Tina Dee Books

~ Welcome to my website ~

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Thank you for stopping by. This website is designed for you to feel encouraged and refreshed. I would like to share a little about myself, the books I write, and the things in my life that I'd love to spend a little more time doing. Maybe we'll do a few of them together.

I write the kind of books I enjoy reading - gentle romances. If you are a fan of Lori Wick you will enjoy reading my novels.

Who doesn't enjoy a great romance? I write to warm the hearts and touch the souls of my readers. Whether reading one or writing one, I enjoy the journey the characters take me on as their stories leap off the pages and draw me to another place and time.

These characters will remain with you long after you've finished the book. Currently I'm finishing the first book of a trilogy, set in the 1880s in the beautiful historic gold-mining town of Julian, California. Please visit my page on Julian and make plans to visit any of the wonderful bed & breakfasts during your favorite season.

Here's a little hint of the book I'm working on:

A HOME FOR THE HEART
Book One of The Butterfield Trails Series

Lara Bowman questions her destiny when she returns to her father's ranch - her hopes are dashed and her dreams slip away as she faces her greatest loss.

Cole Branston worked hard. He dreamed of the day he would have his own ranch. His dream came true, but not the way he had planned.

Can Lara trust her heart to a man who has already deceived her, and now owns all that should rightfully have been hers? Can she trust his God, who has taken away all she once held dear? The love of family, the sense of belonging, the security of home - all she ever wanted but everything she lost.

Savor a few quiet moments in a gentle romance with Lara and Cole as they seek to find their way to one another and to the heart of God.

When you have A HOME FOR THE HEART I invite you to stir a glass of lemonade or ice tea, get cozy in your favorite chair and lose yourself in the pages of a gentle romance.

Come back often. When A HOME FOR THE HEART finds its own home with a publishing house I'll let you know in my newsletter.

Thanks for dropping by. And, don't forget to sign up for the newsletter!

Tina's Blog

2007-01-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

About Tina

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Love Everlasting

Would you believe I met the love of my life nearly twenty years ago while serving in the United States military?

Still, over the span of the last two decades I'm learning to love Him and only just beginning to grasp the depth of His love for me. Now, it may sound like I'm speaking of my sweet husband, but I'm not. All those years ago in a small military office after work, a co-worker shared with me that the God of all the universe want me for Himself.

That amazed me. I'm still amazed. I'd found love in the fact that He didn't just say that He loved me, He demonstrated His love for me by paying for all my wrong choices, all my mistakes.

He put love not only to words but to action, so I could have a relationship with Him personally - for all eternity. He loves me so much that He wants me with Him forever.

What do you believe about His love for you? If God wrote you a love letter would you read it? If He had something to say to you, would you listen?

Where is your heart right now? Are you content? What is your deepest desire? Do you know, right now, Jesus knows all these things about you? His love for you is immeasurable. He is inviting you to know Him and experience His love for you. What will you do?

What is it that puts distance between us and God? The Bible declares that God wants a deep relationship with each of us. But, just as in a marriage relationship, when a spouse offends or doesn't honor their mate the relationship suffers.

Only when we seek reconciliation, and take responsibility for our offense, can healing and restoration begin. So it is with God, sin separates us from Him, He cannot be okay with it because He is holy, pure. Sin is offensive and contaminates. We need to seek His forgiveness, accept His sacrifice to pay the penalty of our sins, and receive Him into our hearts and our lives.

Do you like gifts? Well, His gift is a raging, deep, and sacrificial love for you; and the offer of eternal life with Him. All you have to do is accept that gift into your heart. Sounds to me like the best happily-ever-after ever.

Relationships take work. Great relationships take commitment. Commit to visiting with Jesus every day in prayer and through the reading of His love letter to you - the Bible. Start with the book of John in the New Testament.

