ALLISON WELLS ~ WHEN WAVES BREAK ~ INTERVIEW

Hello, Whispers in Purple readers.

Please welcome author Allison Wells for a fun interview and spotlight on a brand, spanking-new novel.

So sit back with a hot cup of coffee—or whatever—and enjoy.

Welcome, Allison. Thanks for granting us this interview. Let's get started.

How do you go about finding names for your characters?

I am a HUGE name nerd. I adore names, symbolism and meaning behind names, and just the sound of names. So when it comes to the characters in When Waves Break, I wanted names that were distinct. When dealing with twins, especially twins born in the late 1940s when matchy names were very much en vogue, but I wanted to get away from that.

Eve is the older of the twins, and the Biblical Eve is the first woman, so that’s why I chose the name for her. The name means to breathe or live, and Eve has need to take a lot of big breaths in this book - she’s in for a roller-coaster.

Juliette is the younger twin, and she’s the one who has it in her head that the free love movement is the way to go, though it conflicts with her Christian upbringing. Of course, we are all familiar with Romeo and Juliet, and that romantic background is why I chose this name for her.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how did/do you overcome it?

My biggest obstacle, I think this is true for most writers, is time. I have four very active children, so finding the time to sit down and focus on the story before me is hard. Not only from the standpoint of distraction but the ability to actually be in front of my computer. I think I spend ⅓ watch my children participate in their respective sports and activities.of my life in the car! Of course, my kids and husband come first, so they are a welcome diversion, but that is certainly my biggest obstacle.

Besides writing, what other hobbies do you enjoy?

Well, I love to read! Who doesn’t? I also enjoy baking, it’s a great way to spread love. Bible study groups are a wonderful way to enjoy fellowship and dig into the Word, so I relish my time in my group. I also love to

When reading, what is your favorite genre?

I think Christian romance is my favorite, but I will read just about any fiction. I really love Steampunk and wish there were more Christian books in that genre. I wish I could write it - but alas, it is not my forte. I will read most any fiction, especially if it has a strong female lead.

Is research something you enjoy? To what extent do you go to find answers?

I love to do research. I think you have to love it if you’re a writer. I find myself looking up the strangest things. For When Waves Break, I was trying to figure out how someone would do a pregnancy test in the late 1960s. This was before at-home tests, and I discovered they would use rabbits, and if the rabbit died, the woman was pregnant! What a shock. I’ve also researched how refrigeration worked at the time of a book, when a variety of things were invented, and the common slang of the time.

Now let’s talk some about the book we're spotlighting. Give us:

Title: When Waves Break

Author: Allison Wells

Publisher: Ambassador International

Release Date: Feb 18, 2020

Genre: Christian fiction

Series/Stand-Alone: It is a sequel, but you don’t have to read the first one to read this one.

Target Audience: Women 18+ (might not be suitable for young teens due to adult situations) 

Back cover blurb:

Set during a time of racial instability, When Waves Break sheds light on the equality and redemption we all have in Christ.

One summer, one night, one mistake, and everything changes for Eve and Juliette Nicholas.

For the Nicholas twins, life is just beginning, until one summer of misguided love forces the twins to doubt everything they've ever believed. Eve and Juliette are the daughters of a preacher, raised to hold love in high esteem, although they may disagree on how to share it. As high school graduation looms, they must question the cost of love, and what it may mean for their futures.

The summer of 1968 is one of change for both the Nicholas twins and the nation. With Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech fresh in everyone's minds, racial tensions are high and threaten to shake the very foundation that once held the twins together. Through it all, will the bond that Eve and Juliette share be broken? Can love truly endure all things? Or will their mistakes always haunt them?

What take-away value do you want readers to gain from your novel?

I really want the reader to know that no matter what happens in your life. what mistakes you might make, what trials may come your way, God loves you. And you can overcome anything as long as you have God in your heart.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Later this year I will have a new novel come out called Bell of the Night. This is a stand-alone book that takes an honest look at how a hard life doesn’t mean God has turned His back on you. Be looking for it in late summer/early fall!

About Allison:

Allison Wells is a graduate of Clemson University. She is a wife, mother of four blessings, and loyal friend. She became a believer at the age of sixteen and never looked back. Allison's motto is "Life is short, eat the Oreos."

