Inspy Kisses!

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For a limited time only – Six unforgettable love stories 

 

99 cents! 

 

Buy now at Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Kobo – iBooks – Google Play

 

A brand new anthology from six of your favorite inspirational romance authors – no reprints here!

 

 

 

About the novellas:

 

From New York Times bestselling author Linda Goodnight, historical romance The Rambler’s Bride: The kissing cowboy Jericho is bent on revenge, but discovers the truth and falls in love with widow Esther.

 

From USA Today bestselling author Janet Tronstad, retro romance Lovebirds at the Heartbreak Cafe: Truck driver Buddy wasn’t looking for love, but waitress Penny and her quirky family take over the cafe and his heart.

 

From bestselling author Debra Clopton, contemporary cowboy romance Her Mule Hollow Cowboy: Independent cowgirl Maddie swears she doesn’t need help from bull rider Cliff. But the Mule Hollow Matchmakers seem to have other plans…

 

From bestselling author Margaret Daley, romantic suspense Deadly Hunt: Bodyguard Tess rescues wounded businessman Shane from dying in the wilderness, but can she protect her heart when Shane gets too close?

 

From fan favorite Camy Tang, romantic suspense Necessary Proof: Reformed ex-con Alex is on the run from those who have set him up to take the blame for a cop-killing. Will tech-expert Jane be able to prove him innocent?

 

From fan favorite Lacy Williams, contemporary cowboy romance Kissed by a Cowboy: Maddox has given up all his big dreams to care for his niece. When Haley returns to her hometown, will Maddox find a new dream with her?

 

Special promo – March 17-19 – #SENDAKISS

 

If you purchase First Kisses during our promo dates and send a special tweet, we’ll gift a copy to a friend, absolutely free! Find out more at bit.ly/sendakiss .

 

What readers are saying:

 

Six amazing books from six different authors. They are all Christian fiction set from the 1800’s to present time. Each is a stand alone book with great settings, story lines and characters. All the books had family and faith. Some of the authors were known to me and some I was unfamiliar with. I really enjoyed each book. I can not wait to check out books from these new authors. – Amazon reader

 


 I didn’t know what to expect – I am not a fan of anthologies. Usually I find that the stories are too brief and the plots move too fast and don’t go into any detail and don’t make a lot of sense. Well, let me tell you that this anthology is not like this, not at all. It is wonderful! I enjoyed each of the novellas immensely. Each one has well developed, thought out characters and detailed plots that move at exactly the right pace. You have suspense, romance – everything in each of the novels. I enjoyed reading each of the novellas and couldn’t put the book down. Even though I have about 15 other books waiting to be read – I plan on reading this book all over again in the next week or so – it is just that good. – Amazon reader


A visual look at the collection:

 

 

 

 

Interact with the authors:

www.inspykisses.com

facebook.com/inspykisses

@inspykisses

 

Buy now at Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Kobo – iBooks – Google Play

An Amish Garden Book Giveaway And Interview

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****This giveaway is over!!! The winner has been announced!!

I’m giving away a copy of An Amish Garden. You must follow the rules to enter – if you don’t follow the rules you won’t be entered in the giveaway!

To enter you must:

1. LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES – The publisher won’t ship internationally!

2. Leave your email address when you comment – I need to be able to contact you if you win.

3. You must read Vannetta Chapman’s interview and comment about something in the interview! I’m doing this to ensure you’ve read the interview.

1.       You currently write Amish fiction – have you ever thought of writing non-Amish Christian fiction? I’m willing to write whatever my publisher asks me to write. By that I mean this – I have a story to tell. Maybe it’s about a particular character or a particular situation. Always it is about God’s abundant grace. I can tell that story in any framework (historical, Amish, western, etc). So I’m completely open to writing in any genres, and I definitely read all genres.

2.       I notice on the News and Events page of your website that you do book signings at quilt shows. Do you quilt in your spare time? If so, how long have you been doing this? I DO quilt in my spare time, which is hard to find. I love quilting. The more quilt shows I attend, the more I am fascinated by the ability of women (and men) to create beautiful quilts. Also, I’m very excited that I will be attending my first quilt retreat this May.

3.       I’ve noticed in a lot of Amish fiction that food is mentioned somewhat often.  What are your favorite Amish foods? We’ve visited quite a few Amish communities, and my favorite food is the same in each of them–dessert! I love the pies and cakes. I’ll happily skip meals in order to make room for dessert (which isn’t healthy).

4.       You play the keyboard in your church’s praise and worship band. Did you learn to play the keyboard as a child? I started learning the piano at the age of 10. My dad played, and his father played as well. I love playing the piano/keyboard. As my mother reminds me “It’s what you do when you’re stressed or sad or happy.” She’s right! Playing for my church’s praise band is one of the highlights of my week.

