New historical fiction from Carole Brown

A Flute in the Willows
Story and Logic Media Group
December 2017
Historical Christian Romance
eBook $2.99
Print $12.99

Buy the book on Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon Australia
Amazon CA

About the Book:

Both rebels in their own way, Josie and Jerry Patterson must figure out how to keep the other's love...and keep the German enemy at bay.

She has two loves—her skating and Jerry, her husband. But when he returns home looking like a skeleton trying to return to life, she's scared. What happened in Germany to change a man so much? Has another woman captured his heart?

Jerry has vowed to let Josie live her own glamourous life...especially after what happened in Germany. But when his wife's life is threatened, Jerry realizes he can't stand by and do nothing. Jerry has to risk all for the very soul and life of himself—Josie.

These two damaged, rebellious people learn the hard way that leaning on God instead of their own selves and abilities is the only true way to love and happiness.

Lisa Lickel's brief interview with Carole:

Carole, what’s your biggest reward in writing?

I'd say it's two-fold:

·         Knowing I'm using the talent God gave me, and

·         Readers approval and enthusiasm over my books

What would you like readers to tell others when they’ve finished reading?

If a reader has read one of my books and enjoyed it, I'd love to have them sharing what they loved about the book. Perhaps how it affected them in whatever way. For example:

·       With my latest, released novel: A Flute in the Willows (Book 2 of the Spies of WWII series), some readers said they liked how I brought in PTSD in the book to bring awareness of the condition many soldiers and families deal with after the soldiers return from war.

·       They also enjoyed the relationship between the newly, but separated by war, married couple, how they grew into a deeper love relationship and their battle to overcome their troubles.

These are just two of the effects from this book.

Who’s been your biggest influence on your writing?

Perhaps my mother who read to my brothers and me as young children. Positive encouragements to me have been associations with other writer friends, words of advice (when I first began to seriously write novels) from those (like Lena Nelson Dooley and Gayle Roper) who had more authorly experience, and constant contact with fellow-critiquers who have helped me to grow.

What are you reading now?

I'm hoping to begin a book from a secular author and another from Author Jill Kremerer who spoke at a recent writer's meeting I attended.

What’s coming up for you?

·        I'm trying to finish up the 4^th book in my Appleton, WV Romantic series, called Toby's Troubles. It focuses on the brother of Caroline Gibson from book three: his mystery and romance. He has his own shop-ghost, directs the town of Appleton's theater, is a tiny bit OCD when it comes to Undiscovered Treasures (antique, collectible, junk shop), a huge tease and doesn't know love when it stares him in the face.

·        I also hope to finish the 3^rd book in the Denton and Alex Davies Mystery series, Daffy's Duck which features a special duck, a talented artist who has Down's Syndrome: Daffodil Meadows. She and her older brother co-own a ski resort in Colorado. Denton and Alex Davies, amateur traveling detectives, along with Taffy, their Jack Russell Terrier, are determined to find the person who is out to destroy the Meadows big time.

·         If time allows (a big “if”), I want to get a little more writing done on a historical stand alone book, Caleb's Destiny (a mystery from the past and romance), and then

·        work on the 3^rd book in my Spies of WWII series, Sing Until You Die. The third Rayner sister, Claire Rosella Rayner, is an up-and-coming professional singer, who puts her musical studies on hold to sing to the war troops. An overheard conversation sends her straight to the boy-grown-man she's always detested, an undercover spy. Is there any possible way her life can be spared, let alone a possibility for love to grow between the two of them?

Can you share your favorite marketing tool?

Right now I'm using Celebrate Lit with a book tour for my A Flute in the Willows.

About the Author:

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, 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 reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?

Connect with Carole: 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carole-brown

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=67381031

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Carole Brown and Undiscovered Treasures

Undiscovered Treasures, an Appleton WV mystery

Carole Brown

About the Book

Caroline Gibson is co-owner of Undiscovered Treasures, a shop of antiques, collectibles, and junk in rural West Virginia. Inside the shop is a music box that Caroline particularly relates to, believing that her own life is similar: forever spinning and never going anywhere. She dreams and prays for the right man to turn up. But when family and friends hint that the local artist could be the guy, Caroline forgets about trusting God and takes matters into her own hands. Besides, she could never love a man who paints such depressing pictures. Andrew Carrington, painter of said depressing pictures, insists there’s always one redeeming trait to each of his works. He’s loved Caroline since they were kids and thinks he’s not handsome enough, strong enough, or rich enough to impress this woman. But when God—or is it?—suddenly sends contracts begging for his signature, Andy thinks this just might be the way to win the only woman he can ever love. But there’s a hitch in their plans. Someone is stealing Andy’s pictures, and why would they do that when he’s an unknown—so far? Do they know something Caroline and Andy don’t know? Is it mischief? Or something deeper that neither understand? Andy gets the chance to work with Caroline, and she must put aside her on-going battle to avoid Andy and his art so they can discover the art thief in Appleton before Andy loses the chance of a lifetime to ‘make it big.’

