Come read the guest blog post on Lena Nelson Dooley’s blog for Picnics and Promises. Oh, there will be book giveaways on Lena’s blog, too!
Book Giveaway on Guest Blog Post
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Category Archives: Fiction
Between Friends by Debbie Macomber
Between Friends by Debbie Macomber
Have you ever been best friends with somebody for decades, since childhood?
Jillian and Lesley have been best friends since grade school. After high school, their lives change drastically since Lesley feels she has to marry her boyfriend, and Jillian goes away to college. Jillian’s career flourishes while Lesley is home housebound and unhappy. This is a highly unusual novel because the story is told in the form of letters. I’ve never read an entire book with letters back and forth between several characters.
The story spans decades, starting in the sixties. It’s a great way to see some modern history. This book also shows how deep friendships can be. I really enjoyed this highly unusual book. It’s an amazing story about true friendship.
So, have you ever been best friends with somebody for decades? Were you friends when you were children? I’d love to hear about it! Leave me a comment!
Sweetbriar Cottage
Have you ever known a female barber?
Josephine, the town’s beautiful female barber, continues to be haunted from a past traumatic experience. The ghosts of her past affect her so deeply that she wonders if she is able to accept true love. The skeletons that invade her closet are so strong that it affects her marriage. She still feels bad about what what she’s done to her “ex-husband” Noah.
Noah has been a loner since he “divorced” Josephine. He lives on a ranch far away from town. He works with animals as he struggles to get over Josephine’s deception.
However, something happens and Josephine and Noah are forced to spent every waking moment together, alone, far away from humanity, for several days. This experience makes both of them take a good hard look at their lives and examine the nature of their mistakes.
This book was so good. This story gives an example of how something deeply traumatic can affect the view we have of ourselves, making us believe lies about ourselves. I thought that Noah was wonderful, and I really felt bad for Josephine. You’ll find yourself rooting for both of these characters in this deeply emotional story of true love.
I also thought it was sort of unique to read about a female barber. I seldom see female barbers. Usually a female works in a beauty shop and seeing Josephine as a woman barber was a refreshing change from the norm.
So, have you ever known a female barber?
Picnics and Promises – A New Summer Box Set – Available Now – 99c – Kindle Unlimited!
What’s your favorite childhood summertime memory?
Summer is my favorite time of the year! When I was a kid, I loved being out of school!. We’d run around the neighborhood, playing Red Rover, Dodgeball, Kickball and we’d ride our bikes. We’d yell and scream while we played Monsters. When I got older, I started watching soap operas during the summer! I got hooked onto General Hospital and All My Children. I also read TONS of romance novels and baked fruit pies as well as cakes and cookies. Those were some fun times!
So, what’s your favorite summertime memory? Leave me a comment!
Picnics and Promises is now available – only 99 cents and it’s available on Kindle Unlimited.
Come check out this warm, wonderful, delicious summer box set! Picnics and Promises features my novella, Sweet Delights – The Bakery Romance Series Book 6! Come celebrate summer by reading Picnics and Promises! This is a fun summer boxed set that features six warm, delicious summer romances! There’s a delicious pie recipe featured at the end of each novella!
A Proposal Worth Millions
Have you ever lost your spouse?
Sadie’s husband, Adem, died a few years ago and now she’s determined to make his Turkish hotel a success. She appeals to Dylan, Adem’s best friend, for help. Sadie has always been attracted to Dylan, but, she never acted on those feelings since she was married to Adem. Now that Adem is gone, could a romance can sprout between them?
Dylan has always been attracted to Sadie, but, since she was a married woman, he knew that he had to keep his emotions in check. When she solicits his help to save the Azure, her Turkish hotel, he wonders if he can keep their meetings strictly business. Adem suffers from past pain. Abandoned by his father, he feels that he’s just like his dad. He highly doubts he’d be able to make a good stable commitment to Sadie – or any woman for that matter.
It’s been ages since I’ve read a Mills and Boon Harlequin Romance. I loved the scenery in this book. Makes me want to go swimming in the Aegean sea! One thing this romance that was out of the ordinary – it was strictly romance. What I mean is, interactions with secondary character were minimal. The entire book was just interactions between Sadie and Dylan.
So, have you ever lost your spouse? If so, how did you cope?
Dancing With Fireflies
Have you, or someone you know, ever had an unplanned pregnancy?
After a traumatic experience, Jade returns to Chapel Springs, her hometown. The first person she visits is Daniel, the town mayor/ her pretend brother/close-family friend. Jade is broke, and she needs a job. Can Daniel help her find employment as she goes through her unplanned pregnancy?
Daniel has been in love with Jade for years. But, Jade has only seen him as a “brother”. Jade is hurting and Daniel wants to support her, and help her heal.
Jade is scared to love again. Can she open up her heart and trust Daniel?
