Sunday, May 16, 2010

Welcome, Delia Latham!


Today's post is a special treat here at the "Minute" blog! I want to tell you about my friend and fellow "White Rose" author Delia Latham. Delia is a wonderful talent in the world of Christian romance, so I wanted to introduce you to her, and let you know about her new release, Yesterday's Promise, from White Rose Publishing.

Here's a bit about Delia, so you can get to know her better:

Delia is a born and-bred California gal, recently transplanted to Oklahoma where she lives with her husband Johnny. She’s a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend—but above all, she treasures her role as child of the King and heir to the throne of God. Delia enjoys big, loud, happy family gatherings and quieter times with just her own four children and grandchildren. She loves to play piano and sing, read, drink in the natural beauty of her surroundings, design marketing products for authors, and write. Delia’s inspirational novel, Goldeneyes, was released in March 2008. Yesterday’s Promise released through White Rose Publishing in March 2010. A children’s book, Adam’s Wings, will be available in December 2010. Find out more about this author and her books at http://www.delialatham.net/.

To draw you into the world of Yesterday's Promise, here's an overview, and excerpt - followed by my review and details on an exciting contest that's being held in conjunction with Delia's blog tour!

BLURB:

A spur of the moment wedding near Bridalveil Fall.
A young bride who awakens the morning after to find her new husband gone with the mountain wind.

Songbird Hannah Johns supports the child born of that ill-fated union by signing in a dinner lounge. Her dream of someday owning the elite establishment and turning it into a venue more suited to her Christian values is shattered when an unexpected transaction places it in the hands of Brock Ellis, the handsome biker who abandoned her in their honeymoon suite.

Ensuing sparks fly high, revealing buried secrets and forgotten pasts. Seeking to find peace with her painful past, Hannah returns to Yosemite, and Brock follows hard on her heels. Back where it all began, she finds herself in danger of losing her heart yet again to the man who shattered it the first time around.

EXCERPT:

Gazing in dismay at the tattered strips of rubber hanging from her right front wheel, Hannah shuddered. "Whatever a smithereen is, that's what I think this thing is blown to."

Dutifully opening the trunk, she stared down at the spare tire. There it lay, right where it was supposed to be. Tentatively she poked it with one finger. Now what was she supposed to do with it?

The warm late-June air did little to relieve the chill spreading throughout her nervous system. Miserably, she berated herself for ever thinking she could pull off a trip like this on her own. Just look at where her little streak of independence had gotten her: Here she sat, all alone at the side of the road with a crippled car on her hands. She barely knew how to fill the fuel tank, much less change a flat tire. And who knew what kind of deranged person might stop and offer to "help"?

At the thought, one shaky hand flew to her lips. "Oh, God, be with me!" The frightened, whispered prayer came from the depths of her soul.

Hurrying back to the driver's door, she slid behind the wheel, where she hurried to raise the convertible top, roll up the windows and lock both doors. Her heart trip-hammered as she recalled in full detail every horror story she'd ever heard about lone women attacked at the side of the road by sadistic human monsters.

Allowing her head to sag wearily against the steering wheel, Hannah did what she always did in desperate times.

"God, I'm in trouble. I don't have a clue how to change a tire. I really need Your help this time, Lord. Won't you send someone along that I can trust?"

The roar of an engine outside her window brought her head up. She wasn't even aware of the tears on her cheeks.

Several yards ahead of the mustang, a man dressed in solid black dismounted a huge Harley-Davidson motorcycle and reached up to remove a shiny black helmet.

God were You even listening? I asked for someone I can trust!

MARIANNE'S REVIEW:

Without even realizing it at first, Hannah Johns holds the key to unlocking a number of troubling ‘blank spots’ in Brock Ellis’ mind – and heart. Their whirlwind marriage and his subsequent abandonment of Hannah, possess the answers to a series of events in Brock’s past that weave a complex, relationship-driven conflict. This is a story I thoroughly enjoyed, and definitely kept me turning the pages.

An added bonus to Yesterday’s Promise is the authentic, loving portrait Delia Latham paints of Yosemite. I love it when a skilled author places a reader deep into a setting without overwhelming the book with too much detail.

I was won by the struggles Brock confronts both in his memory loss, and an embattled relationship with God. I also found Hannah to be a most admirable heroine – fully devoted to her son and her and the manner in which Hannah asserts herself as a heroine of the first order – using smart logic, her head and her heart, to help Brock , and herself, move past pain, and into a life-long love as well as a renewal of faith.

Five stars, Delia – very well done!


CONTEST & BLOG TOUR DETAILS:

Delia’s on the move until the end of the month – and she’s giving away two $10 gift certificates to White Rose Publishing at the end of her blog tour. Winners will be drawn from the comments left at the blogs during this 3-week event. So, when you comment, be sure to leave your e-mail address so Delia can connect to you if you win. Every comment generates one entry, so follow her on the schedule I’ve provided below to increase your chances!

