Last Day to Enter Giveaway!

HAUNTING JOY:

THE COMPLETE SERIES

Permission to share!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Haunting Joy YA Series Giveaway!

Permission to share!

YOUNG ADULT SERIES

BOOK BLITZ Contest for Giveaway!

HAUNTING JOY: THE COMPLETE SERIES

Amber Holcomb, my editor, has become a treasured friend over the years. She not only helps me get my books into tip-top shape, she's never short on infectious enthusiasm!

I want to thank her for hosting an awesome YA Series Book Blast to celebrate the release of Haunting Joy: The Complete Series.

Amber says: 

This isn't the first time I've featured Haunting Joy on the blog... However, it's the very first time you can get the complete series in one gorgeous book, and I'm so excited to be featuring that awesome news on behalf of my friend Lena Goldfinch! :)

Today, you can get all the details on this new release, where to purchase it, the author herself, and a special giveaway. ♥ But hurry, as this is a quick blitz, and you don't have long to enter the drawing!

Many thanks to all those helping me celebrate and promote my new release! THANK YOU!!

With a special shout out to:

• Amber (Seasons of Humility)
• Julie (My Favorite Pastime)
• Miranda (A Real Writer's Life)
• Bonnie (A Backwards Story)
• Chelle (Curled Up With a Good Book)

And to all you readers:
Good luck!
Lena

Where to Find Haunting Joy: The Complete Series

books2read.com/HJC

Permission to share!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Release! Sweet Briar Rose (Historical Western Romance)

New Release

Hi, all,

I'm excited to let you know about my new release: Sweet Briar Rose (Historical Western Romance), set in the fictional small town of Sweet Briar, Colorado in 1880:

New Release!
Sweet Briar Rose

Summary

A delightful historical western romance from the author of The Unexpected Bride.

Colorado 1880

Once upon a time, Rose was a barefoot dreamer, carving whimsical creatures from the driftwood she found on the beach. However, after the death of her father, Rose finds herself cut adrift. So she answers an advertisement to become the bride of a blacksmith in Sweet Briar, Colorado, bravely leaving behind the coast of Maine and her beloved sandy beaches.

Living in the shadow of the Rockies, Emmett Southerland is a bit of a hopeless romantic. He's been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the dark-haired beauty in the photograph he keeps over his heart. However, soon he and Rose find themselves snowed-in during the worst storm Colorado has seen in twenty-five years.

This sweet mail-order bride romance very loosely reimagines the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty, complete with a satisfying happily-ever-after. Sweet Briar Rose is a short novel of approximately 42,000 words.

Historical Victorian Romance
Western Romance

Note for fans of The Brides Series: While Sweet Briar Rose is not Christian Fiction, it falls into the Clean and Wholesome category, with no graphic content or swearing.

Reviews

"I absolutely loved this story! Both Rose and Emmett are too sweet for words. I loved Emmett's romantic side. I loved how he was already in love with Rose and ready start their life when she arrived. Rose was sweet too, yet she had a mind of her own and wasn't afraid to follow her heart and be honest with herself and Emmett... If you love short and sweet reads then this is definitely the story for you!"
Julie at MY FAVORITE PASTIME

"...a hero you cannot help but fall in love with." Becky, Goodreads

"Emmett was everything a book hero should be: caring, patience, considerate, understanding, and handsome... I would recommend Sweet Briar Rose to anyone who likes a sweet historical romance." Carissa at CARISSA'S BOOKSHELF

"I love a good mail-order bride story, and this one delivered! ... Emmett was pretty awesome - a true romantic inside a burly blacksmith... [Rose and Emmett's] romance is sweet with chemistry that had plenty of sparks."
Heidi at HEIDI READS

Where to get a copy

http://amzn.to/2FgWMFG (Amazon)

Note: This book will be available in Kindle Unlimited for limited time. A few months from now, it will be available widely through other retailers, such as Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Google Play Books, and more... (For now, read this title for free with your monthly KU subscription!)

Print Edition

ISBN-13: 978-1980448136
http://amzn.to/2oJetU5 (Amazon)

Coming soon to other retailers!

Excerpt

It was eerily quiet now in Emmett's kitchen alone, with just the snapping of the fire.

Rose strained to hear the sounds of Emmett and his burly dog, Boston, as they left to go downstairs and outside through the front entrance of Emmett's shop. She heard the creak of the door to the stairwell opening and closing again, and the sounds of them climbing down the stairs. And then nothing. She pictured Emmett lacing his boots and putting on his coat. She pictured Boston too, standing beside him, the long brown plume of his tail swaying, awaiting his own morning ritual.

It was impossible to sit still, simply waiting, a sense of foreboding gathering around her. If anything happened to them, she'd well and truly be alone.

And then she heard it, the crash of a thousand pounds falling. She didn't know what it was, but she leapt to her feet and scrambled down the stairs after them.

