Thursday, September 30, 2010

I have a cover for my upcoming release at TWRP - Worth Staying For

Worth Staying For will be part of TWRP's Crimson (Suspense) Line. Hopefully, I'll know more about the release date in a few weeks, so stay tuned.

All the best...

Mary Eason
http://www.maryeason.com/

  

Saturday, September 25, 2010

In The Arms Of A Stranger is now available at New Concepts Publishing!

In The Arms Of A Stranger is now available at New Concepts Publishing:

Everything Kate Bradshaw believed to be real about her marriage to her husband Alex slowly slipped away from her as the newspaper reports explained the sordid truth in black and white.  Their marriage and Alex's seduction had been nothing more than a lie, a means of accomplishing one thing--Alex's revenge against the man he believed responsible for killing his one true love--Kates own father.

All the best...

Mary Eason
http://www.maryeason.com/




Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Shadow Games gets 5 Heart Review from TRS!

I'm pleased to announce Shadow Games, my romantic suspense novel that was recently released through Champagne Books has received a 5 heart review from The Romance Studio.


Rachel Weiss, Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, receives a strange text message. "Do you know where Booth Tanner is?" She is no longer a spy for the CIA, but cannot put aside her concern for the man she loves. She and Booth, also CIA, had been lovers and when she became pregnant, Rachel quit the agency and obtained her current job. When she learns that Booth is missing, she cannot help but become involved, even to the point of going to look for him. She obtains the Ambassador's help and, using an alias, travels to the area where Booth had been searching for the second-in-command to Bin Laden. Rachel, kidnapped while meeting a contact, must find a way to free herself. This is not an easy task when more than one group is searching for her –- and she has no idea which ones are on her side.


This is a page turner that leads us into the most dangerous part of the world, that of Al Qaeda, The author presents well-drawn characters, from the desperate protagonist to the most evil terrorist. We constantly wonder which of the men seeking Rachel have her best interests in mind. The author plants seeds of doubt that makes us realize someone, other than the terrorists plans on ending Rachel's life. I sweat with her in the desert heat, froze in the frigid desert night, and worried with her in captivity. When she escapes, and they take her a second time, we wonder how on earth she is going to get out of it this time. The writer presents the hero, Booth, in a very unusual, but satisfying way. This book is exciting, well-crafted, and held my interest all the way through to the exciting end.

I will anxiously await the next book by this author. She is a truly gifted writer.

Reviewer: Jaye Leyel

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Marianne, thanks so much for joining us here today!

Marianne, I've truly enjoyed hearing more about Hearts Surrender. What a great story. I look forward to reading more about your work in the future.

Thanks for joining us here today.

To learn more about Marianne's work, visit her here:
http://www.marianneevans.com/ or via her fan page at facebook.com: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Marianne-Evans/308711716744?ref=ts




   

All the best..

Mary Eason

Marianne, you are giving away some great prizes on this tour!



At the end of her blog tour, Marianne is giving away three special prizes:



1. A $10 gift certificate to White Rose Publishing

2. A $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com

3. An autographed, print edition of her new release, Hearts Surrender



Entering is simple: Leave a comment – or several comments as you track her progress on the tour (Marianne and her blog hosts will get the word out and let you know where she’ll be!). Each comment gives you a chance to win!



On September 30th, she’ll randomly select three comments from visitors at any of the blogs she’s visited, and award them the prizes!



Join in the fun as Marianne lets the world know about Hearts Surrender!

The Story Behind the Story

The Story Behind the Story




Talk about a risk…



There I was…well, no. I take that back. There they were, my characters I mean, Ken and Kiara, all but leaving me sleepless as they fed me their story. I tried to silence them. Had to silence them. Really. After all, I couldn’t tell their story unless Collin Edwards and Daveny Montgomery had their shot first!



Let me fill in the blanks for you. I was writing furiously on a submission to White Rose Publishing for their Hearts Crossing contest. Collin and Daveny simply filled up the pages and I fell in love with them completely – but hey, this was a contest. Chances of winning were slim to none when you consider how many talented authors would be participating. Still, I had to try. So, I finished off this heart-warming novella and sent it in.



That’s when the weirdest thing happened. Two of the secondary characters from Hearts Crossing stepped to center stage and threw me into the midst of a story that stole my entire focus. It centered around the modernista versus the clergyman. The gorgeous, vivacious woman versus the quiet, yet completely charismatic missionary. When I wrote this story, the scenes, the dialogue, the characterization, poured out of me like water.



