About Magnolia Lake by Emily Paige Skeen

Short romantic fiction from Prism Book Group

March, 2016

Buy: $3.99 Kindle

About the book:

Popular and beautiful, Cora Stephens has it all - including the perfect football-star boyfriend - until one fateful afternoon. Facing heartache and betrayal, Cora turns to long-time friend, Landon, for comfort. While his love for her grows, she does everything in her power to avoid getting hurt again - including flinging herself into the arms of another boy.

Then, just as Cora’s shattered world starts putting itself back together, life throws something her way that’s more horrific than she ever could have imagined. Through the emotional and physical pain, she begins to lose hope and abandon her faith. Will this once lighthearted, happy prom queen find her way back home?

A brief interview with the Author:

Emily, tell us, what do you love about this book?

The romance...definitely the romance. I’ve always been a sucker for a good love story, but watching this one develop out of the depths of my own mind was pretty exciting. Some of my favorite scenes to write were the romantic ones. There’s one in particular that comes to mind: Landon is about to kiss Cora and she’s panicking. I don’t want to give anything away, but that was a really fun scene to create!

Introduce us to the character you had the most difficulty with.

I’d say Jeff’s character was the most difficult for me to write. Drawing a believable line from the Jeff of the beginning of the story to the person he later becomes was challenging, to say the least. 

What do you hope readers will tell others when they’ve finished the book?

Like any author, I hope readers tell their friends how much they absolutely LOVED the book! But in all seriousness and above all else, I want readers to come away from this story feeling inspired. I want them to feel the power, faithfulness, and love of God. To know there’s no tragedy too big for Him. 

What are you reading now?

I’ve got a few books on my to-be-read list, including Julie Cosgrove’s Greener Grasses, Gay Lewis’s Clue into Kindness, and Anita Klumpers’s Hounded. I love to read for pleasure, but it’s often difficult to find the time.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on two novellas, one for Prism Book Group’s Christmas Cowboys series and one for their Love Is... series. After that, I plan on pitching an idea to my editor that I think fans of Magnolia Lake will be really excited about. This idea won’t be revealed until the details are all worked out, but it’s big!

Meet Emily:

Born and raised in a small Georgia town, Emily Paige Skeen takes from her own life experiences to create real, relatable characters for her novels. She loves to intertwine small-town charm with deep emotion and intrigue, creating stories that inspire readers.

When she’s not writing or chasing after her two youngsters - both under the age of five - you can find Emily reading, soaking up the sun whenever possible, or shopping. She, her husband, and their kids make their home in a tiny little town an hour south of Atlanta, on a five-acre plot of land right off a bumpy red-dirt road. Emily loves to sit and listen as the ever-present crickets and frogs perform their harmonious concerts in the still, quiet evening hours.

Writing has always been Emily’s passion, ever since she crafted her first sloppily hand-written story plastered over spiral notebook paper at the emotionally-charged age of thirteen. Now, she strives to encourage and inspire girls and young women with her writing. She believes that with a little bit of faith and a whole lot of love, anything’s possible.

Website: http://emilypaige486.wix.com/epskeen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyPaigeSkeen

Susan Royal

Xander’s Tangled Web
Fantasy
Available April 26

About the Book

After a late night visit to Battington’s marketplace, Princess Mena vanishes without a trace. Merchants are frantic, because King Leander has called for a curfew and postponed the Spring Festival until further notice. Certain his former constable is the man for the job, the mayor hires Xander to investigate, hoping he can solve the mystery in a hurry so things can go back to normal.

But Xander’s not so sure that’s possible, because there’s romance involved, and he knows when that happens folks who are normally very sensible seem to lose all reason. In addition to sorting out truths, half-truths and outright lies, he must deal with gypsies, love potions and an illegal moonshine operation before he gets to the bottom of things.

All books available at MuseItUp, Amazon, B&N, Goodreads



About the Author

Born in west Texas and raised in south Texas, Susan makes her home in a 100-year-old farmhouse in a small east Texas town. She shares it with a ghost who harmonizes with her son when he plays guitar. 

