Noah, the new preacher in Lookout, Texas, hides a secret that draws investigative reporter, Jack (Jacqueline) like a bee to honey. Or does something else attract her to the handsome man? Jack shies away from that question. Even with the influence of a wonderful stepfather, old hurts inflicted by her biological father still wound Jack. How can she trust any man? And yet, Noah seems kind, gentle and trustworthy. What can he possibly be hiding?
Finally a Bride, book three in the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, is a redemptive love story that entertains and enlightens. With a light touch that makes it seem easy, Vickie McDonough breathes life into believable characters who face realistic difficulties. Lively dialogue, fun scenarios and unexpected action scenes pull the reader along a well-crafted plot. While readers of the previous books in this series will enjoy a look at the continuing lives of characters in the series, Finally a Bride can also stand alone.
I highly recommend Finally a Bride by Vickie McDonough to readers of historical romance. This book is teen approved for its wholesome representation of courtship.
Laurie Kingery is a central Ohio author and veteran E.R. RN who has written twenty-two historical romances, first as Laurie Grant and now writing Christian historicals under her own name for Love Inspired Historicals. She won the Reader's Choice for short historicals in 1994 and was a finalist in the 2010 Carol Awards in short historicals by the American Christian Fiction Writers for The Outlaw's Lady. Her next release from Love Inspired Historicals is The Rancher's Courtship in November 2011.
Dear Reader,
I want to thank Janalyn Voigt for allowing me to come visit you today. I'd like to tell you how the Brides of Simpson Creek series came about, particularly the fourth book in the series, The Rancher's Courtship.
I am a transplanted Texan living in the north. I get back to Texas as often as I can. When I was looking around for a good place in Texas' Hill Country to site a series about mail-order grooms set in the post-Civil War period, I chose as its place-name a creek that ran into the San Saba River called Simpson Creek and named my town for it. I was fortunate enough to be able to go research the town while I was still writing the first book in the series, Mail Order Cowboy, (Nov. 2010, LIH) and was thrilled to find out that there actually was a community called Simpson Creek there in the 1800's. The creek is beautiful, but it looks nothing like the body of water on the cover of the second book, The Doctor Takes a Wife (Jan. 2011, LIH)—The former looks more like a lake, but artists will take liberties for the sake of beauty—more on that in a moment!
While in San Saba County, my husband and I went to see a huge, historic live oak tree called the "Wedding Oak." It had been used since before the arrival of the Spanish in Texas as a site for Indian weddings, and later by the settlers for the same purpose. Naturally, this fired my imagination and I titled the third book in my "Brides of Simpson Creek" series The Wedding Tree. But the title is now The Rancher's Courtship—my publisher wants to anchor my titles firmly in the west, so they've included Cowboy, Doctor and now Rancher in the title.
Remember how I said artists take liberties? The tree on my book cover is as beautiful as the rest of the cover, but anyone familiar with live oak trees can tell this isn't one, so I've included a picture of the real wedding oak of San Saba, Texas.
But I have to say the hero and heroine on the cover, and the little dog, more than make up for the liberty taken with the tree, in my opinion.
I hope you enjoy The Rancher's Courtshipas much as I did writing it. Readers, I look forward to seeing your comments.
Laurie Kingery will give away a free copy of The Sheriff's Sweetheart. To enter, leave a comment to this post. If you are a follower of Book Readers Central and tell me so in a separate comment, I'll give you an extra chance to win. Please include a valid email address in an anti-spam format (example: youremailhandle[at]gmail[dot]com]) or your entry will become invalid. Entries will be accepted until this coming Sunday at midnight (Pacific Time/US).
I'll announce the winner on Book Readers Central next Monday. The winner must respond within two weeks of notification. Detailed rules of giveaways on Book Reader's Central are located in the footer of this blog.
Note: Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.
After betrayal ruins her reputation, Luellen O'Connell revives a dream she discarded, the opportunity to earn a teacher's certificate. Financial difficulties, family opposition, sickness and even prospects of romance challenge her determination to finish her schooling. As each crisis comes, Luellen draws upon a reserve of strength instilled in her by a wholesome upbringing.
Can anything make her surrender her dream?
The Dawn of a Dream is a gentle story of courage in a time gone by. With fine historic detail, Ann Shorey weaves a vivid tapestry of mid-19th-Century life in America. This novel is written in an excellent style, well-plotted, and provides intimate glimpses into the lives of its characters. I highly recommend The Dawn of a Dream by Ann Shorey to readers who enjoy historical fiction and historical romance set in America.