On the final step, she stopped. Emmett and Boston stood before the open door. Snow had spilled in around their feet. Thin swirls drifted across the floor and settled. More snow was piled high in the doorway, all the way to the top. Not only snow, a wall of ice.

"What happened?" She stood on the last stair, gripping the handrail.

Emmett turned his head toward her, as if startled by her voice. He brushed snow from his coat and quickly shut the door against the cold. His leather hat lay on the floor at his feet. It too was covered in snow.

"What happened?" she repeated, frightened by the look on his face. His expression was grim. Had he been hurt? She tucked her robe more tightly about her. It felt too thin, not nearly enough to keep her warm. Her teeth began to chatter.

"A sheet of ice. Up on the roof. It must have formed overnight. All that icy snow... I just opened the door and it broke free." He said it so matter-of-factly. Despite his grim expression, it didn't seem as if he was nearly as concerned as he should have been.

"And it fell in the doorway?" she pressed. At his calm nod, she blurted out, "You could have been crushed--you and Boston."

Did he not see that they could have been severely injured, that they could have died?

She swallowed and asked, "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm not hurt. And thankfully, Boston didn't push out ahead of me like he usually does." For one brief instant, a sickly expression crossed Emmett's face. He did realize they could have been crushed. That Boston might've been killed if he'd rushed out the door first. Emmett reached down to ruffle the dog's neck fur. Boston simply sat there with his eyes on the door, perhaps waiting for his master to open it again, not understanding they were quite literally snowed in.

(Excerpt from Sweet Briar Rose, ©2018 Lena Goldfinch, All rights reserved.)

Sweetheart Blog Tour and Giveaway!

Hey, all, just wanted to let you know that my book, The Unexpected Bride, is on sale all this week for only 99 cents to celebrate Valentine's Day. I'm also celebrating the release of Only the Heart Knows, the latest book in The Brides Series.

To learn more about the books and enter the Giveaway, visit Amber's post.

There will be more stops on the tour with more chances to win. :)

Best of luck! And feel free to spread the word.

THE BRIDES SERIES:

The Unexpected Bride

Sleigh Bells & Mistletoe

The Bartered Bride

Only the Heart Knows

#RomanceWeek

Book Giveaway! Only the Heart Knows (The Brides Series) (Historical Western Romance)

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Want a chance to win a paperback copy of my new release? Enter now for a chance to win!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Only the Heart Knows

by Lena Goldfinch

Giveaway ends January 31, 2017.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

New Release: Only the Heart Knows (The Brides Series) (Historical Western Romance Books)

New Release

Hi, all,

Just an update to share my new release: Only the Heart Knows, a sweet historical Western romance, set in Colorado 1885:

Only the Heart Knows(The Brides Series)
Buy a Copy

Summary

(Too Tall) Mandy MacKenna is secretly the voice behind Ask Mack, an advice column for men, addressing all matters ranching-related. And she's secretly in love with "Banks," one of her most devoted correspondents. But whenever she's around him, she can barely bring herself to make eye-contact with the man.

Adam Booker is a banker-turned-rancher, who's struggling to make his way after he inherits his uncle's place. If not for Ask Mack, he would have surely floundered by now. But the ranch is only one of his problems, because the woman he has a romantic interest in - a natural beauty by the name of Mandy MacKenna, daughter of the region's wealthiest rancher - seems less than interested in him.

A sweet but convoluted romance of secrets and revelations ensues...

A standalone companion novel to The Brides Series.

THE BRIDES SERIES
The Unexpected Bride
Sleigh Bells & Mistletoe
The Bartered Bride
Only the Heart Knows

Reviews

"I enjoyed Only The Heart Knows; it was a sweet romantic read. I enjoyed reading as both characters developed and matured and found their way. There were a couple of scenes that had me laughing out loud as well as more serious tones that delved deeper into insecurities that the characters had. Mandy and Adam were perfect for each other and the story had a very satisfying Happily Ever After that left me with a smile on my face." My Favorite Pastime

"What a fun story! Mandy MacKenna and Adam Booker are wonderful characters, and I loved their misadventures. Brimming with humor and heart, this entertaining tale delighted me from beginning to end! Only the Heart Knows is a standalone companion novel to The Brides Series, a series I have really enjoyed and one I recommend for fans of heartwarming historical romance." Buzzing About Books

"The story was delightful to read filled with romantic tension, some twists and turns, and sweet kisses. Mandy is a character I think all of us can relate to, and that makes for a great read." Boem Books

"With unexpectedly fresh characters and twists, the imagination is kept on its toes...
A great curl-up-on-a-cold-night read, so go grab a copy for yourself!"
USA TODAY on The Unexpected Bride

Where to get a copy

http://amzn.to/2i6jgh8 (Amazon)
https://books2read.com/u/bP1zaj (universal links to all available stores)

Print Edition

ISBN-10: 1541141903
ISBN-13: 978-1541141902

http://amzn.to/2iVQ3VC (Amazon)

Excerpt

A look of alarm crossed the postmistress's face. "Miss Amanda! Behind you!"