      She is married and the mother of six (she counts her children’s spouses as her own) and five unique grandchildren. Her family is rich with characters, both past and present. Her grandmother shared stories of life with three sisters and three brothers on a farm in Oklahoma Territory and working as a telephone operator in the early 20^th century.  She heard about growing up in San Antonio in the depression from her father, and experienced being a teenager during WWII through her mother’s eyes.When Susan isn’t writing, she works as a secretary in education and does her best to keep up with her grandchildren. Music and painting are two of her passions. She also loves to bargain shop anywhere there’s a sale and began repurposing long before it was popular. She is a firm believer in getting what you want without breaking the bank.  She paints, crafts and sews. Her office/craft/sewing room is littered with her latest projects.

     She loves to take her readers through all kinds of adventures with liberal doses of romance. So far, she’s written two books in her It’s About Time series, Not Long Ago and From Now On. They are time travel adventures with romance about two people who fall in love despite the fact they come from very different worlds. In My Own Shadow is a Fantasy adventure/romance. Xander’s Tangled Web is a fantasy. Look for her books at MuseItUp/Amazon/B&N. You can also find Odin’s Spear, one of her short stories featured in a Quests, Curses, and Vengeance anthology, Martinus Publishing, available on Amazon.

     Want to know more? Visit susanaroyal.wordpress.com or susanaroyal.moonfruit.com for a peek inside this writer’s mind and see what she’s up to. You never know what world she’s going to visit next.

In My Own Shadow (fantasy, adventure, romance) 
Not Long Ago (time travel, adventure, romance)

Not Long Ago book trailer

And pop on over to Susan's blog where she's interviewing me about my new upcoming book, Everything About You, due out March 25 from Prism Book Group.

Gay N Lewis and the newest Love Angel book

Welcome back to Gay N Lewis, author of the Sarah books. I love Gay's take on sweet, romantic love and forgiveness and getting the right kick once in a while to remind us of our priorities. Quite often similar characters will appear in her stories, but they are all stand alone books and don't have to be read in any particular order.

Gay's newest addition to the Sarah series is Sarah and a Date for MacKenzie. In this book, Sarah must find a boyfriend for a high school student while at the same time finding a companion for the teen’s mother.

About the Book

Merciful heavens! Getting acquainted with adult teachers in a high school is one challenge, but hang with the kids too? Sarah, heaven’s little love angel—known for bungles, has dealt with children and enjoyed them, but teenagers? My stars! They are a different ballgame. She doesn’t understand their jargon, clothes or hairdos. And mood swings? Forget it. She knew nothing about them—nada —zippo. She’d seen and heard them from above—even wondered at times why they existed on the same planet as adults. They were unique and interesting, but to mingle with them? Not a chance would she choose to do so—well, not until her latest assignment. Why would the Superiors send a bumbling angel like her to help a shy teenager find a date for a high school prom? Poopty doopty! A nightmare is about to happen.

Inspirational romance novella
$2,99 eBook purchase on Kindle and other online outlets.

Brief Interview with the Author

Gay, what do you love about this book?

Thinking of young people and the future they have ahead of them. My characters became real and I found myself hoping they wouldn’t do anything to cause regrets.

Tell us two things you learned from researching or publishing this story.

Young people don’t say they are dating. They say, “we are talking.” I also discovered they are extremely creative when asking someone to go to prom. They devise all kinds of events to pop the question. I enjoyed meeting with them at school, emailing back and forth, and becoming friends on FaceBook. These kids are great fun and have a bright future ahead.

Introduce us to your least favorite character.

Pace. This guy was abused by a female babysitter when he was seven years old. He never told anyone about it and didn’t seek help. As a result, he turned himself into a James Dean rebel and becomes a bully and a threat to Mackenzie.

What are you reading?

I’m finishing a book by Ann B. Ross. Miss Julia’s Marvelous Makeover. The author writes a series about an older woman. Like my character, Sarah, Miss Julia gets into all kinds of mischief.  Ann B. Ross writes humor and throws in common sense and inspiration at the same time. Each book stands alone, but if you haven’t read Miss Julia, I suggest you start with Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind. It is hilarious.

They sound like great books. Thanks! What else is going on with your writing career, Gay?

I have another book just released.

Clue into Kindness was released February 12, 

(From Lisa: see the post, a story from Gay about meeting her husband, and my review here.)

