The Monday Blog

How big are the demands to acquire more and more in your life?

Before we get to the blog, I need to ask everyone who pre-ordered You Are My Everything to check and make sure you received the actual new release. This is not an April fools day joke. Apparently many many authors are up in arms because Amazon screwed up big time for the end of March new releases and sent the wrong files to those who pre-ordered. What were those files? The placeholders which include editing notes, wrong files, incomplete books... you name it. As my inbox wasn't flooded this morning I am presuming everyone received the correct file, which would make me one of very few authors who escaped unscathed. But in case you did receive the wrong file, please shoot me an email at lorhainneeckhart.le@gmail.com.  Now onto the Monday Blog.

How big are the demands to acquire more and more in your life?
 
I read an article some time back about would-be titans of the business world. It argued that when these people saw a substantial salary increase—a big increase—they actually felt an increased sense of lack and pressure, and their financial insecurity deepened significantly.
 
Huh? This didn’t make sense to me. I had thought it would be the opposite: If your salary suddenly increased significantly, you wouldn’t have to struggle as much, and you would suddenly have more and feel less pressure. After I read more about the reasoning behind this concept, however, it started to make sense, and I got it.
 
When these people suddenly receive a huge salary bump, they’re driven by a desperate, unshakeable desire to advance. They measure their new status against people who are already living in that financial bracket, and they feel a need to be like them, to keep up with the Joneses. They feel the need to buy a nicer house, to own better toys, to take more extravagant holidays, to have the same dinners out that the Joneses are having.
 
When they were making their previous salary, they took their living for granted—you know, the big house, the nice car, the vacations they took with their kids? When they experienced a substantial increase in salary, they started keeping company with the kind of people who already had way more, and they suddenly felt poor. They suddenly felt tremendous pressure to keep up with their new peers, and they experienced enormous financial stress, sleepless nights, questions of “How are we going to pay for all this?”
 
To some extent, this is the story for all of us. We spend all this time accumulating toys, accumulating more, spending our emotional and physical energy and our time to accomplish more and gather more, to have more and more and more. But all of this stuff, the toys, the more and more, is not a true source of happiness. If you look back now on everything you’ve accomplished, everything you have now, what advice would you pass on to your younger self?


NEWLY RELEASED

Did you miss new release YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING (The Friessens, Book 21)?   

Up and coming hockey rookie Michael Friessen has everything going for him: a future few could hope for, parents who are his everything… He doesn’t want anything more until one weekend before he secures a spot with the Canucks, when he wakes up with a ring on his finger and the hottest, sexiest blonde sound asleep beside him.

He tries to tell himself it was a mistake, that he isn’t looking for a relationship, and despite everything about her, including the night he’s still trying to remember, he’s determined not to fall for her. But the closer they get, the deeper he falls—until he learns that the night they met may not have been accidental.

Michael's story is now available at AmazonNookiBooksKobo and Google Play!  Or buy direct from me here and save 25% when you share on Facebook or Twitter!


GET YOUR AUDIO ON

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.


Don't forget to check out my brand new eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Read More
The Monday Blog

Grab your exclusive sneak peek of YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING!

SNEAK PEEK

The release of Book 21 in The Friessens series, YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING, is just days away, but today I'm giving you an exclusive peek at Chapter 1!   

Up and coming hockey rookie Michael Friessen has everything going for him: a future few could hope for, parents who are his everything… He doesn’t want anything more until one weekend before he secures a spot with the Canucks, when he wakes up with a ring on his finger and the hottest, sexiest blonde sound asleep beside him.

He tries to tell himself it was a mistake, that he isn’t looking for a relationship, and despite everything about her, including the night he’s still trying to remember, he’s determined not to fall for her. But the closer they get, the deeper he falls—until he learns that the night they met may not have been accidental.

