Romantic Reads: A Heart's Forgiveness by Lena Nelson Dooley

Interview with Lena Nelson Dooley about her book,

A Heart's Forgiveness (Love's Road Home Book 2):

Alexis: What is the premise for this story?

Lena: It’s a mail-order bride story with a twist. I always like to have an unexpected twist to my stories that enhance the expectations for the genre.

Alexis: What or who inspired you to write this book?

Lena: I wrote the proposal because of a request through my agent for a story set in another state. The publisher didn’t choose my proposal, but they liked the story and asked me to find another setting that would work for the story. I found another place where everything would fit this story.

Alexis: A Heart’s Forgiveness is the second book in your Love’s Road Home series. Tell me about this book and how it ties into your series. What is this Love’s Road Home series all about?

Lena: Love’s Road Home is a series about people losing something important from their lives and finding a way back to love. There is a minor character from book one, who appears in this story and ties it into the series. Later we’ll see him again as the hero in book four.

Alexis: Tell me about your story’s heroine, Madeleine Mercer. Describe her looks, personality and heart. What makes her happy? What makes her sad? What makes her mad? Explain.

Lena: Madeline (Maddy) Mercer is the heroine. She looks like a china doll, with brown hair and creamy skin. She’s petite with stormy gray eyes that can turn warm or stormy. She has had a very good and happy life until her father dies of a heart attack, which happens before the book opens. The everything changes.

Alexis: Why does Madeline believe that becoming a mail-order bride will solve her problems?

Lena: Her father’s partner is an evil man who tries to take over her life. She feels she must get away from. But she doesn’t know that he’s been lying to her.

Alexis: How did you research this story?

Lena: I always research the time, the settings, and everything I can find about the time period. All my characters and their stories are fiction, but I work really hard to make everything else in the book authentic to the time period.

Alexis: What is a nursemaid and why does Philip need one?

Lena: Actually, Philip wants to help a woman who has a deep need by having her come to take care of him. He figures any woman who would answer an ad for a mail-order bride has serious problems she needs to get away from.

Alexis: Who is Jeremiah and how does his presence in this story affect the plot?

Lena: Jeremiah is a young man who Philip took under his wings when he came to the gold field. He’s mentored him and helped him when mining became dangerous for him. He encouraged Jeremiah to change his vocation before the story begins.

Alexis: How do Philip and Madeline first see each other? Is it a good or bad impression?

Lena: Philip and Madeline form a strong friendship from the first minute they meet. Remember that Jeremiah is the hero, and at their first meeting, he thinks Madeline is a gold digger and he doesn’t trust her.

Alexis: What draws Jeremiah and Madeline to each other and what or who tries to pull them apart?

Lena: Their love for Philip is their only bond at the beginning. It’s interesting to see what changes that in the story.

Alexis: What is the theme of this story? Why?

Lena: Forgiveness. Madeline’s unmerited forgiveness for the man who was very evil is a catalyst for several people’s lives.

Alexis: How did you real-life faith in God play into your writing this book?

Lena: I accepted the Lord as my Savior when I was 7 years old. That’s over seven decades ago. I’ve walked with Him most of the rest of my life. I didn’t live close to Him when I was in college, but He never gave up on me. He watched over me and when I was ready to return to Him, He welcomed me with open arms. That’s why forgiveness if often a theme in my books.

Alexis: What do you want readers to remember most about this story?

Lena: That God’s plans for you are always better than any plans you can come up with.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Lena! Do you have closing comments?

Lena: I write my stories for the readers. I love to hear from them. Fans are what keep an author going.

~*~
Author Bio:

Multi-published, award-winning author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 950,000 copies of her 50+ book releases. Her books have appeared on the CBA, Publisher’s Weekly, and ECPA bestseller lists, as well as Amazon bestseller lists. 

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the local chapter, ACFW - DFW. She’s a member of Christian Authors’ Network, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. 

Lena has experience in screenwriting, acting, directing, and voice-overs. She is on the Board of Directors for Higher Ground Films and is one of the screenwriters for their upcoming film Abducted to Kill. She has been featured in articles in Christian Retailing, ACFW Journal, Charisma Magazine, and Christian Fiction Online Magazine. Her article in CFOM was the cover story.

In addition to her writing, Lena is a frequent speaker at women’s groups, writers groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally. She also wrote and teaches Dynamic Writing Workshops.

