Too Good to Be True . . .

Too good to be true . . .

Another giveaway!

A long-buried secret.

An unexpected encounter.

A quest for answers.

Celeste Tatem, a special-education teacher at The Brighton Center in Schreiber, Indiana, couldn’t be more in love with her husband, Joe. But the memory of one day in the past haunts her, threatening their relationship. When Joe dies in a factory explosion, she sinks into depression.

It will take the arrival of a new student, Lily, and her delightful honesty, laughter, and joy at life’s little things to awaken Celeste to hope. When Don, an old flame from college, reenters Celeste’s world, the flickers of love stir once again, and startling questions arise. Questions that threaten to rip the veneer off of her carefully guarded secret. Then the most unexpected thing of all happens….

A story of love and forgiveness

in the most unexpected places.

Recently, Laughing with Lily received a 5-star review from a reader in Texas:

"Read this book and you will experience a whole range of emotions through the written words of Eileen Rife. Reading this book would be a gift you give to yourself. Reading Laughing With Lily is a lesson in grief, forgiveness and love. It's a book that will stay in your heart long after you've finished reading it. I actually read this aloud to my husband and we talked. My Joe and me. It opened doors I thought were long shut, unlocked a long-held secret. All thanks to this one book. Others have given a synopsis so let me just say that Laughing with Lily will grab hold of your heart and not let go, you'll grin and then you'll tear up, and I bet you'll murmur an oh wow or two! SO well written that I'd give 10 stars if I could."

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602900795 

Looking for an entertaining and meaningful read? Leave a comment and enter to win an ebook copy of Laughing with Lily! Winner announced on April 15.  

What about Mom?

What about Mom?

Yeah, what about Mom? That precious lady who kissed away all the hurts, tucked you into bed as a child, insisted you eat your vegetables and wash behind your ears . . . 

And showed you how to live. Prayerfully, your mother taught from the Book. But even if she didn't open God's Word and point to chapter and verse, perhaps she unknowingly passed along a value, like eating right or treating others with kindness, that you've passed down to your children.

With that in mind, don't forget Mother's Day coming up on May 12! Let's honor our precious mothers by remembering them and treating them with extra special kindness. Gifts go a long way in showing our moms that we appreciate their years of investment in our lives. 

If your mom likes to read, consider gifting one of my books which deal with a variety of contemporary issues . . . 

My latest release, Laughing with Lily, is a story full of the unexpected, with many twists and turns, and of course romance! Deals with abortion, infertility, adoption, foster care, burn victim trauma, special education, home schooling.

Second Chance offers a mix of humor and suspense as an empty nest mom deals with her new season of life. Covers topics such as marriage in the second half of life, purpose in a new season of life, volunteering, inner city ministry, gangs and drugs--all through a fun and meaningful story.

Perhaps your mom likes to travel. My Born for India trilogy takes the reader to Chennai, India to join the Oasis Compound staff as they face the challenges of serving the Lord on foreign soil. Follow Maggie's journey, a single missionary gal, as she meets Gavin, the new compound doctor. Could love await? If your mom enjoys a sweet romance packaged with a meaningful message, this is the book to gift. 

Book two in the Born for India trilogy deals with a missionary kid, Gavin's brother, returning to his roots in India to escape same-sex attraction. If your mom's dealing with a family member or friend involved in a homosexual lifestyle, I'd strongly recommend this book. As one reader noted: "Restored Hearts will forever change the way I view people. Prayerfully, I will approach others with more compassion, reaching out to help rather than hurt."

If your mother's concerned about trafficked victims, this is the book to gift. Missionary couple, Dan and Yvonne Pratt, experience the heartbreak of infertility. Their lives are about to change when a young Nepali girl ends up on the compound doorstep. 

If your mom would like to visit Maui, but can't afford to go, this is the book for her! Light, refreshing, yet meaningful read via 31 short devotional vignettes that also serve as a delightful travel log. 

Learn more about these gifts at the following locations:

http://www.amazon.com/Eileen-Rife/e/B003O405FO

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find/1339452077?Ntt=eileen+rife&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1&search=

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/eileen-rife?store=allproducts&keyword=eileen+rife

 

And let your Mom know you love her this Mother's Day!

Tag, you're it!

In response to an "author tag," I've jumped in to play! Here's a brief interview about my upcoming novel, Laughing with Lily.

What is the working title of your book?

Laughing with Lily

Where did the idea come from for the book?

My heart has long been burdened for women who’ve aborted their babies. I wanted to profile this issue through my central characters, plus revisit a setting where my husband and I shared our early marriage years.

What genre does your book fall under?

Women’s fiction

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Hmm . . .  good question. Possibly Evangeline Lilly for the lead. Co-lead, Christian Bale. Not so much for the roles they’ve played or what they stand for, but for their physical appearance.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

An infertile woman grieves over an abortion her husband knows nothing about. 

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

OakTara has contracted Laughing with Lily for release in 2013-14.

How long did it take to write the first draft of your manuscript?

About one year

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Tough one . . . since Laughing with Lily takes many unexpected twists and turns, I would equate it to an Angela Hunt story, and given the issue, perhaps a Francine Rivers’ book.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

As I mentioned earlier, my heart for women experiencing the grief and loss resulting from abortion prompted me to write Celeste’s story.

What else might pique the reader's interest?

If you enjoy a story that keeps you guessing, Laughing with Lily is for you!

A sneak peek . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF1vqXVbqsw&feature=player_detailpage 

~~

Below are three other authors I've tagged. Check out their blogs at the following locations!

ritagerlach.blogspot.com

sherriwilsonjohnson.blogspot.com

lynnettebonner.blogspot.com