE0h98TGILdv5OedV4XBzg24ZN_8kQGlD66ButFVOGnbFXYVaZyrA/s1600/DSCF1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdE2CbzwvxEeMqE69KXSCP8Etsfdus7zZ2_iRzP8m-BxExKLHIyVndBN0B9VGpLek9G76-adolHFtX057dmHOChlZE0h98TGILdv5OedV4XBzg24ZN_8kQGlD66ButFVOGnbFXYVaZyrA/s200/DSCF1084.JPG" width="200" height="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYybGSFzcwkyg1QF2nkh9sa36WbB7QmVqwXz2N0CqNuESUIdaUHyt1FzV-zCY8bhvj06F-W_SgdvRcCtvvzKAqOInDdHfDrRgmTR-h7edPaA6zCh0pkySgszjC4k2MAIemseLry-esRXU/s1600/DSCF1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYybGSFzcwkyg1QF2nkh9sa36WbB7QmVqwXz2N0CqNuESUIdaUHyt1FzV-zCY8bhvj06F-W_SgdvRcCtvvzKAqOInDdHfDrRgmTR-h7edPaA6zCh0pkySgszjC4k2MAIemseLry-esRXU/s200/DSCF1083.JPG" width="150" height="200" /></a></div>Leann Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10840850473156676151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-86837791049172748462017-03-06T11:39:00.000-05:002017-03-06T11:39:38.882-05:00Keeping Up with Covers by Marta PerryDo you judge a book by its cover? I know that observations in bookstores have shown a similar pattern in how potential readers browse in bookstores. I've seen it myself, and so have you. The reader goes first to the desired section--romance, mystery, sci fi, etc. (For me, this comes after a stop at the cafe to have a Chai Latte.) Then a quick glance over the shelves. The eye settles on a book, attracted by either the cover, the title, or the author's name. Next step--pick it up. Most people then flip the book over to read the back cover copy. If they're still interested, they'll open it and read the first page. And then?<br />
<br />
Well, some people will jump to the end of the book to make sure that the ending is happy--after all, no one wants to invest hours reading a book only to discover that a favorite character dies in the end! Unless, of course, that's the sort of book you've looking for.<br />
<br />
And then the book is tucked under the arm while the browsing continues, following the same routine over and over.<br />
<br />
But wait! How many of us now have a bookstore within easy reach? My small town used to boast two independent bookstores, in addition to the college bookstore and the Waldenbooks at the local mall. Where are they now? Gone in the blink of an eye. Even Walmart has stopped carrying the large selection of books they once did. So what's a book-lover to do?<br />
<br />
If you're like me, you're probably buying most of your books online now. What is the role of the usual browsing? Do the same parameters apply?<br />
<br />
Honestly, I don't know the answer to that question. I find that as a reader, I've been stung too many times in downloading a book which had an appealing cover and induced a reaction similar to throwing the book across the room, except that I don't toss my Kindle. So my answer has been to gravitate over and over to familiar author names. I search by author, not by category, and when I'm lucky, I find a book I either haven't read or read so long again that I'd enjoy reading it again.<br />
<br />
You'll notice I'm providing only questions, no answers! How do you pick the books and authors you're willing to take a chance on? Do you rely on the cover more or less than when browsing in a bookstore?<br />
<br />
If anyone has an answer, I'd love to hear it. In the meantime, I can only hope that the cover to my upcoming HQN Book, ECHO OF DANGER, releasing April 24th, says "Buy me! Buy me!" to fans of romantic suspense!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufCFf_zN7u21uXJYQrCbDGaMc1b72CbqlnYzQzpRm3cTAoJmUpfEW-j6PIVV1sgGAmXPuy7eX7kFm_RKqUS2Is7CmUWKogXudRFXhGE4CzLdZlamLX05Iwl8ayAcLrElQb5IrRWynlK0/s1600/9780373789276_smp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufCFf_zN7u21uXJYQrCbDGaMc1b72CbqlnYzQzpRm3cTAoJmUpfEW-j6PIVV1sgGAmXPuy7eX7kFm_RKqUS2Is7CmUWKogXudRFXhGE4CzLdZlamLX05Iwl8ayAcLrElQb5IrRWynlK0/s320/9780373789276_smp.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
<br />Marta Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425961141421225777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-84243545369112301282017-02-15T01:00:00.000-05:002017-02-15T01:00:24.615-05:00Redeeming The Time
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately and
I hope that I get better at redeeming the moments that make up my life. If you
are like me, it’s so easy to get caught up with the day to day things to be done
that you can forget to enjoy the little moments that make life special.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sure, the birthdays, the holidays, the graduations that come
into our lives are easy to remember and keep up with, but those fall on only a
few days of the year. There’s plenty of other moments that sometimes get lost
in the worries of the day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPNmrnf_m2Ps3M56pFVUbA5UfscbPR8wxib_aepQzLhgBEOkXCxVWPbvMW1cMzuiRHHaOLFK4vVE9UtS5OYqfR8IKBEPLOnYWVuks4n2uFYjmyLUcH6vd5nf6KcqxujjANYAbzK7OHVs/s1600/sunset-490820_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPNmrnf_m2Ps3M56pFVUbA5UfscbPR8wxib_aepQzLhgBEOkXCxVWPbvMW1cMzuiRHHaOLFK4vVE9UtS5OYqfR8IKBEPLOnYWVuks4n2uFYjmyLUcH6vd5nf6KcqxujjANYAbzK7OHVs/s320/sunset-490820_960_720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like a breathtaking sunset streaked with color. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or the beauty of the outdoors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A simple smile or touch of someone you love. These are all
ways of redeeming the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEXjKsEMFPlF1oaqTBnZ2e9CjzJJOPJS8ifC7LtwgTylG2NB93RRgHGijtolxRD9Bcrz2hPkX9m2xgmI9HPFrcZQoO5AX8YOWt3vvxP5bjMqMDPfAUCBNVNQLL7CGwbFDwFod1cbr7gw/s1600/hands+holding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEXjKsEMFPlF1oaqTBnZ2e9CjzJJOPJS8ifC7LtwgTylG2NB93RRgHGijtolxRD9Bcrz2hPkX9m2xgmI9HPFrcZQoO5AX8YOWt3vvxP5bjMqMDPfAUCBNVNQLL7CGwbFDwFod1cbr7gw/s320/hands+holding.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me, I find so much blessings in redeeming the moments I
have with my granddaughters. They are all unique and special and they bring so
many happy moments to my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Baking with my granddaughters is one way that I redeem the time
we have together. One of our favorite recipes to make is chocolate chip
cookies. So I thought I’d share the recipe I found on Allrecipes.com with you.