Lena has an active web presence on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn and with her internationally connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books.

Her blog has a reach of over 65,000.

~*~
Book Blurb for A Heart's Forgiveness:

Accepting an ad for a mail-order bride was supposed to solve her problems. 

It’s 1890, and Golden, New Mexico is a booming mining town where men far outnumber women. So when a 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 character beyond redemption.

~*~
Buy Lena’s book on Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo or Barnes and Noble

~*~
Connect with Lena:
Website: www.lenanelsondooley.com
Blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenandooley/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley
Official Fan Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lenandooley
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmMImXr00OS8bO4FnT-yhVw?view_as=subscriber
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/333031.Lena_Nelson_Dooley
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenanelsondooley/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lenanelsondooley
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPAIDE
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lena-nelson-dooley

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of Lena’s book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

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Romantic Reads: A Heart's Gift

Interview with Lena Nelson Dooley about her book, 

A Heart's Gift: A Love's Road Home Novel

Alexis: Congratulations on writing the first book in your new series “A Love’s Road Home.” What is this series about? How many books are in it?

Lena: There are five novels in the series. Each book is a standalone story that has a link to at least one other book in the series. In each of the stories, the hero, the heroine – or both –experienced something serious happen in their past so they don’t feel loved.

Alexis: A Heart’s Gift is the first book in this series. What inspired you to write it?

Lena: God created me with both the ability to write and an imagination that He uses to help show how He works through people’s lives. I’m not an author who preaches to readers. I just show the situations to them through what is going on in the characters’ lives. I pray a lot while I’m writing, and God gives me discernment and ideas.

Alexis: Describe your story’s hero Franklin Vine. What does he look like? Sound like? Act like? What are his greatest goals and worst faults?

Lena: Franklin Vine owns the Rocking V ranch in Summit County, Colorado. He is tall with ebony eyes and thick wavy hair that often curled over his collar. I used actor Dale Midkiff for my inspiration for how he looks. He interacts well with the other ranchers in the area. He’s compassionate and respected in the town of Breckenridge. He has shut down his heart against romance and marriage, but he worries about an heir.

Alexis: Tell me about Franklin’s ranch. Why is it special to him?

Lena: He has grown the ranch he inherited into one of the premier ranches in that area. He’s a good boss. He understands that he’s responsible for the livelihood of the people who work for him.

Alexis: The Colorado mountains are beautiful in real-life. Paint a picture with words of how this setting looks in your fiction story. What makes it memorable to the fictional people who live and work there?

Lena: One of the hallmarks of my historical novels is that I make them as authentic to the place and time period as I can. I do a lot of research. With this one I bought books that had the history of the area and a book with historical photographs, so most of the businesses I mention were actually in Breckenridge. I use the names of the rivers that are there, and I make the descriptions in the books fit the pictures. Actually, I’ve been to Summit County a couple of times—one in summer and one in winter. I took photographs then, too.

Alexis: What can you tell me about Franklin’s romantic relationship history that left him closed off to love, without spoiling the story?

Lena: His fiancé ran away with his best friend a few days before their scheduled wedding.

Alexis: Let’s talk about your story’s heroine Lorinda Sullivan. What does she look like? Sound like? Act like? What are her deepest desires and greatest fears?

Lena: Lorinda Sullivan is a petite blonde who came from poor family in Oklahoma. She has blue eyes. When the book starts, she’s married and living with her husband near their gold mine, which is also near the Rocking V ranch. She never wants to see her father or uncle again.

Alexis: Why does Lorinda believe that the men in her life are controlling and how does she break free from their control?

Lena: Her mother died when she was five-years old. She lived with her father and uncle until her first husband rescued her from them. They were controlling and abusive.

Alexis: What is it about Franklin that makes Lorinda feel like she can trust him?

Lena: At the time, she has no other option.

Alexis: What is it about a marriage of convenience that Lorinda and Franklin like?

Lena: She will be able to provide for her newborn son, and he will have an heir without giving away his heart.

Alexis: What do you want your readers to remember most about this story?

Lena: How God intervenes to save her life.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Lena! Would you like to share closing thoughts?

Lena: Thank you for having me here, Alexis. I want all your readers to know that I love readers, and as I write a book, I have them in mind. I love to hear from fans.

