Into the Fire

Heather Day Gilbert gives her Barks & Beans Cafe Mystery Series readers Book 4 in Spilled Milk. Her cozy mystery fans will love this one. 

Macy's brother Bo is called out on an important mission he can't refuse just before the big anniversary celebration of the Barks & Beans Cafe which he started and has grown into a good business. Macy's in charge now and as she and her Great Dane Coal take a day to tour the local fall flea market, she discovers her barista Kylie has a booth full of interesting weapons and seems to be quite the collector and  scholar concerning them. 

As she and Coal are touring other areas, Coal is driven to a particular vehicle in an auto display. When Macy learns the reason for his persistence, she fights passing out.

This is just the beginning of conflict without Bo there for backup. And in the middle of it all, her ultra-handsome unfaithful ex-husband Jake shows up looking as good as he always did and proposes they get back together admitting he was wrong to leave. His smooth attraction baffles her, but she knows she can't really trust him. Then there's Dylan who wants to be more in her life. And what about Titan, the FBI Special Agent? 

Kylie's younger sister now lives with her, and she turns out to be a handful until they both realize Macy can be trusted. When danger strikes close to Macy's home, she gains a new respect from her barista and her sister. The problem is that people claim to be one thing but definitely are not who they say they are – which can include Jake. 

When the worst that can happen does, Macy figures out a solution to end all the speculation but not without assistance from her friend and now Bo's girlfriend. 

There's just no way not to say too much. I did my best in this review to build intrigue without spoilers because there's a lot going on this story. It's definitely one of Heather's best in this series, and if you're a cozy mystery fan, you'll love the stories in the Barks & Beans Cafe Mystery Series. 

Father, please continue to bless Heather's life and art, provide all she needs to do what you've asked of her, and keep inspiring her with stories you have just for her to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

. . . So he [Jesus] replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." 

Luke 7:22-23 (NIV) 

                                             Redeeming Love Movie

If you've never read this amazing, supremely written, extremely touching and profound novel, now is the time. It looks to be beautifully cast. As we so often see with wonderful novels, they lose so much in the translation to film. I'm hoping God blessed this one and put His anointing on it. 

Redeeming Love is a classic and legendary piece of work by the extraordinary author Francine Rivers. 

Father, only you can bless readers with a story so anointed and an author willing to write it. May you continue to bless and flourish Francine in your abundance. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Destination was one of three novels I wrote in a year. That was a rare year of writing! Destination is available for e-readers only.

"An unlikely felon returns to friendship with a fiery old widow, real love, ministry to youth, and the unusual burden for his new love’s ex-fiancé."

Father, not one word can be written without you. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Nothing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

What does it take to sell a book? Everyone has an opinion.

Let's start with the cover. I want a great cover to entice me. I have certain expectations for a cover depending on the genre, whether or not it's a series, a romance, a suspense, etc. I want the cover to portray a hint of what's to come. I want it to speak to me and jump out at me.

The old adage that we can't "judge a book by its cover" is in fact true. We learn over the years of reading novels that sometimes the cover does not adequately do the story between those covers justice – either the cover outdoes the story inside or the story surpasses the cover. 

Novelists continually hear and/or learn from experience that "word-of-mouth" is still the most effective method to sell books. A friend recommends a book to another friend and the recommendations might continue. The "substitute(s)" for word-of-mouth are online reviews at Amazon, Goodreads, wherever readers go to search out a new read. Many faithful readers go to these places to seek out their novel choices and take reviews seriously. Others rarely read reviews and only go to online retail outlets to purchase a book they've somehow heard about or noticed. Still others seek out their novels at places like Barnes&Noble and don't bother checking out social media to find their selections. 

What will cause a reader to take a chance on a new author? Some publishers insist their new authors have a succinct marketing plan, but in reality there have never been absolutes for marketing novels. There have been gimmicks, giveaways, newsletters, blogs, vlogs, social media presences, and impressive author websites. Some of these work but not for everyone. Some die-hard readers don't take the time to read, peruse, or examine all of these offerings. They must have their sources for selections of the novels they read, but maybe they're the ones that go by "word-of-mouth" recommendations or browsing bookstores or libraries.

