Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Coming This Week

Susan Sleeman, here. I'm departing from my normal posts to tell you about a fun opportunity to win great prizes.

So . . . without further ado, here's the scoop.

Follow the clues for a Chance to Win a Kindle Fire HDX or 30+ novels!

The Autumn 2014 Scavenger Hunt begins at noon (Mountain Time Zone) on October 17, 2014.  A group of 33 Christian Fiction authors have joined together to create a hunt for clues on our blogs and to give away great prizes. You simply start at the FIRST STOP collect a clue and write it down, then work your way through the sites, gathering clues. Along the way you can enter to win bonus giveaways by each author, until you reach the final stop where you will enter the clues into a Rafflecopter form.

The hunt ends on Sunday, October 19, 2014 at one minute before midnight (Mountain). That means you have all of the weekend to finish it, so you can take your time. Enjoy reading the exclusive content the authors have prepared for you. The hunt is open to international entries. The grand prize is a Kindle Fire HDX. Two runners-up will receive a new release from each of the participating authors.

So mark your calendar and join us for a chance to win the Kindle, the  fabulous books in the graphic and too many more prizes to list here.

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SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational and clean read romantic suspense books. Awards include Thread of Suspicion-2013 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Best Book Award, No Way Out-2014 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence finalist, and The Christmas Witness-2012 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence finalist. In addition to writing, Susan also hosts the popular website TheSuspenseZone.com.She currently lives in Oregon with her husband, but has lived in nine states. They have two daughters, a son-in-law, and an adorable grandson. To connect with Susan outside of her – Website visit any of these social media sites-

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COMING IN NOVEMBER! 

Book 1 in the First Responders Series

HOSTAGE SITUATION

When armed robbers strike her bank, hostage negotiator Skyler Brennan’s life is on the line. Rescue comes from the last person she thought she could count on—the ex-boyfriend who chose his job over their relationship. 

FBI agent Logan Hunter knows how much is resting on this case. The promotion of his dreams…and the safety of the woman he’s never been able to forget. But when an unexpected twist in the case pulls Logan in two separate directions, he’ll have to make an impossible choice. Will he manage to have it all by Christmas—a career and love—or will he lose them both?

A Heroic Christmas

Susan Sleeman here. I've been attending weekly sessions of our local police academy to get insights into the job of  a police officer. I not only get to hear from the fine men and women who protect me, but I'll also get to go on a ride along. I'll spend four hours of a shift with the patrol officer traveling the streets of my city and seeing his or her job first hand. I can't wait. I'm so in awe of our law enforcement officers and the troops who defend our country. I see each and everyone of them as heroes who deserve our utmost respect.

So when my editor asked me to join with Debby Guisti and Jodie Bailey to create a Christmas themed novella featuring military heroes, I wholeheartedly accepted and enjoyed every minute of writing my story, Special Ops Christmas. The book is releasing in a few days and here's a quick description of the stories and I hope you'll look for it in stores or at online retailers.

 

HOLIDAY DEFENDERS 

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, THREE MILITARY MEN OF HONOR MUST DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO SAVE CHRISTMAS

Mission: Christmas Rescue by Debby Giusti 

On the run from a killer, Elizabeth Tate must accept U.S. Army Captain Nick Fontaine’s protection for the sake of her young niece and nephew. Now her life is in the hands of the very man who broke her heart years ago.

Special Ops Christmas by Susan Sleeman 

Researcher Claire Reed’s top secret project is stolen, putting her at risk of being kidnapped to unlock it. Her undercover bodyguard—her former love, Green Beret Travis Chapman—is on his most dangerous mission yet.

Homefront Holiday Hero by Jodie Bailey 

When someone tries to kill the daughter of a military official, U.S. Army major Tyler Rainey must keep Kelly Walters from harm…while guarding his own heart against very unexpected feelings.