All pre-ordered copies will include a special link to a free short story.  Michael's story is available for pre-sale today at: 

AMAZONAPPLE BOOKSNOOKGOOGLE PLAYKOBO or BUY DIRECT FROM ME AND READ TODAY 
(Buy direct & save 25% when you share on Facebook or Twitter)

****

CHAPTER 1

How many times had he told himself it wasn’t a good idea to close down the bar? It was even worse after a game, a win, a night out in a new town, when they just couldn’t resist blowing off steam, or so their coach called it. Except tonight was different, considering it was his twenty-first birthday, and what had he done with his three besties from the team but driven across the border to Vegas?

Shit!

He’d have smiled and laughed if it didn’t hurt so damn much.

Now here he was, unable to open his eyes past the thumping in his head—not the music from the club, no. Now as he lay there in his misery, it felt more like someone was ramming a hammer, or rather a sledgehammer, into his head. The pounding just wouldn’t quit. He needed water and forced himself to lift a lid even though he felt as if ground-up glass had been scraped over his eyeballs as soon as he took in the bright sun streaming in through a window he didn’t recognize. Right, a hotel room, of course.

White sheets were twisted around him, from what he could barely make out, and he didn’t remember how he’d gotten there. He needed to move, but each muscle protested loudly, and his mouth tasted as if something had recently died in it.

Happy twenty-first birthday, Michael! He groaned and then immediately regretted it, as the pounding in his head was sickening.

Even thinking hurt as he tried to remember how many boilermakers he’d downed. Just thinking of the cheap whiskey with beer had him wanting to retch as he somehow managed to move his hand and then slide his naked ass to the edge of the bed. He shut his eyes and groaned again as he lowered his head to his hands, knowing that he was in deep shit. He still had practice and another game tomorrow, and right now he didn’t know how he’d manage to walk, let alone pull on skates and race down the ice to play the game he loved. Calling in sick wasn’t an option, not when he was on his way to the pros.

He forced himself to stand and squinted at the desert sun, feeling as though the sand was scraping his eyes all the way up where he was, at least twenty stories high. He looked down and took in the strip of Vegas, trying to remember where they had ended up and what hotel this was.

Nope, nothing. Just a haze of…well, what he was sure had been a great time.

“Water,” he mumbled and staggered to the bathroom, where he turned on the tap and stuck his head under to drink what he could, then let the cold water run over his neck, his head, his face. Ah, relief!

He needed aspirin, a ton of it, then maybe coffee. He took in his bloodshot eyes and the five o’clock shadow he sported in the mirror as the water ran from his face. His short dark hair was sticking up, dripping beads of water, and he allowed the fact to sink in that he was now legal everywhere.

He’d have been excited if his head wasn’t about to blow off—but he’d had fun, he thought, from what he could remember. He wiped his hand over his face, swiping away the beads of water, and caught a gleam of gold on his finger. He froze.

Like, what the fuck?

He just stared, and every muscle in his body tightened as he took in the ring. All manner of horror shot through him as he racked his brain, trying to remember what the hell he had done. A joke, a prank—had to be one of the guys, Stu, Kyle, or maybe Nathan. Yeah, Nathan was always pulling something. Geez, he hoped he hadn’t dressed him up like a girl and taken photos while he was passed out, because that was exactly what one of them would do.

He stepped out of the bathroom and took in the bed, then froze again when he saw blond hair, the long blond hair of a woman who was naked and sound asleep on her stomach with the sheet covering her ass.

Like, double what the fuck?

She didn’t move, and he took in the smallish room, for Vegas, seeing his clothes tossed everywhere: a shoe by the door, her bra hanging over a chair. He took a step and kicked a killer red heel, seeing a long slim leg sticking out from under the sheet. Where the hell were his friends? Another room, maybe. Like he could remember.

So he’d picked up a woman and had sex, and there was a ring on his finger. It hurt to think, because all he wanted to do was puke—whether from the fact that he could smell the booze oozing out of his pores or the fact that he couldn’t remember what the hell he had done, he wasn’t sure.

He reached for his pants and stumbled from the dizziness for a minute. After that nearly took him to his knees, he shoved his feet into his favorite blue jeans, which smelled ripe with stale beer, and turned around, feeling suddenly awkward, as if she were awake and sitting up, watching him as he zipped up his fly. This awkward, shy feeling was completely ludicrous, given the scenario.