5.       What advice would you like to give to aspiring authors? To keep writing. I see too many authors who are still editing the first book they wrote many years ago. It’s important to let that one go and move on to the next story. The first book I SOLD was the 9th book I had WRITTEN.

6.       Were you in a critique group when you first started writing? Are you in a critique group now? Yes. I was in the Dallas area then and had a wonderful group–the Arlington Writers Group. We represented many different genres. Now that I’m in a small town, I do not have a group. I do have several authors that I try to get together with when possible. And I have 3 pre-readers who have been with me since the beginning. They are wonderful at critiquing.

Thanks so much for being on my blog, Vannetta! Here’s a short description of An Amish Garden:

“Where Healing Blooms” Vannetta Chapman

Emma discovers a run-away teen in her barn, and the bishop asks her to provide a haven for a woman and her two children. Then her mother-in-law reveals a secret about her garden. Will Emma choose loneliness or learn to accept God’s gifts?

“Flowers for Rachael” Kathleen Fuller

Rachael’s garden is beautiful, but she is lonely. Gideon is in love with Rachael, but when Rachael finds her garden in shambles after a crisis, she rejects his help. Will she realize she doesn’t have to do everything on her own?

“Seeds of Love” Tricia Goyer

When a corporation shows interest in buying Sadie’s heirloom seeds, she panics. They are all she has left of her Dat and Mem. Eli believes he can help Sadie, but a misunderstanding leaves her heartbroken. Will she trust him again, and will the seeds of a new relationship take root?

“Rooted in Love” Beth Wiseman

Rosemary is doing her best to run her family’s household. She excels at all her tasks except one: gardening. Saul has been interested in her for years, but Rosemary has turned him down repeatedly. Saul begins helping with her family’s garden, but someone is sabotaging his efforts—and keeping a secret that could change their lives.

The Hope Within By Tracie Peterson

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The Hope Within by Tracie Peterson

Do you have a hard time bonding with your in-laws?

When Diane’s husband (Cole) father gets ill, he must return to his childhood home before his father dies. He brings Diane and his children with him – his father has never met Diane nor has he ever seen Cole’s children. Once they arrive, Diane and her children get a mean, chilly reception from Cole’s mother and sisters. Cole’s mother’s attitude places a splinter in Cole’s and Diane’s marriage, placing the welfare of their children in jeopardy. But Cole feels torn, he wants to please his mother as well as his family – he wants to make everything right but has a hard time doing this. Diane’s in-laws fail to bond with her, in spite of her repeated attempts at friendship.

This was a good historical story that touches upon a lot of issues, including race, familial relationships, and rape. The book was a quick read and I highly recommend it.

So, do you have a hard time bonding with your in-laws? Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch! Giants On The Earth – Part Two

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Did you know that giants lived on this earth during Biblical times?

I blogged about the Nephilim awhile back. I wanted to add to that blog post by mentioning some other giants mentioned in the Old Testament.

I was having a conversation with somebody at my church about the Nephilim, and he told me to read:

2 Samuel 21:20-22

NIV

20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him.

22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

This huge, giant man had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each hand. A descendent of Rapha – the Rephaites were a race of giants in the old testament. I’m not sure if all of them had extra digits on their fingers and toes. When I read this scripture, I wondered about these people. Was this whole race of giants doomed? Were they even considered human?

When I asked about the Nephilim on Facebook, somebody pointed out that some churches don’t talk about them because they can’t agree on what they were. Although they’re not mentioned much in church – I want to talk about them.

What are your thoughts concerning this race of people during Old Testament times? I feel weird and confused when I think about them. Why? Because, they seem so other-worldly, non-human, that I almost feel like I’m reading a science fiction novel – only, I’m not – I’m reading the Bible.

In Deuteronomy, Og, a king, was the last of the Rephaites and he slept in a bed that was nine cubits long – which equals about fourteen feet!

Does that mean these giants were about fourteen feet tall and had extra digits on their fingers and toes?  Was this entire race of people doomed since they were born of sin? Please comment about these huge, thought-provoking people! 🙂

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Deuteronomy 2:11

New International Version (NIV)

11 Like the Anakites, they too were considered Rephaites, but the Moabites called them Emites.

Deuteronomy 3:11

New International Version (NIV)

11 (Og king of Bashan was the last of the Rephaites. His bed was decorated with iron and was more than nine cubits long and four cubits wide.[a] It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.)

 

The Calling Of Emily Evans by Janette Oake

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The Calling of Emily Evans by Janette Oake

Do you think women should be allowed to preach, leading their own church?

I enjoyed this book. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Janette Oake book.

After Emily Evans is finished with her Bible school training, she feels called to start a church. As a young woman, her options are limited – how can a female be chosen to start a church. The church committee sends Emily to a remote town to start her church – alone. I thought the premise of this story was extremely interesting – it’s a historical story, yet, there’s a woman leading a church. I loved seeing Emily trying to fit into the small town life, attempting to share the gospel with the town’s inhabitants.