So what is it for you? What compels you to take a chance on a book and purchase it? 

Father, we write, we wait, we put our hope in you. Help me to write well and share you within the pages of a good story. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

These guys had a lot of hits. This is one of those. 

Father, we're all desperate for you whether we know it or not. Keep rescuing people, Lord. You're the only One who can. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Cover premiere! . . . in a love song will be available to your e-reader of choice soon! 

Here's the Foreword (again):

Foreword . . .

There are myriad inspirations cited by novelists when asked to discuss the motivation for a particular novel. Readers repeatedly ask, “How do you come up with your ideas for a story?” Answers will range from the mundane to the spectacular.

. . . in a love song  is a unique romance novel for me for a number of reasons.

First of all, it was inspired by the song “Heard It in a Love Song” by The Marshall Tucker Band on their Carolina Dreams album. I’m a lyrics girl so as I listened to the words of this tune, I couldn’t help but picture the “narrator” as a character in a love story. What kind of guy would he be? And of course from there Dale Rivers came to life with several exceptions to the man in the song. And what kind of female would it take to capture his heart and make him want to settle down? Enter Patricia Edison. And how would life change for them if . . . ?

In the second place I’m not a fan of the typical stack of conflicts often woven into romance novels. There is only one primary conflict in this story of two 30-somethings facing love for the first time in their lives.

Thirdly, this story features everyday life with abundant dialogue as if you’re experiencing conversations externally and internally with them. It’s flirty, romantic, and raw at times, not to “offend” but to be real. There are a few unexpected turns in the story, but really it’s all about the “Big Three”: love, romance, sex. 

Finally, I write Christian Fiction. Unashamedly. One thing you will always find in my novels is the contrast of life lived in the world without Jesus as opposed to life lived knowing Jesus personally. The two main characters in this story have a vague awareness of God but it’s not personal in the beginning.

Having said all of that, if you love straight-up romance, I think you’ll fall in love with Dale Rivers’ and Patricia Edison’s love story. 

Raw, Romantic, Redemptive

Father, only you provide inspiration for me, only you can give me words to write. Only you. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Do not put your trust in princes,

   in mortal men, who cannot save.

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;

   on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Psalm 146:3-4 (NIV) 

Five silly questions:

Does anyone hate putting stuff on their hands – lotions, hand sanitizer? The only thing I'll put on my hands is Gold Bond Ultimate Healing – and only if my hands need it. 

Who likes country music? I do not. 

Does anyone else bite their fingernails? I started biting mine in 7th grade (the worst year of my life) and haven't quit yet. 

What movies that you saw at a theatre did you hate? Dances with Wolves and Carnal Knowledge 

What is one silly thing you did as a kid that you remember how it felt? My BFF and I rode our bikes up to Woodland Park Zoo to see Johnny Crawford (from the series "The Rifleman"). We waited all day at the wrong entrance to the park and never got to see him. Very disappointing. 

Father, you made us all unique and yet similar. Your creation is desperate for you. Always. Thank you for providing our rescue in Jesus, available to all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Didn't go back too far for this one. Here's the blurb for Race: (and special thanks to author Karin Kaufman for her endorsement)

Race is a window into death and life investigated by a detective who has his own choice to make between heaven and hell.

Roman Diego, a Thoroughbred assistant trainer, is found dead in his tack room at the Rainier Meadows Racetrack. Is the confused, barely-covered young woman who had awakened next to the dead man a killer?

As Detective David James investigates the death of Roman Diego, a syringe containing a mystery liquid is discovered. The mystery deepens as the list of suspects gets longer. Who would want to kill Roman Diego, one of the "good guys"?

In this raw, romantic, and redemptive novel, David James searches for a common denominator between the suspects and the victim as the motive becomes harder to ignore.

"In this moving story of betrayal and redemption, Petrino-Salter breathes new life into a familiar character–the hard-bitten detective–and turns the genre's cliches on their heads. Race is what a mystery should be."

—Karin Kaufman, author of the bestselling Juniper Grove Cozy Mystery Series

Father, you know how difficult this was for me to write. So afraid of making critical mistakes. Took me forever. Thank you for helping me through it and allowing me the privilege of writing a mystery. Apart from you I can do nothing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.