My Writing

I became interested in writing historical romances in my teens. I scribbled out several pages, but the story never came together. How could it? I didn't know romance, had not experienced it yet. I read general market 'romances' but they lacked something very important - love. They had passion and lust, but that one crucial element we women search for was missing - real love. Physical attraction is great, wonderful. But without a rich and tenderhearted passion for one another, it's just forbidden lust.

In 1998, I attended a writer's conference where I heard the name of Lori Wick. I wrote her name down and bought her book, The Princess published by Harvest House. I had found my favorite author. I hope my readers will enjoy the same powerful experience of falling in love that I have when reading one of Lori's books. If you like Lori Wick's books, you'll enjoy mine too.

Sign up for my newsletter and I'll let you know when I've found a publishing home and have a release date for A HOME FOR THE HEART.

Thanks for coming along with me on the path to publishing this work of my heart.

Blessings to you!

Contest!

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Sign up for my monthly newsletter and you'll be entered in the next contest drawing. You only need to sign up once at either my website or at my blog. It's the same newsletter.

If you leave a comment on my blog you'll receive another entry for the contest. And yet another way to be entered is to link to my blog. Three entries every month as long as you are signed up for my newsletter, linked to my blog, and leave a comment at least once a month. Don't worry, if you forget to leave a comment one month, I'll still give you the other two entries as long as you're still signed up for the newsletter and linked to my blog.

Refer a friend and they leave a comment, sign-up for the newsletter, and link to my blog, that's another three entries for you--every month!

So get those entries--sign-up for my newsletter, link to my blog, and refer a friend to do the same.

(Void where prohibited.)

~ Book Reviews ~

2005-02-02T12:11:00.000-08:00

Tina Dee Book Reviews

5 stars is the highest possible rating

____________________________________________________________________

Shadow of Danger (4 stars)
by Jeanne Marie Leach
Treble Heart Books - April 15, 2008

Leach weaves a wonderful story of love and hope, with a thread of suspense, in her latest novel Shadow of Danger.

In the deepest hours of night, Rachel Ringhold finds herself on the run from an unknown danger. She must get away—peril follows close on her heal. After rugged traverse, she arrives in Leadville, Colorado hungry, thirsty, and exhausted, but filled with hope—straight into the arms of Seb Jameson.

But Seb’s intended, Myra, is none too happy about Rachel’s return to Seb’s life. Myra’s dreams of marriage are threatened with the arrival of Seb’s old friend, Rachel. Myra sets out to keep from losing her man. Meanwhile, Seb struggles to understand the new, but odd behavior from his beloved Myra.

Seb’s friendship with Rachel only draws him deeper into her world and closer to danger, which now threatens his life as well. With faith and hope, and through mysterious danger, these individuals find more than just answers.

I recommend this read for anyone wanting a heroine with a strong struggle and an even stronger heart—and a hero who realizes his heart’s true desire, but hopes he’s not too late. Find a warm spot in the sun and enjoy this book and its lovely characters. It will be time well spent.

Julian, California

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The sweet mountain town of Julian holds more than just charm for me. For some reason whenever we pull into the town of Julian my heart feels like it's come home.

Julian is an historic gold-mining town approximately an hour east of San Diego, CA. The town was founded following the Civil War. Displaced Confederate veterans Drue Bailey and Mike Julian came from Georgia to seek their fortunes in a new and mostly unsettled land. Here they found a beautiful meadow to their liking and both decided to stay.

Julian takes it's name after Mike Julian, who later went on to become the San Diego County Assessor. The town has never boasted more than 600 residents and fewer, about 300, call Julian's historic district home these days.

In 1869, cattleman Fred Coleman found gold in a creek. Thus began the first and only gold rush in San Diego County. But the Julian gold rush was short lived and many folks turned to ranching and farming. Several orchards were planted, but the one fruit that Julian is known for today are the delicious and crisp apples. It's rumored that the apple pies, turnovers, and cider draw more than 10,000 visitors every year in the fall, during the Julian Apple Days festival.