Purchase Links for When Waves Break:

https://www.amazon.com/When-Waves-Break-Allison-Wells/dp/1620207214/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1581694497&sr=8-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-waves-break-allison-wells/1135985186?ean=9781620207215

Where to find Allison “Out There”

·       facebook.com/allisonwellswrites/

·       www.allisonwellswrites.com

·       Twitter & Instagram: @OrangeAlli

·       https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18239522.Allison_Wells

·       https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-wells

Thank you, Allison, for being my guest today.

May God continue to bless you write for Him.

BE THE MESSAGE ~ Alexis A. Goring ~ Devotional

BE The Message

A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

“Some people are hurting so bad you have to do more than preach a message to them. You have to BE a message to them.” – Joyce Meyer

People. Hurting people. They are everywhere.

The homeless in the parks and on street corners begging for money just to make it through the day … The child on the school playground who was picked last for the team … The teen who is bullied by their peers to the point where they consider suicide … The young adult who is failing out of school … The middle-aged adult whose career dreams have not come true … The people around the world who are being persecuted for their faith … The athlete who has a perfect body but a troubled heart … The parent who struggles to provide for their child … The atheist who is facing death.

Pain in this human experience on Earth is inevitable. But what do people do when they are hurting and have no hope? Followers of Jesus Christ know that you always have hope when Jesus is your Savior. But people who do not know Jesus yet live without hope and when life hits them hard, they cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. This results in despair and sometimes, suicide. But I’m here today to tell you that there is hope! His Name is Jesus.

Jesus Christ loves you with his very life! In fact, He thinks you’re worth dying for! So He did. The Bible says in John 3:16 (NIV): “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

But Jesus didn’t stay dead in the grave. After three days, He rose to life! He spent time visiting His disciples and followers here on Earth to let them know He is alive and then He went home to Heaven, where to this day, He is our High Priest and Mediator before God. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection that completed the plan of salvation for human souls, when God sees a sinner (we humans are ALL sinners), He sees His Son who died for that person so God doesn’t give us the death sentence (Romans 6:23); He gives us grace and mercy. We have a second chance at making it to Heaven thanks to Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. Heaven is a truly perfect place that is free of death, pain, sin and sorrow. And that message is hope for a hurting world!

Sometimes, though, hearing a message of hope is not enough. Joyce Meyer said, “Some people are hurting so bad you have to do more than preach a message to them. You have to BE a message to them.”

So how do we BE the message of hope for a hurting world?

I cannot speak for every Christ-follower, but for me, I believe that we can be the message by living according to God’s Will. The Bible is clear on what God requires of us. According to Micah 6:8 (NIV): “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

When we act justly, we uplift the poor, we relieve the oppressed and we help to heal the hurting people. When we love mercy, we forgive those who have offended us and share God’s grace with those who need it most. When we walk humbly with our God, we put others before ourselves and treat everyone how we want to be treated. Essentially, we show the world that Jesus is our Savior and we teach them that He is the only way to Heaven.

According to John 14:6-7 (NIV), Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

After Jesus rose from the grave and visited his followers, even they had trouble understanding that He was the way to Heaven. According to my True Identity Bible in a boxed quote that is based on John 14:6-7 and titled, “He Is: The Way and The Truth and The Life,” Jesus Christ’s disciples had their doubts about how to follow Jesus now that He was going to Heaven. But Jesus, as the Master Teacher, was patient. He didn’t preach a sermon; He showed them the way. Let’s read what this excerpt on page 1539 of my True Identity Bible says:

“Thomas and the others wanted to follow Jesus but didn’t know the way he was going. Jesus plainly stated that he is the way and the truth and the life. Rather than sermonizing about a complicated set of directions to reach the heavenly Father, Jesus made the way simple: Really know me. When you are lost, would you rather look at a map or follow a person who knows the way? The same is true for coming to Jesus. What an unsaved person needs isn’t a complicated explanation but someone to show her the way to himself (see also Acts 4:12).”

I like this key point: What an unsaved person needs isn’t a complicated explanation but someone to show her the way to himself. People who are hurting and don’t know Jesus yet need us to, as Joyce Meyer says, “BE the message!” There’s a SONG: People Need the Lord by Steve Green that really drives my point home. The song is called “People Need the Lord.”

