I’m so sorry for the delay in bringing you this month’s featured release. But if you’re like me, you’ve survived Thanksgiving, most of the work/school Christmas parties are over, you’ve finished buying gifts, and NOW it’s time to sit back and read. So, what about this one? 🙂 It’s a gorgeous cover isn’t it? Welcome Roseanna to the Index!

England , 1910s , English (1901-1914) Edwardian Era , Aristocrats/Social Elite, Detective , Disguised/Dual Identity , Love Triangle, Old Flame/Second Chance at Love , Abuse, Animals, Secrets , White-Roseanna

An Honorable Deception In the trying art of balancing investigations and love, a detective must determine his priorities when faced with dangerous circumstances that could threaten everything he holds dear. As the leader of the Imposters, an elite private investigative firm, Lord Yates Fairfax has made an art of concealing his identity. But when his newest client, the beautiful Lady Alethia Barremore, is shot while leaving their meeting, he throws caution to the wind and rushes to her aid. Though Lady Alethia thought she was only looking for her missing former nanny, she has clearly stumbled upon something much more dangerous. Lady Lavinia Hemming suspects her longtime friends hold more secrets than they’re willing to admit, and when she stumbles upon the truth that they’re the esteemed Imposters, she recruits herself into the firm. While she is happy for the distraction of an investigation, Lavinia’s own family secrets continue to haunt her. And the one thing bringing laughter back into her life–her friendship with Yates–lands her squarely on the disagreeable side of her best friend: his sister. Tormented by a past she doesn’t dare voice aloud, Lady Alethia does what she can to help her handsome host, her new friends, and the investigators. But as clues lead them deeper into the dark side of society, Alethia, Yates, and Lavinia learn anew that the gentry isn’t always noble . . . even as they fight to hold fast to their own honor.

Roseanna’s Website

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Questions about Roseanna’s Story

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

My hero, Yates! He’s had a POV in the first two books in the series and was waiting none too patiently for his turn in the spotlight. Yates has a great sense of humor and a heart of gold…but could double as a circus strongman, thanks to the training he does to be able to support his sister on the trapeze. Talk about an unconventional nobleman! He was a pure joy to write.

Did any of the characters in this book “surprise” you?

Yes! I was trying to come up with characters to play a few roles in the story, when I realized that I could use some existing characters from my Shadows Over England series, and thereby connect these two series. I literally laughed maniacally as I was writing this section on one of my writing retreats with my best friend, and when she asked why, said, “I figured out how to put Lucy and Barclay and Mr. V is this! It’s perfect!!” And it was—and such fun to explain part of the Shadows Over England world (which is set 4 years after this one) with my Imposters characters!

Why did you choose the geographical location in which your book is set?

I’d already established Alnwick, Northumberland as where the Fairfax estate was located, and for this story, I knew I wanted to have the bulk of the book set there again, so we’d be able to see the retired circus performers working at the estate, along with all the circus animals who now claim the stables as their home. And it was such fun to be there again!

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Questions about Roseanna’s Reading

Roseanna is giving away either a paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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A beautiful looking cover for a debut novel, a Victorian Mystery! Welcome Naomi to the Index!

England , Estates/Manors , 1950s , English (1946-1965) Post WWII , Detective , Amateur Detective, Orphan/Loner, Twin , Friends to Lovers, Mystery, Suspense , Stephens-Naomi

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey In a quiet English village, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey have set the residents’ tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of the crime of arson. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his plucky twin sister, Louisa, certain of his innocence. Fueling her conviction is an inexplicable connection–she felt her twin’s death an hour before the abbey went up in flames. Armed with nothing but her wit and her keen sense of intuition, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the dubious townspeople and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul’s closest friend, warns Louisa to abandon her pursuit. But Louisa is determined to solve a murder no one else believes was committed, even if it means unraveling secrets that could shake Wilbeth Green to its core.

Naomi’s Website

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Questions about Naomi’s Story

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Part of what made The Burning of Rosemont Abbey such a joy to write was that it was an entirely new genre for me. I’d never written a mystery, and I’d never tried to write anything even remotely humorous. Which made the whole process incredibly fun and experimental.

Did any of the characters in this book “surprise” you?

Mrs. Watson! Before I started writing the book, I drew up a list of characters. Every main character you’ll meet in the book was on that initial list—the protagonist, the love interest, the suspects, the supporting cast —except for Mrs. Watson! I only intended to reference her in passing, when the vicar is trying to schedule a meeting with Louisa, but he’s worried that Mrs. Watson, who is supposed to be trimming the parsonage shrubs, might eavesdrop on their conversation. But when the time came to write the next chapter, Mrs. Watson was still there, trimming those shrubs outside the parsonage, even though I hadn’t planned for her to be. After that, she kept popping up with little appearances until I finally let her have her rightful place as Louisa’s co-conspirator for the remainder of the book.

What research did you have to look up to make your character(s) authentic?

When it came to Louisa, the most crucial research I did related to her style. She is an extremely fashion-forward person. To give her depth, I read a ton about 1950’s hair, makeup, clothing, shoes, handbags—everything! I tried out 1950’s makeup styles and asked my mother-in-law, who does hair professionally, to put my hair up in pin curls so I could get a feel for the process and the movement of the curls when they were shaped. And, surprisingly, a lot of those details helped move the plot forward in unexpected ways—Louisa thinks through the clues while she’s pinning her hair and painting her nails, for example, and she wears yellow kitten heels when chasing down leads. All of those seemingly small details helped me see her more clearly as she was dashing about the stage in my mind.

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Questions about Naomi’s Reading

Naomi is giving away either a  paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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We’ve got a dual war story book for our readers this month! Welcome Michelle Shocklee to the Index!

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Questions about Michelle’s Story

What inspired this story?

My dad is a WWII veteran, so I’ve always had an interest in WWII and wanted to write a book set on the homefront during those turbulent years. When I began to research WWII in Tennessee, I discovered that German Enemy Aliens and German POWs were interned at Camp Forrest in Tullahoma during the war. My imagination took that historical nugget and ran with it, eventually coming up with a story about the friendship between a war widow and one of the enemy aliens.

Which scene is your favorite, the one you never tired of working with? Give us a reason to look forward to it.

My favorite scene is actually all of Chapter 2. It’s the scene where Gunther is arrested in his New York City apartment after Pearl Harbor is attacked. The research that went into that chapter was fascinating and new to me. I hadn’t realized Germans who were in the US were arrested after the events of December 7, 1941. I knew about Japanese Enemy Aliens, but I wasn’t aware that Germans and Italians were also rounded up and held in internment camps throughout the country. I found a book that described the arrest of several German citizens who were in the United States when war broke out, including what happened when FBI agents arrived at their home, questioned them, and ultimately put them behind bars. Their stories are what I based Chapter 2 on.

Why did you choose the year in which your book is set?

Because I write split-time novels, I wanted the WWII story to be juxtaposed with the Vietnam War. I grew up in the 1970s and remember seeing news stories on television about protests, flag burning, and scenes from a war taking place on the opposite side of the world. The atmosphere in our country at that time was completely different than it had been during WWII, and I explored those feelings through Mattie’s character.

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Questions about Michelle’s Reading

Michelle is giving away either a paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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We’ve got another natural disaster book on our hands! Have you ever been to Frank’s Slide? Welcome Angela to the Index! She’ll be giving away an ebook – International entries welcome!

Canada , Foreign Setting (Not USA or England), Rocky Mountains , 1900s , 1900s Foreign , Law Enforcement, Teacher , Spinster , Natural Disasters , Couch-Angela

When Mountains Crumbled Discipline and rules are the foundation on which Samantha Ingles has built her life—the life of a spinster schoolteacher in a small mining town in the Canadian Rockies. All that crumbles from her grasp when part of a mountain crashes down on their community. Constable David Harty has little patience for the strict schoolmarm but has no choice but to leave his three young nieces in her care while he tries to discover the fate of his brother. Already, the girls have lost their mother and a brother to the landslide and require comfort and love while they await the fate of their father, possibly buried in the coal mine. With the mountain looming over their heads threatening more lives, and the town scrambling to save who they can from the rubble, can hearts find healing—both for their own sakes and the children in their care?

