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Meet the characters in JOLT: Lalita Torres

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“Excuse me, did you say the ‘time’ you come from?”

She nodded.

“The time. Not the place.”

“Well, the place is different, too, since I’m not from around here.”

“Where are you from?”

“Missouri. Close to Kansas City.”

He leaned in again. “When are you from?”

She spread her hands dramatically. “The early 21st century.”

Tate just stared.

Lalita nodded. “That’s right, man from the 19th century,” –she gave an exaggerated wink– “you’re looking at a 21st century woman.”

Suddenly she pushed back from the table, rose, and struck a pose with one hand in the air and one on her hip. Then she started to sing. “I can bring home the bacon”— she moved her hips a quick left and right– “fry it up in a pan”–she slinked toward him, spinning the cord tie at her waist—” and never ever let you forget you’re a man,” –she sat right on his lap, throwing her arms around his neck– “ ’cause I’m a woman.”

Tate was speechless, but Nellie clapped, and Lalita was biting her lip, trying to keep from laughing. She put a hand to the side of her mouth as she whispered, “I don’t know how much competition there is for airtime, but that should keep us off the editing room floor.”

Tate’s heart sank. This beautiful, young woman was absolutely off her chump.

My Top Ten Reads For 2015

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I read just shy of thirty books this year, although I laid down and didn’t finish at least that many again. Since I set a goal in January to read fewer badly written books, I’m very proud of myself for laying these down and moving on. And still I only found ten books out of the list that I gave 5 stars to. Am I picky? Yep. I consider characters, dialogue, plot, over-all writing quality, and un-put-downability with every review I write. These were the cream of this year’s crop:

Okay, I admit to getting a bit stuck on Tamara Leigh this year, but this woman is a seriously great historical romance writer. She took five of the ten spots with her Age of Faith series.

For YA fantasy/sci-fi, you can’t beat Lia London’s Gypsy Pearl series. I read the first two at the end of last year and couldn’t wait for the exciting conclusion. Great characters and a well-written, imaginative storyline put this solidly in my top ten.

Kathy Clark was a newly discovered author for me, and this book has just the right amount of work-related details, suspense, and romance.

I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to discover this series by Lois McMaster Bujold since I’m a huge fan of her Vorkosigan series, but I’m certainly glad I tumbled upon it. Rich details of her medieval world and a very complicated and intriguing theology set the backdrop for a character-driven story that will keep you reading.

And now for a classic. For wit dished up with a dose of historical culture, you just can’t beat Mark Twain.

The last on my list isn’t fiction, but it was as intriguing and suspenseful as any story I’ve read this year. For any who have wondered if miraculous healings happen today, Robby Dawkins says, “Yes,”

So that’s my list for 2015. What books did you read this year that you loved?

On Sale Now!!

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Just .99 through Dec. 7!

Interior designer Amanda Billings is plagued by nightmares but determined to press on as if her ex-boyfriend hadn’t turned her world completely upside down.

Ad man Mick Thompson believes Amanda is the one to make him forget the fiancée who dumped him and prompted his move to Kansas City from Napa Valley.

As Amanda begins to transform his depressing life right along with his sterile apartment, Mick is ready to jump on the relationship road with her, only to find out that the past is tagging along.

Interiors By Design contrasts manipulation and selfish obsession with true love and sacrifice. It is a story of two people’s struggle to escape past mistakes and move forward to make a new life together.

Books for FREE and CHEAP

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Now is the time to jump on board the

The Rocky Mountain Series!

Sept 1-5 FREE

Rocky Mountain Angels

When Mari Baker moves in next door, Benjamin Rhodes knows she’s the girl for him. Who cares if she’s ten years older than he is. She’s perfect.

When Mari Baker moves in next door, Eli Rhodes is captivated by her fiery spirit and brunette curls. Sure, she’s nothing like the singles bar hook-ups he usually entertains, but someone like her could make a man change his ways.

When Mari Baker moves in next door, Joe Rhodes is unofficially engaged to Beth Havland, so why is this little snippet of a woman getting under his skin? Yeah, she’s sweet and smart and shares his faith, but he and Beth have made plans. At least they’ve talked about making plans.

When Mari Baker moves to Colorado Springs, she’s looking for a fresh start–a new path. The first path she walks, however, is up the steps of the big Victorian house next door after she slips on the ice and throws her purse down the storm drain before she even has a chance to open the door of her new rental. The Rhodes brothers become her rescuing angels that night, and the next path that forms is the one between their house and hers.

Sept. 1-8 .99

Joe Rhodes had it all—a sweet, beautiful fiancée, a successful construction business, and a three story home that he and his brothers had restored to its full Victorian splendor. Then the housing market collapsed, sending his business to the brink of bankruptcy, and he had to sell the house to save the business. At least he still has Mari.

Mari Baker is just a month away from marrying the man she calls her “dazzling Joe” when she repeatedly notices a tall, mysterious stranger watching her. Could he be a stalker? Suddenly she finds herself alone with the man, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Joe isn’t sure what to believe about the guy in the trench coat. Mari certainly isn’t making any sense about it all. How can she expect him to believe such a ridiculous story? Before, he would have said he trusted her implicitly, but now he isn’t sure. It’s just too far-fetched. Maybe he has lost it all.

Mari knows she sounds crazy, but Joe just has to believe her. She can’t do this alone.

Sept. 24-30 .99

Ben Rhodes was depressed. His ex-girlfriend had betrayed him, then skipped the country.

Rhonda Holloway spent a year trying to help him–a year falling in love with him.

Ben didn’t notice.

With the help of an anti-depressant, he wakes up to the possibilities, and as he reassesses everything she’s done for him, love blooms in his heart. But Rhonda is gone on a European book tour.

And comes home engaged.

Fear wins the day as love is denied. Truth is pushed aside for the sake of integrity. Hope goes in and out with the tides of time and the words of one small boy.

One very special boy.

FREE in the Kindle Store through March 31!!

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Mick, in jeans and a freshly pressed white button shirt, surveyed his living room one more time. There really wasn’t much he could do to improve the look of one beige sofa and a TV—only make sure there wasn’t any dust on them—so he forced himself to go into the kitchen and sit at the table.

It had taken him the better part of a week to get up the nerve to call Interiors by Design and ask for Amanda Billings. She wasn’t there, so someone else had made the 10:00 a.m. appointment for her to come to his place for an evaluation.

And that time was now.

Mick looked at the clock on the stove. Well, nearly now. Play it cool, Mickey boy. You’re just a guy who needs some throw pillows.

Mick was surprised at how much he had thought about this girl in the last week. After feeling nearly dead for a year, it scared him a bit to feel his heart beating and blood coursing through his veins.

The doorbell rang, and Mick jumped as if it were the last thing he was expecting. He walked to the door, wiping his sweaty hands on his jeans as he went. He reached for the knob, took a deep breath, and pulled the door open.

The redhead he had been waiting for smiled and held out her free hand. “Hi, I’m Amanda Billings from Interiors by Design.”

Mick seemed to be frozen. How did I miss those green eyes before?

The Church looks ridiculous to unbelievers. I know — I’m married to one.

They see a people loosely bound together by belief in God, but fighting about every other detail.

They see a people that professes a powerful God that seems to be completely impotent to answer even the smallest prayer.

They see leaders in the Church giving lip service to love, but there’s no action behind the words.

In short, they see Christians not the same as your average Joe, but worse than your average Joe. They see a people who are not honest with themselves or anybody else.

The Church sends missionaries to the far corners of the globe but can’t seem to reach the average Joes right under its nose. The Church as a whole — the body of Christ — has become lost and ineffective.

This didn’t just happen. The Church has had a target on its back ever since the second chapter of Acts.

Paul knew that the Church needed certain things if it was going to be able to stand against Satan’s schemes and be effective in reaching the world for Christ, and he outlined them in his letter to the Ephesians. It is God’s plan, purpose, and power for the Church.

How to Review a Book

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There is a skill to reviewing a book. The point is not merely to like or dislike. It is not to compare the writer’s perceived morals to your own. It’s a place for critical analysis. Since most reviews give you a chance to rate them with 1-5 stars, may I suggest 5 points to consider when rating.

Writing Quality. Is the description clear? Do the sentences flow? Are certain words or phrases overused? Does the writing pull you into the story or kick you out with weird words and stilted phrasing?

Dialogue. This is a specific type of writing quality. Does it sound natural? Does it fit each particular character? Is the inner dialogue tedious or goofy?

Characters. Are they interesting? Are at least some of them likeable? Do they grow and change in some way over the course of the book? Are the bad guys realistic or merely caricatures? Are they consistent? Your job isn’t to judge their morality unless it’s inconsistent with what the writer has established. We expect the villains to behave badly. We hold our heroes to a higher standard. They can fail and fall and be tempted, but in the end, we expect some kind of honor.

Storyline. Is the story entertaining? Does it have a good flow? Do the plot points make sense? Does it drag at any point?

Un-put-down-ability. Does it keep your interest? Is it hard to put down? Did you stay up late reading it? Does it call you back to it, if you do have to put it down.

Sometimes, you might feel the writer deserves not a single star for writing quality, but other books might warrant, say, half a star. Go through each of the 5 points, assigning whole or parts of a star for each, then add them up. If you end up with 3 1/2 stars, then you must decide whether to round up or down based on your overall feeling about the book.

Remember, not every book is written for you. Just because it’s “not your kind of book,” does not mean it deserves 1 star. If it truly isn’t your kind of book, don’t read it, and let those rate and review it who are more in tune with this genre.

I don’t read BDSM books just so I can get grossed out in the first chapter and self-righteously give it 1 star. I’m not the audience for that book. I won’t read it, rate it, or review it.

Not every Christian book is written for the Baptist minister’s wife who has never been in a bar in her life. Sometimes Christian fiction is written for the teen on the edge. The one who wouldn’t read Amish fiction if it were the last reading option on earth. The one that has free ideas about sex even while she sits in the pew on Sundays. The one who needs to know that, yes, both men and women can be tempted in the area of sex. And that, yes, it can be a real struggle. And, yes, it’s a temptation that can be overcome.

If you find yourself judging the book’s storyline and language too harshly, you are probably not that book’s audience. Lay it down and walk away. Resist the urge to inflict your brand of judgement on it. Some messages are not for you.

Valentines Day Promotions & Spread Some Indie Love Blog Hop

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Thank you to our blog hop host, Debdatta

Hi, my name is Jodi Bowersox, and I write mostly romance, although I have a couple of children’s picture books, as well. I write clean romance, most of which have elements of faith. I’m a firm believer in REAL, so even in my Christian fiction there are romantic sparks and sexual temptation. That’s real life, and I don’t apologize for it. I also don’t apologize for the mild language I use. (If you can’t tolerate a few “shits”, “damns” or “sons-of-bitches,” stop right here and move on to the next stop on the blog hop.) If, however, you appreciate a well-crafted story that has its feet in the real world with characters you’ll remember long after the book is over, read on.

Horses, Adrenaline, and Love is FREE in the Kindle Store through Valentines Day.

He looked at her for a second, that expressive face paused in thought. Then he grabbed his produce bag and her hand—Oh gosh, is he made of electricity?—and pulled her up.

“Come on.” He led her toward the door.

Sarah was very aware of the eyes under raised eyebrows turned toward them as he released her hand to open the door for her, gently placing his hand on her back as she crossed the threshold. Sarah thought she was going to melt in a heap, and it had nothing to do with the warm June air.

“Where, pray tell, are we going?”

Marty pointed across the street. “Park bench.”

She grabbed a belt loop as he threatened to zoom ahead of her. “Well, if I’m going with you, you’re going to have to slow down. Hurt foot, remember?”

He paused, but as she reached his side, he swept her off her feet and started across the street.

Who is this guy?

She slid her hands around his neck, her breathing going all funny, and smiled a quizzical smile.

He smiled back. “What? I haven’t got all day.”

I will be running a Kindle Count Down promo for Rocky Mountain Sunrise (Book #2 in the Rocky Mountain Series) starting Valentines Day. The price will start at .99 on Feb 14 and increase through the week until it is back to the regular price of $3.99. Jump in early for the best deal!

He broke off the kiss and bent his head with his eyes closed. “I’m so sorry, Mari.”

She leaned her forehead against his. “If you’re apologizing for kissing me, I’m going to be pretty upset.” She sat back and ran a hand through his hair. “If you’re apologizing yet again about the house, then stop it. What’s done is done. God has another house for us.”

Joe lifted his gaze to hers, his voice husky. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

“Yes, but feel free to tell me again.” Mari’s eyes sparkled, and Joe slid his hand into her hair, pulling her lips toward his once more. He took his time, exploring and nibbling, each kiss lightening the burden of losing his Victorian treasure. Giving her one last dizzying kiss, he snuggled his nose into her hair and held her tight. This treasure is all I need.

“So, are you going to tell me?” Mari whispered.

“Tell you what, sweetheart?”

She pulled back to look in his smoky blue eyes and blinked. “How much you love me.”

The corners of his mouth lifted in a sly smile making his dimples pop, and his fingers dug into her ribs just a bit—a warning for impending tickles. “I thought I just did.”

Sign up for my e-newsletter (published quarterly) by leaving your e-mail address in the comments by Feb. 21, and you will be entered in a drawing for a free book of your choice. You may choose from any listed at the top of this post.

