REVIEWS, for, THE BRIDE WORE COVERALLS

Wow wee! I received my first review for my story, The Bride Wore Coveralls.

Used by permission from Barbara Warren from Blue Mountain Editorial Service
http://www.barbarawarrenbluemountainedit.com

THE BRIDE WORE COVERALLS By DEBRA ULLRICK

Camara Cole is the best mechanic in Alabama. She’s a whiz at bog racing too, beating most of her male competitors. In fact, Camara’s life would be perfect if it weren’t for Chase Lamar. For as long as she can remember, Chase has been her enemy. He’d do anything to win, particularly if it means besting a Cole. Chase’s father hates the entire Cole family, and his hatred has infected his son. Then Chase becomes a Christian, and everything changes, but can Camara really trust him where her truck is concerned, and more important, can she trust him with her heart? Because someone is trying to sabotage Camara’s truck, and maybe Chase hasn’t changed all that much after all.

I’d never heard of bog racing, but now I want to see it. Debra Ullrick’s The Bride Wore Coveralls is an engaging love story starring a feisty heroine with a mind of her own, and a hero who is determined to do whatever it takes to break down the barriers she has erected between them. Plenty of fast paced action and heart-tingling romance, in a unique setting. Don’t miss it.
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Thank you SO much, Barbara. I'm so glad you liked it. And relieved. *smiling* hehe

Here's another review from Staci Stallings

“Unique.” “Fun characters.” “Interesting setting.” “Great story.” Those are all things other people have said about Debra Ullrick’s The Bride Wore Coveralls, and they are all true. In fact, as someone who referred to it as “Mud bugging” when Deb was first telling me about the concept for her new book, no one could have been any greener on the subject of mud bog trucks than I was.

However, the thing that most captivates me about this book is the realness of the characters, their situation, and the great lesson of the boundlessness of God and His mercy especially when extended to those who we feel most do not deserve it.

I won’t ruin the story for you because you’ve really got to read it for yourself, but what I will say is that in The Bride Wore Coveralls, the scope of the sin of our prideful ways is laid bare and then shown for the destructive harm it causes in every life where it is allowed to take root and grow.

Every one of us has some of Camara’s pride and desire to be seen as worthy. Like Chase, every one of us has tried to change and had our past thrown back in our face again and again. Every one of us has made incredibly foolish decisions because we were hurt and angry.

But what The Bride Wore Coveralls does so beautifully is to show how God’s mercy and forgiveness can heal not only the wounds in us, but the wounds we have inflicted upon one another as well.

This book is not a must-read… it is a must-live! For if each of us in our own lives could understand God’s unending forgiveness the way these characters do in the end, and if we put that understanding into practice in our own lives with our own families and our own communities, it would literally change the world.


Reviewed by: Staci Stallings, author & publisher

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Review:

The cute cover of this novel is only just the beginning! Deb Ullrick has spun a heartwarming tale of friendship and revenge, forgiveness and acceptance, all mixed in with a little sassy spice from the tomboy heroine and the man determined to win her heart.

I think my favorite part of this novel wasn't just the chemistry between the characters, but the highly unique setting. Who wouldn't want to learn about mudbogging in the south? And come on, what better place to set a romance than in a mud pit surrounded by trucks? ::wink::

This book has true southern charm and sweeps the reader away to a place they've likely never visited - but will want to return to again and again.

Betsy Ann St. Amant
www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com
www.betsystamant.com

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WOW!!!!! I love this book !!!!! I have to say "The Bride wore Coveralls" is one of my favorite books from Heartsong.Thanks to Authors like you, myself and others are able to sit down and read a wonderful love story that is free of violence, bad language, and adult content. Thank You !!! Once again, I loved The Bride wore Coveralls.

Debra Collins ~ reader/writer

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THE BRIDE WORE OVERALLS - A Review Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 3:58 PM

By Debra Ullrick
ISBN 978-1-60260-031-7
Heartsong Presents
Contemporary Romance

Can Bitter Rivals Come To Love Each Other?

Fighting deep prejudice against her femininity, her choice of vehicle, and ever her heritage, Camara Cole is determined to win the mud-bog racing championship this year. Her biggest competition seems also to be her worst enemy.

Chase Lamar has been racing mud-boggers as long as Camara, and he grudgingly admits she's the best driver-mechanic he knows. Their rivalry has been long and bitter. But Chase is a new Christian. As he begins to change, he finds his relationship with Camara changing, too.

When Camara's vehicle is sabotaged, she naturally blames Chase, despite a growing attraction. Chase must prove his innocence, but evidence points his way. When the smoke clears and the truth is known, will each be able to extend forgiveness, maybe even love?