He made his way over to the bed, taking in the silky black skirt and underwear on the floor, then the face of the blonde. Her mascara was smudged, her full red lips were parted slightly, and she was still sound asleep. So what were his options? Get dressed, slip out…and then what?

He pressed his hands to the mattress and shook, but nothing happened. He did it again, harder, and she stirred and pulled in a breath, then blinked and went to roll over before she spotted Michael staring down at her.

“What time is it?” Her voice was groggy, and she lifted her hand and brushed back her hair. She rolled over, pulling at the sheet and lifting it to cover herself, but not before he caught a glimpse of two perfectly round breasts. If he weren’t so hungover, he might have appreciated the sight. Then he spotted a gold ring on her finger as she sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, maybe feeling some of the awkwardness he felt.

She reached for the clock by the bed. “Shit, it’s after nine! You were supposed to set the alarm.” Then she tossed back the covers, and her bare feet hit the beige carpet, her toenails painted a vibrant red. He stepped back, taking in her gorgeous naked body: fit, slim, and exactly the kind of woman he wanted in his bed. She stepped into her underwear and then her skirt and said something under her breath that he couldn’t quite make out as she hurried across the room and reached for her bra. She pulled it on, and then she was on the floor, on her knees on the other side of the bed, looking for something.

“This may sound totally weird and all,” Michael said, “but I must have drunk an awful lot last night, because I don’t remember coming back here. As gorgeous as you are, we met where…?”

She was holding a deep auburn and black silky tank up over her bra as she sat back on her knees, her deep blue eyes staring at him with horror. Okay, maybe not too cool on his part, implying that he didn’t remember her—but he didn’t.

“I mean, if you could just fill me in, and then this here…” He lifted his hand, and the ring was the same plain gold as hers.

She was still looking at him, wide eyed, when she lifted the tank and pulled it on, then rose to her feet on the other side of the bed. Her long blond hair was a tangled mess as she took in her own hand, her own ring finger. “Well, that’s kind of a problem, then, isn’t it?” she said, and he sensed he’d hit a nerve.

“If I can’t remember, then yeah, it is,” he started, then stopped as she took a step around the bed and reached for a red heel by the door. “So…two rings, a bed, a hotel, and—”

She pulled in a breath and sighed. “I’m your wife.”


REVIEWS REQUESTED

I need your help!  The McCabe Brothers collection is in serious need of reviews. There is an upcoming major promotion happening April 2 for this collection and I need reviews quickly.  If you've read the books in the series already--Don't Stop Me, Don't Catch Me, Don't Run From Me, Don't Hide From Me and Don't Leave Me--could you kindly pop over to the Amazon page here and leave a review?  I sincerely appreciate your help, each and every one of you, and the reviews you continue to leave!  All the best for a terrific weekend-- Lorhainne


GET YOUR AUDIO ON

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync? Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.


Join me each week for a new book giveaway!  

This week I'm giving away an Audible copy of FRIENDLY FIRE (The Wilde Brothers, Book 3) to five lucky winners!  To enter, simply leave a comment below.  Winners drawn 4/1/19.  Good luck and happy listening!  

Rather purchase this title?  Available in eBook at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play and Smashwords, or in audiobook at Audible US, Audible UK, Audible France and Audible Germany.  Listen to a sample here.  

Don't forget to check out my brand new eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Read More
The Monday Blog

Protect Your Writing Time


Protect Your Writing Time

I’m taking a little sidestep away from my regular blog to let you all have a peek into my life, my career, and what it takes to earn a living wage as an author. There are so many misconceptions out there about being an author, and it may surprise you to know that very few authors are able to quit their day jobs and make a full-time living by writing books.

