Historical/RomanceAll that glitters is not gold.
It’s 1890, and Golden, New Mexico, is a booming mining town where men far outnumber women. So when an old wealthy miner named Philip Smith finds himself in need of a nursemaid, he places an ad for a mail-order bride—despite the protests of his friend Jeremiah. Hoping to escape a perilous situation back East, young Madeleine Mercer answers the ad and arrives in town under a cloud of suspicion. But just as she begins to win over Philip—and Jeremiah himself—the secrets she left behind threaten to follow her to Golden...and tarnish her reputation beyond redemption.
Excerpt:
Early spring, 1890
Golden, New Mexico
“Are you plumb crazy?” Jeremiah Dennison’s loud retort bounced around the main room of the adobe house and returned to mock him. “Where did you get such a harebrained idea?”
Trying to control his anger, he shoved his clenched fists into his denim trousers’ pockets, paced to the window, and stared out, pay¬ing scant attention to the piñon trees bending in the wind. He loved Philip Smith like a father, but the man could vex the weather. And this latest idea was the most farfetched yet.
Philip gave a snort. “Harebrained?” He put his rocking chair into motion that sent out a rhythmic squeaking. “Why’d ya say that? It’s worked fer other men.”
Jeremiah tried to calm down. He wanted to measure his words, season them with wisdom that would awaken his elderly friend to all the pitfalls he would face. “What would you do with a mail-order bride?”
The old miner stilled the chair and stared at Jeremiah, obsidian eyes piercing under his bushy white brows. “Somethin’ ”—he smoth¬ered a hacking cough with his fist, then swiped a clean handkerchief across his face—“has a deadly grip on me.”
“I know you’re sick. I take care of you, don’t I?” Jeremiah resented the fact that what he’d done wasn’t enough. Otherwise, Philip wouldn’t even consider such a preposterous proposition.
His old friend reached up to scratch the scraggly beard he’d worn all the years he was a miner, but it no longer covered his clean-shaven chin. Old habits died hard. “Jerry, I don’t wanna be a burden on ya.”
“You’d rather be a burden to a woman you don’t even know?” Jeremiah regretted his cynical tone the moment the words flew from his lips. He softened his tone. “I’ve never considered you a burden any more than you thought I was a burden when I came to the gold fields as a greenhorn.”
Philip clutched the arms of the rocking chair and slowly rose. He took a moment to steady himself before he ambled toward Jeremiah. “I ain’t come to this decision easy.” He squinted up into Jeremiah’s face. “I done studied on it fer a while.”
Jeremiah straightened the fingers he’d gripped into fists and relaxed his stiff spine. “What do you mean, ‘studied’?”
Reviews:
"Two strangers are presented with a 'golden' opportunity for love in this quintessential East meets West tale by well-loved author Lena Nelson Dooley. I found myself swept away by the beautiful writing and enmeshed in the lives of the players, who face many twists and turns in their journey toward the ultimate happily-ever-after. Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico is truly one of the loveliest historical romances I've read in ages. Highly recommended." -- Janice Hanna Thompson, author of Love Me Tender and Swinging on a Star
“I’ve plunged into the midst of your wonderful book, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. I love the book—compelling plot and intriguing characters. Who couldn’t love that sweet ol’ guy, Philip or the wonderful Sneeds, or want to snuggle little Pearl, so thanks for doing a terrific job in painting your secondary characters! I also loved that you made Maddy an intelligent young woman who is growing up through her quandaries—and understanding so much more about the world. I admired Jeremiah for his love and protection of Philip (though I did want to kick Jeremiah in the keister every once in a while so that he’d notice Maddy.) But it was those little things that kept me reading…and hoping…that the two of them would get together. And that made the romance ever more satisfying! A brilliant job, done well, Lena!” – Ramona Cramer Tucker, former editor of Today’s Christian Woman magazine, Virtue magazine, and edited books by many well-known authors including Lisa Beamer, Brock and Bodie Thoene, Sigmund Brower, and Deborah Raney
I struck it rich with this historical romance. I’d not read any of Lena Nelson Dooley’s books before, but because of her excellent reputation, I knew I’d be in for a treat, which I was. This story is well crafted from start to finish. The mining town of Golden, New Mexico is described so well, I felt I was there hearing the stamp machine, experiencing the heat of the sun-drenched summer days, and seeing the adobe homes echoing the soft colors of the desert landscape. What brings this story to life, though, are Dooley’s vibrant characters, with whom I enjoyed spending time. Strong but suspicious Jeremiah, warm and caring Maddy, and a host of secondary characters, including bighearted Philip, are likeable people. They pulled me into the story and were my fictional friends throughout. I longed to see good things come out of Maddy and Jeremiah’s struggles and found his faith journey to be a highlight. I highly recommend Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico and am grateful for my review copy. Lena Nelson Dooley is now on my favorite authors list. - Keli Gwyn, 2010 Golden Heart finalist
Why Lena Wrote this Book:
Dear Readers,
I’m often asked why I wrote a certain book. My first answer is that I’m a storyteller. I have to keep writing stores, and I would even if they don’t get published.
