DiAne Gates and Roped, Booger Daddy, and Giveaway

About the Book:

Thirteen-year-old Crissy Crosby chases a dream to live up to her parents’ rodeo legacy. But the rodeo championship is two months away and problems beyond her ability to solve stack and teeter like a game of Tumbling-Towers. Meanwhile rival Jodie Lea and her father, Ed Fairgate, contrive to swipe the silver buckles from Crissy’s grasp any way they can. Prejudice, anger, and dark secrets simmer in a pot of family feuds destined to boil over in a tragic nightmare at the rodeo. Will Crissy develop courage and faith to overcome the consequences of her temper? Will her dreams of buckles and titles become reality? Or will the character-building adversities of her life quash her dreams forever?

$3.99 Ebook
$12.99 Print
Buy on Amazon

DiAne says:

I always want to know what prompts an author to write a story—

A vision in the night? A flashback? Daydreaming or what?

GIVEAWAY:

DiAne will give an ecopy of Roped in a drawing of those who comment with a story idea! What dream or flashback would you like to see in print?

Drawing will be held at 5 pm Central Standard Time on Tuesday, August  14, 2018.

The Roped Series had played in the back of my mind for years while I hung a million yards of wallpaper. Hanging from a ten-foot ladder, sloshing the glue, and trimming the paper, all the while writing a story in my head. It didn’t hurt my paper-hanging-partner was a rodeo champion and I often went to rodeos with her to shoot pictures.

One such night I was perched atop a chain link fence in a field judge’s seat snapping shot after shot of bronc riding and barrel racing when the announcer’s voice gave me cause to consider… Do I really want to be here?

But his twangy Texas drawl droned, “Hold on to your seat all you little range wranglers, bull riding’s up next!”

I looked at the large mud puddle beneath me…surely no self-respecting bull would venture over here…right?

With the camera lens set just right I peered in the zoom to see Booger Daddy…that’s right Booger Daddy…same bull that Crissy Crosby rides in the first book of the series Roped…B.D. did a quick rump rustle and sent his rider flying. Next thing I realized that snot-nosed-bull glared right at me.

Yep! He pawed three times, turned on the afterburners, and headed right at me, the fence and the mud puddle!

My husband screamed, “Jump and run.”

I couldn’t move. My legs were noodles. My mouth opened to scream, but no sound came out. Seconds seemed like hours, but a pick-up man saw my peril, cut his horse around between the fence, me, and the bull. They all arrived at the mud puddle at the exact moment and an explosion of wet, sticky, black Texas mud splattered my camera lens, and left nasty little me in my white eyelet peasant blouse, skinny jeans, and boots covered.

All in a night’s work for the cowboy and bull. But a horrible nightmare for me as I wobbled down from the stand, and with husband’s help headed for the car to clean and stow my camera for the night.

At that moment I knew one of the spot lights in Roped would introduce Booger Daddy to the world.

From Roped, Chapter Twenty-eight:

“The name Steer #1801-Booger Daddy, was right beside my name. I gawked at the board and thought of the picture on my night table. No. It couldn’t be.

But I found him in the pen, and the tag in his ear read Booger Daddy, III. O great. If it weren’t for bad luck—

Snot slung from his nose and he raked his horns across the iron pipe prison. The clanking and banging sounded like a jackhammer. Our eyes met. He pawed the ground and lunged at my side of the pen. My heart skedaddled behind me. This silver-gray Brahma, who looked just like his granddaddy, was the biggest, most ornery bull of the bunch. Talk about the luck of the draw.” 

The Builders Reluctant Bride by Stacey Weeks

The Builders Reluctant Bride

Stacey Weeks

White Rose Publishing, an imprint of Pelican Book Group

Released July 2016

ebook $3.99

Buy on Amazon

About the Book

He wants a second chance. She says there's no going back. Ten years ago, a public disgrace sent Jenna Jenkins running from her hometown. Now, the success of her professional future hinges on joining her hometown church restoration project. Her partner and team leader on the job is William Scott—expert renovator, volunteer fireman, and the ex-flame who ruined her life.  William is in crisis, facing the tightening screws of personal and professional failure. When the interior designer on the church renovation project turns out to be Jenna Jenkins, William sees it as a chance to make amends. But Jenna wants nothing to do with him.  How much will William sacrifice to redeem his mistakes and prove his love? Can Jenna protect her heart this time or will William break her for good?

My Review

Reunions aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. A decade should have healed all the hurt, but once Jenna sees William, the former high school love who crushed nearly everything about her in a senior joke gone horribly wrong, it’s like reliving the whole nightmare over again. Compounded by a gruesome marriage in between, Jenna can’t seem to catch a break. Sure, she’s grown up and successful, even finally well-put-together enough to rival the former cheerleading crew who gave her grief in high school, but the victory is hollow considering the changes that have occurred in her hometown during her absence.

