For July, I’m giving away the following thirteen books. All of these new/slightly used books will go to one person! If interested, leave a comment with your response to the following question:
Do you believe in love at first sight?
I’ll respond first…no I don’t! I think you can be deeply attracted to somebody, but I think that true love takes some time to develop and grow, kind of like planting a seed, watering it, and then it sprouts into a beautiful flower. How much time does true love take to grow? I think that’s all relative, and that depends on the people involved! I’d be interested in hearing what others have to say about this!
Anyway, do you believe in love at first sight?
When you leave your comment, don’t forget to leave your email address! Continental U.S. and Canada residents only! Also if you enter the drawing, I’ll add your address to my mailing list. But DON’T WORRY, I only send out mass emails A FEW TIMES A YEAR!
Please note that the last two books listed, #12 and #13 are NOT novels!
Here’s the list of novels:
1.
John’s Quest by Cecelia Dowdy
John French, a science professor, is an agnostic–he’s unsure if God exists. When he’s hired to tutor a blind seven-year-old child, Scotty, he finds himself falling for the child’s beautiful aunt/guardian, Monica Crawford. Monica’s life changes drastically when her irresponsible younger sister abandons her handicapped son on her doorstep. As John helps Monica to educate her nephew, he falls in love with her. However, problems arise when Monica, a devout Christian, finds herself drawn to Scotty’s handsome and intelligent tutor. Monica finds herself in a bind because she knows it’s a sin to be unequally yoked with a non-believer. How in the world can these two lovebirds overcome the huge problems that stand in the way of their relationship?
2.
Milk Money by Cecelia Dowdy
Running a dairy farm is a big job, but doing it alone is almost impossible.
When her dad dies, Emily must work hard to save the family farm, but she manages. Until the day the CPA pulls in her drive and announces he’s there to do an audit on the place.
Franklin Reese is appalled at the lack of interest the Cooper women have in the financial end of their livelihood, but he dives in, determined to help them learn. The further he looks into Mr. Cooper’s dealings, however, the more uncomfortable he becomes.
Can he uncover the truth of the situation and still earn the love of the amazing Emily Cooper? Will Franklin’s addiction to alcohol keep them apart, even after the farm is taken care of? Only God can heal hurting hearts and repair broken lives. Will these two let Him in?
3.
Bittersweet Memories by Cecelia Dowdy
Karen Brown is angry at God, and at herself, for falling in love with Lionel Adams, her ex-fiancé. When her beloved suddenly disappears, along with thousands of dollars stolen from their mega-church, she re-locates back to her hometown in Annapolis Maryland to live with her mother. She’s stunned to discover handsome plumber Keith Baxter living next door.
Keith is smitten with Karen, but wonders if she’s still in love with Lionel. He wants Karen to accept him into her life, but he doesn’t know if he’d be a good match for her due to his troubled past. Can Karen forgive Lionel, and let the Lord back into her heart?
4. 
Things Left Upspoken by Eva Marie Everson – I’ll be posting my review of this novel soon. I’m almost finished reading it. I’m enjoying it so far.
From Amazon.com
Product Description
Jo-Lynn Hunter is at a crossroads in life when her great-aunt Stella insists that she return home to restore the old family house in sleepy Cottonwood, Georgia. Seeing the project as the perfect excuse for some therapeutic time away from her self-absorbed husband and his snobby Atlanta friends, Jo-Lynn longs to get her teeth into a noteworthy and satisfying project. But things are not what they seem, both in the house and within the complex history of her family. Was her great-grandfather the pillar of the community she thought he was? What is Aunt Stella hiding? And will Jo-Lynn’s marriage survive the renovation? Jo-Lynn isn’t sure she wants to know the truth–but sometimes the truth has a way of making itself known. The past comes alive in this well-written and thoughtful novel full of secrets, drama, and family with a hint of Southern drawl.
5. 
The Someday List by Stacy Hawkins Adams – I’ll be posting my review of this novel soon. It’s a great book!
