Showing posts with label Lena Nelson Dooley. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
RESCUING CHRISTMAS (CHRISTMAS MAIL-ORDER ANGELS #12) - Lena Nelson Dooley - One Free Ebook
Dear Readers, I�m featuring one of my new releases on the blog today. I decided to take one of the sets of questions and answer them for you today.
Welcome, Lena . Since you�re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?
I�ve been involved in three holiday novella collections. The novella I�m featuring today, Rescuing Christmas, will become part of the Mail-Order Christmas Angels collection this holiday season.
Another Christmas collection I�ll be in is A Sweet Noel, and my novella is Oh, Fudge!. This collection is releasing this next week.
A third holiday collection I�ll be in is Autumn Love, A Thanksgiving collection. In all the holiday books, Thanksgiving is like the forgotten holiday. This collection will come out in early November.
My next full-length book, A Heart�s Gift, a Love�s Road Home Novel, will release in early November, too.
And I will continue to turn my books into audio books.
What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?
Actually, I�ll be teaching two sessions at a one-day conference this Saturday. Check it out at WordWyze.com.
I didn�t attend any out of area conferences this year, but the ACFW national conference will be in this area next year. I look forward to connecting with friends I haven�t seen in several years.
If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why?
Because of the many new opportunities open to authors today, I�d plan a panel to speak about the ins and outs of Indie publishing. I�d ask these people:
Patricia PacJac Carroll, a very successful Amazon author
Jackie Castle, a successful Indie author and cover designer
Crystal L Barnes, another successful Indie author and cover designer
Janice Hanna Thompson, a traditional author, an Indie author, and a good marketer
Marji Laine, an author and publisher
Linda Kozar, an author and host of the Along Came a Writer blogtalk radio network
How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?
Being connected to other authors, who actually understand the voices in your head is very important. And connecting with publishing professionals help an author learn about the business.
Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?
I volunteer in the church bookstore. A good place for an author to volunteer. I also teach classes at out church to help equip authors to follow God�s call on their lives.
Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?
My parents (that�s actually 3, because my mother died when I was 7 and I had a wonderful stepmother. They all raised me in a Christian home where it was easy to learn about Jesus.
The woman who was my high school English teacher and my Sunday school teacher. I wanted to be just like her, and that made an impact on my choices in college.
James Dooley, who has loved me for almost 52 years. We�ve grown deeper in the Lord together.
Robert Morris, pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake , Texas
And this last one is actually a group, the songwriters who are part of the ministry team at Gateway church. They write the songs that my heart sings.
If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?
Jesus changed her heart and life.
Tell us about the featured book.
This novella is different from any book I�ve ever written. Harder situations,
When Rose Ellen Murphy became a mail-order bride, it was the biggest mistake of her life. Or was it?
When Jedediah Strong found what he thought was a dead body of a woman, he�s glad he checked closely before he buried her.
Can God make these things work together for good for this couple?
Please share the first page with us.
A darkness, deeper than midnight without a moon, shrouded Rose Ellen Murphy. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids didn�t cooperate. Where am I? The words shouted in her mind, with not one sound emitting from between her cracked, dry lips. The more she became aware of, the more aches and pains stabbed through her body. Why can�t I remember?
As the memories barely seeped into her consciousness, she felt assaulted and abused. She tried to force them back, but they soon became an agonizing waterfall with flashes of events, stacking into a heap of pain.
From somewhere nearby, voices were carrying on a conversation, but she couldn�t understand a single word. A woman�s sweet voice and a man�s kind one. Soon the memories screamed loud enough to drown them out.
�Don�t you lie to me. You�re nothing but a whore!� Whore � ore �ore. The male voice spewing the word had not a shred of kindness, without a speck of truth in what he spouted.
The hated words were shards tearing enormous holes in her heart while fists pummeled her aching body. Each one harder and more fierce than the last. When she thought she couldn�t stand another second of the abuse, the darkness claimed her once again, freeing her from the memories.
~~~
Jedediah Strong stood beside his mother as they watched the woman lying in his bed.
He�d found her in a deep gully when he was chasing a hungry coyote away from the small herd of cattle in his upper pasture. At first, he thought he�d found a dead body.
He planned to bury her there, since there was no way he could find out who she was. Something stopped him, almost as if he�d run into a brick wall. He sensed he wasn�t alone, but when he looked around he didn�t see anyone. Is that You, Lord? He didn�t hear a voice, but that peace beyond understanding settled over him.