This is a debut novel for author Debra Ullrick, and a very good one. Dealing with a subject matter that I've never seen in any of the books I've read, it drew me to learn all I could about the subject from the story.

I loved Debra's characters, and the conflict was very real between them. Her attention to detail kept the story interesting. I recommend this book.
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Lena Nelson Dooley
Author, Speaker, Reviewer
Vice-President of DFW Ready Writers
(A local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers)
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Thank you everybody. You all rock!

Until next time....

See ya~~~~

Debra Ullrick

And the winners are...

I had my husband draw the names for me and the winners are...


1.) Betsy St. Amant
2.) Lollipop
3.) Annette Irby

Congratulations!

Lollipop, I need your address so I can send you your free copy of, The Bride Wore Coveralls.

Thanks.

THE BRIDE WORE COVERALLS~NOW AVAILABLE!

Fighting deep prejudice against her femininity, her choice of vehicle, and even her heritage, Camara Cole is determined to win the mud-bog racing championship this year. Her biggest competition seems also to be her worst enemy. Chase Lamar has been racing mud-boggers as long as Camara, and he grudgingly admits she's the best driver-mechanic he knows. Their rivalry has been long and bitter. But Chase is a new Christian. As he begins to change, he finds his relationship with Camara changing, too. When Camara's vehicle is sabatoged, she naturally blames Chase, despite a growing attraction. Chase must prove his innocence, but evidence points his way. When the smoke clears and the truth is known, will each be able to extend forgiveness, maybe even love?

Oh my goodness. The day has finally arrived. The Bride Wore Coveralls, is now available.
You can purchase it by calling: (740) 922-7280, or by going to http://www.heartsongpresents.com/
Scroll down to: Heartsong Extras, then click Order Form, then Order Form again. You can order by credit card, check, or money order.

I'd love to hear what you think of it.
Thank you so much!

Until next time...

See ya~~~~

Goldeneyes by Delia Latham

Delia Latham is a former newspaper Staff Writer and a frequent contributor to her hometown’s regional publication, Bakersfield Magazine. She also writes greeting card verse, short stories, articles, and songs. Her editing and proofing skills have been utilized by numerous authors, including Dr. Chuck Wall, founder of the Random Acts of Kindness movement.
A debut novel, Almost Like a Song, was released in June 2006; Goldeneyes will be released in March 2008 by Vintage Romance Publishing. Delia’s work is included in an upcoming short story anthology, The Shortstack: 20 Stories to Fill You Up.
The author lives in Bakersfield, California with her husband, Johnny, a Pentecostal minister. Her four adult children and four “beautiful, absolutely perfect” grandchildren daily light up her life. She loves to hear from her readers. Contact her through her website (www.delialatham.com) or her blog (http://themelodywithin.blogspot.com.)Q. Who is Delia Latham?
A: I’m a Christian wife, married to a Pentecostal minister. My husband is the assistant pastor at our church, and I’m involved in the music ministry. I play piano and sing. I have four grown children and four beautiful, absolutely perfect granchildren – no, really, they are! We all live in Bakersfield, California. I was born here and have resided in or around this desert town my entire life.

Q: What books are on your nightstand right now?
A: Too many. I write reviews, so there’s always plenty of reading material in my room. Right now, I’m looking at Rainbow’s End by Irene Hannon, Veil of Fire by Marlo Schalesky, Abandoned Identity by Tamara Tilley – that’s just a few of the unread books. I just finished Loving Liza Jane by Sharlene MacLaren and – a little detour from the usual – The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz.

Q: Your novel, Goldeneyes, is scheduled for release in March. What is it about?
A: It’s an historical romance about a depression-era man who does something horrible to satisy his alcohol addiction, and the ripple effect his action causes in the lives of two families over twenty years later.

Q: What inspired you to write Goldeneyes?
A: I grew up in Weedpatch, the little farming community where Part One of Goldeneyes is set. I’ve always wanted to write something using that location as a backdrop. This story has been brewing in my mind for several years, but it was hard for me to get past the reality of Weedpatch in my own life and get on with turning it into a fictional tale. I prayed a lot! Once God gave me the go-ahead, He also gave me the inspiration, and I’m very pleased with the completed product.

Q: Where do you get your ideas?
A: Ahhh … the question every writer gets asked most often - and for me, quite possibly the hardest, because I’m not always sure. Sometimes I get ideas from little snippets of history; a few of my stories are major exaggerations of tiny occurrences in my own life or the lives of people I know; and sometimes I sit down to write with absolutely no idea what I’m going to write about. Oddly enough, those are the times I usually wind up being happiest with the results, maybe because I’m most open for God to take my writing wherever He wants to.

Q: So you don’t always plot or outline your book before you write?
A: How’d you guess? No, I write like I do most other things in my life – totally off the cuff. I’m what the writing community refers to as a SOTP: Seat-of-the-pants writer.