From Amazon.com
Product Description
Rachelle Covington has it all. A fabulous home, a handsome and prestigious husband, two beautiful children, and a place in the upper crust that’s quite comfortable. But her life is not all it’s cracked up to be. When her husband goes away on business trip and the kids are sent off to the grandparents for a month, Rachelle takes up the challenge of a dying friend to start a list of things to do before she dies. She heads back to Jubilant, Texas, to reconnect with her past, her purpose, and herself. But when her ex shows up in town looking very fine and very single, Rachelle must confront feelings she thought she’d long buried. Will she give up everything to recover the past? Or will she find a reason to plan for the future? The Someday List is an honest look at what makes us who we are and what can throw us off track. Author Stacy Hawkins Adams writes with a voice that is fresh, sincere, and completely real. Her characters jump off the page and into her readers’ hearts.
6. 
Germ by Robert Liparulo
From Amazon.com
Product Description
If you breathe it will find you.
The germ–a form of the Ebola virus–has been genetically engineered to infect only those people whose DNA matches the codes embedded within it. Its release will usher in an era where countries are left without defense. Where a single person–or millions–could be killed with perfect accuracy and zero collateral damage. Where your own DNA works against you.
The time isn’t coming. It is now. Pray the assassins get you first.
7. 
Cotton Candy Clouds by Janice Hanna
From Heartsong Presents website: Candy Carini has always had her head in the clouds. Now, at Newark’s Eastway Airlines, where she lands both a piloting job and a pilot, her dreams are finally coming true. But when disgruntled pilots question Eastway’s latest executive decisions, will Candy lose her new job and the man who’s captured her heart? When Eastway pilot Darren Furst meets Candy, he can’t help but think she could fill his empty home and arms. Then union troubles arise, and Darren finds himself caught between the woman he loves and his fellow pilots. Are Darren’s plans for the future now grounded? Or will Candy cotton to Darren – for better or worse?
9. A String Of Murders by Darlene Franklin – A Heartsong Presents Cozy Mystery
From The Back Cover:
Blackmail turns deadly. . .
Cici Wilde’s fiancé, Audie Howe, calls her with disturbing news. Her store’s been broken into and worse, someone murdered the intruder. The victim clutches a string of pearls in one hand and a threatening e-mail in the other. It reads “I know what you’re doing. Meet me at Cici’s Vintage Clothing at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night.”
With the discovery of the body, a recent spate of ugly e-mails throughout the Grace Gulch community becomes intensely personal. The murderer purposely lured the victim to Cici’s store. Why? The answer lies in the strand of pearls, a gift from arts patron Magda Grace Mallory. She has loaned them to Audie, director of the MGM Theater, for use in the upcoming production of Arsenic and Old Lace.
Evidence points to members of the close theater community. Is it Gene Mallory, Magda’s ne’er-do-well son? Lauren Packer, Magda’s lawyer? Peppi Lambert, Grace Gulch newcomer and good friend of Cici’s sister? Or Suzanne Jay, theater diva with a shady past? When a second murder is committed with the same string of pearls, Cici battles through baffling clues to find the killer before he strikes again.
10. A Vote Of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher
11. Last Light by Terri Blackstock
12. The Servant King – The NIV New Testament
13. The Cupcake Cafe Cookbook by Ann Warren and Joan Lilly
I’m giving this cookbook away since I have two copies.
From Amazon.com
Amazon.com Review
The Cupcake Café Cookbook is a gem for everyone who loves doughnuts, originally decorated cakes, or off-beat New York City eateries. The actual café is a funky daytime oasis in the still-iffy neighborhood once known as Hell’s Kitchen. Ann Warren and her husband, Michael, started the café as a bakery in 1988. They now serve food, too, but their fame comes from the breakfast baked goods and Warren’s strikingly creative butter cream-frosted cakes and cupcakes.