But I’m really glad that Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, did get published. I love mail-order bride stories, and I’ve read a lot of them. I didn’t want my story to be just another mail-order bride story. I want to give it a different twist. I believe I have. Reviewers and readers have contacted me, telling me they like the unique twists and turns in this tale.
And I never write a story that doesn’t show real people facing real problems and finding answers from our real God. One reader emailed me that the story touched her soul. That’s what I like to hear.
I hope the story blesses you, too.
Purchase
It’s 1890, and Golden, New Mexico, is a booming mining town where men far outnumber women. So when an old wealthy miner named Philip Smith finds himself in need of a nursemaid, he places an ad for a mail-order bride—despite the protests of his friend Jeremiah. Hoping to escape a perilous situation back East, young Madeleine Mercer answers the ad and arrives in town under a cloud of suspicion. But just as she begins to win over Philip—and Jeremiah himself—the secrets she left behind threaten to follow her to Golden...and tarnish her reputation beyond redemption.
Excerpt:
Early spring, 1890
Golden, New Mexico
“Are you plumb crazy?” Jeremiah Dennison’s loud retort bounced around the main room of the adobe house and returned to mock him. “Where did you get such a harebrained idea?”
Trying to control his anger, he shoved his clenched fists into his denim trousers’ pockets, paced to the window, and stared out, pay¬ing scant attention to the piñon trees bending in the wind. He loved Philip Smith like a father, but the man could vex the weather. And this latest idea was the most farfetched yet.
Philip gave a snort. “Harebrained?” He put his rocking chair into motion that sent out a rhythmic squeaking. “Why’d ya say that? It’s worked fer other men.”
Jeremiah tried to calm down. He wanted to measure his words, season them with wisdom that would awaken his elderly friend to all the pitfalls he would face. “What would you do with a mail-order bride?”
The old miner stilled the chair and stared at Jeremiah, obsidian eyes piercing under his bushy white brows. “Somethin’ ”—he smoth¬ered a hacking cough with his fist, then swiped a clean handkerchief across his face—“has a deadly grip on me.”
“I know you’re sick. I take care of you, don’t I?” Jeremiah resented the fact that what he’d done wasn’t enough. Otherwise, Philip wouldn’t even consider such a preposterous proposition.
His old friend reached up to scratch the scraggly beard he’d worn all the years he was a miner, but it no longer covered his clean-shaven chin. Old habits died hard. “Jerry, I don’t wanna be a burden on ya.”
“You’d rather be a burden to a woman you don’t even know?” Jeremiah regretted his cynical tone the moment the words flew from his lips. He softened his tone. “I’ve never considered you a burden any more than you thought I was a burden when I came to the gold fields as a greenhorn.”
Philip clutched the arms of the rocking chair and slowly rose. He took a moment to steady himself before he ambled toward Jeremiah. “I ain’t come to this decision easy.” He squinted up into Jeremiah’s face. “I done studied on it fer a while.”
Jeremiah straightened the fingers he’d gripped into fists and relaxed his stiff spine. “What do you mean, ‘studied’?”
