Today I’m excited to have Regina Andrews here! She’s an amazing author with fantastic reviews for all her books. She’s also a member of Jewels of the Quill, a group of award-winning writers. Regina is sharing a blurb, excerpt, and review of her new release, Praise of the Heart.

If you leave a comment on Regina’s post, your name will be entered to win an ebook.
CONTEST GIVEAWAY: The random winner will get to choose one of these following ebooks: Zoe Mack and the Secret of the Love Letters, The Stars at Night OR Praise of the Heart. It’s not too late to comment on Celia Yeary’s Friday’s post and K.Dawn Byrd’s last Monday’s post to increase your chances of winning!

CONTEST ENDS: AT 8:00 pm Eastern time ON FEBRUARY 3rd, Friday!

Sterling Lakes Book Three: Praise of the Heart Blurb:
Librarian Laura Matthewson is happy staying out of the limelight. But when Cliff Markham returns home to Sterling Lakes, will she be able to resist his magnetic star power?

When Cliff ‘Clean-Up’ Markham, pro baseball star, returns to Sterling Lakes to help with the St. Luke’s Church Renovation fund-raiser, he discovers that a problem with the town water source threatens the entire project. He asks Laura Matthewson, town librarian and archivist, to help him out researching the truth of the issue. Reluctant to get involved, Laura’s faith is put to the test as she pits her will against God’s. Will she be able to overcome her reservations to help the town she loves? More importantly, will she answer God’s call about the direction of her life and her future?

EXCERPT:

As he viewed the scene in the St. Luke’s Vacation Bible School picnic area, Cliff ‘Clean-Up’ Markham adjusted the brim of his baseball cap and said a silent prayer of thanksgiving.

You brought me back here to Sterling Lakes, Lord, safe and sound again after another year and for that I give You thanks.

He eyed the group of somber children sitting dutifully on the benches. Not all of them are as fortunate as I am. I’ll never forget the gifts You gave me, and I will always praise You for them. But, come on, we’ve got to liven this place up. They need spirit. Your spirit, Lord. Help me impart the joy of your spirit to them. Amen.

Bounding across the lush, green lawn on the long legs that had been his ticket to a career as a major league baseball outfielder, Cliff cried, “Play ball!”

Every head turned his way, and soon the lawn was a kaleidoscope of color and motion as the youngsters flew across the grass to him.

J.B. Norwood, head of the St. Luke’s Vacation Bible School exclaimed, “It’s Cliff! It’s Cliff! He’s back! Hi there, Clean-Up!”

“Clean-Up!” A laughing group of children reached him, swarming him before any adults.

“There you are, Russell. Jeremy, whoa, you got tall. Hey, Margaret, how’ve you been? Say, Bucky, what’s up?”

“They call me Billy now,” the boy replied, kicking the ground.

“Right. Good to know.”

Cliff reviewed the sea of faces before him — some familiar to him and some new from last year’s session. In each one he read hope, youth, goodness… and a desperate need for direction and connection.

Then he saw her. Standing by the edge of the grass. Tall, wearing a blue dress. A vision like something from the pages of a magazine.

He smiled, and she walked towards him. Her long, dark hair swayed gracefully with her every rhythmical step. She was in her early twenties, he guessed. She smiled, and Cliff felt the ground shudder under him.

Beaming, she opened her arms and said, “Children, give Mr. Markham some room to breathe, okay? Why don’t we go sit together under the apple tree?”

“Miss Laurie, he’s here to play, not sit around,” came an instant protest.

“Russell, you have a good point. Let’s let our star attraction decide.” She tilted her head to one side and with a mischievous half-smile, fixed her gaze on Cliff.

Not many times in his twenty-six years had Cliff Markham been stopped short. Life to him was a big game — fun, baseball, travel, women. Good times seemed to flow his way with his natural charm and ease.

Until now. The challenge radiating from those dark brown eyes stopped him in his tracks, and right away he knew he was in big trouble.

He took a few steps towards her and held out his hand. “We haven’t been properly introduced, Miss Laurie. I’m Cliff Markham. From Sterling Lakes. I play baseball with Tampa Bay Stingrays these days.” He shrugged.

Review by Suzie Carr
Andrews has written a gem with this one. The way she weaves her characters in and out of real life scenarios pulls at the heartstrings and keeps me yearning for more. Incredible story that will continue to resonate deeply long after you put it down. I’m a fan!

Today I’m excited to feature Texan Celia Yeary! An accomplished author, Celia is sharing a blurb, excerpt and review of her book , “The Stars at Night” with us. Thank you for visiting, Celia, and welcome!