Julian is a now considered one of the best romantic destinations in the state, enticing visitors to the area with its many Bed & Breakfast Inns. This lovely little town has always been the B & B capital of Southern California.

The gentle rolling hills of Julian are covered in a forest of Pine and Oak and a carpet of tall green grass in the spring, which turns a golden brown in summer. In the fall, leaves take on a riot of color in crimson, amber, and orange. The crisp chilly air and a blanket of snow herald winter's arrival. I just love hearing that crunch of snow underfoot and the sight of the clouds hanging low in the high valleys of these mountains. Absolutely breath-taking.

Recipes

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Summer is near! All year long I dream of this fabulous easy-to-make peach pie. I spied peaches at the grocer yesterday and you better believe this pie will be made in my house this week!

This recipe has been handed down a couple of generations and is submitted by Nora Gustafson's granddaughter. Her granddaughter just happens to be one my favorite people in the world, one of my very best friends.

Lord bless the hands and heart of Mrs. Gustafson. Thank you for this fabulous peach cream pie!

Peach Pie
Nora Gustafson

5 - 6 big ripe peaches

2/3 c. sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

4 tbsp flour

½ tsp salt

1 c. whip cream

Boil water, add peaches. Cook for 1½ minutes. Drop in cold water for 1½ minutes. Peel, cut them in half, and put them in the pie shell. (Or, if you prefer sliced peaches, just peel and slice. Don’t boil. ) Stir together other ingredients. Pour over peaches. Cook at 400 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Filling must wiggle, but be set in the middle. Chill for several hours for pie to set completely. It’s really better the second day.

~ Author Interviews ~

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Jeanne M. Leach (www.jeannemarieleach.com)

Jeanne Marie Leach has a reputation in the writing world. She's known as, "hands down, slam-dunk one of the most delightful writers." I've heard nearly those same words from a few different writers. Jeanne and I are in a couple of the same writers groups, and I don't know how she does it, she is one busy lady. And yes, it's true; she is a delightful and dear lady. She took some time from her hectic schedule to let us know a little about herself and her recent release, Shadow of Danger. I highly recommend this book. You can read my review of it on Amazon.com--while you order her book!

1) How did this story come about? What inspired it and the characters?

I love American history. Whenever I go somewhere on vacation or otherwise, I never get tee-shirts or trinkets. I buy books about the history of the area. Colorado is steeped in western history, and everywhere you go in this state, the background of the area is replete with bawdy and rowdy characters.

At the time I first conceived this story, historical writers were being warned that the mail-order bride story had been done to death, so stay away from it. Once I decided on a time period and that the story would take place in Leadville, this limited me since the town had only got started as a mining camp a few years prior. All young ladies of good reputation who came to the town had to have already been married, a mail-order bride, or engaged to someone in town.

I had to invent a reason for my heroine to get to Leadville, and thus I started my brainstorming session as to how and why she’d come to such a rough and tumble area.

2) Leadville CO, why there?

It’s no secret that I am partial to Colorado history, and I live only 45 minutes from Leadville. I’d been there many times, and knew I wanted to write a story set there. I’m partial to the 1880’s when the state was still a youngling, and Leadville had already been established a few years earlier and had boomed into a huge city practically overnight.

3) What's Leadville most known for?

It’s known for its roots in mining: first gold, then silver, and in the last century and into this one, molybdenum. During its heyday, the silver baron, Horace Tabor and his infamous second wife, whose stage name was Baby Doe, opened an opera house, the biggest and most elaborately decorated building in the state at that time. They wanted to bring some culture to the Wild West, and the Tabor Opera House is still standing today. The Leadville Historical Society is working on renovating and restoring it back to its original opulence.

When Horace Tabor was on his deathbed, practically penniless because of silver prices plummeting, he told Baby Doe to “hold onto the Matchless.” The Matchless mine was his favorite, and when his wife had nowhere else to go, she moved into a shack at the Matchless and lived out her days there as a recluse, penniless, old lady. It has only recently been discovered that she had sold the mine, and the new owners felt sorry for her and allowed her to stay there, so she was even more of a pauper than we’d been led to believe for the last hundred years.

