The Last Giveaway!

It is so hard to believe we are already at the end of May! I hope you are having a wonderful Memorial Day. I'm so grateful for all the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. 

Today is the last day of giveaways. It has been so fun celebrating ten years of my blog with you. There are a lot of great giveaways for you to enter, and there will be a wrap-up post for you tomorrow, so you won't miss any! All the winners will be announced on Friday.

But today's prize is SO AWESOME! If you love romance, you won't want to miss either of these books. The Swoony Romance Book Bundle includes The Accidental Text by Becky Monson. This one will hit you in all the feels and leave you with a smile on your face. Then, there's The Seat Filler by Sariah Wilson that has all the butterflies of meeting your person and working through a twisty-turny journey to love. Both of them were so good! 

All you have to do to be entered to win is answer two questions: have you ever accidentally texted someone? And have you ever met a celebrity? Tell me all about it in the comment section! 

Are You A Scaredy-Cat Like Me? And a Giveaway!

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know how I feel about Stephanie Black books. She is the queen of mystery and suspense and the author I always read with the lights on. You see, I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat. It's not that her stories are scary, they just have that delicious tension that makes you want to turn the page to see what's going to happen, but then close your eyes! You know that point in the movie where the music comes on and you just KNOW something is going to happen? Yeah, it's like that. Her mysteries are so, so good.

And her new novella, Eye for An Eye, is our giveaway today! In order to enter to win it, all you have to do is tell me in the comments one thing that scares you. For me, it would be snakes. Your turn!

Sweet Romance & the Last Scavenger Hunt Item!

Scavenger hunts can be so much fun! And the prize for finding the item is Annette Lyon's romance, Falling to Pieces. You'll definitely want to read this sweet, sigh-worthy romance!

So here's what you have to do to be entered. If you've read my blog before, you know that I have had several features on it. I used to have an East Coast editor that did first page critiques for me every week. I used to review my favorite TV shows every week. And I have someone who does non-fiction reviews for me. Your scavenger hunt quest is to go to one of those features and tell me a blog title/article/review that you liked and why. There were some really fun ones over the years!

Freebie Friday for Western Romance Fans!

If you love historical romance, you won't want to miss this western collection and it's free today!

Get your free copy here

Here's the back copy:

A TIMELESS ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY: OLD WEST COLLECTION: Readers will love this collection of six historical western novellas, all with one thing in common: Romance.

In BREAK A LEG, a charming story by two-time Rita Award winner Carla Kelly, hospital steward Colm Callahan is ready to move away from army life at Fort Laramie. His only regret is leaving behind exotic Ozzie Washington, easily the prettiest woman on the post. As a maid to the lieutenant colonel's wife, Ozzie is no wilting flower when it comes to hard work. When the post surgeon leaves for an extended week, Colm must handle several medical emergencies on his own. He pleads for Ozzie's help at the hospital. While they spend long days and nights working together, Colm, a shy man, realizes he can't hide the truth of his feelings for Ozzie. He needs a little help, though. Enter from stage left, Lysander Locke, Shakespeare tragedian on his way to Deadwood.

THE SOLDIER'S HEART, an enchanting novella by Sarah M. Eden, follows Gregory Reeves has fallen in love with a woman he’s never met. Her brother’s dying wish is that Gregory checks on his family, and after the war, Gregory is only too happy to meet the woman he’s been dreaming about. Helene mistakes him for a hired hand and sets him to work immediately. As time passes, Gregory finds it more and more difficult to reveal his true connection to her family, fearing that a woman who loathes liars will turn her disapproval on him.

HIDDEN SPRING is an enthralling novella by Liz Adair, in which Susannah Brown is just getting her life back together after becoming a widow. She still misses Wesley with a fierce longing, but when she meets his half-brother, Douglas, she learns her heart is not completely dormant. Over the next several weeks, Douglas helps Susannah with repairs on her small ranch in exchange for supper. The exchange becomes more and more meaningful as Susannah realizes that Douglas might be the one to finally heal her heart.