Mandy spun around, expecting to find a crate on the boardwalk behind her.

What she collided with instead was a wall of chest. A man. Strong arms fastened around her, preventing her from tumbling backward off the boardwalk into the street. He set her back a bit without releasing her.

"I'm so sorry..." she said. Her words stumbled to a stop as she found her bearings and met the man's eyes. A pair of piercing blue eyes that reminded her of the deepest blue sky.

Those eyes.

Adam Booker's eyes.

He stood before her, so close. His face oh-so familiar. Freshly shaven, it looked like. Handsome. Refined. And yet entirely masculine. The ends of his dark, richly brown hair curling to just above his collar. Broad shoulders. That brown Stetson. A bright blue chambray shirt. A pair of nicely worn denims. Polished boots.

A banker in rancher's duds.

Lordy.

All Mandy's breath hitched up in her chest, making her lightheaded.

"Miss MacKenna," he said. She wondered if he was aware that he was idly smoothing his hands down her sleeves in a most familiar fashion. As if checking her for damage. Leaving a trail of tingles wherever he touched.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

She shivered. Not from cold. For she wasn't cold. Not in the least.

"I'm fine, sir. I mean, Mr. Booker. Sir." Oh, why had she said that? She'd called him sir. Twice. She sounded a fool, all breathless and overwhelmed with his closeness.

Mandy felt Miss Judith's curious gaze resting on them from the post office doorway. Miss Judith, who knew Mandy's secret. That she was the real face behind Ask Mack. Mandy had never revealed that Adam was "Banks," but Miss Judith may well have figured it out.

Mandy answered Adam privately these days. And they'd become friends through their letters. A treasure she didn't wish to share with all of Cross Creek.

And here she was, Mack, standing with Banks on the boardwalk.

With his hands clasping her shoulders. Which felt so...right.

Something shifted inside Mandy. The usual butterflies danced inside her stomach, as they always did whenever she saw him, but this time she also felt the tiniest of clicks. Like something broken coming together. And with it came a rush of awareness that just yesterday she'd felt something missing in her life.

Was it this? That she belonged with him, Banks? A rather romantic notion. Especially since they'd only shared a few lovely dances. Adam couldn't possibly know when she looked at him, she saw a dear friend. And she could hardly expect him to view her with the same deep regard. Adam Booker didn't see her as a dear friend. How could he? He was possibly no more interested in Miss Amanda MacKenna than he was in a grasshopper hopping down the middle of Main Street.

He certainly didn't know she was Mack.

Not that she wanted him to know. He'd feel betrayed. Duped.

By her.

(Excerpt from Only the Heart Knows, ©2016 Lena Goldfinch, All rights reserved.)

Triple Trick-or-Treat Cover Reveal and Giveaway

Trick-or-Treat!

For fans of young adult/teen books...

In celebration of my upcoming release, HAUNTING JOY: BOOK 2 (squee!), I'm revealing three brand-new book covers! The two HAUNTING JOY books are light paranormal stories, and SONGSTONE is a fantasy romance. All three books are sweet—and slightly spine-tingling—young adult reads, perfect for cozy autumn nights!

I want to give a huge shout out to Amber Stokes at Seasons of Humility for helping me celebrate this cover reveal and coming up with the cool graphic (above) to go along with the posts! So much fun. :)

Also, a thanks to all the blogger friends who are "trick-or-treating" with us this weekend!

• Julie (who has helped me so much with Haunting Joy Book 2!) Visit Julie at My Favorite Pastime!
• Kara at Flowers of Quiet Happiness
• Emily at Zerina Blossom's Books
• Miranda at A Real Writer's Life
• Jaye at Jaye L. Knight
• Britney at Buzzing About Books
• Rissi at Finding Wonderland
• And Miranda at To Be a Person

And now... the covers!

I want to express a special thanks to Angela at Covered Creatively for your gorgeous original design for Songstone and for helping me brainstorm and create a unique coordinated look for the duology. And to Sherry at Swoon Worthy Book Covers for all the eye-catching original cover concept for Haunting Joy.

Kindle | Nook | Kobo | Audible | Paperback

HAUNTING JOY: BOOK 1

“A sweet and charming ghost story
that completely won me over.” 

—Lena Coakley, Witchlanders 

Joy’s new dress has a secret—one with a little supernatural history, one that’s a little more than she expected.

It all starts one ordinary afternoon, when seventeen-year-old Joy tries on some thrift-store clothes. The little white dress fits perfectly. Trouble is, now it won’t leave her alone. Soon Joy is swept up in an extraordinary journey to help a ghost complete some unfinished business.

If only that didn’t involve Joy driving through dangerous intersections...

Or calling up her high-school crush, Nick...

Or getting stuck in a cemetery after dark.