Angela’s Website

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Questions about Angela’s Story

What inspired this story?

I live only a short way from Frank Slide – one of the deadliest landslides in North America. The amount of rock covering the area, still takes my breath away. I wanted to really explore what happened there.

What was the hardest part of your book to write?

The hardest past was looking over everything horrific that happened in the Frank slide, and trying to keep a positive, hopeful tone. While acknowledging the tragedies, I wanted the focus to be on the miracles.

What do you hope readers learn from this story?

I hope readers come away with a sense of hope for their own lives – that despite circumstances, God is in control and is a God of miracles.

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Questions about Angela’s Reading

Angela is giving away an ebook (Internationals Entry welcome!). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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Join us on a story that revolves around the creation of the Redwoods National Park. Welcome Karen to the Index!

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Questions about Karen’s Story

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

My 1920s heroine, Marion Baker, was loosely inspired by a real redwood activist named Laura Perrott Mahan. Mahan not only tirelessly raised money to protect redwoods, but once she rallied a group of like-minded women to stand between a logging operation and a grove of trees they’d been fighting to protect. The loggers were forced to halt, providing enough time for Mahan’s husband—a local attorney—to file an injunction and alert the media. Once I read about that altercation, I knew I needed a similar scene in the story, and I wanted Marion to be equally impetuous and brave!

Why did you choose the geographical location in which your book is set?

I’ve featured four different national parks in my novels, and I’ve hoped from the beginning that I’d be able to write about the redwoods one day. When I was a little girl, I was fascinated with a book called Big Tree by Mary & Conrad Buff, written from the perspective of a redwood tree. This story captured my heart, particularly how a tree that sprouted before my ancestors arrived in North America could now be threatened by people in my own time. When I visited Redwood National Park, I was instantly transported back to the pages of that book. The trees are so massive and long-lived that looking up at them put my own day-to-day worries into perspective. The God that created these remarkable trees and nourished them all these years is the same God who looks after us.

Why did you choose the year in which your book is set?

I felt it was important to feature two time periods that were critical in the formation of Redwood National Park. The first was the 1920s, when conservationists were raising money for the protection of redwood forests and purchasing large tracts of virgin forest to protect it from the ax. The second time period I feature was the 1970s, just a few years after the national park was established.

Were there any historical facts that you discovered in your research that made you change something in your story?

I was excited to feature the work of the Save the Redwoods League, an organization I have long respected. Unfortunately, while doing research for the book, I stumbled over the fact that many of the original founders were avid eugenicists. One of them even penned a book that inspired Hitler. Ugh. Any time we dig into history, we’re going to unearth the bad along with the good. We live in a fallen world, and fiction should never gloss over the fact that we’re all sinful beings—even our historical heroes. Eugenics didn’t become a major storyline in the novel, but I felt it was important to shine a light on this disturbing part of our own history.

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Questions about Karen’s Reading

Karen is giving away either a paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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A debut author brings us a unique look at World War II centered around horses, welcome Nicole Miller to the Index!

Poland , 1930s , 1939-1945 (US WWII) , World War II , Horse Trainer, Military, Spy , Based on Actual Characters or Events , Miller-Nicole M

Until Our Time Comes 1939 – Poland American horse trainer Adia Kensington is living her dream of working at the famous Janów Podlaski stables in Poland, where they breed the best Arabian horses in the world. But her plans to bring the priceless stallion Lubor to the US are derailed when the German army storms into her adopted country in 1939. Little does she know this is just the beginning of six long years of occupation that will threaten her beloved horses at every turn. Major Bret Conway is at Janów Podlaski under the guise of a news reporter, but his true mission is intelligence gathering for the British. That and keeping Adia safe, which is harder and harder to do as she insists they must evacuate 250 horses to save them from being stolen, sold, or eaten by the invading forces. What follows will test their physical, mental, and emotional strength, as well as their faith in God, humankind, and each other.

Nicole’s Website

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Questions about Nicole’s Story

What inspired this story?

This story was inspired by my research into my own horse’s bloodlines and the history surrounding one particular horse’s escape of Nazis in World War II. I’d always loved horses and history, and the blending of these two threads wove together a story that I simply had to write. As I’d come to find out, my own horse that I’ve owned for 23 years was descended from the very same farm, from some of the horses who survived the war.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I love telling stories about how animals impact humans. Horses, in particular, have been an important part of my life, and in this novel, I enjoyed presenting the idea of human’s duty to care for the helpless. I loved bringing horses to life with unique personalities (because, trust me, they all have their own attitudes.) I also had fallen in love with the main setting, Janów Podlaski, and this farm became like a character of its own.

What character in your book turned out to be your favorite?

My favorite character is a little pickpocket named Ewan who in many ways is the hero of the entire tale. He’s quirky, courageous, and brutally honest. I envisioned him as so many children might have been—both terrified at the war on his doorstep, and enduring nonetheless. He’s really the hero we all hope we’d be in the face of danger.

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Questions about Nicole’s Reading

Nicole is giving away either a paperback (USA Only) or an ebook (Internationals Entry welcome). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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Need something out of the ordinary? The heroine is an ornithologist and the hero is an architectural salvage dealer–have you seen that combo in a book before? Welcome Jocelyn to the Index!

New York , New York City , 1920s , 1900-1930 (US Early American), Roaring Twenties , Scientist, Unusual Profession , Physical Handicaps , Illness , Green-Jocelyn

The Hudson Collection Elsa Reisner’s lifelong dream of working as an ornithologist at the American Museum of Natural History is fading as the job begins to drain her passion. But fate takes an unexpected turn when she is assigned to catalog the bequest of a recently deceased patron whose Gothic country mansion holds secrets and treasures waiting to be discovered. As Elsa delves into her task, she forms an unlikely bond with the estate’s delightful gardener and her daughter, as well as an architectural salvage dealer who still bears scars from the Great War. Together, they embark on a thrilling treasure hunt for a missing relic intended to safeguard the servants’ futures before the estate is sold. At the same time, Elsa’s body seems to betray her with new symptoms from a childhood disease that isn’t through with her yet. With the brooding veteran and her handsome colleague joining the search, Elsa must navigate the tangled web of secrets and hidden motives along with the changing state of her health. As her deadline looms ever closer, will she be able to secure a new life for her friends before the estate slips from their grasp?

Jocelyn’s Website

Others in this Series:

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Questions about Jocelyn’s Story

Were there any historical facts that you discovered in your research that made you change something in your story?

Yes! I didn’t realize when I first came up with the idea for this story that the eugenics movement was in full swing during this time period. Knowing that really helped shape the character arc for the protagonist.

What research did you have to look up to make your character’s professional decisions authentic?

For Elsa’s career as an ornithologist at the American Museum of Natural History, one of the resources I used was a guide on how to skin and stuff birds, published by the AMNH right around the time my novel takes place. For Luke’s career as an architectural salvage dealer, I had a fascinating interview with a man who works with the period rooms in the Daughters of the American Revolution museum.

Did you stumble upon anything in your research for this book that you thought was strange or surprising?

All kinds of things. The most surprising was the true story of the Incubator Babies sideshow on Coney Island. At that time, hospitals didn’t have incubators so premature babies rarely survived. But parents who allowed their babies to benefit from the incubators in this sideshow often were able to take their babies home after they grew enough under nurses’ care there. People paid to see the incubator babies, which is really uncomfortable, but those babies had a much higher survival rate than preemies that didn’t have the opportunity to grow in an incubator.

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Questions about Jocelyn’s Reading

Jocelyn is giving away a paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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A suspenseful, gothic tale that seems to have Rapunzel vibes is calling to me, is it calling to you? Welcome Hannah to the Index!

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Questions about Hannah’s Story

What character in your book turned out to be your favorite?

Hands down, Felton Northwood. For his foolhardy determination, for his ridiculous notion that fisticuffs can resolve anything, for his mask of callousness but the underlying softness and protectiveness that Eliza draws out of him. Yes, he’s imperfect and reckless. More insufferable than not. But he loves like madness—and he has enough courage to fight the world.

What do you hope readers learn from this story?