If you leave a comment on Celia’s post, your name will be entered to win an ebook. The winner gets to choose one of the following ebooks: Celia’s THE STARS AT NIGHT, Regina’s PRAISE OF THE HEART, OR K.Dawn’s THE SECRETS OF THE LOVE LETTERS. CONTEST ENDS: FEBRUARY 3rd!

Be sure to come back on Monday to learn more about another featured January author - Regina Andrews! It’s not too late to comment on K.Dawn Byrd’s post to increase your chances of winning!

THE STARS AT NIGHT BLURB:
Kate Norwood from New York arrives in Texas with her young motherless nephew, Nicky. She quickly decides the plan to relocate him with his grandmother is a mistake. With the help of Nicky’s uncle, Jesse McCoy, she learns the boy’s father is dead. Her boyfriend interferes with his own agenda for Kate, using lies, deceptions, and cruelty.

Jesse McCoy falls for Kate Norwood the minute he stops her on the outskirts of Sagewood, Texas for speeding. He soon learns they share a family connection and a common problem. His goals become finding the proper home for his nephew, saving Kate from a devious man, and loving her for the remainder of his life. But will she give up her New York lifestyle to live a simple life in Texas?

EXCERPT:

The officer appeared at her window and bent at the knees slightly to look through the dark glass. “Lower your window,” he said, his voice sounding muffled.

Lowering it four inches, she reached behind her and groped for her bag in the back seat. Finally getting a grip on it, she dragged it over the console and into her lap.

He straightened to his full height. “Ma’am, may I see your driver’s license, please?” he asked in a deep drawl, smooth and sexy as melted chocolate. “Also, I need to see your proof of insurance.”

Goose bumps skittered along her arms.

“Lower your window all the way, too,” he added.

Now, that didn’t sound like a request, and this time, no shivers.

“I prefer not to, if you don’t mind,” Kate said, as business-like as she could. “Here’s my license.” She held up her wallet to the small opening at the top of the glass so he could read the card through the little plastic window.

“Please remove your license and hand it to me along with your proof of insurance. And lower your window. I can’t see you through the tinted glass.”

Kate grimaced when she heard a hint of impatience in his voice, but she held her ground.

“I need to see your badge, please.”

“Now, ma’am, I’m going to ask you one more time. Do as I ask and you’ll be able to see my badge. Cut your engine while you’re at it, then hand over your license and proof of insurance.”

The officer’s voice had lost all traces of its easy-going rumble. He stood with a hand riding low on a hip, tapping the other leg with the ticket book, waiting for her to comply.

“Okay, okay. Here.” Kate shoved the both through the four inches of opened window. “This paper is from the lease company about their insurance. If you’ll step back a couple of feet, I’ll lower my window. Deal?”

The officer hesitated, and she’d bet he wasn’t accustomed to bending to the demands of anyone, let alone a speeder on his highway. She watched as he backed up one step.

A sense of empowerment made her smile, and she did as he requested.

He returned to his original position. “Remove your sunglasses, please,” he asked politely. “Before you say anything,” he held up a finger, “I’m required to match the color of your eyes with the information on your license.”

“I wasn’t going to,” she said in a voice a little higher than her usual tone.

Keeping his eyes on the license, he said, “You haven’t missed an opportunity yet.”

“I’m just cautious. You would be, too, if you weren’t certain of a man’s real identity. I read a lone driver out in the middle of nowhere should require some identification from the officer, and I also read about men posing as cops, while in truth–”

He interrupted and looked at her. “Ma’am? May I continue? Without the dialogue?”

“Go ahead. I’ll shut up. Except stop calling me ma’am.” She crossed her arms over her waist and looked straight ahead. She heard him make a slight sound in his throat that sounded almost like a chuckle.

“Just the two of you in the vehicle?”

“Yes.”

He read her license and then looked at her. “Okay, then, five nine, gray eyes,” he murmured to himself as he wrote.

Kate waited while he studied her face. She saw her image reflected in his mirrored sunglasses. Thinking longingly of the lipstick, she wished she hadn’t caught her hair up with a ragged scrunchy, either. It kept the auburn mass out of her face all right, but now it looked like it sprouted out of the top of her head, making her look like Pebbles.

“Thank you… miss. Here’s your license. From New York, are you?”

She looked at him. “Yes.”