In Annette Lyon’s delightful story, THE SWEETEST TASTE, Della Stafford hates being a farm girl in the tiny town of Shelley, Idaho. She’ll do anything to live in a big city and experience real city life. Her only regret is that she’d have to leave Joseph behind, the young man who makes her heart flutter. But she's convinced that moving away is for the best; her dreams and Joseph's dreams are too dissimilar. Then Della takes a job as a maid in Los Angeles and must face the truth that what she thought would make her happy and what really will are totally different things.

THE SILVER MINE BACHELOR, by Heather B. Moore, is a sweet romance between an unlikely pair. Lydia Stone has a checklist for men who qualify as the eligible bachelors in the mining town of Leadville, Colorado. Her new boss, Mr. Erik Dawson, is about to be struck off the list when she sees him coming out of the town brothel. Lydia doesn’t know that Erik Dawson’s sister has been living the brothel lifestyle for years, and he’s set on redeeming her soul. When Lydia discovers Erik’s secrets, she learns that life is not as black and white as she thinks.

In the captivating novella, FAITH AND THE FOREMAN by Marsha Ward, Faith Bannister is forced to travel west to earn a living as a school mistress in Arizona Territory. Faith soon learns that living the frontier lifestyle of a single woman has many harsh challenges. But when she meets Slim McHenry, she discovers that life doesn’t have to be so lonely. Unfortunately the dangerous Rance Hunter stands between her and Slim, and she must act with courage before everything is lost.

My New Book's Cover Reveal!

I just got the cover for my new romantic suspense, Second Guess, and I am so excited to share it with you! This is Eden and Elliot's story, the next one in the Griffin Force series. 

I love this one and can't wait for you to read the book!

For a secret entry into the Fantabulous Grand Prize, tell me which book cover of mine do you like the most in the comment trail!

Another AMAZING Giveaway Basket for Romance Fans!

If you love romance in the Regency or Victorian period, you are going to LOVE this prize! Even *I* want to win this one. It includes Anneka Walker's book, Refining the Debutante, Heather B. Moore's Until Vienna, and Jennifer Moore's brand new book, Inventing Vivian. They all sound SO good!

What do you have to do to win? Well, it's another blog scavenger hunt! Yay!

I've done a lot of book reviews on my blog over the last ten years. So, in order to get an entry for the amazing Regency Book Basket, you have to find a review that I did of a book that you also enjoyed. Tell me in the comments the name of the book and the date of my blog review. That's it!

Good luck!

The Spy Quiz: Come and Win a Book Basket of Suspense!

 

I am SO excited for today's prize. Do you love books that keep you on the edge of your seat? A little suspense? Mystery? Spies? Bad guys? Well, this is the giveaway for you!

This prize includes Second Look by me, In Harm's Way by Traci Hunter Abramson, and Treacherous Legacy by Kathi Oram Peterson. So much romantic suspense goodness in ONE prize! 

All you have to do is take the quiz below and put your answers in the comments. A random commenter will be chosen as the winner. 

What Kind of Spy Would YOU Be?

1. Do you know any other languages?

2. Where would you want to go on an overseas mission?

3. If you had five hours to prepare for a mission, how would you use your time? Would you pack? Learn some basics of a language? Study your cover ID? Go out to eat?

4. The tech guy gives you some cool gadgets to take on your mission. Which one would you be most excited to use? Hidden lockpicks in boots? Google contact lenses? Lipstick-shaped stun gun? Truth serum pen?

5. What would you like to wear on the mission if you knew you were going to be in the same outfit for twenty-four hours? Comfy clothes, jeans and a sweater, flirty dress, or an all-black ensemble?

6. You check in to your hotel room and the concierge calls you by your real name. What do you do?

7. What would be your code phrase to abort the mission?

8. A bunch of men in suits approaches you from all sides. What would you do?

9. If you could pick your own cool spy nickname, what would you pick?

10. When the mission is over and you were successful, where would you choose to go on your vacation?

Need Another Entry for the Grand Prize Giveaway?

If you need another entry for the grand prize giveaway of a Fantabulous Book Basket, just answer this question. All commenters will get another entry for the grand prize!