A boost to get her interior decorating column in national syndication drives her home to help renovate a church. On television, no less, as the builder is trying out for a reality show. Her job is the inside. And to work with the building contractor who turns out to be none other than the young man from the disastrous high school prom night now turned into a real home town hero. The ten-year cushion may have helped them step back and put their lives into perspective, but accident on accident, misunderstandings, false pride, and a potential health crisis will most likely derail any possible romantic chance they might have had unless they can slow down and really listen to each other.

Beautifully written well-developed characters and story lines drive this lovely story of getting past some really bad choices and learning how to be gracious and forgive. These people have a long way to go by story’s end. They’re not perfect, though they have a conscience and will get there. I appreciate a good tale that doesn’t sugarcoat everything. Told through the two main character’s perspectives, I occasionally felt like I was missing something when I realized time had elapsed between the opposing narrator, but that’s natural and real. Those who enjoy highly inspiration elements in a romance between hard-bitten and twice-shy people will find a lot to love about this contemporary romance set in Michigan.

About the Author

Stacey Weeks is a novelist, writer, and painter of everything. She rotates between fiction and non-fiction work, loving the unique features of each. When not writing, she is usually painting or renovating something in her home. Visit www.staceyweeks.com for more information.

In Too Deep by Stacey Weeks

In Too Deep

Stacey Weeks

White Rose, an imprint of Pelican Book Group

Released November 2017

ebook $4.99

Buy on Amazon

About the Book

Like an anchor wedged in the lake floor, Grace Stone's heart is submerged in the past. Drowning in guilt over the role she played in her father's and sister's deaths, Grace prays that launching her water survival program at Camp Moshe will properly honor their memory and enable her to move on. But success depends on Grace risking everything on the man hired to rebrand the Christian camp. Kye Campton's usual confidence wavers when his extreme sports campaign lands him in hot water with the cautious instructor and it becomes increasingly evident that Camp Moshe's fight for survival is against more than a declining economy. Will Kye be able to save the camp—and Grace—from a saboteur determined to close the camp at any cost?

My Review

Set in northern Ontario, this Canadian adventure has multiple tugs in the reader’s heartstrings. A week at camp so kids can learn how to spread wings and make new friends should definitely be on every family’s agenda. With Camp Moshe’s model of discounting fees to make it affordable for almost anyone, it should be possible…but even generosity has its limits. When the camp begins a pattern of operating in the red, the board of directors demands a change or they’ll accept one of several offers to buy up their precious lake property for development. In comes Malachi, Kye for short, Compton, boy wonder fix-it man with a reputation for turning around sagging businesses. His idea to upgrade the camp offerings with riskier activities seems to be working with better enrollment and a great staff experienced in rock climbing and trail biking. Except for the water sports director. Grace has some bugaboo about safety and caution, and when things start to unravel at camp, doesn’t hesitate to nag with “I told you so.”

The threats and “accidents” get personal. Both Kye and Grace have their futures resting on a positive program at the camp—Grace with a national program to promote water activity safety, and Kye to keep up his reputation as a genius businessman. Between a dangerous bear, malfunctioning equipment, booby-traps and fire, not to mention astronomical insurance, everyone, especially the kids, will lose if they have to close the camp. Everyone but the mastermind behind the sabotage, that is. The race is on to save camp, and for Kye and Grace to discover what’s truly important in life: their individual goals and their mutual attraction.

Alternating points of view between Kye and Grace tell their story, inner desires, and mutual goals in this charming story. Readers will be transported to their own days of experience at summer camp, or at least get a fun twist on summer romance—meddling moms and all. Lots of fun.

About the Author

Stacey Weeks is a novelist, writer, and painter of everything. She rotates between fiction and non-fiction work, loving the unique features of each. When not writing, she is usually painting or renovating something in her home. Visit www.staceyweeks.com for more information.

Toby's Troubles by Carole Brown

A new mystery in the Appleton, WV series!

released July 10, 2018
$2.99 ebook
$11.99 Print
Buy on Amazon
Book 4 in the series

About the book

Everyone loves Toby Gibson. A co-owner of Undiscovered Treasures, a unique shop of antiques, collectables and junk, Toby is friendly, generous to a fault, the director of the local plays in Appleton and supports his church's youth functions. But the minute his sister, Caroline and her new husband, take off for their honeymoon, a “ghost” begins to haunt the shop—or maybe it's just an intruder. If so, Toby has no idea for what the thing is looking. To add to his troubles, he suspects Amy, not only is bidding for the property he's wanted forever, but is in love with him. And he's not interested.