Set in Virginia during a time of strained relations between America and Britain, Lady in the Mist tells the story of a midwife caught between a past love and a British bondsman who is not all he seems.
It's a midwife's job to keep secrets, but one in particular puts Tabitha in danger. Raleigh, the fiance who abandoned her, and Dominick, a servant with aristocratic manners, also carry secrets. Do their secrets have something to do with the disappearance of young men from the village? And can Tabitha discover the truth in time to save the two men she loves?
Laurie Alice Eakes shines as a gifted storyteller in Lady in the Mist. It's a must-read for those who enjoy historical romance filled with intrigue. This story is teen approved for its realistic portrayal of the consequences of immorality.
Gretchen Kohler likes to write in her journal. She never imagines her words will travel further than her home in the Amana Colonies, at least not until a traveling salesman takes an interest in her writing. With a jealous childhood sweetheart, a wandering grandmother, a younger brother drawn to visiting gypsies, and a father changed for the worse since her mother's death, Gretchen has her hands full. She finds it difficult to bear the weight of a guilty conscience, too. Should she confess her secrets and risk losing her job, her reputation and the respect of the man she loves?
More Than Words by Judith Miller, book two in the Daughters of Amana series, delivers a sweet and entertaining love story for those who enjoy reading about life in communal colonies.
Book Giveaway Drawing! Read the details later in this post.
Holly Weiss is a vocal instructor, retired professional singer and a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She holds a Masters in Music from Northwestern University. A polio survivor, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and is an advocate for Eradicate Polio Now. Crestmont is her first novel.
Hello, my name is Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont, a historical fiction novel set at a bustling summer inn during the 1920s. Thank you, Janalyn, for inviting me to do this interview. I’m honored to be here.
Perhaps you have heard the saying, “Barn burned down, now I can see the moon.” Many people have asked me why I turned from singing to writing. I was a professional singer whose career was decimated by the effects of post polio syndrome. Having lost my primary means of creative expression, I asked myself, “What do we do when we no longer can do what we find fulfilling? “The back cover of Crestmont says, “Discover with Gracie that sometimes we must trade loss for happiness,” and that was my experience.
A quote that had been simmering inside me for 25 years came to mind:
“Another opportunity is given you as a favor—
and as a burden.
The question is not:
Why did it happen this way? or
Where is it going to lead you? or
What is the price you will have to pay?
It is simply:
How are you going to make use of it?”
Those wise words were written by Dag Hammarskjöld, who, in addition to being Secretary General of the United Nations for two terms, was a deeply spiritual, reverent man. How would I make use of this impasse before me? I knew that when God closes a door, He opens a window. Violinist Itzhak Perlman said, “Sometimes it is the artist’s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.” So, I waited with an open heart.
Bing! On a lark in November of 2006, my husband and I stayed at the Crestmont Inn in Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania. Formerly a dormitory for staff built in 1926, our accommodations were refurbished into luxury suites. I began to think of what life would have been like for staff there during the 1920s. A light switch turned on in my head for an idea for the book, Crestmont.
A wonderful experience in writing opened before me. Researching the history of the Crestmont Inn enriched me. My music inspired me to imbue my main character, Gracie, with the desire to sing. A Native American legend says that the Great Spirit flooded Eagles Mere Lake out of anger. I gave that a different twist, wanting to set the tone of grace around which Crestmont is built. In my novel, he cried tears of forgiveness. The eagles joined their tears with his, both mingling together to gently fill the lake called Eagles Tears or Eagles Mere.
Writing was a natural progression from singing. Every song requires a different persona—a unique character the singer develops to make the song real. Inventing characters for Crestmont was an adventure I was well-prepared for after thirty years of creating them in song.
Many people have said that Crestmont is a vacation within a book. That would have pleased William Warner, who built the inn in 1899 for those pummeled by the stress of everyday life. Here’s a bit about the plot:
“A dream, after all, needn’t be fueled by particulars, only by desire.”
So notes main character, Gracie Antes, who is determined to take control of her life. Gracie leaves her unhappy home in 1925 to pursue her dream of a singing career. On her way to the big city, she accepts a job as a housemaid at the bustling Crestmont Inn. Once there, Gracie finds a life-changing encounter with opera singer Rosa Ponselle, family she never imagined could be hers, and a man with a mysterious past. Relive the 1920s with a colorful cast of characters. Discover with Gracie that sometimes we must trade loss for happiness.