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SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational and clean read romantic suspense books. Awards include Thread of Suspicion-2013 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Best Book Award, No Way Out-2014 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence finalist, and The Christmas Witness-2012 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence finalist. In addition to writing, Susan also hosts the popular website TheSuspenseZone.com. She currently lives in Oregon with her husband, but has lived in nine states. They have two daughters, a son-in-law, and an adorable grandson. To connect with Susan outside of her – Website visit any of these social media sites-

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Christmas is Coming!

Susan Sleeman here. Okay, don't panic. You still have plenty of time to get that Christmas shopping done, but I wanted to stop in to tell you that October means Love Inspired Christmas books will start releasing. I was fortunate enough this year to be able to write two of them. How fun it was to write about Christmas in the heat of summer. LOL

The first book, Holiday Defenders is compilation of stories with three amazing military heroes. I got to write this book with Debby Guisti and Jodie Bailey. I am so humbled to be included with them. This book is available for preorder and you can enter to win a copy at Goodreads. Click on the picture below to go to Amazon to preorder your copy.

The second story is the first in my new First Responders series and it releases in November. It to is available for preorder, too. Here are the details.

SILENT NIGHT STANDOFF

HOSTAGE SITUATION
When armed robbers strike her bank, hostage negotiator Skyler Brennan’s life is on the line. Rescue comes from the last person she thought she could count on—the ex-boyfriend who chose his job over their relationship.

FBI agent Logan Hunter knows how much is resting on this case. The promotion of his dreams…and the safety of the woman he’s never been able to forget. But when an unexpected twist in the case pulls Logan in two separate directions, he’ll have to make an impossible choice. Will he manage to have it all by Christmas—a career and love—or will he lose them both?

So, my question of the day. Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? I confess I have bought two gifts already. I'm a planner. What can I say.

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SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational and clean read romantic suspense books. Awards include Thread of Suspicion-2013 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Best Book Award, No Way Out-2014 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence finalist, and The Christmas Witness-2012 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence finalist. In addition to writing, Susan also hosts the popular website TheSuspenseZone.com. She currently lives in Oregon with her husband, but has lived in nine states. They have two daughters, a son-in-law, and an adorable grandson. To connect with Susan outside of her – Website visit any of these social media sites-

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Gardening and reading - two favorite things to do!

Susan Sleeman here. Summer’s in full swing in Oregon and I have to share a few pictures from my backyard. I love the multi-color of the two tall stands of zebra grass. It's also beautiful in the fall and winter if you leave the stalks with their seed heads.

The red flower is called Crocosmia and is my very favorite flower ever. I not only love the way it looks, but it’s a hummingbird magnet. They love, love, love it.

The heathers along the upper rock wall are out of bloom now, but in the spring we have a gorgeous show. They're covered in pink and purple flowers that remind me summer is coming. 

I wish I could take credit for how good the garden looks, but I have so many book deadlines this summer that I have had to forgo almost everything except working and my youngest daughter who still lives at home has taken up the charge and kept it in good shape. I’m so thankful that she shares my love of gardening. It would be a huge mess without her.

And this amazing picture is of the hummingbird that came to visit her when she was staking up the Crocosmia that likes to get a bit floppy. Isn't it an incredible picture?

My other favorite thing to do is take a book outside and sit on the patio to read. I could do that all summer long and never tire of it. I'd say I continue in the winter, but we have so much rain in Oregon and it's hard to read a soggy book. LOL

So what is your favorite summer activity and have you been able to do it this summer? 

DARK TIDE MISSION: PROTECT BABY

Gina Evans knows her brother was murdered—even if the police won't believe her. After catching a quick glimpse of the evidence her brother had gathered, the same criminals are after her and her baby niece. And Gina's only hope is the man she left behind. Despite the painful memories, private investigator Derrick Justice won't fail Gina and her baby. Yet now, the woman he never stopped loving and the baby he's come to adore are in a killer's crosshairs. But can Derrick trap the cold-blooded murderer before he strikes again?