Clue into Kindness

“Love is kind…” 1 Corinthians: 13:4

Georgia loves her husband, Alan. She shows him kindness with actions and words, but Alan responds in a heartless, selfish way. To receive respect and admiration from people, he believes he must have a perfect wife—so he criticizes Georgia at every opportunity—even tells her she’s fat! Alan’s best friend Ken and his wife Jana, reassure Georgia that she remains the gorgeous beauty queen she was during her college days. Who will Georgia believe—her friends or the mysterious, handsome stranger who comes into her life? Circumstances bring a change to Alan’s attitudes. But is it too late to save this marriage?

About the Author

A native Texan, Gay lives in a small town west of Houston. Gay has always been involved with creative and artistic ventures.  Two videos she produced—The Canadian Rockies, English and Japanese translations, and Psalms from the Mountains, were sold in Canada, America, as well as all international markets.

Gay’s real love is writing. As a pastor’s wife, she has written, produced, and photographed many programs. Her Faith Features have been published in various church periodicals.

Teaching an adult Bible study every Sunday morning is Gay’s joy, and she is often called upon for speaking engagements.  When needed, she plays the piano or organ and serves as worship leader in her husband’s church. 

Take a glance at the covers and read the blurbs on Prism Book Group.

http://prismbookgroup.com/angels

For more information, please go to www.GayNLewis.com

Read excerpts on www.prismbookgroup.com

Gay would love to have you see her video trailers and become a follower of her blog.

http://www.gaynlewis.blogspot.com

https://www.amazon.com/author/gaynlewis

www.facebook.com/GayNLewis

Twitter  @GayNLewis2.

 Sarah has her own Facebook page. Follow Sarah on Facebook as Sarah Wingspand 

Fiction from April Gardner and Michelle Massaro

The first three books in April W Gardner's Creek Country Saga have just hit the Amazon shelves! They are now available for purchase, but every subscriber to her newsletter gets the first in the series for
FREE!

Scroll to nab your copy!

Beneath the Blackberry Moon will sweep you away to another time, then make you sigh and wish you could stay just a little longer.

I cannot put this book down! April Gardner crafts the scenes and character interactions so well, you are there! What a powerful story.

~Amazon reviewer

SUBSCRIBE HERE--FREE BOOK

This newsletter goes out only a handful of times each year to announce new releases, so no worries--your inbox won't be bombarded. April is generous to her email subscribers. Next month, each will receive another novel, absolutely free! See below to learn more about Better Than Fiction.

PURCHASE EBOOK (Kindle)

PURCHASE PAPERBACK

About the book:
War, captivity, hunger that will not be denied. And a blackberry moon with enough pull to endure the test of time.

Frontierswoman Adela McGirth has never feared her neighbors, the Creek Indians, but a suspicious encounter with a steely-eyed warrior shakes her confidence. As dreaded, a skirmish with the natives sends her family fleeing into a hastily constructed fort. But no picket is strong enough to hold off a party of warriors who fear nothing but the loss of their ancient ways.

Totka Lawe, a Red Stick bound by honor to preserve his heritage, will do what he must to expel the whites from Muscogee soil. But in the midst of battle, he is assigned to protect those he’s expected to hate and kill. One of whom is the copper-haired woman who has haunted his thoughts since that strange night under the blackberry moon. The war was simpler before his enemy became a beautiful face with a gentle warrior’s spirit he cannot resist.

But what woman would have a warrior whose blood-soaked hands destroyed her life?

Then again...does she have a choice?

PREVIEW BOOK BY CLICKING IMAGE

Learn more about this saga at

AprilGardner.com

and Like her on

Facebook!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Coming soon...

To get your FREE copy of Better Than Fiction,

SUBSCRIBE HERE

(releases April 2016)

Better than Fiction

April W Gardner and Michelle Massaro

Romance novelist Meghan Townsend’s marriage is slipping, and no amount of prayer seems to help. She aims to recapture her husband’s waning attention by getting in shape and finds escape by crafting her own fictional love story. Taking inspiration for the hero from a new friend—the attractive, spiritual, and attentive Curtis Jameson—she pours her yearnings onto the page, and craves the kind of pulse-pounding romance found in her book, Racing Hearts…

In 1916 Corona, California, motorcars are all the rage, and racing them is what Meghan’s hero, Russell Keegan, does best. But when his competition vandalizes his car, the only mechanic available is a greasy woman in a man’s overalls.
After a racing accident claimed her father’s life, Winifred became the sole breadwinner for her family. She is disdained as a female mechanic, but her daddy's trade is all she has left. Can she swallow her hatred of the races and take up Russell' s offer of big bucks to fix his car, or will she lose everything to mounting debt?