What is your favorite family vacation? And how many books did you bring?

My favorite family vacation was when we all went to Hawaii. It was a dream of mine to go and when I won a vacation house stay, it was like the universe was making my dream come true! And I brought my Kindle so I had all the books I could ever want. 

Your turn!

The Immortals Book Launch Event is TOMORROW!

 

You aren't going to want to miss this Virtual Book Launch for The Immortals by Steven T. Collis. This looks like so much fun! This book is one that will stay with you for a long time after you close the book. You can see our full review of it HERE.

I hope to "see" you at the launch! Everyone who signs up gets a free bookplate signed by Steven T. Collis and there will be lots of fun giveaways. Click HERE to get your tickets.

Here Are The Prizes You Can Win So Far!

I am so excited for all of you to join in the celebration and enter to win some great prizes. We have a suspense book basket prize coming up and some more scavenger hunt entries, so keep checking back!

Just in case you've missed any of the prize posts, here is a recap so far:

Click HERE to enter to win an autographed copy of A Torn Allegiance 

Click HERE to enter to win a copy of Kiss Me Now

Click HERE to win an autographed copy of The Crown of Rosemund and a crown necklace

Click HERE to win a $5 Amazon gift card

Click HERE for an entry into the grand prize drawing for a Fantabulous Book Basket

Click HERE for another entry into the grand prize drawing for a Fantabulous Book Basket

Click HERE to be entered to win a $5 Amazon gift card

Answer This Question and You Could WIN!

 

I am SO excited about this prize. Jen Geigle Johnson has graciously offered a copy of her brand new novel, A Torn Allegiance! It looks so good! 

In the book, the heroine is asked to spy on someone she loves. My question to you is: have you ever eavesdropped or spied on someone? Could you do it if you were asked to? Why or why not? Tell me in the comments, then your name will be put into the hat and you could be drawn as the winner. Easy peasy!

Here is the back copy of A Torn Allegiance. I can't wait to read this one!

Peace is tenuous in the small kingdom of Oldenburg, and the looming threat of invasion from Napoleon weighs heavily on the royal family. Their country's best chance for safety lies in strengthening their alliance with the English. So it is that Prince Hayes Wilhelm finds himself returning to England, where he hopes a prominent duke can help him protect his country.

 
Lady Elsie longs to make a difference in the world, but spying was not quite what she had in mind. So when her father, the Duke of Shelby, approaches her about keeping a close eye on the visiting crown prince of Oldenburg, she reluctantly agrees. But the outspoken young woman did not anticipate finding in Hayes a man who shares--and respects--her progressive ideas. Their mutual attraction is undeniable, but Elsie cannot forget her charge to spy on the man who is quickly stealing her heart. With the threat of war looming ever closer, Elsie and Hayes must consider carefully whom to trust--before their secrets tear them apart.

Do You Love Romantic Comedy? Then This Giveaway is for You!

 

Melanie Jacobson is so good at chemistry and romantic comedy, I would LOVE to win this one for myself! But this is a party for you, so you won't want to miss this giveaway!

All you have to do to enter is answer this question in the comments: Have you ever made a bad first impression on someone?

I didn't have a great first impression of my husband. After we were introduced, he said hello and then talked to the girl next to me for the rest of the time. I thought he was "stuck up" (as I wrote in my journal.) Later on, he told me that he was tongue-tied because he thought I was so beautiful. (Nice save, am I right? haha) What are your bad first impression stories?

Here's the back copy of Kiss Me Now by Melanie Jacobson:

Ian would do anything for his grandmother, so when Gran suddenly announces she’s leaving the family property to her pretty new neighbor, Ian is on the case. He’ll use every one of his sharply-honed skills as a private investigator to expose the gold digger and save Gran.

Brooke is living her best life far from the city and career that tried to destroy her. She’s happy spending her summer renovating the house she inherited and gardening with her elderly neighbor, Miss Lily. But when Miss Lily’s handsome—and obnoxious—grandson shows up, making wild accusations and dragging up Brooke’s past, Brooke must convince Ian he has her all wrong.

