This week I’m celebrating a birthday! No, not my birthday (because as you all know, I’m at 29 and holding). 😉
I’m celebrating a BOOK birthday!
This week my 7th book, Love Unexpected, released. It’s the first book in my new Beacons of Hope lighthouse series. The series centers around real women light keepers who served at real Michigan
Love Unexpected is a marriage of convenience story, which is one of my personal favorites. One of the first marriage of convenience stories I ever read was Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly which ranks as one of my favorite books of all times!
Love Unexpected also involves Great Lakes pirates. We’ve all heard of ocean-faring pirates, but yes, there really were pirates who roamed the Great Lakes! In fact, the villain in Love Unexpected is based on a real pirate, Dan Seavey who was notorious on the Great Lakes for his violence and pirating ways.
Lighthouses, marriages of convenience, and pirates. What could be better than that combination!? 🙂
In celebration of my book’s release, my publisher is sponsoring a “Give the Gift of Books” giveaway with a package of FIVE new releases (including Love Unexpected). Enter to win the package of books either on my Facebook Page or on the Events Page on my website. If you win, you can give the books to yourself or to the book lovers in your life.
In addition, I’m giving away a signed copy of Love Unexpected here on this blog! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. The contest will end at midnight on Sunday December 7th.
If you haven’t yet downloaded the prequel to my lighthouse series, Out of the Storm, don’t miss it! It’s a free e-novella and can be found at all online bookstores including: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook.com
Thanks for celebrating this book birthday with me! Enjoy a virtual cupcake and cup of coffee! And tell us YOUR favorite way to celebrate the happy occasions in your life! (I always like to celebrate by buying a new book or two!)
UPDATE! The winner of the book giveaway is Katharine Vinson! Congrats, Kat! Thanks to everyone for participating! 🙂
Jody Hedlund
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Raechel says
Favourite way to celebrate….well, reading is always a good way, and cake of course – you can never have too much cake. 😉
Cheryl H. says
Happy book birthday!
One of my favorite ways to celebrate special things is doing something with my family. Because in the end, it doesn’t matter where you spend time, its who you spend it with that makes all the difference in the world. 🙂
Caryl Kane says
My favorite way to celebrate is with family and friends! 🙂
Loraine N. says
My celebrations always seem to involve my family, food and gifts! Happy Book Birthday! Thanks for the Giveaway!
Becky B says
I love to celebrate with family! I love going out to dinner with my husband. Congrats on your book.
Becky
PS I also shared on pinterest.
Brittaney says
My favorite way to celebrate is with family and friends and lots of laughter. Can’t wait to read your latest book!
Rachael K says
With family, of course, if it’s family birthdays/holidays; but if it’s a happy occasion with a friend, then I’m up for whatever shenanigans we come up with, be it Mad Hatter tea parties, adventures on unexplored paths in the woods, or square dancing.
Janka H. says
Thanks for the lovely giveaway and congrats to the new book, Jody!
My favourite way to celebrate is having a nice meal with my beloved (family and friends). And I am unashamed to confess that I love gifts – to give or to get! 🙂
Alex says
a) Happy book birthday!
b) You had me at marriage of convenience (one of my favorite tropes) but the pirates were like an icing on the cake XD
c) Happy Book Birthday! (this needs to be said again, now with confetti XD)
AlyssaZ says
A nice big meal with my family! My husband is a fantastic cook so he always creates something special for any occasion!
sparksofember says
I love to celebrate with a family night, watching movies and eating our favorite Italian dish Pizzoccheri. (Or Belgian waffles with strawberries & whipped cream for a breakfast celebration).
Janet Estridge says
My favorite way to celebrate is to get the family all together with lots of food, fellowship, and fun.
sparksofember says
Shared on facebook!
sparksofember says
And pinned!
Katie Gipson says
Know what’s crazy? I just started the novella last night. I’ve always been captivated by lighthouses, but pair them with historical fiction and I’m in love!
I love to celebrate with my family. I love to have time set aside to not worry about what needs to be done and just cherish time with my four growing children and my incredible husband. We are celebrating today! The baby of the family (our first girl!) is one month old today!
Heidi Robbins says
I love getting together with family at my grandma’s house to celebrate!
Heidi Robbins says
Pinned the book!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/490188740666901393/
Heidi Robbins says
Shared on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/heidi.madsen.robbins/posts/10205438684515843?pnref=story
Sandy Faye Mauck says
Jody, sounds good and the cover is terrific!
Marisa Brown says
My favorite way to celebrate a happy occasion is probably going out to eat with my husband. We don’t get to do it that often so its nice when we have a chance to go out. 🙂 thanks for the giveaway opportunity! And I will definitely have to check out your free e-novella.
Brenda says
We always get together at my Mothers ( the whole family) & of course we have a good meal! It’s been sad the last 2 years because my Daddy passed away in March 2013.
Tricia Mingerink says
I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for this book to release! I live in Michigan and grew up visiting many of the Michigan lighthouses. I’m so excited to have a series about them!