Maybe he should make sure she wasn�t alive. But how could she be? Someone had beaten her beyond recognition. The only thing he was sure of was her abundant red hair. Clumps of curls stuck to her misshapen cheeks and forehead and formed a wide halo on the ground cushioning her head. No telling how long she�d been there.
He leaned close to her face and noticed her shallow breathing disturb the hair that swept across lips, veiling her mouth and chin.
Thank the good Lord that coyote didn�t find her before he did. He glanced toward the heavens. Maybe God was the one who gave him the feeling he needed to check on his small herd.
The book will be available on Kindle sometime next week.
Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenandooley/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lenandooley
Official Fan Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
Christianbook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=1728796&sp=67484&event=67484|1728796|67484
Blogtalk Radio, The Lena Nelson Dooley Show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/along-came-a-writer/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lenanelsondooley
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPAIDE
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lenandooley/
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the ebook. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you�ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you�re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here�s a link:
Thursday, October 13, 2016
My Audio Books - Lena Nelson Dooley - 3 Free Audio Books
Dear Readers, when I started having my books turned into audio books, I thought that probably most readers who used audio books might be young people, because they could listen to them on their cell phones. Since then, I've discovered that all ages use them. They can be played on many electronic devices, and people use them when they exercise, when they do housework, and during many other activities. Anything you have that plays mp3 files will play the books.
So here are the books I have had made into audio books. They are available on Audible.com, Amazon, Kobo, and iTunes.
The first book I had turned into an audio book is my full-length novel, The Gold Digger.
It's 1890, and Golden, New Mexico, is a booming mining town where men far outnumber women. So when an old wealthy miner named Philip Smith finds himself in need of a nursemaid, he places an ad for a mail-order bride--despite the protests of his friend Jeremiah. Hoping to escape a perilous situation back East, young Madeleine Mercer answers the ad and arrives in town under a cloud of suspicion. But just as she begins to win over Philip--and Jeremiah himself--the secrets she left behind threaten to follow her to Golden . . . and tarnish her character beyond redemption.
http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/The-Gold-Digger-Audiobook/B01J49189O/ref=a_search_c4_1_2_srImg?qid=1476395654&sr=1-2
The second book I had turned into an audio book is a novella, Charlsey's Account.
Spur your faith and love of romance in this novella where passion hits the open range. Saddle up with Charlsey Ames as she shakes off the trail dust for a citified dandy.
So here are the books I have had made into audio books. They are available on Audible.com, Amazon, Kobo, and iTunes.
It's 1890, and Golden, New Mexico, is a booming mining town where men far outnumber women. So when an old wealthy miner named Philip Smith finds himself in need of a nursemaid, he places an ad for a mail-order bride--despite the protests of his friend Jeremiah. Hoping to escape a perilous situation back East, young Madeleine Mercer answers the ad and arrives in town under a cloud of suspicion. But just as she begins to win over Philip--and Jeremiah himself--the secrets she left behind threaten to follow her to Golden . . . and tarnish her character beyond redemption.
http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/The-Gold-Digger-Audiobook/B01J49189O/ref=a_search_c4_1_2_srImg?qid=1476395654&sr=1-2
The second book I had turned into an audio book is a novella, Charlsey's Account.
Spur your faith and love of romance in this novella where passion hits the open range. Saddle up with Charlsey Ames as she shakes off the trail dust for a citified dandy.
Charlsey Ames is the son her father would never have - riding, roping, and working the ranch with the best of them. Horace Miller, III, an accountant from back East, is intrigued by the feminine Charlsey until he learns she dresses like man out on the range.
Can these two stop judging each other long enough to recognize the future God has planned for them?
And the third book I had turned into an audio book is Christmas novella, Christmas Confusion.
Lori Compton, mayor of Mistletoe, needs ideas for ways to prop up the sagging economy. After having her heart broken by the former pastor, she doesn't want to spend time with the new pastor. Rev. Russell Brown has plenty of ideas, even one that includes his spending the rest of his life with the beautiful mayor. Will Lori be able to move beyond her hurts and recognize God's intentions for the future of the town - and for her own future?
When you go to Audible.com and search for my books, you'll find one other novel, Pirate's Prize. I'm putting a link to the book, but I won't be giving away a free copy of that one. It was produced by the publisher.