As beautiful as stories are, as magical and lulling as our imagination can sometimes be, reality will always be just a little bit sweeter. Sometimes we need to step out of our dreams, put away our books, and embrace the real world around us. We all have a story to live. I hope the reader, like Eliza, can see the beauty in finding it outside of pages.

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Questions about Hannah’s Reading

Hannah is giving away either a (signed paperback) (USA Only) (or an ebook)(Internationals Entry welcome). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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I have for you a gorgeous dual-time book revolving around an art mystery chocked full of mostly set in Gibraltar–quite an unusual setting, not sure I’ve seen #ChristFic set there before. Welcome Erin to the Index! 

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Questions about Erin’s Story

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

The research! I have always been interested in art, both viewing and creating it. So to write a book focused on painters and painting was an absolute delight. I got to plunge myself into the biographies of female painters, both famous and (more often) obscure, and histories of particular art movements. I learned about the discovery and adoption of the pigments artists have used over the centuries (which is fascinating and occasionally horrifying stuff). I visited several special exhibits and collections of world-famous paintings and painters at top-tier museums (you know, the stuff you see in books and on posters, but the real thing). I did a lot of painting myself (more on that later).

It’s one of the things I like most about writing all of my novels: I get to go deep into subjects I’m curious and passionate about and all the while I’m also getting stuff done. Win-win.

Why did you choose the geographical location in which your book is set?

Much of the book, in both the past and present timelines, is set in Gibraltar, a setting I have not personally encountered in my own fiction reading. Beyond it being unique and not overdone as a setting, I chose Gibraltar for several story-based reasons. It is a crossroads of different cultures, a gateway to two seas and two continents, a geological structure that is both solid and riddled with caves and tunnels, and a piece of land that has been fought over for millennia. All of those characteristics are things I explore in my characters and the place itself becomes a metaphor and a touchpoint for my two main characters, Viviana and Esther. Its peculiar history also allowed me to consider issues of conquest, colonization, and control in both history and in my characters’ lives. I became interested in Gibraltar through conversations with a former professor of mine who is Gibraltarian, and I was able to rely on him to provide many books, conversations, and other resources that were vital to my research. I hope after reading this book you want to travel there!

What research did you do to make your character(s) authentic?

Beyond reading many, many books about Gibraltar, painting and painters, colors and pigments, and mental illness (one character in the story suffers from schizophrenia), I did a lot of hands-on research. For all of 2022, I painted one self-portrait a month since the story centers around a portrait and two characters (one in each timeline) paints self-portraits regularly. I shared these all on my social media channels—the failures and the successes. Though I’ve been painting since I was a child, I have been intimidated by the idea of painting people, so this was a fun, eye-opening, and ultimately successful experiment in learning how to accurately depict the human face. I also participated in a life drawing class, both as an artist and as a model, to understand what it feels like to draw a nude person or to sit for long periods, totally exposed, while strangers draw you. Oddly, it’s not as weird or uncomfortable as you might think.

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Questions about Erin’s Reading

Erin is giving away either a paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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How many of you love a twist on your favorite genre? Steampunk is a delightful mix of history and fantasy, I think. And there’s a brand new one this month! Welcome Angela Bell to the Index!

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Questions about Angela’s Story

What inspired this story?

This story was inspired by the grand adventure of Around the World in 80 Days and the enchanting whimsy of The Nutcracker. While Verne’s Phileas and Passepartout set forth on a race around the world, the characters in my book embark on a merry scavenger hunt across Europe. In every city they explore, my characters enjoy a regional dessert inspired by the confectionary citizens in the Land of Sweets who dance to honor young Clara in Tchaikovsky’s ballet. It was such fun to draw inspiration from these stories! I hope readers will enjoy finding the little head nods, easter eggs, and references to them I sprinkled throughout the book.

Which scene is your favorite, the one you never tired of working with? Give us a reason to look forward to it.

What a fun question! Let’s see…oh, there’s a delightfully funny scene in Chapter 27, which never failed to make me laugh out loud with every reading. It takes place in a magnificent European cathedral. All is hushed and somber until something rather unexpected happens thanks to the antics of my heroine’s animal-loving mum, Mrs. Stanton. Then the grandiose silence is abruptly shattered, and the fur quite literally flies as absolute hilarity ensues! Just thinking of the scene makes me smile.

Why did you choose the geographical location in which your book is set?

Like my heroine, I’ve always been fascinated by faraway places, especially Europe, but unexpected life circumstances have prevented me from traveling as much as I’d like. As I plotted the course of my fictional scavenger hunt, I specifically chose cities and landmarks I hope to see in real life one day, and through the magic of YouTube, travel blogs, and virtual online tours, I was able to visit them in my imagination. I learned about the cultures. Experienced the sights, sounds, smells, and local cuisine. Now, through this whimsical story, I hope to give readers a sensory experience that allows them to explore the world from the comfort of home.

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Questions about Angela’s Reading

Angela is giving away a paperback (USA or Canaday Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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Welcome Jaime to the Index with a book set in Rome that talks about St. Valentine just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Italy , Rome , Foreign Setting (Not USA or England) , 0270s , 0031BC-476AD (Roman Empire) , Food Preparers, Law Enforcement, Military , Criminal/Outlaw, Deaf/Mute/Blind, Famous People, Prisoners , Based on Actual Characters or Events, Forbidden Love , Holidays (Non-Christmas), Religious Persecution , Ogle-Jaime

Of Love and Treason Valentine defies the emperor and becomes a hero . . . and the most wanted man in the empire. Compelled by his faith, he has nothing to lose, until a chance encounter with the daughter of a Roman jailor changes everything.  Rome, AD 270. In the wake of the emperor’s marriage ban, rumors swirl that there is one man brave enough to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, Valentine believes the emperor’s edict unjust and risks his own life for the sake of his convictions. But as his fame grows, so do fears for his safety. Iris, the daughter of a Roman jailor, believes regaining her sight will ease the mounting troubles at home. Her last hope rests in searching out Valentine and his church, but the danger of associating with people labeled a threat to the empire is great. Still, as Iris’s new friends lead her to faith in God, Iris is drawn to Valentine and they both begin to hope for a future together beyond the treacherous empire.  But when a past debt and a staggering betrayal collide, Valentine, Iris, and everyone they love must fight for their lives . . . and wrestle with trusting a God who can restore sight yet does not always keep His followers from peril.

Jaime’s Website

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Questions about Jamie’s Story

Which scene is your favorite, the one you never tired of working with? Give us a reason to look forward to it.

Chapters 46 and 47 are some of my favorites. It’s a point in the story that is so long in coming, so full of tension and emotion—and the ending makes me laugh every time. It’s another one of those moments when one of the characters took over the writing and did something no one was expecting—myself included.

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

My male main character is Saint Valentine. His story of courage, bravery, and self-sacrificing love captured me from the moment I read the snippets of legend that remain. The more I researched him and the history that surrounded his life, I knew it was a story that had to be written.

Did any of the characters in this book “surprise” you?

There’s a scene early in the book where Valentine goes home to find his aunt Beatrix mixing perfume and forcing him to smell her newest concoctions. Although I’d already plotted the entire book, that was the first time Beatrix had ever popped into my brain or onto the page. She brought so much life, wisdom, and personality to the story, I can’t imagine it without her.

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Questions about Jamie’s Reading

Jamie is giving away either a paperback) (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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Isn’t this a beautiful cover to begin a new series with? I love when the heroes are on covers instead of only the heroines. Welcome Jody Hedlund to the Index!

Missouri , 1840s , 1820-1861 (US Antebellum) , Businessmen , Matchmakers , Illness , Hedlund-Jody

Calling on the Matchmaker Haunted by the death of her sister, Finola Shanahan has resolved that she’s not worthy of a family of her own and commits to spending her days caring for immigrants in the slums. When Finola sabotages yet another unwanted relationship her parents arranged for her, her father calls upon the local Irish matchmaker, who pairs her with successful wagonmaker Riley Rafferty. Finola quickly realizes her usual tricks won’t work on him, however, as she cannot outsmart or outwit the dashing, determined, and daring man. A candidate in the St. Louis mayoral election, Riley is confident a union with the wealthy Shanahan family will help solidify his chances of winning–and even more assured he and Finola can make a difference together. When a cholera outbreak begins to take St. Louis by storm, they must navigate a burgeoning attraction and growing danger testing all they know about love and sacrifice.

