An Interview with a Heroine: Ava

She’s the Permanent Resident at the Purse Table

1.      How would you describe yourself to others? I haven’t always made the right decisions in life, so striving to better myself spiritually, physically, and mentally. My self-esteem is just like my weight gain, a never-ending rollercoaster. So my decision-making skills as a result of that could use some improving as well. And lastly, I tell it like it is and love to laugh, and am a hopeless romantic who is waiting for God to bring my godly husband. 

2.      How do you want others to see you? As a woman who has it all together. And as a people-person who is caring, helpful, funny, and spiritual.

3.      What is the most interesting thing about you? I am a juvenile probation officer. So I get to see a lot of different things, but it’s a great opportunity to try and steer troubled youth in a more positive direction.

4.      What things are of most importance to you? My friends and family. And the pursuit of my dreams and just being a healthy and happy person.

5.      What type of man do you want to marry, or do you want to marry at all? Yes, I want to marry. I want a man who will lead our family in the things of God. Someone who I can laugh with, talk to about anything, and who has ambitions and will be a good provider. Someone who values family and someone I can grow old with as we learn to navigate through this life together.

6.      How do face disappointments in your life? For the most part, I can handle disappointments well because I usually go to the Lord in prayer first. But there have been times in my life when I have felt alone and afraid of what to do next. And I have shut myself off from the world. The latter has never worked out well for me.

7.      What type of things do you like to do for fun or entertainment? I like to sit around and talk with my girlfriends, go to the movies, sing karaoke, and plan meals for parties.

8.      Do you have any hobbies or special skills? Yes, I am a great chef and have a catering business outside of my full-time job. I hope to one day go in to catering full-time.

9.      What is your main goal in life? What do you hope to accomplish? My main goal in life is to be the best Ava I can be. I want to fulfill my purpose on this earth and be a light to those around me. Whatever God has in store for me is what I want to accomplish. In His timing and His way. That’s the only way it’ll be truly blessed.

10.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would change my weight. Always being the big girl hasn’t been easy. It is a daily struggle on my joints and health. As I try to stay committed to losing weight the healthy way, I hope my willpower and inner strength can guide me to do just that. So I guess the real change would need to be in my lifestyle and how I view food and exercise to get long-term results.

Now here's more about the author, Keisha Bass.

Keisha Bass has a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a minor in English and holds teaching certificates in English, Speech, and Physical Education. She has been a teacher and coach for fourteen years, and currently teaches middle school physical education and coach girls’ volleyball and softball. She grew up in Houston, Texas, but now resides in Arlington, Texas. Keisha is also Vice President of the DFW Ready Writers, a local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers, and a member of North Texas Christian Writers.

Permanent Resident at the Purse Table is Keisha’s first novel. She has published non-fiction articles in magazines and two online publications, TheChristianPulse.com and sober24.com. Her article, “Heart Problems”, was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Book of Miracles. 

Now that you've met Ava, tell me what you like to see in a heroine. Since none of us are perfect, what flaws make a heroine believable? Leave a comment and answer the question to be in the drawing for a copy of the book or a B&N or Amazon gift card. Followers of the blog have a second entry into the drawing. 

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited by law; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. No purchase is necessary and only one entry per post. Winner will be selected next week-end and posted here on Monday, February 17. You must be 18 or older to enter. Remember to leave your email address for contacting you in case of win.

Five Star Reviews

Keisha Bass
Congratulations to Brittany Adams. She is the winner of Kathleen Y'Barbo's Sadie's Secrets.

This week I welcome Keisha Bass as my guest. Her new novel, Permanent Resident at the Purse Table released last month to great reviews. Here's a sampling of the 5 Star Reviews on Amazon.

For a debut novelist, Keisha Bass has nailed it. Her mix of ethnic dialog and imagery is wonderful. At times you will chuckle, at times gasp. Her characters seem real and she deals with real life situations openly, but respectfully. Ava, her main character, suffers from poor self esteem due to an over-critical mother and a weight problem. In a country where the norm is now a size 14-16, this is a timely book for every girl or woman, no matter your race, ethnicity or viewpoint.

Julie

This was so entertaining & I couldn't put it down. Love the scriptures throughout the story. Great read! I can't wait to read the next one or see the movie.