Just how much is Joy willing to risk to uncover the truth?

Coming soon!

HAUNTING JOY: BOOK 2

Joy’s story continues with another ghost, this time a boy who seems intent on disrupting her senior year…

Kindle | Nook | Kobo | Paperback

SONGSTONE

“An original fantasy world inhabited by superstitious tribal nations and intriguingly developed characters.” 

—Serena Chase, USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog

A dark, twisty tale of sorcery, tummy-tingling romance, and adventure, inspired by the folklore of New Zealand's Māori people.

Kita can meld song into stone—a skill called “storytelling,” which is greatly honored in a world with no written word. But Kita is slave to a sorcerer who practices black magic using drops of her blood. She fears he’ll use her beautiful gift for a killing spell, so she conceals it. Yet each day, his magic tightens around her neck like a rope. 

Then Pono, a young journeyman, arrives from the other side of the island. He’s come to fulfill a pact between their villages: to escort a storyteller back to his village. Finally, in Pono, Kita sees her one slim chance at freedom—and she’ll risk her life to take it.

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

No tricks with this giveaway—just a treat for three lucky winners! Each winner will get a paperback copy of one of my featured books (winner’s choice): Haunting Joy: Book 1; Haunting Joy: Book 2; OR Songstone.

Note: This giveaway is open to US residents only and ends October 27, 2016.

Enter my Rafflecopter giveaway!

FOR EXTRA FUN...

The amazing Amber Stokes came up with this awesome PERSONALITY QUIZ to go along with my YA books...


Discover which hero from Lena’s YA books is your dream hero! Possible results include Nick from Haunting Joy, Pono from Songstone, Rundan from The Language of Souls, Jovanni from Aire, and Troy from Take a Picture.

TAKE THE QUIZ

The Bartered Bride Singing Librarian Blog Tour

This week...

Singing Librarian is sponsoring a fun book blog tour for The Bartered Bride with reviews and a Giveaway! Visit each tour stop (listed below) to enter Giveaway.




Series: The Brides Series
Genre: Sweet Historical Western Romance
Inspirational / Christian
Publisher: Indigo Road Publishing
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Number of pages: 390



What's a man to do when a "bartered bride" needs a rescue?

Jem Wheeler has always been a survivor. He just wants to make a fresh start in Colorado Springs after the loss of his wife. But then he happens upon a young mute woman being sold off to the highest bidder. He wasn't looking for a mail-order bride. He wasn't looking to rescue anyone either. But desperate circumstances can drive a good man to do things he hadn't planned on doing...

When Jem steps into Annie's life, she's not expecting anyone to save her. Mute from birth, she's just using all her wits to survive. All she's ever really wanted is a family of her own. For someone to see her. To look at her long enough to hear the things she can't say.

Could this bride be just what a grieving widower needs to make a happy home?



Annie nodded, suddenly shy. Unable to look at him.

She began to rise and suddenly Jem’s hand was in hers, supporting her as she stood. Warm tingles swam up her arm and filled her everywhere. Their eyes met, and in his she found a flicker of awareness that stunned her. He was looking at her. He saw her.

Annie was struck anew by the color of his eyes. A sort of smoky blue, not unlike the sky before a storm. How dark his brows and eyelashes were. She studied him, rapt. They were quite attractive eyes. She felt herself falling into them, everything else fading away. Time stopped. It was as if they shared a passing of souls. A fanciful thought. As if you could share your soul with someone just looking at them. Nevertheless, the feeling lingered.

His hand around hers was so warm, so strong. A hard-working kind of hand. A man’s hand. Lightly dusted with hair across the back of his fingers. Tanned.

She ran her thumb over the back of his, marveling at the rush of sensation that small motion brought. How had she never realized how sensitive her thumb was?

And then she had the almost irresistible urge to bring his hand up to her face and brush a kiss across his knuckles. Not that she would ever do something so daring, so improper and—and forward. She shouldn’t have even touched his thumb in such a way. Why, it was practically intimate the way it had felt, like something a real wife might do. But he was a stranger. For one short moment it might’ve felt like she’d known him forever, but that wasn’t how it was between them.

Oh, Lord. She’d touched him.

Annie blushed fiercely, becoming aware of Jem’s gaze on her, watching her in a rather fascinated fashion. She watched as his expression shifted through a range of emotions: surprise, confusion, and finally a shuttered expression she couldn’t read. He dropped her hand as if it had become a hot ember and stepped back.

Annie briefly closed her eyes, effectively releasing herself from the spell of Jem’s beautiful eyes and all her fanciful thoughts about souls passing back and forth in a simple gaze. The truth was, she was a woman standing there in bare feet, dressed in the world’s most awful clothes.

What could Jem have possibly seen of interest in her?

Nothing but her own wild imagination, that’s what.