Why is that? If you talk to the authors who are making a full-time income, which I am, what we all will tell you is that you have to work your butt off to stay front and center with your fans in a market that’s now oversaturated. Our fans, just like us, are inundated with social media, newsletters, and distractions, but as authors, we have to always be on the cusp and keep up with an ever-changing industry. What worked two months ago to sell books doesn’t work today, and one of the most daunting things for authors who love to write is learning the business side of writing. That means it’s up to an author to market their books and make social media their best friend, which can take more time than actually writing a book.

I’ve been doing this for a number of years, and what it takes for me to write a book is three weeks with no disruptions. Did you like that phrase? I’m going to say it again: NO DISRUPTIONS! Are you laughing yet? You should be, because this is the one area where I had to become seriously direct with a good many people. No disruptions is key, but let me tell you, it’s the one concept many don’t seem to get. One of the things that has been an ongoing issue is the fact that I work from home, and therefore others seem to believe I am accessible. Now, some of you may understand this if you work for yourself and work from home. Many people believe that if you work from home, you’re not really working and are available to drop anything at a moment’s notice. Not true! If you look at someone who has a nine-to-five job, whatever or wherever it is, this same notion doesn’t apply. You wouldn’t consider walking into someone’s office and interrupting them when they’re in the middle of a meeting to ask for something. Why? Great question! This is why I’ve had to be very direct about my writing time.

My working time starts the moment I get out of bed. With three kids, I’ve had to schedule what I do around them, but for others in the community, I’ve been very clear: I work during the day, seven days a week, and I’m not available. My cell phone is never on unless I leave the island, so those people who are into texting know I’ll never respond. I don’t text even though it has become the main source of communication for everyone. I never got on board. My emails and notifications are turned off when I’m writing. I take time in the afternoon to check my email, but never in the morning unless I’m in the middle of a major promotion—which, yes, I run a few every month. Mornings are my most productive time, when I can accomplish far more than at any other point of the day. Do I multitask? No, because multitasking is not an asset. It means you’re doing too many things and are not at your best.

What’s key now is that an author has to put out books, and you have to continue to market your backlist titles or they’ll die a slow death. Unless you’re writing a book a month or at least every two, you’re going to find your income drying up. It’s a frightening thing for many authors who at one time made a really decent income, so much so that now, many are finding they have to write more, put out more books, to make what they were two or three years ago.

So how do you go about protecting your writing time, protecting your working time? You need to dial it in, focus, and eliminate all distractions, because distractions of any kind are the death of a writer. Over the past few months alone, I’ve heard everything from “Oh, we just need a second for you to come and pick this up,” to “Can you just stop in and sign something?” to “We’re retired and have shopping to do, so can you bring something over to us at exactly this time?” to “Can you help my friend who’s struggling as an author?” Or maybe you have maintenance issues like I had all winter. After the windstorm from hell, we were snowed in with no power and freezing temps. Then we had a broken deep well pump and discovered that all kinds of corners had been cut on the plumbing in our home, which created a nightmare situation in which our water was off and on all winter.

It’s just one of those things. You have to learn to be direct and say, “Fix it right the first time, because I’m working. I’m writing.” Schedule your appointments for after you finish your book, not during the day, and never during your writing time. Shut your phone off, your email, your social media notifications. Get your daily word count done, and then focus on your marketing, on selling your books. If you have an assistant, you still need to make sure they get the media kit and all the information for the books on sale that week, your new releases, and your ads. Most importantly, still make time for your family.

Do I love what I do? Absolutely, without a doubt. I love being a writer, and once you learn to say no to people and develop really strong boundaries to protect your writing time, your working time, you’ll find you’re able to accomplish far more.

What’s coming next? March 31 is release day for Michael Friessen’s book, You Are My Everything, and it’s going to be good! While on a trip to Vegas for his twenty-first birthday celebration, just him and the guys, Michael wakes up with a ring on his finger and a sexy blonde asleep beside him. He finds himself in a whole lot of trouble, all because of a night he’s still trying to remember. Pre-order from all retailers, and all pre-orders include a link to a FREE short story.


99CENT SALE

Follow Neil and Candy in THE BUSINESS PLAN (The Friessens, Book 4), 99cents through tomorrow!

