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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Saturday Sampler & #Giveaway - The Friendship Star Quilt by Patricia Kiyono & Stephanie Michels



The Stitching Post Quilt Shop is the setting for the weekly gathering of a group of women who come to sew, but leave with lasting friendships. The first book in the series, The Calico Heart, was nominated for a RONE award for Best Contemporary Book of 2013. Patricia Kiyono and Stephanie Michels are pleased to announce the release of the second book in the series, The Friendship Star Quilt.



BLURB:

Anne Brown loves her job at The Stitching Post Quilt Shop in Grandville, Michigan, but she keeps a suitcase packed so she can leave at a moment's notice. Living under the radar, she longs for a normal life, but settles for listening to family stories told by the friendly ladies of the quilting club who meet at the shop on Tuesday evenings. When she meets Brad, the handsome band director of an area high school and his adorable daughter, Anne begins to hope for a happily ever after of her own. But someone has far different plans.



Brad Carmichael is juggling the demands of his job as band director at Rivertown High School with trying to be a better father to his daughter. When Brad is late picking Jennie up from a birthday party, the pretty young clerk from the local quilt shop comes to his rescue. Kind-hearted and talented, Anne becomes a vital part of Brad and Jennie’s lives. But her past threatens to destroy their relationship.



EXCERPT:



Anne checked her watch. The store officially closed in ten minutes, but she’d leave it unlocked until the rest of the group arrived. At the sound of the door opening, she looked up to greet the newcomer. But her guest wasn’t a customer or a quilter.

Instead, a little blond cherub about six or seven years old stood in the doorway, studying the store with wide eyes.

“Do you need something, sweetie?” Anne asked.

The little girl turned soulful blue eyes in her direction. “It’s raining outside, and my daddy hasn’t come to pick me up yet. Is it okay if I wait in here?”

“Sure. Where was your dad supposed to pick you up?”

“The ice cream shop next door. I was at Suzy’s birthday party, but everyone else is gone now. And the ice cream man turned the lights off so I couldn’t stay there.”

“He turned the lights off while you were still waiting?” Anne had met George Connors many times in the two years she’d worked at The Stitching Post. She couldn’t imagine the shop owner behaving so cruelly.

The child nodded. “He told me I had to wait outside.”

Anne poked her head out the door and glanced at the ice cream shop. Sure enough, Freeze! was dark and empty. “Well, come inside. I won’t make you wait in the rain. What’s your name, honey?”

“Jennie… Jennie Carmichael.”

“My name is Anne, Jennie,” she told the child, giving her a reassuring smile. “Would you like me to call your father and let him know you’re here?”

“Yes, please. I have his phone number.” The little girl shrugged off her pink-and-purple flowered backpack and pulled a worn slip of paper from the front pocket.

Anne took the paper, squinting at the number scrawled on it. “Where does your dad work?”

“At the high school.”

“Is he a teacher? School was out a long time ago.”

“Daddy always stays after school to do work. Especially when there’s a concert or something. He’s the band director,” she added with a note of pride.

“Okay, let’s see if I can reach him. What’s his name?”

“Brad.”

Anne nodded and dialed the number on the Jennie’s paper. After several rings, a deep, velvety voice answered.

“Rivertown High Band Office.”

“Is this Brad Carmichael?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Carmichael, this is Anne Brown at The Stitching Post on Wilson Avenue. Your daughter is in our shop waiting for you.”

“Jennie’s there? She’s supposed to be at the ice cream shop for a birthday party until—oh drat! I’m so sorry. I’ll be right there. Thanks for calling.”

The loud click told her he had disconnected in a hurry.

Anne put the receiver down and smiled reassuringly at the child. “Your dad is on his way now. Would you like something to drink while you wait?”

“No, thank you. The school isn’t very far away, so Daddy will be here soon.”

Anne was impressed with the girl’s manners. “All right. Would you like to sit down? I can clear off one of these low tables. You can sit on it like a little stool.”

Jennie shook her head. “Thank you, but I’ll just wait by the door so Daddy will see me in here, if that’s okay with you.”



BUY LINKS:

The Friendship Star Quilt is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords, as well as other ebook outlets.



GIVEAWAY:

Stephanie Michels is giving away a $5 gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble. To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us about a book series that you enjoy. Good luck!



BIOS:


Patricia Kiyono retired from public school teaching, and is now an adjunct faculty member at Grand Valley State University, where she instructs future teachers. Born in Japan, she lives in southwest Michigan with her husband, not far from their five children and nine grandchildren. In addition to writing, she enjoys sewing, scrapbooking, playing in local bands and orchestras, and taking care of grandchildren.






Stephanie Michels considers herself a “Jill of All Trades.” During her corporate career, she worked as a computer trainer, advertising copywriter, personnel agent, radio DJ, magazine columnist, and a financial planner among other things.  She recently left those behind in order to focus on writing full time.

Raised in Michigan, she lived in South Carolina, Missouri, and Germany, before returning to the Mitten State to raise her family.  When she isn’t writing, you can usually find her reading or spending time with family, friends, and Beta Sigma Phi sisters. The Friendship Star Quilt is her second novel with writing partner, Patricia Kiyono.