Appleton, WV Cozy mystery series, inspirational

October 2016

Story and Logic Media Group

Ebook $2.99

Print $11.99

Buy on Barnes and Noble

Buy on Amazon

Lisa Lickel's review

Brown’s third addition to her Appleton, West Virginia mysteries, focuses on another young resident business owner, Caro Gibson. Establishing a familiar milieu ala Jan Karon, Brown is building a repertoire of characters that figure in each other’s lives.

In this story, Caro, her brother Toby, and their lifelong friend Andy, wrestle with the direction of their adult lives. Caro and Toby run an odds and ends shop, besides what Caro does in her spare time—writing and selling plays for church groups to perform. She has begun to establish a respectable reputation in the area, and when a handsome director shows up in Appleton to hire Caro to write a play for his large church, Caro is smitten. Meanwhile, Andy has been developing a highly regarded following as an oil painter. He’s been sure Caro is his soul mate all of their lives, only somehow Caro not only missed that point, she blows off Andy and his work. For her, familiarity really does breed contempt. But when Andy needs her to help figure out who’s sabotaging his career, she hops over on one foot while keeping the other tangoing with the handsome stranger. Caro and Andy’s friends add to the fun trying to help their favorite couple realize they’re perfect for each other.

I found Carolyn Gibson needing to grow into herself and often wanted to smack her upside the head. Thank goodness for good friends who refuse to give up on her. Somewhat reminiscent of Nancy Drew, Brown’s circle of friends and mysteries are a fun clean read for those who enjoy jumping into small town life with big dreamers and achievers. Told in multiple viewpoints but mostly from Carolyn, Undiscovered Treasures is a sweet addition to the series. A sneak preview of the next book is included.

Book 1 Sabotaged Christmas

Book 2 Knight in Shining Apron

About the Author

Carole Brown's debut novel, The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, is a 2015 Book of the Year in General Fiction from Christian Small Publishers, a RWA Oklahoma International Digital Award 2nd place winner, a Clash of the Titles top three finalist, a Selah Award finalist in debut novels, and a semi-finalist in the Genesis contest.

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, she 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.

Seventh Dimension new addition to the series by Lorilyn Roberts

The City by Lorilyn Roberts

Paperback $12.95

ISBN-13: 978-1523887910

Buy on amazon US

About the book:

The Illuminati want Shale’s ancient scrolls and they’ll stop at nothing to find them. Shale and Daniel will stop at nothing to protect them. The battle rages from Jerusalem to Shambhala in search of Daniel’s father. With the apocalypse looming, Shale must choose between mortal love and immortality.

Lisa's review:

This fourth entry into the Seventh Dimension series brings the battle against good and evil back to Earth. Although I'm a bit weary of treating public high school science teachers as the bad guy, I trust Roberts's story-telling skills enough to move on from a dramatic opening in class to the reunion of Shale and Daniel as they pick up the search for Daniel's father in contemporary Israel and Asia. Strangely, Shale's biological father is the face of a deeper conspiracy in the hunt for a closely guarded secret behind the physical means to cross the barriers of time--but what this will mean for the rapidly approaching Armageddon and whether mankind can shut out God will become an intergalactic issue, as much as a challenge to our young couple, is anyone’s guess. Or is it a carefully orchestrated event across time? Daniel and Shale not only face the external pressures of a world in transition, but also their own faith in God and each other. Trust has many avenues and faith many faces.

Roberts is a well-rounded story teller and uses her experiences in international travel to add wonderful layers to her credible characters.

About the author:

Lorilyn Roberts is an award-winning Christian author who writes for the young and the young at heart. Lorilyn is a single mother by choice. She adopted her two daughters from Nepal and Vietnam. Read her Amazon best-selling memoir, Children of Dreams, endorsed by New York Times best-selling author Jerry Jenkins, and be inspired. Lorilyn has been a speaker at various events and functions, including women's groups, adoption support groups, and writer workshops. She is the founder of the John 3:16 marketing network.

Wakulla Book Review: The Map Quilt by Lisa J. Lickel

An exciting story that combines the actions of a past generation with those of the future or present generation, creating a cause and effect.

Julietta is out to solve a family mystery that began in the 1860s along the famous Underground Railroad. Fighting for the land that her free ancestors had obtained in the first of the 1800s, this African-American woman is in a fight for her life.