Jody’s Website

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Questions about Jody’s Story

What inspired this story?

Since I love romance more than anything else, I thought the matchmaker idea would be a fun way to tie a series together. As I began researching matchmaker stories, I realized that there is a long tradition of Irish men being matchmakers. So, the Irish matchmaker takes the stage in all of the books.

Knowing I wanted to use the Irish, I researched places that had large Irish populations in the 1800s, and St. Louis was one of them. As the Gateway to the West, St. Louis was full of danger, disease, and disaster—all of the things that make for a great story and the perfect setting for the Shanahan family.

In particular, I chose the year 1849 as the starting point for this series because a number of tragedies occurred in St. Louis at that time, including a deadly cholera epidemic and a tragic fire along the riverfront.

What character in your book turned out to be your favorite?

Obviously I love the hero and heroine! But aside from them, Bellamy McKenna, the matchmaker, is one of my favorite characters in this series. He is in the process of beginning to take over the matchmaker duties from his father and has some different, less conventional ways of bringing about matches. He’s not only intuitive, but he’s also very clever. Readers will hopefully fall in love with Bellamy (and maybe, just maybe, he’ll get his love story eventually too!).

Why did you choose the year in which your book is set?

A story set in St. Louis in 1849? What’s so special about that? Why read a story set there?

Lots of reasons, actually! Let me tell you just a few:

• 1849 St. Louis was a year for DIVERSITY. As the “Gateway to the West,” people from all over the world were arriving every day, many with the hope of traveling to California to get rich from the gold that had just been discovered.
• 1849 St. Louis was a year for DEATH. A deadly cholera epidemic plagued the city for months and thousands died.
• 1849 St. Louis was a year for DISASTER. An enormous fire broke out among steamboats on the levee and destroyed large portions of the city.

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Isn’t this a lovely cover, gives you the wintery vibe, but not too harshly, and what’s not to love about having a handsome man forced to spend time with you so that you can fall in love? 🙂 Welcome, Julie, to the Index!

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Questions about Julie’s Story

What inspired this story?

During my research, I learned that the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their baby daughter stayed in Woolbrook Cottage (very near fictional Sea View) during the winter of 1819-1820. I instantly knew I wanted to include them in the novel to give readers a glimpse of the early life of Queen Victoria and her parents. The royal party arrived with too many attendants to accommodate at Woolbrook, so some were lodged elsewhere. I thought it would be fun to have a few staff members stay at Sea View, including a pastry chef who invades their kitchen, a man in desperate straits, and the duke’s handsome private secretary.

Why did you choose the geographical location in which your book is set?

I chose the seaside resort town of Sidmouth, Devon because Jane Austen herself visited Sidmouth and is believed to have based her unfinished novel Sanditon on that town. When I began writing this series, I had not yet traveled to Sidmouth. I am happy to say I was able to visit in August 2022 and was thrilled to experience this delightful town in person. The highlight of that trip was meeting the staff and volunteers of the Sidmouth Museum who have been extremely helpful in answering research questions and checking setting details for me.

Did you stumble upon anything in your research for this book that you thought was strange or surprising?

While I enjoyed learning about seaside customs and strongly held beliefs about the health benefits of sea-bathing (even in winter), I was surprised to learn physicians also recommended drinking sea water!

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Questions about Julie’s Reading

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The first dual timeline novel from a well established historical author, are you ready? Welcome, Tamera Alexander, to the Index!

Georgia , 1860s , 1861-1865 (US Civil War) , American Civil War , Pregnant , Dual/Split Time , Infidelity , Alexander-Tamera

A Million Little Choices 1863/Present – Georgia Claire Powell’s life is turned upside down when her beloved husband admits to a “near affair.” But when Stephen accepts a partnership with an Atlanta law firm without consulting her and buys a historic Southern home sight-unseen—it pushes their already-fractured marriage to the breaking point. Claire’s world spirals, and she soon finds herself in a marriage she no longer wants, in a house she never asked for. In 1863, Charlotte Thursmann, pregnant and trapped in a marriage to an abusive husband, struggles to protect her unborn child and the enslaved members of her household. Desperate, she’s determined to right the evils her husband and others like him commit. But how can one woman put an end to such injustice? Especially if her husband makes good on his threat to kill her? Both Claire and Charlotte discover truths about themselves they never realized, along with secrets long hidden that hold the power to bring God’s restoration—if only they choose to let it.

Tamera’s Website

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Questions about Tamera’s Story

What was the hardest part of your book to write?

Definitely the parts that show the marriage disintegrating. Those were brutal to live alongside the characters. All the little choices Stephen and Claire make, seemingly thoughtless decisions that lead them down a very slippery and heartbreaking slope. And yet, having been married almost 40 years now, I am not unfamiliar with those myriad daily little choices.

Which scene is your favorite, the one you never tired of working with?

Honestly? I love how Clare opens the story with the phone call from Stephen and the bombshell he drops on her. Her reaction is classic to a struggling marriage caught in a tug-of-war, and we can feel the wheels of their marriage grinding to a painfully uncomfortable place. The tug of war in marriage is real for her. And she knows which buttons of Stephen’s to push.
Alternately, we walk with Charlotte Thursmann, the woman who lived in the same house in the 1800s, and we see her in a very similar situation. Only, there are stark differences in the choices open to her and the ones open to Claire. I loved exploring that dichotomy.

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

Yes, most certainly. Several, actually. The backdrop of Civil War Atlanta is the historical part of the dual timeline story, and I included some other events that I’d rather be a surprise for the reader (would be major spoilers). But as a historical writer at heart, know that real history abounds in these pages, as in my previous Southern and Colorado novels.

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Questions about Tamera’s Reading

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Look at this beautiful cover, it’s so intriguingly different, don’t you think? Welcome Melanie to the Index!

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Questions about Melanie’s Story

What inspired this story?

Poppy’s story was inspired by several seemingly random threads. First were the mysterious Thousand Islands with their Gilded Age castles, moody storms, and many secrets. Second was the recent discovery of a girl adopted by my great-grandparents in 1923 and my quest to find out what happened to her. And then last was the persistent question in my mind about where we find lasting joy amidst the temporary fixes and distractions in our world. It was a long process, but these dangling threads finally wove themselves into The Wings of Poppy Pendleton.

Why did you choose the geographical location in which your book is set?

I actually “discovered” the Thousand Islands through two different novels: Devyn’s Dilemma by Susan Mathis and The Humming Room by Ellen Potter. Both of these stories captivated me with the beauty and legends of the St. Lawrence River, and I quickly realized that these New York islands were the perfect home for Poppy’s fictional world.

Did you stumble upon anything in your research for this book that made you laugh?

One of the main characters in my story is a caretaker named Cade Ridell. While I was researching in New York, a couple named Ken and Melody Brabant (authors of River bRat) graciously invited me to their home to share their stories of growing up in the Thousand Islands. I laughed when Ken first introduced himself as a “character.” While he is not Cade, he has been a caretaker on Grindstone Island for forty-plus years and told me that he begins each day with “a bowl of nuts and bolts.”

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Questions about Melanie’s Reading

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What a beautiful cover to start a new series by Roseanna White! I hear there is a real live lion in Regency England in this book, intriguing. Welcome, Roseanna, to the Index!

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Questions about Roseanna’s Story

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I really loved putting my aristocratic siblings into such a strange situation and then showing how much fun they had with it, despite all the stress. I mean, nobles forced to work for their bread is interesting on its own, but I had SUCH fun not only making them investigators, but investigators who use the most unexpected skills, learned from the very entertainers on whom they father wasted their legacy!

What character in your book turned out to be your favorite?

Though I love all my human characters, my absolute favorite for this is actually an animal—Leonidas, a retired circus lion who now lazes about the stables at my heroine’s family estate, Fairfax Tower. Leonidas considered Lady Marigold and her brother Yates part of his pride…so naturally he has some pretty fun roles to play in the story! I actually loved him so much that I purchased a gorgeous, colorful painting of a lion from artist Leonid Afremov. It captures him perfectly!