Allow me to share my paraphrase of this music message with you.

The music artist (Steve Green) says that he sees people every day with worry in their eyes. He knows that they’re experiencing pain that they keep private. He says that they are fearful every day. He hears their silent cries that they cover up with laughter. He knows that sometimes, only Jesus hears their cries and knows the depths of their desperation. But then he gives the listener to his song a call to action! He says that Christ-followers are called to share Christ’s Light and God’s Word with all of the hurting people in this world. We are to seek the lost and help them find Jesus. We are to show people that Jesus Christ is the way to Heaven and He not only saves souls, He also restores broken hearts!

People are literally dying without hope! They are craving something that only God can give. But what they may not know is that Jesus is the hope they seek! God loves them and He is the only one who can truly satisfy their hunger! And it’s up to us who follow Jesus and believe in God to show the hurting people that there is hope, that God loves them and that Jesus wants to be their Savior and their Best Friend.

We need to do more than preach this message of hope and salvation to the hurting world; we need to BE the message!

The world is waiting for a message that heals their hurting heart. Will you who know Jesus Christ go share this hope, this healing and these words of life with those who need it?

~*~

Author Bio: Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.

THE VER-PRESENT COMPANION::Change ~ Author Renee Blare ~ Giveaway

The Ever-Present Companion

 Hello, my name is Renee Blare and this is Peg Phifer’s Whispers in Purple. Welcome! It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog for anyone so bear with me. First, let me thank you, Peg. I’m so happy to be here. Second, thank YOU, readers, for joining us.

 (PS I'm giving away a PRINT book --- see below for details)

Change

I’m a Christian, and author. And I can say from both perspectives (from writer “speak” that’s POV), life isn’t easy. It’s fraught with relational danger. After all, today’s social structure isn’t compatible with a young or middle-aged disabled person who wants to stay connected with people, but physically, financially, and cognitively does not have the tools, means, or access to do so.

But is it really society’s responsibility to do so? Is it society’s fault or the person’s? After all, they are the one who changed, whether voluntarily or not. They are the ones who don’t fit anywhere. Shouldn’t they conform or be cast aside? Why should society have to change to make them welcome?

This is the conundrum of today’s blog. What is faced by thousands, if not millions, each year. It’s what will never go away. These are serious questions.

And I don’t say these things to be cruel or cast stones. Absolutely not! After all, I am one who does not fit! I’m disabled. And so often, before I developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type Two, I participated in the “normal social structure,” so how can I point fingers?

How, you ask? I tossed money and platitudes, the claim of prayer, you name it—when challenged with those who were “less fortunate” or unable to function as “I could.” I promised to help. Believe me, the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon was an easy out.

After watching my husband suffer with unrelenting pain and bodily struggle (he’d had 38 surgeries at the time), I asked God to reveal what all of “this” suffering was for . . . what he wanted from me in the process. He answered and I will never be the same.

A quick word of advice: NEVER Ask God to Unveil Your Soul and Reveal His Truth for Your life.

His answer? He Changes You Within and Without so You Rely on Him not Yourself.

What did I discover during this process about the attempts I’d made before to “help” others? I found what they really were, at least for me, and that’s what they were… for me. EMPTY SOLUTIONS TO SATISFY A SELFISH PERSON, MYSELF. I had no intention of giving of myself, so I gave money. My time was the most precious commodity I had! It was, well, me! I couldn’t simply give that away without good reason. 

What about prayer? Surely, I could pray? Nope, forget it. I’m a prayer warrior (or at least I thought I was) and I told those folks that I’d pray, but I reserved my prayer life for those who needed it, not folks who simply had a hard time getting around.  I considered prayer time was special, personal, and sacred time spent for God. To waste that time was sacrilegious to me. I was hard as a stone and I wasn’t going to change for anybody.

Most see CHANGE as short-term occurrences, horrific in nature—the death of a loved one or past-due bill— or wonderful—graduation from college or marriage to your high-school sweetheart. Either situation is stressful but if taken in stride, can be handled as part of “normal” life in America or most cultures on this beautiful blue world.

However, when I prayed that prayer, God began working and taught me a lesson I’ll never forget. Not all of us lose the ability to drive, walk, stand, sit, or lie down. We don’t all suffer agonizing nerve, muscle, joint, and unbearable epidermal sensitivity to the point moving is close to impossible.