But what happens when their chemistry proves even more dangerous than Ian’s accusations?

The First Day of the Blog Scavenger Hunt AND a Giveaway!

I am SO excited to be starting the blog scavenger hunt! As you know I'm celebrating ten years on my blog all month long. Have you entered to win all the other prizes? I hope so!

This one is going to be fun. I got to have lunch with Michele Ashman Bell today and we talked a little bit about her new YA medieval adventure story, The Crown of Rosemund. She graciously offered to give an autographed copy of the book along with a crown necklace! I honestly wish I could enter my own contest for this one! 

But here is the scavenger hunt clue. In ten years on my blog, I talked a lot about things I was researching. (So many things!) Your challenge is to find one blog about research I did and tell me the month and day in the comments. Then YOUR name will be entered to win!

Good luck! There are about twenty to choose from, so it shouldn't be too hard!   

I Need Your Vote!

The audio book of The Marquess Meets His Match is up for a RONE Award! Woohoo!

I need your vote so the audio book can move on to the judges' round. Could you take a minute and vote? (You do have to have an account, but it's easy to do.) 

I appreciate your help! Thank you! 

Click HERE to go to the page

In the Non-Fiction Corner With Lauren: The Immortals

In the Non-Fiction Corner With Lauren

The Immortals by Steven T. Collis is not your ordinary World War II novel. Collis looks into the lives of four chaplains that became heroes in the midst of war. The writing style is unique in that it is able to switch from person to person seamlessly and weave together a beautiful story that is entertaining as well thought-provoking. These men deserve to be hailed as heroes, and the author does a great job at honoring their memory.

I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of this book, and getting to know each man through their background story. Their heroics are much more meaningful when you think of all the sacrifice it took to get to where they were that fateful day. Each man had a unique life experience that prepared him to help others in their time of need. For example, Alex is treated unfairly in the US because he is a Jew. He questions how he and others are going to fight for the lives of Jewish people in Germany when they aren’t even treated fairly in these soldier's home country. Even though each of these men were from different religious and cultural backgrounds, they joined together when they needed to most and set aside their differences for greater good. The end of the book is particularly touching, and if you enjoy WWII stories, it is one you don’t want to miss.

Get your copy here

Here's the back copy:

The celebrated story of the Immortal Chaplains is now joined for the first time in print by the largely untold story of another hero of the sinking of the Dorchester: Charles Walter David, Jr. was a young Black petty officer aboard a Coast Guard cutter traveling with the convoy who bravely dived into the glacial water over and over again, even with hypothermia setting in, to try to rescue the men the chaplains had first helped and inspired to never give up. Through his efforts, he joins the Chaplains as one of “The Immortals.”

Thoroughly researched and told in an engrossing non-fiction narrative, the book alternates between accounts told from the perspective of the Nazi U-boat captain and his crew (as found in their journals and later interviews), and the hunted—the men of the American convoy. Using his expertise as a law professor specializing in religious freedom and constitutional law, the author, Steven T. Collis, also paints a thought-provoking portrait of religious life in America during wartime and how American views of faith affected the chaplains and the men they served.

Page-turning and inspiring, The Immortals explores the power of faith and religious conviction and powerfully narrates the lives of five heroic men who believed in something greater than themselves, living lives of service and sacrifice for their country and their fellow man.

I Have a Question for You! And Another Giveaway!

 As I look over the early years of my blog, it is sort of like a little writing journal---the things I was writing, thinking about, and worrying over. I admit, I've kept a real journal since I was twelve years old. I love writing about my day and little insights I've received. There's also something very therapeutic about journals, at least for me. I write down my feelings, get things out of my head and on the paper so it isn't hanging over me, if that makes sense. 

At first, I was thinking that someone should probably burn all my journals after I die, because I am very honest in them since no one reads them but me, but now I'm starting to think that my journals show a true picture of my journey. I am a mess sometimes. I get angry and frustrated. I handle things badly and regret not thinking before I speak more often than I'd like. But I look back at those entries now and I see how far I've come. The older I get, the easier it seems to just love myself and the people around me, and not care so much about what the world thinks or what "should" be done or what I could have done differently. I'm feeling more and more comfortable in my skin. 