“Well, ma’am, welcome to Texas.”
~~~~
REVIEW:
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Read
By J. Thomas “The Long and the Short Of It Reviews”

In The Stars at Night Ms. Yeary uproots her heroine, Kate Norwood, from all that is familiar and plunks her down in Texas. Kate is looking for Ray McCoy, her nephew’s father, but instead she meets his brother Jesse. From the first emotional sparks fly, and then with her usual skill Ms. Yeary weaves in misinformation, betrayals, blackmail, and substance abuse, to name but a few of the conflicts her hero and heroine face. Both are strong characters with responsible jobs, and yet when it matters most, their demons and uncertainties hold them back from expressing themselves. Both are caring and family orientated, even though the heroine denies this.

In The Stars at Night the author offers strong believable characters, a charming and yet complex story and a beautiful setting. Into this mix she throws in secondary characters, all of whom in their own ways, makes life difficult for Jesse and Kate, and Kate’s adorable nephew, Nicky. There were a couple of scene changes that lacked the author’s usual smooth touch and had me floundering for a couple of moments before picking up the new setting, but it wasn’t enough to stop me from moving forward. Ms. Yeary’s skilled word-smithing and vivid descriptions of her beloved Texas, paint an amazing picture of the scenery and environment.

The Stars at Night is a poignant, charming story that held my attention from start to finish, with a reluctant break for sleep.

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Would you like to win a book by K.Dawn, Celia Yeary OR Regina Andrews?
To be entered in my Desert Breeze Book Contest to win one ebook of your choice by one of the 3 featured authors this month, leave a comment on K.Dawn Byrd’s recent interview post, Celia Yeary’s upcoming Friday post, OR Regina Andrews’ blog post on January 30th! To increase your chances of winning, leave a comment for each featured author - K.Dawn Byrd, Celia and Regina!

DRAWING ENDS AT 8:00 pm Eastern time ON FEBRUARY 3rd, Friday!

CONTEST GIVEAWAY: The random winner will get to choose one of these following ebooks: Zoe Mack and the Secret of the Love Letters, The Stars at Night Or Praise of the Heart.

LINK to Desert Breeze Publishing website: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/StoreFront.bok

Blurb for Zoe Mack Mysteries Case One: Zoe Mack and the Secret of the Love Letters
When Zoe Mack moves in with her grandparents to start college, she’s thrown into more mystery than she bargained for. Her cousin, Emma, is terrorized by a stalker who breaks into her house and leaves a photo-shopped image of Emma hanging from a tree. Nothing is as it seems and Emma soon learns that even the man she thinks she can trust is suspect.

Zoe can’t wait to reunite with Nate, the bad boy who doesn’t talk about his feelings much, but the passionate kiss he gave her last summer had to have meant something. When she arrives back in town and discovers that he’s in trouble with the law, she must take matters into her own hands in order to clear his name. She has her hands full with a needy Emma, a cop who gives her the creeps, and Nate, the guy she desperately wants to call her own. Can Zoe solve the mystery, clear Nate’s name, and make him fall in love with her?

The Stars at Night Blurb:
Kate Norwood from New York arrives in Texas with her young motherless nephew, Nicky. She quickly decides the plan to relocate him with his grandmother is a mistake. With the help of Nicky’s uncle, Jesse McCoy, she learns the boy’s father is dead. Her boyfriend interferes with his own agenda for Kate, using lies, deceptions, and cruelty.

Jesse McCoy falls for Kate Norwood the minute he stops her on the outskirts of Sagewood, Texas for speeding. He soon learns they share a family connection and a common problem. His goals become finding the proper home for his nephew, saving Kate from a devious man, and loving her for the remainder of his life. But will she give up her New York lifestyle to live a simple life in Texas?

Sterling Lakes Book Three: Praise of the Heart
Librarian Laura Matthewson is happy staying out of the limelight. But when Cliff Markham returns home to Sterling Lakes, will she be able to resist his magnetic star power?

When Cliff ‘Clean-Up’ Markham, pro baseball star, returns to Sterling Lakes to help with the St. Luke’s Church Renovation fund-raiser, he discovers that a problem with the town water source threatens the entire project. He asks Laura Matthewson, town librarian and archivist, to help him out researching the truth of the issue. Reluctant to get involved, Laura’s faith is put to the test as she pits her will against God’s. Will she be able to overcome her reservations to help the town she loves? More importantly, will she answer God’s call about the direction of her life and her future?

Joining me today is fellow Desert Breeze author K.Dawn Byrd to talk about her new book, The Secret of the Love Letters.

K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational romance and romantic suspense with five books published so far. Recently, she tried her hand at young adult fiction and found that she really enjoyed writing it. Three books in the Zoe Mack Mystery Series are scheduled to release January, June, and December 2012. Shattered Identity, the sequel to Mistaken Identity, will release in April.