Daniel is also dealing with a lot. He’s determined to go beyond the mayor-ship and get a senate position, possibly going all the way to the White House. His rich parents are determined to make his political aspirations come true. So, how can he even think of pursuing politics and leave Jade behind? He knows how lonely it is to be part of a political family. Can he even think about exposing Jade to such a life?
I loved this book so much! Daniel was a man who was too good to be true. I wanted to package him up and marry him myself! He’s so sweet and kind and he really loves Jade. Jade is not aware of Daniel’s feelings, which causes some sticky situations between them.
I highly recommend this story. I also read the Chapel Springs Book 1, too, and I enjoyed that one too!
So, have you, or someone you know, ever had an unplanned pregnancy? If so, how did you cope? Did you have family to help you out by offering support?
Picnics and Promises – Coming July 2017
Picnics and Promises – a pie-loving boxed set is coming next month! Each tasty story features a romantic picnic and a delicious pie! Each story features a pie recipe at the end!
Sweet Dreams – The Bakery Romance Series (Book 6) will be featured in this wonderful collection!
Patty-Lynn Palmer loves creating mouth-watering pies in her bakery, Patty’s Pie Palace. She’s recently won the prestigious French International Pie Competition for her banana cream pie, and now she’s determined to save up enough money to buy the nostalgic house of her dreams.
She’s stunned when she runs into her wealthy ex-boyfriend, Sam Richardson. Sam has recently relocated to her hometown, Crystal Spring, to open a new office for his family’s food distribution company, Richardson Enterprises. Running into Sam awakens both wonderful and painful memories. Sam’s upper-class family never accepted her. Their contempt of her poor, country, foster-care upbringing caused her great pain, leading to Sam’s earth-shattering breakup with her seven years ago.
Sam is shocked when he encounters Patty-Lynn. He feels awful about their painful breakup, and he now longs to fix their broken relationship. Recently widowed, he desperately longs for his father’s approval on his new business venture. He’s unhappy working for his dad and seeing Patty-Lynn, happy in her pie shop, gives him hope. By using her prize-winning pie recipe, it appears that Patty-Lynn may be able to help him with his quest to gain his father’s approval. Can he find the courage to rekindle their romance and finally stand up to his domineering dad?
The Writing Desk
The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck
Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)? So estranged that you barely spoke to one another for years?
This book focuses on two women, Tenley’s story takes place during modern times. Birdie’s story is a historical.
Tenley is floored, literally, when she receives a marriage proposal right before she receives a prestigious writing award. Suffering from writers’ block, she struggles with making decisions – should she go to Paris with her boyfriend or travel to Florida to care for her estranged mom. Isn’t it too late to try and fix their broken familial relationship?
Birdie wants to publish her romance novel. But, her parents aren’t aware of her writing aspirations. They want her to marry a well-to-do man that they’ve chosen. I almost felt as if Birdie had been born 100 years too early – she seemed like a modern woman.
Both Birdie’s and Tenley’s stories are related in a unique and appealing way. This was a light, enjoyable summer read.
So, have you ever been estranged from your parent(s) – so estranged that you barely spoke to one another for years? What did you do about it? Did you reconcile?
Like A Brother
Like A Brother by Maurice M. Gray, Jr.
Have you ever loaned money to a family member? Did they pay you back?
Jeremiah (Jay) is always there to support his family. His support is so strong that his family takes advantage of his kindness – putting his life at a major disadvantage. His dating life is also somewhat complicated since he has a crush on Jenisse, a woman to whom he’s been connected for years. He wants to move forward with his life and date others, but, something is holding him back.
This book shows how complicated familial relationships can be. It’s hard to make the family dynamic work, especially when folks have a lot of issues from which to overcome. God has the answers to our problems and it’s important for folks to own up to their insecurities and issues. Overall, this was a good, insightful read.
This is a unique romance novel told totally from the male point-of-view, which was refreshing. It tells of the struggles that a good, intelligent man can face while trying to date. I think it’s hard for some women to realize that there are good men out there, good men that are struggling to find a good woman. So, when women complain about not being able to find a good man, then they should read this book, see how it is from the other side (the man’s point of view).
So, have you ever loaned money to a family member? If so, did they ever pay you back?
A Husband For Holly
A Husband For Holly by Marion Ueckermann
Have you ever hired an interior decorator? Was it expensive? Were you pleased with the results?
When Holly is hired to decorate the office of the new parish priest, she gives the project her best effort, using her talents to make the office look wonderful. However, Christopher (the new Scottish priest) has much on his mind. He’s still reeling over his broken heart, plus, he has a wandering father who suffers from Alzheimer’s.
Holly is not interested in romance right now. Her decorating business takes up most of her time. But, for some reason, she can’t ignore the deep attraction she has for handsome Christopher.
I enjoyed this light, wonderful holiday story. This story also shows how hard it is to deal with an ailing parent.
So, have you ever hired an interior decorator? Was it expensive? Were you pleased with the results?