Old, But New by Merrillee Whren

The three books in my Village of Hope series were originally published by Harlequin Love Inspired. I have received the rights back to these books and will be reissuing them over the next few months. I already have the new covers as you can see above. The books are old, but new. They have new covers and a few changes inside although fewer changes than some of my other reissues because they were more recently published. I still can't believe it has been seven years since their first publication. The times goes so quickly. 

Annie's Hope, the first book in the series, is available now for preorder. The book will be released on September 27, 2022. Here is the back cover blurb.

Annie Payton Hopes for one thing—to regain custody of her children. She believes the Village of Hope’s lawyer will give her that chance until she learns that lawyer is Ian Montgomery, her ex-husband.

Since Ian has turned from his life of substance abuse, he’s all about helping others, but he doesn’t know if he can help his former wife. Her betrayal still brings him pain, and most people at The Village don’t know about his past relationship with Annie.

As Annie and Ian's lives intersect, can she show him that she's clean and sober and wants a second chance not only with her children but with him?

 

The Village of Hope: A community built on service and love

 I love the new cover for this book because of the fountain in the background. It is muted, but I can see that it is a tiered fountain just like the one I imagined when I put a fountain in the book. The original cover had a fountain, but not a tiered fountain, even though I sent several pictures of tiered fountains when I filled out my art fact sheet for the cover. That's why I love having complete control over my covers now. 

Here's a small excerpt from the story featuring the fountain.

Ian puzzled over Annie’s declaration about church and her faith. Was she trying to reassure him ahead of this meeting that she was ready and deserving of having her children back? He wished he could let go of his doubts, but they hung there in his mind like rotted curtains at a window. They reminded him of the dismal state she’d come from and her numerous relapses. “I have to be honest, Annie. I’m still skeptical. I don’t doubt you have good intentions. I just need to see you carry them out.”

Her eyes blinked rapidly as her lips quivered. She didn’t say anything until they reached the fountain. She stopped in front of it. Water spilled from level to level, sparkling in the sunlight. “I know I have a lot to prove. Do I have time to stop at my apartment before the meeting?”

Ian checked the time on his phone. “Yeah, but don’t be late.”

“I won’t be.” Annie sprinted across the quad as if something was chasing her.

Glued to the spot, Ian watched her until she disappeared inside her building. He’d done it again—almost made her cry. Why had he been so blunt with her? Being honest with her made both of them unhappy, but he couldn’t sugarcoat what he thought. She would either prove herself or not. He should be more supportive, but he knew the pitfalls of recovery. None of it was easy. He’d been through it himself.

Should he be more sympathetic? No. Annie didn’t need sympathy. She needed support that was straightforward. He would give her that and nothing more.

You can preorder Annie's Hope at these links.

Amazon

Apple 

B&N 

Kobo

Do you like covers that present a scene from the book, or do you like covers that give an overall concept from the book?

 

Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of forty-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.

 

Lefthanders Give a Wave and Book Sale by Vickie McDonough

Did you know that tomorrow is International Lefthanders Day? It recognizes all those individuals who have mastered using their left hand in a right-handed world. Approximately 10% of the population is are southpaws. Parents of left-handed children used to force them to use their right hands. In the eyes of right-handers, the predominant use of the left hand seemed evil at one time. Parents feared their communities would shun their children. Thankfully, southpaws people are more accepted these days.

I'm mostly lefthanded, but I can also do things like use scissors and a mouse righthanded. I remember being in kindergarten or first grade and having a teacher who tried to convert me to write right-handed, but I out-stubborned her.  I got to thinking about it, I don't believe I've ever written a left-handed hero in any of my books. I need to remedy that, but for today, here's a list of famous southpaws.

Famous Lefthanded People:

• Albert Einstein,Michaelangelo, and Leonardo de Vinci
• Presidents Thomas Jefferson, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama
• Paul McCartney and Jimi Hendrix
• Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts, Lady Gaga and Angelina Jolie
• Babe Ruth, Sandy Koufax and Tim Tebow
• Leo Tolstoy, Mark Twain, JK Rowling
• Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerburg

That's probably more than you ever wanted to know about lefties. So all southpaws, give a wave.

My Texas Trails books are on sale for $2.99 for a limited time.

End of the Trail

Brooks Morgan is a quick draw, but his weapon of choice is his smile. He’s smart and witty and has charmed his way through much of life, but now he’s growing older—and a bit wiser. He wants to stop drifting and settle down. He sees his chance when he wins Raven Creek Ranch in a poker game, but when he goes to claim his prize, a pretty woman with a shotgun says the ranch belongs to her. Brooks isn’t leaving his one and only chance to make something of his life—but neither is she. Can they reach an agreement? Or will a greedy neighbor force a showdown, causing them both to lose what they want most in life?

Available on Amazon / Free KU

Long Trail Home

A weary soldier returns from the War Between the States to discover his parents dead, his family farm in shambles, and his fiancée married. A pretty, blind woman reaches through his scarred walls, but will the secret she holds ruin all chances for a future filled with love, faith, and family?

Available on Amazon / Free KU

My Favorite Poems About Summer by Josie Riviera

 I love summer, and I love poems.  So today, I'm sharing 3 of my favorite poems.

"Warm summer sun, shine kindly here; Warm southern wind, blow softly here; Green sod above, lie light, lie light,  Good night, dear heart, good night, good night." - Mark Twain

"Bend low again, night of summer stars. So near you are, sky of summer stars. So near, a long-arm man can pick off stars, Pick off what he wants in the sky bowl, So near you are, summer stars, So near, strumming, strumming,  So lazy, and hum-strumming."  - Carl Sandburg

"In winter I get up at night,  And dress by yellow candle light,  In summer quite the other way,  I have to go to bed by day. I have to go to bed and see, The birds still hopping on the tree,  Or hear the grown-up people's feet, Still going past me on the street. And does it not seem hard to you, When all the sky is clear and blue, And I should like so much to play, To have to go to bed by day?" - Robert Louis Stevenson

New release!  Enjoy my newest sweet contemporary romances in one inspirational bundle:

Romance Stories To Cherish Volume Two.