Janan

Its been a while since I've read a good book. I definitely recommend this book! 42 chapters in 4days = good book! I can't wait for the next one Keisha Bass! Thank you for my personalized copy! God is good, All the time!

Nina

I loved every word, I did not want it to end. I can't wait until the next one. Real people with real issues working through real problems with God's help. Uplifting! 

Wanda

Back Cover Copy/Blurb

If you’re size six, you dance. If you’re Ava Alexander, you watch the purses while your girlfriends dance. Each man that passes her by takes a little of her self-esteem. After escaping a mentally abusive relationship, she promises God she will wait on Him to bring her the right man. And she means it—Until Ishmael. When her best friend’s fiancé throws a few compliments her way, she travels down the path of betrayal. Ava’s choice strains her friendship and sends her into a depression.

Ava receives spiritual guidance from Dr. Glory Moses. Through God’s Word, there is a glimpse of hope for a restored friendship, and a newfound love for the woman she is. In addition, a man she meets at the counseling center offers her a glimpse of what could be if she lines up with God’s will for her life. Will Ava be able to overcome her insecurities and step into the life God plans for her, or will she continue to self-destruct?

Leave a comment today and then return tomorrow to learn more about Keisha and her writing enter again. We're giving away a gift card to Barnes and Noble or Amazon, your choice. Be sure to leave your email address so you can be notified if you win.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited by law; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. No purchase is necessary and only one entry per post. Winner will be selected next week-end and posted here on Monday, February 17. You must be 18 or older to enter. Remember to leave your email address for contacting you in case of win.

Will Tucker, Extraordinary Villian

Pinkerton Agents, Inventions, and the Charming Villain

Will Tucker is a handsome fellow with enough charm and drop-dead good looks to gain more than one wealthy fiancé. And he does. Not exactly hero material, is he? That’s because Will Tucker, the subject of my new Southern-with-a-dash-of-Steampunk historical series The Secret Lives of Will Tucker is not the hero. He’s the villain.  

Writing a series with a villain at its center is a departure for me. In the past, I have centered stories on a location, such as the fictional city of Latagnier, Louisiana where I set seven tales of Cajun life spanning the late 1800s to the present day beginning with Bayou Beginnings and ending with Building Dreams. Or perhaps the series would follow characters who interacted in all the stories. My Women of the West series, currently an e-book 3-in-1 called Rocky Mountain Heiresses, followed this pattern with the first story, The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper, centering on Eugenia and subsequent novels Anna Finch and the Hired Gun and The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck telling the tales of Eugenia’s friend and stepdaughter.

Thus, taking on the telling of the story of Will Tucker, the charming and smooth-talking chameleon with the dubious intentions was new territory to me. In order to write heroines who would be fooled by this fellow and yet not appear to be less than worthy of their stories, I had to find that combination of good intentions and strong will. In the first story of the series, Flora’s Wish, I created a Natchez belle who sets out on a course that, at first, appears quite self-serving. When her efforts to marry in order to see that her family’s land does not pass to unfavorable hands put her in the cross-hairs of a Pinkerton investigation, she is not deterred. Millie’s Treasure, the second book in the series, pits a bluestocking Memphis socialite whose interest in science and literature has her longing to escape her gilded cage against yet another Pinkerton agent determined to catch Will Tucker and bring him to justice. Finally, in Sadie’s Secrets, a lady Pinkerton adds her investigative efforts to the ongoing case only to find that a certain Brit straight out of Scotland Yard is a dead ringer for the suspect, and he’s looking for Tucker, too. Add to this the fact that the Pinkerton agents are inventors who come up with the most interesting gadgets, including a flying machine, bullets that shoot filament wire allowing a person to scale walls, and, well…I digress.

So what becomes of a villain who is so likeable that women fall for him and men don’t mind calling themselves his friend? As I wrote the tales of Flora and Millie, and even as I began Sadie’s story, I wasn’t sure how I could pull off an ending worthy of such a fellow. In the end, Will himself determined his fate. Without giving anything away, I will say that the villain can sometimes play the hero, too.

