AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Marybeth Whalen

 Good morning, friends!

This week we are preparing for a June wedding. That story comes tomorrow. For now, let's meet this week's author.

BIO:

Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is the author of THE THINGS WE WISH WERE TRUE (7/16) and five previous novels. She speaks to women's groups around the US. She is the co-founder of the popular women's fiction site, She Reads www.shereads.org. Marybeth and her husband Curt have been married for 24 years and are the parents of six children, ranging from young adult to elementary age. The family lives in North Carolina. Marybeth spends most of her time in the grocery store but occasionally escapes long enough to scribble some words. She is always at work on her next novel. 

You'll find out more about Marybeth and her works by clicking the links below.

WEBSITE

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

Good morning, friends!

I've scheduled a lot of posts so I can get back to finishing this book. I'm ready to talk to new characters. 

All my best!

~ Angela

 

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning!

June starts the big travel season so you'll see photos to inspire your romantic getaways, excursions, and other fun ways to escape the daily grind.

courtesy of Julius-Silver-Hallstatt on Pixabay

All my best!

~ Angela

RETURNING TO HISTORY - Part 1

 Good morning, friends. 

I'm going to be reposting older content. For one reason, I may have followers that have not seen them. The other reason is bring posts related to my current work in progress to the foreground. I'm getting closer to finishing An Ozarks Homecoming so it's time to bring some things back - refreshing both your memory (if you've been following me awhile) and my own. At almost sixty-five, this brain isn't always what it  used to be in some areas. 

Future posts will run on Wednesdays and the conference/ contest items will run on Thursdays, when available.

EDITED FROM JANUARY 2019 - How it all began.

I don't think I've told any of you yet, but Book 2 is centered around a young couple brought back together (there's that 2nd chance thing) through the events surrounding bringing home the remains of a Korean War Vet. I got the idea two years ago as I stood by the side of the road in solemn respect of a procession carrying Crpl. Donald Matney home to Seymour MO. Something about this young man spoke to me. While I've never believed in visiting someone at a cemetery, I find myself stopping by his resting place almost every time I travel through on my way to Springfield.

They say 'write what you know'. Many of my stories are influenced by my own personal experiences. I'm struggling with Book 2 because I really don't have anything to pull from. The other challenge I have is making sure I get all of the military information correct. I do not want to dishonor our service men and women by misrepresenting something. 

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - The Farmer's Bride

 Good morning!

Was nice to curl up and really enjoy the book yesterday. I needed the break. The canning is done until fall, so that's one thing off my plate and I can get back to writing.

In the mean time, I have a soft romance for you today. This book was special. One of the reasons I love to read novella's because they show the author's true artistry in telling a tight, well-structured story. This week's book is a great example of Christine Sterling'stalent.

AMAZON

BLURB:

She offered herself as a bride, to save her future—and his heart.

Elizabet Garrett is out of time and out of choices. Cast out by her brother’s growing family, she knows the early American frontier offers little mercy to an unmarried woman with nowhere to go. When she witnesses a wounded farmer being rejected by his mail-order bride, Elizabet does the unthinkable. She steps forward and offers herself as the substitute.

Peter Arkin has learned not to hope. Finding a wife on the frontier isn’t easy when you have a disability. He has survived loss, injury, and a bitter struggle with anger on his isolated homestead. When his carefully arranged mail-order match fails, the last thing he expects is a stranger’s brave and desperate proposal. Elizabet never intended to fall for the rugged man behind the scars, but her past threatens to follow her into marriage.

Peter starts believing in love again, but his temper and self-doubt could destroy the fragile bond they’re building. Can two wounded hearts find healing, faith, and love on the unforgiving frontier, or will fear cost them everything?

Set in the small town of Flat River, Nebraska, this heartfelt and uplifting historical romance is perfect for readers who enjoy 1800s western frontier stories filled with strong pioneer women, rugged men, and the courage it takes to choose love. If you love clean historical romance rooted in faith and hope, with frontier hardship and a love which grows stronger through God’s grace, then read The Farmer’s Bride today and discover why readers keep coming back to Flat River.

I loved multiple things about this story. First and foremost a disabled hero. It isn't often we see disability featured, especially in a historical. He was so sweet. Elizabet helped him see he wasn't incapable of a lot of things, including love, just because he was missing a leg. They were both bruised from various occurrences in their past. They found each other when they needed to someone to help them heal. 

As for Elizabet. I loved her character. The fact that her brother acted the way she did. Elizabet left to begin her new life with Peter with a small carpet bag holding her meager possessions. I won't give anything away but safe to say, Peter had much more restraint than I would have. 

The Farmer's Bride is Book 1 of 7 in the Flat River Matchmaker series. Christina said we'll see some of the characters make appearances along the way. I want to read the others if for no other reason than to find out if Elizabet's brother comes to his senses. 

You'll find a complete list of the series on...

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/351177-the-flat-river-matchmaker

I'm giving The Farmer's Wife...

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Christine Sterling

 Good morning, friends!

How can it be June already? June is one of the biggest months for weddings so we're reading those all-in novellas this month. 

According to columnist Kate Boswell (her article references The Knot data), seventy-six percent of weddings take place between May and October. June comes in second place of the top 3. Please tell me in the comments what seasons you think come in at number one and number three.

Kicking off our June brides authors is Christine Sterling.

Here's a bit about Christine:

USA TODAY bestselling author Christine Sterling loves immersing her readers in the small towns she’s created. Her inspirational stories feature humor, redemption, and romance, with themes of friendship, forgiveness, and fighting for the love you want.

She’s the author of over eighty romances, including the reader favorites, First Families of Flat River, and The Flat River Matchmaker series. She loves to create tight-knit families with strong family values, and you’ll often find that her characters cross over in many of her stories. Her readers describe her characters as old friends and her settings as places they would love to visit.

An empty nester, she lives with her husband and a menagerie of animals on a Pennsylvania farm. When she’s not writing, she can be found, drinking tea, being judged by her cat, eating snacks or napping.

While waiting for the review of The Farmer's Bride, you can check out any of Christine's links below.

FACEBOOK  INSTAGRAM  GOODREADS    AUDIBLE

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE 

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning, readers!

A new month full of promise and great reads.

All my best!

~ Angela