What’s Happening In Narelle’s World?
Dear Friends,
Welcome to mid-October! I'm a little later than usual in sending out my newsletter because life has been busy. I loved chatting with readers in the blog comments on my September Sweet Treats Giveaway that ended up running into October. My website was offline in the final hours before the giveaway closed and I extended the giveaway closing date once I was back online. The disruption was frustrating, and time consuming, but I now have a plan for the direction I want to take in revamping and updating my website in the coming months.
I've listed the September Sweet Treats winners below after the information on my paperback giveaway. We're back to the usual format of replying to this email to enter my monthly giveaway.
I've enjoyed having family stay with us in early October and I'm now catching up on everything else. The weather is warming up where I live in Australia and we're heading into summer. Here's a photo of spring flowers in my garden.
We’re in the last quarter of the year and I'm hanging in there with my Read the Bible in a Year Challenge. My goal is to listen to the daily readings in The One Year Chronological Bible and the encouraging Daily Bible Podcast - Audio Bible Reading Plan episodes with Tricia Goyer and her friend Michelle.
I'm failing to achieve my daily goal and I'm tuning in as often as I can. In recent days I've been reading inspiring and encouraging passages from the gospels. Tricia and Michelle's word for today is Authenticity. They discussed the importance of being honest and transparent in how we live our lives.
Book Recommendations
I’ve shared a few fiction book recommendations on my blog since I sent out my last newsletter.
Book Recommendation – Love Overboard by Shannon Sue Dunlap
Book Recommendation – The Christmas Catch by Toni Shiloh
For those interested in learning about Christian fiction new releases, I also compile a monthly new releases post on my blog — Christian Fiction New Releases - October 2024.
I have a Friday weekly blog series showcasing books on preorder. Here are the links to my recent "Narelle's Preorder Roundup" blog posts:
Narelle’s Preorder Roundup: 10/11/24
Narelle’s Preorder Roundup: 10/4/24
Narelle’s Preorder Roundup: 9/27/24
Narelle’s Preorder Roundup: 9/20/24
Narelle’s Preorder Roundup: 9/13/24
Paperback Giveaway - Loyally, Luke or Wells and Wanderers
My contemporary Christian romance selection is Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham. I've loved the whole Skymar series and Luke and Ellie's story is delightful. Luke is a down-to-earth American guy who’s a carpenter by trade and likes the simple things in life. Ellie is a princess who has been offline for a few years to recover from a bad reputation she gained in the gossip columns. Their meet cute is hilarious and they end up working together on an orphanage project in Skymar. For those who aren't fans of the epistolary writing style, there's a lot less epistolary content in this book than in Authentically, Izzy and Positively, Penelope. I recommend Loyally, Luke to contemporary romance readers who like different worlds and undercover princess royalty romances with epistolary style content and a relevant faith element in the story. Read my book recommendation here:
https://www.narelleatkins.com/book-recommendation-loyally-luke-by-pepper-basham/
It's heartbreaking to see and hear about the damage, destruction, and loss of life from the recent hurricanes that smashed through south east USA. If you follow Pepper Basham on Facebook or Instagram, you'll have seen her videos where she describes the hardships they're facing in western North Carolina. I've donated money and I've been praying for those of you who have been impacted.
My alternative selection is Wells and Wanderers, a Biblical era fiction novel by Australian author Christine Dillon. It's set during Genesis and the story is a fictional account of twins, Inanna and Utu, who are Amorites. The twins were enslaved as young children and ended up working in Avram and Sarai’s household. I enjoyed the story and how it followed the events recorded in Genesis during the time of Abraham and Sarah. I recommend Wells and Wanderers to historical fiction readers who like Biblical era fiction set in ancient times with characters seeking truth and freedom. Read my book recommendation here:
https://www.narelleatkins.com/book-recommendation-wells-and-wanderers-by-christine-dillon/
The paperback giveaway is open to readers with USA and Australian mailing addresses who can receive paperback books from Amazon USA or Amazon Australia. The choice of book is subject to availability from Amazon.
I’m happy to substitute an ebook for readers who live outside USA and Australia, as long as they have digital access to ebooks at either Amazon USA or Amazon Australia and can redeem an Amazon gift card for the equivalent US or Australian ebook price at the US or Australian store.
