Blog Tour: Too Old for Christmas by Zina Abbott

A holiday romance set in 1854 Columbia, California.

Too Old for Christmas, by Zina Abbott.

 About the Book:

Irishman Sean Flood survived the potato famine, crossing the Atlantic, the Mexican-American War, and wandering the Western wilderness with his mules and freight wagon. But, due to poor diet and deprivation, his teeth did not fare well. It’s November of 1854 in Columbia, California, Queen of the Southern Mines, a city Sean is helping to rebuild after the disastrous fire the previous summer. Intense stabbing tooth pain drives him to see Doc Massey, the local dentist. He first stops by the mercantile to pick up a bottle of whiskey—for medicinal purposes—and food­­­­ he’ll be able to eat when it’s all over. If only the beautiful but aggravating woman ahead of him who keeps her face half hidden and insists she won’t accept charity would finish up with her purchase so he can get his supplies, his tooth pulled and return home to his mules and half-built cabin….

That night, Sean meets the woman’s two sons, Jesse and Benjy McNair, and learns her secret. He decides with only three teeth left in his head, he needs widow Ona McNair’s charity—and he’s willing to pay for it. Sean won’t accept nine year-old Jesse’s declaration his family’s poverty means the boy is too old for Christmas that year. Sean is a full-grown man and he’s not too old for Christmas. He not only plans to come bearing gifts to Christmas Eve dinner with the McNairs, but he knows exactly what gift he wants for himself.  

*Sweet Romance

Author Interview - Q&A with S.E. Daley:

S.E. Daley:  What inspired you to write in the first place?

Zina:  I have always loved to read and write. I was sort of a day-dreamy child who made up stories in my head. I naturally progressed to writing my stories down so others could read them.

S.E. Daley:  What inspired this particular book/series?

Zina:  This past year my husband and I made several trips to Columbia State Park, a

Eagle Cotage & Fallon House Theater - Columbia State Park, CA

preserved Gold Mining town in California’s southern Mother Lode region. I took scads of pictures of the place this year, bought books, and researched its history, learning to love it even more than in past years. My writing focus had been on my Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series, but I missed a publishing deadline. Since my next book in the series will not be published until next year, that meant my Christmas story in the series will not be published until next year, either.

          I have no idea where I saw it, but an old photograph of a very lovely woman who obviously had lost all her teeth caught my attention and stayed in my memory. As soon as I decided I wanted to write a Christmas novella for this year, the idea for the plot for Too Old for Christmas, complete with title, inspired by that picture popped into my head. I quickly decided chose to set it in one of my favorite places to visit. In no time at all, I had the outline for an entirely new series organized on my computer: Too Old in Columbia.

S.E. Daley:  How do you spend your free time?

Zina: I love to read and quilt. I also love to take road trips to the mountains and other scenic localities. I love exploring the West.

S.E. Daley:  What is the thing you struggle most with when you are writing and how do you defeat it?

Zina: The more I publish, the more time I spend marketing my books: blogs – including on group blogs –Facebook, Twitter, blog tours, making promotional hand-outs – all the things needed to get my name and the name of my books out there so people know what I have to offer. I defeat it by keeping on top of my calendaring, making templates for visuals to use and reuse on Twitter and Facebook, and keeping an organized filing system on my computer not only of my research and other resources, but also of my promotional and publishing deadlines.

S.E. Daley:  If you could spend a day inside one book, what book would it be and why?

Zina: I try to spend a little bit of every day inside one book or another,    whatever I’m reading at the time. The book I most like to get into is the one I’m writing at the moment.  

S.E. Daley:  Do you listen to music while you write? If so what kind?

Zina: No. I prefer to write in dead silence. I have learned to write while the news is on, but I don’t listen to music often.

S.E. Daley:  Which of your personality traits did you write into one of your characters?
 

Zina:  Unfortunately, I think Sean got a healthy dose of my orneriness. I’m not Irish, but I do have that redhead trait. As for Ona, I think I wrote into her personality a sense of caution when dealing with unfamiliar people and situations. She is not quick to reveal her feelings, even though they run deep.

Too Old for Christmas is now available on pre-order at Amazon. You may purchase it by clicking HERE. It will be available on Nook soon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 About the Author:

Zina Abbott is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels. 