One of your favorite inspirational romances, Pirate's Prize, is now available as a complete and unabridged audiobook. Angelina de la Fuente Delgado, the pampered daughter of a wealthy merchant, is on her way home from a trip to Spain when her ship is attacked by pirates. The brigands capture her and her aunt and steal all the merchandise on the ship. After forcing most of the crew to walk the plank, they sink the vessel into the Atlantic. Brian O'Doule, who is secretly in love with Angelina, is also kidnapped by the pirates. Driven by feelings of guilt for not preventing the disaster, he does everything in his power to protect the women and to find a way for them all to escape. Will Angelina ever see her home and her beloved father again? Or will she be forced to marry the fierce pirate captain, Etienne Badeau?
Comments conversation starter questions: Have you ever used an audio book? Do you have anyone on your Christmas list who would appreciate an audio book as a Christmas gift?
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you�ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you�re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here�s a link:
Friday, September 2, 2016
MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS BRIDES (DRESSED IN SCARLET) - Darlene Franklin - One Free Book
Dear Readers, I�m thrilled to feature this book today. Mountain Christmas Brides just released yesterday. It�s a Barbour novella collection with stories from 9 of their most popular authors. I�m blessed to be included in it along with my friends. I�m interviewing one of my long-time author friends from Oklahoma
Welcome back, Darlene. Let�s do some fun questions first. What song most closely resembles your life?
Let�s see. Special music at church yesterday was a classic hymn I haven�t heard for years, but it describes the truth of my life so well. �Day by Day (and with each passing moment.)� �He whose heart is kind beyond all measure/gives unto each day what He deems best/lovingly its part of pain and pleasure/mingling toil with peace and rest.�
I love so many of the classic hymns. Do you have a favorite Bible verse? And why is it a favorite?
One of my latest discovery is from Lamentatians 3:28-30 MSG:
�When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don�t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don�t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The �worst� is never the worst.�
I�ve been reading, memorizing, meditating, and writing devotions from Proverbs, Jeremiah � Ezekiel, Hebrews � 1 Peter for an upcoming devotional project. This verse comes from a longer passage that includes the familiar �great is your faithfulness� phrase,
I love the phrase �wait for hope to appear.� The word �hope� (which also happens to be my middle name, lol) has been popping up over and over again. Don�t try to force it. Face trouble. Hope will appear. And in a place (nursing home) where troubles show up on a regular basis, I need all the advice I can get.
That certainly is a verse of encouragement. Thank you for sharing it with us. What is the one thing you wish you could go back and change in your life?
Oh, that�s a tough one. A part of me wishes I had agreed to change to a major in music theory and completed my master�s degree in music when they said I couldn�t continue in piano. If I think about all the things I�ve done wrong in my life, I�ll end up with a long list of regrets�but they have made me the person I am today.
And I love the person you are today. Your inner beauty shines like the noonday sun. You are an inspiration to me in many ways. What is the most important characteristic for a good friend to have?
Listening! When needed and without judgment.
What extracurricular activities did you participate in when you were in school?
I was in band and choir and also participated in the math club and the Spanish club. A real nerd.
What is your favorite movie of all times?
Field of Dreamsand It�s a Wonderful Life never disappoint.
I love It�s a Wonderful Life, but I�ve never seen Field of Dreams. I�ll have to change that. Tell us about why you wrote this book.
Oh, I remember the thrill of when I first wrote Dressed in Scarlet. Within the Barbour community, many authors started by writing a novella and then moved on Heartsong novels. I wasn�t even aware of the novellas until after they published my first book.
Then I was invited to take part in a four-person historical novella with Susan Page Davis, a fellow Mainer and good friend, Tamela Hancock Murray, who became my agent, and you, Lena . Even better, I got to write about my beloved Colorado ! And now it's included in this new collection.
I discovered the joy of writing historical romance, which has become my niche; writing novellas; and writing Christmas stories. At first, I couldn�t imagine writing a Christmas story every year; now the season feels incomplete without a new story for the season. So far I�ve written ten of them.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Fabrizio Ricci glanced around the garage at the Brown Palace
No one would drive anywhere tonight in the storm that hit Denver yesterday. More than twenty-four hours later, the snow had not even slowed down. Anyone would be a fool to drive in weather like this. Even the trolleys that he sometimes took had stopped running. It was a good thing he kept a pair of Nordic skis in the garage. If he didn�t leave soon, he would have to spend the night at the hotel, or longer, if the snow kept up. As the only son remaining at home, he knew his parents depended on his help.