Under Meghan's skillful pen, these two embark on a thrilling, adventurous romance. But she finds that writing those love scenes with Curtis’s face in mind takes her heart places it shouldn’t go. Will she realize in time that real life can be better than fiction?

Love Does Not Boast, read Nancy Bolton's A Work in Progress

Ah, love! Such a topic!

For me, I had a close, loving family growing up, but we hit some rough times when my siblings and I were all teenagers in the 1960s, and the closeness often became strained and rocky, especially with our Dad who felt pretty overwhelmed with his outspoken, stubborn children. How I longed for the uncomplicated days when we were smaller!

 I’d always gotten along well with boys, and often preferred their company. But due to a childhood trauma, as I grew older, I was wary of any romantic relationships, and figured I’d never marry since the whole dating process appeared pretty scary to me. Though I perceived interest from various boys during high school, I kept a friendly distance, protecting myself from the titanic hurts I watched my siblings suffer as they navigated through their dating years.

Then, in my junior year, when I was seventeen, I became re-acquainted with a boy who’d once lived next door to us years back, and who I’d hardly seen in recent years. He had soulful, dark blue eyes, and a marvelous, quirky sense of humor which captivated me. He didn’t show any of the annoying romantic attention that always made me wary, and I delighted in humorous bantering with him, and sharing comic observations about everything. He was such fun to talk to.

Somehow, he snuck through my giant defenses, and I found myself fascinated at the thought of getting to know him as more than a friend. Though I resisted it once I realized he was becoming romantic toward me, it grew more difficult to push away the strong feelings I had for him. To his credit, he waited and maintained our friendship while the attraction deepened. When I finally opened the door to my heart, he rushed in and though we’ve had our rough times, now five sons and 40 plus years later, he still makes me laugh and is my other half.

We also shared our spiritual journey toward new birth in Christ in our twenties, and God has been a huge part of our ongoing relationship. I am well and truly blessed with love, and children and we even have two grandchildren now. We’ve never had a regular sort of life, but I’m comfortable being rather an oddball, and so is my husband, who first taught me to embrace my eccentricities, and enjoy them, just as he’s always enjoyed his and mine.  God makes all kinds of quirky folks, and I’m so happy to share my life with my husband John, though honestly sometimes he drives me nuts!!! I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Check out Nancy’s contribution to Prism Book Group’s new Love Is series…

A Work in Progress

“Love is kind…” 1 Corinthians: 13:4

$2.99

Prism Book Group

February 26, 2016

Buy on Amazon

About the Book:

There’s something cooking outside the kitchen…. 

They’ve worked together for two years, but that’s all they have in common. Like oil and water, they just don’t mix. Julie thinks he’s a shallow flirt, Mark thinks she’s a cold fish. Despite their mutual dislike, they’ve carved out a civil work relationship at the restaurant. But after each of their inner worlds suffer a jolt; the careful, polite kitchen routine becomes a stew of conflicting emotions. Things are about to get interesting. 

My review:

Nancy Shew Bolton, author of other Prism novella favorites of mine, Hidden Storms, and The Right Ingredients (both on sale at 99 cents each), adds another winner to the Love Is line, based on the apostle Paul's famous biblical passage in I Corinthians 13. "Love does not boast" means gifted, talents chefs Julie and Mark, who work at the same steakhouse restaurant, each with their special creative abilities to turn out new special dishes, should not let stress affect their work. When Mark visits a clinic for troubling symptoms, he meets new friends who help him put his life into perspective. But when he learns about Julie's secret outside-of-work life, his sense of duty wars with his curiosity. Used to getting the attention of girls, Julie is a puzzle Mark is determined to unlock. When their lives circle around and a mutual project brings them a fresh purpose, these cooks definitely sizzle.

Told from contrasting viewpoints, A Work in Progress follows two individuals with strong passions as they learn to meld and help each other grow.