~*~
Author Bio:

Multi-published, award-winning author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 950,000 copies of her 50 book releases sold. Her books have appeared on the CBA, Publisher’s Weekly, and ECPA bestseller lists, as well as Amazon bestseller lists. She has won a dozen awards. 

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the local chapter, ACFW - DFW. She’s a member of Christian Authors’ Network, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.

She has experience in screenwriting, acting, directing, and voice-overs. She is on the Board of Directors for Higher Ground Films and is one of the screenwriters for their upcoming film Abducted to Kill. She has been featured in articles in Christian Retailing, ACFW Journal, Charisma Magazine, and Christian Fiction Online Magazine in which her article was the cover story.

In addition to her writing, Lena is a frequent speaker at women’s groups, writers groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally. She also wrote and teaches Dynamic Writing Workshops.

Lena has an active web presence on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn and with her internationally connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books.

~*~
Blurb for A Heart’s Gift:

Is a marriage of convenience the answer? 

Franklin Vine has worked hard to build the ranch he inherited into one of the most successful in the majestic Colorado mountains. If only he had an heir to one day inherit the legacy he's building. But he was burned once in the worst way, and he doesn't plan to open his heart to another woman. Even if that means he'll eventually have to divide up his spread among the most loyal of his hired hands.

When Lorinda Sullivan is finally out from under the control of men who made all the decisions in her life, she promises herself she'll never allow a man to make choices for her again. But without a home in the midst of a hard Rocky Mountain winter, she has to do something to provide for her infant son.

A marriage of convenience seems like the perfect arrangement, yet the stakes quickly become much higher than either of them ever planned. When hearts become entangled, the increasing danger may change their lives forever.

~*~
Buy Lena’s book “A Heart’s Gift”:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3q7kK9r
Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/3oDNhmY
Books-A-Million: https://bit.ly/2LAAOSm
Walmart: https://bit.ly/3oz3Ekr

~*~
Connect with Lena:
Website: www.lenanelsondooley.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenandooley/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lenandooley
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/333031.Lena_Nelson_Dooley
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lenanelsondooley
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPAIDE
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lena-nelson-dooley

~*~
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Christmas on My Heart: The 12 Gifts of Christmas by Lena Nelson Dooley

Excerpt from Chapter 3 of Lena Nelson Dooley’s book, 

The 12 Gifts of Christmas:

“Let’s all sit down,” he said. Alanza sat beside him.

“MacGregor here came to ask me if he could date you.”

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t look upset. That was a good sign.

“Oh, he did, did he?”

“I did not want to give him my answer until I knew if you in fact wanted to date him.”

Now a blush crept up her cheeks, making her even more beautiful. And her green eyes sparkled. He’d never noticed the tiny golden flecks in her irises before. He tried to keep his face neutral, but it was hard when he wished he had the right to pull her into his arms right then and there.

Her smile widened. “Sure. I’d like that.”

He hoped she didn’t feel pressured. “How about tonight?” he asked. “Would you like to go out to dinner?”

Alessandro clapped his hands softly a couple of times. “Bravo. Now, that’s settled. Do you need anything else, Malcolm?”

He pulled his attention from Alanza toward her father. “No, sir. Thank you.”

They shook hands. “Now, please excuse me, I must finish this.” And Alessandro returned to his paperwork.

The bright smile Alanza flashed him went straight to his heart. I praise and thank You, Lord, for this beautiful woman You have created for me.

“What time?”

What time? When does she get off work? As soon as possible would be good. Calm down and think straight!

“What time would work for you, Alanza?”

“How about seven?”

“Fine. Where do you live? I’ll come pick you up there.”

After Alanza gave him the address, he said his goodbyes, then went out to his car, unable to stop smiling. It’s going to happen!

*****

Alanza had a hard time keeping her mind on work. Malcolm MacGregor asked Poppa if he could date her! Wow. She didn’t think he realized how often she gazed over at him while he was in the restaurant. It had become a habit for her to glance at the door every time it opened between one and two p.m. Even though she knew she’d see him tonight and he had no reason to come back in for lunch, she still looked up every single time the door opened. She hoped no one noticed… especially not Poppa.

When it was almost five, her father stopped by the cash register. “Alanza, you can go home and get ready for your date tonight.”

“But, Poppa, the evening rush will start soon. I could stay at least an hour longer.”

He gave her one of his special smiles. “No, I want you to have plenty of time to get ready.”