Hart and a very pregnant July get caught up in Julietta’s adventure which includes murder, theft, threats and near disaster.

Involving family, friends and unlikely acquaintances, Hart and Judy learn and grown as God leads the way. With a very adventurous wife, a new baby, and a mother who is beginning to date again, Hart wonders if he’ll survive.

This book has the elements of love, hate, loyalty, betrayal, anger and forgiveness rolled into a well-written package. Ultimately, it’s about the true treasures of life—family and friends.

I’d give this book five stars on content and adventure with a touch of history blended in.

A very easy read that I would recommend to older preteens and up; male or female

A Wakulla Book Review by Bill C.

To purchase from Amazon, click here.

*~*~*~*

I want to personally thank all the men who are reviewing the books written by JOHN 3:16 AUTHORS. I am thankful that we are able to bless them and appreciate the encouragement given to us by their reviews. 

Each WEEK (usually on Tuesday), we are posting reviews from 

Wakulla Correctional inmates of John 3:16 books. 

Inmates are loving the new books from John 3:16 authors. 

Chaplain Steve Fox is adding the new books to the prison library in this initiative to "change lives to ensure a safer Florida."

Ordinary Women - Extraordinary God, by Sandra Julian Barker

What do we do when life throws us a curve? How do we react? Does our view of God change? What is the secret to surviving crushing loss or sorrowful circumstances and still praising God?  

This book contains stories of 14 ordinary women (and one ordinary man) who have gone through various degrees of difficulty or tragedy. These women have come through their trial (or in some cases, are still going through the trial) with a prayer on their lips and praise to our extraordinary God in their hearts.

Along with these present-day sisters in Christ, there are enlightening stories from a few Biblical sisters in the faith.  There are also messages from God’s word on such topics as fear, tears, His all-sufficient grace, and beauty from ashes.

Read the stories and see the pictures of ordinary women like you and me.  You’ll cry over their pain and loss, laugh at their humorous tidbits, rejoice in their victories and, hopefully, whisper a prayer for those who are still going through the floodwaters.

“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord…” Habakkuk 3:18

EXCERPT – taken from chapter entitled, “Gretchen”

Gretchen was 44-years old when it happened.  She'd been married 13 years and long ago been told she could not have a baby.  Although she'd always longed to be a mother, over the years she’d developed peace about her childlessness and accepted her situation as part of God's plan.

As a leader in the children's ministries at her church, she'd become like a second mother to many of her friends’ children.  One of her joys was having "Princess" retreats for the young girls and encouraging them to grow in the beauty and grace of our Lord.

So -- it was a huge surprise when Gretchen discovered she was pregnant.  It was a surprise and joy that a dream she'd given up on was at last coming true!  She would be a mother with a precious baby of her very own -- praise God from who all blessings flow!

No sooner had Gretchen shared her exciting news with family and friends than word came from her doctors that the pregnancy was in trouble.  The baby boy she was carrying had a condition known as Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) which meant that abnormalities in the placenta restricted the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the baby.  It was then they told her and her husband Shawn that their son might "pass away at any time."

How do expectant parents cope with such news?  Gretchen's life had seemed like a placid stream before she'd been placed on a roller coaster that started off with joyous promise, but was now plunging into a dark and fearful place.

Her first reaction was quite natural -- tears, an overwhelming sorrow and her heart's cry, "Lord, please no!  This cannot be happening!"

Almost immediately, hope eased the sorrow.  She said, "For a while, it was hope that conquered my sadness -- the hope that the Lord would heal my son and that what they'd predicted would be wrong -- that he would be born a miracle....a complete miracle."

Months passed and the roller coaster continued its twisting journey of ups and downs -- sometimes hopeful, but more often news they did not want to hear.  It was a frightening ride for Gretchen and Shawn.  Early in her pregnancy she was admitted to the hospital and placed on bed rest.  This tiny baby boy, whom they'd named Shawn Austin, was a little fighter, and he'd surprised the doctors by refusing to quietly "pass away" as they'd predicted.  The expectant mother was full of hope as she wrote, "We are still praying, and not giving up on this miracle baby."

As a friend watching this heart-wrenching situation unfold from a distance, what touched my heart most deeply was Gretchen's firm and unwavering statement:  "I still will love and serve Him - no matter what!"  This was not just something she said to sound spiritual.  Even through tears and sorrow, Gretchen meant what she said from the bottom of her broken heart.  That was powerful to me -- and still is as she reaffirms her love for God every day.