Lorraine says
I love to celebrate with a pot of tea. Preferably something out of the ordinary like French earl grey or rose tea, sipping from a fine bone china cup given to me by my grandmother. My grandmother was a gentle, loving pivot of my early years, so even though she has passed away, no celebration for me is complete without a tea ritual.
Well done with your new series.
Samantha B says
Hi!
I loved you novella Jody!
My favorite way to celebrate is always to spend time with my friends and family sharing my joy!
I was also wondering is the giveaway open to Canada?
I would absolutely love to win your book 🙂
Jody Hedlund says
Yes, Samantha! I should have mentioned, but the giveaway is for North America (including Canada). And so glad you enjoyed the novella! 🙂
Samantha B says
Alright 🙂
Thank you so much!
I entered and I shared on Facebook!
Regina F. says
Congratulations, on your new novel!
I love celebrating Christmas with my family. This year will exceptionally special we get to celebrate with our wonderful friends and with my parents. For six years (well we came back for Christmas in 2009), we lived in SC, now we are living in SD again.
anne says
Celebrating with family is precious and memorable. I love forward to this every year and enjoy the warmth and beauty.
Christy says
The best thing is being able to celebrate with my family and friends! Sharing traditions and making memories is priceless.
Amy Kittel says
I love spending happy occasions with my family: my husband, 2 kids, mom, sister and her husband. I love keeping traditions but my husband likes finding new ways to change them. So we make them into new traditions. 🙂
Keep up and the excellent story writing! I can’t wait to read this one! God bless!
Amy Kittel says
I love spending happy occasions with my family: my husband, 2 kids, mom, sister and her husband. I love keeping traditions but my husband likes finding new ways to change them. So we make them into new traditions. 🙂
Keep up and the excellent story writing! I can’t wait to read this one! God bless!
Shirley Chapel says
I like to celebrate the happy special occasions with my husband and family. Blessings
Shirley
Pam K. says
My favorite way to celebrate happy occasions is with family or a small group of friends. Nothing elaborate, just a simple gathering with good food.
Congratulations on the new book. I’m looking forward to reading it and would love it win it here! Thanks for giving away a copy.
Deanna S says
We enjoy a meal & dessert choice of the person being honored. Sometimes there are so many we just do a big pot luck & have a great time in fellowship..
Linda McFarland says
I love to celebrate at my favorite restaurant followed by cheesecake or at home with filet mignon and cheesecake! Love Unexpected is OUTSTANDING!
Andrea Cox says
Hi Jody,
Congratulations on the release of your seventh book! I love lighthouses and can’t wait to read Love Unexpected. Sounds like one of Janette Oke’s “Love” books already. 🙂
One of my favorite ways of celebrating happy things in my life is going out to dinner with my family and close friends and enjoying great conversation over a great meal that none of us have to clean up afterwards.
Blessings,
Andrea
andrearenee2004@yahoo.com
Andrea Cox says
Oh, and I shared it on Facebook and Twitter.
stefanie says
my favourite way is by a cozy fire surrounded by friends and family..and good food!
Lori Benton says
Another gorgeous book baby. Happy Birthday!
Maxie Anderson says
Hi Jody. This is a great contest. Does this Rafflecoptor work for both contest. I shared this on my Pinterest. Can’t get the share to work. Tried several times. Will try the Facebook page.
Maxie
Maxie Anderson says
Jody, I forgot to answer your question. I like to celebrate by going out to eat with family or my best friend. Maxie
Kristen Anissa says
My favorite ways to celebrate are with family, curled up and snuggling with my sweet puppy, and/or a trip to the local book store(s)!
Shannon M says
I love celebrating happy occasions by getting myself a new book to read or spending time with family and friends 🙂
Heidi Robbins says
Shared on facebook and pinterest!
Alysha says
I like to celebrate happy occasions by hanging out with family and friends. I also like to splurge and buy a few things for myself (its normally a book).
Jeanie Dannheim says
Happy new book day! I would love to read (and review ) this book. Always interested in lighthouses and Great Lakes! How I like to celebrate…special flavored coffee and quiet time with a good book, or playing with my cats. Blessings!
Heidi Robbins says
Shared on Pinterest and Facebook!
Wendy Newcomb says
My favorite way to celebrate is by having family around to celebrate with me.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Wendy Newcomb says
I shared on FaceBook!
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Wendy Newcomb says
I shared on PInterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/237142736604273598/
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Mallori says
I’m so excited to read your newest book! I’ve loved all of your books that I have read. One of my favorite ways to celebrate special occasions is cake–as I’m sure many people will agree. No celebration is complete without cake–chocolate, vanilla, carrot, spice, coconut; it doesn’t matter to me!
Andrea says
In South Carolina, we don’t get many bone-cold days . . . and I’m a summer girl, so I like it that way. But if one of my shopping days happens to fall on a really cold day–where I can bundle up as I go in and out of stores, and there’s plenty of Christmas music in the car–then I still feel that child-like thrill that the most special day of all is just around the corner.
Phyllis says
Celebrating birthdays and other special occasions has always been best with family. Who loves one more than these people? Family will always provide love and special times.