This set includes three sweet and inspirational romances:

A CHRISTMAS PUPPY TO CHERISH
You don’t need ears to hear God’s plan. All you need is an open heart…

A HOMECOMING TO CHERISH
All relationships require a commitment but is she ready to sacrifice her heart again?

A SUMMER TO CHERISH
Faith is fragile. Faith takes time. And the best solutions are always painted with love.

Grab your copy of Romance Stories To Cherish, Volume Two, today. 

Available in ebook, paperback, and large print paperback.

FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Audiobooks for each book sold separately.

Josie Riviera is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and inspirational sweet romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband.  They share their home with an adorable shih tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovations.

Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE ebook on her website: http://josieriviera.com/

"Like" her author Facebook page.

Follow her on Bookbub.

Follow her on Amazon.

A Heart for Animals... by Christine Bush

                                         

If you know me, you know I have a heart for animals.  This has been a lifelong thing.  Today, as life and space are limited, I don’t have as many pets as I did in the past. But I have two fascinating cats, named Macaroni and Cheese.  My buddies.

It’s not a surprise that I like to put animals of all kinds in my books.  Here are some examples;

                                       Christmas Laurel:  a retired bomb dog

                                                 Noah’s Bark:  a love sick goat

                  Christmas with the Crazy Cowboy: Horses (and a runaway cow!)

 

                                                Hannah’s Heart:  Rescue dogs

                                                    Patient Heart: a  puppy

                                       Christmas with the Cat Lady:  LOTS of cats

 

Kelly’s Kiss: A giant Great Dane service dog.

 

And there’s more!  You can find them all through the Amazon page listed below.

 How about you? Do you have pets?  Do you like to read about pets in books?  Let me know!

 

Christine Bush is a USA Today Bestselling author of romance, romantic mystery, and suspense.  She can be found living in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania with her husband and 2 lazy cats, and spending time with her 14 grandchildren.   When she’s not writing, she’s teaching Psychology at a local college, and working with clients in her private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She loves to hear from readers and writers!

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Bush-Author/213919128638762

http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Bush/e/B001KHSLRG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1392688497&sr=1-2-ent

 

 

 

 

How Would You Like Your Zucchini? ~ Jean C. Gordon

 

It's that time around here when everyone has lots of zucchini available. And lots of suggestions for using it up. I like the vegetable steamed with a little pepper and steamed with tomatoes and oregeno. I also like it chilled and sliced raw as a crunchy snack. But my favorite zucchini dish is Chocolate Zucchini Bread.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

2 oz unsweetened chocolate

3 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 cups grated zucchini 

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave unsweetened chocolate until melted. Stir occasionally until chocolate is smooth.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, oil, grated zucchini. vanilla, and chocolate. Beat well. Stir in flour, baking soda, sale, and cinnamon. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans.

Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a loaf comes out clean.

I also was given a recipe for Peanut Butter Zucchini Bread, which I haven't tried it, so I won't share it yet. But feel free to share your favorite way to eat zucchini.

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Message from a Mom by @Donna_Fasano

Navigating the river called parenting isn’t easy. When you were young, we laughed as we splashed in the babbling brook of life. We explored the shallows, marveled at the iridescent minnows, turned over rocks to find red salamanders, constantly curious and awed by our discoveries. I paddled through the current, steering you this way or that, always going in the direction I thought was best.

Time passed, and your urge to test your paddling skills grew… so, for a short while, we shared in the chore. Rains came, and the river widened and deepened. Storms billowed in the clouds overhead, rousing a choppy current that felt scary, even dangerous. The sun rose and calm returned. Such is life on the river.

I slowly came to the realization that it was time to step out of the canoe, hand over the paddle, allow you to navigate your own way. In that instant, the river’s name changed to Life, and it became yours. Sometimes, watching from the shoreline is excruciating. It is during those moments I force myself to remember that I did my very best during our together years to teach you when to battle the current, when to drift with it, and, if need be, how to swim. Most times, though, I am astonished by your strong, confident strokes, your keen sense of piloting.

You are on the right course; of this I am certain. I am confident in your ability to judge the ebb and flow of Life. I am sure you know your vessel, the strength of its keel, the weight of its anchor, the location of its grab rails, the cut of its wake. You’ve got this, come sunshine or squall.

I will try to relax, but I can’t promise to do so. I’m a parent, remember. And I love you. If you should ever need me, I am here. But in my heart, I know you have your bearing. I know you will find your flow and do well on this journey.

From the author: Look for my Black Bear Brothers Series, available on Amazon in digital and in paperback. Click on the image below to learn more. 

About the author:

Donna Fasano is a USA Today Bestselling Author of over 40 sweet romance, contemporary romance, and women’s fiction novels. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

Lyn Cote Asks: If you could travel anywhere--not having to consider cost, etc--where would you go?

 : If You Could Travel Anywhere-Where woudl you go? 

And you don’t have to worry about the cost or how you travel there (unless that’s part of the fantasy) and you have unlimited funds and energy to enjoy the trip! 

So go for it! Let your imagination soar!

Please leave a response and become eligible for a drawing for a free ebook!–Lyn

Places I've Gone Already:

Bayfield WI

Green Lake WI

Mackinac Island MI

Badlands, SD

This is the free ebook I'm offering! So be sure to leave a comment!--Lyn