Amy Sanderson who owns the only flower shop in Appleton—Bloomin' Life—is drawn into capturing Toby's “ghost” when her own business is damaged by a destructive intruder. Having loved Toby since a teenager, she's more than willing to join forces with him. But she has no interest in being his best friend or a sister to him. And if she has to resort to schemes of outbidding him at his frequent auction attendences to get his attention, then so be it. She can be just as stubborn as the man who's determined to ignore her love.

In between the break-ins, destruction of property, thefts and personal competitions against each other, Amy and Toby work together to find the thief who seems so determined to find a valuable item, he'll stop at nothing.

My Review

Toby Gibson is sure he’s got a ghost in Undiscovered Treasures, the store he owns with his sister, who’s out of town on her honeymoon. He’s alone in the above store apartment, but as sure as he is that he’s got an unwanted visitor, he’s equally sure Detective Eddie of the Appleton Police won’t be able to help. Not until his friend Amy from the flower shop on the other side of the abandoned building between them and he start experiencing real break-ins, that is.

From the moment Toby meets a grumpy old man badgering Amy who outbid him on a piece of furniture we wanted at an auction and stole his dream of expanding into next building this fourth book in Brown’s series is like coming home to old friends.

Poor, clueless Toby, is about to get a lesson in the real meaning behind best friends. It’s a riot to watch Toby get what’s coming to him while working with his friends to unravel the mystery of dark family secrets in sunny Appleton, West Virginia.

Cleverly weaving businesses and friends from the previous stories and melding them into a new mystery, Brown makes Appleton a fun place to visit. Told from multiple perspectives with good pacing. Brown’s stories are clean and inspirational, and recommended for junior high readers and up.

About the Author

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole  Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband have ministered and counseled across the country. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Connect:

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/browncarole212
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

New Serial Romance from Susan Baganz

Donuts and Detours

Susan Baganz

Pelican Book Group

Released May, 2018

ebook $4.99

Print $15.99

Buy on Amazon

About the Book

Cars were far easier to understand than most people . . .

Titus Rickmeyer has a servant’s heart. Mechanic and tow-truck driver he’s used to coming to the aid of damsels in distress, especially serving as part of Orchard Hill’s Garage Ministry in his spare time. So why is he suddenly suspicious of the young man fixing cars and bringing donuts to the repair shop?

Bethany Joelle Hanson has been on her own for too long. Orphaned and dumped into foster care at a young age she bounced around the system until declaring her independence at sixteen. She holds her secrets close. She wonders if God has abandoned her too. Working as an assistant baker at a local grocery store, she becomes B.J. in her off hours to work on cars at the Garage Ministry where all the guys there think she’s one of them. But something about Titus threatens her long-honed desire to hide her femininity.

The twists and turn in their relationship lead to detours on the way to the sweet taste of love.

My Review

We all see what we want to see, coming at life from our biased points of experience. Baganz’s latest addition to her series of interconnected friends and family who attend the same Milwaukee-area church just goes to prove the rule. Her story of broken people who come together and weather figuring out how to make friendship, then romance work, is a lovable read. All the stories in the series are stand-alone, with pop-in guests from the other books who play supporting roles. It is not necessary to read them in order, but you’ll be curious about how the relationships developed.

An orphan who experienced an accident and abuse resulting in physical scars, Bethany never knew more than sadness. Losing her mom and dad at a young age and then knowing only foster homes never presented a good role model for friendship or marriage. She feels unprepared for life, as well she should be after emancipating at age sixteen. Fortunately she found a precious lonely older woman who rented part of her home to Bethany. They both need each other and become close. Bethany fell back on two work experiences she learned from a too-brief stay at her one loving foster family and became a baker at a store and works on cars as a volunteer to provide an outlet for her mechanical talents. She not only hides her talents but her gender, fooling even the director of the volunteer church mechanic program—for a while. After an accident at the garage, there was no more hiding. Fortunately, the volunteers at the program were on to Bethany long before Titus, or Ty for short. When Titus and Bethany respond to their feelings for each other, they realize they have a long road ahead of them to work out their personal issues. With the help of their solid faith and new friends and family, they prove that love always conquers all.

Told in multiple points of view, Baganz’s character names can be a handful, as Bethany Joelle is the main female character’s preferred reference and Ty is a short balance. Some of the initial dialog felt a bit stiff, but smoothed out the further we got into this intriguing story. I always enjoy seeing the other characters from the series support each other. Bethany’s claim toward the end that she doesn’t need Ty, but wants him in her life, is a powerful statement that helps put the stakes of a relationship in perspective. Baganz’s former career in social work shows the heartbreak and the joy that can happen through foster care, as well as the disappointments of neglect in families who stop taking the time to care for each other.