To enter the giveaway, please reply to this email by OCTOBER 24, 2024 (USA Pacific West Coast Time Zone) and include your first name and the name of the country where you live and include the book title (Loyally, Luke or Wells and Wanderers) that you'd like to win.
The winner will be contacted by OCTOBER 28, 2024 to arrange the delivery of their paperback book.
September Sweet Treats Winners from my blog giveaway are:
GRAND PRIZE winner is Natalya L, USA.
Narelle Atkins’ winner is Madi S, Australia.
Meredith Resce’s winner is Debra G, USA.
Iola Goulton’s winner is Elizabeth L, USA.
Carolyn Miller’s winner is Audrey S, USA.
Jenny Glazebrook’s winner is Bridgette S, USA.
Jessica Wakefield’s winner is Katie R, USA.
Check out the winner's announcement post here 👉 https://www.narelleatkins.com/winners-announcement-2024-september-sweet-treats-giveaway/
Questions for You
Are you a fan of royalty romances? Do you like the epistolary writing style? Do you read Biblical era fiction?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and I will do my best to reply to your emails within 7 days. If I receive an undelivered email message, I’ll try again and send a second reply. If you don’t receive a reply from me, please let me know because emails can go astray. I can be contacted via my website.
October Featured Author ~ Jan Thompson
I've enjoyed reading Jan's books and I'm happy to share that TIME FOR ME is available as a free ebook download for her newsletter subscribers.
I have a book recommendation for LOOK FOR ME from Jan's Vacation Sweethearts series on my blog 👉 https://www.narelleatkins.com/book-recommendation-look-for-me-by-jan-thompson/
Here's the Book Description for Time For Me:
When art gallery archivist Sheryl Breckenridge tries to get world-famous sculptor Winton Pace to display his artwork at Simon’s Gallery, she doesn’t expect him to fall in love with her. Will she reciprocate in this friends-to-more romance?
She needs a personal favor…
Eight years ago, art gallery archivist Sheryl Breckenridge watched Abilene—the owner of the gallery she works in—break sculptor Winton Pace’s heart. Today, Abilene is happily married to someone else and has moved out of the country. Abilene still owns Simon’s Gallery in Savannah, Georgia, and that’s the sticking point. The gallery is not doing well and needs an infusion of publicity. The director wants Sheryl to persuade Winton to display some of his bronze sculptures in the gallery, in the hope of attracting more business. So off to Folly Island, South Carolina, Sheryl goes.
He needs a plus-one…
Winton Pace does not want to have anything to do with the gallery owned by his ex-girlfriend, Abilene. However, he needs a plus-one to his sister’s wedding in Charleston in a couple of days. When his good friend Sheryl shows up at his beach house, asking for a favor, he makes a deal with her. If she would accompany him to the wedding to appease his mother, he will let Sheryl take home a few of his bronze pieces to display at Simon’s Gallery.
Where do they go from here?
One thing leads to another, and Winton and Sheryl end up attending a charity dinner together in Atlanta. Where do they go from here? Does it help that seven years ago, Winton did ask Sheryl out, but she declined? They have remained friends all these years, but have things changed between them now?
Time for Me is the prequel novella in USA Today bestselling author Jan Thompson’s Vacation Sweethearts series, a travel romance spin-off of Savannah Sweethearts. We first meet Sheryl Ask You Later (A Savannah Sweethearts Prequel) and Winton Pace in Draw You Near (Savannah Sweethearts Book 3). In Time for Me, we revisit Simon’s Gallery, which is mentioned a few times in previous Savannah Sweethearts stories.
Time For Me is available at the following link:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/yg45h5nr7u
Final Thoughts
Thank you for journeying with me on my often crazy and challenging book publishing journey. If you’re a praying person, I’d love prayers for the time to open up to implement my writing schedule with a weekly word count target and have flexibility to achieve the word count goal around my other commitments. I'm thankful that my recent website issues led me to finding a better solution and new opportunities for 2025. My Chapel Cove book is the story I'm writing now, followed by my second Trinity Lakes Romance book. Thanks also for your ongoing prayers for my sister. She has settled in her new home and she's doing well. I have appreciated all your email replies, prayers, good thoughts, and support.
Blessings and love to you,
Narelle xo
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