Clash of the Titles - find a new author to love

With four great contenders and a week of voting, we welcome you to the February clash!! Step up and browse the covers, voting for the one you'd love to add to your reading pile. Scroll to the bottom for voting, and support your favorite title! Be sure to leave words of encouragement for your author, including his or her name!

**For those viewing on smart phones and devices that don't display the survey monkey below, follow this link to cast your vote: January Release Survey **

Happy voting!!!

Finding Love in Sun Valley Idaho

by Angela Ruth Strong

Emily Van Arsdale returns to her home state of Idaho to film her latest movie, but will finding love with rafting consultant Tracen Lake be enough to make her stay?

Find it here

Salsa and Speed Bumps

by Susan M. Baganz

Sometimes God allows speed bumps on the road to redemption. 

Find it here

A Worthy Heart

by Susan Anne Mason

Adam O'Leary, newly released from prison, wishes to make amends to his family and start a new life, only a certain Irish lass gets in the way!

Find it here

Just Kin

by Caryl McAdoo

Torn apart by war, rejection, and a letter with news she never wanted, Lacey Rose takes her shredded heart and runs. Charley figures something isn’t right, but is duty-bound to the Confederacy until a deathbed order sets in motion a series of events that test his love, honor, and commitment to the breaking point.

Find it here

The Healer's Rune

by Lauricia Matuska

To save Humanity from extinction, Sabine Rhyonselle must overcome centuries of lies and prejudice to forge an alliance between warring races and learn how to manage a dangerous secret that could get her killed.Find it here




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Judy Knox and A Widow's Might

E-book $5.99

Print 15.99

ISBN 978-1622453160
buy the book on Amazon http://amzn.to/1Ozdw3K or publisher: https://goo.gl/NaASUJ 

Aneko Press

About the Book:

Many of us in the body of Christ are living below our privileges as sons and daughters of God. We yearn for more in our experience with Him but don’t know what’s missing. In A Widow’s Might, Judy Knox reveals the missing element and explains how to get it.

Losing her husband due to complications following heart surgery could have been devastating. Instead, Judy’s ten weeks with him in the hospital ICU became a turning point, where she turned from her own strength to God’s. And when after fifty-one years, she suddenly found herself alone, she realized she was not alone at all. God was walking the path with her.

Judy will help you get more out of your relationship with God by showing you how to:

• hear and know God’s voice
• infuse your life with the power of the Holy Spirit
• enjoy your freedom as a new creation in Christ
• conquer negative thoughts and emotions
• win your spiritual battles

Her stories illustrate these serious truths in a light-hearted way. Whether you’re a new believer or a seasoned Christian, the fresh insights in Judy’s message will energize your walk with God.

My review:

Judy Knox shares her experience after being a married woman for most of her life and thinking she had a healthy faith to realizing duringa  medical crisis that healthy faith did not equate to a healthy relationship with her Lord and Savior. From the opening chapters in which the author deals with the eventual passing of her husband to her journey to joy, Knox writes of her gradual transformation into a woman of God who delights in knowing Him and being known.

Each chapter opens with a thematic verse, a discovery about its relevance and background such as why light is such an integral part of growth, discipline in developing uninterrupted intimate time with the Lord, and learning to hear, see, and rely on Him everywhere at even the seemingly most insignificant moments.

Just as importantly, Knox did not leave her husband behind as she began life anew and looked to the future. She did not dwell in the past, or make a shrine to his memory, but she did keep him in her heart and thoughts, even considering what he would have done or advised in a given situation.

The lessons she shares about walking as a faithful Christian growing more spiritually aware and mature include guarding our hearts and minds, our words, the example we are to others, even in our thoughts and resulting actions.

Included is a list of books and articles with comments about them in a Resources section.

Good for anyone who wants to develop a closer relationship with God.

The publisher is offering a giveaway of the book. Info below:

Enter the Giveaway Drawing click here

About the Author:

Judy Knox, a retired high school teacher, now teaches Christians how to get more from their relationship with God. Recently widowed, she resides most of the year in northern Illinois near her married son and daughter and six grandchildren, and flies south to Arizona for the winter months. In addition to writing and speaking, she is active in her local church and enjoys playing the cello. 

Visit Judy's website and blog for more information: www.judyaknox.com