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SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational and clean read romantic suspense books. Her first book, High-Stakes Inheritance was an ECPA bestseller. Award nominations include The Christmas Witness for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence and Thread of Suspicion for the 2013 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Best Book Award. In addition to writing, Susan also hosts the popular website TheSuspenseZone.com. She currently lives in Oregon, but has lived in nine states. Her husband is a realtor and they have two daughters, a son-in-law, and an adorable grandson. . To connect with Susan outside of her – Website visit any of these social media sites-

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Necessary Proof free ebook novella!

Free! My romantic suspense novella, Necessary Proof, is free on Kindle, iBooks, Smashwords and Kobo!

Originally published in First Kisses, a novella anthology with Linda Goodnight, Janet Tronstad, Debra Clopton, Margaret Daley, and Lacy Williams.

After opening his heart to Jesus in prison, Alex Villa has left his criminal past behind him. However, his efforts to take down a gang producing meth in Sonoma have made him a target. Set up to look like he’s being bribed by the gang, the police blame him for the death of a cop. Only the evidence on an encrypted laptop can prove he’s innocent.

Software engineer Jane Lawton has been betrayed by the men closest to her, including a God she thought would protect her. She won’t let Alex down, because she knows what it feels like to be disbelieved and abandoned.

However, the men after them have orders to repossess the evidence and make sure Jane and Alex take their knowledge to the grave. Can they prove Alex’s innocence before time runs out for them both?

** Those of you who have read Formula for Danger will recognize Jane and Alex as minor characters from that book. I was excited to finally be able to write their own love story!

Excerpt:

Jane Lawton nearly dropped her steaming pot of Mac-N-Cheese at the sound of a powerful fist knocking at her apartment door. "Coming!" She spooned the gooey, bad-for-you goodness into a bowl, then ran some water in the pot in the sink.

The urgent knocking sounded again. Somehow it didn't sound like one of her neighbors, wanting Jane's help with a computer problem. She looked through the peephole.

She felt a sharp pulse at the base of her throat. "Alex?" She opened the door.

Normally a walking Calvin Klein ad, he now had a grim, serious cast to his face as he hurriedly entered her apartment with a messenger bag slung across one broad shoulder. "Quick, close the door."

"What's going on?" She locked the deadbolt.

It frightened her that he looked so different now, lacking his usual smile and dimples. "I need your help, Jane."

She couldn't control the bitterness that burned the back of her throat. It seemed that was the only thing she was good for, helping the men in her life so they could leave her and move on. She swallowed and said carefully, "Doing what?"

He pulled a laptop from his messenger bag. "There's information on this that I need, but I'm not sure if there's any type of security protecting it."

"Whoa." Jane took a step back. "You're saying that's not your laptop, and you want me to get into it? What's going on?" She knew he had been in prison for a few years, but she thought he'd put his illegal past behind him.

He scrubbed his hand over his high forehead. "It's not what it looks like."

"That makes it sound even worse."

He exhaled and seemed to study her. His intent, dark eyes made her squirm. She knew she'd changed a lot in the past year. She'd only spoken to him once in all that time, a few months ago at the party celebrating his brother's engagement to Rachel, Jane's second cousin but as close as a sister. After a minute or two of chit-chat, he had been quick to leave her to speak to Detective Carter, which had given her a pang even though she hadn't been in a sociable mood. What a difference from when she and Alex had first met years ago. He had seemed interested in her, but she'd been ...

She shoved the memories aside. "I'm only going to ask this one more time. What's going on?"

"I just ... I can trust you, right?"

"Trust me with what?"