That kind of life is not “normal.” It is not “fair.” It is not “acceptable.” It is, however, my life.

When faced with a plea for help, do you know how to help someone whose life has been changed as much as mine? We stick with the normal “stuff,” but it falls so short. The “words” sound empty even to me. When the prayers don’t “work,” what do you say? What can you? Money thrown at the problem seems rather shallow since we can’t fix anything so we don’t try. In the end, what is left?

We shy away and stop helping at all. Not because we don’t care, but simply because it’s too painful to watch anymore. And from the viewpoint of the one suffering? I understand completely—now. 

Change is hard. It’s painful. It’s difficult to see and worse to understand when it’s a loved one. Even more unbearable when it’s unwanted in yourself.

Some kinds of change are merciless. They take no prisoners. One such type of change is CRPS. It steals freedom from the mind and the body. It rips a body from the inside out, leaving the shell remaining. It took years to diagnose, years to face, and now I’m trying to rebuild. Will I ever have the life I had before without it? No. Will I have a life with it? Of course, I have Jesus Christ as my Cornerstone.

Remember His answer to my prayer? I’m learning everyday how to RELY ON HIM more and more. He’s my strength. He gets me through each day.

CRPS doesn’t control my life, God does. I rejoice every second! God is good. God is great! Oh, yeah, that’s my thanks for each meal…sorry.

Anyhoo, I’m still a writer. I’m working on a set of children’s books for Service Dogs based around my own Mobility Service Dog, Bo. I’ve even decided to write a Historical Novel! Now that is a feat of mankind 😉

It may take me years to do, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here.

Thank you for listening to me ramble. Chronic Pain is a major cause of disability. Don’t worry about offending someone if they are struggling by asking if you can help them. We need it!

How can you help a disabled friend? Easy! Call, write, visit, send a small offering, ask if they need a meal or ride to a doctor appointment, be a friend, listen to them, pray with them or for them. Don’t tell them everything your doing for them, just do it! Don’t give up on them even when all they do is complain or never call you.

BE THEIR FRIEND. It’s lonely to fight pain all the time.

God is good all the time and all the time, God is good. It’s tough to emulate Him but God is GOOD ALL THE TIME.

In Christ,

Renee Blare 

Find out more about Complex Regional Pain Syndrome at these websites:                                                                                                            RSDSA.ORG: Supporting the CRPS ommunity: https://rsds.org/
·    Freedom with CRPS: https://www.freedomwithcrps.com/

Find out more about Renee Blare:

·       Renee Blare Christian Artist and Author: https://www.reneeblarebooks.com/

·       Fine Art America: Renee Blare Art: https://fineartamerica.com/art/renee+blare

~ 

·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianbooksReneeBlare/

A pharmacist of twenty-two years, Renee Blare is a multi-published author and writes Christian Romantic Suspense published by Prism Book Group, a subsidiary of Pelican Ventures. She enjoys painting, reading, rock-polishing, photography, candle-making, and the great outdoors. She lives in the wild but beautiful state of Wyoming with her husband, James.

In February of 2017, after a knee replacement and many months of unexplained pain, she was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Her pain continued to grow exponentially over the next year. Insurance, procedures, and surgeries coupled with the inability to work ate away at their savings as well as her retirement, and their dual disability changed her and her husband’s way of life.

Stress sent her pain into overdrive and self-control became a rare commodity, but she acknowledged her weakness and fear. Although daily life now consists of severe pain, sciatica, and allodynia, Renee knew her strength and joy came from Jesus not money. The Lord directed her to CFM to find the tools to get back on their feet, pay the bills, get the care they need, and above all, help those in the same predicament.

Renee loves her husband and life with her God. She treasures each moment given on this earth and looks forward to tomorrow. Christ is her hope and her philosophy is “one day at a time with yesterday in the tool chest and dawn on the horizon.”

The Giveaway: Renee is giving away one print copy (US Only, please)  of her debut novel BEAST OF STRATTON, a a Romantic Suspense/Mystery. To enter, just leave your name and email info in the comments section below, AND ANSWER this question from Renee: What do you feel when you see a disabled person? Give this some careful, honest thought before answering. This giveaway will run for one week, ending next Wednesday, February 19, at Midnight O'Clock Central Time. 

