Friday, March 18, 2016

Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard Excerpt & Giveaway


Promise Lodge
by Charlotte Hubbard

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GENRE: Amish/Inspirational Romance

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BLURB:

Energetic widow Mattie Bender Schwartz is working day and night to get Promise Lodge going. She’s also hoping the change will help her son Noah’s heart to heal after his broken engagement. But his former fiancée, Deborah, is looking for a fresh start too. Filled with regret, and cast out by her dat for a reason she can’t yet reveal, Deborah can only pray Noah will forgive her foolishness.

Deborah is the last person Noah expected to show up at Promise Lodge. But with her cruel words still ringing in his head, he’s reluctant to accept her apology—even if the Old Order ways demand he try. If only he could obey Christ’s most important commandment: love one another. But one thing is certain—his mother and aunts, and their beloved Preacher Amos, will do their best to help him get there.

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EXCERPT


“It’s a big day for Promise Lodge,” Preacher Amos said as filled his plate. “Truman’s not been here an hour and already he’s offered to do some earth moving and tree trimming for us—heavy work the boys and I would be hard pressed to accomplish expediently. Now that’s neighboring!”

Wickey looked embarrassed by Amos’s praise. “It’s the sort of landscaping work I do every day,” he said with a shrug. “And we agreed to a fair hourly compensation—”

“At a reduced rate,” Roman pointed out. Then he raised his eyebrows at Aunt Rosetta. “And maybe with some pies thrown in to sweeten the deal.”

Aunt Rosetta’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. It occurred to Noah that while she’d been caring for his grandparents over the years, apparently contented to remain a maidel, she’d never seemed interested in winning the favor of a fellow. Or had he merely assumed that? The smile she flashed at Truman Wickey made her look several years younger.

“Baked goodies seem like a fine way to pay you forward,” Rosetta said as she gestured toward the items that were cooling on the table behind her. “Figure on eating with us whenever you’re working here, Truman. We really appreciate your helping us.”

“You’ve got a deal!” While Truman answered their questions about the best places to buy supplies and groceries in the nearby towns, he heaped his plate with second helpings of everything. When Aunt Christine cut a coconut custard pie and a peach pie for their dessert, their neighbor was easily coaxed into taking a slice of each—and after dinner he left with an entire cherry pie as well as a loaf of cinnamon bread and some cookies.

After they saw Truman off, Noah returned to the dairy barn with his brother to finish the stalls they’d been building earlier. The rain had stopped. As he gazed across the expanse of the sunlit lawn, he noticed that every blade of grass glistened with a single drop of water on its tip. Why had he never noticed such a sight before? Surely the yard at the Coldstream farm had held pearls of moisture in this same breathtaking way, yet the sheer beauty of it held his attention for several moments.

A movement caught his eye near the fence where Rosetta’s chickens and goats ambled about. Preacher Amos was cutting some of the irises that bloomed alongside the stable. He carefully cradled the flowers in the crook of his arm, a mix of deep purple, yellow, and white ones, then carried them toward the house. Before Amos reached the door, Mamm hurried outside to meet him, her pleasure evident in her voice and face as she accepted his gift. Their silhouettes were backlit by the sun, Amos taller and leaning slightly forward while Mamm gazed up at him.

Had she ever looked so happy when she was with Dat? Not that Noah could recall—but then, he didn’t remember his father ever bringing her a bouquet, either.

Why are older guys like Amos and Truman winning the attention of women while you feel like you’ve been hung out to dry? Even Roman is looking forward to dating the girls who will soon be moving here.

The thought nagged at him. Just a few months ago he’d been head-over-heels in love with Deborah, sharing her thoughts and kisses and laughter. She’d come back to him—or at least she wanted to—yet he’d hardened his heart, afraid of having it broken again. Now he was also burdened with suspicions about her involvement with Isaac Chupp.

This is your circus. And you’ll continue to be the monkey until you stop acting like one.

Noah glanced at the horses grazing peacefully in the pasture. Tomorrow was Sunday, the day he’d often taken Deborah for buggy rides after church. When it had been just the two of them, with the breeze in their faces as they rolled down the back roads—or when they’d stopped in the shade to enjoy a snack she’d packed—his future had seemed as bright as those iris growing by the shed, and as breathtaking as the expanse of grass blades adorned with beads of rain.

A smile crept over Noah’s face. He now had a plan for dealing with Deborah.
  
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Many moons ago—like, in 1983 while she was still a school librarian—Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. This launched her into writing around seventy of those “true confessions” stories over the years, and she’s been a slave to her overactive imagination ever since. Over the course of her writing career, she has sold nearly 50 books—most recently, Amish romance series she’s written as Charlotte Hubbard or Naomi King.
Charlotte lived in Missouri for most of her life, so her Amish stories are set in imaginary Missouri towns. These days she lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband of 40 years and their Border collie, Ramona.

BUY LINKS
Promise Lodge, Book 1
Zebra (February 26, 2016)
ISBN-13: 9781420139419 •• ISBN-10: 142013941X

Click on these links to buy this book now!


 Ebook:




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GIVEAWAY 

Charlotte will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour

30 comments:

  1. This looks like a Great Book I LOVE Amish Books Thanks for the chance to win a copy

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    1. Linda, thanks so much for spending time with my story! With the gift card you might win, you can buy this book and others, as well!

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    2. Thank You I do usually at least buy the book advertised when I win a Gift Card since I like them anyway :) I Shared on FB for you https://www.facebook.com/linda.buzardmoffitt/posts/1108277472536208

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  2. I'm really wanting this book, thank you for hosting this giveaway and giving me a chance to win a copy.

    wfnren at aol dot com

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    1. Wendy, good luck at winning the gift card! Then you can get more than one book!

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  3. Really great post, I enjoyed reading the excerpt! Thanks for sharing :)

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  4. Hey, every circus needs a monkey. That's a comforting thought for some of us.

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    1. Richard, every one of us plays the monkey now and then! Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. What is the best joke that you have heard recently? Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com

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    1. Bernie, I can't remember jokes to save my soul! Good luck in the giveaway!I hope you win, too!

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  6. I would love to win this.... LOVE Amish story line books.. Thank you so much...

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    1. Thanks for spending time with my story today, Janice!

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  7. I really enjoyed the excerpt, thank you for sharing! I will definately add this to my to read list.

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  8. Thank you for informing me about this book.

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    1. You're welcome, Sara--and thanks for spending some time with us today!

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  9. This sounds like a great book. I love reading books like this

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  10. Love Amish books. This sounds wonderful.

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    1. Thanks for spending some time with us today, Becky!

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  11. Would love to read this book. Keep up the great work.

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  12. I enjoyed reading the excerpt. This book sounds like an interesting read. Looking forward to checking out this book.

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  13. I Shared this post on Twitter today Thanks for the giveaway
    https://twitter.com/LindaMoffitt02/status/712536563696144384

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  14. I can't wait to read this book. Thank you so much!

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  15. Great excerpt! I'm looking forward to reading this book!

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