About the Author

Susan M. Baganz chases after three Hobbits and is a native of Wisconsin. She is an Acquisitions Editor with Prism Book Group specializing in bringing great romance novels and novellas to publication. Susan writes adventurous historical and contemporary romances with a biblical world-view.

Gift book for you!

Not Always a Bridesmaid contemporary romance collection

Released June 6, 2018

Books To Go Now, publisher

$3.99 ebook

Jennifer Conner

Sharon Kleve

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DKV63L9 

About the Book:

The Professional Bridesmaid by Jennifer Conner

To help three co-workers coordinate their weddings, Skye Wilson must act as a bridesmaid for them. Skye dreams of becoming a wedding planner and needs to start somewhere and reluctantly agrees. Just when the wedding arrangements and her plans started going wrong, she meets Chasen Dantrell, a handsome limousine driver.

Chasen has a growing limo business. He loves his job but the long hours of waiting by himself wear on him. That is until a cute, blue-eyed bridesmaid named Skye stumbles his way.

As their two worlds become more and more entwined with each wedding they work, Skye wonders if she'll ever be a bride and would it be Chasen at the end of the aisle with a ring?

The Undecided Bride by Sharon Kleve

When Steven, the man of Bridgette North dreams, proposes she automatically says yes until her fiancé’s constant pressure for a speedy wedding has her questioning his motives and love. Now she is undecided whether she wants to marry him.

Mason is hired to trick Bridgette into marrying Steven quickly to ensure a promotion but ends up falling head-over-heels in love instead.

Can Mason explain his deceit and still win her heart?

And will Bridgette be willing to risk her heart one more time?

Red, White, and Bridesmaid by Jennifer Conner

Jess Caldwell is the third in line to wear the mistletoe headband until she’s kissed. But it’s her best friend Kara’s wedding, Jess needs to keep her mind on designing the flowers and not on the fact that Kara’s older brother, Darrin, who she’s had a crush on for years will be there.

Darrin’s happy to be moving home, and what is even more of a pleasant surprise is seeing her again. Jess isn’t the geeky girl he remembered when he left. But after all the mean things he said in the past, will she give him another chance?

When things at the wedding go wrong, more than fireworks fly for this 4th of July wedding.

Will love be in the air?

The Reluctant Bride by Sharon Kleve

Penelope Moore’s last boyfriend had no qualms about cheating even after he professed his undying love. As a wedding event planner Penelope has seen plenty of happily-ever-after. But with her terrible luck in the relationship department, she is reluctant to believe it will ever happen to her.

Ferguson enjoyed the freedom of bachelorhood until he met his last girlfriend. He considered her the love of his life until she betrayed him. Without his consent, she used his professional experience and knowledge as a private investigator to write and publish a best-selling novel. Ferguson couldn’t forgive her underhanded deceit and ended their relationship.

When Ferguson meets Penelope he is once again willing to risk his heart, but Penelope isn’t as trusting. Just when he is beginning to win the beautiful event planner’s heart, his ex-girlfriend arrives in town and causes heartache all over again.

Can Penelope and Ferguson trust each other and their hearts enough to get their happily-ever-after?

My Review:

Four unique stores in one, Not Always a Bridesmaid is a contemporary mainstream collection of modern-day romance set mostly in the Pacific Northwest. Each story uses characters from the others to showcase true friendship and love beyond initial love-at-first-sight relationships.

Skye moved to be closer to her estranged father, and although an accountant by trade, would like to eventually trade that job out as an event planner. To earn points for her resume, she agrees to help engaged girls at her new workplace, not knowing she’s about to embark on a journey with three of the worst bridezillas ever. Thank goodness the cute limo driver, Chasen, has her back…and more.

The second story follows a wedding planner, Bridgette, who falls for a shady character. Everyone suspects him; even she has second and third doubts, but heartbreak and hilarity ensue when each of the couple’s friends get involved.

When Kara gets married at the same wedding venue used in the first two stories, her brother Darrin’s return for the wedding sends Kara’s friend Jess into palpitations. The crush of her teen years finally recognizes that she’s grown up. Better yet, he’s planning to come back and set up shop. Besides that, he’s got a wicked sense of humor and evil way to cool things down.

In the final story, it’s Bridgette’s assistant Penelope’s turn for romance. Things sizzle out of control…and get even hotter when Ferguson’s former scheming lover returns for more devilment. Ferguson, a PI, shows his stuff when he proves how deeply he cares for and knows the true love of his life.

Four bite-size stories for summer getaway reading, Not Always a Bridesmaid will charm the contemporary romance reader. Each story is told through multiple viewpoints and include juicy details of wedding venues, dresses, food, romance galore, and way too-good-to-be-true heroes.