It is awesome and my girls love it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TcQfslNNd3qX0qWnpGrzvfXFg48rwBWl0iXvA3ybQC5Z-zm7Y01EG6o_Hy4JHX5kTIfuR1DMGVhrIi9fl2nMps62RSbLd1r73EfUqv-oFP1UwCqXGnf10uoeMN-751EN1I1TnO3sl1g/s1600/chocloate+chip+coolies.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TcQfslNNd3qX0qWnpGrzvfXFg48rwBWl0iXvA3ybQC5Z-zm7Y01EG6o_Hy4JHX5kTIfuR1DMGVhrIi9fl2nMps62RSbLd1r73EfUqv-oFP1UwCqXGnf10uoeMN-751EN1I1TnO3sl1g/s320/chocloate+chip+coolies.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Outrageous
Chocolate Chip Cookies<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prep 15 m. Cook 10 m. Ready In 25 m <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ingredients<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 cup butter <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 cup white sugar <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/3 cup packed brown sugar <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 cup peanut butter <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 egg <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 cup all-purpose
flour <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon baking soda <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/4 teaspoon salt <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 cup rolled oats <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup semisweet chocolate chips <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I add chopped pecans as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Directions<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar
and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the peanut butter, vanilla and egg until
well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter
just until moistened. Mix in the oats and chocolate chips until evenly
distributed. Drop by tablespoonfuls on to lightly greased cookie sheets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until the
edges start to brown. Cool on cookie sheets for about 5 minutes before
transferring to wire racks to cool completely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Ephesians 5:16 the Bible tells us we should be, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Redeeming the time, because the days are
evil.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe God wants us to redeem every moment of our day for
as long as we have left on this earth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what about you? What do you do to redeem the time?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the best…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mary Alford<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="http://www.maryalford.net/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">www.maryalford.net</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPKLFYHJ7zRkygW8eKp9b6ZhhLZLWk4Fx1a5mec1DJ-WvQXee-K-5iGrHg8TAmkpgbyIavjRwFFLii7T8kfg9aBmJ_IP2JJsa1gy5uYp8H7TD6dgV8S-MlxCpBI2tQiXboOjAaXUpyHk/s1600/Mary+Alford+Meme.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPKLFYHJ7zRkygW8eKp9b6ZhhLZLWk4Fx1a5mec1DJ-WvQXee-K-5iGrHg8TAmkpgbyIavjRwFFLii7T8kfg9aBmJ_IP2JJsa1gy5uYp8H7TD6dgV8S-MlxCpBI2tQiXboOjAaXUpyHk/s320/Mary+Alford+Meme.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
</div>
Mary Alfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03137022593378590187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-86591860981065549902017-01-23T09:14:00.002-05:002017-01-23T09:14:55.180-05:00The New Year Reboot by Marta PerryCome the first of January each year, we're bombarded with exhortations: New Year, New You; or Your First Year of Gym Membership Free! or Daily Exercise, the Key to a Happy Life; or any of a dozen other possibilities promising a new and improved version of yourself if only you'll adopt their plan.<br />
<br />
Now, I don't know about you, but on the first of January I'm usually still walking around the Christmas tree, trying to avoid the argument over which football game claims precedence, and hoping to produce a New Year's Day dinner after a season of preparing too many big meals. I'm in no shape then to embark upon a program of self-improvement. No, I need to ease myself back into smarter eating, get rid of the leftover Christmas cookies while wondering why I ever thought anyone would eat that many, and sweep up the tinsel that's being trampled into the carpet.<br />
<br />
As it happens, my birthday falls in January, so I've decided that it will serve as a good starting point for a period of self-improvement. If you're not fortunate enough to have a January 21st birthday, I'd suggest that Chinese New Year would work as well!<br />
<br />
This year my efforts were helped by the birthday gift of a wondrous new planner from my son and daughter-in-law. No more dreary fake-leather cover in brown or black, but a gorgeous, multi-colored glossy cover that positively lures me into planning. What's more, it has sections for both work and personal goals, and daily grids that are actually big enough to write in. What a concept! Devoting a few minutes each morning into considering what can really be accomplished and finding an appropriate time slot gives me a sense of accomplishment before I've actually done anything!<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong--I know I still have to do the work. But why shouldn't I...or we...have a method of approaching it that brings us happiness?<br />
<br />
Wishing you all the best in this new year,<br />
MartaMarta Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425961141421225777noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-39988351335068440022017-01-19T00:00:00.000-05:002017-01-19T00:00:11.057-05:00A little bit of Kindness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdSoFs49ACQa5h4n1Bdy0MpenqRbb0Ndi-gHQVuHgwoTMJXw_JAMeu2TqV8hy-4DP-7TKA-ZV5mKEmrn5-fL0PGcuQhpRCdR6Dm3pkq7ftbvlPiJeqz5ZwbRo7xavGY5YFutYQINF8mg/s1600/9780373425082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdSoFs49ACQa5h4n1Bdy0MpenqRbb0Ndi-gHQVuHgwoTMJXw_JAMeu2TqV8hy-4DP-7TKA-ZV5mKEmrn5-fL0PGcuQhpRCdR6Dm3pkq7ftbvlPiJeqz5ZwbRo7xavGY5YFutYQINF8mg/s320/9780373425082.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
Hi Everyone! Danica Favorite here, and I am writing today about kindness.<br />
<br />
For those of you who have been reading my books for a while, you know that the heroine of For the Sake of the Children, Rose Stone, was not always the most upstanding citizen in Leadville. She weathered a lot of scandal, and though she's changed in many ways, Rose still suffers the sting of her actions. Or at least, the way some people treat her because of her mistakes.<br />
<br />
One of the themes that keeps popping up in my stories, especially as I write about the not-so-lovable characters getting happy endings, is the transformative power of love and kindness. Rose was able to overcome the bad things in her past because of the love and kindness shown to her by her family. And, as she learns in this book, learning how to offer that same level of forgiveness to herself.<br />
<br />
I've been thinking a lot about the things in this world lately, and the state of affairs, and my heart is really sad because we tend towards using shame as a means of getting people to change their behavior. We think that if we shame someone on social media, they will change their tune and do what we want them to do. There are pictures and articles mocking people for their bad decisions, and everyone chimes in about these terrible people. But what if they aren't terrible people? I wonder what it would feel like if our worst mistakes were recorded and plastered all over social media for everyone to mock. <br /><br />In all the times I've been shamed for something people didn't like, it has never been a means of changing my behavior for the positive. Rather, it becomes a reason for me to hide further into the darkness, and has caused a lot of damage in my life. When I think about positive changes in my life, and ways I've turned from sin or even just not great behavior, the real cause of the change has been the receipt of kindness. There was a time in my life when I'd been so shamed that I couldn't accept kindness, and I lashed out at those who would offer it to me, because I thought it came with strings. But slowly, the more I saw kindness from others and accepted it as a gift, the more I learned that it was okay for others to be kind to me, and more importantly, for me to be kind to others.<br />
