Review & Giveaway of Bride by Blackmail by Debbie Lynne Costello

Bride by Blackmail Book 1 in Moonlight and Magnolia Series (September, 2020) 


By Debbie Lynne Costello
"Where Chivalry Never Dies!
Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

I had the privilege of serving as a critique partner for this new release historical romance in Christian Fiction by author Debbie Lynne Costello.

I also offered an endorsement. Here's what I wrote:
"Best-selling author Debbie Lynne Costello has a deep love for Charleston which reflects in her work. Christian historical romance readers will be swept away to another time and place with this exciting story!"

I will admit that it got hard to critique the story because I got so caught up in it, especially in the middle and end parts which normally are the slower parts in most novels. So I really had to be careful on this page-turner to give it my full attention!

This story is set during the late 1800s in Charleston, a time not often covered in Christian fiction. Debbie Lynne has other stories set in Charleston and her love of the city reflects in her writing (like I wrote in my endorsement). This is book one in her new series and I bet the future novels are just as compelling!

Book link:

Purchase Bride by Blackmail on Amazon

Blurb:
A broken heart, a controlling father, and an intrusive Scot leave Charlotte Jackson reeling. Accused of stealing an heirloom pin, she must choose between an unwanted marriage and the ruin of her family name. With the futures of her three younger sisters at stake, as well as her own reputation, Charlotte must navigate through injustice to find forgiveness and true happiness. Eager to find the traitor that caused the death of his brother, Duncan Mackenzie comes to America and attempts to fit in with Charleston society. But when the headstrong Charlotte catches his eye, Duncan takes on a second mission—acquiring the lass's hand. After being spurned several times, he uses unconventional ways of winning her heart.

Bio:
Debbie Lynne Costello is the author of Sword of Forgiveness, Amazon's #1 seller for Historical Christian Romance. She has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina with their 5 horses, 3 dogs, a miniature donkey, and 6 peking ducks.

Website: DebbieLynneCostello.com
Facebook 
Twitter 

Blogs:

Heroes, Heroines, & History
The Sword and Spirit

Other stories by Debbie Lynne Costello:

A Cup of Christmas Cheer (Guideposts Books)
Sword of Forgiveness Book 1 in Winds of Change Series (Medieval)
Sword of the Matchmaker Novella in the Winds of Change Series
The Perfect Bride Novella in the Winds of Change Series
Sword of Trust Book 2 in Winds of Change Series coming 2020
Shattered Memories Book 1 in The Charleston Earthquake Series

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment on this blog post to enter for a chance to win a copy of Bride by Blackmail! International commenters if this book is available through Book Depository in your country you can also enter. Ebook available as an option, too.

 Dogwood Plantation Labor Day Sale & Giveaway

I’m so excited for my new Christian Fiction long historical novel to finally be out! It’s available in ebook and paperback book at multiple online retailers!

For Labor Day weekend you can get the Kindle copy for $4.99 on sale!

 Blurb

When a deadly yellow fever outbreak draws Cornelia Gill back home, her new independent life must be abandoned. Injured veteran, Carter Williams, likewise must return to Dogwood Plantation when he suffers grievous family losses. Both become caretakers to younger family members. As the War of 1812 heats up, two wounded hearts begin to heal. But can they manage all that life has handed them?

Short bio: Carrie Fancett Pagels is a multi-published award-winning author of Christian historical romance.  Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn't "cure" her overactive imagination! She resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia, which is perfect for her love of history. Carrie loves to listen to audiobooks, bake, walk with her family, and travel to beautiful places by the water– but not all at the same time!

Carrie’s social media links:

Connect with Carrie online:

Facebook Author Page

See images related to Carrie’s books on her Pinterest Boards

Contact Carrie through her website www.carriefancettpagels

& sign up for Carrie’s newsletter

Twitter 

Instagram 

BookBub

Links to purchase:

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Kobo

On goodreads 

GIVEAWAY

Have you purchased a copy of Dogwood Plantation? If so, enter to win a Barnes & Noble $25 Gift Card (or substitute an Amazon card if you wish). Leave a comment as to the date of your purchase. I'll be drawing for a winner at the end of the month! Thank you for supporting my Christian Fiction ministry!

 

Pre-Release Sale for Dogwood Plantation!

 

I am so excited that my upcoming War of 1812 novel is now up for pre-release! 

Dogwood Plantation is on sale prior to its release on September 1, 2020!!!

Mom's Day in Pandemic Poem

My Antique Rose - Blooming for Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my Readers!

I'm sharing this lovely touching poem my son wrote for me this year. 

I pray your day is special!

Mom's Day 

(Pandemic 2020)

By Clark Jeffrey Pagels

Is it really solitude, distancing, 

With you and me?

Down the blue and green way,

In the red brick house, 

Snuggling together, 

Telling stories and talk to pass the time.

I love you and you love me.

That we need, that we have. 

Colonial Quills Christmas Party on December 17th!

Please consider yourselves invited to the Colonial Quills Christmas Party & New Release Celebration!

