It seems every time I turn on the television, they’re talking about the dire fiscal cliff we face as a nation. That’s why I’m offering an escape from all this bad news. I know it’s not a fix, and my escape is only temporary, but I’m offering three Advance Reader Copies of my upcoming book to help anyone suffering the same dour feelings that seem so prevalent lately.

I think it’s true that each book an author writes becomes their favorite while they’re writing it, at least that’s mostly been the case for me. My next novel, All In Good Time, was not only fun, but even as I’m nearly one hundred pages into a new project, I’m still thinking back on this one as a favorite. Always a good sign!

Another good sign was the fact that one of my beta readers—my sister who is an avid reader of Christian fiction—gave me a big thumbs up with the most welcome compliment ever: This is one of your best!

That sounds like a winning combination, having my oh-so-honest sister tell me she enjoyed it, and my own lingering memories of how much fun this book was to put together. Henry Hawkins, my Scrooge-like banker, was my favorite hero to watch evolve from a hard-hearted businessman to a someone willing to do whatever it takes to win the heroine’s love.

Here’s the wonderful back cover copy, which my editor put together for me:

Dessa Caldwell has a dream: to open Pierson House, a refuge for former prostitutes in Denver’s roughest neighborhood. But after exhausting all charitable donations, Dessa still needs a loan, and nearly every bank in town has turned her down. Her last hope hinges on the owner of Hawkins National Bank.

Henry Hawkins has a secret: though he owns the most successful bank in town, his initial capital came from three successful raids on Wells Fargo coaches. Now he’s the most eligible bachelor in Denver, but to protect his criminal past, he’s built a fortress around his heart. Not even the boldest matchmaking mother can tempt him . . . until the day Dessa Caldwell ventures into his bank requesting a loan.

Though he’s certain her proposal is a bad investment, Henry is drawn to Dessa’s passion. But that same passion drives her to make rash decisions about Pierson House . . . and about whom she can trust. One man might hold the key to the future of her mission—but he also threatens to bring Henry’s darkest secrets to light. As the walls around their hearts begin to crumble, Henry and Dessa must choose between their plans and God’s, between safety and love.

So here’s all you have to do to be in the running: just enter though the Punchtab graphic below. That’s it! No purchase required, and the odds of winning one of the three Advance Reader Copies depends upon the number of people who enter.

Or if you’d like to enter through my Facebook author page, click HERE.

Happy Reading!

And about that fiscal cliff we’re facing . . . Part of me wants to do the ostrich move and bury my head in the sand, but the grownup part insists I mention this here on my blog as another week promises to bring in more news on this same subject.

A friend of mine sent me a link that clearly explains just how disturbing is our national budget situation. I always appreciate things that are easy for an average brain like mine to comprehend, so this fits the bill. Unfortunately it only explains the bad news, it doesn’t give an answer because there apparently is no answer, at least in the short term. It’s five minutes long and worse than that it’s narrated by a retired accountant, which is perhaps second only to a retired scientist as far as entertainment value. But the message is too important to let those details stop anyone from viewing:

Click HERE to view the video about the fiscal cliff.