So, long story short, I love journals! I love see my progress as a human being. I love that I have my "writing blog journal" that marked where I was in my writing journey at the time.

But here's my question to you: do you keep a journal? Why or why not?

All comments will be entered to win a $5 Amazon gift card. Maybe you could put it toward buying yourself a new journal!

Freebie for Regency Fans!

If you love regencies, you'll want to pick up the Timeless Romance All Regency Collection that is free today! You get six Regency novellas that will give you all the feels.

Get your free copy here

Here's the back copy:

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: All Regency Collection. Readers will love this collection of six regency romance novellas.

In THE WEDDING GIFT: A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE STORY, an enchanting novella by Anna Elliott, the story opens two weeks before Elizabeth Bennet’s wedding to Mr. Darcy. He has given her the perfect wedding gift, and now she must come up with one for him. But what do you give a man who has everything? Elizabeth soon discovers that the gift of love is more important than any one thing.

DREAM OF A GLORIOUS SEASON, a sweet novella by Sarah M. Eden, we meet Elizabeth Gillerford who envies her sister only one thing—that she’s been intended for Julian Broadwood since they were children. The trouble is that Elizabeth is hopelessly in love with Julian too. When Julian discovers that Elizabeth has been denied a Season because her older sister is yet unwed, he undertakes his own stealthy measures to introduce her to society, only to find himself falling in love with her himself.

In THE MENDER, a captivating story by Carla Kelly, Thankful Winnings takes a sea voyage with her cousin on the Ann Alexander, in a last adventure before she settles down to marry one of her beaus. Unexpectedly they come upon the aftermath of a fierce ship battle, and Thankful is commissioned to help in the place of an injured surgeon on one of the Royal Navy ships. Adam Farnsworth, surgeon, has been at sea for years. Tired of war, but devoted to his post, it takes a resourceful lady such as Thankful to give him the hope of love and help heal his own wounds, the ones that show and the ones that don’t.

In BEGIN AGAIN, a charming novella by Josi S. Kilpack, Regina Weathers gives up on marrying for love the day that Ross Martin walks out of her life. Now, fifteen years later, Ross shows up at a ball and thinks he can woo Regina. But she is set on her lonely path and stitched-up heart, no matter the excuse Ross gives for his years of silence and neglect. When Ross insists he wrote many letters during his military years, Regina discovers a secret long-since buried by her father, and the revelation might be enough to thaw the coldness of her heart.

In Annette Lyon’s endearing story, THE AFFAIR AT WILDEMOORE, Mrs. Ellen Stanhope escorts her three daughters to a ball. As her oldest flirts with a beau, Ellen is reminded of her courtship and early years of marriage with Anthony, before tragedy struck with the death of their infant son. The marriage has faded and dulled. Not until she sees Anthony dancing with a woman he courted years before does Ellen realize how much she misses him, still loves him, and yearns for him to yet feel the same way for her.

In the delightful novella, THE DUKE’S BROTHER, by Heather B. Moore, Mr. Gregory Clark is having an awful day, and it only gets worse when he’s ran over by … a woman. Mabel Russell reluctantly visits her sister in London for the Season, even though she’d rather stay in the country cataloging insects and aphids. When she runs into Gregory Clark, quite literally, she’s afraid to show any interest, especially since he’s a member of the dreaded ton. But getting to know Gregory becomes an unexpected delight.

Do You Have a Song? And Are You Entered to Win?

Okay, I have a question for all of you. When you hear a song on the radio, does it remind you of a book couple? Or a movie/TV couple? When I hear "I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" by REO Speedwagon, I always think of Lee Stetson and Amanda King from Scarecrow and Mrs. King. It fits them so perfectly i think! Do you do that? Or is it just me?

I have playlists of songs I listen to when I write characters, but I don't think I've ever given any of my couples a "couple" song,. Maybe I should!

So, in order to get another entry in the grand prize drawing, tell me, do you think of book/TV/movie couples when you hear certain songs? And do you and your husband/wife/significant other have a "song" that is yours? I'd love to hear it!