Neil Friessen has almost everything he’s ever wanted:
His wife, the woman he’s always loved…
His children, whom he never believed he would have…
And an empty bank account.
Until one day, that is, when he comes up with the business plan.


"This is a great 'feel good' read and a heartwarming love story of the strength and love of family." ★★★★★ DEB, Amazon Reviewer

Now 99cents at AmazonNookiBooksKobo and GooglePlay

Also available in audiobook at Audible USAudible UKAudible France and Audible Germany (sale price does not apply).  Listen to a sample here

Please, please!  Always check the retailer's price before downloading as some retailers may be slow in changing over to the sale price.

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed Neil and Candy's story and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  As always, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!


GET YOUR AUDIO ON

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.


Don't forget to check out my brand new eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Read More
The Monday Blog

New audio release & a 99cent sale

99CENT SALE

Looking for a good weekend read?  A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE (The Friessens: A New Beginning, Book 3) is on sale for 99cents this weekend only!

Brad and Emily return in a heartwarming and emotional story about a family faced with secrets and an unexpected visitor who could destroy their happily ever after.

"Another wonderful book with just enough intrigue to keep you in suspense. Always full of love of family. I just love how the family sticks together." ★★★★★ Bayoujewel, Amazon Customer

Brad and Emily's story is on sale through tomorrow only at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play and Smashwords.

Please, please!  Always check the retailer's price before downloading as some retailers may be slow in changing over to the sale price.

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed Brad and Emily's story and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  As always, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!


NOW IN AUDIOBOOK

Newly released in audiobook--DON'T CATCH ME (The McCabe Brothers, Book 2)!

He stopped a robbery.  Now he has to do the right thing.


"Another wonderful story by Ms. Eckhart! If you like family sagas then Ms. Eckhart is the author for you. She does them wonderfully and makes you fall in love with all of the families. There are always hot men, strong women, adorable children and loads of love." Kathy, Goodreads Reviewer 
  
Narrated by Jaclynn Elfring, Chase's story is now available in audiobook at Audible US, Audible Canada, Audible UK, Audible France and Audible Germany.  Listen to a sample here.  Also available in eBook at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play and Smashwords  

Get a FREE Audible copy of DON'T CATCH ME in exchange for an honest online review!  Serious listeners only who are willing to post a review on the Audible website within seven days of completion should e-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to obtain your free code.  Thanks for your support and happy listening!


GET YOUR AUDIO ON

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync? Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.


Join me each week for a new book giveaway!  

This week I'm giving away an eBook copy of ONE NIGHT (Kate & Walker, Book 1) to five lucky winners!  To enter, simply leave a comment below.  Winners drawn 3/25/19.  Good luck and happy reading!  

Rather purchase this title?  Available in eBook at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play and Smashwords, or in audiobook at Audible US, Audible UKAudible France and Audible Germany.  Listen to a sample here

Don't forget to check out my brand new eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Read More
The Monday Blog

Two deals, two days only!

WEDNESDAY SPECIALS

Two deals, two days only!  Through tomorrow, you can pick up two Friessen family titles at a specially-reduced rate.  Grab THE DECISION (The Friessens, Book 5) for 99cents or THE OUTSIDER SERIES: THE COMPLETE OMNIBUS COLLECTION for $2.99!  But hurry--these sales end March 21st.

THE DECISION (The Friessens, Book 5)

Brad and Emily are faced with a decision no parent should have to make.

"...feels so real that you can't help but get emotional…a fantastic read." ★★★★★ A. Brantley, Amazon Reviewer

99cents at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo and  GooglePlay.

Also available in audiobook at Audible US, Audible UKAudible France and Audible Germany (sale price does not apply).  Listen to a sample here.

THE OUTSIDER SERIES: THE COMPLETE OMNIBUS COLLECTION

Fall in love with the Friessens in my big family romance series, The Outsider Series.  This special collection includes all the books and short stories of the hot and sexy Friessen men and the strong and vulnerable women they love.  Grab this steal of a deal for $2.99 through tomorrow only at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo and Google Play

Please, please!  Always check the retailer's price before downloading as some retailers may be slow in changing over to the sale price.