About the Book: Sadie's Secret

From bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo comes Sadie’s Secret, the third book in The Secret Lives of Will Tucker series. These historical novels capture the romance of the South mingled with adventure and laced with secret identities and hidden agendas. Louisiana, 1890—Sarah Louise “Sadie” Callum is a master of disguise, mostly due to her training as a Pinkerton agent but also from evading overprotective brothers as she grew up. When she takes on a new assignment with international connections, she has no idea her new cover will lead her on the adventure of a lifetime. Undercover agent William Jefferson Tucker is not looking for marriage—pretend or otherwise—but his past is a secret, his twin brother has stolen his present, and his future is in the hands of the lovely Sadie Callum. Without her connections to the world of upper-crust New Orleans, Jefferson might never find a way to clear his name and solve the art forgery case that has eluded him for years. Only God can help these two secret agents find a way to solve their case and uncover the truth about what is going on in their hearts.

Kathleen is giving a way a copy of this book to some lucky winner. Leave a comment and answer the question to put your name in the drawing. Being a subscriber will give you an extra chance.

What does it take to give a villain any redeeming qualities?

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited by law; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. No purchase is necessary and only one entry per post. Winner will be selected next week-end and posted here on Monday, February 17. You must be 18 or older to enter. Remember to leave your email address for contacting you in case of win.

First, congratulations to Susan (susanlulu) who is the winner of Davalyn Spencer's book The Cowboy Takes a Bride. A big thank you to all who stopped by. Hope you will return each week to meet another author.

This week, bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo is in the spotlight. She is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee of fifty novels with almost two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan and certified family law paralegal, she has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award as well a Reader’s Choice Award and several Top Picks by Romantic Times magazine.

A member of Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, and a former member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, she is currently a proud military wife and an expatriate Texan cheering on her beloved Texas Aggies from north of the Red River. 

I've known Kathleen for nearly fifteen years, and she was one of my critique partners until we got so busy with deadlines we didn't have time to read much what the other wrote. Kathleen has a unique style all her own, and I've loved reading her books through the years. I thought her last series would be my favorite, but she hooked me with the Secret Lives of Will Tucker, and I think you will be too. Welcome Kathleen this week by leaving comments today and then again tomorrow when she will tell us more about her writing.

The Elusive Will Tucker and His Secret Lives

Will Tucker is on the loose again. He escapes from jail leaving his twin brother, who is actually an undercover detective, to take his place. Where will the elusive Mr. Tucker head next? Kathleen Y’Barbo completes the three book series about the Secret Lives of Will Tucker in Sadie’s Secret. Will Tucker has stolen many items in his escapades with wealthy women, but this time he has stolen his twin brother’s future, and it’s up to Sadie Callum, undercover Pinkerton agent and master of disguise, to unravel the twists and turns and help Jefferson clear his name. Neither expects anything other than to solve the case, but God has other plans for their lives. Once again Y’Barbo takes us to Louisiana in 1890 where we see how the upper-crust of New Orleans lives. With characters who charm and pull the reader into the story, fans of Y’Barbo will not be disappointed with the adventures of Sadie and Jefferson. Will they end up together and will Will Tucker finally be put away for good? Have fun finding the answers in this delightful book.

Can you keep a secret? Has anyone ever told you to keep something secret until they can reveal it to everyone? Or perhaps you had a gift for someone and has to keep it a secret until you could give it. How hard was it to keep that secret?

Leave us a comment about the book and keeping secrets today then come back tomorrow for more about the series and more chances to win a copy of this delightful book.

To find out more about Kathleen or connect with her through social media, check out her website at www.kathleenybarbo.com

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited by law; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. No purchase is necessary and only one entry per post. Winner will be selected next week-end and posted here on Monday, February 17. You must be 18 or older to enter. Remember to leave your email address for contacting you in case of win.

Davalynn Spencer, The Cowboy Takes a Wife

Interview with Hero: Caleb Hutton   

1.     How would you describe yourself?

If you’d asked me that three months ago, I would have said “no-account coward.” Now I’m beginning to see what God can do with failure.

2.     So if you think you’re a failure, what is your profession (career, job)? Describe a little about what you do.

I’m good with horses. At least that’s what I tell the Whitakers—Daniel and his daughter, Annie. My dad was a vet and he taught me quite a bit. Right now I’m working at the Cañon City Livery because I couldn’t get on at the Lazy R and I’m not about to pour liquor at the saloon. But Daniel suspects there’s more than I’m tellin’. Could be he’s right.

3.     Now that’s hard to believe. You mention Annie, how did you and she meet?

I saw Annie Whitaker sweeping the boardwalk one evening on my way through town. That sorrel-colored hair of hers and dark eyes got my attention. But I met her the next morning when I stopped in the mercantile and she was serving hot biscuits to folks gathered ‘round the pot-bellied stove.