Fabrizio changed his work shoes for boots and strapped on the skis. He hadn�t planned for the cold, but he didn�t think that would be a problem, not with the long woolen scarf knitted in green and yellow by Mama. He would dress like that character in the Christmas story. What was his name? Bob Cratchit, that was it. A Christmas Carol had to be one of the best stories in the English language. Not as beautiful as Italian, of course, or that�s what Papa would say.
Fabrizio looked out the window at the swirling snow, wishing he had taken the time to go to the kitchen for a last cup of hot coffee before he left. Too late now. The snow danced in the air before landing gracefully on the ground. Bella neve. Beautiful snow.
Wrapping his scarf around his nose and throat before winding its length around his body, Fabrizio pulled his cap as far down on his head as it would reach and turned the collar of his coat up over the scarf. He hadn�t brought any mittens, but his work gloves should do the job. He pulled them on and hoped the oil stains wouldn�t get on his clothes. Mama complained about his soiled work clothes; four sisters created enough laundry without him adding any more.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Twitter: @darlenefranklin
Purchase Matchmaker MixupThank you, Darlene, for helping share this new collection to my readers.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Mountain Christmas Brides - Christianbook.com
Mountain Christmas Brides: Nine Historical Novellas Celebrate Faith and Love in the Rocky Mountains
- AmazonMountain Christmas Brides: Nine Historical Novellas Celebrate Faith and Love in the Rocky Mountains
- KindleComments Starter Questions: Do you look for Christmas novels each Christmas? Do you like reading the Christmas novella collection? What are some of your favorites?
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you�ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you�re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here�s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
COMING SOON - A HEART'S GIFT - Lena Nelson Dooley
I've decided to keep y'all up on what is going on with my writing life. I will make occasional posts like this with other new information. With these posts, there won't be an automatic giveaway. If it's at a time where there's one available, I'll have one. But today the book isn't available yet.
This books is special to me. It's the longest book I've written, and it has several plot lines that intersect. The last part of the book also includes suspense.
Here's the back cover copy:
Is a marriage of convenience the answer?
Because of an earlier betrayal,
When Lorinda is finally out from under the control of men who made all the decisions in her life, she promises herself she will never allow a man to control her again. But how can she provide for her infant son?
Marriage seems like the perfect arrangement until two people from
And how will this affect the way they feel about each other?
Here's the cover flat. I have a wonderful cover designer.
Another new thing with my writing life is "The Lena Nelson Dooley Show" on the Blogtalk Along Came a Writer network. My show is on the third Tuesday of the month at 12 noon. Here's the link to the network:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/alongcameawriter
This link will take you to the network and the shows will be archived there. You can listen to them live or your can listen to them later.
Comment questions:
How do you like my new cover? The book should release before the end of September. I'll keep you up on what's going on.
How about the logo? I'd love to hear from you.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
THE GOLD DIGGER - Lena Nelson Dooley - 1 Free Print Book, 1 Free Ebook, 1 Free Audio Book
Dear Readers, I'm very excited to announce the release of the audio book of my latest release The Gold Digger. We will have 3 winners for this post.
The first edition of this story released in 2010 with the title Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. It was the first Christian romance to win the Will Rogers Medallion Award for Excellence in Western Media for fiction. The awards were presented at the National Cowboy Weekend at the Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas. In mid-July of 2011, it was very hot there.
When the committee chairman picked up my book and held it up, he said he had to apologize to the author. He was every bit a cowboy, wearing jeans, a plaid shirt, a white stetson, and a large silver belt buckle. The cover had a girl on the front standing in front of the mission in Golden, New Mexico. Her face was framed by a white, lacy parasol she was holding.
He said he hadn't wanted to read the book. He was going to let the rest of the committee judge it. Then he knew that because he was the chairman, he knew he should at least read the first chapter to see if the author could write well and if there was a good story.
"Darn good story." He sounded surprised. Then he added, "Darn good writing."
He decided to read the second chapter to see if it was as good as the first. Before long, he had reached the last page. He went on to praise the story.
That book is now out of print, and the publishing rights reverted to me. I knew there were people who hadn't been able to afford the book. The publisher didn't put it on sale very much. And I wanted to do an edition that is more affordable. Also, I did some revising, but not a lot.
So now we have The Gold Digger. In addition to the print and ebook editions of the book. I've had an audio edition made. It released just last week.