Reviews:
"Two strangers are presented with a 'golden' opportunity for love in this quintessential East meets West tale by well-loved author Lena Nelson Dooley. I found myself swept away by the beautiful writing and enmeshed in the lives of the players, who face many twists and turns in their journey toward the ultimate happily-ever-after. Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico is truly one of the loveliest historical romances I've read in ages. Highly recommended." -- Janice Hanna Thompson, author of Love Me Tender and Swinging on a Star
“I’ve plunged into the midst of your wonderful book, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. I love the book—compelling plot and intriguing characters. Who couldn’t love that sweet ol’ guy, Philip or the wonderful Sneeds, or want to snuggle little Pearl, so thanks for doing a terrific job in painting your secondary characters! I also loved that you made Maddy an intelligent young woman who is growing up through her quandaries—and understanding so much more about the world. I admired Jeremiah for his love and protection of Philip (though I did want to kick Jeremiah in the keister every once in a while so that he’d notice Maddy.) But it was those little things that kept me reading…and hoping…that the two of them would get together. And that made the romance ever more satisfying! A brilliant job, done well, Lena!” – Ramona Cramer Tucker, former editor of Today’s Christian Woman magazine, Virtue magazine, and edited books by many well-known authors including Lisa Beamer, Brock and Bodie Thoene, Sigmund Brower, and Deborah Raney
I struck it rich with this historical romance. I’d not read any of Lena Nelson Dooley’s books before, but because of her excellent reputation, I knew I’d be in for a treat, which I was. This story is well crafted from start to finish. The mining town of Golden, New Mexico is described so well, I felt I was there hearing the stamp machine, experiencing the heat of the sun-drenched summer days, and seeing the adobe homes echoing the soft colors of the desert landscape. What brings this story to life, though, are Dooley’s vibrant characters, with whom I enjoyed spending time. Strong but suspicious Jeremiah, warm and caring Maddy, and a host of secondary characters, including bighearted Philip, are likeable people. They pulled me into the story and were my fictional friends throughout. I longed to see good things come out of Maddy and Jeremiah’s struggles and found his faith journey to be a highlight. I highly recommend Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico and am grateful for my review copy. Lena Nelson Dooley is now on my favorite authors list. - Keli Gwyn, 2010 Golden Heart finalist
Why Lena Wrote this Book:
Dear Readers,
I’m often asked why I wrote a certain book. My first answer is that I’m a storyteller. I have to keep writing stores, and I would even if they don’t get published.
But I’m really glad that Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, did get published. I love mail-order bride stories, and I’ve read a lot of them. I didn’t want my story to be just another mail-order bride story. I want to give it a different twist. I believe I have. Reviewers and readers have contacted me, telling me they like the unique twists and turns in this tale.
And I never write a story that doesn’t show real people facing real problems and finding answers from our real God. One reader emailed me that the story touched her soul. That’s what I like to hear.
I hope the story blesses you, too.
Purchase
Author Bio:
Lena Nelson Dooley is an award-winning, multi-published author who loves to connect with readers. The second focus of her work is to help other Christian authors hone their skills until they, too, can become published.
Lena often speaks at writer’s groups, conferences, and women’s meetings. You can contact her for a booking through her blog.
Married to the love of her life for over 45 years, Lena enjoys spending time with family and friends. She and her husband like to travel.
Leave a comment to enter the drawing for this weeks ebooks.
Happy Reading!
Shawna, thank you for featuring me on this blog. I was excited when my book came out in both print and ebook format.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great interview, so interesting and lovely. I can't wait to read this book. Good luck, Lena! And best always to you, Shawna.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Regina
Sounds like a wonderful book, Lena! Congratulations on the release! Shawna, outstanding, as usual. I'm such a fan of this blog! Great reads to be found here!! :-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Lena! I love your plots, characters, and writing style. I hope to grow up to write like you someday.
ReplyDeleteI recently read, "Who Am I?" and hope to read many more books you've written. This one has peaked my interest. Sure would love to have it, too.
I enjoyed Lena's book. And also like the format of this review for E-books. What a great combination.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Patricia.
ReplyDeleteLena, I'm so pleased to feature your book. We had orthodontist appt. today that kept me out of the house for awhile. But it's nice to check in and see the comments.
Great review. I have read several other great reviews and have this one on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteShawna,Thanks for hosting this giveaway and for the opportunity to enter.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Wow! Love to have all of you come by and leave comments. I'm so glad so many of you have read some of my books and like them.
ReplyDeleteAnd it thrills me that others want to read this book. I do believe it's my strongest book I've written so far. And really a fun book to write.
Wonderful interview and Lena is a wonderful author. I agree with her love of mail order bride stories. They are fun and full of imagination - which Lena does expertly. I want to read this book...and already am looking forward to the joy it will bring. Thank you so much for the chance to win it in the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteGrace & Joy in Christ,
Barb Shelton
Arlington, TX
barbjan10(at)tx(dot)rr(dot)com
Lena, I love the first page and the premise of the story. Look forward to reading LOVE FINDS YOU IN GOLDEN, NM.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity to win this book.
A J Hawke
ajhawkeauthor [at] aol [dot] com
I have had Love Finds you in Golden New Mexico since the first review I read. I love this story line and can't wait to read. I do have on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the opportunity to enter this giveaway.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
OH i want to read this SO bad!!
ReplyDeletethanks for the chance to win!
dymesich(at)juno(dot)com