On the morning of July 1, 2011, Shawn Austin came into the world with eyes wide open and a strong yet gentle cry.  There was joy at his birth and a continued hope that this sick 'lil warrior, as Gretchen calls him, would survive and be a testament to God's miraculous grace.

Gretchen and her son in the NICU

But, it was not to be.  This beautiful baby boy with dark hair and a sweet smile spent the entire 2-1/2 months of his life in the intensive care unit at the Children's Hospital.  His Mommy and Daddy loved him and loved on him as much as they possibly could.  Gretchen said, "Shawn was a fighter until the end of his precious but brief life when he went home to be with Jesus."

How did Gretchen cope with such loss?

When a woman loses her precious baby, it is heart-rending, but it seemed like Gretchen's loss had an extra twist that made it even worse.

During moments of weakness, you can imagine satanic influences whispering in her ear, "What kind of God would dangle the carrot of motherhood in front of you like that?  After you'd long ago accepted your childlessness, why would He set you up for a fall by giving you the joy of pregnancy and a glimpse of your baby, only to dash your hopes and joys with pain and a sorrow like you'd never known before?  What kind of God does that?"

These are the thoughts and feelings of the natural self -- which is still part of all of us, but such thoughts and feelings are destructive to every part of who we are -- and unfair to every part of who God is.  Gretchen knows this and refused to let Satan bait her into blaming God, or letting bitterness cloud her world.

Gretchen explains, "My peace with God is knowing that His ways are perfect; that He chose me to parent that Lil Warrior and Blessing that he was.  There's no recurring bitterness or anger with the Lord.  My pain now is to have had a child that was taken back to heaven so quickly, missing him and just what he would have added to our lives; feeling emptiness in my arms though my heart is full of the love that I felt for him.  My healing is a work in progress, but He that has begun a good work in me shall complete it to the end!"

To purchase from Amazon, click here.

*~*~*~*

Sandra Julian Barker is the author of a number of novels, a children’s book, and now a Christian inspirational book.  She has written numerous newspaper and magazine articles, and has a story in the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul.

Wakulla Book Review: Children of Dreams by Lorilyn Roberts

Winston Churchill's famous quote of World War II "We will never give up" appears to be the standard of how Ms. Roberts lives her life. 

Children of Dreams is a book of nonfiction that follows the author's dream of becoming a mother. What she has to go through to fulfill her dreams is an inspiring story of courage, determination, and faith when confronted with the many obstacles along this journey. 

We get a glimpse into the author's past and her struggles to come to terms with divorce, being unable to bare children, and herself. During this time of searching, she turns to risk‑taking activities, such as traveling to areas of the world known for unrest and extreme sports ‑ downhill skiing and scuba diving, calculated dangers, yes, but still risk is involved. 

The uncertainty of traveling by yourself to Nepal, man or woman ‑ this time the risk was worth it. To become a mother to give another human in need a fresh start in life. With all the adventures, the Western world has to offer. 

So much we take for granted, clean water, education, toilet paper [read the book], three meals a day, and much more. 

It's not enough she does this once. She does it a second time with a new set of obstacles to overcome. Again, she is guided by her faith in God. It's a lesson we can all learn from. I know I did. 

Wakulla Book Review by Christopher.

Click here to purchase "Children of Dreams" from Amazon

*~*~*

I want to personally thank all the men who are reviewing the books written by JOHN 3:16 AUTHORS. I am thankful that we are able to bless them and appreciate the encouragement given to us by their reviews. 

Each WEEK (usually on Tuesday), we are posting reviews from 

Wakulla Correctional inmates of John 3:16 books. 

Inmates are loving the new books from John 3:16 authors. 

Chaplain Steve Fox is adding the new books to the prison library in this initiative to "change lives to ensure a safer Florida."

The Gift of Books to the Orphans of Nepal

Orphans of Nepal receive books from #John316author s @AuthorMRoth pic.twitter.com/MW05DhxX9q
— Lorilyn Roberts (@LorilynRoberts) October 24, 2014

Today was the most moving yet. We spent a couple of hours reading with the children. 

I was amazed at how well they read English, their sweet spirit, and their excitement of receiving the books. 

They hung on every word as I shared with them how I received most of the books, through the generosity of John 3:16 authors. 

I have many more pictures and videos to share. Please be sure to follow the blog so you don't miss future posts on this amazing trip to the ends of the earth.

What Books Are Being Launched by the John 3:16 Marketing Network May 1 through May 17

Retweeting Using the John316Author Hashtag

I was able to quickly retweet all the tweets up above because the authors included the hastag #John316author in their tweet. Sometimes seeing how something works is easier than trying to explain it on the forum. Don't forget, the handle for the John 3:16 Marketing Network is @John316Network.