Why did you choose the year in which your book is set?

When I discovered that 1909 was the year when England’s first multi-brand intelligence service was formed, MI5, plus when haute couture really began gaining ground—it’s when Coco Chanel opened her first boutique in Paris—and also discovered that England was in the grips of a full-on spy mania at the time thanks to, of all things, a novelist…well, I knew that was the right year for me!

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Questions about Roseanna’s Reading

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Are you looking for something other than romance? Perhaps an ensemble cast book about friendships? Then try Cathy’s latest. Welcome to the Index, Cathy!

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Questions about Cathy’s Story

What inspired this story?

When I first read of the Halifax Explosion (December 6, 1917), I was astonished that I’d never heard of it, considering that before the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in WWII, this was the biggest man-made explosion that had ever occurred.

Reading of the devastation, of lives lost and those forever changed by burns, crippling, and blindness in the Halifax Explosion, I was reminded of all my mother endured as a small child after being badly burned, how she overcame that tragedy, and yet how those injuries affected her throughout her lifetime.

It was fascinating to me that with so many disappearing in the explosion some took the opportunity to reinvent themselves and change their identity. I asked, why would a person do that? What would make a person choose to leave everything and everyone behind and forge a new life?

Also, the growing disregard for others and increased bullying that I witness through social media and in our society greatly concerns me. I wanted to show through story that such things—to which we may turn a blind eye—can go beyond rudeness and can have serious and lasting consequences that we may never intend or imagine.

I was inspired by Joseph’s handling of those who wronged him in the Bible, how he reacted when faced with the opportunity to retaliate or to forgive and embrace, and I wanted to see how that could play out through fictional characters.

Lastly, I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of young people growing up in boarding schools, so I looked for a girls’ boarding school in New England, knowing that I wanted to set the main part of the story in the US. That’s when I discovered Miss Porter’s School and its long and interesting history. I could well imagine four girls growing up as close friends in such a setting and together facing numerous challenges—many like challenges we face today.

Is there anything in this book that is inspired by/modeled after something in your own life or someone you know in real life?

I am blessed with a precious natural sister who was my very first friend and lifelong confidante, and dear longtime women friends, each a true sister of my heart. Those relationships have taught me the importance of sharing faith, truth from our hearts, trust, integrity, of championing one another’s successes, of comforting through trials and sorrow, and of refusing to allow jealousy, envy, or competition to worm their way between us.

Close relationships can be challenged when years, courses and stages of life, or miles come between us. Love is not fragile, but it does require nurturing. Staying connected through letters or emails, cards, phone calls, and visits requires diligence and commitment. The value, the joy, and the strengthening of those relationships is worth every investment for ourselves, for those who observe our relationships, and for the generations that will follow.

So while the experiences of the women in Ladies of the Lake are far from my own, the love and support they ultimately offer one another are things that my sister and friends and I have grown into through the years.

What character in your book turned out to be your favorite?

Addie is my favorite character. I understood her shyness, her desire to fit in with other girls, her feelings of shame and vulnerability as a young person and her eagerness to grow into her desired gifts of teaching and writing. I understood her desire for friendship, her sacrificial loyalty to those she embraces as family, as well as her desire to disappear when the thought of returning to the world she’d known became conflicted and difficult, and when duty called her in a new direction.

I appreciated Addie’s/Rosaline’s sacrifice, her determination to raise her niece as her daughter, and her great love and desire to protect her. I was inspired by Addie’s courage in overcoming her fear to return to the school years later for her daughter’s sake, even though she knows it will cost her everything to confess her secrets, to remember and confront all those she’s left behind, especially the man she’s always loved. I loved writing Addie’s character arc, witnessing her growth into the woman she was meant to become.

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Questions about Cathy’s Reading

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This is the first book in a new series! Those are always fun because they promise a whole new “world” to explore. Welcome, one half of this writing duo, Kimberely Woodhouse, to the Index!

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Questions about Kimberley’s Story

If you could be one of your characters, who would you choose to be and why?

Funnily enough, I love the character Marvella Ashbury. She is in all three books of the series and as a side character, she makes me laugh. I hope when I’m older, I’m as much fun as she is. Just maybe… not as pushy. 😊

Why did you choose the year in which your book is set?

Because it was when the Carnegie Library opened and in each book of this series, we are using an historical landmark (they are all currently still there in Kalispell) as a backdrop for the story.

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Questions about Kimberley’s Reading

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I love that this is a Fish out of Water story with a fisherman main character. How appropriate! Welcome, Danielle, to the Index!

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Questions about Danielle’s Story

What inspired this story?

My background is in Intercultural Communication, and one fascinating aspect of communication is about sharing personal information with another person, especially when that information is highly personal and the person a near stranger.

Is there anything in this book that is inspired by/modeled after something in your own life or someone you know in real life?

Yes. I wrote this book after a traumatic birthing experience. Writing became a place for me to wrestle with those emotions. Out of that, Adaleigh’s character was born.

Which scene is your favorite, the one you never tired of working with? Give us a reason to look forward to it.

When David finally takes Adaleigh out on a date, I mean boat, to go fishing. It turns magical and romantic … until, well, I won’t share all the details.

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

Yes. In 1930, Memorial Day was always May 30, no matter what day of the week it fell on. It wasn’t until 1968 that it became set on the last Monday in May. Confessions to a Stranger begins on Memorial Day, which happens to be a Friday that year.

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Questions about Danielle’s Reading

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A great big welcome to Penny Zeller on the Index. I don’t know what it is about pink on covers, but it always entices me! AND IT’S ONLY 99 CENTS RIGHT NOW as an ebook!

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Questions about Penny’s Story

Did any of the characters in this book “surprise” you?

Pritchard definitely surprised me. He sauntered into the book and made himself right at home, and I had no idea how he would fit in or what his story was. With a love for a certain woman’s cooking and his easygoing and witty nature, Pritchard soon became one of my favorite secondary characters.

Why did you choose the year in which your book is set?

I chose 1894 so that main character, John Mark Eliason, would be old enough to be a deputy sheriff. He makes his first appearance in Forgotten Memories as a thirteen-year-old.

What do you hope readers learn from this story?

The main theme of this book is hope. Hannah often wondered if God heard her prayers because He hadn’t yet answered one of the biggest dreams of her heart. Even in the hardest times, the Christian can be assured that God is in control and has a plan no matter how difficult the circumstances are.

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Questions about Penny’s Reading

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Isn’t this a lovely cover? Welcome Susan Pope Sloan to the Index with her Civil War set novel!

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Questions about Susan’s Story

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

Yes, the whole premise of my story is based on a historical event, and I include several historical characters.

Why did you choose the geographical location in which your book is set?

The event dictated the setting, which begins in Georgia and moves to Louisville, Kentucky

Why did you choose the year in which your book is set?

The event dictated the year and almost every date. I used the calendar of events from the Union’s Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry to trace the movements of my hero, Noah Griffin, who was an officer in that unit.

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Questions about Susan’s Reading

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Friendships, World War II, and Opera–What a combination! Welcome Renee Ryan to the Index with her newest release!

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Questions about Renee’s Story

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

In my research about British Immigration Policy during the interwar years, I stumbled upon the daring Cook sisters, Ida and Louise. These brave women orchestrated the rescue of 29 Jews from Nazi Germany in the 1930s. What drew me to their story was my indirect connection to the younger sister. Between 1936 and 1985, Ida wrote 112 romance novels as Mary Burchell for Mills and Boon, many of which were later reissued by my publisher Harlequin. Like the fictional Hattie and Vera, the Cook sisters were civil servants with a strong passion for opera. In fact, they first learned of the persecution of Jews through their association with Austrian conduction, Clemens Krauss, and his wife, Viorica Ursuleac. If you’re interested in finding out more about Ida and Louise Cook, I highly recommend Ida’s autobiography, We Followed Our Stars, which was reedited and expanded in 2008 as Safe Passage.

What research did you have to look up to make your character(s) authentic?