Delia, congratulations again on the release of Yesterday's Promise - and best of success to you!!



20
Tori Close
a Merciful Heart
http://www.toriclose.com
20-26
Shirley Kiger Connolly
A Pen for Your Thoughts
http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com/
21
Angie Breidenbach
God Uses Broken Vessels
http://godusesbrokenvessels.blogspot.com/
21
Teresa Slack
Joy in the Journey
http://teresaslack.blogspot.com/
24
AusJenny
Come Meet AusJenny
http://ausjenny.blogspot.com/
24
Sharon Ball
A Break from the Norm
http://www.sharonball.com/
24
Kara Hunt
Fiction with Faith
www.fictionwithfaith.blogspot.com
25
TRS Blog (Guest Post)
TRS Blog
http://theromancestudio.blogspot.com/
25
Vickie Price Taylor
Write Along the Way
http://vickiepricetaylor.blogspot.com/
26
JoAnn Carter
White Roses in Bloom
http://www.whiterosesinbloom.blogspot.com/
26
Robin Bayne
Between Sundays
http://wwwwritingbetweensundays.blogspot.com/
27
Carla Stewart
Carla's Writing Café
http://www.carlastewart.blogspot.com/
28
Miralee Ferrell
Coming Home
http://miraleesdesk.blogspot.com
28
Susan Holloway
Journeys of Love…Inspired by Faith
http://susanhollaway.blogspot.com

20 comments:

  1. Welcome, Delia!! Hope you enjoy your visit to my blog - and all my best on the release of Yesterday's Promise. As you can tell, I enjoyed it tremendously. Blessings!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you, Marianne! I appreciate the invitation to hang out with you at your blog for awhile.

    Readers, your comments and questions are always welcome. Be sure to include your e-mail addy if you want to be entered in the drawings at the end of the month. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds like quite an awesome store and would love to get entered in the giveaway.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is wonderful to meet you Delia. Your book intrigued my interest. Good luck to you, and your sales. Thanks Marianne for sharing.
    Neecy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Delia is a wonderful talent, and I'm delighted to be a fellow "White Rose" with her! Delia, what inspired Yesterday's Promise? Any insider tid-bits to share?? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for dropping by, ladies - and good luck in the drawing!

    Marianne, I have to think this story was divinely inspired. lol Seriously, I was in the middle of another book, hit a writer's block, and laid it aside on the spur of the moment to do the Nanowrimo month. The result, 30 days later, was this book. No planning. No outline, plot, or storyline. Just me, God, and 30 days. I hope the result blesses someone!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wonderful blog. I can't wait to read the story. It sounds great. Count me in for any giveaways here. LOL White Roses rock!.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Delia, Thanks for stopping by to chat. I love your book. You are new author for me so I have added you and your books to my list. Can't wait to read.

    Marianne, love your blog and enjoy reading your reviews and interviews.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for stopping by, Kallie! You've been entered in the drawing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I deeply appreciate Delia's visit here today, and all the wonderful folks who dropped by!! Please enjoy Yesterday's Promise, and Delia, blessings to you my White Rose compatriot!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've enjoyed it, Marianne - thanks for having me! And readers, feel free to continue commenting right up through the 28th, which is when the blog tour is officially over. Each comment garners you yet another entry into the drawings. I'll be giving away two $10 gift certificates to White Rose Publishing.

    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hannah and Brock both sound so interesting. Can't wait to read it.

    ~Steph
    soklad@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you, Steph! They were a fun couple to hang out with while I was writing. :) If you'd like to read an interview with Brock and Hannah, you'll find one at this link:

    http://ginaconroy.com/ginablog/wordpress/2010/05/14/yesterday%e2%80%99s-promise-by-delia-latham/

    Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I keep forgetting to mention in my comments how much I like the cover of your new book.

    reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks, LuAnn - I love it! Nicola Martinez designed it, and a fine job she did, too! :D

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nicola is a wonder! Both as an editor and as a designer. The woman flat out rocks. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Marianne,

    I just saw Hearts Surrender on the Coming Soon page at White Rose. What a powerful cover! I cannot wait to read it. Doesn't it give you a bit of a tingle to see your book out there?

    I'm so happy for you!

    Mary Manners

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi, Mary!!! OMGoodness I can't believe how long it took me to see this post! ::BLUSH!::

    Indeed I'm thrilled!!! Tingles puts it mildly, hon!! :-) That cover has won my heart - even Nicola said, when she delivered it, that she was very pleased. Really captures the longing and wistful tone of the story...! THANK YOU!!!

    ReplyDelete