It's available on iTunes. Here's the buy link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/the-gold-digger-unabridged/id1138545945
It's available on Amazon. Here's the buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/The-Gold-Digger/dp/B01J4912EK/ref=sr_1_1_twi_audd_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1470322416&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Gold+Digger+by+Lena+Nelson+Dooley
It's available on Audible.com. Here's the buy link:
http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_mn_mt_ano_tseft__galileo?advsearchKeywords=The+Gold+Digger+%28Lena+Nelson+Dooley%29&x=22&y=20
Here are some reviews:
This is a very good book by Lena Nelson Dooley. I especially liked the tough life lessons in it.
I love stories about the Old West. In this book, the setting is primarily the Old West but part of the story occurs in New England. An old retired miner decides to get him a mail-order bride. The story of how he selects her and of the circumstances that prompt her to leave Boston to go to Golden, New Mexico is very interesting. However, that is only the beginning of the story. Intertwined with the suspense and romance are lessons about true forgiveness and selfless love. You may have been through some very difficult times and circumstances and feel there is no way you can ever forgive. Read and see how it works. Some may question if they can really learn important lessons about living the Christian life from a fiction story set in the Old West. I am one who believes it is entirely possible. The characters in the story are very believable. You may even know people in real life who have exemplified exactly what these characters portray. I encourage you to read this book. Besides the lessons that can be learned or reinforced, the story is a very interesting read. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. Reviewed by Edward Arrington.
A Rare and Beautiful Love Story
Once again, Ms. Dooley lives up to her by-line, "Characters who grip your heart." She writes as if she knows these people. And when I read her books, I know that either every detail has been carefully researched, or else she's about 200 years old and is just remembering how it was. Very few writers today balance characters and plot so well. "The Gold Digger" is a great story, full of emotion and surprises. The story stayed with me for a long time, and the characters even longer. An orphaned baby, a damsel in distress, a neat old codger who ordered a bride, and a recalcitrant miner cowboy. Oh, yes, and all that gold! This story will propel the reader straight into the McKenna's Daughters trilogy. Reviewed by Lee Carver
A sweet, safe, satisfying read
I love stories with memorable characters, and The Gold Digger made me smile. I wanted to jump into the page and hug old Philip; his interactions with the other two main characters always made me chuckle. Jeremiah's internal struggle felt very real, and Maddie is a strong woman. And I appreciate the story's illustration of integrity, forgiveness, and compassion. Reviewed by Julie Marx
Here is the first of the story:
When the committee chairman picked up my book and held it up, he said he had to apologize to the author. He was every bit a cowboy, wearing jeans, a plaid shirt, a white stetson, and a large silver belt buckle. The cover had a girl on the front standing in front of the mission in Golden, New Mexico. Her face was framed by a white, lacy parasol she was holding.
He said he hadn't wanted to read the book. He was going to let the rest of the committee judge it. Then he knew that because he was the chairman, he knew he should at least read the first chapter to see if the author could write well and if there was a good story.
"Darn good story." He sounded surprised. Then he added, "Darn good writing."
That book is now out of print, and the publishing rights reverted to me. I knew there were people who hadn't been able to afford the book. The publisher didn't put it on sale very much. And I wanted to do an edition that is more affordable. Also, I did some revising, but not a lot.
So now we have The Gold Digger. In addition to the print and ebook editions of the book. I've had an audio edition made. It released just last week.
It's available on iTunes. Here's the buy link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/the-gold-digger-unabridged/id1138545945
It's available on Amazon. Here's the buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/The-Gold-Digger/dp/B01J4912EK/ref=sr_1_1_twi_audd_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1470322416&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Gold+Digger+by+Lena+Nelson+Dooley
It's available on Audible.com. Here's the buy link:
http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_mn_mt_ano_tseft__galileo?advsearchKeywords=The+Gold+Digger+%28Lena+Nelson+Dooley%29&x=22&y=20
Here are some reviews:
This is a very good book by Lena Nelson Dooley. I especially liked the tough life lessons in it.
I love stories about the Old West. In this book, the setting is primarily the Old West but part of the story occurs in New England. An old retired miner decides to get him a mail-order bride. The story of how he selects her and of the circumstances that prompt her to leave Boston to go to Golden, New Mexico is very interesting. However, that is only the beginning of the story. Intertwined with the suspense and romance are lessons about true forgiveness and selfless love. You may have been through some very difficult times and circumstances and feel there is no way you can ever forgive. Read and see how it works. Some may question if they can really learn important lessons about living the Christian life from a fiction story set in the Old West. I am one who believes it is entirely possible. The characters in the story are very believable. You may even know people in real life who have exemplified exactly what these characters portray. I encourage you to read this book. Besides the lessons that can be learned or reinforced, the story is a very interesting read. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. Reviewed by Edward Arrington.