I wasn’t much of an opera fan before I wrote this book, which was a challenge since one of my two main heroines is an international opera star and the catalyst for the heroine’s first meeting. After spending hours watching video clips and learning about vocal control, I am a true devotee. I highly recommend any version of The Queen of the Night’s aria from the second act of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

My personal favorite rendition is by Diana Damrau from her performance with The Royal Opera. The Flower Duet from Lakmé by Delibes is another recently discovered gem. Check out Elīna Garanča & Olga Peretyatko’s performance.

Did you stumble upon anything in your research for this book that you thought was strange or surprising?

A particularly twisty path down a rabbit hole landed me at the gates of the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. Located in northern Germany in the town of Bergen, the facility began its life as a prisoner of war camp during the second world war. The official opening date is somewhat in question. However, in 1943, a portion of the facility became an “exchange camp” where valuable Jewish inmates were held with the intention of exchanging them for German prisoners of war. Estimates claim that some 2500 Jews were released or exchanged between the summer of 1943 and December 1944, though it may have been more. By March of 1944, a portion of the facility was designated as a “recovery camp” and inmates too sick to work were brought there from other camps. With them came innumerable diseases. In November of that same year a section was dedicated solely to women and, sometime in the spring of 1945, both Margot and Anne Frank died at Bergen-Belson.

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Questions about Renee’s Reading

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What avid reader doesn’t love a book about books? Welcome Amy Lynn Green, once a lady who helped market my books and now writing her own!

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Questions about Amy’s Story

Did any of the characters in this book “surprise” you?

Since I start writing with only a vague idea of what will happen next, the character of Louise Cavendish, heiress and owner of the library building, turned out much differently than I’d planned. Throughout the book, we see glimpses of her past that shaped who she is in the present, and the ideas that came to me suddenly helped me understand her and feel more sympathy toward this somewhat-difficult character. From her lost love to her desire to serve as a nurse in WWI and then in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918, her past was much more complicated than I’d realized at the start.

Which scene is your favorite, the one you never tired of working with? Give us a reason to look forward to it.

In chapter 27, my feisty Rosie the Riveter character, Ginny, talks herself into a pancake eating contest with a local man at a war benefit breakfast. It was one of the first scenes I wrote to understand who she was, and it still makes me laugh every time, although later in the writing process I added some devastating news to the end of the chapter that puts more of the plot into motion.

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

There were many real WWII home front details I got to sneak into the story, but my favorite was this can’t-believe-it’s-real detail: the Hooligan Navy. That was the nickname for a ragtag group of civilian volunteers who were commissioned to patrol up and down the Atlantic Coast in borrowed yachts and other crafts on the lookout for U-boats. I included some of the actual comical hijinks that ensued, including a city slicker who almost had the crew radio in a German sub sighting, but found out that the “periscope” he’d seen was just a surfacing porpoise. They did have a few moments of heroism along the way that made it worth the effort, but the majority of the days were filled with tedium and sunburn.

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Questions about Amy’s Reading

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Do you love Biblical fiction but want to see more variety of who the stories are based on? Tessa does a lovely job of finding new people to create her stories, check out her latest!

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Questions about Tessa’s Story

What inspired this story?

I was researching and writing The Hidden Prince in the midst of the pandemic. It was a dark time for me, personally, as I went through some health challenges. I felt a lot of discouragement about the future. I decided to write a story about someone who felt like they had lost all hope that the future would be good again. But in the process of writing, I rediscovered my own hope for a fulfilling future! Like me, my heroine Keren found that just around the corner from the worst life has to offer, you will often run right into God’s best.

If you could be one of your characters, who would you choose to be and why?

I would probably choose to be Keren. She is strong and vulnerable at the same time, has a great sense of humor, and is incredibly nurturing. She is resourceful and manages to crawl out of the pit to face her fears! Unlike me, she is also a great traveler.

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

There are several historical characters in this novel. King Cambyses of Persia and his wife Mandana; Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon; King Astyages of Media (he is mean!); and the Prophet Daniel to name a few.

Why did you choose the geographical location in which your book is set?

I was born in the Middle East, and the Persian Empire, especially, remains an important part of my heritage. Although several Persian characters are named in the Bible, most Christians know very little about this fascinating kingdom. I loved discovering more about an important part of our history as God’s people.

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Questions about Tessa’s Reading

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What makes a cover better than a horse and a bright splash of sun! 🙂 Welcome Stephania to the Index with her latest book revolving around a woman desperate to save her horses!

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Questions about Stephenia’s Story

Is there anything in this book that is inspired by/modeled after something in your own life or someone you know in real life?

I actually have a degree in equine science, so I used my knowledge of natural horsemanship and my experiences with horses in this book. It was a lot of fun for Nora to share my love of horses and a few of my more interesting debacles with training!

Did any of the characters in this book “surprise” you?

Silas Cavallero turned out to be different than I expected him to be. He asserted himself on the page with a quiet strength that not only captivated Nora, but me as well. He continued to insist that he wasn’t the character I’d originally planned him to be and he ended up be the perfect complement to Nora’s strong spirit.

What research did you have to look up to make your character(s) authentic?

There were a lot of things to research for this book, including horse training methods and tack of the time as well as how harness racing would have been in the early 1900s.
I also spent a lot of time researching the Neshoba County Fair, which is a tradition that continues in Philadelphia, Mississippi, to this day. Every July, an entire population moves into a small city of fair cabins for a full week of horse races, contests, the midway, and time spent with family and friends. Cabins have been passed down for several generations, and it’s a place where you almost feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.

For this story, I got to go back to the early days of the fair when two hotels stood around the square with the original founders’ cabins. I dug through the Mississippi historical archives and studied maps laid out from the early 1900s fair. I was also able to find several newspapers from around the state advertising both the Neshoba County Fair and the Mississippi and Alabama Fair, which heavily publicized their harness races.

What research book or website used to write this book was your favorite to peruse?

I bought a reproduction copy of Gleason’s Horse Book, which Nora studies during the novel, an original copy of Correct Social Usage—these are the things Nora’s mother insists upon and Nora chafes against—and I have an original copy of a Mississippi State Fair premiums list from 1927. While this one was a few years past the time of the story, it gave me great ideas for the types of prizes that would have been offered. There were a lot of other research materials, but these were my favorites.

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Questions about Stephenia’s Reading

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Looking for a very unusually set book? Look no further than Come Down Somewhere, a coming of age story of two women involving the Trinity testing site during World War II in New Mexico.

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Questions about Jennifer’s Story

What inspired this story?

My family and I moved to southern New Mexico in 2014, and we actually live less than 100 miles from the Trinity test site. Although I’d heard of the test, I didn’t know much about it. Living here, however, changed Trinity from something that had happened to something that is still very much happening to this day. This isn’t just history; where I live, it’s present in many people’s everyday lives, especially when you consider the effects of the test still being felt over seventy-five years later. I wanted to bring this story to the forefront and draw attention to the overlooked and underappreciated sacrifice of the people of southern New Mexico during World War II.

What was the hardest part of your book to write?

I have been to Hiroshima and seen the remnants of the bomb dropped there. Now I live in southern New Mexico as part of a military family but also part of a community that is still feeling the effects of the test. Because of this, my own personal feelings about Trinity are very complicated. I don’t think it was all bad, but I definitely don’t think it was all good either. Attempting to honor both those who worked on the bomb, believing they were doing something that would win the war and save lives, as well as those living here who were affected in monumental ways through the choices of others, was an extremely difficult balancing act.

Why did you choose the year in which your book is set?

The 1945 story line was obviously set to coincide with the Trinity test itself. Jo’s subsequent story line, however, was set in early 1952 because, later that year, the “green glass sea,” a layer of trinitite left over after the explosion, was bulldozed and buried. I knew I wanted to give Jo an opportunity to see it, as Trinity played such an important role in her journey, so I had to make sure she made it back to Alamogordo before the waning months of 1952.

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Questions about Jennifer’s Reading

Jennifer is giving away either a paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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If you love horses and timelines, check out this book and the fascinating inspiration that relates to the author’s own life that brought about this story!