That’s all it took. She whipped off her apron and headed to the employee break room to get her things out of her locker. In less than ten minutes, she drove toward her apartment, her heart singing.

While getting ready, she thought about all of the things she liked about Malcolm MacGregor. She loved him being so much taller than she was. At five-foot-eleven, not many men were. She could even wear high heels and not be as tall as he was. He had to be at least six-foot-three—maybe more. He looked strong, but not too buff. Not like those crazy guys who worked out so much that they were musclebound. His sky-blue eyes held intelligence, humor, and warmth. She’d never been interested in a guy with red hair before. But his was a rich auburn with just enough waviness that she’d never seen it in disarray. And when he’d leaned on the counter and talked to her while paying his bill, he smelled very masculine and woodsy. It lingered in the air for a few moments after he left the restaurant.

Alanza sang along with the playlist on her smart phone while in the shower and blow drying her hair. When she went to her walk-in closet, she couldn’t decide what to wear. Why hadn’t she asked Malcolm where they were going? She didn’t know whether to dress up or dress down.

It had started to get chilly before she left work and it would get really cold after the sun went down, so she decided to dress in layers. Navy slacks with knee-high black boots. A rich green, long-sleeved blouse with an attached scarf that tied into a bow near her throat. On top of that, her favorite sweater in shades of green and navy. Then she pulled out a long wool coat with a quilted lining.

Alanza glanced at the clock. He’ll be here in fifteen minutes. Will he be early or late? Maybe just on time.

~*~
Author Bio:

Multi-published author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 900,000 copies of her books sold. 

She is a member of ACFW and the local chapter ACFW - DFW. She’s a member of Christian Authors’ Network and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.

Lena has been on the ECPA and CBA Bestseller lists, Publisher’s Weekly bestseller list, and several Amazon Bestseller lists as well as a reviewer’s Top Ten Books of 2011. She has won over a dozen major awards.

She hosts “The Lena Nelson Dooley Show” on the Along Came a Writer Blogtalk radio network.

~*~
Blurb for Lena's book, The 12 Gifts of Christmas:

Malcolm MacGregor is a descendant of Scotland’s Clan MacGregor and a successful young businessman in Fort Worth, Texas. Alanza Cantalamessa works at a gourmet pizzeria owned by her Brazilian artist mother and her Italian Poppa. 

Both of them are smitten with each other but Malcolm is too reserved to do much more than make small talk—until a promotion at work that will send him away to Australia for six months. It’s December and he has to do something—fast.

Praying about the situation, Malcolm decides to give her twelve gifts leading up to Christmas. Their families and friends think they are moving too fast. And a gold-digger who tossed Malcolm aside in the past has now decided he’s the man of her dreams.

Can Malcolm and Alanza overcome their obstacles before he has to go abroad? Or is it really not meant to be?

~*~
Book Review from A. R. S. on Amazon about The 12 Gifts of Christmas:

4.0 out of 5 stars Contemporary old-fashioned romance
October 20, 2018
Format: Paperback

This was a cute story that takes place in modern day about a man who has found the woman he wants to marry and pursues her. Malcolm has set up a time schedule for himself and is intent on making Alanza, whom he has only ever met at her parent’s restaurant, his wife. He wants to be married before he leaves for Australia for a 6-month stint for his job.

Although this story is a bit out of the box, I really enjoyed watching Malcolm’s pursuit of Alanza. At first, he did come off a bit strong, but as I got to know him along with Alanza, he became more romantic and a true Scottish hero. I was pleasantly surprised as there were a couple of surprising twists and turns to the story of a man giving twelve gifts to a woman he barely knows but wants to marry.

This was a cute and fun recommended holiday read. I received a complimentary copy of this novel. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

~*~
Buy Lena's book on Amazon

~*~
Connect with Lena:
Website: www.lenanelsondooley.com
Blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenandooley/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lenandooley
Official Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lena-Nelson-Dooley-42960748768/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/333031.Lena_Nelson_Dooley
Blogtalk Radio, The Lena Nelson Dooley Show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/alongcameawriter/2018/08/21/the-lena-nelson-dooley-show
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenanelsondooley/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lenanelsondooley
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPAIDE
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lena-nelson-dooley

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

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Let Love Bloom: Lena's story

Interview with Lena Nelson Dooley about A Heart’s Gift:

Alexis: Congratulations on your book winning RWA’s Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award! Let’s talk about your award-winning story. What inspired you to write A Heart’s Gift?