One small problem, though. What about the prequel? What about Daveny and Collin’s story? Ken and Kiara stand just great on their own, but how would I be able to convince White Rose to contract Hearts Surrender if Hearts Crossing didn’t win their interest? Ordinarily that would have stopped my writing angel like a freight train. Not this time, though. The story needed to be told.



I knew I was setting myself up for a letdown, but I had to try, and I figured if I didn’t win the contest, I might still be able to work out details and logistics at a later point. So on I went…or in this case, wrote.



How good is God’s providence and provision? I ended up winning the Hearts Crossing contest! Furthermore, when I told my editor I had a sequel about ready for review, she seemed eager to see it! The rest, as they say, is history. I ended up contracting Hearts Surrender to White Rose Publishing, and beyond that, I have been contracted to create an series of books based around Woodland Church, home of the characters you met in Hearts Crossing, and continue to meet in Hearts Surrender…in fact, Ken Lucerne, the hero of Hearts Surrender, is its pastor. Books 3 and 4 of the series are Hearts Communion and Hearts Key, and they’ll be coming soon from White Rose Publishing!



Thanks for letting me share my story, and excitement about the release of Hearts Surrender! I hope you enjoy it!

The Benefits Far Exceed the Elbow Grease...


I love the company I work for. CB Richard Ellis is a commercial real estate firm that has a charitable arm called "CBRE Cares." I'm blessed to be part of this committee here in Michigan. Each quarter we undertake a major volunteer objective to help benefit the community, and this time it was Grace Centers of Hope, a Michigan institution when it comes to aiding the homeless and helping the downtrodden resume a Godly, socially beneficial life.
There were two projects going on today - a porch demolition/rehab at one house, and the interior painting of a sizeable home right next to it. CBRE recruited 50 volunteers, splitting them up between the two projects. In tandem with my husband and daughter, I worked on the interior painting project and met an amazing man. I'll call him Joe.
Joe worked side by side with our team and we got to talking. He's part of Grace Centers of Hope, and is in year two of GCH's three year 'rehab' program. He was energetic, engaging, helpful, and a joy to spend time with. He credits God, and GCH for helping him get back on his feet following a battle with alcohol abuse.
GCH has claimed a several block radius of the city of Pontiac. Their 'campus' so to speak, is located in a part of the city that used to be overrun by drug pushers and a level of crime that makes me shiver to even consider. It is now one of the safest areas of the city. GCH has purchased homes, in cash, with no federal or state funding. They believe in helping neighbors and those in need the old fashioned way, by actively recruiting willing people to help a worthy cause and seeking donations.
Here's the kicker: It's working!
I felt so honored to be part of this endeavor. There's something fantastic and uplifting about knowing that a few hours of my time and effort equals benefit to those in need. It shocked me to be told by a representative of GCH that there are 300 FAMILIES ... yes FAMILIES ... on waiting lists to claim space at GCH in the months to come because there's simply way more need than supply.
So, if you can, give volunteering a thought. It'll warm you through, and give people who need it the most a leg-up in their lives and circumstances.
God bless!!
Marianne

Hearts Surrender....



Blurb – Hearts Surrender




Kiara Jordan is a sophisticated modernista, but beneath an engaging personality and super-model looks, her heart hungers, and she longs for deeper meaning in her life.



Ken Lucerne is the charismatic young pastor of Woodland Church ; he's adjusting to life on his own following the death of his wife and copes by keeping as busy with parish life and mission work as he can.



A home-building mission in Pennsylvania brings them together, and forces them to look hard and deep at the relationship they share, and where God means for it to go. Already bound by mutual respect and caring, love dawns, a love that takes them to a life-point neither would have expected.



After all, can a chic, vivacious woman find fulfillment within the quiet, mission-centered life of a clergyman? Can they trust God's hand strongly enough to surrender their hearts to one another…forever?



Excerpt – Hearts Surrender



“I’ve been the wallflower who bloomed. But I’ve never believed in myself enough to give up the fancy trappings. I've clung to vanity-centered ideals for too long, I suppose. I’ve worked hard to fit in, and finally I succeeded. Problem is, that kind of success is a double-edged sword. That pathway, once you start to follow it, is hard to leave.”