<br />
And that, my friends, is really the way of Jesus. When faced with sinners and people who did wrong, he didn't mock them or create memes about how stupid they were, He loved them. He offered them kindness in times when others were turning their backs and treating them like they were nothing.<br />
<br />
I want my books, and hopefully, my life, to reflect that kind of love. Trust me, I still fail as often as I succeed. But more and more, when it's tempting to open my mouth, I think about what it means to offer kindness instead of more shame. Sometimes, all I can do is keep my mouth shut, because I don't know what the kind response would be. Are there things happening in this world that would make Jesus angry? Absolutely. But I think He is often heartbroken at how we respond, in kind, by not by being kind.<br />
<br />
My hope for you, and for this world, is that we can all learn to break free of the shame that holds us back, and learn a different way of responding. As you read about how Rose experienced transformation in her life, I hope you are reminded that the thing that made a difference in her life was the love and kindness shown to her by others. More importantly, I hope you remember the ultimate source of that love and kindness. And, as you're faced with the nastiness out there, you can find a way in your heart to offer kindness instead of shame.<br />
<br />
<br />Danica Favoritehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06922540628183027043noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-15195662550709044492017-01-18T09:18:00.001-05:002017-01-18T09:18:50.074-05:00Allie Pleiter on Tough Heroes with Soft Centers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERZN4tJD6ACZwwbpxTvJeWM6G2Bja-8UsnbWT9r3An1U5_tPAEEdQK0JJJdQOKzaWGJ1gY-9iNPu70nu-_-d1VnL7zY_Qo0kfzf_n6IEb6UrWKxf8OFW4vQfEQbn5ZFtIlYX2F31faz0/s1600/Allie+photo+small+.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERZN4tJD6ACZwwbpxTvJeWM6G2Bja-8UsnbWT9r3An1U5_tPAEEdQK0JJJdQOKzaWGJ1gY-9iNPu70nu-_-d1VnL7zY_Qo0kfzf_n6IEb6UrWKxf8OFW4vQfEQbn5ZFtIlYX2F31faz0/s200/Allie+photo+small+.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">One of my favorite types of romance heroes is the tough guy who struggles with “a soft center.”</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I love a man of strength and honor who can never quite figure out how to shoulder the depth of his caring.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">And I love the woman who brings that affection out from under his crusty exterior.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">My hero for <a href="http://amzn.to/2iIs48D">The Rancher’s Texas Twins</a> has just that dynamic.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Lone Star Cowboy League President Gabe Everett is a serious man of duty.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">The two mischievous little girls who end up staying on his ranch, however, don’t see “Mr. Boots” that way.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Their non-stop onslaught of “tiny pinkness”</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">opens this cowboy’s heart in a way that is sure to melt yours. Children have such a gift for tearing down the walls we build around ourselves, don’t you think?</span><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGeCW50Aqx95VNmtdBLLe8Zi2N6VQ6IZOQxdqtc-NMihiXMk86yegogQF1cm5Al6FBEhL9ruXP_2qlzbdZxniLe-20Eju4PrWgNf8N46hSes_FMIAecqHODgL1Md1zf3aGMuJ1GcOAwQ/s1600/TEXAS+TWINS+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGeCW50Aqx95VNmtdBLLe8Zi2N6VQ6IZOQxdqtc-NMihiXMk86yegogQF1cm5Al6FBEhL9ruXP_2qlzbdZxniLe-20Eju4PrWgNf8N46hSes_FMIAecqHODgL1Md1zf3aGMuJ1GcOAwQ/s200/TEXAS+TWINS+cover.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">It was great fun to wrap up the popular <a href="http://amzn.to/2iIdIVI">Lone Star Cowboy League: Boys Ranch</a> series with this book. Gabe, and the lovely young mother Avery who holds the key to saving the boys ranch, are a perfect match—even if it takes a pair of adorable twins to convince them.</span></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></span></div>
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}
p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 13.0px}
span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: small;">What about you? What heroes are your favorites? If you’ve enjoyed the Lone Star Cowboy League: Boys Ranch series, which books have the heroes who have won your heart?</span></span></div>
Allie Pleiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057452503146875056noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-13080870802863274852017-01-11T00:00:00.000-05:002017-01-11T00:00:27.063-05:00What’s Warm And Sweet And Tailor Made For The January Cold?
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The Answer: A good Love Inspired book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The holidays are officially over, the decorations all put
up, (have you put yours away yet?), and it’s cold out, (even in Texas).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">With so many good books to choose from, where do you
start? How about by saving 20% on any Love Inspired, Love Inspired Suspense, or
Love Inspired Historical?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Just go to the website, <a href="http://www.harlequin.com/store.html?cid=623302"><span style="color: #0563c1;">http://www.harlequin.com/store.html?cid=623302</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and scroll down until you see the ad, "<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Save 20% off any Love Inspired, Love Inspired Historical or Love Inspired Suspense title with code <strong>LINSP20</strong>**".</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">You can also get a free Love Inspired Suspense download
of Laura Scott’s Under the Lawman's Protection until January 31<sup>st </sup>here: <a href="http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=55407">http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=55407</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6WFKow4zp5Vpnaafrj7tdQiBtOr0TKpYyM-vCa7dF4xln88m3EIOqW0O0zNwdZVxd-zvhYLFZ0-1CRJxeIhY3DFn_QmWgeiZYXlz1-MC30pHS2bUw-bUbdvGV6p-3WyTR7MXKnBok2w/s1600/loveinspiredfree.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6WFKow4zp5Vpnaafrj7tdQiBtOr0TKpYyM-vCa7dF4xln88m3EIOqW0O0zNwdZVxd-zvhYLFZ0-1CRJxeIhY3DFn_QmWgeiZYXlz1-MC30pHS2bUw-bUbdvGV6p-3WyTR7MXKnBok2w/s1600/loveinspiredfree.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And
you can read Linda Ford’s Love Inspired Historical, Her Honor-Bound Cowboy online for
free here: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.harlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1882&chapter=1"><span style="color: #0563c1;">http://www.harlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1882&chapter=1</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeOfFHHYcDcKoaWVLMuHxXC4ZVP4eraQEGhoqIExyvRiouQyZb2_JeNtxdfzVd3noT2cJDhlruxVZo9_cezHJlfy3jyJ-X0oPPZRKK8RI2lplVophD0vRQo14T4xoOHZUKC3AfYpx350/s1600/loveinspiredonlineread.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeOfFHHYcDcKoaWVLMuHxXC4ZVP4eraQEGhoqIExyvRiouQyZb2_JeNtxdfzVd3noT2cJDhlruxVZo9_cezHJlfy3jyJ-X0oPPZRKK8RI2lplVophD0vRQo14T4xoOHZUKC3AfYpx350/s1600/loveinspiredonlineread.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">So, if it’s cold where you are, like it is here in Texas,
why not curl up with a good Love Inspired book and get lost in something warm
and sweet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">All the best…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Mary Alford<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.maryalford.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">www.MaryAlford.net</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><i></i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Deadly Memories – Coming June 2017 to
Love Inspired Suspense. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Amnesia may be keeping Ella Weiss from remembering her past—but not from
saving the little boy who's been her fellow prisoner the last seven years.