The author currently lives with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” She is a member of Women Writing the West, American Night Writers Association, and Modesto Writers Meet Up. She currently lives with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” She enjoys any kind of history including family history. When she is not piecing together novel plots, she pieces together quilt blocks.

 

Zina Abbott Links:

Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest  |  Goodreads  |  Twitter

Zina Abbott Amazon Author Page 

Too Old in Columbia Series on Facebook

Too Old in Columbia Series on Pinterest

Review: Of Ice and Snow by Amber Argyle

One of the most scariest/nerve wracking things for me, being a part of a community of writers is to read a book written by someone I know. It sounds weird, but I'm always terrified it might not be something I'll like, or maybe their style won't speak to me. 

Well, my friend Amber Argyle drew me in with her fantastic cover, and I just could not put down her book, Of Ice and Snow (Fairy Queens .5). I'm definitely rethinking my crazy paranoia.

Let me introduce you:

Amber Argyle is the international, bestselling author of the Witch Song Series and the Fairy Queen Series. Her books have been nominated for and won awards in addition to being translated into French and Indonesian.
Amber graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in English and physical education, a husband, and a two-year old. Since then, she and her husband have added two more children, which they are actively trying to transform from crazy small people into less crazy larger people.
To receive her starter library for free, simply tell her where to send it: http://eepurl.com/l8fl1
To check out her other books here is her Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Amber-Argyle/e/B004YE1BR4/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Now for some background info on this book, the blurb:

Otec thought destiny forgot him…

The middle child of the clanchief, Otec is the overlooked son in an overflowing house. He dreams of escape and adventure, so when a mysterious stranger offers both, he doesn’t need persuading. But when his faraway village comes under attack, Otec will do anything to save the people he loves. Cut off from his nation, he must trust a foreign woman with a dubious past as they race to save his clan. But nothing is what it seems, and Otec may have to trust his enemy if he is to become the leader he was never meant to be.

Destiny is not always kind.

Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B014T84OUK

What do you think of that fantastic cover art? 

It's very simple, but once you start reading the story you will understand why it's so absolutely perfect!

Ok, now for my review:

 From the beginning, it's impossible to guess where this amazing story is going to take you. The character development and growth is phenomenal and I loved the fantastic detail put into everything from the art the main characters created to the battles they fought. An absolute page turner! I can't wait to dig into the rest of this series. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure, epic battles, and happy endings with just a touch of heart break. It totally earned all 5 stars.

Now, I've mentioned that this is actually .5 in the Fairy Queens Series. 

(Want to see some more absolutely amazing covers?)

The rest of the series, currently published, are:

Winter Queen (Book 1)

Becoming a winter queen will make Ilyenna as cold and cruel and deadly as winter itself, but it might be the only way to save her people from a war they have no hope of winning.
Mortally wounded during a raid, seventeen-year-old Ilyenna is healed by winter fairies who present her with a seductive offer: become one of them and share their power over winter. But that power comes with a price. If she accepts, she will become a force of nature, lose her humanity, and abandon her family.
Unwilling to pay such a high price, Ilyenna is enslaved by one of the invaders, Darrien. While in captivity, she learns the attack wasn’t just a simple raid but part of a larger plot to overthrow her entire nation.
With the enemy stealing over the mountains and Darrien coming to take her to his bed, Ilyenna must decide whether to resurrect the power the fairies left behind. Doing so will allow her to defeat Darrien and the other invaders, but if she embraces winter, she will lose herself to that destroying power—forever.

Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00CA9YWMG

Of Fire and Ash (Book 1.5)

There is one rule above all others: never make a deal with the fairies. Nelay is about to break that rule.
One promise can change everything.
The fairies must never know of Nelay’s sight, for the attention of such dark and terrible creatures brings more things dark and terrible. But when Nelay's father is near death, the fairies are the only ones who can save him. All they require is a simple promise that she'll return the favor one day.
Some promises are lethal.

 Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00QFUKVOE

Summer Queen (Book 2)

A fugitive from the king she refused to marry, Nelay ventures out to save her family from an invading army only to discover the fate of her entire nation rests on her shoulders.
But in defeat after defeat, Nelay begins to realize a bigger power is at play than that wielded by mere mortals. Only she can stand between the cinders of her once-great nation and the vengeance of a goddess. 

Amazon Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B00RO84KX4

Book Tour: Pirate Princess by Catherine Banks

Enter to Win a

$10.00 Amazon.com Gift Card

PIRATE PRINCESS

Pirate Princess #1

Catherine Banks

Released Nov 2nd, 2015

As the daughter of the Pirate King, Tilia Swanson has an unusual upbringing learning skills that aren’t often available for women. As the heir apparent for the Kingdom of Crilan, her skills set her apart as she is trained by the best in the land and taught to harness her magic. However, piracy is in her blood, and draws danger to Tilia in the way that treasure draws pirates. Some treasures are more valuable than others. Will this lesson be learned in time or will the betrayal of those around her be her undoing?

BUY NOW

Amazon US | UK |  B&N | iTunes | Kobo 

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Catherine Banks is the author of the Artemis Lupine Series, Little Death Bringer Series, Ciara Steele Novella Series, and the novel Daughter of Lions. She began writing fiction stories when she was only four years old and finished her first full length novel at the age of fifteen.
Catherine is a Northern California native and has lived within a twenty mile radius her entire life. She plans to travel to as many places as possible in her thirties to make up for her lack of traveling experience. She is married to her soulmate and best friend, Avery, who blessed her with two amazing children. After her full time job she reads books, plays video games, and watches a lot of anime shows and movies with her family to relax.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Excerpt #2

“Ready?” Jared asked me with a wide smile.

“Ready for what?” I asked.

Esmeralda and Jared clucked their tongues and their horses shot off ahead, racing together. “Cheaters!” I yelled, clucking to Duke and squeezing my legs to urge him forward. He reluctantly took off at a canter and then lengthened his stride into a gallop. We caught up and then pulled ahead of them both by a neck.

“Your horse’s size is not fair,” Esmeralda called.

“Your small horse should be faster than this lazy giant,” I called back.

We continued galloping for a little ways farther and then slowed the horses to a walk. I pet his neck and praised him. “What a good boy,” I crooned, “I’ll make sure you get spoiled in Markleville.”

“That horse can really move when he needs to,” Jared said.

“He’s a perfect horse,” I said with a genuine smile and heartfelt appreciation.

“I’m surprised you can even mount him,” Esmeralda teased.

“You should have seen her trying to climb up him the first day I gave him to her,” Jared said with a laugh.

“Well you wouldn’t pick me up and put me on him,” I complained.

“It was worth it to watch you scramble up his front leg and almost pull out the poor guy’s mane to get onto his back.”

“I apologized and gave him three apples that night,” I said as I pet his neck again. “He forgave me.”

“Most men forgive you if you give them something to eat,” Esmeralda teased.

“Don’t put ridiculous thoughts like that into her head,” Jared reprimanded her.

“It’s going to be interesting to see who you end up with,” Faxon said with a smirk at me.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked defensively.

“You are equal parts your uncle and aunt,” he said, “I always knew they were meant to be together because of how they interacted, but seeing you as both parts makes me wonder who could possibly counteract your attitude and personality.”

“Are you trying to imply that by being a little bit of both of us that she is unlovable?” Esmeralda asked with venom in her voice.

“Not unlovable, just…difficult,” he said with a wide smile.

“I’ll show you difficult,” she said, her hands moved and then a fire started on the top of Faxon’s saddle pad. His horse bolted ahead of us, bucking as he tried to dislodge the fire and Faxon.

Faxon somehow held his seat and used his magic to put the fire out. “See what I mean?” Faxon called back to us, “Difficult.”

“I’m not difficult,” I said.

Jared reached over and pet my hand. “You’re right; you’re only difficult eighty percent of the time.”

I let my mouth drop open and then glared at him. “You’re the most stubborn man in the Realm of Olanze and you’re telling me that I am difficult?”

“She has a point,” Esmeralda said.

“Don’t you team up with her against me. I’m your husband,” he growled.

“I’m only speaking the truth,” she said.

“You are rather difficult sometimes,” Griffin agreed with Esmeralda.

“Not you too!” Jared groaned. I stifled my laugh, but he saw me covering my mouth and glared at me.