4.     What was your first impression of Annie?

Fire. The woman is full of fire and doesn’t mind lettin’ it flare. I nearly burned myself to a cinder when I made a fool’s remark about her talents with a broom. Since then, I’ve seen that fire in a different light—a warm light that fills a hearth and heart with comfort.

5.     A pot-bellied stove and fire, well the two do go together. Did you think right away this was a woman you could love? Why or why not?

I thought a lot more about her than I cared to. Even rode off in the opposite direction, but ended up right back on her doorstep, you could say. When I figured out that I wanted to love her, I was afraid she wouldn’t have me. That little gal is plumb full of surprises.

6.     I bet she is from what you say. What are your expectations for a loving relationship?

Unconditional love and faithfulness. Won’t work otherwise.

7.     Those are excellent expectations, but what causes you the most fear about this relationship?

That I’ll have nothing to give her in the way of worldly means.

8.     Sounds like that’s important to you. What else is important to you in life?

Doing what God calls me to and loving Annie Whitaker.

9.     Two excellent things of importance. What do you want Annie to see in you that she may not see now?

I want her to know that I’ll take care of her, protect her, provide for her. Fight for her, if need be.

10.   Good for you. I hope she sees that in you. What are your hopes for the future?

Waking up every morning next to Annie.

Well then, best of luck to you and Annie. God has a way of working things out in the least way we expect. Thanks for stopping in and letting us learn a little more about you. Find out even more in The Cowboy Takes a Wife.

Connect with Davalyn:  www.davalynnspencer.com,  www.Facebook.com/AuthorDavalynnSpencer.com and on Twitter @davalynnspencer.

 She's giving away a copy of her book this week. Leave a comment and be in the drawing. Deadline is Saturday at midnight. 

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited by law; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. No purchase is necessary and only one entry per post. Winner will be selected next week-end and posted here on Monday, February 17. You must be 18 or older to enter. Remember to leave your email address for contacting you in case your name is selected. 

Cowboy Romance

We welcome Davalyn Spencer this week to Martha’s Books. Read a review of her latest release just in time for Valentine’s week when love is in the air. 

The Cowboy Takes a Bride

Davalyn Spencer’s latest release, The Cowboy Takes a Bride, is a delightful read for the Valentine season or for any season for the romantic. Two unlikely characters find themselves caught up in an attraction that neither expected. Annie accompanied her father to the far border of Kansas Territory to escape her pretty sister and overbearing aunt. Caleb is looking for any kind of work after forsaking God’s calling and leaving his church because of a failed romance. When these two meet, they begin a rocky journey to find true love with each other and with God. With two secondary characters who are warm and loving, and a town with growing pains, Davalyn paints a picture of the frontier that draws the reader into the story and captures the imagination. 

Blurb:

Annie Whitaker has always been a plain Jane. But in the bustling gold-rush town of

Cañon City she turns heads, especially that of cowboy Caleb Hutton. Annie's seen Caleb many times in her father's mercantile, and she's surprised and pleased when he takes a special interest in her.

Caleb's faith was shattered when his fiancée jilted him for a wealthier man. But as he gets to know Annie, his view of women—and God—soon takes a turn for the better. Can Annie's steadfast faith help him find his way back to his calling and a second chance at love?

About Davalyn:

When the handsome, dark-eyed cowboy sauntered into Davalynn Spencer’s life, the gate to adventure swung wide. So began her journey writing for national rodeo markets, and winning awards in the process. Her writing has also taken her from the city crime beat of a mid-size daily newspaper to college classrooms and inspirational publication with David C. Cook and others. When she’s not writing western romance or teaching as an adjunct professor, she enjoys speaking and leading worship at women’s retreats. She and her former rodeo-clown husband have three children and four grandchildren and make their home on Colorado’s Front Range with a Queensland heeler named Blue. Connect with her online at www.davalynnspencer.com,  www.Facebook.com/AuthorDavalynnSpencer.com and on Twitter @davalynnspencer.

Do you have a special Valentine? Tell us about it in a comment today. Davalyn is giving away a copy of her book to some lucky person leaving a comment this week. Remember subscribing will also give you a second chance and comments today will count as one then come back and comment on our interview with Caleb for another one.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited by law; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. No purchase is necessary and only one entry per post. Winner will be selected next week-end and posted here on Monday, February 17. You must be 18 or older to enter. Remember to leave your email address for contacting you in case of win.