Q: Which authors have most influenced your own writing?
A: Too many to possibly mention here! As a child, I devoured just about every book I could get my hands on: Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, the Bobbsey Twins – even the Hardy Boys; I wasn’t gender specific as to reading material. As I got older, I graduated to romance and found Grace Livingston Hill, Barbara Cartland, Emilie Loring, and oh, yes – I discovered Harlequin Romance (oh, my!). Now some of my favorite writers are Joy Fielding, Lori Wick, Lori Copeland … the list goes on for miles. My favorite book of all time is Swan Song, by Robert McCammon – rather surprising for an inspirational author, I know, but it’s a beautifully written epic account of good vs. evil. Unforgettable!


Q: What other projects are you currently working on?
A: My current work-in-progress is surprising me by actually creating a connection between my debut novel and Goldeneyes, which I wasn’t expecting at all. I’ve also just completed something completely new - at least for me. While it’s still Christian romance, it will fit more easily into the Chick Lit genre, bringing in a touch more humor and lightheartedness than is in my other works.


Visit me at my website: www.delialatham.com
My blog: www.themelodywithin.blogspot.com





A man’s eyes are the windows to his soul … if he has one.

Deep in the darkness of a Depression-era night, a man addicted to alcohol sells something precious to obtain it. His vile action impacts the lives of two entire families, and it will be over two decades before the horrible wrong begins to be made right again.

Two young women – strangers to each other – unknowingly enmeshed in a Pandora’s Box of secrets that could prevent them from finding happiness with the men they love. Two adoring mothers who know more than they are willing to say. A newsman with a story he cannot tell. What is their connection, and who is the golden-eyed stranger who moves in the shadows of their broken lives?


Excerpt:

The old cuckoo clock on the shelf in the front room struck midnight. It’s persistent chirping irritated Jack Kelly’s already frayed nerves as he paced back and forth across the small room.
“Shut up! Shut up!” he growled beneath his breath, casting an anxious look at the crib in the next room. When no signs of disturbed sleep were forthcoming, he breathed a grateful sigh of relief. The last thing he needed right now was a squalling infant to further vex the burning demon within him. He had promised his wife he would not spend a cent on liquor. New babies meant new expenses, and those things must come first.
So far he had kept his promise; he’d had no choice. Every penny he earned with his hoe, day after blistering day in the cotton fields, was swallowed up in scratching out a meager existence. There never seemed to be a penny extra, to say nothing of the few dollars a bottle of whiskey would cost. With the addition of this new offspring, who knew when he would be able to quench the gnawing demon of thirst that drove him insane? He had to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. The arrival of more children would only make that job harder, and it was obvious Annie did not intend to stop at one pregnancy.
Another glance into the small bedroom revealed no unwelcome stirrings from the crib. A bright moonbeam, however, lay across the bed, and Kelly’s tormented gaze fell on the lovely face of the woman he had married. He had considered himself a lucky man when she said yes to his proposal, despite her goody-two-shoes, Bible-thumping parents. If he loved anything on this poor excuse of an earth, he loved Annie. She was a perfect wife.
Their home might be barely more than a shack, but it sparkled, and she was a real wonder in the kitchen. He could not remember her voice ever raised in anger, even when he had fallen through the front door, dog drunk, a week after she married him.
Kelly’s fevered mind wandered to his conversation with the poor fish in the cotton field. Had it only been eight or nine hours ago? It seemed an eon; every moment without the drink he craved was an eternity.
Poor fella don’t know how lucky he is. Only has to worry ‘bout that pretty little gal and hisself. I bet he could buy a bottle of whiskey if he wanted one!
With the thought, an idea was born, full-blown and itching for action. He actually stopped pacing for a moment, shocked to the core by the undiluted vileness of the seed taking root in his mind. He stood staring at the crib against the far wall and shook his head as if to toss out the evil thought.
“You’re crazy,” he whispered. His heart pounded painfully against his chest; little beads of sweat dotted his forehead and chin. “You’ve done gone stark, starin’ mad!”
And perhaps he had, for suddenly he found himself across the room, gazing down into the hand-me-down crib. He was horrified at the darkness within his imagination, yet knew full well he hadn’t the strength of mind or will to resist its powerful pull.
One more almost desperate glance at his wife’s face … if she would only wake up he would have to forsake this notion, and perhaps he could rid himself of the unforgivable intent. Indeed, Annie did stir a little and drew a deep sigh, almost as though she heard his desperate mental cry. But hers was the sleep of utter exhaustion and she slumbered on.
A few moments later, Kelly slipped silently out the back door of the little shack, clutching a tiny pink bundle in his arms and blinking back the tears of shame and self-loathing that sprang unbidden to his eyes.