A Rare and Beautiful Love Story
Once again, Ms. Dooley lives up to her by-line, "Characters who grip your heart." She writes as if she knows these people. And when I read her books, I know that either every detail has been carefully researched, or else she's about 200 years old and is just remembering how it was. Very few writers today balance characters and plot so well. "The Gold Digger" is a great story, full of emotion and surprises. The story stayed with me for a long time, and the characters even longer. An orphaned baby, a damsel in distress, a neat old codger who ordered a bride, and a recalcitrant miner cowboy. Oh, yes, and all that gold! This story will propel the reader straight into the McKenna's Daughters trilogy. Reviewed by Lee Carver
A sweet, safe, satisfying read
I love stories with memorable characters, and The Gold Digger made me smile. I wanted to jump into the page and hug old Philip; his interactions with the other two main characters always made me chuckle. Jeremiah's internal struggle felt very real, and Maddie is a strong woman. And I appreciate the story's illustration of integrity, forgiveness, and compassion. Reviewed by Julie Marx
Here is the first of the story:
Early spring, 1890
Golden, New Mexico
"Are you plumb crazy?" Jeremiah Dennison's loud retort bounced around the main room of the adobe house and returned to mock him. "Where did you get such a harebrained idea?"
Trying to control his anger, he shoved his clenched fists into his denim trousers' pockets, paced to the window, and stared out, paying scant attention to the pi�on trees bending in the wind. He loved Philip Smith like a father, but the man could vex the weather. And this latest idea was the most farfetched yet.
Philip gave a snort. "Harebrained?" He put his rocking chair into motion that sent out a rhythmic squeaking. "Why'd ya say that? It's worked fer other men."
Jeremiah tried to calm down. He wanted to measure his words, season them with wisdom that would awaken his elderly friend to all the pitfalls he would face. "What would you do with a mail-order bride?"
The old miner stilled the chair and stared at Jeremiah, obsidian eyes piercing under his bushy white brows. "Somethin""�he smothered a hacking cough with his fist, then swiped a clean handkerchief across his face�"has a deadly grip on me."
"I know you're sick. I take care of you, don't I?" Jeremiah resented the fact that what he'd done wasn't enough. Otherwise, Philip wouldn't even consider such a preposterous proposition.
His old friend reached up to scratch the scraggly beard he'd worn all the years he was a miner, but it no longer covered his clean-shaven chin. Old habits died hard. "Jerry, I don't wanna be a burden on ya."
"You'd rather be a burden to a woman you don't even know?" Jeremiah regretted his cynical tone the moment the words flew from his lips. He softened his tone. "I've never considered you a burden any more than you thought I was a burden when I came to the gold fields as a greenhorn."
Philip clutched the arms of the rocking chair and slowly rose. He took a moment to steady himself before he ambled toward Jeremiah. "I ain't come to this decision easy." He squinted up into Jeremiah's face. "I done studied on it fer a while."
Jeremiah straightened the fingers he'd gripped into fists and relaxed his stiff spine. "What do you mean, 'studied'?"
"Well, I figure a woman who'd answer them ads in the newspaper must be purty needy, maybe even desperate to get out of a particular bad situation." He gave a vigorous nod that riffled his snowy hair. "Made me a fortune when I sold my mine. More money than any man can spend in his lifetime. What good is a fortune to an old-timer like me? Won't never have a family of my own. Maybe I'll git me a woman with children. She can take care a me, and my money can take care a her." Another nod punctuated his last statement. "And her young'uns, if she has any."
How could Jeremiah deny his mentor's request? Philip never asked for much. If he didn't do this, the stubborn old man would look for help from someone else. A lesser friend might have a wagging tongue and spread the story all around Golden. Philip didn't need people gossiping about him sending for a bride. And other miners might try to nab her for themselves when she arrived. If Jeremiah had his way, it would be fine with him if they did, but his friend would be too disappointed. He didn't want to break Philip's heart, just talk him out of making this mistake.
"Jerry, ya ain't mad 'cause I'm plannin' to give my money to someone else, are ya?"
The words stabbed Jeremiah's heart. How could Philip believe that about him? "I don't need your money. I have more than enough of my own, thanks to selling my own mine and starting the ranch like you told me to."
The hoary head nodded. "That's what I figured."
"Where you going to send the ad?" Jeremiah couldn't believe he was considering being a part of this crazy scheme. But what else could he do?
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