K. Dawn Byrd is an avid blogger and gives away several books per week on her blog at www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com, most of which are signed by the authors. She’s also the moderator of the popular facebook Christian Fiction Gathering group at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=128209963444.

When not reading or writing, K. Dawn Byrd enjoys spending time with her husband of 16 years while walking their dogs beside a gorgeous lake near her home and plotting the next story waiting to be told.

1)How did this story come to you?
Sometimes I get the strangest ideas! I love a good mystery and I love romance, but you don’t find the two together very often. Also, there are very few books available with college-age characters. I pitched the idea of combining all of the above to Desert Breeze and the rest is history.

2)Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I had already published several books with Desert Breeze when they opened a young adult line. I’m excited that they liked the idea for this new series.

3)Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I own two hairless Chinese Crested dogs.
2) I love sour things….pickles, lemons, sour candy.
3) I used to ride a Harley, but gave it up in order to have more time to write. (My husband always wanted to stay out way too long and take the scenic route home. He still has his bike, but I don’t miss mine at all.)

4)What are you working on now and what’s next for you?
I just finished the edits on my April release, Shattered Identity, which is the sequel to Mistaken Identity. I’m now working on the second book in the Zoe Mack series.

5)Parting comments?
Thank you for hosting me! For those of you who love Christian fiction, please check my blog for weekly book giveaways. I interview 3-5 authors a week who give away their books. www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

I’ve been on K.Dawn’s blog. Each time it was a fun and enjoyable experience. Please visit her blog to learn about new books and wonderful Christian authors!

Links:
Website: www.kdawnbyrd.com
Blog: www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com and www.zoe-mack.blogspot.com
Twitter: kdawnbyrd

Cover Blurb:

Short version:
Zoe’s cousin Emma thinks she’s the recipient of some sick joke when an old boyfriend she thought dead shows up on the internet. Can Zoe solve the mystery that’s causing Emma so much pain when her attraction to the town bad boy is so distracting?

Long version:
Zoe’s cousin Emma thinks she’s the recipient of some sick joke when an old boyfriend she thought dead shows up on the internet. Can Zoe solve the mystery that’s causing Emma so much pain when her attraction to the town bad boy is so distracting?

When Zoe Mack moves in with her grandparents to start college, she’s thrown into more mystery than she bargained for. Her cousin, Emma, is terrorized by a stalker who breaks into her house and leaves a photo-shopped image of Emma hanging from a tree. Nothing is as it seems and Emma soon learns that even the man she thinks she can trust is suspect.

Zoe can’t wait to reunite with Nate, the bad boy who doesn’t talk about his feelings much, but the passionate kiss he gave her last summer had to have meant something. When she arrives back in town and discovers that he’s in trouble with the law, she must take matters into her own hands in order to clear his name. She has her hands full with a needy Emma, a cop who gives her the creeps, and Nate, the guy she desperately wants to call her own. Can Zoe solve the mystery, clear Nate’s name, and make him fall in love with her?

Readers, please leave a comment for K.Dawn!
K.Dawn, thank you for visiting here today! I wish you continued success with all your wonderful books!!!

It is cold here in Ohio. It was 16 degrees when I got up early this morning but the chill factor was only zero! Tom drove the girls to the end of our driveway to wait for their buses. Before he was retired, I used to do this on cold or rainy mornings for our kids. It’s nice to have him helping out - both daughters with special needs are NOT morning people. I know our electric bill will be high for January. I’m cold even though I’m wearing a heavy rose-colored top with jeans. I have the temperature set at 67 degrees during the day.

Okay, here is my wish for today. I’d love to take a road trip soon to Florida or some place warm. Or flying would work too. I’m going to share some pictures of beaches. Maybe next year we will go during a cold winter month to a warmer climate! I can wish!

Amanda’s basketball game was canceled for this evening because the forecast is for freezing rain tonight. We are under a Winter Weather Advisory tonight.

From our cruise to the Bahamas last summer.

I love the palm trees and the brilliant blue of the ocean. So pretty! Pretend you feel the heat radiating from the sandy beach!

Outer Banks - August 2009 Sand dunes in Corolla where we stayed!

Another OB pic from 09 - During this wk. on the beach, I was doing a blog tour for WHITNEY IN CHARGE!
Me, hubby Tom and Sara - our firstborn

UPCOMING VISIT HERE!
I’m happy that inspirational writer, K.Dawn Byrd will be visiting here on Monday. Be sure to stop by to learn about her new release! Enjoy your weekend and stay warm!!!