The Next Prize . . . Are You Entered?

And the celebration continues! 

There is a grand prize of a Fantabulous Book Basket filled with all kinds of books, goodies, and swag! There will be several posts like this one, where if you comment, your name will be put into the hat to win the GRAND PRIZE!

I started this blog in 2011. It doesn't seem that long ago! But back then, I had teenagers and toddlers and life was extremely busy for me trying to balance writing and mothering. I loved Castle and Hawaii Five-0 and I was on an organizing kick that year. Crazy!

Rolling in the Deep by Adele was the #1 song that year. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was the #1 movie. NCIS, Dancing with the Stars, and Football were the top 3 TV shows. And Prince William married Kate Middleton!

Can you remember what you were doing in 2011? Tell me one thing you remember about that year in the comments and your name will be entered in the Grand Prize drawing!

Free Book!

 

I hope you all had a chance to visit my blog yesterday and enter the giveaway there. Today's prize is a FREE party gift for all! 

I'm giving away my very first published romantic suspense book, Through Love's Trials to all of you! 

Get your free copy HERE

Here is the back copy:

Attorney Kenneth King can't wait to get away on vacation and leave the courtroom behind. He only has one last errand to do for his boss―drop off a flash drive to fellow attorney Emma James. But as soon as the drive is in his hands, his boss is murdered and Kenneth becomes the next target. With nowhere left to turn, he reaches out to Emma for help―but that only puts them both in danger.

Emma James just wants to settle into her new job and provide a good life for her little girl. That is all threatened when she gets a flash drive with information on it that points to an imminent terrorist attack on U.S. soil. With her choices dwindling and her vulnerabilities made crystal clear, Emma is pushed to the limit by those who want her dead and the rest of the country to suffer. How far will she be forced to go to save the lives of everyone around her, including those she loves?

Kenneth and Emma have to find a way to work together to stop the terrorists, but it's the most difficult trial of their lives―and the verdict will be life or death.

It's My TEN Year Anniversary! Let's Party With a Giveaway!

Can you believe it? TEN years ago today, I started this blog when the Six LDS Writers and a Frog blog ended after five years. I've been blogging for fifteen years! Time has flown by.

To celebrate I'm going to be having a party for the rest of the month! I have some amazing prizes by award-winning authors, gift cards, swag bags, and there will be party games and scavenger hunts, it is going to be so fun! I hope you'll join me.

For the first party game, I want to talk to you about FIRSTS.

Here is my very first blog post on the LDS WriterMom blog, May 4, 2011:

 Getting Started

I'm so excited. And also a little nervous. I've been a part of the Six LDS Writers and a frog blog for five years and I've often thought about having my own blog as well, and here we are. It's sort of like moving away from home for the first time. Remember that? The tears at saying goodbye to mom, looking at her waving in the front yard as you drove away, then the smile as you walked into your own apartment for the first time, and the frown when you looked into the empty fridge. Did you ever wonder how many days you could live on Ramen noodles or counted out pennies at the grocery store till? (Not that I did that. Noooo.)

Anyway, this blog will be talking about things I've learned as a writer, a mom, and a few thoughts of a spiritual nature every now and then. I want to post writing tips, tell you about the new writing journey I'm on, and review some fiction that I'm reading. (Because everyone knows a good writer is also a good reader.) I hope you'll stop back often and leave a comment.

This is going to be fun. 

So, in the comments, I'd like you to tell me about a "first" in your life. Your first book, first pet, first love, first date, first kiss, first day at school, first celebrity crush, any first. And anyone who comments will be entered in the FIRST drawing for a $5 Amazon gift card!

Happy Blogaversary! Thank you for being here! 

Military Appreciation Month!

May is Military Appreciation Month and I am so very grateful to the military men and women and their families who sacrifice so much for all of us to enjoy the freedoms we have. I have had the privilege of coming to know some soldiers in the course of research for my books and they are amazing people that I know represent the best in our military. I hope those who serve know they are never forgotten and always appreciated!