Interview with Lillian Duncan

Betrayed

Tell us about BETRAYED.

BETRAYED is the second book in my Sisters By Choice series and will be released in January 2014. In DECEPTION (the first in the series), there is a terrorist. I kept wondering what kind of woman could be married to a terrorist and not know it.

BETRAYED is the answer to that question. It is Maria’s story and her struggle to get past the betrayal of her husband and create a new life for her daughter.

What’s the setting for BETRAYED?

Most of the story takes place in or around a small fictional town in Ohio called Sunberry. Coincidentally, we have a small town in Ohio called Sunbury that is very similar to the fictional setting!

How did you come up with the title for BETRAYED?

It was an obvious choice since Maria was betrayed by her husband so horribly. But as the story continues, Maria begins to believe she’s been betrayed yet again. But by whom?

Is BETRAYED the first book you published?

No, I’ve published several others in the past few years, including DECEPTION and PURSUED also published by Pelican Book Group along with a novella, THE CHRISTMAS STALKING.

Why did you write BETRAYED?

I had actually written much of Maria’s story in DECEPTION, but it was taken out of that book. Maria wasn’t happy about that and begged me to write her story, so I did.

What do you want readers to take away from BETRAYED?

Bad things happen to all of us. How we react to those things will determine the quality of our future. We can make the choice to stay in the past and be angry and bitter, but a much better choice would be to forgive and move on with our own life.

Does BETRAYED have a theme?

Beauty for ashes is a phrase that comes up several times throughout the book and I consider it the theme. It comes from Isaiah 61: 3. A second theme is about honoring God with our choices and our actions even in the midst of a crisis.

What’s the SISTERS BY CHOICE series about?

This series definitely has romance in it, but I also wanted to explore the strong bonds that form between women—through blood or through the choices we make. Each story focuses on a relationship between two women that becomes as important to the story as the romantic plot.

DECEPTION was the first in the series and it focused on the broken relationship of identical twin sisters, Patti and Jamie. The lesson from DECEPTION was don’t waste time arguing with those you love—you may not get a second chance to repair that relationship.

In BETRAYED, it focuses on two strangers bonding and becoming friends as they face a crisis together.  One of the characters teaches Maria about how to honor God by her actions even in the most horrible of circumstances.

What is your writing process?

I am not an outliner. I wish I were—it seems easier to me. But my mind doesn’t work that way. I never know what is going to happen in my story on any given writing day. It’s as if my mind is a movie screen and I watch that day’s events and then I write it.

When I start a new story I usually have a clear picture of the main character in mind and what obstacle he/she will face, but anything goes after that. If I’m writing and start to feel bored—then I kill someone or blow something up. And that way it’s a surprise to me and to my readers.

Do you know who the bad guy is when you begin your story?

Not usually. Most of the time I have several characters who it might be and as the story comes to a conclusion, I am surprised right along with my readers. BETRAYED was no exception. I wasn’t sure who it was until the very end.

Most people don’t think of murder mysteries and suspense novels as Christian Fiction. What do you say to them?

I can certainly understand their point of view. And for some readers my stories might be a bit too graphic or edgy and that’s ok, I understand that. I would say my readers are those who like traditional suspense and mystery novels but are tired of all the explicit language and sex scenes that aren’t necessary to a good story.

I don’t promote or glorify violence in my stories and show characters experiencing the natural consequences of their bad choices and bad actions. My characters are usually on a spiritual journey as well—but some are further along than others.

Then what makes your stories Christian Fiction?

I don’t promote or glorify violence in my stories in any way. My characters experience the natural consequences of their bad choices and bad actions.

My stories always have an element of faith in them. How that plays out depends on the individual plots of each specific story. My main characters are always on a spiritual journey, though some may be further along than others.

One more word about Christian Fiction, it has changed dramatically over the past ten years. Other than erotica, readers can find their favorite genre as Christian Fiction as well as mainstream fiction. There are Christian Fiction books out there for every book lover—historical; romance; regency; science fiction; even horror novels.

If BETRAYED becomes a movie who would you like to see play your main characters?