4) What kind of research did you do for this book? Did you visit Leadville in your research for Shadow of Danger?

I made several trips to Leadville while writing the book. I went to the Tabor Opera House and actually sat in one of the original wooden seats. I wrote pages of descriptions from all areas of the building while my hubby and friends took the tour.

I had to drive around the town and make sure that if I put a house on the corner of a particular street, there really would have been a house on that corner in 1879.

I also used several books in the library, the Leadville Historical Society, and the internet for my research. I love research!

5) What was your favorite scene to write?

I enjoyed writing the whole book, but if I had to pick a scene, it would be when Seb first finds Rachel in his blacksmith shop. I am a hopeless romantic, and I could see it being played out in my head. Malnourished, stinking, and filthy, he has to pick her up off of the hay to get her out of his business. Then, when she opens her eyes, he knew who she was, and his heart nearly leapt out of his chest. Nobody else in the world had eyes like that.

I grew up with a girl in school who had eyes colored two distinct colors, and I never forgot them. Even back then, I started collecting ideas for stories, and I knew I had to write about someone with those eyes. Rachel was the perfect character to possess such exotic eyes.

6) Did you have a character, other than the heroine, that you felt really close to or enjoyed writing for? Why?

What writer doesn’t like the hero of their story? Seb was fun to write. Poor misguided, nice, pie-in-the-sky Seb. Rachel’s arrival set in motion the events that caused him to face his own deficiencies.

I also liked writing Seb’s best friend, Coty. I’ve had several requests to write a sequel with Coty as the hero, and I’m giving it some thought. J

7) A lot of readers wish they could write, feel they have a story burning within just waiting to be told. How are you in a unique position to help them realize that dream?

(See the last two paragraphs of question 10) I had to learn the hard way by trial and error. I found the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) after I’d already signed my first contract in 2000. Through this wonderful organization, I learned so much about writing fiction. I began noticing how many beginning writers were frustrated and ready to give up. So I offered to mentor them as well as encourage them to not give up. After coaching several who went on to become writing contest winners and finalists, I decided that I loved passing on what I’d learned.

I believe everything that happens to us in this life can be used by God to help other people in the Kingdom. So, passing on the valuable information I’ve gleaned over the past 13 years since I first started writing gives God honor and glory.

After studying how to be a copyeditor for a year and a half, I started my own freelance editing and coaching service and now work at it full-time. I still give away the information whenever prompted by God.

I also wrote a book, Writing Basics for Beginners, to help new writers jumpstart their writing careers. It can be ordered from www.Booklocker.com.

8) After hearing your answer to the last question, what would be their first step toward writing?

Exercise BIC Syndrome (Butt in Chair). Sit down and start writing. It doesn’t matter whether you have a clue how to write well. You don’t need to know how to format a manuscript or how and who to submit it to. There are many steps in the writing process, and worrying about where you’re going to send it before it’s even written is like putting the cart before the horse. There isn’t anything you can’t learn once you begin writing. Just get your story down on paper (or in the computer). Join a writer’s group like the ACFW (www.ACFW.com). There are so many groups out there that for a nominal annual membership fee will teach you the vast “rules” of writing as you write.

WRITE IT DOWN.

9) What authors and books did you enjoy in your teens? What about now--who do you like to read now?

I’ve never been asked this one before. In my teens I was into Laura Ingalls Wilder, and was probably on my third time through the whole series. I know I read others similar to her writings, but I can’t remember them right now. After all, that was forty years ago. J

While my brothers and sister were out riding bikes during the summer months and on weekends during school months, I also watched every black and white Shirley Temple movie she made.

10) Tell us how you started your journey in writing and also in being a writing coach.