WHERE TO FIND US:

Patricia:

            Website: http://patriciakiyono.com

            Blog: http://creative-hodgepodge.blogspot.com/






Stephanie:

            Blog: http://chunkingupthepage.blogspot.com/





42 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for having us here today, Diane!

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    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Patty. I realized I didn't have your title correct. I fixed it. Sorry about that.

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    2. Diane, it's so nice to be able to meet some of your readers. Thanks for hosting us today.

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  2. Aww, what a sweet and intriguing excerpt. Definitely need to get these books. Love the theme and the covers. Congrats, ladies!

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    1. Thanks, Alicia! Hope you enjoy them.

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    2. Thanks, Alicia! I really love the cover, too. Even one of the men I work with commented on the nice job Cora did for us. Thanks for coming over to visit.

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  3. Replies
    1. Thanks, Rohn. Stephanie and I are thrilled it it, too.

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    2. Thanks, Rohn. Glad you like it, and thanks for visiting us on Diane's lovely blog.

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  4. Sounds like a great read, and you can't beat a long time friendship theme. I have those myself, and they are the best! Good luck to you ladies, I'm sure your series will do very well.

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    1. Thanks, Debra. I agree. What's that old saying?
      "Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver, the other gold." Both precious!

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    2. Thanks for the good wishes, Debra! I agree - friendships only get better with time.

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  5. Really enjoyed the blurb and echo everyone's comment- what a lovely cover!

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  6. Thank you for the chance of winning the $5 GC!
    One of my favourite series is The Bluegrass Series by Kathleen Brooks.
    Yolanda :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing your favorite series, Yolanda. I'll be drawing the winner tomorrow evening after my holiday company goes leaves.

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    2. I enjoyed the Bluegrass Series, too! Thank you so much for stopping in, Yolanda.

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  7. I completely adore Patricia Kiyono books. This one looks wonderful. Best wishes, ladies!
    -R.T. Wolfe

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    1. I love her books, too, RT. My favorite is Love's Refrain, but I also like the Samurai's Garden...and ALL of her others. :D

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    2. You're so sweet, RT! Thank you for stopping by.

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  8. Agree!! Love the cover and the blurb! Congrats, ladies!

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    1. Thank you, Alyssa. It's nice of you to stop by to see us today.

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    2. Thanks, Alyssa. Where would we be without our cover artists?

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  9. Congrats ladies! I really enjoyed The Grand Tour Series by Lisa T. Bergren.

    Happy Easter!

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    1. Happy Easter to you, as well, Christine! I'm so happy you could come by to see us. Thanks for sharing your favorite series, too.

      I'm going to hop off for a bit, everyone, so I can finish getting things ready for tomorrow. I'll check back in later.

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    2. That's a series I'm not familiar with, Christine. I'll have to check it out! Thanks so much for stopping in!

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  10. I LOVED the book and am anxiously awaiting the next one. It's fun getting to know the ladies who frequent The Stitching Post. I hope to meet them all. I enjoyed getting to know Anne. She's an inspiration to all women who have suffered domestic abuse at one time or another. Way to go, ladies!
    Sharon Miller

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sharon, so glad I didn't miss seeing you!
      Thanks for your kind words. We enjoy helping the ladies at The Stitching Post tell their stories, too.

      Happy Easter to you and the family.

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    2. Thanks so much for reading the Friendship Star Quilt, Sharon - so glad you liked it! And thanks for stopping in.

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  11. I love the excerpt! All the best.

    One of my favorite series is The Lupi one by Eileen Wilks. She has a great storyline and I don't get tired of rereading it. :)

    Melissa
    daringzoey at yahoo.com

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    1. Thanks for your kind wishes, Melissa! I'll have to check out this series. Thanks for stopping in!

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    2. Melissa, that's a pretty high recommendation when you enjoy rereading a series. I'll have to check out Eileen Wilks' series. Thanks for stopping and for sharing your favorite.

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  12. This was a book that although it deals with a dark subject it is still heartwarming with mystery intertwined...didn't want to stop reading it nor for it to end! Recommend this book to any reader.

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    1. I'm so glad the story kept you reading! Thanks so much for the recommendation, and for visiting us here.

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    2. Linda, I'm very happy to hear that you liked our story. Reader recommendations mean a lot to Patty and me. Thank you very much.

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  13. Thank you everyone who visited with us on this blog tour. I'd like to add a special big thanks to our wonderful blog hostesses. I'll be drawing the name for the winner of the $5 gift card on Sunday evening.

    As a special thanks to all the lovely folks we met, I've decided to do one final "surprise" drawing that will include our hosts as well as everyone who commented at any of the stops on our blog tour. You'll get one entry for each stop you made. I'll post the winner of that gift - a Friendship Star Quilt promo mug filled with M&M's - on Sunday night, too.

    Thanks for making our tour so enjoyable!

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  14. Congrats to our $5 Gift Card Winners:

    Yolanda Gamble and Sharon Miller. Please send me your email address at StephanieMIchels@comcast.net and let me know whether you prefer Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

    The winner of the special prize - a coffee mug with chocolates - was won by Peg Spoelstra. Peg, I'll make arrangements to get your prize to you!

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  15. Nice cover and excerpt! I'm still trying to make a baby quilt and that cover makes me dream!. :)
    --Kara

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Love getting your comments. BTW, your comment won't show up until you refresh the page. Isn't that a pain? Thanks for stopping by.