My Top 10 Reads for 2014

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It was a slow year for reading. I only read 27 novels. And, frankly, I was hard-pressed to dig up 10 to recommend. I actually had to cheat and go back to Nov. 2013 to find that 10th one. I guess I read a lot of dogs this year. My resolution for 2015 is to STOP reading a dog and move on to the next book. This is one case where I don’t need to finish what I start. Life is too short, and I’m sure there are great books out there waiting to be found.

All of these books demonstrate excellence in writing, character development, dialogue, storyline, and un-put-downability. And I rate would rate them with either 4 or 5 stars. Four out of the ten were independently published. Here’s the list in the order that I read them:

Dance With Me by Louanne Rice. A contemporary romance that explores themes of loss from various perspectives, and how each character deals with it.

The Alignment by Kay Camden. A contemporary, somewhat paranormal, romance with an intricate plot that will keep you reading. The 1st person, present POV is a bit off-putting, but the story was good enough to override that irritation. Warning: 1st book in the series–cliffhanger ending.

Ridiculous by D.L. Carter. Historical romantic comedy that is thoroughly entertaining.

Song for Sophia by Moriah Densley. Historical romance. One of the year’s favorites. There’s just so much here to love: A savant hero, a tortured heroine, and how they save each other. <sigh>

The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas. Another historical romance with great character development and sizzling romance.

MacCallister’s War by Dana George. A bit short in the romance department, but it has an interesting historical story set in the midst of the American Indian wars.

Dreamspell by Tamara Leigh. They don’t get much better than this. A time travel romance with an intricate plot and no loose ends. A romance with lots of sparks and yet, pristinely clean, this is my favorite read of the year.

97: The Warloch’s Pact by V. L. Holt. Contemporary YA paranormal romance. A very imaginative plot with roots in the medieval era that has implications for the present when a Battle Bred Warrior on his 97th life (out of 100) just wants a normal life with a normal girl while being tracked by the monstrous Lochspawn. More of a novella in length. Warning: 1st book in the series–cliff hanger ending.

The Gypsy Pearl: Caren by Lia London. YA Sci Fi adventure. Another very imaginative plot that I can’t begin to condense down to a sentence. This is a YA book that doesn’t feel like a YA book. Even though the main characters are teens, it has appeal for all ages. Novella in length. 1st book in a series, and you know that the story isn’t over, but it doesn’t feel like a cliff hanger. This particular part of the story feels resolved.

The Gypsy Pearl: Craggy by Lia London. Yes, Ms. London won two spots on this year’s list, as I had to go buy the 2nd in the series after reading the first. Lovable characters that grow and change with an intricate plot that won’t let you put it down. Novella in length. Warning: The 3rd in the series hasn’t been written yet. Get with it, Ms. London!

Now go buy a book! Authors need your love!

Meet the Characters in Rocky Mountain Sunrise: Rhonda

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Rhonda slipped an arm around her waist and stood looking out with her. She wore a pale pink, knee-length sheath and matching peep-toe pumps. Mari looked at her sideways. “What? No glib reassurances?”

Rhonda returned the look with eyebrows raised. “I don’t know this guy well enough for reassurances. For all I know, he won’t show.”

Mari turned her attention back out the window. “Thanks a lot, that helps.”

“With or without a groom, you are by far the prettiest bride I’ve ever seen.” She gave Mari’s waist a squeeze. “You didn’t mention that he was as dumb as a box of rocks, so I’m sure he’ll be here. This is just another exercise in faith.”

Mari turned away from the window. “I’ve exercised my faith more in the last week than the previous thirty-one years, but look at me now.” She held out a shaky hand.

Rhonda took it. “Remember to the last, that while there is life there is hope.”

Meet the Characters in Rocky Mountain Sunrise: Ben

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Ben was singing Chanukah hymns with a light heart as he prepared latkes for their traditional Chanukah meal. As he grated the potatoes, he couldn’t keep from thinking about the pretty girl he had just met as he was leaving campus. With long, curly auburn hair past her shoulders and green eyes that flashed with irritation at her current car troubles, Ben had been captivated and more than happy to lend his assistance.

She had left an interior light on that had drained her car’s battery. Ben gave her car a jump and made sure he got her name before she left. Susie Minnet. Her name rolled around in his head as he pulled eggs out of the refrigerator and started breaking them into a bowl.

He remembered with satisfaction how she had lingered for a few minutes even after she had her car started, asking him about his jacket with the zoo logo on it. That jacket was far too lightweight for the sudden cold wind, but he would have stood out with her until he was frozen solid just to look into those eyes.