Print book:
You can only buy Necessary Proof in print copy in First Kisses, an Inspy Kisses novella anthology.
Amazon.com

Ebook:
The ebook is free on all sites except Nook (sorry about that). Nook owners can download the .epub file from Smashwords and side load it into their Nooks.
Smashwords
Kindle
iBooks
KoboNookbook (not free)

Camy's Sonoma series:

#1: Deadly Intent
#2: Formula for Danger
#3: Stalker in the Shadows
#4: Narrow Escape
#4.1: Necessary Proof
#5: Treacherous Intent (coming December 2014)

Whole Lot of Shaking Going On

Susan Sleeman here. We had an earthquake Sunday night. Not a big one. Just a 3.3 and we were a few miles from the epicenter. No damage. No injuries. Still, our house shook twice as my hubby, daughter, and I looked at each other. We've experienced bigger quakes so I knew immediately it was an earthquake. Nothing else feels quite like the rolling of the ground beneath your feet and let me tell you, nothing makes you feel as helpless either.

This made me think about Dark Tide, my latest book release and final book in my Justice Agency series. The hero Derrick Justice lost his birth parents in a car accident and his adoptive parents were murdered. He doesn't want to experience such loss again so he puts all kinds of controls in place so he can make sure bad things don't happen in his life. But, as we all know, you can't control everything.

Like the earthquake. We could do nothing to stop it. Nothing. And experiencing that unsettling shaking of my home served as a reminder to me, a control freak of sorts, that God is in control and I need to rest in the assurance of His control rather than try to fight it.

What about you? Have you experienced an earthquake or another situation where you were totally out of control? How did you react? Did it change your thinking?

DARK TIDE

MISSION: PROTECT BABY

Gina Evans knows her brother was murdered—even if the police won't believe her. After catching a quick glimpse of the evidence her brother had gathered, the same criminals are after her and her baby niece. And Gina's only hope is the man she left behind.

Despite the painful memories, private investigator Derrick Justice won't fail Gina and her baby. Yet now, the woman he never stopped loving and the baby he's come to adore are in a killer's crosshairs. But can Derrick trap the cold-blooded murderer before he strikes again?

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SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational and clean read romantic suspense books. Her first book, High-Stakes Inheritance was an ECPA bestseller. Award nominations include The Christmas Witness for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence and Thread of Suspicion for the 2013 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Best Book Award.

In addition to writing, Susan also hosts the popular website TheSuspenseZone.com. She currently lives in Oregon, but has lived in nine states. Her husband is a realtor and they have two daughters, a son-in-law, and an adorable grandson. . To connect with Susan outside of her – Website visit any of these social media sites-

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Saying Goodbye is Hard To Do

Susan Sleeman here with a happy yet bittersweet moment. This past week my latest book, Dark Tide released, but it's the last book in my Justice Agency series, and I'm sad about that. For the last few years I have been working on this series about five adopted siblings all working together in a private investigation agency and I've enjoyed every moment of it.

Though I'm happy to have the final book release so readers have the last sibling's story, I think of my characters in a my books as friends. That means I'm saying goodbye to the Justice family and  it's so hard to do.

What about you? Are you sad when a favorite series ends? Do you think of the characters as friends, too, or is that just something an author does?

ALL BOOKS IN THE JUSTICE AGENCY SERIES
Family and Law Enforcement Go Hand In Hand

Double Exposure featuring Ethan Justice - June-2012
Dead Wrong featuring Kat Justice - November-2012
No Way Out featuring Cole Justice - May-2013
Thread of Suspicion featuring Dani Justice - October-2013
Dark Tide featuring Derrick Justice - March-2014

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SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational and clean read romantic suspense books. Her first book, High-Stakes Inheritance was an ECPA bestseller. Award nominations include The Christmas Witness for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence and Thread of Suspicion for the 2013 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Best Book Award. In addition to writing, Susan also hosts the popular website TheSuspenseZone.com. She currently lives in Oregon, but has lived in nine states. Her husband is a realtor and they have two daughters, a son-in-law, and an adorable grandson.

To connect with Susan outside of her – Website visit any of these social media sites-

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