Georgia , Atlanta , 1930s , 1939-1945 (US WWII) , World War II , Animal Caretakers , Dual/Split Time , Musser-Elizabeth

By Way of the Moonlight Two courageous young women, tied together by blood and shared passion, will risk everything to save what they love most. For as long as she can remember, Allie Massey, a gifted physical therapist, has dreamed of making her grandparents’ ten-acre estate into a trauma recovery center using equine therapy–a dream her grandmother, Nana Dale, embraced wholeheartedly. But when her grandmother’s will is read, Allie is shocked to learn the property has been sold to a developer. Decades earlier, headstrong Dale Butler’s driving passion is to bring home the prized filly her family lost to the Great Depression, but with World War II looming, she’s called upon in ways she never could have imagined. And while her world expands to include new friends and new love, tragedy strikes close to home one fateful night during the Battle of the Atlantic, changing her life forever. As Nana Dale’s past comes to light in Allie’s search for answers, Dale’s courage and persistence may be just what Allie needs to carry on her grandmother’s legacy and keep her own dreams alive.

Elizabeth’s Website

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Questions about Elizabeth’s Story

What inspired this story?

As a Southern girl, most of my novels are set in the South, with Atlanta being my favorite city setting. But in this novel, I am not just focusing on Atlanta or even Buckhead, the neighborhood where I grew up and the setting of The Swan House. This time, I focus on the house and property where I grew up in Atlanta. I weave a fictional tale around my parents’ home on Nancy Creek Road as I ask questions about the worth of land, family history, memories, and shared dreams.

The inspiration for the Atlanta part of the novel came from growing up in the middle of Atlanta with a barn filled with horses in my backyard and several buried in the riding ring. Our five-acre property has been in the family since 1938, when my grandfather built a small house and a two-horse barn out in the boonies of Buckhead on a dirt road for his only child, my mom, to keep her horse and indulge her in her love of riding and showing. My mother was a great equestrian, showing and jumping until she was seventy, and I rode and showed as a child and teen.

Over the years, the house and barn have evolved into something of a rustic private paradise for our family. But estates like my parents’ are being bought up and sold to contractors who implode the house and create cluster mansions on the property. That was my mother’s worst nightmare, and I feel the same way. So I’ve wrestled in my mind for years with the question of “How can we keep this property after my parents are gone?” My novels often touch on themes that mirror events and ruminations in my own life, and so I began to pen a novel about finding alleged dinosaur bones in the backyard of an estate.

At the same time, I serendipitously happened on a photo of a group of military men galloping their mounts along the beach of Hilton Head Island—my family’s favorite vacation spot for the past fifty years. But this photo was taken during the Battle of the Atlantic in WWII when the island was mostly deserted. I found myself cantering into the world of the Coast Guard Mounted Patrol, affectionately called the Sand Pounders, and what a wild ride that was!

So I created a dual-time novel that highlights the wonder and adventure of my mother’s life as a young equestrian star, referring to real events but scooting the storyline back to the 1930s and ’40s (Mom’s heyday was in the ’50s)—the heroine is called Dale in the novel—combined with the intrigue of the Battle of the Atlantic, and then brought in my present-day protagonist, Allie, as her granddaughter, who has dreamed for all her life of turning Nana Dale’s estate into an equine therapy center.

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

After finding that photo of the Sound Pounders, I started doing research in earnest. I discovered an article about a father-daughter team who reenact the famed Beach Patrol horseback units. Wayne Ormsbee, a civilian employee at Coast Guard Base Boston, and his daughter, Petty Officer Keisha Kerr, a coast guard active-duty boatswain’s mate, make appearances at parades, civic celebrations, veterans’ events, and horse shows, helping to rekindle interest in the storied Beach Patrol units.

Keisha was kind enough to do a Zoom call with me while she was on duty in Guam. She also pointed me to the book, Prints in the Sand by Eleanor Bishop. From there, I dug down many rabbit holes and learned about the two US tankers who were sunk by a German U-Boat off the coast of St. Simons Island. Then my husband and I journeyed to the island and spent hours perusing the excellent displays at the World War II Homefront Museum. We met a docent historian, Dr. George Cressman, who also provided previously classified documents detailing the creation of the Coast Guard Mounted Patrol and the different stations along all of the coasts of the United States. We also spent an afternoon on the grounds of what was Camp McDougal on Hilton Head Island, where the military camp and horses were housed during WWII.

Suffice it to say, I spent many, many hours understanding the Battle of the Atlantic and found it inspiring and fascinating. Especially the heroism of so many Stateside civilians doing their part to construct Liberty ships and guard the coasts when the German threat was at its height.

What do you hope readers learn from this story?

Allie and her Nana Dale are both strong women who are courageous, savvy businesswomen with a deep respect for family and a deep love for horses. One of the themes in the novel is about obsession. I wanted to examine the thin line between fighting for what you believe in and developing an unhealthy obsession. Both women learn important lessons about pursuing dreams at all costs, which may cause them to sacrifice something or someone they love.

While I was writing this story, my beloved father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away last February. My mother passed away six years ago. Suddenly, I was not only dealing with deep grief, but also all the questions that had originally inspired the story—how to keep the property—became very real. I have had to consider that theme of obsession for myself. My novel is preaching a sermon to me, and I hope it will also give my readers a lot of food for thought. A few other ‘takeaways’ I’d love to leave my readers are:

• Be kind and courageous.
• Find joy in helping others.
• Fight for what you believe in but fall on your knees often to make sure the Lord has the last say.
• Hold tightly to those you love.
• In life, you often have to take the risk of being misunderstood.
• Practice gratitude—Husy, Dale’s nursemaid, says it well: “It will never be enough, Dale, until you decide that you already have it all. You settle in your mind a grateful heart, a content spirit, and everything else will be gravy, girl.”
• Embrace paradox—Nana Dale tells Allie, “Life is paradox, Allie. When you learn to embrace it all, let it mix together like molasses in oats, well, the sweet fragrance comes out. Even when life stinks.”
And my favorite, which I found myself doing over and over as I wrote this novel:
• When life gets hard to stand, kneel.

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Questions about Elizabeth’s Reading

Elizabeth is giving away either a paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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This author and I live in the same city! She came to see me at a book signing several years ago hoping to be signing in the same bookstore one day, and she is! This book features the county we both live in through a dual time storyline. And the first book in this series I saw was just nominated for a book award recently, you should check this one out!

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Questions about Amanda’s Story

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

The Songs That Could Have Been is the second in my Sedgwick County Chronicles series, and my favorite part of writing it was fleshing out supporting characters from the first book. The free-spirited, sentimental Lauren was a perfect foil to her type A uber-planner brother, Garrett, in Roots of Wood and Stone; I fell in love with her and was thrilled to be able to explore her character more and give her a story of her own. Similarly, Garrett and Lauren’s grandmother Rosie always fascinated me, and I wanted to dig into her background. It was also a blast to bring back Garrett and Sloane in supporting roles in this book; turns out having a character who works in a historical museum is pretty handy when you’re writing split-time.

What was the hardest part of your book to write?

Basically the entire past timeline was the hardest part! Most of the scenes depicting racism were emotionally difficult for me to write as well as tricky: how do I portray the past accurately without causing unnecessary pain to present-day readers? I’m very grateful to my amazing sensitivity reader, Jayna Breigh, for helping me do the best I can to achieve that balance.

In my research, I also uncovered some of the Scriptures used to justify racial prejudice, and it made me think about how we modern-day Christians might also be misinterpreting or outright twisting Scripture. It’s alarming to think about, and caused me to pray for wisdom!

Why did you choose the year in which your book is set?

When I first started kicking around ideas for this story, I thought it might be interesting to set it in 1958 and include the sit-in at Wichita’s Dockum Drug, which—unbeknownst to many—was the country’s first successful lunch counter sit-in. However, as Rosie and Ephraim’s story unfolded, it became clear that I needed to set it in a time when there was very little hope for change and no reason to believe that an interracial romance would ever be accepted in mainstream society. The decision was for practical reasons, as well; I specifically stated Rosie’s age and high school graduation year in Roots of Wood and Stone, so that definitely limited my flexibility with her character!

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Questions about Amanda’s Reading

Amanda is giving away a signed paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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Doesn’t the cover model look cute in her overalls? Welcome Naomi Musch to the Index, bringing us another heroine of World War II book!

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Questions about Naomi’s Story

What inspired this story?