*

The Brides Series

​THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE
Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

SLEIGH BELLS & MISTLETOE
Kindle | Nook |  iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

​THE BARTERED BRIDE

Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Kobo  | Google Play

March 28--Reading Is My SuperPower
March 29--Singing Librarian Books
March 30--Katie's Clean Book Collection
March 31--cherylbbookblog
April 1--Wishful Endings
April 2--Deal Sharing Aunt

Multi-Author New Release FB party with Prizes (Kindle Fire) - TODAY

EVENT NEWS

Fans of Historical Christian Romance -- TODAY!

Come join a FB party w/ fabulous authors & books. Grand Prize Giveaway Kindle Fire!

NewYear, NewRelease is celebrating the new releases of some FANTASTIC authors! Join Caryl McAdoo, Elaine Manders, Carol E. Keen, Regina Scott, Kit Morgan, Lena Goldfinch, Terri Wangard, Ray Anselmo, and Patricia Carroll as each fellowship with us and tell us about their new upcoming releases.

The fun begins at 8 am PST/ 9 am MST/ 10 am CST/ 11 am EST

Event Page

http://www.facebook.com/events/756496364454177

Last day of #99cent Ebook Sale! The Unexpected Bride (#1 Kiindle Christian Historical Romance)

Last day of .99 Ebook Sale!The Unexpected Bride $0.99 (reg. $2.99)Currently #1 in Christian Historical Romance and#1...
Posted by Lena Goldfinch - Author on Sunday, January 10, 2016

New Release and Giveaway! The Bartered Bride (The Brides #3)

NEW RELEASE & GIVEAWAY!

THE BARTERED BRIDE (The Brides Series #3)

So excited to share the news that The Bartered Bride is now available on Kindle, iBooks, Nook, Kobo, Google Play Books, and Tolino (DE). Also available in print on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The Bartered Bride (The Brides #3)
Kindle | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Google | Tolino (DE)

COLORADO 1880

Jem Wheeler has always been a survivor. He just wants to make a fresh start in Colorado Springs after the loss of his wife. But then he happens upon a young mute woman being sold off to the highest bidder. He wasn't looking for a mail-order bride. He wasn't looking to rescue anyone either. But desperate circumstances can drive a good man to do things he hadn't planned on doing...

When Jem steps into Annie's life, she's not expecting anyone to save her. Mute from birth, she's just using all her wits to survive. All she's ever really wanted is a family of her own. For someone to see her. To look at her long enough to hear the things she can't say.

Can Annie finally break through the silence to win Jem's heart?

GIVEAWAY!

Enter to win your choice of a $25 Gift Card (choice of Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, or Google Play card) and The Brides Series ebook bundle, or a signed print edition, and more! Simply click on the graphic to learn more and enter for a chance to win!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!
Lena

UPDATE: The Bartered Bride (The Brides Series #3)

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!

So excited about the next book in my Brides series! When I first started writing Jem and Annie's story, I had no idea of the adventures this story would lead me into. I had no idea the book would be soooo long either! Turns out my Annie, a woman mute from birth, had quite a lot to say. And who was I to stop her?

I love, love, love this story and these two fascinating, flawed characters, who I came to care about so deeply. I also came to love little Mae, Gabe, Ray, Ben, and "Sugar" too.

I hope you enjoy this tale too and get swept up into Jem and Annie's world, just as I was.

The Bartered Bride (The Brides Series #3)
(December 8, 2015)
Pre-Order Now! Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

What's a man to do when a "bartered bride" needs a rescue?

Jem Wheeler has always been a survivor. He just wants to make a fresh start in Colorado Springs after the loss of his wife. But then he happens upon a young mute woman being sold off to the highest bidder. He wasn't looking for a mail-order bride. He wasn't looking to rescue anyone either. But desperate circumstances can drive a good man to do things he hadn't planned on doing...

When Jem steps into Annie's life, she's not expecting anyone to save her. Mute from birth, she's just using all her wits to survive. All she's ever really wanted is a family of her own. For someone to see her. To look at her long enough to hear the things she can't say.

Could this bride be just what a grieving widower needs to make a happy home?

The Brides Series #3

Note: Each book in The Brides series can be read as a stand-alone novel, but reading in order will provide a more complete reading experience.

Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

Excerpt

Jem took the apple core from his daughter and passed her one of the remaining crackers with a piece of cheese on it. Mae munched that down and looked to him immediately for another, the last one.

He gave it to her, then showed her his empty hands.

She frowned. "More?"

"No more," Jem said, and showed her his empty hands again, making a bigger gesture out of it, as if the little girl was accusing him of hiding some.

If Annie weren't so intent on eating her share of cheese and crackers she might have smiled at the sight of them, one of the most dangerous men she'd ever seen sitting side by side with that tiny little girl. They made quite a mismatched pair.

Mae looked over at Annie, at the last cracker in her hand and the last bit of cheese.

Annie gulped down the mouthful she was chewing. She looked down at the last of her meal and back at the little girl. To her shame, she didn't want to give up her last cracker. She could barely remember the last meal she'd eaten.

