Louise Gouge and Free Books!

NFL superstar quarterback seeks small town diner waitress; goal, to make amends.

Before we chat with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Robin Lee Hatcher's split-time Christian novel, How Sweet It Is, is:

joyjournaling@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit with novelist Louise Gouge, author of the contemporary romance novel, Winning Amber, (independently published, May 2020).

Florida author Louise M. Gouge writes contemporary and historical romance fiction, winning the prestigious IRCA in 2005 and placing as a finalist in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2017. She also placed in the Laurel Wreath contest in 2012.

A former college English and humanities professor, Louise is a member of the Christian PEN and has been copyediting for well-known authors for fifteen years.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

In 1964, I was backstage at the Beatles’ concert at Red Rocks Theater just outside of Denver, Colorado. Jackie DeShannon was the opening act and debuted her hit song “What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love.”

You and I touched on that memory last year--your sneaking back there with the help of an usher friend, you wild child, you. Very cool memory. Jackie's song is certainly fitting these days!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Winning Amber.

Winning is all important to him, in the game…and in love.

Single mother Amber works hard to raise her son, Noah, on her wages and tips at a small Colorado diner. With medical bills to pay, they both wear secondhand clothes and do without the modern technology Noah’s classmates have. The last thing Amber ever expected was for Noah’s father to show up and preach at her about his newfound religion, especially since Drew didn’t even know Noah existed. Now will the rich and famous NFL quarterback try to take her son away from her? With no one to defend her, is it time for her to run away…again?

Drew Buxton has always gotten what he wants. Money, girls, a successful career as the NFL’s most popular quarterback, he’s had it all…until a family betrayal and tragedy caused him to rethink his entire life and turn to God. Now he seeks to make amends to the people he’s harmed on his road to success, including the high school classmate who tutored him through his toughest classes. He doesn’t expect her to welcome his visit, nor does he expect the shock of learning he has a son. This changes everything. Now there isn’t anything he won’t do to improve his son’s life, no matter how much Amber resists.

I love this story premise, Louise. Many of us can identify with the need for forgiveness after turning our lives to God. 

What is it about Amber and Drew that will make your readers care about them?

My heroine is a spunky, hard-working single mother who struggles to make ends meet. My hero is a famous superstar football quarterback whose newfound faith leads him to make amends for his past.

What story from the last couple of years would make a good basis for a novel?

I’m fascinated by the new discoveries of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ancient roads and beautiful artwork are being uncovered all over the Mediterranean. Novels could be written about the archeologists and what compels them to search the past. Or historical novels could make today’s discoveries a part of the story.

What a great idea. Sites like this one could provide excellent inspiration: Ancient Greek and Roman Archaeological Discoveries of 2019 

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

Erica Vetsch’s The Lost Lieutenant is a Regency romantic suspense that kept me guessing and kept me reading late into the night.

I love that book's tagline: He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?

What are you working on now?

Having just published Winning Amber, I’m taking a rest. Then I’m planning to compile several of my short stories into an anthology.

Where else can readers find you online?

Web site at louisemgougeauthor.blogspot.com
Facebook
Twitter: @Louisemgouge


The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, if you would like to read a sample from the book, you can see it HERE, when you click on "Look Inside."

Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Are you a sports fan? Do you like to watch professional football? Do you consider sports heroes worthy or compelling heroes for romance novels?

Thanks, Louise, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Louise has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Robin Lee Hatcher and Free Books!

He's lost his brother and she's lost her dream, but together they might find what they’re really looking for.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Pamela Meyers' historical romance, Tranquility Point, is:

friedmanc44@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's visit with novelist Robin Lee Hatcher, author of the split-time Christian novel, How Sweet It Is (Thomas Nelson, July 2020).

Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 80 novels and novellas with over five million copies of her books in print. She's known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love.

Her numerous awards include the RITA® Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. Robin is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®.

When not writing, Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

My great-great-grandfather, Gideon M. Ashmore, was an antislavery innkeeper in Illinois. In the summer of 1845, he hid Anthony and Jane Bryant and their children, escaped slaves who had been brought up from Kentucky to work a farm owned by Robert Matson. They were kept in Illinois longer than the law allowed and ran away.

My great-great-grandfather went to an attorney by the name of Abraham Lincoln, but Lincoln had already been consulted by Matson so couldn’t represent the Bryants. Fortunately, Lincoln did not win this particular case, and the Bryants gained their freedom. It’s said that Matson returned to Kentucky without paying Lincoln his fee.

And that’s my distant connection to my favorite President of the United States.

Okay, Robin. You win the prize for the most fascinating "random thing." I would love to have something like that in my family history! 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of How Sweet It Is.

Holly Stanford is doing the best she can with the restaurant she inherited from her late uncle. But after her fiancé abandons her and the business, Holly regrets having given up her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Now a few bad financial decisions might cost her everything, including her hope for the future.

Jed Henning has done well with his new company despite his prodigal brother’s behavior. When Jed‘s father , the controlling member of the board of directors, temporarily suspends operations until his sons work out their differences, Jed resentfully chases his brother, Chris, to Boise. There Jed rents a basement apartment from Holly and hopes to convince Chris to get his act together before their company collapses.

Unaware that Holly is the one person who can help him get through to Chris, Jed starts the tough work of reconciliation armed with little more than a few family photographs, a stack of old letters, and a Bible that belonged to his great-grandfather, Andrew Henning. And as romance blossoms between Holly and Jed, the story of Jed’s great-grandfather highlights the power of God across the generations and the legacy of a family’s courageous faith.

What is it about Andrew that will make your readers care about him?