After managing to escape her cell, all she wants is to find where little Joseph
is being kept. Instead she runs straight into CIA agent Kyle Jennings. Kyle
isn't sure if Ella is actually a kidnap victim or if she's working for the
gunrunner he's been after. One thing he is certain of is her uncanny
resemblance to the wife he thought he'd buried. To save a child's life and stop
a terrorist from slipping through his fingers, he'll need to uncover the
secrets of Ella's past—and whether or not she's really the woman he's never
stopped loving.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rocky Mountain Pursuit - ***
Publishers Weekly Bestseller *** </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6.75pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Available now at: </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=62853" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Love Inspired Suspense</span></a><br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IDENTITY: CONFIDENTIAL <br />
Everyone believes agent Jase Bradford is dead—everyone but Reyna Peterson. Only
he can protect her now that someone wants the information her CIA husband died
to secure. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Forgotten Past - Available now at: </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=52137" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">Love Inspired Suspense</span></a><br />
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LOST MEMORIES <br />
Faith McKenzie was the only survivor of a brutal home invasion. Viciously
attacked and left for dead, Faith can't remember anything about that
night—including the identity of the killer.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mary Alfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03137022593378590187noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-41717449075100901482016-12-15T15:11:00.000-05:002016-12-15T15:11:24.689-05:00Win 40+ Love Inspired Romances and a Kindle Fire!Hello lovely readers of Love Inspired books, Terri Reed here, sharing with you a fun promotion some of the Love Inspired Authors are doing. Click on the link below to enter the giveaway.<br />
There are so many wonderful authors and books that could be yours. My offering is Murder Under the Mistletoe, my November 2015 Christmas suspense.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.booksweeps.com/enter-win-40-love-inspired-romances/?mc_cid=4ec9993fc9&mc_eid=b4760e7612">https://www.booksweeps.com/enter-win-40-love-inspired-romances/?mc_cid=4ec9993fc9&mc_eid=b4760e7612</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNNlcfqd2Hy-PVWKQNFx41YyNuwTv7aE0uSK0K_gkeySa8arkrvQj1g6Nv_rHw5aKQkB5Wr_o6Q6iq6MCaKaXkP-jvRm7iGo8ACt3uYZvgo8yfiZvOBm39M-eG8u21Yo4b1KxgdfEB48/s1600/Love-Inspired-Romance-General.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNNlcfqd2Hy-PVWKQNFx41YyNuwTv7aE0uSK0K_gkeySa8arkrvQj1g6Nv_rHw5aKQkB5Wr_o6Q6iq6MCaKaXkP-jvRm7iGo8ACt3uYZvgo8yfiZvOBm39M-eG8u21Yo4b1KxgdfEB48/s400/Love-Inspired-Romance-General.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Terri Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18162233044268346894noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-32282917917945366392016-12-07T00:30:00.000-05:002016-12-07T00:30:18.746-05:00Allie Pleiter's super-easy Christmas treatI'm not much of a baker. While I love desserts, I'm more about eating them than making them. So, I'm always on the lookout for snacks and desserts that are easy and fun. Here's one that has been a staple in the Pleiter household since the kids were tiny:<br />
<br />
<b>Reindeer Eyeballs</b><br />
About the silly name--back when it was highly amusing to little minds, we used to make them with pretzel rings so that with a single M&M in the middle they did look like eyes. Now that we're older and more dignified (supposedly) we make them with square pretzels and four M&Ms. But the name simply refuses to go away....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgOJIEpaJWJY0qGtcd5SxVVZ02yM3rV8dXMa79QjIgK5g0I5d9Pzzjd1rbKYlHD5N21UfDCfcDdA59LuL2ySZVslUs210S4cMRCBdZhSF_ZJPjdkMschTlflSouFEakhrRIotynkazGo/s1600/ingredients.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgOJIEpaJWJY0qGtcd5SxVVZ02yM3rV8dXMa79QjIgK5g0I5d9Pzzjd1rbKYlHD5N21UfDCfcDdA59LuL2ySZVslUs210S4cMRCBdZhSF_ZJPjdkMschTlflSouFEakhrRIotynkazGo/s320/ingredients.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
1 package Christmas M&Ms<br />
1 package vanilla almond bark<br />
1 package pretzel "snaps"--or any shape that amuses you<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Lay out pretzels on wax paper.<br />
2. Working in small batches, melt one or two blocks at a time of the almond bark in the microwave until it is a pudding-like consistency.<br />
3. Using a spoon, dab a glob of almond bark onto (or in the spaces of) each pretzel.<br />
4. Arrange M&Ms on the almond bark and let cool.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpElp1ZZbKot7QoLloo3GeEI_xGPXT7fIiIgljn1Lt69u_eXEeCRuyBi9I7xLvqHnAZ5FbfyFVJstS9Irug0SrsCcRwJjbNIOc5JM6ljmpY7YBj4YGiTw2a7Q6F8CeZPVJbqCweubTlyA/s1600/eyeballs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpElp1ZZbKot7QoLloo3GeEI_xGPXT7fIiIgljn1Lt69u_eXEeCRuyBi9I7xLvqHnAZ5FbfyFVJstS9Irug0SrsCcRwJjbNIOc5JM6ljmpY7YBj4YGiTw2a7Q6F8CeZPVJbqCweubTlyA/s320/eyeballs.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
This is a salty-sweet snack that is a holiday must-have around our house. I hope you enjoy it!<br />
<br />
--AllieAllie Pleiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057452503146875056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-17203597796931996922016-12-06T02:00:00.000-05:002016-12-06T02:00:23.996-05:00Do You Believe in Miracles?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrhtk-cWTNvWG1uV_cNvqXM5TR7D2CYoz8iHWc95EkH-FtgJhKbVjMqutr0DWo50F1V0KsBkhBusITbNoOdpJpTlHFPvjUe0JuZiHyBbWUZzp2NYu-jWAOrrTrpTkW6P4uyIxNV8BXOk/s1600/2016-12-05+16.00.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrhtk-cWTNvWG1uV_cNvqXM5TR7D2CYoz8iHWc95EkH-FtgJhKbVjMqutr0DWo50F1V0KsBkhBusITbNoOdpJpTlHFPvjUe0JuZiHyBbWUZzp2NYu-jWAOrrTrpTkW6P4uyIxNV8BXOk/s320/2016-12-05+16.00.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Deb Kastner here with a holiday question.<br />
Do you believe in miracles?<br />
My family has been through SO much this year that my answer is an unqualified YES.<br />
<br />
First, my husband had a double-stroke in September. The first stroke was immediately treated and we thought the worst of it was over, but then he was sent down to get an MRI and stroked again. He truly thought he was going to die in that moment, but God brought him back. He's still needed on earth, and I think the Lord every day for that. Even with his new disability, every day I spend with him is a blessing.<br />
<br />
Then my mother had back surgery and there were moments that were touch and go. I'm nowhere near ready to say goodbye to my mother, and am happy to say that, while she's still in pain, she's recovering.<br />
<br />
And last week my youngest daughter, with my five-year-old grandson in the car, had a major automobile accident. Her car was totaled, and yet they walked away, not totally unscathed, but considering what her car looks like, with relatively small injuries. She has a painful case of whiplash in her neck, shoulders and back, and one hand is in a splint, but for what it could have been, we're thankful. And the highlight of my grandson Boo's day was riding in the firetruck, with nothing more than a cut on his neck where the seat belt was.<br />
<br />
Let's just say my family's guardian angels have been working overtime.<br />
<br />
And in a most unexpected reminder of Christmas miracles, my Christmas cactus bloomed--at Christmastime! I have the blackest thumb ever and if it blooms, which is rarely, it's always been around Easter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Daddy-Cowboy-Country-Kastner/dp/0373719949/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480991705&sr=8-1&keywords=deb+kastner" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7cluoqcAzXm2iqkozxtnbmtxBa9z3pv2_7vldN6ncOgLN1TRZLziQX7_zDPZ1bzoaXwNfdoK24z8FeUAWX_nm11OQUqMP-ZiOl-EdI7pMI9PX7NvVjjeLjEFk8-nCNkpBZgvCFsoIu4/s320/Mistletoe+Daddy.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
In my latest release, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Daddy-Cowboy-Country-Kastner/dp/0373719949/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480991705&sr=8-1&keywords=deb+kastner" target="_blank">Mistletoe Daddy</a>, Nick and Vivian are awaiting a miracle of their own. I'll bet you can guess from the cover what that is!<br />
<br />
Christmas is a time for miracles. Has God been working in a special way in your life?Deb Kastnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00027911682220625645noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-61051422302278800812016-11-16T00:30:00.000-05:002016-11-16T00:30:33.806-05:00Thanksgiving Traditions
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdYYdmXjGsKwCeEmeYKeWGC0gvGXEKTKV1yQPuPhRT3iFPuacmYx67ZmDiPYV8_T8iaaDE9zBodLkrkXY53xdtaVsxPilWSCX1OsSCziXKV_jAqSXBlwFu9VJNAY6kq9YPsEJPSLbX_Y/s1600/thanksgiving1st.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdYYdmXjGsKwCeEmeYKeWGC0gvGXEKTKV1yQPuPhRT3iFPuacmYx67ZmDiPYV8_T8iaaDE9zBodLkrkXY53xdtaVsxPilWSCX1OsSCziXKV_jAqSXBlwFu9VJNAY6kq9YPsEJPSLbX_Y/s1600/thanksgiving1st.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I still can’t believe next week is Thanksgiving. It just
seems like yesterday it was hot out…oh wait, I live in Texas, so yesterday it was
hot! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But seriously, this is one of my favorite times of the year.
