Happy April Fool's Day, and I'm not fooling...Sharon Moore is the winner of Ann Gabhart's Words Spoken True. Please read below for more info on the book that will be given away on May 1.

This month I will be giving away the book Jennifer Johnson told you about this past Friday, March 30th--Shoebox Surprise, so check out that info and leave a comment on this post or any the whole month of April. Jennifer and I crit for each other, so I have read this book and love the way she works the story all together around the Shoebox Ministry.

Two posts in one day!

I think I have only done this once before, but today's second post is due to my having company the past two days and forgetting I was supposed to post a winner until today. And the winner of a copy of Ann Gabhart's Words Spoken True is...Chris Newcomb!

Congrats to Chris! As soon as she sends me her mailing address, I will forward the info on to Ann.

And remember, everyone who leaves a comment anytime this month will have another chance to win this wonderful book. Drawing for that one on April 1st, and I'm not fooling!

March 1st bookdrawing...and the winner of Board to Death is...Peg Phifer! And read on for a review of the book you can win if you leave a comment during the month of March--Words Spoken True by Ann Gabhart.

Suspense with Lots of Sizzle!

Ann Gabhart said this book has more romance than most of her books, and I agree. And the romance sizzles from the moment Adriane Darcy meets Blake Garrett. But there are two problems--she is engaged to someone else and Blake runs a newspaper that rivals the one her dad (and Adriane) put out in Louisville, KY. Since this is the town where I was born and grew up the first eighteen years of my life, I enjoyed learning much about the early history during the newspaper wars and the political life of the mid-nineteenth century. But Ann weaves the facts into the story in such an interesting way that you'll want to stay up past midnight to finish it like I did!

And for suspense lovers, the newspapers covers several murders of young women in the city that builds to a very nail-biting scene near the end. I guarantee if you love romance and suspense you will love this book! And isn't the cover beautiful?!

I hope you will come back tomorrow to hear Ann's own words about writing romance. And you can leave another comment on that post for an additional chance to win this must-read book on April 1st! Please leave an email so I can contact you if you win. All those with US mailing addresses are eligible.

Happy New Year to all, especially to Vannetta Chapman!

Vannetta is the winner of Give My Love to the Chestnut Trees by Beverly Varnado. And anyone with a US mailing addy who leaves a comment during the month of January will be eligible to win a copy of Dry as Rain by Gina Holmes, so leave a comment on this post and the rest of the month for more chances!

Here is the review I posted for Dry as Rain in Nov. 2011:

Dry as Rain by Gina Holmes

A book review by Rose McCauley

When I first started, I wasn't sure I would like this book, but I ended up loving it! It is written in 1st person which I don't read a lot of and was written solely in the POV of the male character, but it works well! Gina Holmes is a master at getting you inside the POV character's head, and his POV was the perfect one for this story.

I don't want to give away a lot of the details because I want you to read this book for yourself, so I will share some of the back cover blurb: "When Eric and Kyra Yoshida first met, they thought their love would last forever. But like many marriages, theirs has gradually crumbled, one thoughtless comment and misunderstanding at a time, until the ultimate betrayal pushes them beyond reconciliation...A richly engaging story of betrayal and redemption, Dry as Rain illuminates with striking emotional intensity the surprising truth of what it means to forgive."

One additional thing I want to say is that I disagree with another review I read that said this kind of book should not be published by a Christian publisher. If that is true, they better be careful reading their Bible, because they will be exposed to a lot worse! The story of David and Bathsheba has a less satisfying ending than this story does!

So, bottom line, I hope you will give this book a try so you won't miss out on a great read from a great writer! I give the book and lovely cover both 5 stars!

Monthly giveaway winner and new book to win in January--Give My Love to the Chestnut Trees by Beverly Varnado

Since I plan to run Christmas stories and scenes the whole month of December, I am drawing for this month's giveaway of a copy of Christmas Belles of Georgia a day early. And the winner is...Deborah H. Bateman whom I have contacted.

To read my review of the lovely book you can win on January 1st if you leave a comment on my blog anytime during the month of December (with a US address and a way to contact you), go to my November 14th posting.

And hope you will check in December 1st and often this month for the 25 Days of Christmas Cheer! And if you haven't ordered or bought a copy of Christmas Belles of Georgia yet, what's stopping you? It's available at most Christian bookstores, WalMart, Sam's Clubs and can be ordered online at http://www.cbd.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

We have a winner for Christmas Belles of Georgia...

Liz Tolsma. And this will be the last month I offer the above Christmas book as the giveaway this year, since it will be for my last drawing this year on Dec. 1, 2011. Everyone except Liz who has a US mailing addy and leaves an email so I can contact you for mailing info is eligible. So what is stopping you? I love to read Christmas books the whole month of December, so if you win, you can do the same.

Congrats to Diane Ashley, winner of a copy of Christmas Belles of Georgia in this month's drawing.

It will be on its way to her as soon as she sends me her mailing address. And I will giveaway another copy next month since that winner would still have the month of December to enjoy a Christmas book. So be sure to stop by and comment often to have more chances.

September 1, 2011--Book release and book drawing

My book Christmas Belles of Georgia released today! And my sweet children all called to congratulate me! And I booked another booksigning! A great day!

And it is a good day/evening for Chris Weigand, number 21 of my 49 followers. My husband chose her number, so she wins a hot-off-the-press copy! And I have decided to do the same giveaway next month, so all of my current followers (except Chris) and any new followers will all be in the drawing on Oct. 1st for a copy of Christmas Belles of Georgia.

Happy release day to me, and to all my faithful followers! And all praise and thanks to God, the Giver of all good things!

Happy New Year to all, especially to Diane F. who is starting off the new year with a new book...And to you, dear reader, who could win an autographed copy of Mirrored Image by Alice K. Arenz, reviewed below.

Diane is the winner of my monthly book drawing for a copy of Highland Blessings by Jennifer Hudson Taylor. I have contacted her, but if I don't hear back by next Saturday evening, I will have my hubby draw another name.

Mirrored Image by Alice K. Arenz is a must read. I just finished this book last night, and it is a well plotted out mystery with enough red herrings to stock a fish store!

I have read and enjoyed the author's first two books, which were cozy mysteries, but this mystery fits more in the suspense category as you find yourself trying to figure out which of the characters could be the murderer.

I don't want to give any plot points away, so will just second one of the back of the book blurbs by Patti Shene, editor of Starsongs Magazine: "...a roller coaster ride that leaves you breathless. Arenz grips the reader with a fierce intensity that starts with the first sentence and keeps you up all night until the last page is turned."

I know Alice personally, and don't know how such a sweet person can write some of these diabolical characters, but she succeeds at making them very believable.

I hope you will leave a message with your email addy this month to be entered in the drawing which will be held on Feb. 1st for this copy. And if you can't wait, I suggest you check out this and her other two books which I have also reviewed on this blog last year and order one or all of them. Alice's website is www.akawriter.com

An early Merry Christmas present going out to Karen K...

who won a copy of A Door County Christmas by Eileen Key, Becky Melby, Rachael Phillips and Cynthia Ruchti--a wonderful read that is sure to get her in the Christmas mood! And for those of you who didn't win, put this book on your wish list or go buy it as an early present for yourself!

Everyone with a US mailing addy who leaves a comment in the month of December (except for Karen K.) will be eligible to win an ARC copy of Highland Blessings by Jennifer Hudson Taylor.

Here's the back cover blurb to give you an inkling of what it is about:
Scotland, 1473. Highland Warrior, Bryce MacPhearson kidnaps Akira MacKenzie on her wedding day to honor a promise he made to his dying father. When he forces Akira to wed him, hoping to end a half-century old feud between their clans, she struggles to overcome her anger and resentment. Yet her strength in the Lord becomes a witness to Bryce. But there is a traitor in their midst...and murder is the ultimate weapon.

Sounds great, doesn't it?

This book was provided to me by Abingdon Press to use as a giveaway for promotional purposes.

They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti...
...will be finding a new home with Karen K. who is the winner of my monthly drawing. The drawing for this month will be for a gently used autographed copy of Colleen Coble's Alaska Twilight which just travelled over 6,000 miles with me to Alaska and back. To get you in the mood to read this book I will be posting some pics from our Alaskan adventure each week this month, so be sure to check often to see the pics, and the more times you post a comment, the more chances you have to win this great book! Rules are the same as usual--everyone with a US mailing addy who posts is eligible except for the previous winner--Karen K.

Our group of mostly farmers, retired farmers and retired teachers arrived in Fairbanks on the evening of the 20th of July. The next morning we boarded our tour bus for Chena Hot Springs, a resort and experimental farm about an hour out of Fairbanks owned and run by Mr. Bernie Karl, a man with more ideas than Einstein! We toured his hydroponics greenhouse and geothermal building, and also went to extreme temperatures when we toured the Ice Palace where it stays 20 degrees year around and then got in the hot springs which is scalding enough to burn at the edges, but very relaxing and soothing in the middle. My husband and the other farmers also enjoyed the old farm machinery around the place.

After leaving there, we drove back to Fairbanks for an Alaskan Salmon Bake and musical about life in the frontier of Alaska at Pioneer Park. We were joined for this meal by another Harrison County-grown young man, Nate Thornton, whom we have known since he was born and who is now serving in the Army there. We were also glad to see his wife--Stephanie, another HC girl. A great first day! Be sure to check back for this continuing saga.

Book Winner and July's book---They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti

I only posted three times last month due to a family vacation (you'll hear more about that next week) and several other things going on in our family, but I do want to post the winner of the drawing for the June giveaway--Mary DeMuth. As soon as I receive her mailing address, the book Finding Jeena by Sharlene MacLaren will be on its way to her.

This month's drawing will be for an ARC copy of Cynthia Ruchti's debut novel--They Almost Always Come Home. This copy was provided by Abingdon Press for promotional purposes which is one of the reasons I do a monthly book drawing--to introduce authors and their books to readers who maybe haven't had the chance to "meet" them yet.

