Women's Fiction Month: A Summer in Oakville by Lisa Lickel and Shellie Neumeier

Tessa Hasmer Murphy has a secret. Estranged from her husband, will she let a past love and a fight to save the family farm destroy her marriage and daughter Lindsay's happiness?

Lindsay Murphy plans to live on her grandparents' farm until she can find a job, but developer Brandon Calloway has other plans for the property. As she wages war against him, will she lose her heart and the farm both?

Widower Arthur Hasmer's life and that of his son, Andy, spiral out of control. When old friend, Dana London, reenters the picture, God might work through her to help them all back to love, joy and faith.

Andy Hasmer has the ultimate bummer life. No mom, not much of a dad, no future. When he's sent to the farm and wrecks the truck, nothing could be worse than the lousy job he takes to pay Grampa back-except maybe putting up with the pastor's daughter, Ella.

Read an excerpt!
Contessa Marie Hasmer Murphy closed her eyes and inhaled the scents of her summer kingdom. First hay cutting—sweet and fragrant alfalfa from Janssen’s across the road—cress, and mint that she had just walked on. A cardinal’s peculiar trilling keen and artesian water bubbling from the spring a yard in front of her rock throne seemed magnified in the leafy glen. Tessa wiggled against her backrest, the channeled bark of the century oak a solid comfort behind her.
Whiny mosquito! Tessa scrunched her brows and batted the insect from her ear. She sighed and sat up. Where’s a good slave with a palm fan when you need one?

Who was she trying to kid? At age forty-eight all she’d been her whole life was a slave to her family, to Oakville. And unappreciated went her efforts to keep the family together. First, Robin. Married and moved so far away. Having grandbabies Tessa couldn’t hop in the Land Rover to visit. Skype was just not the same. Phil. Good riddance. He hadn’t thanked her for anything in the past decade anyway. Lindsay … her baby girl coming home after earning her master’s degree. But not home to mom. Home to grandma.

Tessa leaned over and plucked a small white lady slipper. Everything seemed to bloom earlier each spring. Even though she knew the flower, a member of the orchid family, had no fragrance, she brought it to her nose, always hoping something might have changed.

Something shimmied the leaves. A muffled step? Tessa stayed still, hoping to see a doe and maybe a fawn. When a large human hand thrust aside the leaves of her willow curtain, she stiffened.

Read the reviews!

"A Summer in Oakville is the vivid portrait of a fragmented family finding the faith to unite in an effort to save the land and life they thought they had lost. A wonderful story you might find a bit of yourself in."

--Allan E. Ansorge, author of the Bay Harbour stories

"A Summer in Oakville transports readers deep into the soul of family. Lisa and Shellie have woven four unique stories into one heart-tugging narrative of reconciliation, love, forgiveness, and hope. It's hard to say who inspires me more. Tessa, Lindsay, Andy, and Art each bring their longings and unravel their secrets in a situation that ultimately ties them together as tightly as your family or mine. A very uplifting read!"

--Naomi Musch - author of the Empire in Pine series and Heart Not Taken

"Summer in Oakville is a cleverly-composed novel that addresses issues from the past, affecting four characters' present-day lives. Shellie Neumeier and Lisa Lickel are a dynamic writing duo!"

--Andrea Boeshaar - author of the acclaimed series, Seasons of Redemption
http://www.andreaboeshaar.com/

PURCHASE A SUMMER IN OAKVILLE AT BLACK LYON PUBLISHING!

Lisa J. Lickel is a graduate of the Christian Writers Guild Apprentice Program and top ten finisher of the first Operation: First Novel contest. Her novels include The Gold Standard, a cozy mystery from Barbour Publishing (February 2009), and a romance from Black Lyon, Meander Scar (February 2010). Her short stories have appeared in Harpstring Magazine, and her other published material includes radio theater with FreeQuincy Radio Theater, Writer's Digest, You Can Write for Children, numerous newspaper features and blogs including http://favoritepastimes.blogspot/, and http://www.thebarndoor.net/. She and her husband live in a 150-year-old house and have two grown sons. Lisa is actively involved in her community and state historical society organizations. A graduate the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, with a Bachelor of Science degree in history and Russian Studies, and a former church secretary and desk top publisher, Lisa enjoys working with and mentoring new writers, teaching Telling Your Story workshops and anything historical.

Shellie Neumeier holds a degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a minor in Psychology, Sociology and Social Studies. A devoted mother of four, Shellie previously worked on staff with Northbrook Church as the King’s Kids ministry assistant (serving children in grades 2nd through 5th). Shellie’s YA novel, Driven, is available from Risen Fiction and her middle grade chapter book The Wishing Ring will release February 2012. She is an active member of SCBWI and ACFW as well as a contributing author for various blogs. Shellie is located in southeastern Wisconsin.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisalickel?ref=ts or https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001729933656 or https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Summer-in-Oakville/200940583288468


Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/shellie_c

Website: http://lisalickel.com/  or http://shellieneumeier.com/