In my opinion, Thanksgiving is one of our unsung holidays because it doesn’t
always get its due. I mean look what comes next. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7whpnSd8NuHt73YYIIR-Z_wu69YSF6XhcWtsGRmUuBrou9xmdqyLtfw6O1EdU8uMEvbx_pg3hhBgAiUZwY1ai1I3KdQ5mORIK_GkBlcZso_V7JqAn9NW547x0uY4bYeXhD_BEZi6-bgk/s1600/thanksgiving+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7whpnSd8NuHt73YYIIR-Z_wu69YSF6XhcWtsGRmUuBrou9xmdqyLtfw6O1EdU8uMEvbx_pg3hhBgAiUZwY1ai1I3KdQ5mORIK_GkBlcZso_V7JqAn9NW547x0uY4bYeXhD_BEZi6-bgk/s1600/thanksgiving+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanksgiving is the time where we give thanks to God for all
the gifts he has blessed us with before we celebrate receiving of the greatest
gift of all. The birth of our Lord Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, as I sat down to write this, I thought about all the
Thanksgivings that have passed in my life. At 57, there’s been quite a few that
come to mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a child, I remember all the family coming together over a
wonderful meal cooked by my mother. Turkey and cornbread dressing, pies, and
one of my favorites, my mother’s fruit salad. Of all the things that made the Thanksgiving
meal so good, it was her fruit salad that I loved the most. It’s stuck with me
through the years.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DNPbObd2TQJwAaVbapHYbv2He1cbe6sfTfyppT6OoaD8om2Gz5ax0Xc7S5cnOHDdMoidOcfKWb61Ex8ol6nn3vnqVABmS5tVCJoNvPoHZ7h0HAB4BZ2sAyXbyFJ2IjehoJOEB6wRZDc/s1600/thanksgiving1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DNPbObd2TQJwAaVbapHYbv2He1cbe6sfTfyppT6OoaD8om2Gz5ax0Xc7S5cnOHDdMoidOcfKWb61Ex8ol6nn3vnqVABmS5tVCJoNvPoHZ7h0HAB4BZ2sAyXbyFJ2IjehoJOEB6wRZDc/s1600/thanksgiving1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By then, the weather had usually turned colder, though we
lived in a different part of Texas. I remember one year it even snowed. All
special memories for a child. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of our other traditions was to watch the Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day parade. The floats and the balloons were great, but when Santa
made an appearance we knew Christmas was on its way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkSHCBJ7lKCtjjKef2symU9i8NARM9Mj6OShq-ENjiW_hJX-xlz5L57g5rp5zl5DDYTzhvVkkZF_DV0vCZGXouNgb8CXNBE1TCeTpu8OdjgPdgeGHT75425yYFLeD44WGStPIV16givQ/s1600/Macys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkSHCBJ7lKCtjjKef2symU9i8NARM9Mj6OShq-ENjiW_hJX-xlz5L57g5rp5zl5DDYTzhvVkkZF_DV0vCZGXouNgb8CXNBE1TCeTpu8OdjgPdgeGHT75425yYFLeD44WGStPIV16givQ/s1600/Macys.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most of my family have now gone on to be with God, so nowadays,
Thanksgiving is bittersweet for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a grandmother, we have our own holiday traditions, but I do
my best to make all those wonderful dishes my mother made so well and that I
loved as a child, (even the fruit salad). And on occasion we watch the parade
still. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what about you? What are your family’s Thanksgiving traditions?
Do you have some that you learned from your childhood and that you carry on to
your children? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the best…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mary Alford<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="http://www.maryalford.net/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">www.maryalford.net</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mary Alfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03137022593378590187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-19867229175860864272016-11-08T01:30:00.000-05:002016-11-08T01:30:00.917-05:00Finally, Fall has arrived by Leann HarrisCool weather is here. Yeah. Last week folks were in shorts, sandals, and t-shirts. This morning we had rain and cold. But now I have to switch out my closets from summer to winter. Don't tell me I'm the only one who has taken over their children's closets (once they left). Okay, I need to be brutal and go through those closets and throw out things I haven't worn in the last three years, but in my defense, I wore a dress this summer I haven't worn in more than ten years.
There's also another wrinkle in this plan to clean closets. I have a proposal to finish. What is more important to a writer, clothes or writing?
Need I say more.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf8EZmGwx_cN-DQFVtugV-OAbanU5sHP0EBMyhAjb3lr4utkwg98fjT9iuBeaJNHa2Z0ZTrIRhkk0ilinLBA5L8xek87NUCB5g_UyfdX3vCalJJlJ2M9XNEBQQululfqTAhoKg1tekQQ/s1600/nov11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf8EZmGwx_cN-DQFVtugV-OAbanU5sHP0EBMyhAjb3lr4utkwg98fjT9iuBeaJNHa2Z0ZTrIRhkk0ilinLBA5L8xek87NUCB5g_UyfdX3vCalJJlJ2M9XNEBQQululfqTAhoKg1tekQQ/s200/nov11.JPG" width="150" height="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoYPhyIYpZfZZ8iTW1x2wwn70T_KEJHGf6gQTs2fiC5FUdg_8qbvi0zRxrDVevglKAt9mlGSG6y3DOLih5pfFpx6Xo02hUnNapwhg3xpOdPSJhHEdNPq6VAD3VlebsaL_PybhgOj3yd4/s1600/pumpkin2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoYPhyIYpZfZZ8iTW1x2wwn70T_KEJHGf6gQTs2fiC5FUdg_8qbvi0zRxrDVevglKAt9mlGSG6y3DOLih5pfFpx6Xo02hUnNapwhg3xpOdPSJhHEdNPq6VAD3VlebsaL_PybhgOj3yd4/s200/pumpkin2.JPG" width="150" height="200" /></a></div>
I wanted to share pictures of my yard at this time and table, but I'm not brave enough to take a picture of those closets and post it. There are some things a girl doesn't do.Leann Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10840850473156676151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-52356054820111259892016-10-31T01:00:00.000-04:002016-10-31T01:00:10.575-04:00Being a writer is scary
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5G2zjklKNM6e21Za8iDxdIMbxKmTpR792X4zev2mt4mccG9v1Apr9XE99pSgnD61F4JzjiAO5tCAweQJJDFGzwzmY3ByvqheqZbYk8cHlJ2KzCXrqCKMDyDMirp-lUggRU5PnIneQEU/s1600/bigstock-Criminal-with-Knife-40694611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5G2zjklKNM6e21Za8iDxdIMbxKmTpR792X4zev2mt4mccG9v1Apr9XE99pSgnD61F4JzjiAO5tCAweQJJDFGzwzmY3ByvqheqZbYk8cHlJ2KzCXrqCKMDyDMirp-lUggRU5PnIneQEU/s320/bigstock-Criminal-with-Knife-40694611.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How many people can say they kill people for a living and get
away with it? Well, if you’re a suspense writer, you can. The ability to make
up dangerous situations and then throw your main characters headfirst into the
action, is both fun and a little scary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I tell my husband all the time that I hope no one ever takes
a serious look at my computer history. They’d see such things as what is the
name of a fast acting poison? What’s the best long range weapon for a sniper?
