Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Author Spotlight + GIVEAWAY: Victoria Bylin, 2014 Best of the Best


Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin is a title from my 2014 Best of the Best list. While I've read several excellent contemporary romances in the last year, I could tell after a few pages that there was something special and unique about Victoria's writing - I think it's the way she realistically combines romantic tension and spiritual themes with unexpected character depth, setting, and environmental elements. Until I Found You (click on title to see my review) is a touching story that not only entertained, but made me think.

It is an honor to have Victoria visit The Power of Words again, and I hope many of you will try Until I Found You if you haven't already. She is also giving a copy of this book to one of you, details at the end of this post. Now enjoy Victoria as she shares some things about her writing with us . . .




Vicki:  I was fresh out of college when I sat down with a spiral notebook and wrote the first words of the story that eventually became Until I Found You.  That effort was considerably different from the manuscript Bethany House published, but the core of the story remained the same through three rewrites. Kate Darby, a twenty-something advertising executive, is looking for meaning, security and love. Like many of us, Kate wrestles with fear, but with the help of friends and family, she learns to trust God through faith.

My next release, Together With You (April 2015), is about grace.  Dr. Ryan Tremaine made a terrible mistake, one that destroyed his family. He’s doing his best to repair his relationship with his three kids, but nothing goes right until he meets Carly Mason, a woman from Kentucky who has the expertise--and the faith--Ryan lacks. The last thing Ryan wants to do is fall in love with the nanny, but that’s exactly what happens.

I love writing contemporary romance!  We live in a big messy world, but I’m a firm believer that with God, all things are possible, including happy endings.


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Carole:  I don't know what everyone else thinks, but your next release certainly has my attention, Victoria! One of the best things about this whole process is getting to connect with authors I enjoy, and you have been very special. Thank you so much for taking the time to be with us this week and sharing a copy with one of our readers. I look forward to your next visit!

Congratulations to our winner, Trixi O!! I have sent you an email, Trixi. And thanks to all who commented with book suggestions. I plan to post a list very soon.


GIVEAWAY

To enter the drawing for Until I Found You, simply answer the following question:


What is one contemporary romance - clean and family friendly - that you read last year and would recommend? If you didn't read a contemporary, another genre is fine.

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS (required for the drawing), using a safe format - [at] and [dot].

"Likes" on my Facebook page, ThePowerofWordsBookReviews, are greatly appreciated, as are followers on Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and this blog.

Contest ends at midnight PST on Wednesday, February 11. Winner will be chosen by Random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Giveaway is open internationally.

39 comments:

  1. The Wedding List..Autumn Macarthur
    rita dot navarre at yahoo dot com

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  2. I would highly recommend "Here to Stay" by Melissa Tagg. Of course, it's the second book in a series, so I would recommend reading "Made to Last" first. ;)
    Thanks for the giveaway! :)

    crazybooklover7 [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  3. I just finished old fashioned by rene gutteridge :)
    I would enjoy reading Until I Found You . .
    dkstevensneAToutloodDoTc OM

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  4. I think my email was wrong...
    dkstevensneAToutlookDoTC oM

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  5. Hi Carole--a contemporary romance that I read last year and would highly recommend is Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano. It is an exciting story of love, forgiveness and redemption. I'm looking forward to reading Victoria's books. They both sound like good stories.
    may_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  6. I recommend all of the Christiansen family series by Susan May Warren (read them all in order for the maximum enjoyment) and any book by Becky Wade. These are all superb contemporary romances. You can't go wrong with any of them.
    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  7. I read "The Wishing Season" by Denise Hunter last year and highly recommend it. Thanks for the giveaway! I've heard great things about this book. :)

    writer_weaverATyahooDOTcom

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  8. I read and very much recommend, " Bridge to Haven" by Francine Rivers, beautiful story of love, forgiveness, a prodigal daughter, I know anyone who reads it will not be the same after reading it. I look forward to reading " Until I Found You". I had not heard of the author, I apologize, but I love discovering new (to me) authors. Thank you!

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  9. Thanks to everyone for commenting with your recommendations! I'll have to ask this question more often. At the end of this contest, I'll post a list of all these titles for everyone to see. Thank you again for visiting.

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  10. I just finished Waiting Hearts by Beth Ann Stifflemire. It was really good. I haven't read a lot of contemporary romance books. sonja dot nishimoto at gmail dot com

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  11. I recently read Miriam's Secret and would recommend it highly. Please enter me in the drawing. I know I would enjoy this book, sounds great !
    Deanne Cnnamongirl(at)aol(dot)com

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  12. Carole, I read a lot of books last year that I loved, but the one that stuck with me for a long time was Dancing With Fireflies by Denise Hunter. She is a wonderful author, but this story reached down inside me. No I haven't read any by Victoria By
    eppersonkatrina(at)yahoo(dot) com

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  13. Francine Rivers "Redeeming Love" was my top book of 2014! It is such a beautiful story of the passionate pursuit of love & it changed how I see God pursuing my heart...everyday & in every way! I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone. I must have shed so many tears throughout the book, I'm talking the kind of cleansing tears God sometimes uses to wash away the doubts. He loves us no matter what! I think I'm going to have to re-read this one, I generally don't, but this was so powerful to me! Thank you for a chance to win a copy of "Until I Found You". Would love to add this to my vast collection (and growing, lol).