SABBATH REST ~ Alexis A. Goring

Sabbath Rest

A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

Image courtesy Pixabay.com

 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” – Exodus 20:8-11 (KJV)

Growing up in the church, I didn’t always understand this concept of resting once a week, and as an energy-filled youth I didn’t always look forward to it. But as I grew up and more demands were placed on my life – especially when I worked a full-time job for five days a week – I started to value and cherish Sabbath rest more deeply.

According to The Bible, God made the world in six days but on the seventh day, He rested. God doesn’t need rest because He is a God who never slumbers (Psalm 121:3-4) but He’s also a Master Teacher and I believe that He rested on the seventh day (Sabbath) to set an example for humankind as to what we need to do in order to maintain proper balance.

The Bible says that our bodies are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) but if we don’t take care of it with proper exercise, nutrition and rest then eventually, we’ll either fall apart or become very sick. God knows that we need to take care of our bodies and He knows that we need time to rest from our labor at least once a week. So He created Sabbath.

Sabbath is not meant for us to simply rest and not do anything! We’re supposed to spend time with God by going to church and fellowshipping with other believers. We are to worship Him and keep His Sabbath Day holy, which for my faith denomination means we don’t work on Sabbath unless we’re in the healing career fields (doctors, nurses, etc.) because even Jesus Christ when He was here on Earth, healed people on the Sabbath day (Matthew 12:10-13). However, when it comes to going to sporting events like football games or working our non-healing related day job on the Sabbath day, we don’t do that. Let’s read about that in Isaiah 58:13 (NLT):

“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,
but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.
Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,

and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.”

God knows we need to rest.

Two examples of why we need to rest and reflect on God’s goodness once a week come to mind: One from a former colleague and one from a conversation amongst post office workers that I overheard.

When I was a substitute teacher, one of my assignments was for a middle school. I remember a teacher there who said she works “seven days a week.” When she’s not teaching, she’s working her retail job not just on the weekdays but on the weekends.

Now for those of you who may not know, teaching is a time-consuming job. When I was teacher, I only had rest on Sabbath hours (from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday). After that sacred time of rest, I had to do schoolwork (lesson planning and grading papers) in order to stay on track and up to date with all the demands of my work as a teacher. It was overwhelming! And it made me appreciate Sabbath rest on a deeper level. It also gave me empathy for teachers and other professionals who must work seven days a week in order to stay afloat financially and make ends meet or simply to keep up with the demands of their career.

The other example that comes to mind was when I was waiting in line at a post office. I overheard one of the workers saying how tired she was and how she longed for rest.  Then I heard her colleague reply, “You can rest when you die.” Ouch. Such a statement is true (The Bible says in Psalm 13:3 that death is like sleeping until Jesus Christ returns to wake you up and take His faithful followers home to Heaven) but that statement from the post office worker must have hurt her colleague who was exhausted by her work!

God never meant us to run ourselves ragged with the demands of life and work which is why in His great wisdom, He made the Sabbath Day for us to rest and reflect on His goodness. I know from experience, especially as an adult now, that keeping God’s Sabbath Day holy every week has helped to renew my mind and rejuvenate my soul. I am so much more balanced and happier when I keep His Sabbath every week. I am also more grateful as I reflect on all He’s done and continues to do in my life and in the lives of others.

Sabbath rest is important for the human soul, body, mind and spirit. It’s blessed me beyond words and if you have not been observing Sabbath, I encourage you to start … keeping this special time with God is worth it!

Author Bio

: Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.

 

VALENTINE'S DAY IN CHRISTMAS TOWN LeAnne Bristow

Valentine’s Day in Christmas Town

Yes. You read that right. My two favorite holidays smushed together! Before I get to that, let me introduce myself.

My name is LeAnne Bristow and I love meeting new people, which is why I’m so excited to be here! This is my first visit to Whispers In Purple, but I promise, it won’t be my last! Unlike many writers, I’m a complete extrovert. The more people around, the better. When my children were small, they dreaded standing next to me in line at the grocery store because, you guessed it, I struck up conversations with everyone around me. My husband hates going anywhere with me because I have to stop and talk to people. I can’t help it. I’m a people person.