What type explosives can bring down a building? Research for writing suspense
can take you to some strange places. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOEh6Qifh2lf1tXF5JI0VV-CrFIRT_IFEiccKb8W4HfSajuaeY2YQdYIzmSXASbQsYm3t3u8Vv92VIL8Ive5l0ojovCMBqY9p18fx8S91s-aBdZKgJ9ZPxA6e2QgOMNT3w3-e4V3Inec/s1600/seekerville+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOEh6Qifh2lf1tXF5JI0VV-CrFIRT_IFEiccKb8W4HfSajuaeY2YQdYIzmSXASbQsYm3t3u8Vv92VIL8Ive5l0ojovCMBqY9p18fx8S91s-aBdZKgJ9ZPxA6e2QgOMNT3w3-e4V3Inec/s320/seekerville+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And yes, all those things are scary to think about, but
there are other parts of writing that are equally frightening. Like sitting
down to a blank screen and writing…something. There’s nothing more exciting or daunting
than typing those first few words of a book, or trudging through the middle of
a story when you’re really not sure where things are going, then finally
limping battered and bruised across the finish line to be able to write, “the
end”. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_tPdAolb77sAVctYEr5vRN4E8kFQeO6KdccTOQ5MuWVRekFVrKMQ0pwMOBKo7s8CDz4A3Ix-LRuoUMHQNxrICuyjgzYiSwi6_hRGTZO9dtsVM4fOrfV-10fPgsZHLrFVolBTaOlh3Ww/s1600/seekervile+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_tPdAolb77sAVctYEr5vRN4E8kFQeO6KdccTOQ5MuWVRekFVrKMQ0pwMOBKo7s8CDz4A3Ix-LRuoUMHQNxrICuyjgzYiSwi6_hRGTZO9dtsVM4fOrfV-10fPgsZHLrFVolBTaOlh3Ww/s320/seekervile+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then, just when you think your heart couldn’t possibly take any
more excitement, it’s time for the edits. That in itself can be scary because most
times your editor is asking you to stretch yourself as a writer in order to make
your story the best it can possibly be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the edits finished, you ca relax, right? Wrong. The
book is ready to be released, but what if no one likes it? Just because you
wrote it, agonized over every single word in it, doesn’t mean the reader will
have the same reaction you did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzCnLHzlYJike6qfM2CGk76H30Exg4zWcYqoo15UrLGaRj-f9jpn6yZ8hfKHecp1eZC5XXmZHZQklW0NaBtmn3qaROTjztwbB2H-wbkuPcqS8sTVbunH31v_eFYRVK8akK42FAActe7M/s1600/seekerville+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzCnLHzlYJike6qfM2CGk76H30Exg4zWcYqoo15UrLGaRj-f9jpn6yZ8hfKHecp1eZC5XXmZHZQklW0NaBtmn3qaROTjztwbB2H-wbkuPcqS8sTVbunH31v_eFYRVK8akK42FAActe7M/s320/seekerville+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So you see, writing can be scary, but let me just say, I
wouldn’t trade a second of the terror, the rollercoaster ride of emotion, or
the nail biting moments of doubts, for anything else. Because it is a true
blessing to be able to say I am a writer, scary or not. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the best…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mary Alford<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="http://www.maryalford.net/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">www.maryalford.net</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mary Alfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03137022593378590187noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-19051332448640683672016-10-26T09:04:00.002-04:002016-10-26T09:04:41.363-04:00Allie Pleiter's favorite Fall tradition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S2m74jddvFWfzDFWNYE87D1eIPw7KfFYzIm5AUYeGVCfNmlsptz3zy2HkbDRHsrvWkoOc6YpWj17oc8jnPhCTHbUPMbqd1yJ1adyRilT0_ZPEuIj0hrwLpU1QtYxi2rivxIcdck9IK8/s1600/snickers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S2m74jddvFWfzDFWNYE87D1eIPw7KfFYzIm5AUYeGVCfNmlsptz3zy2HkbDRHsrvWkoOc6YpWj17oc8jnPhCTHbUPMbqd1yJ1adyRilT0_ZPEuIj0hrwLpU1QtYxi2rivxIcdck9IK8/s1600/snickers.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; border: 0px none; color: #303030; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 6px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
November 1 is coming in few days, which means it's time for my favorite Fall tradition: Snickers Bar Salad!</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; border: 0px none; color: #303030; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 6px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This started one year when I was speaking to a women's conference on November 1. One of the attendees who knew my sweet tooth brought this to me as a treat. I loved it. Now, for something like 10 years straight, it gets posted to my email list and Allie fans everywhere celebrate November 1 as "Snickers Bar Salad Day." With so much fun-sized candy around from trick or treating, it's a cinch to make. And yes, I have it for breakfast!</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefefe; border: 0px none; color: #303030; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 6px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfIBpRlibo4ro_Qu1MPAnHmkMwyY_u03TEvyQEqUeV75NNHXpm4R_J7WvPyyAJz2KiKo03Cl8_bMr78sAVRQBgHGK1FbM6F62mnaLkIQQPZeGMBv73gI8zP6Z7iAD_vDwhFlNWE45kBc/s1600/Allie+Color+11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfIBpRlibo4ro_Qu1MPAnHmkMwyY_u03TEvyQEqUeV75NNHXpm4R_J7WvPyyAJz2KiKo03Cl8_bMr78sAVRQBgHGK1FbM6F62mnaLkIQQPZeGMBv73gI8zP6Z7iAD_vDwhFlNWE45kBc/s200/Allie+Color+11.JPG" width="133" /></a><b>Snickers Bar Salad</b><br /><br />6 (or more—go ahead, you’ve earned it…) fun-sized Snickers bars, chopped into small bits (my friend says more are permissible if it's been a bad week!)<br />3 Granny Smith Apples, diced<br />one 5-oz package vanilla instant pudding mix<br />8 oz cool whip<br />1 c. milk<br /><br />In a bowl, mix pudding mix and milk. Fold in Cool Whip. Mix in apples and Snickers Bars. Cool and enjoy.</div>
Allie Pleiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057452503146875056noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-70416604340028286462016-10-21T03:00:00.000-04:002016-10-21T03:00:00.179-04:00Glynna Kaye...and A Taste of That Most Wonderful Time of the Year!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl91SPPs9mJD2z8VrETruIRsQE2UCWfISQ70F81H6GRA4yauyDZt9ZFHK3qegtwK-Vh9VpMxS6x-zAlhBHK0h2VdubBf_2P3e9iagtGy5OmAmDqVvHRgpAq2b38vf2qP05Gq23Fw0PheLV/s1600/LI-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl91SPPs9mJD2z8VrETruIRsQE2UCWfISQ70F81H6GRA4yauyDZt9ZFHK3qegtwK-Vh9VpMxS6x-zAlhBHK0h2VdubBf_2P3e9iagtGy5OmAmDqVvHRgpAq2b38vf2qP05Gq23Fw0PheLV/s400/LI-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Yes,
it’s only October, so maybe these snowy scenes seem a bit premature to you? But
with my Love Inspired November release <span style="color: red;"><strong><em>The Pastor’s Christmas Courtship</em></strong></span> already
spotted on retail shelves (and Arizona mountain country experiencing a dusting
of snow on the highest mountain tops), I couldn’t resist!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">As some of you already
know from having read my books, this part of Arizona isn’t all desert heat and
saguaro cactus. At a 7,000 ft (and higher!) elevation it’s a beautiful
ponderosa pine-studded four-season region--which makes it such a fun place to set
my stories. Especially a Christmas one!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_IzNK-a-6XnYTzOiZ0KXcGwhyphenhyphengm8Gpw-z0U9Wz5GQ1LOOjc76zyVKlIvqbumWyOWhjhhHuQznBjGAKYsNq_i4ArrgxL7wIuzNTFKcNyjFqiPD2_3Fq-no3fazQuCLWuCr5zUpBUAwk3ge/s1600/LI-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_IzNK-a-6XnYTzOiZ0KXcGwhyphenhyphengm8Gpw-z0U9Wz5GQ1LOOjc76zyVKlIvqbumWyOWhjhhHuQznBjGAKYsNq_i4ArrgxL7wIuzNTFKcNyjFqiPD2_3Fq-no3fazQuCLWuCr5zUpBUAwk3ge/s400/LI-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black;">Have you started thinking about or even
preparing for the upcoming holidays--<i>Thanksgiving, Christmas, the New Year?</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">If
you’ve started preparations for Christmas, what might those entail? Making a To
Do List and checking it twice? Gift shopping or making handmade gifts and
decorations? (Don’t you just love the craft and fabric stores this time of
year?) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Perhaps you’ve picked up holiday-themed magazines for ideas and are reviewing
your recipe file for family favorites? Or maybe your community or church choir
is preparing for a cantata or a presentation of Handel’s Messiah? Have you been
tempted, as I have, to read a Christmas novella to get a tiny
taste of this most wonderful of seasons?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPb69ZPirEulUPt2fDVSRJW2jJPQj05sntOh6K1UOcbbyxdoNfd1lDsUDTwRUrjTIJAaJa44v4HH4Xd1fTb2xmHurjfr4Xg3hAeiCGRz8GVlMj7-zodPqzjgIFmlON5WXwcx2U5zbuOxXT/s1600/LI-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPb69ZPirEulUPt2fDVSRJW2jJPQj05sntOh6K1UOcbbyxdoNfd1lDsUDTwRUrjTIJAaJa44v4HH4Xd1fTb2xmHurjfr4Xg3hAeiCGRz8GVlMj7-zodPqzjgIFmlON5WXwcx2U5zbuOxXT/s400/LI-3.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">What is your <i>favorite</i> Christmas
tradition? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">In </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><strong>The Pastor’s Christmas Courtship</strong></i>, the heroine finds herself reminiscing
about family traditions and gatherings held at her now-deceased grandparents’ mountain home.
She’s retreating there for a healing time alone and to get the place ready to
sell—never expecting that her former crush would be back in town or that her sisters
would insist she provide their children a Christmas at the cabin just like the
ones they used to love themselves.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">I hope Garrett and Jodi’s story gives you a
taste of this most wonderful time of the year! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>Happy soon-to-be holidays!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><em><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Glynna</strong></span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7VWWfl8H_Uf3QmTe_okygPothtvY4vrn6XFjzLbfur0GJK2jT8IulhtivMAa3_rIBRw6W9viRYyYNK1dOWIjcXk4uUjekMqNhLo8tfg9sMBy1TNolkqf_uNc-J6TKEuB8sqgWZegeA1M/s1600/Pastor%2527s+Christmas+Courtship.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7VWWfl8H_Uf3QmTe_okygPothtvY4vrn6XFjzLbfur0GJK2jT8IulhtivMAa3_rIBRw6W9viRYyYNK1dOWIjcXk4uUjekMqNhLo8tfg9sMBy1TNolkqf_uNc-J6TKEuB8sqgWZegeA1M/s320/Pastor%2527s+Christmas+Courtship.JPG" width="201" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Jodi
Thorpe’s childhood vacation cabin seems the perfect place for her to heal her
broken heart…and avoid Christmas cheer. After twelve years, nothing in Hunter
Ridge has changed--except Garrett McCrae. The bad boy who was once her secret
crush is now the town minister. And Garrett won’t let her miss out on all the
hope and joy the holiday brings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
every day he’s drawn to the vulnerable woman Jodi’s become, even as he’s about
to leave for a mission halfway around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as they grow closer, their plans begin to
change. Can Garrett make it a season to remember, with a love they can’t
forget?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: red;">Click </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pastors-Christmas-Courtship-Hearts-Hunter/dp/0373719906/ref" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a><span style="color: red;"> to order Jodi and Garrett’s Christmas story!</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Glynna Kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11914006944057671962noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-59152128333924770842016-10-12T14:42:00.000-04:002016-10-12T14:42:02.219-04:00Christmas In October<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello, Terri Reed here. I can't believe Christmas is only 73 days away!! Here's a link to a countdown you want to keep track: <a href="http://www.xmasclock.com/">http://www.xmasclock.com</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have two books out this month, both are holiday themed. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWnCp12VPNp_JhV7IvtgSomkiYGgjwS35vx7nlLjY_Dpij2BqlhdGy3gqFSO00RsWcMxpLPEA7xQi_ipwJkE5FvnuUxgU2m7Zx8ZE_mIpm48PqUwerfZQ4js4FSwXJtnx9xaUzkuf6Nw/s1600/ChristmasBooksMEME.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWnCp12VPNp_JhV7IvtgSomkiYGgjwS35vx7nlLjY_Dpij2BqlhdGy3gqFSO00RsWcMxpLPEA7xQi_ipwJkE5FvnuUxgU2m7Zx8ZE_mIpm48PqUwerfZQ4js4FSwXJtnx9xaUzkuf6Nw/s320/ChristmasBooksMEME.jpg" width="320" /></a><i><b>Identity Unknown </b></i>is a fast-paced, edge of your seat romantic suspense. A man with no memory is marked for murder. A female deputy sheriff with trust issues is determined to learn the truth. They must work together to uncover the past and stop the threat or they won't live to see Christmas Day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><b>A Family Under the Christmas Tree</b></i> is a charming, delightful story to warm your heart. A man juggling sudden parenthood of a five-year-old and a growing business doesn't need the distraction of his neighbors granddaughter. A woman with wanderlust is determined to keep her heart from growing attached. A matchmaking grandma and a rambunctious dog conspire to form bring these two together.</div>
<br />
<div data-canvas-width="253.90567513176467" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09355130718954px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 613.2283529411765px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0617377882927912); white-space: pre;">
To celebrate the beginning of fall</div>
<div data-canvas-width="14.673215686274512" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 359.44679967320263px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 613.2283529411765px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(0.9785966433987952); white-space: pre;">
, I</div>
<div style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: monospace; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 374.15518088235297px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 607.8178235294118px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; white-space: pre;">
’</div>
<div data-canvas-width="230.79370574941174" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 377.65714166666663px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 613.2283529411765px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0788051010749928); white-space: pre;">
ve teamed up with more than </div>
<div data-canvas-width="19.540941176470593" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 608.8449194444445px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 613.2283529411765px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0856078431372551); white-space: pre;">
40</div>
<div data-canvas-width="74.83565893980393" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 628.4995284313726px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 613.2283529411765px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0695433956420777); white-space: pre;">
fantastic </div>
<div data-canvas-width="542.9128875298042" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09355130718954px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 633.1895294117647px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0722715919673955); white-space: pre;">
inspirational contemporary romance authors to give away a huge colle</div>
<div data-canvas-width="112.44104721333333" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 648.0594385620916px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 633.1895294117647px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0510427606752595); white-space: pre;">
ction of novels</div>
<div data-canvas-width="9.770470588235296" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 760.5536544117648px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 633.1895294117647px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0856078431372551); white-space: pre;">
, </div>
<div data-canvas-width="308.16931355803916" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09355130718954px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 653.5009019607843px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0360434853865468); white-space: pre;">
PLUS a Kindle Fire to one lucky winner!</div>
<div data-canvas-width="640.9572911374513" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09384313725488px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 693.8024880718955px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0335709095507717); white-space: pre;">
You can win my novel NAME OF NOVEL, plus books from authors like NAME and </div>
<div data-canvas-width="65.13975087490196" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09384313725488px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 713.7638104575163px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(0.9795738963183189); white-space: pre;">
NAME. </div>
<div data-canvas-width="301.50761322764697" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09384313725488px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 753.6863093137255px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.140378505954504); white-space: pre;">
Enter the giveaway by clicking here:</div>
<div data-canvas-width="223.84216108215682" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 410.57605455882356px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 753.6863093137255px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.1363165868425993); white-space: pre;">
http://bit.ly/contemp-inspy </div>
<div data-canvas-width="253.90567513176467" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09355130718954px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 613.2283529411765px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0617377882927912); white-space: pre;">
To celebrate the beginning of fall</div>
<div data-canvas-width="14.673215686274512" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 359.44679967320263px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 613.2283529411765px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(0.9785966433987952); white-space: pre;">
, I</div>
<div style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: monospace; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 374.15518088235297px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 607.8178235294118px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; white-space: pre;">
’</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LN8nlYvFQKb17QmgU87XcxBdjfSj_zWKdprMBFbqFUFhC3ai3c6P3ZhuZZdQ_kVZX6-zEOUhQ5o5Yvc2B96IEw7fLmx1YFjqBh2OugY3PvTpPERGljzZ2X-Td5bKidzS_1FkbCWc64Q/s1600/inspysweep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LN8nlYvFQKb17QmgU87XcxBdjfSj_zWKdprMBFbqFUFhC3ai3c6P3ZhuZZdQ_kVZX6-zEOUhQ5o5Yvc2B96IEw7fLmx1YFjqBh2OugY3PvTpPERGljzZ2X-Td5bKidzS_1FkbCWc64Q/s320/inspysweep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div data-canvas-width="230.79370574941174" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 377.65714166666663px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 613.2283529411765px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0788051010749928); white-space: pre;">