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed the stories in The Outsider Series and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  As always, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!


GET YOUR AUDIO ON

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync? Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.


Don't forget to check out my brand new eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Read More
The Monday Blog

POSITIVE THINKING ISN’T WRONG—IT’S JUST NOT REALLY EFFECTIVE


Please note that below is a reprint of the March 4th blog in its entirety as the link contained in the original newsletter mistakenly redirected to incorrect text.  My apologies, and I hope you enjoy the full-length version!

****

How many times have you been told you just need to think positively about a bad situation and then everything will be okay?
 
Positive thinking isn’t wrong—it’s just not really effective. Positive thinking is basically saying that there’s something negative and you’re overcoming it. The problem is that this doesn’t work very well, and there’s a better strategy, which really comes down to just getting on with it instead of focusing all your energy on thinking positive in a negative situation, trying to get yourself to feel better about the situation you’ve labelled as being bad.
 
Remember my blog post about not automatically labelling situations as good or bad? In your mind, perhaps something is so bad, awful, and horrible that you don’t know how you’re going to dig your way out of it, and it leaves you in tears, stressed, anxious. Maybe you’re experiencing sleepless nights filled with dread and worry over something that has just happened—you know, you lose your job, or your salary is suddenly cut in half, or you’re not able to afford your house payments, or your health takes a turn for the worse.
 
Think of it this way: If you haven’t put a label on a situation and called it a bad thing, then you’re not having to use positive thinking to overcome it. Try not labelling a situation as good or bad. When something happens, as soon as you find your mind going to that spot of wanting to label it as a bad thing and you feel the edges of anxiety, stress, worry, and sleepless nights biting at you, stop before you spiral downward anymore. Don’t label it as anything. Instead, just say that this is what has happened, end of story, and focus all your attention and emotional energy on solving it.
 
Whenever you’re confronted with adversity, recognize it, acknowledge it, and then stop thinking about it. Instead, think in a detailed, strategic, determined way, and put all your focus into answering the question “What do I have to do now to get myself out of this situation?” If you shift your thinking to this strategy, you will find that you don’t have to then put all your focus and energy on positive thinking. Instead, you’re thinking about the steps you need to take to get out of the situation, to fix it, to not be in it anymore.
 
Easy? Try it. You’ll find it gets easier the more you become strategic with your thinking. What’s even better is the fact that you’ll find that all that anxiety, stress, and worry and those sleepless nights will suddenly stop plaguing you as they once did.


99CENT SALE

Through tomorrow, you can pick up Book 5 in The McCabe Brothers series for 99cents!

One moment in time could change her future forever.

"Another winner...suspense, surprises, challenges for the likable characters, and never ending love ❤️ and passion." ★★★★★ Susan1, Kindle Customer

Claudia's story is 99cents through March 19th at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo and Google Play.

Please, please!  Always check the retailer's price before downloading as some retailers may be slow in changing over to the sale price.

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed Claudia's story and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  As always, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!


GET YOUR AUDIO ON

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.


Don't forget to check out my brand new eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Read More
The Monday Blog

A 99cent sale plus Friday freebies

99CENT SALE

THE PROMISE (The Friessens, Book 3) is on sale for two days only!

Falling in love with Jed Friessen was a dream come true.  Married to Jed, Diana has a family and is living her happily ever after. She knew heartbreak and suffering as a child and the pain of rejection, but she now understands what it means to be loved.  However, when the past comes knocking on her door reminding her of everything she’s left behind, everything she was, and everything she’s lost, her guilt and doubt threaten the life she’s built with her husband. 

"The one thing that I always love about this series is that it shows that at times it does take a village. That we all are all human and make mistakes, and that with family and those that we love our mistakes are redeemable. I cannot wait to read what's next." ★★★★★ Amber T., Amazon Reviewer

Follow Jed and Diana in THE PROMISE, on sale at AmazonNookiBooksKobo and Google Play.