"That's Annie's food," Jem admonished the little girl. "You've had yours."

Mae bit her lip. She glanced down at her lap, then back at Annie again.

I can share, Annie attempted to tell Mae with her eyes alone. She snapped her cracker in half--simply unable to bear parting with the whole thing--and passed it across to the little girl. Mae took it and popped the whole thing in her mouth, making Annie smile.

"Mae!" her father said.

She looked at him wide-eyed, her mouth full of cracker. "Whaf dafdda?" she said, muffled, spraying a few cracker crumbs onto his trousers.

He closed his eyes briefly and brushed them off. "You didn't have to give her any," he said to Annie, "but thanks."

Annie grunted, her way of saying she didn't mind that much. She looked down quickly and finished her last bit of food. The crackers had been crispy and the cheese silky and smooth. They'd tasted like heaven.

"You must be thirsty," he said. "Do you mind sharing?"

She shook her head and automatically lifted two fingers.

"Two's no?" he asked.

She nodded, pleased, and lifted one finger. She'd grown up sending signals through the floor of the Ruskins' house, one stomp for yes, two for no. It came natural as rain now.

"And one's yes," he said, catching on quick.

Annie drank deep when he passed her the flask of water, amazed he'd let her drink from it. She tried her best to pour it down her throat without touching her lips to the flask, so he wouldn't regret giving it to someone so dirty. She wished she could tell him thanks, but after Mae had her fill and he took his own swallow, he was back under his hat, likely going over the events of the day.

How he'd stuck himself with her.

How he probably regretted even stepping off the train at the last stop.

She couldn't say she blamed him.

She hadn't much wanted to marry a stranger herself.

* * *

Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

Checking in with a writing update

Back from wedding weekend! (Congrats to my niece Ashley and new nephew Bill! <3 Beautiful wedding! I cried; I laughed; I danced. Perfect. :) )

Mornings are my best time to write, so I've been back at writing this morning, listening to some inspirational theme music from Outlander (the beautiful soundtrack to the TV series)... And taking a quick break to check in here with an update.

Image Credit: Max Cornelius - Rocky Mountains | Wikimedia Commons

The two works-in-progress have been switching back and forth on me, demanding my attention. I don't ever plan to work on more than one thing at once (and rarely work on more than one thing within the same day), but overlapping projects continue to happen with astonishing regularity. Such is the path of the creative mind. At least mine!

So, in the works are: The Bartered Bride (aka BB, book 2 in my Brides series) and The Cross Creek Bride (aka CCB, a standalone novel in the Brides world). CCB was meant to be a short story for my mom's birthday. Only it keeps growing. And Mom's birthday flew by back in May. She says she's okay with that. Phew! Thank goodness. smile emoticon She's very accepting that it will be done when it's done. I appreciate that.

BB is currently at 55,662 words an CCB is at 54,869 words. (50,000 words is roughly 200 pages in paperback format.) So, as far as current word count goes, they're neck and neck. I anticipate BB will be a much longer book, however.

"When will they be done?"

For those waiting for The Bartered Bride, please know I'm waiting for it too! But it is coming along so nicely, I promise. I love this book! I just love Annie and Jem, and I hope you will loved them too.

For those young adult fans waiting for Haunting Melody (the sequel to Haunting Joy), please know that I haven't forgotten. Several deaths in the family made that particular book too difficult and painful to write, for a time. I hope to return to it as soon as I can, however. Meanwhile, all I can do is trust the process. Please bear with me on this journey? Writers are human beings, with feelings and life happenings. And...well, some stories are just touch on more sensitive ground than others, which can impact the ability to "go there" emotionally, and occupy the vulnerable place that's necessary to live in and breathe in for extended periods in order to write.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy summer!
Lena

New Release & Giveaway!

Just a quick reminder about my new holiday short story, Sleigh Bells & Mistletoe: A Short Story and the Giveaway! Ends soon, so enter now. :)

Available now on Kindle for $0.99
(Free with Kindle Unlimited)

What's a wife to do when her Christmas plans fall apart?

Join Becky and Isaac from [book:The Unexpected Bride|23110302] in a romantic short story complete with sleigh bells, mistletoe, and sweet holiday surprises.

It's Christmas Eve, and smoke isn't just rising from the chimney--it's pouring from the stove due to yet another batch of burnt biscuits. Becky wants everything to be perfect for her family, but a ruined meal spells disaster for all her high hopes. Will the night end in despair...or with a happy Christmas dream?

Reconnect with your favorite characters from Book 1 of "The Brides" series and learn more about Jem (the hero of Book 2) in Sleigh Bells and Mistletoe. Includes an excerpt from Book 2, The Bartered Bride.