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  14. The Ice Cutters Daughter by Tracie Peterson

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    Replies
    1. That one's in my TBR stack, Jessica. Love the cover!

      Be sure to leave your e-mail for the drawing. Thanks for visiting, Jessica!

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  15. I would highly recommend Cara Putman's SHADOWED BY GRACE! It is an excellent book.

    psalm103and138[at]gmail[dot]com

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  16. If Rival Hearts counts as a Contemporary I would DEFINITELY recommend it!!!! I would also recommend Dancing with Fireflies, but only to a more mature audience. It is NOT for kids and I personally think it's PG18. Love Without End is a nice, interesting, easy, and sweet read also! I think that maybe all or the majority of the Contemporary I read last year! LOL!

    Hugs, Amada (pronounced :a.m.a.th.a)
    amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom

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  17. Honestly I haven't read any Christian fiction lately except for Jan Karon's Mitford Series which is my favorite. I would love to answer the question, but I have been reading mostly Christian non-fiction and I'm hungering for a good Christian fiction novel, so I would love to have Until I Found You. I have read Four Blood Moons by John Hagee and that was my favorite book of 2014! Thank you for all the recommendations above. I would love to order every one and read away!

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  18. ~ How do you pick just one :( One that I continually go back to is Every Storm by Lori Wick.
    michellecorning (@) live (dot) com

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  19. I have read a few contemporary romance but one that I really like (I'm not sure if it is entirely contemporary romance genre) is the sweet gum tree.

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  20. Here To Stay by Melissa Tagg
    josieringer(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. I loved Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson... :-). Thank you for making this open internationally!

    Celita
    Mrsdayseye (at) gmail (dot) com

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  22. Goodness! That is a hard question because I read so many that I loved. My favorites were The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate, The Bridge Tender by Marybeth Whalen, and Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck.

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  23. My email address is donvelma@gmail.com. I forgot to leave it.

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  24. Thanks for the intro ! a treat to meet a new and recommended author..
    faithhopecherrytea at [gmail.] com
    Contemporary I'd recommend from last year - At Legend's End by Diane Moody
    HapPy Valentine's !

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  25. Lone Star Holiday by Jolene Navarro. choirlady27@hotmail.com

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  26. I just finished A Promise to Protect by Patricia Bradley. It is a good contemporary suspense!

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  27. Forgot my e-mail! jarnin67(at)hotmaildotcom

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  28. It tough one if I have to recomend only one since there are so many great books. Today I think it is Karen Kingsbury's A Thouthand Tomorrows but tomorrow I will decide for another one. :-)

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  29. My email Address is Agnieszka7775@web.de

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  30. I can't pick just one! LOL Two great clean romances I read last year were "The Road to Mercy" by Melissa McGovern Taylor and "The Longest Ride" by Nicholas Sparks. They were both fantastic! Thanks for the giveaway, my email is myfacebookemail23 at yahoo dot com.

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  31. I haven't read much contemporary fiction recently, but I did like Susan May Warrens Christiansen Family series. I am reading a lot of romantic suspense and historical fiction. I would definitely recommend Sarah Sundin and Carol Cox for those genres. Thanks for the giveaway! momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

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  32. I have read so many books. The Healing Quilt by Wanda Brunstetter might not be a typical romance, but there always seems to be some matchmaking going on at her quilt classes! lisajcowell(at)cs(dot)com in Ohio

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  33. I would recommend The Ice Cutters Daughter by Tracie Peterson!

    andysavi.mom@gmail.com

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  34. Sharon Richmond BryantFebruary 11, 2015 at 6:28 PM

    A Cowboy's Touch by Dennis Hunter!! Loved it.
    Sharon Richmond Bryant
    Conway, SC.
    sharonruth126(at)gmail(dot)com

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  35. What an incredible compliment to pay to an author: "she realistically combines romantic tension and spiritual themes with unexpected character depth, setting, and environmental elements." Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday!
    Tina

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  36. My girls and I started reading a chapter of Little Women every night before bed. I think that the classic arent focused enough in school age children. If not for literature, how can one use your imagination. Nothing is better than being lost in a book. My children dont make a sound, they beg for another chapter, NOPE, not for another nite. It also makes bed time easier.

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