This story also shows how the people in Emily’s town struggle with their faith. There’s a battered wife who struggles to raise her children and another woman who is raising her children alone.

I loved reading about Emily leading her small church, writing her sermons each Saturday, sharing her faith in God. I also loved her title – Emily was known as a deaconess. I’d never heard that term until I read this story.

So, what do you think about women in the pulpit? Do you think women should be able allowed to start their own churches?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

My romance collection is on sale for 99 cents each.

http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/johns-quest.jpg26525EBBittersweet Memories

– See more at: http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/#sthash.NaONHmWr.dpuf

 

Sunday Brunch – Have You Ever Seen An Angel?

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Have you ever seen an angel?

Hebrews 13:2

New International Version (NIV)

2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

When I read that scripture, I think about the old TV series, Touched By An Angel. Remember that show? The angels were on earth, helping people with their problems. Near the end of each show, the angel announced to their assigned charge(s), “I’m an angel, sent by God.”

Have you ever had an experience where you saw an angel? Perhaps you were going through a tough time, or you received a mysterious warning from a person and before you could thank this person, they’d miraculously disappeared? Have you encountered people or a person in your everyday life whom you thought may have been an angel?

I haven’t, but, I’d be interested in hearing about your experience. So, have you ever encountered an angel?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber

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The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Photo
courtesy of Free Digital Photos

Would you pay $30,000 for a husband?

Cassie Beaumont did. When her best friend, Angie, recommends Cassie make an appointment to see Simon, a matchmaker, Cassie agrees to do so. Her biological clock is ticking, and she just can’t seem to meet new men. Although Simon’s fee is steep, Cassie agrees to pay because Simon has an outstanding success rate with his matches.

However, Simon won’t allow Cassie to meet John, her perfect match. First, she has to do some unusual Christmas tasks to prove her worth. Cassie continues to meet with Simon as she completes her assignments, and then things take an interesting twist in the novel.

This was a light, holiday read. I enjoyed it, but, wondered if very many young women would have that sort of nest egg, $30,000.00, to spend on a matchmaker. Cassie said that she has the money saved up for her wedding. She spends it on matchmaking because, if she doesn’t meet someone soon, there won’t be a wedding.

So, would you pay a $30,000.00 fee to match yourself up with the perfect husband?

Sunday Brunch – One Church – Unified In Christ!

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Photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos

1 Corinthians 3:3-9

New International Version (NIV)

3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

==

Why can’t we have one unified church in Christ? There are so many Christian-based religions that it makes my head spin.

This scripture makes me stop and think. The Apostle Paul is giving the early Christians guidance on whom to follow. He advises not to follow human beings, we’re all supposed to follow Christ. Christ’s laws are built upon a strong foundation – a foundation that will stand the test of time – surviving forever.

When I look at various supposedly Christ-based religions, seeing the differences in beliefs, some differences causing divisions between households and families, I wonder why can’t we all be unified in the body of Christ.

Why do you think we can’t be unified into one body under Jesus Christ? Is it due to the fact that we’re human – and it’s virtually impossible to unify all Christian humans into one body? Is it because there are supposedly Christ-based churches out there who neglect Paul’s advice and follow other men, instead of following Christ? Is it all of the above, in addition to other factors?

Please comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

 

Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

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Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

Have you ever been mad at a friend or relative for something they’d done to you? Was your anger strong enough so that you stopped speaking to that person for years – or forever? What happened between the two of you (if you care to share the details)?

Seth Webster is in a bind. His rambunctious twin boys need a full-time babysitter/housekeeper and so far, all of the housekeepers he’s hired have quit. They’re unable to care for his troublesome kids. Then suddenly “the agency” sends Mrs. Merkle aka Mrs. Miracle as his housekeeper. Mrs. Miracle fits right into his household – she’s an awesome cook, and she seems to be able to control his wild boys.

Seth is still grieving over his late wife and when he meets travel agency owner Reba Maxwell, they share an instant attraction. Reba has a fractured relationship with her family – she has yet to forgive her sister for something that happened four years ago – she has not spoken to her sister since.

Also, Seth’s in-laws (the parents of his deceased wife) are facing problems in their marriage. Are their problems fixable?

Mrs. Miracle knows about Seth’s enduring grief, Reba’s unforgivable nature, and Seth’s in-laws marriage problems. Mrs. Miracle is all-knowing since she’s an angel. She does her best to help fix the problems from which these characters are suffering.

I enjoyed reading this book. It’s gentle, sweet, and I think most readers of inspirational romance would like this story. The Hallmark movie was shown last Christmas and I enjoyed that too. I’d recommend this book to all who like a good Christmas story.

So, have you ever been mad at a friend or relative for something they’d done to you? Was your anger strong enough so that you stopped speaking to that person for years – or forever? What happened between the two of you (if you care to share the details)?

Leave a comment!

~Cecelia Dowdy~