A SHORT STORY in The Brides Series
Sweet Historical Romance

Giveaway

Deck the halls and bring on the books! One winner will receive mistletoe earrings from the LuvlyMint Etsy shop, as well as a signed paperback copy of The Unexpected Bride, Book 1 in “The Brides” series. This prize is only available to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Three runners-up (can be international) will receive one e-copy each of Sleigh Bells and Mistletoe.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy New Year!

SLEIGH BELLS & MISTLETOE: New Release, Cover Reveal, and #Giveaway!

The Brides Series Continues!

SLEIGH BELLS & MISTLETOE

A SHORT STORY in The Brides Series

What's a wife to do when her Christmas plans fall apart?

Join Becky and Isaac from The Unexpected Bride in a romantic short story complete with sleigh bells, mistletoe, and sweet holiday surprises.

It's Christmas Eve, and smoke isn't just rising from the chimney--it's pouring from the stove due to yet another batch of burnt biscuits. Becky wants everything to be perfect for her family, but a ruined meal spells disaster for all her high hopes. Will the night end in despair...or with a happy Christmas dream?

Reconnect with your favorite characters from Book 1 of "The Brides" series and learn more about Jem (the hero of Book 2) in Sleigh Bells and Mistletoe. Includes an excerpt from Book 2, The Bartered Bride.

SLEIGH BELLS & MISTLETOE: A Short Story (The Brides Series 1.5)
Sweet Historical Western Romance A Mail-Order Bride Short Story

A Kindle Exclusive
Get copy of Sleigh Bells & Mistletoe: A Short Story (The Brides Series 1.5) for only $0.99!

Giveaway

Deck the halls and bring on the books! One winner will receive mistletoe earrings from the LuvlyMint Etsy shop, as well as a signed paperback copy of The Unexpected Bride, Book 1 in “The Brides” series. This prize is only available to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Three runners-up (can be international) will receive one e-copy each of Sleigh Bells and Mistletoe.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


There's also a mini tour for this story going on today -- an announcement of the short story and…a cover reveal for Book 2 in the series!!! -- so please visit all the awesome bloggers who are participating:

Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot 
Blooming with Books
Buzzing About Books
Inklings and Notions
My Favorite Pastime 
The Curried Nut
The Wonderings of One Person
Thilly Little Nothings 
To Be A Person 
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

HAUNTING JOY Now Available in Audiobook!

Here's a little news for young adult fans...

HAUNTING JOY

Now Available in Audiobook!
Narrated by the amazing Stephanie Ballard

So excited! Squee!!!!!!!!

Check out the new audiobook cover, with a smerge/mash-up of Haunting Joy and Chain Reaction covers. What do you think? I kind of love it...

Haunting Joy Audiobook Cover

Joy's new dress has a secret - one with a little supernatural history, one that's a little more than she expected.

It all starts one ordinary afternoon, as 17-year-old Joy tries on some thrift-store clothes her grandmother gave her. The little white dress fits perfectly. Trouble is, now it won't leave her alone. Soon Joy is swept up in an extraordinary journey to help a ghost complete some unfinished business.

If only that didn't involve Joy driving through dangerous intersections... Or calling up her high-school crush Nick... Or getting stuck at a cemetery after dark.

Will Joy accept this ghostly challenge to be "more"? And just how far will she go to uncover the truth?

"I never believed in ghosts... Until it happened to me."


Now Available on Amazon | Audible | iTunes
Learn how to get this Free (Audible Free Trial)

Reviews

"Lena Goldfinch has penned a sweet, creative,

mystical journey of self-discovery…"

~MARLEY GIBSON, bestselling author of the

Ghost Huntress series

"A sweet and charming ghost story

that completely won me over." 

~LENA COAKLEY, Witchlanders

"A touchingly high-spirited and

thoroughly entertaining journey

of discovering who we really are…"

~The Wonderings of One Person

How to Deal with Pre-Release Jitters 101

My perspective on writing and pre-publication jitters.
Or how I cope with publication anxiety.
(Photo copyright Meg Gichka | Can Stock Photo)

I have a confession… I'm dealing with pre-publication jitters. It's not the first time I've felt a twinge of anxiety (ha, twinge) before a book release. With this new launch, however, I feel like I'm back to square one--er--book one. It's curious. I've published a bunch of books... So why now? Maybe it's because I'm writing in a new genre (actually an "old" genre, since I started out writing sweet historical romance). So in a sense I'm starting from scratch, because these books aren't YA.

Whatever the reason, I've been feeling a tad stressed lately. I'm moving forward, making my deadlines, doing what needs doing, but I'm having to work through these feelings. Praying. Breathing. Trying to get perspective.

And since I'm a very visual person, I came up with this mental image the other day of what publishing is like:

I'm like this girl (above). I'm really just making paper flowers and setting them out in the water. Maybe it's a lake, maybe it's a river…but I'm picturing waterlilies. People (readers) find my flowers out there on the water. That's my hope anyway. Whether they like them or not is really out of my control. Well, mostly. I do my best to create the best stories I can. I try to make sure my paper flower is "pretty" -- i.e. it's a story that hangs together, beginning to end, with characters I love. I care about quality. I care about editing and proofreading. I care about professional presentation, etc..