Also available in audiobook at Audible USAudible UKAudible France and Audible Germany (sale price does not apply).  Listen to a sample here.

Please, please!  Always check the retailer's price before downloading as some retailers may be slow in changing over to the sale price.

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed Jed and Diana's story and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  As always, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!


FREE AUDIOBOOK FOR A REVIEW

Get a FREE AUDIOBOOK for a review!  Email me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to receive a free Audible code for PLAY HARD TO GET (The Parker Sisters, Book 3) in exchange for your honest online review.  But hurry--just a handful of codes remain.  Thanks for your support and happy listening! 

Rather purchase PLAY HARD TO GET?  Available in eBook at AmazonNookiBooksKoboGoogle Play and Smashwords, and in audiobook at Audible USAudible UKAudible France and Audible Germany.  Listen to a sample here.


GET YOUR AUDIO ON

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync? Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.


Join me each week for a new book giveaway!  

This week I'm giving away an eBook copy of SAVED (The Saved Series, Book 1) to five lucky winners!  To enter, simply leave a comment below.  Winners drawn 3/18/19.  Good luck and happy reading!  

Rather purchase this title?  Available in eBook at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play and Smashwords, or in audiobook at Audible US, Audible UK, Audible France and Audible Germany.  Listen to a sample here.  

Don't forget to check out my brand new eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Read More
The Monday Blog

We PROMISE you’ll like these two-day deals

Have you read the Married in Montana series yet?  Through tomorrow, you can pick up Book 1 in this spin-off of The Deadline for just 99cents!  Or grab the complete collection at a specially-reduced rate.  Hurry--sales end March 14th!

Kim and Bruce were inseparable as teens and believed their love was strong enough to overcome everything. Bruce promised they would be together forever, but when he left for medical school, everything changed—and Kim married someone else.

When they both return to their hometown after Kim’s divorce, they end up fighting the attraction between them. Neither is willing to talk about the promise Bruce made…until one summer night.


"Keep the tissue handy...I found myself crying through the entire last half of the book. Just proves second chances are worth the effort." ★★★★★ Avid Reader, Amazon Reviewer

HIS PROMISE is on sale at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play and Smashwords.  

Or grab the complete MARRIED IN MONTANA boxed set for $2.99!  This three-book collection includes His Promise, Love's Promise and A Promise of Forever

Now on sale at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, GooglePlay and Smashwords.

Please, please!  Always check the retailer's price before downloading as some retailers may be slow in changing over to the sale price.

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed the stories in the Married in Montana series and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  As always, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!


GET YOUR AUDIO ON

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync? Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.


Don't forget to check out my brand new eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Read More
The Monday Blog

Are you doing what you love?


Please note that below is a reprint of last week's blog in its entirety as the link contained in the original newsletter mistakenly redirected to incorrect text.  My apologies, and I hope you enjoy the full-length version! 🙂

****

How many blog posts have I written about the importance of doing what you love? You may agree, or maybe you’re still seeing your life and what you do as just a paycheck. Here is a story someone shared with me not long ago, and I thought it really hit home.
 
Imagine your job. Think about it right now. Now let’s pretend your boss calls you into his or her office and delivers a good news/bad news talk. You know, the kind where people start out by asking which you want to hear first, and you immediately get worried and stressed and anxious? Are you there? Now imagine you’ve said, “Give me the good news first, please.”
 
Your boss says, “The company is in trouble financially, and we’re letting go half the employees, but the good news is you’re not one of them.” You may have a second of relief, but then your boss goes on to say, “Here’s the bad news: Because the company is in such dire financial straits, we’re cutting your salary in half.”
 
Now that anxiety, panic, worry, and stress is back, and you may be thinking, how are you going to afford to put a roof over your family’s heads? Is your first reaction to promise yourself, I’m out of here. The first chance I get, I’ll find another job that will pay me the salary I need and want. They aren’t paying me what I’m worth, so I’m certainly not going to do anything to help the company, because I’m tired of not being appreciated? Or do you tell yourself, That’s too bad. What do I need to do to cut my expenses in half and help turn the company around so I can be back to where I was and even better?
 