Lena: I love "marriage of convenience" stories. This one percolated in my mind for quite some time before I wrote it.

Alexis: Who is Franklin? Describe his heart and his motivation.

Lena: He is in guarding his heart mode at the beginning of the book.

Alexis: Why is Franklin so guarded?

Lena: He had been engaged several years before, and she walked out on him not long before the wedding. This strong cowboy decided never to give his heart again.

Alexis: Franklin is torn between guarding his heart and wooing a woman because he wants an heir. Why?

Lena: Actually, he doesn’t plan to woo her. He plans to marry her to help her so she won’t have to worry about how she will take care of her newborn son.

Alexis: Who is Lorinda? Describe her personality and her motivation. 

Lena: Lorinda was mistreated by her father and uncle after her mother died when she was only 5 years old. The men were mean drunks, so they didn’t really have much since they drank away most of the money they made.

Alexis: What is Lorinda’s deepest desire and her greatest fear?

Lena: She really wanted to get away from their domination. 

Alexis: Give us a glimpse into Lorinda’s backstory. Who is her son’s father? What happened to him?

Lena: Her first husband rescued her in the middle of the night and took her to a parson in another town to marry him. He leaves to take the gold from their mine to Denver. He never returns.

Alexis: Why is Lorinda struggling to provide for her infant son? What or who gives her hope in her trying situation?

Lena: An arsonist burned the cabin where she lived while she was pregnant.

Alexis: What role does your characters’ faith in God play in their story?

Lena: When Lorinda spends much of the winter alone in the cabin, the only book she had to read was the Bible. That’s when she came to know the Lord.

Alexis: What attracts Franklin to Lorinda and what softens Lorinda’s heart to his?

Lena: I don’t want to give away that much of the story. I will tell you that while I was writing it, God turned the story into a suspense novel about 2/3 of the way through.

Alexis: What do you want people to remember most about this story?

Lena: That God’s plans for you are always best and often far different from what you planned.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Lena! Would you like to share closing thoughts?

Lena: I love my readers. They are on my mind while I’m writing any book. I love to hear from fans. I really appreciate those who write reviews of my novels.

~*~
Author Bio:

Multi-published, award-winning author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 875,000 copies of her 40+ books sold. Her books have appeared on the CBA, Publisher’s Weekly, and ECPA bestseller lists, as well as Amazon bestseller lists. 

She has experience in screenwriting, acting, directing, and voice-overs. She is on the Board of Directors for Higher Ground Films and is one of the screenwriters for their upcoming film Abducted to Kill. She has been featured in articles in Christian Retailing, ACFW Journal, Charisma Magazine, and Christian Fiction Online Magazine. Her article in CFOM was the cover story.

In addition to her writing, Lena is a frequent speaker at women’s groups, writers groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally. The Lena Nelson Dooley Show is on the "Along Came A Writer" Blogtalk Radio network.

Lena has an active web presence on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Linkedin and with her internationally connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books. Her blog has a reach of over 65,000.

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the local chapter, ACFW - DFW. Lena is a member of Christian Authors’ Network, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.

~*~
Book Blurb for A Heart's Gift:

Because of an earlier betrayal, Franklin vows never to open his heart to another woman. But he desires an heir.

When Lorinda is finally out from under the control of men who made all the decisions in her life, she promises herself she will never allow a man to control her again. But how can she provide for her infant son?

Marriage seems like the perfect arrangement until two people from Franklin's past endanger Lorinda. How can he save her? And how will this affect the way they feel about each other?

Buy Lena's book on Amazon

~*~

Connect with Lena:
Website - www.lenanelsondooley.com
Blog - Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/lenandooley/
Facebook - www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley
Twitter - www.twitter.com/lenandooley
Official Fan Page - www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/333031.Lena_Nelson_Dooley
Christianbook.com - https://bit.ly/1zMnrxp
The Lena Nelson Dooley Show "Along Came A Writer" on Blog Talk Radio -

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/alongcameawriter/2018/04/17/the-lena-nelson-dooley-show
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenanelsondooley/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lenanelsondooley
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPAIDE
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lena-nelson-dooley

~*~

Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

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Summer Love: Lena's story about marriage and trusting in God

Interview questions for Lena Nelson Dooley, author of A Heart’s Gift: 

Alexis: What was the inspiration behind your book, A Heart’s Gift?

