Blog Tour Excerpt and Giveaway: Smitten Book Club


Smitten Book ClubSmitten Book Club
(Smitten #3)
by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter, Diann Hunt
Christian Contemporary Romance

January 14th 2014 by Thomas Nelson


Summary

The century-old Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship is no ordinary book club choice. But for the little book club in Smitten, Vermont, it might be their best pick yet!

The thick, leathery tome Heather pulled out of the dusty cardboard box was definitely coming home with her. Not only was The Gentlewoman’s Guide to Love and Courtship an appealing curiosity by virtue of its title; it was also written by Smitten, Vermont native Pearl Chambers, a local gentlewoman from three generations back.

Little did Heather know the repercussions this little curiosity would have on her and her friends’ romantic exploits.

When Heather and her fellow book club members begin passing the book around, their respective interpretations are unleashed on their respective love lives . . . for better or for worse. Is it a mystery? An idealist fantasy? An intimation of Jane Austen? As romantic love finds its way to each woman, the Guide proves itself both surprisingly prescient and hilariously irrelevant.

What’s more, a handwritten inscription indicates that the arcane book might hold the only extant clues leading to buried gold—exactly what one of the members needs to keep her house. How could they not go treasure hunting?

In this remarkable collaborative novel, besties Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Denise Hunter, and Diann Hunt tackle the tale of the Gentlewoman’s Guide by writing for one book club member apiece. Smitten Book Club is a hopeful, hilarious story of friendship and healing, written by friends for friends.

   


Excerpt
From Love By the Book, Chapter 1
By Colleen Coble

Mountains of donated boxes teetered against the west wall when Heather DeMeritt entered the Smitten library. The building had been renovated a few months earlier and still held a trace of that new smell in the brown carpet. The oak bookshelves that housed the library’s growing collection and the matching tables still shone with newness. Several businesses had donated the bank of comput- ers lining one wall.
Heather spoke to several friends, then turned to eye the job she’d come to do. She was prepared to work, but the sheer number of books surprised her.

Her friend and fellow book club member, Abby Gray, motioned to her. Abby was the Smitten librarian, though she was much too pretty to fit the stereotype, even with her blond hair perpetually up in a bun.

Heather threaded through the throng to reach Abby’s side. “This is going to take awhile.”

Abby’s cheeks were flushed. “Isn’t it exciting? So many people want to help Molly.”

Their good friend Molly Moore had recently lost her husband in a tragic fire. He was the only volunteer fireman to die in recent memory, and Smitten was still reeling. As was Molly.

Abby waved vaguely. “You can start there.”

Heather opened the nearest box and began to lift out the books to put in sale piles ranging from one dollar to five. Five dollars was too much to pay for some of these books, but it was for a good cause, and everyone would feel great about helping.

An hour later her throat was scratchy, and her nose was stuffy from all the dust. But she’d made progress.

“Need some help?” Elliana Burton asked. Lia, as her friends called her, was the kindergarten teacher at the elementary school in town. She usually had a crayon stuck behind one ear and a slash or two of color on her arms or hands from Crayola markers, but today she looked fresh and carefree in a silky blue top over jeans that hugged her slim hips.

“I’ll take you up on it,” Heather said. “We might finish in time for coffee at Mountain Perks.”

There was only one towering stack left. She lifted down the top box and opened it. A cloud of dust wafted out, and she wrinkled her nose.

Lia waved her hand in front of her face. “Some of these are old. They might be worth some money.”


About the Authors

Coble, Billerbeck, Hunter, Hunt

Colleen Coble writes romantic suspense with a strong atmospheric element. A lovable animal of some kind — usually a dog — always populates her novels. She can be bribed with DeBrand mocha truffles.

Kristin Billerbeck is a proud Californian, wife, mother of four, and connoisseur of the irrelevant. She writes Christian Chick Lit, where she finds need for most of the useless facts lulling about in her head.
Denise Hunter writes women’s fiction and love stories with a strong emotional element. Her husband says he provides her with all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too.
Diann Hunt was a writer of romantic comedy and humorous women’s fiction. She lost her courageous battle with cancer in last fall. A Hallmark Channel adaptation of her novel For Better or For Worse will air fall 2014.


Tour Giveaway

The Smitten gals are back with their newest release, Smitten Book Club! Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, and Denise Hunter are celebrating with a Kindle Fire giveaway, a Facebook party on February 20, and a nationwide book-club brunch on March 22.


smittenbookclub-400-click
 
One winner will receive:
  • A Kindle Fire HDX
  • The Smitten books (Smitten, Secretly Smitten, Smitten Book Club)
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 20th. Winner will be announced at the Smitten Book Club Facebook Author Chat Party on February 20th. Connect with Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter, and Kristin Billerbeck for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! The Smitten gals will also be taking questions from the audience, giving away books and gift certificates, and sharing news about their upcoming nationwide Smitten Book Club brunch on March 22nd. (Sign up to host today!)

So grab your copy of Smitten Book Club and join Colleen, Denise, Kristin, and friends on the evening of February 20th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP todayTell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 20th!

Sign up to host a Smitten Book Club Brunch on March 22nd!
Smitten Book Club Brunch Coble, Hunter, Billerbeck, Hunt

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