People often ask me how my husband and I manage. He’d be happy living the life of a hermit, while I thrive on new experiences. At a party, he sits in the corner while I mingle. When my oldest daughter was stationed in Germany with the US Air Force, I flew to Europe and traveled with her while he stayed home. He is a math whiz, I can’t balance the checkbook. He hates to read. I love it so much I became a writer. Our opposites are endless, but after almost thirty years of marriage, I can confidently say that it works. He keeps me grounded and I push him out of his comfort zone just enough to try something new occasionally.

This year, I have a story in a wonderful Valentine anthology and I have to admit that I used some personal experiences to create my characters. My heroine is a feisty, outgoing, people-loving teacher who can’t do math and my hero would rather stay home and play with numbers. Sound familiar? He’s cynical. She’s optimistic. He’s guarded. She’s willing to take chances. They are complete opposites who don’t realize how much they need each other. 

Before I introduce you to them, let me tell you about Christmas Town.

Two years ago, I was asked to join the Heartwarming Christmas Town anthology and I was thrilled! The Christmas Town anthologies have been going on for several years now and the town and its characters have taken on a life of their own. From the shenanigans of the Knotty Elves (a group of retired women who ban together to do some serious matchmaking), to the magic of a kiss under the mistletoe at the gazebo in the town square, Christmas Town has quickly become one of my favorite places.

This year, we decided to shake things up a bit and do a Valentine anthology. Here’s what is in store for you!

Be My Heartwarming Valentine

Christmas Town to the rescue! An abnormally cold and snowy winter wreaked havoc in Christmas Town. Pipes froze, snowy roofs caved in, and even the famed gazebo in the town square was blown over! But the hardest hit was the historic town library, where pipes burst – flooding the main floor and destroying all the books and computers. While insurance helps, it won’t cover everything. Christmas Town’s solution?

Calling all bachelors!

The Knotty Elves decide a Valentine’s Day Bachelor Auction kills two birds with one stone – raising money to save the library while working their matchmaking magic. From a personal chef to the town’s snow plow operator, there’s one thing all these handsome, homespun heroes have in common: they’re about to find love, Christmas Town style.

The anthology consist of eight connected stories by Harlequin Heartwarming authors, and releases on February 11^th.
Here is a quick blurb about my story in the collection.

Head Over Heels.

High school English teacher and former college gymnast, Karen McFadden, wants nothing more than to open her own gymnastics facility, but a math learning disability makes completing the paperwork for a business loan almost impossible. The last thing Daniel Lassiter wants to do is get stuck with an attention-seeking diva who wants to relive her college glory days, but when his accounting services put him in the library's bachelor auction, he has little choice but to help her. He doesn't believe that she wants to open the gym so she can help underprivileged teens. She doesn't think he'll stick around long enough to find out. Will they realize what's right in front of them before it's too late?

You can find out more about Christmas Town by visiting 

http://www.heartwarmingChristmasTown.com. Get a free copy of the Prequel to the anthology by signing up for the newsletter, which by the way, is awesome! It is full of recipes, decoration tips and all kinds of fun! We also have a really fun Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1091942694272780/
 You can pre-order your copy of Be My Heartwarming Valentine now!

·       Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Be-My-Heartwarming-Valentine-Christmas-ebook/dp/B07Z8CXBWP

·       Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/be-my-heartwarming-valentine-anna-adams/1134146353

(Available on Kobo and ibooks soon!)

  LeAnne Bristow often hid books inside her desk and read during class. When she outgrew Laura Ingalls Wilder and Beverly Cleary, she graduated to Walter Farley and Judy Blume. Then her favorite aunt gave her an old box of Harlequin romance novels and she was hooked. After reading the entire Americana series by Janet Dailey, LeAnne dreamed of becoming a writer. Life happened and LeAnne followed her country boy from a small town in central Texas to a smaller town in southern Arizona. She spent the next 25 years corralling three of her own children and 20+ kindergarteners. Now an empty nester and grandma, pursuing her dream of bringing you emotional stories that make you hold your breath waiting for that first kiss.

She loves to hear from readers! Find her on her website: http://www.leannebristow.com or connect with her at:

·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leanne.bristow.1

·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeAnneBristow