Hi Everyone!

I’m excited to have fellow Christian author Colleen Coble visiting my blog today. I’ve read several of Colleen’s books and can attest to the fact that she is a wonderful author, but on a personal note, she is also a dear and loving person. So! Welcome, Colleen!
 

I'm excited to be here with you, Beth! I love your newest book, Need You Now. I just finished the advance reader copy and I couldn't put it down.

Awe, thanks so much! For those few readers who might not have heard of you or your books, can you tell us a little bit about you personally, why you write Christian fiction, and who or what inspires you?

I have two grown kids and a three-year-old granddaughter who is the light of my life. I've been married to the same great guy for forty years. I love being able to show the hope God gives to us in my books. I love writing. It was a lifelong dream and I'm constantly amazed at where God has taken me with my career. My books are all romantic mysteries. People have asked why I have mystery and suspense in my books, and I think it's because I have such a strong streak of justice. I look around the world and see all the injustice. I can't do anything about that but I can make sure the villain is caught in my books!

I love that! I’ve heard you say in an interview that Lonestar Angel is a favorite of yours. Can you tell us about the book and why it holds a special place in your heart?

The Lonestar books are all marriage of convenience stories. Lonestar Angel is a little different twist on that because Eden and Clay were married once. Then their infant daughter died in a kidnapping attempt gone wrong and they divorced. Eden moved on with her life. Five years later Clay shows up and tells her he never signed the divorce papers. But even more earth-shattering is his announcement that their daughter Brianna is still alive. Eden goes with Clay to try to figure out which of five little girls is their daughter. Along the way they have to learn what love really is and they start to make the choice to love every day. And of course they plunge into a dangerous situation as well.

While most authors will tell you that there are no ‘typical’ days, how do you like for your day to play out on average?
 

With coffee! I have to start off with freshly ground beans of the strong stuff in a big mug. Then I take care of business emails before plunging into my writing. I try to get at least 2000 words written a day when I'm putting down the rough draft. I keep at it until my goal is met for the day.

I need my coffee too! What can readers expect from you in the future?
 

I'm excited about a new series that is launching in a couple of weeks. The first book in the historical Under Texas Stars series is Blue Moon Promise. It's a marriage of convenience story set in 1870s Texas that I think my readers are going to love. It's a very personal book too. Lucy is dealing with the same lack of control issues I faced this year when my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer and my best friend Diann Hunt discovered that her ovarian cancer had come back. I wanted to DO SOMETHING. To fix it. But Lucy and I both had to realize that control is just an illusion. God is the one who has our life and death in his hands.

That sounds great! You are so right. God is in control, even though it's hard sometimes to 'let go and let God'. Where can readers find you online?
 

My website is www.colleencoble.com and I'm always chatting on Facebook and Twitter. I blog with four other close friends at www.GirlsWriteOut.blogspot.com.

Thank you, Colleen! And for my readers, a special offer: comment on this blog post to be eligible to win a copy of Lonestar Angel. And let me know if you’ve ever read any of Colleen’s books before!  I will choose a winner on Friday.  Good luck! 


Peace,
Beth

AMISH SAUSAGE PATTIES

Equal amounts of lean and fat fresh pork, ground. To each pound of this mixture, add 1 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper, 1/8 tsp. each of sage and thyme. Add one beaten egg, mold into cakes and fry in skillet until browned on both sides.

I love sausage patties with pancakes or waffles.  (But probably not enough to make them from scratch at home )

Have a great weekend!
Peace and blessings,
Beth

I was fortunate enough to get an early copy of Need You Now by Beth Wiseman. I didn’t know what to expect since this was Beth’s first non-Amish contemporary. I'm so used to reading her great Amish novels. Need You Now did not disappoint.

This story has an average American family moving to a new town where every character has some kind of struggle or another. Each chapter made me think about what I would do if I had their challenges to deal with. People face problems in all kinds of ways, and I was happy to see that these folks relied on the power of prayer.

Darlene is a great wife to her husband Brad, and she is a loving Mom to her three children. When things start going wrong in the lives of the people Darlene loves,  as well as in her own life, what does she do for answers? Her daughter Grace, who Dad says is "always a good girl...” is coping with her problems in a dangerous way.    I loved the secondary characters in this story—Darlene’s best friend and Grace's best friend. Very colorful characters to say the least. Layla, who is the Hendersons' neighbor, captures Darlene's heart…and she totally captured mine.

Brad is 'The Rock' of the Henderson clan. A CPA who loves his wife and children and is completely devoted to them. When things go wrong in his family, the real human side of Brad comes out. He wants to put an end to the problems that attack the family he cherishes, but finds that it’s not an easy task.  Brad is a great provider, sensitive to the people around him, and a great listener.  You'll see he is always trying to do the right thing, given the challenging circumstances he faces.

This book has a lot of mystery in it, and you’ll be tempted to read it all in one sitting. I was always wondering what was going to happen next! There is nothing phony about this story, it’s very ‘real life’.   Beth does a super job describing Round Top, Texas, with the scenery outdoors, the heat, and small town living. Beth can take something small like old jewelry in the story and make real significance out of it.

This book will grab the reader's attention and beautifully touch hearts whether you are a man or a woman. It has a tremendous, tremendous ending to it.  I will admit it...I pulled my reading glasses off and cried a couple of times. There is much thought and intelligence that the writer invested in this well-done masterpiece. I absolutely loved reading this story, which is SO typical of Beth's work. Yes, you will see how divine guidance is a real benefactor for sure here! A must read.

Thanks Beth Wiseman and thanks everyone for reading my review!

Truly,
Larry Knopick