Too kewl. THE BRIDE WORE COVERALLS is now...

...posted on www.heartsongpresents.com If you go to Heartsong Presents website, then scroll down to: Coming Next Month, you will see... yeppers... you guessed it... THE BRIDE WORE COVERALLS. ~~Woo hoo~~
I can hardly contain my excitement. I pitched THE BRIDE WORE COVERALLS to Jim Peterson four years ago at the ACRW conference held in Denver, and now it's becoming a reality.
God is so good.

I can't thank Jim and Traci Peterson or JoAnne Simmons enough for taking a chance on me. If you ever read this. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Until next time....

See ya ~~~~~

Final THE BRIDE WORE COVERALLS cover

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY !!

Oh my goodness! The designer did a fabulous job! And the hero... wooooo weeee... what a hunk! ~~ I LOVE IT~~
This book will be available within the next few weeks. You'll be able to purchase it from www.heartsongpresents.com

So check back with me and I'll keep you informed.

I'd love to hear your comments on THE BRIDE WORE COVERALLS, final cover.

Oh and while you're here, please check out my post/review of DiAnn Mills new book, Awaken My Heart.



Until next time...

See ya~~~~~

AWAKEN MY HEART by DiAnn Mills

DiAnn Mills
www.diannmills.com


When I was a kid, I used to get spanked for lying. Now I get paid for it! Ah, such is the life of a fiction writer. Hi, I’m DiAnn Mills, and I’m excited about Awaken My Heart, my new historical novel published by Avon Inspire.

I live in Texas, the Lone Star State, where history and adventure are carved out of ordinary people and presented in novels and across the screen. Texas provides the perfect setting for tales of adventure. Here you can find cowboys and rodeos, deserts and mountains, bluebonnets and cactus, rattlesnakes and alligators, trail rides and space exploration. The romance and intrigue of those who helped build this State weave powerful stories. You name it, and Texas has it. But it’s the stories about the courageous people who stand tall and make this state what it is today that captures the readers’ attention.

Let me introduce you to my February release!




Awaken My Heart is set in 1803, when Texas was Tejas, a colony ruled by Spain. Indians, Mestizos (native-Spanish lineage), and the elite ruling class of the Spanish lived and died here. The priests living in the Catholic missions helped educate and train the people in various crafts and how to serve God. From this culture was born my story of forbidden love.

Which brings me to one of my greatest heroes—Zorro. Who can forget the handsome, daring masked man who championed the poor and fought the injustices of his people? His flashing sword, generous smile, and chivalry would bend the strongest woman’s resolve. It also helped Zorro’s cause to be portrayed by Antonio Bandera in The Mask of Zorro (1998) and The Legend of Zorro (2005).

Is it no wonder that I call Awaken My Heart my Zorro book? My hero, Armando Garcia, is passionate about the cause of his poverty-stricken people, but his passion also extends to Marianne Wharton, the daughter of a wealthy American rancher. The wealthy and the peasant. The Diablo and his angel. And her daddy ain’t happy. Oops! I mean Marianne’s father is out for blood.

This isn’t the first book I’ve written about historical Texas. The Texas Legacy Series was set in the period of the Old West when lawlessness and unscrupulous characters crawled out from under rocks and attempted to claim the state. I chose unlikely heroes and heroines who made a courageous stand for what they believed in.

Hop into the saddle and grab the reins. This ride will keep you up all night.

www.diannmills.com Let me hear from you!

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My review of DiAnn Mills awesome story!

AWAKEN MY HEART is one of thee most romantic books ever written. No wonder DiAnn calls it her Zorro book. However, is Armando Garcia a villain or hero? As if! I'll never tell. You have to read the book to find out.

Does Marianne Wharton see right through Armando's mask...er... um I mean through his tough man, villainous facade? And if so, what does she find? A friend or a foe?

And, you've heard the expression... If mama ain't happy, nobody's happy. Well, in AWAKEN MY HEART's case the saying goes...If Marianne's daddy ain't happy, nobody's happy. Why? hehe Yeah right.... as if I'd tell. Buy the book and find out.

Can Marianne tame Armando's wild spirit like she tamed her beloved stallion? Does she even want to? Can two total strangers from completely different worlds unite for the sake of a rebel's cause? If so, at what price?

Got ya wondering about, AWAKEN MY HEART? I hope so. Because this is one beautiful story that's filled with passion, tragedy, life, victory, defeat, and love. One you don't want to miss.

Fabulous job, DiAnn! Keep up the awesome work!

If you'd like to win a free autographed copy of, AWAKEN MY HEART, please post a comment below and explain why you want to read it.

Until next time....

See ya~~~