 

December 17th 6-9 PM Eastern Standard Time

Facebook Party (click here)

And on Colonial Quills blog tomorrow 7 AM until 9 PM Eastern time.

Overcoming With God blog followers -- please comment here on this post if you'll attend the party -- you will be entered to win a giveaway of winner's choice of one of my twenty books! Check on my website to see the list.

My new audiobook release

Mercy in a Red Cloak is now available on Audible.com -- leave a comment below for a free code to get an audiobook copy of this new release! Simply put "Audio Mercy" in your comment and be sure I have your email.

I also have free codes for my Civil War audiobook -- Return to Shirley Plantation which is also available on Audible.com! A nice surprise to receive those codes recently! If you'd like to listen, leave in your comment "Audio Shirley" or "Audio Mercy Shirley" if you would like codes for both audiobooks. I'll be giving these out until they are all gone!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Lessons on Love New Book Release!!!

It's Launch Week for the Lessons on Love collection from Barbour Publishing! I'm so delighted to be in this collection with fellow author friends, Kathleen L. Maher, Susanne Dietze, and Rita Gerlach. We've got a lovely fun Rafflecopter giveaway and we hope you'll enter!


Lessons on Love collection

4 Teachers Find More Than They Bargained for in Their Contracts

Something Old, Something New by Kathleen L. Maher
New York, 1840s
Her father’s sudden death makes Gilda Jacobs the new schoolmaster, but to teach Christian curriculum she partners with fire-and-brimstone revivalist Joshua Blake, who learns a lesson in love.

Love in Any Language by Susanne Dietze
Kansas, 1870
Mary Clarence teaches English to the children of Swedish immigrants, but when her favorite students’ widowed father, Kristofer Nilsson, is accused of robbery, she’s determined to clear his name.

In Desperate Straits by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Mackinac Island, Michigan, 1894
Desperate for work, Margaret Hadley dresses as a young man to secure a dray driver’s position. When soldiers at the fort threaten her, Mackinac Island’s newest teacher, Jesse Huntington, intervenes.

A Song in the Night by Rita Gerlach
Virginia, 1904
Karin Wiles longs to share the uplifting power of music with children. But when she seeks to improve a poorly run school and include orphans, Nathaniel Archer delivers harsh words of opposition from the school board.

Links to purchase Lessons on Love collection:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Christian Book Distributors

Barbour Publishing

Giveaway: Box of books! Extra 5 points if you've already purchased a copy of Lessons on Love (put "bought" in your comment)! Extra 3 points if you've left a review (put "reviewed" in your comment)! Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Christian Fiction books. 

On "Coming Home"

Revolving door image from Flickr

With three big trips since April, I was starting to feel like my front door was a revolving door! Mind you, I had a wonderful time on my travels to Europe on the dream of a lifetime Rhine River Cruise, our family "Bucket List" trip to Yellowstone where I finally got to see Old Faithful, and then a trip to Michigan. This last trip my time was spent mostly on Mackinac Island rather than in Mackinaw City, where I've spent the past several summers. I got some great research in on my next two books! But I wasn't in one place and ended up with revolving door syndrome on the last trip going from place to place to place. Great to see old friends and family members even if for shorter time this visit.

Beautiful Lake Michigan

In preparing for the coming home, I visited Fort Michilimackinac, the setting of my latest story  Mercy in a Red Cloak. The image above is right inside the fort. And for my readers I bet you'll recognize the image below as a similar door that frames Mercy on my cover!

Gate out of Fort Mackinac

Unfortunately, before I left Michigan, I had to visit the hospital in St. Ignace, for an Urgent Care exam due to extreme heel pain. As I'd stepped into a carriage on Mackinac Island, it felt as though something tore apart in the bottom of my left heel. I can tell you it hurt like crazy. I was told I hadn't broken anything and fortunately for me I had scheduled a visit with my orthopedic doctor for when I came home.

Pelston Airport

After having a wonderful visit with a dear friend from my hometown, I left the next morning from a small nearby airport. The decor there is so quaint--I love it. See a picture above. I got there early as I knew I'd need extra time walking with my very painful foot. I sure was looking forward to getting home and getting some help! Although I was reassured nothing was broken, I knew that something pretty bad had happened in my heel.

Coming home meant I also got to get back to my home church, Northside Christian Church. My fantastic orthopedic doctor (who had a character named after hime--Dr. Michael Potter--in my novella "Shenandoah Hearts" in the Backcountry Brides collection) quickly diagnosed a tear in my fascia and put me back in a boot. Part of my overcoming journey has been getting out of a boot as I spent almost five years in one with my Achilles tendon problems. Big sigh. But the boot (and my knee roller) will hopefully resolve my issue. We also did a PRP procedure to help that troublesome Achilles (painful but in the past it has been very much worth it.)

My guys were here, my hydrangeas were blooming, and I've gotten to see a few dear friends since I've been home. And I've been getting to spend time with my daughter who will soon be a beautiful bride! Now to try to get myself and my son, who has been suffering with ongoing pain issues, both in a little better shape before school starts. And we know who we can look to, because with God, we can overcome.

Question: As you are waiting on God to help you overcome something, what has helped you most?