Oh, I can see Angelina Jolie playing Maria. In Deception, Maria was a bit of a wimp, but life has changed her. She’s tough now—like Angelina. I think Mark Harmon, better known as Gibbs, would make the perfect male lead.

What are you working on now?

I have a devotional blog POWER UP WITH GOD’S WORD: Secrets For a Better Life at: www.PowerUpWithGod.com. I was diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors this past year and so many of the devotions focus help others who are facing a crisis—physical or spiritual.

Along with that, the third book in The Sisters By Choice series (REDEMPTION) is in the process of rewriting. I’m also working on a new mystery novella series, DEADLY COMMUNICATIONS. It features a crime-fighting speech pathologist. Having been a speech pathologist for almost 35 years, this story was so much fun for me to write.

HOW CAN READERS FIND YOU ON THE INTERNET?

My website is www.lillianduncan.net and I have a devotional blog at www.PowerUpWithGod.com My blog is TIARAS & TENNIS SHOES at www.lillian-duncan.com . I’m also on Twitter as @LillianDuncan and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/lillian.k.duncan

Reminder from Yesterday:

To celebrate the release of BETRAYED, I’m giving away a virtual gift basket at Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com. The virtual gift basket includes a copy of my books, SERENITY SPRINGS, OHIO; DARK ALLEYS; and GEESE MATE FOR LIFE.  Along with the books, a $25 Amazon gift card is included plus a few books from some writer friends. To enter the contest, simply hop on over to Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com , leave a comment on the post titled CELEBRATION! Winner will be chosen and announced on February 14.

Mystery and Suspense

Before we begin today's interview, I'd like to announce that Virginia Winfield is the lucky winner of A Marriage in Middlebury by Anita Higman. Thanks to all who dropped by for a visit. This week's guest Lillian Duncan. Today, a review of her book is featured and tomorrow we'll have an interview with her about this great book.

Betrayed

If you enjoy reading mystery or suspense, then Betrayed by Lillian Duncan is a book you will enjoy. With characters you bond with from the beginning, you will find the twists and turns of this book will keep you reading to find out what happens to them.

The setting is a small town in mid-America with citizens who live quiet, uncomplicated lives. In the witness protection program after her husband tries to kill her and kidnap their daughter, Maria finds safety and happiness running a flower shop under the name of Veronica Minor, and all goes well until a young friend of Jasmine’s is kidnapped. Maria wants to help find the girl until she and Jasmine are suddenly forced into the limelight during a newscast. Fearing she will be discovered, Maria flees. When she receives a phone call from her supposedly dead husband, she realizes the FBI lied to her and he is determined to get his daughter away from Maria.  

As Maria runs away, suspicion for the kidnapping falls on her shoulders as well as the murder of the reporter who reveals Maria’s identity as a suspect in the disappearance of the little girl. Maria doesn’t know who to trust, but her faith in God and prayer brings her back to town where she places her life and that of her daughter in the hands of the Sunberry, Ohio police department. Will they save her, or is she now in even more danger? 

Back Cover Blurb:

Witness Protection Program claims they can keep anyone safe if only they follow the rules so Maria follows the rules--every rule. She's given up everything--her friends, her family, her past, even her name to ensure her daughter has a future.

Reborn as Veronica Minor in the sleepy little town of Sunberry, Ohio, she struggles to rebuild their life amid the beauty of her flower shop. A life where her daughter can have a happy normal childhood. A life where her daughter will never know that her father was a monster.

When a child disappears, Veronica prays it has nothing to do with her past, but what if she's wrong? Not knowing who to trust, she trusts no one...and that's her first mistake.

Lillian Duncan…Stories of faith mingled… with murder & mayhem.

Lillian is a multi-published writer who writes the type of books she loves to read—suspense with a touch of romance. Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.

To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net.  She also has a devotional blog at: www.PowerUpWithGod.com  as well as her personal blog, Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com  

Special Notice for Commenters:

To celebrate the release of BETRAYED, I’m giving away a virtual gift basket at Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com. The virtual gift basket includes a copy of my books, SERENITY SPRINGS, OHIO; DARK ALLEYS; and GEESE MATE FOR LIFE.  Along with the books, a $25 Amazon gift card is included plus a few books from some writer friends. To enter the contest, simply hop on over to Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com , leave a comment on the post titled CELEBRATION! Winner will be chosen and announced on February 14.

Leave a comment here then hop on over to Lil's web site for a chance to win.