In an unexpected, graceful motion, Ken caught her swing by the chains. He held her in place, suspended backward, with nothing but a cushion of air between them. All at once Kiara went dizzy, tempted once more by that full, supple mouth, and the satiny-looking fall of his thick brown hair. He was close enough to touch. In this moment, she wanted nothing more than to do just that.

“Some time – at some point – I’d like to hear more about that, Kiara. I’d like know how you became the woman you are.”

“I’d bore you to tears. It’s nothing extraordinary.”

“All present evidence to the contrary.” He set her gliding once again and Kiara’s stomach performed a sparkling fall-away. She delighted in his words but forced herself to brush them aside before they could take root and sway her into believing he saw richness to her spirit. After all, it was part of Ken’s persona to be gracious and encouraging.

He continued, “You're moving forward in directions that are not only admirable, but eye-opening – not just for you, most likely, but to everyone who's part of your life. Don't hold to what other people see, or expect of you, Kiara. Be who you are. And while you're at it, create the best version of yourself you can imagine. After all, the only question, with the only relevance that matters, is this: Who are you now?"

When she sailed back his way, he caught the chains of her swing once again and whispered in her ear, "I believe in you."

With that, he released her on a push, sending Kiara on another dizzying spin of sensation. He walked away, retracing his steps up the path to the cabins and mess hall. She swung to a stop then sat in silence for long moments after he left, absorbing, shivering in a way that had nothing at all to do with the cool of the encroaching night.



Purchase Link for Hearts Surrender



http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/Hearts-Surrender

Available in Print and Electronic Formats - $4.99 Digital / $11.99 Trade-Size Paperback



The Story Behind the Story

A Little About Marianne Evans...



Biography




Marianne Evans loves to tell a good story. In fact, she’s been enthusiastic about writing ever since she could string sentences together. Kensington Publishing purchased her first book, Friends & Lovers, a contemporary romance. Her second release, Right Hand Man, followed shortly thereafter. Her third offering from Kensington, Hannah’s Heart, won critical acclaim from readers, and The Oakland Press.



Her fourth book is her inspirational romance debut at White Rose Publishing – the contest winning novella Hearts Crossing. Hearts Crossing led to the creation of the ‘Woodland Series.’ This series of books centers around Woodland Church and characters who are first introduced in Hearts Crossing. Book two is titled Hearts Surrender. Hearts Communion and Hearts Key will follow as books three and four. The series is offered in both print and electronic formats via White Rose Publishing (www.whiterosepublsihing.com) and Amazon (www.amazon.com).



A lifelong resident of Michigan, she calls suburban Detroit home. She’s happily married, with a son, a daughter, and cats who wrap her around their paws. An active part of Romance Writers of America, she’s a long-time member of the Greater Detroit chapter where she served the chapter most notably as Treasurer and two terms as President. She also belongs to the Faith Hope and Love chapter of RWA, American Christian Fiction Writers and the Michigan Literary Network.



Connect with her at: www.marianneevans.com or via her fan page at facebook.com: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Marianne-Evans/308711716744?ref=ts



Welcome Inspirational author Marianne Evans

Please join me in welcoming Inspirational author, Marianne Evans to my blog today. Marianne welcome. We cannot wait to hear more about your newest White Rose Publishing release, Hearts Surrender

All the best...

Mary Eason

Friday, September 17, 2010

Inspirational author Marianne Evans will be discussing Hearts Surrender here tomorrow!

Please stop by tomorrow and join me here in welcoming inspirational author, Marianne Evans. Marianne will be discussing her latest White Rose Publishing release, Hearts Surrender so it should be loads of fun.

Hope to see you here.

All the best...

Mary Eason

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Inspirational author Marianne Evans will be joining me here on Saturday, September 18th

Please mark your calendars for saturday, September 18th and plan to spend the day with author Marianne Evans.

Marianne will be discussing her latest White Rose Publishing release, Hearts surrender. So stop by and say hello/.

At the end of her blog tour, Marianne is giving away three special prizes:




1. A $10 gift certificate to White Rose Publishing

2. A $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com

3. An autographed, print edition of her new release, Hearts Surrender



Entering is simple: Leave a comment – or several comments as you track her progress on the tour (Marianne and her blog hosts will get the word out and let you know where she’ll be!). Each comment gives you a chance to win!



On September 30th, she’ll randomly select three comments from visitors at any of the blogs she’s visited, and award them the prizes!



Join in the fun as Marianne lets the world know about Hearts Surrender!

All the best...
 
Mary Eason