You have to smile at Warren suggesting her doughnuts are health food because they’re made from scratch with natural ingredients and eaten without butter or cream cheese. You will certainly enjoy every recipe for them and all of the muffins, scones and sticky buns, too. Warren’s use of butter cream for decorating cakes with cascades of colorful flowers and other original designs is so magical that even Madonna and Mick Jagger have ordered from her. If you have an ounce of manual dexterity, Warren’s detailed guidance on cake decorating will send you into orbit. Photos showing how to make the flower-encrusted cakes for which Cupcake Café is famous also a help. –Dana Jacobi
Well I’m a hopeless romantic, and yes, I do believe in love at first sight. 🙂 I met my husband 28 yrs ago, and we both felt a connection upon first meeting. I do believe that it takes time to build a good strong relationship and with your faith, love creates a bond that is strong and true. I’m as much in love with my husband as I was the day I met him.
It also doesn’t hurt that he was born on Valentine’s Day!
Blessings,
SandyG
Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com
Yes, I do believe in love at first sight. I didn’t fall in love with my husband at first sight. My husband and I were married in July of 1973. So, we share that special kind of love now and forever. Still, I believe it does happen but rarely.
email
teakettle58@yahoo.com
No, I don’t believe in love at first sight. I believe you can be strongly attracted tos omeone the moment you see them, but that it takes a long time for love to develop.
Lynn Mc.
I have to say no I don’t belive in love at first sight. I belive that two people may be drawn to each other but it takes getting to know each other on a deeper level for true love to develop.
Debbie
No, I don’t believe in love at first time. I believe that you can be very attracted to someone at first sight but it takes time for the love to develop. You need to get to know the person first.
Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com
I have to say no I don’t belive in love at first sight. I belive that two people may be drawn to each other but it takes getting to know each other on a deeper level for true love to develop.
Debbie
dcf_beth(at)verizon(dot)com
Wonderful book list. Please include me in the giveaway. Thanks.
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot} com
I do believe in love at first sight. My husband is that man! He’s a keeper.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com
I agree with you. I don’t believe in love at first sight. I think you can feel a strong, immediate attraction to someone, but it takes time to develop true love.
No I don’t but lust at first sight is a different story!
I’m such a romantic so i have to say yes I do believe in love at first site! Since I don’t have a significant other can my puppy be and example of love at first site? LOL! She licked my cheek and I was done for 😀
steelergirl83[at]gmail[dot]com
Well, I believe that there can be ‘instant attraction’ at first sight, but not love, as I define love. Love grows out of the attraaction…a person see things that they like or admire, and then, go on to investigate it. I f they continue to like and admire the traits, and the person, love will follow, hopefully on both fronts. It grows each year, and a person can even grow to love differences…isnt that amazing. My walk with God is likened to that. typhoongerdie@yahoo.com
I don’t believe in love at first sight…but I do believe in love at first TYPE!!! LOL I met my husband in an online christian chat room. There was a spark from the screen from the first moment, although when I looked at his profile, I didn’t think we’d make a good couple. Funny thing is, neither did he. However, we have ignored the age difference (15 years between us) and some of the other things that I saw that I questioned at first (such as he had 2 daughters) and we were married 8 years ago. I only saw him about 10 times before we said “I do” but it was worth it. I love my “Faithfulman” more and more everyday!!
Julie (a.k.a. irishrose468 & Faithfulgirl (now that I’m married!)
faithfulgirl4@gmail.com
I agree also – true love is bonded over time. Although I was hooked on my husband the first time I saw him but it wasn’t love but a strong attraction was there.
Fantastic book list
msboatgal at aol.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
I guess I do believe in love at first sight. However, I don’t believe in jumping into relationships or getting married because you’ve just met and things are wonderful. I do believe that a loving caring relationship takes time to mature, but that the attraction that draws you together has to be there as well.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
No. I think that you have to get to know a person first before you can feel that deep of an emotion for them.
Thanks!
1bmore @ gmail . com
I certainly believe in love at first sight. My husband always tells me that he could have married me the moment he met me. I could have married him about 10 minutes later 🙂 Our love has grown in the 5 years we have been together.
Great question! Thank you.
carlyberd[at]yahoo[dot]com
I Believe both ways, the “love at first sight’ is normally the twitter-patted love, (trying not to loose your head 🙂 ) but as you get to know the person, the love grows deeper and stronger to endure anything thrown its way.