I miss singing, but I am grateful for the years of ministry through song. People used to tell me, “We can see your faith on your face as you sing.” I pray they can see a reflection of Christ in my writing. My life, although filled with physical challenges, has become a re-composition full of unique harmony. God faithfully and creatively led me from the voice of a singer to that of an author. And now, although my barn had burned down, I can see the moon. In my next novel, I hope to explore my experience of One Voice Led to Another.
*Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.
Book Giveaway Drawing: Holly Weiss will give away a free soft-cover copy of Crestmont to a reader of this blog. To enter, leave a comment to this post. If you are a follower of Book Readers Central and tell me so in a separate comment, I'll give you an extra chance to win.
Please include a valid email address in an anti-spam format (example: youremailhandle[at]gmail[dot]com]) or your entry will become invalid. Entries will be accepted until this Thursday at midnight (Pacific Time/US).
I'll announce the winner on Book Readers Central on Friday. The winner must respond within two weeks of notification. Detailed rules of giveaways on Book Reader's Central are located in the footer of this blog.
Enter a world of adventure in Depression-era Alaska in Bonnie Leon's Touching the Clouds. Meet Kate, a pilot driven by guilt over a crash that killed her best friend. With something to prove, she leaves home, family and fiance to become a bush pilot. Piloting the rugged Alaskan frontier is viewed as a man's job, she soon discovers. But animosity from her co-workers is less of a problem than the fear that rises up to choke her whenever something triggers a flashback from her accident.
Kate crosses paths with Paul, who lives as something of a hermit due to his own fears. Despite their mutual curiosity and attraction, walls separate Kate and Paul.
Bonnie Leon's vivid writing inserts the reader immediately in the era and brings the setting alive. The flying scenes felt real. The characterizations are believable but would have benefitted from a more in-depth treatment. The plot delivers few surprises. Still, this novel's concept, the beauty of its descriptions and the writer's unique and compelling voice deliver an enjoyable reading experience.
I recommend Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon to women who enjoy reading books of romantic suspense.
*Thanks go to the author for a complimentary review copy of this book. **Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.
Crestmont, Holly Weiss's debut novel,transports the reader in style to a bygone era. Young Gracie, blonde and beautiful, flees from an impossible situation and applies for a position at the Crestmont Inn in Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania in the 1920's. She hopes to save enough money to pursue a singing career by the end of the summer. But Gracie's fortune accumulates more slowly than her list of friends.
The story, as it unfolds, explores the special bond that grows between Gracie and the Woods, the family that owns and runs the Inn. It also presents Gracie with options for both a career and romance. The path she chooses resonates with truth.
Rich natural settings detailed with consummate skill, insightful characterizations and an unpredictable plot set Crestmont far beyond the pale. This is not a book to read quickly but to savor in moments of leisure. I will not forget Gracie or the other vivid characters who populate the pages of this exceptional book.
I highly recommend Crestmont to readers who enjoy historical fiction set in the Roaring Twenties. This book is teen-approved for its realistic portrayal of family life.
*Thanks to Holly Weiss for providing me a complimentary copy of Crestmont for purposes of review. Although Holly is my co-blogger on Book Readers Central, my opinion of her book is genuine.
** I am an Amazon Associate and benefit when products are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.
When rough old miner Phillip Smith advertises for a mail-order bride, Jeremiah Dennison thinks his friend has gone off his rocker. He plans to send back any applicant he doesn't approve of before Phillip can even meet her. But when a vision named Madeleine Mercer steps off the train, Jeremiah forgets his intentions.
With a strong sense of place, sensitive characterizations and a sweet romance, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico takes the reader back in time to the days when the West was young. This book stands above many others in its genre because of its historical details and authentic depiction of life on the Western frontier. The reader won't find glossed-over modern lingo or any pandering to today's cultural mores.
A theme of unmerited grace propels the story to an unexpected conclusion that examines the very nature of forgiveness and love. Just like the vinegar pie Jeremiah samples in the story, this story's tartness tastes sweet.
I recommend Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico to women who enjoy historical romances set in the Old West.