I am so happy to have the opportunity to help promote Cynthia Ruchti's book. Cynthia was one of the first people I met at my first ACFW conference in Kansas City in 2002. She is a delightful person, and I've enjoyed our contacts at the conference and also reading the Backyard Friends magazine which is an outgrowth of The Heartbeat of the Home radio broadcast she has been involved in for many years. She also directed our ACFW choir several years and now serves as President of American Christian Fiction Writers. And she is very gifted and talented at all of these endeavors.

So, I can't wait to read this intriguing sounding novel. I have parts of three other books already started (not counting 2 Bible studies! Does anyone else do this?), so this book is number 4 in my TBR pile, and I plan to finish reading it before I have to mail it off to a blessed winner next month. To be entered in the drawing, just leave a comment on any post this month along with your email info so I can contact you if your named is picked. Everyone with an American email is eligible except last month's winner.

To whet your appetite to read this book like it did mine, I will share the first sentence of the back cover: "She would leave her husband...if she could find him." Want to read more? I do. Good thing tomorrow is my happy birthday so I plan to fore go most of my usual activities (except going out to eat with my hubby!) and try to finish at least one of the other books so I can start this one! Happy reading, everyone!

This month's winner is...Lisa Harris

Lisa wins a copy of Sharlene MacLaren's Abbie Rose. If you leave a comment during the month of June you will be entered into a drawing for Finding Jeena by Miralee Ferrell.

I usually am able to finish reading the book before I post about it, but this month has included 2 computer problems, our youngest daughter's college graduation, getting a proposal ready for an agent and editor, a bad sinus infection and guests this past holiday weekend with a cookout for 10 one night and a fish fry for 6 another, on top of ordinary life--or maybe that is my ordinary life!

So, this month I will copy the back cover blurb of Miralee's new book to whet your appetite. "Jeena Gregory thought she'd made it. She has everything a woman could ask for and a budding career promises more. But when rumors around town cast her boss in a shady light, Jeena starts to question her employer's integrity. Was she wrong to trust this man and this job?
When the boss disappears, salaries go unpaid, and Jeena overhears several hush-hush phone calls, she realizes her carefully crafted world is crumbling. Shaken to the core at the threat of losing everything, Jeena is suddenly confronted with her prejudices--and with a God she had long forgotten."

All I can say about what I have read so far, is "there but for the grace of God go I" or any of us.
I will tell you a little about the author. This is Miralee's second book for Kregel, and she also has 2 books pubbed in the Love Finds you in... series by Summerside Press. And you can find more about the author and books at her website http://www.miraleeferrell.com/ or her blog at http://www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com/

My company left this morning, so I am off to read for awhile! Hope you will join me in enjoying this book which was a gift from the author/publisher for the means of reviewing.

The winner of Annalisa Daughety's Love is a Battlefield is Denise...

I have contacted her for her mailing info and will be mailing it out as soon as I hear back. If I do not hear within a week, I will draw another name. I had 32 comments last month which is the second highest since I began blogging 3 1/2 years ago. Check back this weekend for a review of the book you can win this month--The Big 5-0 by Sandra D. Bricker.

Happy Easter, everyone! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Lots of winners...

Cherie J. is the winner of The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry. Christina is a winner because she has just completed a two month blog tour, gaining scads of new fans. I am a winner because I had 29 commenters this month (my second highest total so far) and all of those who posted on the book tour blog here or one of the other 30 sites this month still have a chance to win one of Christina's 10 giveaways, so let's hear it for all of us! >< Lots of hands clapping!

Check back on Wednesday, Nov. 4th to find out how you can win a signed copy of Erica Vetsch's The Bartered Bride in this month's book drawing.

Drumroll, please! The winner of Menu for Romance by Kaye Dacus is...

Robin Johns Grant.

Congrats to Robin who is a faithful blogger on my site and at her own site at www.dimensionsartandeternity.blogspot.com. Check her site out (she shares writing there with her niece) and you might win another book!

And check out my post from August 29th to read more about the book you can win this month--Maggie Rose by Sharlene MacLaren. Leave a comment and info on how to reach you by September 30th to be entered in the drawing.

Have you heard about the ice storm in KY last week?

That's the reason my posting of the contest winner is so late this month. We were without electricity for 7 days. Then it stayed on for one day and went out again the next. Ever since it came back on the second time I have been experiencing computer woes. I had the son of friends here today and he got my internet explorer to work without error messages so far, but he still can't get my outlook express to open with all my emails.

Our winner of Longings of the Heart is Ginger. I have contacted her and will send the book as soon as I receive her home addy. This would be a good time to mention the contest rules for my monthly book drawing. You must leave an email or way for me to contact you for your addy if you are the winner. Also you must have a US address, and the same person cannot win two months in a row. Check back next week to find out more about this month's book--Out of Her hands by Megan DiMaria. Every time you leave a message each month, you will get an entry into the contest, so let me hear from you!