You may be laughing and wondering why you would do anything for a company to help them out in any way after they’ve cut your salary. Maybe they’ll pocket the profits before giving an extra dime to you, and they’ll never restore your salary to what it was or more. If you’re thinking that they’re takers, and they’re taking from you, and it isn’t fair or right, and the only thing holding you to your job is your paycheck, this means you’re not doing what you love, and you’re lining up for a life of being dealt hard blows and just scraping by.
 
Nobody out there really wants this. If you’re in a situation where your first thought is that you won’t be taken advantage of and your boss and company are out for their own gain, then really, you need to ask yourself why you’re still there, because that is not doing what you love. Yes, there are takers, and we’ve all been in situations like that, but isn’t it time to be with the kind of people who aren’t that?
 
I mean, if you think about it, take the last scenario. What if you’re the person who’s thinking, Okay, what do I need to do to help turn this situation around? Then you will always flourish and come out on top. It really depends on your attitude and does come down to doing what you love, because then you bring everything to the table. You come in with your A game. It’s you who benefits.
 
Isn’t it time to do what you love so that you can give it your all? It’s about you, not about others. When you’re doing a job you love, it shows in your attitude, in what you give, and you will be rewarded.
 
Ask yourself, who benefits from what you do? For me, the beneficiaries of me doing what I love, writing books, are all of you.


99CENT SALE

Book 4 in The McCabe Brothers series is on sale for 99cents through tomorrow!

Sometimes what we can't see is standing right in front of us all along.

"Another moving story...Very realistic, powerful, and keeps the reader on the edge just waiting to see what happens next.
" ★★★★★ Charlotte, Amazon Reviewer

Grab Luc's story at this special price at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play and Smashwords through March 12th.

Please, please!  Always check the retailer's price before downloading as some retailers may be slow in changing over to the sale price.

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed Luc's story and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  As always, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!


GET YOUR AUDIO ON

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.


Don't forget to check out my brand new eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Read More
The Monday Blog

We expect you’re gonna like this sale & giveaway

Congratulations to THE DATING GAME audiobook winners:


*  Beth

*  Beverly Laude

*  Diane

*  Katrina


Thanks to all for entering and stay tuned for more giveaways!

99CENT SALE

We expect you're gonna like this two-day sale--Book 14 in The Friessens series is only 99cents through tomorrow!

Brothers Chris and Danny Friessen return in a short sweet novella about unexpected consequences in their young married lives.

Chris and JD are just coming to terms with the fact that they’re married despite barely knowing each other, and JD is learning that her husband not only has a dominant alpha side but is also impatient. Can the chemistry between them be the glue that holds them together?

Meanwhile, Danny and Evie are stuck in big-city Seattle, and between law school, studying, and work, Evie can never find the right time to share a secret she knows would be more than Danny could handle.

But, as both couples soon learn, life’s little surprises could end up being a greater gift than they expected.

"As usual a great book that is true to life, with strong, caring men, that we all wish we had."
★★★★★ Stephanie, Kindle Customer

Now on sale at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, KoboGooglePlay and Smashwords.  

Also available in audiobook at Audible US, Audible UK, Audible France and Audible Germany (regular pricing applies).  Listen to a sample here.

Please, please!  Always check the retailer's price before downloading as some retailers may be slow in changing over to the sale price.

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS!  If you've enjoyed Chris and Danny's story and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  As always, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!


GET YOUR AUDIO ON

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync? Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.


Join me each week for a new book giveaway!  

This week I'm giving away an Audible copy of THE DATING GAME (The Parker Sisters, Book 2) to five lucky winners!  To enter, simply leave a comment below.  Winners drawn 3/11/19.  Good luck and happy listening!  

Rather purchase this title?  Available in eBook at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play and Smashwords, or in audiobook at Audible US, Audible UK, Audible France and Audible Germany.  Listen to a sample here.  

Don't forget to check out my brand new eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added over the next month, so be sure to check back often.

Read More