The Preacher’s Bride is an engaging, skillful narrative. The intriguing cover drew me in, and as I read I was immediately transported and immersed in the day to day lives of the Puritans of 17th century England. Some reviewers have erroneously hinted that The Preacher’s Bride takes place in America in Amish country.
Set in the framework of the rancor between English Royalists and the Puritans, the book’s message is that enduring faith, children and family trump persecution. I was unable to put the book down until I learned the fates of John Costin, a tinker “called to mend souls not just kettles,” and his housekeeper.
Elizabeth Whitbread, the heroine of this refreshing Christian historical romance, is a compassionate, persistent and perceptive young woman bent on protecting and nurturing the children of the recent widower. “My conscience before God will not allow me to stand idly by,” says Elizabeth.
Author Jody Hedlund is particularly adept with dialogue and has the gift of swiftly moving her plot along. Her personal experience as a mother of five has evidently enabled her to delve easily into the fanciful, innocent world of children. Her young characters literally jumped off the page into my heart. Particularly impressive is the characterization of Mary, the blind eight-year-old, whose sixth sense is clairvoyant and prophetic.
The Preacher’s Bride is a page-turning tale that will keep you engaged. Kudos for enthralling storytelling about the wife of John Bunyan. Highly recommended Christian Historical Fiction and not restricted to Christian audiences.
I'm pleased to introduce my new co-blogger, Holly Weiss, who will grace us with her book reviews. Holly is a debut novelist in her own right, and her many reviews have earned her expert author status at Ezine Articles. Be sure and stop by Book Readers Central next Wednesday to read her review of Jody Hedlund's The Preacher's Bride. Meanwhile, here's a little more about Holly. Be sure and scroll down to watch her book videos.
One voice led to another when professional singer Holly Weiss transitioned to writing for health reasons. She is a vocal instructor, a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and a cutting-edge reviewer of books. She holds a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and was listed in the 2007 Marquis Who’s Who in America. A polio survivor, she lives in upstate New York with her husband. Holly has recently become an "Eradicate Polio Advocate." Crestmont, her debut novel, was released in May 2010.
"Crestmont is a fine and riveting read for historical fiction fans, highly recommended."
—Midwest Book Review of Oregon, WI rated Crestmont 5 stars on Nov. 7, 2010
Adelaide Proctor lands herself in a fix when she seeks a proposal from a reluctant beaux. Dislocated and unemployed, she accepts a job as a governess on a sheep ranch in the wilds of Texas. Her young charge, Isabella, soon captures her heart. When Isabella's father, Gideon Westcott, stirs her admiration, Addie reins in her romantic tendencies. She doesn't need another humiliation, and besides, Gideon seems to prefer it that way.
When life-threatening events loom, the two face a choice that will impact many lives.
Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer gives a compassionate analysis of the question: Why does God let bad things happen to good people? I highly recommend it to women who enjoy historical fiction set in the West and especially for those grieving a loss.
A mother's dying prophecy foretells the fate of her infant daughter. Brenna of Gowrys grows into a gifted healer living as a fugitive from her mother's murderer. When she rescues a man who is ambushed and left for dead, she finds he bears wounds that are more than physical. Amid their growing attraction, they must each answer the call of destiny. In their hands lies the hope of peace.
But what will it cost to end a blood feud?
Linda Windsor did a fine job of portraying Arthurian Scotland in Healer, the first of the Brides of Alba trilogy, and even provides glimpses of the Pendragon King, his Gwenhyfar and Merlin Emrys. Brenna's all-encompassing forgiveness sometimes came across as a bit cloying but this quibble seems petty compared to the overall quality of this page-turning book. I highly recommend Healer for adult readers who enjoy historical fiction set in Scotland.
Note: Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when books are purchased on Amazon.com through links from Book Readers Central.
As the American Revolution draws to a close, Seth Braxton finds himself in a quandary. Should he return to England, the land of the enemy he just fought, at his sister's plea? Brotherly responsibility turns to sharp concern when Seth arrives in Devonshire to discover his widowed sister grieving the loss of her only son. Seth wants little to do with Ten Width, his new inheritance. He plans to return to America as soon as possible, but finds his heart ensnared by his sister's friend, Juleah. Treachery threatens as a sinister plot unfolds.
Rita Gerlach writes with fine skill and a touch of lyricism. Surrender the Wind gives us romance and adventure couched in history. Although the main character is male, I recommend this book for women who enjoy historical romance and historical fiction.