In the end, it's a book. I made it. I like it. ;)

But not everyone sees things the same way, right?

To "my reader" -- aka the people who "get" me -- my book is a flower. They like it. They thinks it's pretty. Maybe.They enjoy it and maybe start looking around in the water for more flowers. Awesome. Perfect.

But then there are these other people who frown and say, "That's not a flower. Besides, what I really wanted was a hamburger." Or a basketball. Or whatever. :)

Those just aren't my readers.

It's fine, really. Honestly. I get it. I don't like everything I read either.

I don't know how many readers I have out there. (Helllooooo, readers! How are you?) I hope you find my paper flower floating in the water and you think it's "pretty." Entertaining. Moving. Heartwarming. Whatever it is you're looking for in a book. And I hope it didn't get too soggy in the water. :)

For those who don't like it (shrugs), it's okay. I hope you find your hamburger. I really do.

Image © Michael J. Bennett | Wikimedia Commons

Q:

So, help me out here -- how do you cope with the jitters and stress?

Thanks!
Lena

Freebie and Upcoming New Release!

Freebie Alert!

Get Chain Reaction for the low price of free! Grab your ebook copy now for your Kindle, Nook, or favorite e-reader device if you don't have it already. Did I mention it's free?? :)

Why free? Giving away free books is simply one tool in an author's toolkit to find new readers. And what better way than to give them a free short story? I can't think of any.

If you haven't yet tried Haunting Joy, download the free short story prequel Chain Reaction to get a little sneak peek into Joy's world. If you like it, please consider picking up a copy of Haunting Joy. (And tell ten friends, which will bring you good luck--and good looks. ha ;))

Scroll down to see excerpt below!

Upcoming New Release

Haunting Joy Coming Soon on Audiobook!

 +  =

New audiobook cover for Haunting Joy!

For those of you who prefer to listen to audiobooks--say on a long car ride or in short bursts on your bus ride to school--stay tuned for the release of Haunting Joy in audiobook format. Narrator Stephanie Ballard is a joy to listen to--and I mean it! She really brought the character to Joy to life. (So thrilling as an author to experience that, I tell you. :)) And she is also just soooo very easy to listen to. I love her voice.

(Yay! So excited!!!)

It should be available verrrrry soon on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. I'll let you know as soon as I know!

Chain Reaction: A Short Story (Prequel to Haunting Joy)

When a "reveal your secret crush" chain letter goes awry, Joy gets caught in the middle--possibly with the help from her first haunting. A short, lighthearted contemporary romance for teens and young adults.

Excerpt 

I was just getting the hang of high school, when a chain letter revealing my secret crush fell into the wrong hands.

Before the haunting, I guess there were a few things the old me should have picked up on that weren’t quite right.

I remember this one day way back in ninth grade, rushing to class, trying to beat the bell. It was February, and by then I could get to all my classes without getting lost. I knew all the halls and the side halls, and the stairs, and which water fountains had the coldest water—all that stuff. It was a big school too, with two floors, laid out in a big square donut. I knew when I had time to swing by my locker, and to be honest, I was finally starting to feel like I wasn’t about to die any second. That day, as I flew past the open double doors leading to the caf, I knew immediately we were having pizza for lunch, because it had that Italian, oregano-y smell in the air. Their pizza was pretty good too, so I was looking forward to lunch.

I was steps from the door to my Freshman Chemistry class when Sarah Lenard bumped me hard and shoved a folded paper into my hand.

“Joy,” she hissed in my ear. I don’t know why she bothered to whisper my name. It wasn’t like she didn’t have my full attention after that body slam.

“Hey! What are you doing?” I rubbed my side.

“Before lunch,” she warned.

“Before lunch, what?” I asked, spooked by her super-secret whispery voice.

Maybe she didn’t hear, because she slipped into the mob of students, ninja style.

I hustled into class, still rubbing my side, and took my seat.

After checking to make sure no one was watching me, I unfolded the note and read the heading:

SECRET SWEETHEART

CHAIN LETTER

A chain letter.

Ugh. I loved and hated chain letters. I thought they were fun sometimes, but mostly they were just plain annoying. And sometimes—on rare occasions, and you never knew when—they were downright dangerous. The crazy stuff they made you confess. I mean, really. And you had to give copies to like ten of your friends, and then they had to give copies of theirs to ten of their friends. Or else. Or else something terrible would happen to you. And your future children. Or your dog. Or something.

Not that I believed in bad luck.

Much.

<<< End Excerpt >>>

Where to Find My Books

Amazon US | Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
iTunes /iBooks
Kobo US | Kobo Canada
Google Play

Excerpt of Chain Reaction © Lena Goldfinch, 2014, All rights reserved.