ve teamed up with more than </div>
<div data-canvas-width="19.540941176470593" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 608.8449194444445px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 613.2283529411765px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0856078431372551); white-space: pre;">
40</div>
<div data-canvas-width="74.83565893980393" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 628.4995284313726px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 613.2283529411765px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0695433956420777); white-space: pre;">
fantastic </div>
<div data-canvas-width="542.9128875298042" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09355130718954px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 633.1895294117647px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0722715919673955); white-space: pre;">
inspirational contemporary romance authors to give away a huge colle</div>
<div data-canvas-width="112.44104721333333" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 648.0594385620916px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 633.1895294117647px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0510427606752595); white-space: pre;">
ction of novels</div>
<div data-canvas-width="9.770470588235296" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 760.5536544117648px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 633.1895294117647px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0856078431372551); white-space: pre;">
, </div>
<div data-canvas-width="308.16931355803916" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09355130718954px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 653.5009019607843px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0360434853865468); white-space: pre;">
PLUS a Kindle Fire to one lucky winner!</div>
<div data-canvas-width="640.9572911374513" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09384313725488px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 693.8024880718955px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0335709095507717); white-space: pre;">
You can win my novel NAME OF NOVEL, plus books from authors like NAME and </div>
<div data-canvas-width="65.13975087490196" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09384313725488px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 713.7638104575163px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(0.9795738963183189); white-space: pre;">
NAME. </div>
<div data-canvas-width="301.50761322764697" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09384313725488px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 753.6863093137255px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.140378505954504); white-space: pre;">
Enter the giveaway by clicking here:</div>
<div data-canvas-width="223.84216108215682" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 410.57605455882356px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 753.6863093137255px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.1363165868425993); white-space: pre;">
http://bit.ly/contemp-inspy </div>
<div data-canvas-width="174.43016766745092" style="color: transparent; cursor: text; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; left: 105.09417874183006px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.5; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 794.3528289215686px; transform-origin: 0% 0%; transform: scaleX(1.0541950947948449); white-space: pre;">
Good luck, and enjoy</div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">To celebrate the beginning of fall, I</span><span style="font-family: Courier; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Courier;">’</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">ve teamed
up with more than 40 fantastic inspirational contemporary romance authors to
give away a huge collection of novels, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">PLUS a Kindle Fire to one lucky winner!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">You can win my novel Double Threat Christmas, plus
books from authors like Margaret Daley and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Linda Goodnight.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Enter the giveaway by clicking here:</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 17.5pt;"> </span><a href="http://ryanzee.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7d1e1043ac24995d2581b8bc6&id=d94eea5b9f&e=b4760e7612">http://bit.ly/contemporary-inspy</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 17.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 17.5pt;">God Bless, and enjoy!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: transparent; font-family: serif; font-size: 17.50980392156863px; white-space: pre;">Good luck, and enjoy!</span></div>
<br /><br />Terri Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18162233044268346894noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-60400677590262209912016-09-29T00:00:00.000-04:002016-09-29T00:00:17.894-04:00Strange Things by Mary Alford
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My husband and I live out in the country, which is a huge
blessing. We have no close neighbors so it’s very peaceful and I love it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But let me tell you, through the years, we’ve seen some pretty
interesting things around here. Whether it be mountain lions, wild hogs, bobcats,
various fowl life passing through, or simply a snorting and angry deer, it’s
never a dull moment in the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One night while sitting outside in front of a fire we heard
a noise that sounded like something straight out of a horror movie. My husband
and I both wanted to run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I have to say, the strangest and most amazing thing I’ve
witnessed lately happened when our three granddaughters were out visiting a few
weeks back. We took them on a ride in our side by side four wheeler and what we
saw, well, we couldn’t believe our eyes. There in the small creek that crosses
our property was a group of otters. Otters in Texas? We were certainly stunned.
I’ve seen them on TV and at the aquarium in Galveston, but never in the wild. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPP8nNweLK-dJuJSe4d8kifpK8qXQRCgoOWknbHEum8TaBOKoDh5HGa_RS32km26ckRRJElBAj6yDoBgk95RGLGXibCR4m7Km3jPIrhvdlmc9HtEVYx0CBMfhj_Aq4eYZWq-VQiXdLXA/s1600/texas+otter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPP8nNweLK-dJuJSe4d8kifpK8qXQRCgoOWknbHEum8TaBOKoDh5HGa_RS32km26ckRRJElBAj6yDoBgk95RGLGXibCR4m7Km3jPIrhvdlmc9HtEVYx0CBMfhj_Aq4eYZWq-VQiXdLXA/s1600/texas+otter.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My husband got online and did some checking. As it turns out
river otters originally ranged across most of the eastern half of Texas and
even into the Panhandle. The animals were and are inexorably tied to rivers,
creeks, bayous and other waterways. In the past, a lot of otters disappeared due
to habitat loss or degradation and unregulated hunting and trapping, but they
are making a comeback and that sure was lucky for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately, we only spotted the little otters, (there
were six of them) one more time so I think they were just passing through. But
still, how great is it to be able to show your granddaughters real live otters
in the wild. Thank you God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what about you? What is the strangest thing you’ve seen
lately?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the best…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mary Alford<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="http://www.maryalford.net/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">www.maryalford.net</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mary Alfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03137022593378590187noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5972342285468874854.post-81680834069597066392016-09-27T02:00:00.000-04:002016-09-27T10:51:10.515-04:00Having Fun by Leann HarrisI thought I'd never be a grandma. My children decided to do their thing before having children. I decided not to ask the question w<i>hen are you going to give me grand-babies</i> because I got that question from my parents. But I now have two and I'm having the time of my life. Sunday, the family gather to see our youngest, Isaac, dedicated. He has the sweetest nature and a smile that wilts any heart. And he loves flirting. There were six babies in rows one and two. How beautifully my life has turned around. Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are a crown to the aged. (I don't consider myself aged, but blessed.)
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NdNGXHLyUQysT32XAPNhe09zC1nna9A2Z_kQ9KtAGqE85mgQLOENaEWK5rUApF-DkAqqVnWJCtdTPzmgNEHi9j_ywTyMOseDTI9Ex8MKVI_Uz5YAFhIe_oX4VqBWpPXjz3ZisbtX_s8/s1600/Issac9_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NdNGXHLyUQysT32XAPNhe09zC1nna9A2Z_kQ9KtAGqE85mgQLOENaEWK5rUApF-DkAqqVnWJCtdTPzmgNEHi9j_ywTyMOseDTI9Ex8MKVI_Uz5YAFhIe_oX4VqBWpPXjz3ZisbtX_s8/s320/Issac9_25.jpg" width="304" height="320" /></a></div>Leann Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10840850473156676151noreply@blogger.com3