Since there are three lead characters in How Sweet It Is, I will select the historical protagonist, Andrew Henning. Andrew’s story is told across all three books in the Legacy of Faith series (each book is a stand-alone novel, not requiring that you read the others). Andrew is a man of strong faith and the wisdom he has gained through that faith and his own life experiences. Like Andrew’s descendants (who are the contemporary heroine and heroes in the books), I believe readers will appreciate what he has to share through the notes written in his Bible.

What story from the last couple of years would make a good basis for a novel?

Oh, my goodness. Difficult question. My stories don’t spring from anything in the news or tabloids. The only book of mine that came close was Ribbon of Years, which was birthed after the Columbine tragedy. That book isn’t about a school shooting, but as I wrote it, I answered the questions in my own heart of what it truly means to walk by faith when terrible things happen in life. That’s the sort of writer I am. While I may not tackle the big news issues of the day, my books explore the human heart and how God uses difficult circumstances in our lives.

I like that you've given an example of how a writer might be inspired by "issues of the day" to address particular feelings and choices, without the motivating event itself factoring into the story. As a writer, I find that idea very helpful.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin. This story absolutely wrecked me—in the best kind of way any novel can do to a reader. I cried for the final half hour of listening to the audiobook. Beautiful. Painful. Raw. Hopeful. Unexpected. Tender. Highly recommended.

Thanks so much for that recommendation, Robin. Nothing like a good cry over a beautiful story. 

What are you working on now?

I’m writing a new split-time novel. The historical setting is the late 1800s, and the contemporary story is present day. There isn’t a whole lot more that I can share about my WIP at this stage.

But I’m very excited to share about the book I finished revising just before the shelter-in-place orders began in March. Rich Beyond Measure: Zlata’s Story (Guidepost Books, July 2020) is my first novel with a biblical setting.

The protagonist is the poor widow who gave the two mites, everything she had (Mark 12:41-44). I was quite nervous going into it, afraid I might misrepresent the Jewish culture. But in the end, it turned out to be a blessed experience. Every day I spent time in the Gospels, reading the words of Christ and studying His ministry in Capernaum and Jerusalem. And through my research I learned things I hadn’t known before (or, if known, hadn’t fully understood) despite 40+ years of Bible study.

I hope that readers will be blessed by the story too.

An exciting new direction for your novels! Where else can readers find you online?

My website: robinleehatcher.com
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads
BookBub

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Readers, f you would like to read a sample from the book, you can access it HERE

Finally, Robin, what question would you like to ask my readers?

What is your favorite time setting in fiction? Do you enjoy split-time (dual-time, slip-time) fiction? And if so, who are some of your favorite authors?

Thank you, Robin, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Robin has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Pamela Meyers and Free Books!

Hannah’s life couldn’t be sweeter—a marriage proposal and law school. Then the Great War intrudes and everything sours.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of Zoe McCarthy's contemporary Christian romance, The Irresistible Woman in a Blue Dress, is:

teamob4@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's visit with novelist Pamela Meyers, author of the historical romance, Tranquility Point, Mantle Rock Publishing, May 2020.

Pam has written most of her life, beginning with her first diary at age eight. Her novels, set in and around her hometown of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, include Surprised by Love in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Safe Refuge, and Shelter Bay, Books One and Two in the Newport of the West Series.

Pam resides in northern Illinois with her two rescue cats. She’s an hour or so away from Lake Geneva where she can be found researching and nosing for new story ideas.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

During the course of one year, I lived in the Midwest and on both coasts of the U.S.

A very thorough-sounding exploration of the country! 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Tranquility Point.

Despite the overhanging threat of the Great War involving the U.S., progressive Hannah Murphy is determined to make the summer of 1916 a memorable one before jumping into the demands of law school— her ticket to effecting change in how women are viewed. When she unexpectedly reacquaints with Ted Bauer, who is no longer the gangly boy who long ago had a crush on her, life becomes all the sweeter as they fall in love.

Everything sours when Ted enlists in the British Army in hopes of quelling the discrimination directed at his family because of their German roots. Unable to sit idlily by, waiting for her fiancé’s return, after the U.S. declares war on Germany, Hannah joins the Women’s Land Army and learns that there is more than one way to influence change.

What is it about Hannah that will make your readers care about her?

Like her mother and grandmother before her, Hannah Murphy is willing to buck the “system” and tackle challenges that up to now were relegated only to men, yet at the same time she is an attractive, loyal, and loving woman.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I’ve not read many novels of late because I’ve had four books under contract in four years, but I would recommend anything by Deborah Raney or Catherine West for Womens Fiction and Denise Hunter for Contemporary Romance. All three authors write captivating stories that depict strong women and how, despite their strength, they still lean on God to get them through the dark places.

What are you working on now?

Rose Harbor, Book 4 in my historical romance series. It’s homefront WWII.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.pamelasmeyers.com
Facebook
www.hhhistory.com on the fourth of each month.

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



If you would like to watch Pam reading a sample of the book, go HERE.

Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Has the Coronavirus Quarantine changed your reading habits and preferences? If so, how?

Thank you, Pam, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Pam has offered to give away a free copy of her book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to her question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Annoying legal disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases; drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

Christmas in July!

Exciting 99 cent sale! Winged Publications is featuring some of its most popular Christmas-themed novels, novellas, and sets this month, all for only 99 cents each!

Whether you're in the mood for Christmas reading in July or would simply like to take advantage of the July sale to stock up for holiday reading several months from now, you're bound to find some titles of interest! I've listed the books and their Amazon links below. Story summaries are available at each of the linked pages. Happy reading!

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Also, it's not too late to leave your answer to Zoe McCarthy's question of June 22, below. We'll have a drawing for a free copy of Zoe's The Irresistible Woman in a Blue Dress next week.