All my adult life I've been daydreaming different stories. I'd play out the lives of my characters over a period of six months to a year. When I was about 40 years old, I became concerned that I was spending too much time in my make-believe world, so I finally got up the nerve to tell my Clinical Psychologist father-in-law about my 'problem'.

He leaned forward in his chair, the prominent wrinkles between his eyebrows becoming even more pronounced. "Do you envision yourself doing bad things to these characters?"

"Well, sometimes bad things happen - like car accidents, or someone tripping and breaking their leg."

"No, I mean do YOU actually perpetrate bad things to these characters?"

I'm sure my eyes grew wide as saucers by then. "No!" I shook my head vehemently. "These are merely stories that I invent."

He let out a breath of relief. I could tell because the wrinkles went back to their normal depth. Dad relaxed against the back of his chair. "The only difference between you and a writer is that a writer writes these stories down."

A writer? Could it be...?

So, I sat at the computer and started to write. Ten books later, it was my husband's turn to influence me. He looked at me one day and said, "If you don't start sending those books out to a publisher, I'm revoking your computer privileges. The amount of time you spend there on this 'hobby' of yours is ridiculous. There needs to be a purpose to all of this."

Submit my 'babies' for someone else to read? Is this the type of stuff people want to read? So, thus began my writing career.

Then, after being in a critique group and studying more about the complexities of writing, I started responding to new writer’s pleas for help. So often I see them become frustrated to the point of wanting to quit. I knew that if I could learn the ins and outs of writing fiction, anyone can, so I started helping new writers on their journeys. The first person I coached went on to win the first annual Noble Theme Contest (now the Genesis Contest).

I realized I enjoy editing as much as I enjoy writing, so two years ago, I took classes through the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. One year later, I hung out my shingle and within six months I was able to quit my day job and work exclusively as a freelance editor and a writer. This is my dream job. J

11) How do you like to spend your free time? LOL--do you remember the last time you had it?

Scrapbooking, American history, reading, Jeeping, interior decorating, buying and selling on eBay, reading, snowshoeing, winning the local annual chili cook-off, watching movies, reading, and my husband and I are Denver Broncos season ticket holders. He likes to go early to watch the teams warm up, so I take a book and . . . you guessed it. . . I read.

Jeanne, thanks for your time and sharing with us. Lord bless you!

Thank you for hosting me today, Tina. Anyone interested in ordering my books can visit my website at www.jeannemarieleach.com.

God bless you too!

Autism & Kibbles' Rockin' Clubhouse

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I had the privilege to be a member of the writing team for Kibbles' Rockin'
Clubhouse, a new video for children with autism and their families.

A portion of the proceeds from sales of the video are donated to the Autism Tree Foundation. Also, Kibbles' Rockin' Clubhouse is listed on Autism Speaks' website as a recommended resource.

To see clips of the Kibbles video click here. Click on the first picture to the left under the black 'screen' and all the clips will play. The music clip in the flower fields is especially beautiful. The rhythm in this song is set to that of a resting heartbeat. Music and lyrics are written by Angela Neve.

If you have a family member with autism, or you know someone who does, please pass the Kibbles Rockin' Clubhouse website address to them: www.NoteAbilities.com

Please take a moment to read the story of two very incredible people, Ann & Scott Leslie, and their journey after a diagnosis revealed autism in their adorable little boy. Please follow the link www.NoteAbilities.com and peruse their website.

OUR STORY by Ann & Scott Leslie
Pictured on the right are Scott and his son, Gage, on the set of Kibbles' Rockin' Clubhouse.

As the parents of a child with autism, Scott and Ann Leslie understand the need for therapeutic products that capture their son Gage’s interest in a fun and motivational medium, while helping to improve his behavioral and communication skills.

Scott and Ann, together with speech therapist Kara Dodds and music therapists Angela Neve and Julie Guy, formed NoteAbilities, Inc. and began the creation of the video series "Kibbles' Rockin' Clubhouse."