Lena: I love marriage-of-convenience novels. The idea for the book percolated in my head for several years. I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer, and I pray a lot while I’m writing the book. God planted ideas for things I’d never thought about, and at two-thirds of the way or so through the book, He turned it into a suspense novel.

Alexis: Why did you write this book?

Lena: After all that time in my head and heart, I had to write it.

Alexis: What do you hope your readers will take away from this book?

Lena: A new understanding of just what a marriage-of-convenience is, according to scripture. And the understanding that God sometimes provides His supernatural answers to your problems.

Alexis: The hero of your story is Franklin and he’s very guarded. Why? Give us insight into his character, hopes, personality, and flaws.

Lena: If I tell you the reason, it will give away some of the vital information of the story. I can tell you that Franklin has a hard time trusting anyone, even God. He doesn’t want to open his heart, but he does want an heir to leave his ranch to.

Alexis: The heroine of your story is Lorinda and she is a liberated woman who vows to never let a man control her again. Why does she have this firm resolve? Share her backstory and describe her goal/motivation/conflict.

Lena: Lorinda had a hard time after her mother died when she was very young. Her father and uncle were alcoholics and mistreated her. Her first husband rescued her from them, and he was good to her in many ways, but he also thought that women didn’t have any say in the decision making.

Alexis: Why does Franklin want to protect Lorinda? What is about her that draws him in?

Lena: From the first moment he saw her, he was drawn to her. She’s beautiful and has a lot of gumption.

Alexis: What does Lorinda think of Franklin? Is her first impression of him her lasting impression? Explain.

Lena: The first time she meets him, he’s just the rancher who lives in the valley below. I can’t explain anymore without revealing too much of the story.

Alexis: What is the moral of this story?

Lena: God is always on your side. You can trust Him with everything.

Alexis: Who are your favorite authors? Name two then tell us which one of their books you cannot live without.

Lena: Francine Rivers (author) – Redeeming Love (book)

Because I read voraciously, it would be hard for me to choose just one more.

Alexis: What do you do when you’re not writing?

Lena: Both of my daughters and their husbands, children, and grandchildren live close by. We get together a lot. I volunteer at church, where we’re very active. I teach writing workshops. And I read a lot.

Alexis: If you were not an author, what would you like to be?

Lena: At my age, I’ve done most of the other jobs I’ve wanted to have—drama director, actress, radio voice-overs, live theater scriptwriter, screenwriter.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Lena! Do you have any final comments?

Lena: Thank you for hosting me here. I love to connect with other readers. If a book club chooses one of my books to read, I’ll gladly Skype with them when they meet.

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Author Bio:

Multi-published author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 875,000 copies of her books sold. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the local chapter, ACFW - DFW. She’s a member of Christian Authors’ Network and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.

She has been on the ECPA and CBA Bestseller lists, Publisher’s Weekly bestseller list, and several Amazon Bestseller lists as well as a reviewers’ Top Ten Books of 2011. Her awards include: Will Rogers Medallion Awards, the Selah Award, Reader’s Choice book award, a Reader’s Choice blog award. She has finaled in the Can Golden Scroll Award, and finaled three times in for the Carol Award. A Heart’s Gift is currently a finalist in the Faith, Hope, and Love Chapter of RWA’s Readers’ Choice Award for long historical. Lena has also been featured in several magazines, including Charisma and Christian Retailing. She’s been on one magazine cover.

In addition to her writing, Lena is a frequent speaker at women’s groups, writers groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally. She hosts “The Lena Nelson Dooley Show” on the "Along Came a Writer" blog radio network.

Lena has an active web presence on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn and with her internationally connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books.

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Book blurb: Because of an earlier betrayal, Franklin vows never to open his heart to another woman. But he desires an heir. 

When Lorinda is finally out from under the control of men who made all the decisions in her life, she promises herself she will never allow a man to control her again. But how can she provide for her infant son? 

Marriage seems like the perfect arrangement until two people from Franklin's past endanger Lorinda. How can he save her? And how will this affect the way they feel about each other?

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Buy Lena’s book on Amazon via Kindle or paperback

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Connect with Lena:
Website ~ Blog ~ Pinterest ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Official Fan Page ~ Goodreads ~

Blogtalk Radio, The Lena Nelson Dooley Show ~ Instagram ~ Amazon Author Page

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