Welcome Tricia Ann Woods

Hello, I'm Tricia Ann Woods, an author at The Wild
Rose Press. I'm a wife and mother of three. I reside
in southern New Jersey. I've been a published author
for over a year, and as you see, I'm a new member
here at the White Roses in Bloom. I'm very happy to
be a part of this wonderful group of authors.

I'm a member of Romance Writers of America, Epic, and
Elements of RWA. I'm a moderator for an online yahoo
group, Romance Excepts Only (REO), which is a place
for readers to read excerpts of books. I'm also an
owner of Young Adult Romance Excepts Only (YAREO),
which is a yahoo group to read Young Adult book
excerpts.

I have two spiritual books published at The Wild Rose
Press. Both books are published under their White Rose
line. The books titles are Halloween Angel and
Hailey's Comet. As of now I have five books that I'm
writing.

Tricia Ann Woods

Easter Lily

Considering Lily, the third story in the Orchard Hills Romance series will be available this week, on February 27.

No one in their right mind would want to date salon owner Lily Robinson. She has a chip on her shoulder the size of Mt. Rushmore since her messy divorce. But veterinarian Ian O’Neil can’t help considering Lily as a potential girlfriend Lily is determined not to let any one get close enough to hurt her again. But with Easter coming, she is reminded that the Lord makes all things new and wonders if that includes her shattered heart. With Ian’s help, can she learn to trust again?

Excerpt:
“You don’t have to pay me back. That’s what friends do for each other,” Ian protested.

“Do you mean that?”

“What?”

“That you’re my friend?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”

“I’m not the easiest person to get along with,” Lily admitted.

“You aren’t that bad.”

“Yes, I am. And I know it because…because I try to be unpleasant.”

“What?”

Lily wouldn’t look at him. “I haven’t let anyone be my friend in a long time. I’ve especially gotten into the habit of being rude to men.”

“Because of Ted?”

“Yes, but probably not why you think. He used to constantly accuse me of having affairs. I thought if I stayed away from men entirely he would stop, but he didn’t.”

“Didn’t you tell me he was having affairs?”

“Yes, I suppose he was projecting his own behavior onto me.” Suddenly she groaned and turned away. “I can’t believe I just told you all this—in the middle of the parking lot no less.”

Ian reached out and took her hand, turning her back around to him. “Why did you decide to tell me this?”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “Because no matter how rude I am to you, you’re still nice to me. I…I thought maybe you deserved an explanation.”

“Does this mean you want to be friends?”

“I don’t know if I can yet…but I want to try.”
***

For an Orchard Hill post-Valentin's Day round up, visit the Orchard Hill Highlights blog. For a different excerpt from "Considering Lily" visit my personal blog.

Thanks for reading!

Kara Lynn
karalynnrussell.googlepages.com

NovelTea News

Cindy K. Green has started a blog highlighting her NovelTea Series. This is where you can keep up with this exciting romantic-comedy suspense series with excerpts and insight into the stories and characters. You can find it at: http://novelteaseries.blogspot.com/. She will be posting something new every Friday. The first week, she blogged on “The Origins of NovelTea.” The next two Fridays will be on the characters. Please come by and take a peek.


Cindy is also getting together her first Newsletter which will be sent out in April on a quarterly basis. The newsletter will consist of news, excerpts, and even a short story series based on one of the characters in her published books. If you are interested in being a part, please email at newsletters@cindykgreen.com.

Love Is Like...a Rock

The weekend is over; our contest is finished (see sidebar for winners) and I guess that about wraps it up for Valentine's Day this year. Before we let go of that holiday, we'd like to share this beautiful story from Pamela.

Love is…Like a Rock

By

Pamela S Thibodeaux

© 2006

My husband is a very tender, sentimental man. From the sweet/romantic cards we still surprise each other with to the “Love Is” comic strip he used to cut out of the newspaper and give to me, our nineteen-year courtship and marriage is filled with romantic moments. He’s even gone so far as to saturate a tiny bear with his, and my, favorite cologne and pin it to the sun-visor of my car. Then there’s our favorite song, “Stuck on You” by Lionel Richey and the local singer who knew the minute we walked in the door what our request would be, evenings of drinking wine and dancing in the kitchen and weekends when we’ve stayed in bed reading and talking or doctoring each other’s cold.

But no matter how many precious memories I recall, there is one that will always stand out in my mind and make my heart skip a beat; the recollection of a warm, balmy evening early in our courtship.

We were parked under an overpass, walking along the railroad tracks and talking when, taking me by the hand, my lover encouraged me to sit beside him on the ground. “My love is like this rock,” he said, as he picked one up and placed it in my hand. “It’s strong and solid, it’ll never change, it’ll last forever, and there’s not another one like it in the world.”

I’d never thought of love like that before, but, like snowflakes, no two rocks are alike. However, linked together snowflakes and rocks, like hearts, can create something strong and solid and secure.

Only One other has expressed His love to me in such enduring terms: strong, solid, unchanging, everlasting. He is known by many names, one being the Rock of Ages.

In 2005 my husband was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (on top of his Diabetes), severe arterial blockage (bypass surgery is not an option), and a defibrillator was embedded in his chest to shock his heart into action should it ever decide to stop beating (like it did while he was hospitalized). Regardless of how grim the outlook or how certain the outcome, whether I’m blessed with nineteen more months or another nineteen years with this man, no memory will move me -nor another love touch me- as deeply as the one symbolized by the rock sitting on my dresser; the rock that will always be a part of my décor.

Valentine's Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of our Valentine's Scavenger Hunt and thank you to everyone who participated. We hope you had a happy Valentine's Day and found some good reads, whether you won or not.

And the winners are:
GRAND PRIZE: Judy Cox
1ST PRIZE: Sarah Katie
2ND PRIZE: Ruth Porter
3RD PRIZE: Linda H

We invite you all to come back to our blog often for more news on your favorite white rose authors and their work.

The White Roses in Bloom

I'll Take Romance

Valentine’s Day, the ultimate holiday for the romance fan is Thursday. (Don’t forget to get your contest entry in. See the side panel for details.) Valentine’s Day celebrates many of the same things that we do in our stories and books, so I thought that this would be a great time to explain why I choose to write romance.

What are those things that both romance novels and Valentine’s Day celebrate? Let’s consider the greeting card rack at any store. There are Valentine cards you can send to your friends, your children, your family, your spouse, and your sweetheart. Valentine’s Day acknowledges all the special and significant relationships in our lives. Granted, you can find cards meant for those same people on other holidays, but those cards celebrate the holiday. Valentine’s cards celebrate the relationship. Romance novels celebrate the relationships in our lives.

Of course, the lion’s share of Valentine’s cards are aimed at sweethearts and spouses. Although we can celebrate all types of loving relationships on Valentine’s Day, romantic love is at the heart of this holiday (no pun intended).

Why is romantic love so important? In Genesis 2:24 it says “…a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Parents, siblings and other relatives are important, but we are not meant to stay with them always. Friends are also important, and a spouse is meant to be the ultimate friend. A spouse is the person you build a life with.

Those who don’t read romances sometimes mistakenly think they are all about sex and passion and hot steamy love scenes. Unfortunately there are a number of book covers out there that reinforce that impression. But the truth is that even the wildest of couples end up committed to each other in a true romance. This is what we consider “happily ever after.”

Reading and writing inspirational romance has been a great blessing to me. It reminds me where God’s place in my life should be - at the center. It reminds me to be thankful for my husband and the partnership we share and prevents me from taking my family, and my friends for granted. One of the greatest blessings of writing romance has been the many wonderful friends I’ve made. Our White Roses in Bloom group has been a special joy and a great source of support and encouragement. Getting to know these incredible women, if only through email, has been even more satisfying than seeing my work in print. Who would have thought?

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Kara Lynn Russell
Spend a year in Orchard Hill
Saving Gracie
Entertaining Angel

Visit Orchard Hill for free in this Valentine story
A Long Silly Love Chase

New Releases from Pamela Thibodeaux

Hello Again!

If you read my last post, you know all about my novel The Inheritance published by The Wild Rose Press.

Today, I’d like to tell you about my latest releases, Cathy’s Angel and Choices and A Hero for Jessica also from The Wild Rose Press!




Released in Nov. 2007, Cathy’s Angel revolves around single mom Cathy Johnson and life-long bachelor, Jared Savoy. Cathy is tired of running her life alone…what she needs is a well-trained angel to help out. Jared gave up the dream of having a family when he discovered he is sterile. Can a confirmed bachelor and the mother of four find love amid normal daily chaos?


Excerpt from Cathy’s Angel:

A shadowy figure came into view, interrupting her prayer. “What's he doing on my road?” she demanded, her heart switching from gratitude to attitude in the span of a thought. “This is my road, my time, the only hour of the day that I have all to myself, free from the rat race of my life and I don't like sharing it,” she insisted, glaring at the unwelcome stranger when he ran by with a nod and smile.

****

Jared rolled his eyes with a grunt. “Lord, the worst sight in the world this time of day is a frowning woman,” he muttered under his breath, as he jogged past the petite, green-eyed, brunette who looked as though she’d swallowed a lemon. Shaking the image from his mind, he forced his thoughts back to more pleasant ones. That, coupled with running, was the only way he could prepare for his daily obligations.



Choices revolves around best-selling novelist and songwriter, Camie Rogers and Country-Music Superstar Kip Allen. Anonymously, Camie has penned numerous accounts of the secret love she holds in her heart. High-school sweetheart Kip has changed from the shy, humble boy, to the epitome of “star.” Can the two rediscover each other after one night of his Home is where the Heart is Tour?


Excerpt from Choices:

Camie's heart throbbed with excitement as she waited to be escorted to her seat. She'd won a front-row seat and backstage passes to the biggest concert of the year. Country Music superstar Kip Allen had come home!

Everyone ranted and raved about the homegrown country boy who had made it big—three albums in five years, all gold. Camie remembered the shy, humble guy with rusty-gold hair and sea-green eyes who came to life when he had a guitar in his hands.



Last but not least, here’s the blurb from my upcoming story A Hero for Jessica: Anthony Paul Seville is known as the ‘most eligible bachelor’ in New Orleans, possibly even the entire state of Louisiana, but finds himself alone—completely and explicitly alone. Jessica Aucoin is a writer on her way to fame and fortune, but is haunted by a man from her past. Will the “champion” lawyer and the author of romantic suspense find love written in their cards?



Well Folks, those are my books from The Wild Rose Press! Next time I’ll tell you about my ‘Tempered’ series from ComStar Media!


Until then….take care, stay in touch and remember…when the going gets tough, the tough get on their knees.


Pamela S Thibodeaux


“Inspirational with an Edge!

Gather Ye Rosebuds!

The White Roses in Bloom Valentine's Day contest has officially begun. It's a scavenger hunt to gather different colored roses from each author's blog or site. The contest details are in the sidebar.

We'll be awarding four prizes, "bouquets" that may consist of our novels, short stories or both. Entries should be in by February 14th.

Happy hunting!

The White Roses in Bloom