Rae Byuel
raebyuel(@)gmail(.)com
I would say it depends on what the situation is…. I met My husband of almost 12 yrs online. We talked for a few weeks or so before We met in person. At that point, We knew We were very much in love. Once We met, everything just fell into place, like We had known each other forever. So I think You Love at first sight is very possible.
Stephanie
shopgirl2u2000(at) yahoo(dot)com
I believe in attraction at first sight, but not love. I guess maybe I am a cynic.
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
I don’t believe that it is really love at first sight. There may be a very strong attraction, but really truly love I believe has to take a little knowing each other. I know we have been amrried for 48 years, and ours was not love at first sight, we liked each other enough to start dating but it took a little time to know we loved each other.
May God bless
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
No, I don’t believe in love at first sight. I believe in feeling a deep attraction when you meet someone, but it takes time for two people to get to know each other to fall in love. augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com. Thank you for having this contest!
I believe in Love at first site. Why? Because the moment I met my husband I knew he was the one. We were married 3 1/2 hours after we had our first date. We have been married 30 years. I dreamed of my husband years before I met him. I spent hours on my knees praying about the right husband too.
jrs362(at)hotmail(dot)com
I do believe in love at first sight.
I agree with you that you can be attracted at first sight, but that real love has to grow along with trust and respect. Thanks for the giveaway.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
I do not believe in love at first sight. How can you just love someone for their looks? Even the most attractive person in the world could have a horrible personality. It takes time to build a relationship to find out if you love someone.
I do believe in love at first sight to a point. There has to be situation that you automatically find that person attractive and when talking to them know that they have the same values as you do. Yet at the same time, I would be slightly skeptical that they would some how change or try to change me. So I guess I do believe in love at first sight but with a grain of salt.
These books sound wonderful, please enter me in the drawing.
Thanks
Katherine
peachykath79[at]yahoo[dot]com
I believe in like at first site and certainly attraction but I don’t believe in love at first site. I think that you have to know the person first in order to love them.
hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com
No I don’t. But, I believe love is an action, not a feeling!
ralphandtara at gmail dot com
The romantic in me says yes, but the logical side of me says that true love takes time — I’m so conflicted about these things 🙂 Although I must admit that while it wasn’t love at first site it didn’t take me long to fall for my future husband!
marielay@gmail.com
Lust at 1st sight, but not love
The only thing you have going for each other at 1st sight is physical attraction
kawaiineko2008 at aol dot com
No, I think it is lust at first sight. I’ve experienced it…it felt like love and it was wonderful but if it was truly love why is it that most couples have to go through a horrendous adjustment in order to stay together long term? Real, lasting love is a long process but it is worth while!
Jill F. (heirdoug@netscape.net)
Hi! Please enter me in the July book giveaway. And to answer your question:
No, I don’t believe in love at first sight. True love is something that has to develop over time, by learning who the person is. True love is a choice, not a feeling. We choose to love, it doesn’t just happen.
Thanks for the chance to win the books!
Angie
angjay@bellsouth.net
am not a believer in love at first sight. Thanks for the giveaway!
hillary1128@yahoo.com
No, I don’t believe in love at first sight. I think you can be instantly attracted to someone but I think love needs to delope after time.
Linda Henderson
I love them all for a close family friend. I would most likely be interested in Things Left Unspoken. I do believe in Love at First Sight, but it lies in fate. Thank you.
candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com
No I don’t believe in love at first sight, I believe that you find someone attractive at first sight but love is something that grows with time
I agree with you, I don’t believe in love at first sight either. Even though I have heard the tales of people seeing someone and saying that’s who they’re going to marry. I have one such couple that are my relatives. But love at first sight is not for me.
gasweetheart211[at]netscape[dot]net
I can’t say that I don’t believe in it, because it’s happened to other people, but it’s not happened to me. I would tend to think it’s probably “like” or “lust” at first sight, but only God truly knows 🙂
stampedwithgrace at cox dot net
No, I don’t believe in love at first sight…when I was a teenager I did, but after being married for 37 years and understanding what “real” love is, I know that you cannot truly love someone by just seeing them physically and not “knowing” who they are inside.