When I learned that there were thirty-eight prisoner of war branch camps in Wisconsin during WWII, and that German prisoners of war were sent to work on the farms and in the factories of my home state, I could hardly wait to write a story about the “what-ifs” of such a time, especially after reading some of the true stories told by those who lived through those experiences. Enemies really did become life-long friends and sometimes more.

Some people might think that to be impossible, or even that I was looking at that period through rose-colored glasses. After all, we’re talking WWII here. Atrocities. Horrors. Man’s evil to man. But the historical record is full of accounts where Germans and Americans sat down and ate together, shared a cold drink, and sometimes kept up a correspondence after the war—and more. There were a large number of prisoners that later immigrated to the United States to begin a new life.

Of course, one of the great difficulties in writing this story was in realistically being able to bring my characters together in situations where they, as enemies, could get to know each other a little bit more. I also needed to create an atmosphere where they might even develop an attraction. All this while keeping true to the narrative of mistrust and other historical nuances of the war, such as fear of sabotage.

Which scene is your favorite, the one you never tired of working with? Give us a reason to look forward to it.

In trying to introduce attraction between the hero and heroine while also not overlooking the antagonism and suspicion inherent to the situation, I had to create a few scenarios that brought the characters into close contact—and gave them the opportunity to see each other through different lenses than they expected. Throughout the first part of the book, my heroine Fanny is mistrustful and even hateful toward the Germans. She resents needing to have their help on the farm, and she only sees them as having evil intent. Then one day she and her siblings are taking a much-deserved respite with a swim in the nearby creek.

Fannie has almost set aside her worries about the farm, until the rustle of bushes announces the presence of the prisoners, then she and her younger brother and sister are caught swimming by themselves while a host of Germans stand on the embankment, watching them.

Fannie immediately feels vulnerable and angry at once. They’re all staring at her. Some are stripping off their shirts, getting ready to swim, and she can’t get her and her siblings out of the situation fast enough. She’s especially abashed by the German captain who speaks to her as she passes and another German prisoner who has shown her special attention.

But later on, when the prisoners also return from their respite, the captain asks permission of his American guard to speak to Fannie. She has no idea he’d been learning English, and she’s taken aback—especially when she learns he was a teacher back in Germany, something she desires to become. Even that some of the other prisoners were his students. Meanwhile, there’s the other prisoner who pays close attention to the discourse between Fannie and the captain.

This was a fun scene to write, and I think readers will enjoy the underlying sense of romance and suspense it entails.

What research book or website used to write this book was your favorite to peruse?

My favorite research book for this story was an out-of-print book called Stalag Wisconsin: Inside WWII Prisoner-of-War Camps by Betty Cowley. It was filled with historical accounts of those who remembered the prisoners staying in Wisconsin and working among them. Every PW camp in the state is described, and accounts of each are written about.

I tried to convey the same sense of reality in Season of My Enemy that I read about that I read about in those stories—many of which had very happy endings! I also included a few instance that were unusual, such as some I learned about in the book also.

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Questions about Naomi’s Reading

Naomi is giving away either a (signed paperback) (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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Hearken back to the time of the Texas Revolution with this dual timeline! Jim Bowie is a favorite at our house, in fact, there’s an unfinished Bowie knife on my computer table as I type this up….why all the unfinished knives end up on my desk? I don’t rightly know….but I’m sure a cameo in a book just might draw two of the men in my house. 🙂

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Questions about Liz’s Story

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I got to travel to San Antonio to research this book. At least, that’s what I tell people. I did spend two days there, visiting the historical sights, especially the Alamo, tasting the food, just getting the feel and the flavor of the city because I had never been there. The bonus is that my son lives in Austin, so I managed to sneak in a two-day visit with him!

What was the hardest part of your book to write?

The hardest part was that this was my first dual time novel. From learning about how to write two timelines, getting the stories to fit together in the end, how to tie the two stories together, and so much more, it really was a huge learning experience for me. I’m so grateful to Melanie Dobson for guiding me along the way.

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

There are many historical characters in this book, including Santa Anna, Jim Bowie, William Travis, and Davy Crockett. Then there are the battles of Gonzales, Concepcion, and the Alamo. I don’t go into too much detail about these battles (except for the Alamo), but they do play a very important role in the book. If you read all the way to the end, I have historical notes in there. I don’t want to say too much because some might be spoilers!

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Questions about Liz’s Reading

Liz is giving away a paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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Are you looking for unusual historical event in your reading? Look no further, we’ve got a Faberge egg designer in this one! A dual time line of treasure hunting and artistic secrets. Welcome Kelli to the Index!

Finland, Russia , Foreign Setting (Not USA or England) , 1910s , 1900s Foreign , Artists, Unusual Profession , Based on Actual Characters or Events, Time Slip/Multiple Time Periods , Stuart-Kelli

The Master Craftsman Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in the House of Fabergé, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history–an unknown Fabergé Egg that Peter Karl Fabergé secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both the people of Russia and the Imperial tsar’s family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family. Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance–and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.

Kelli’s Website

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Questions about Kelli’s Story

What inspired this story?

I stumbled across a news article a few years ago about a Russian imperial crown, and buried in the article was a side note about an American scrap metal dealer who had purchased what he thought was an innocuous piece of art at an auction, and he planned to melt it down and sell the gold. As he cleaned it up, however, he realized he had something much more valuable on his hands. He soon learned that he had found one of the missing Faberge Imperial Easter Eggs, and its value was estimated at $33 million. Immediately, I had my story. Where were the missing eggs, and what would happen if someone set out to find one?

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

The research! The House of Faberge was magical and opulent, and in its glory days was the center of Russian advances and culture. I loved exploring the making of the eggs and the life of Peter Karl Faberge. And when I discovered that he employed female master craftsmen, very advanced for his time, I was even more intrigued.

What was the hardest part of your book to write?

I often felt underqualified for this story. It felt much bigger than me and intimidated me quite a bit. It was the most challenging story I’ve written to date.

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

The historical timeline is very accurate to real events, minus a few creative liberties. Did Peter Karl Faberge really design a mystery 53rd egg that he never told anyone about? Maybe. I don’t actually know. But it’s possible. He was a deeply creative man. But all the events and facts of the other designs, and the historical rumblings that led to the Russian Revolutions and ultimate demise of the Romanov family were all very accurate.

Why did you choose the geographical location in which your book is set?

I have a deep fascination with Russian culture and history, and on my bucket list is to visit St. Petersburg someday. Visiting it through fiction was step one!

What research did you have to look up to make your character(s) authentic?

I read extensively about the Faberge family and the House of Faberge. I ordered every book I could get my hands on, and I studied every picture of each Imperial Egg in detail.

What do you hope readers learn from this story?

I hope readers walk away a little intrigued about the history of the eggs. There are still 11 Imperial eggs missing. Perhaps one of my readers will take it upon themselves to find the next one.

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Questions about Kelli’s Reading

Kelli is giving away either a paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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Our featured book this month is a love story with our hero and heroine dealing with their family in a beautiful area of Texas. With the ice covering the cars where I live, I’m thinking a trip to Texas sounds heavenly right now, even if it can only be a trip through the words of a book. 🙂 Thanks to Amanda for this month’s giveaway of her new Texas set release!

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Questions about Amanda’s Story

What inspired this story?

I’ve always been fascinated by family dynamics and how our relationships with our parents have influenced our lives, and so when I started plotting this book, I knew that both Alexandra and Gabe would make critical decisions based on their relationships with their fathers. One relationship is warm and loving. The other … let’s just say “warm and loving” aren’t words I would use to describe it, but they were both so important that they provided what authors call the inciting incident that led both my hero and heroine to the same little town in Texas.

Why did you choose the geographical location in which your book is set?

The majority of my books are set in the Texas Hill Country. Why? It’s arguably one of the most beautiful parts of Texas, but even more than that, it’s a location with a rich history that just begs to be explored.

What research did you have to look up to make your character(s) authentic?

Although Alexandra is a skilled painter, my artistic skills are best described as nonexistent, so I spent a fair amount of time researching painting techniques, specifically working with watercolors. The research was enjoyable and left me with an even greater appreciation for artists’ talents.

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Questions about Amanda’s Reading

Amanda is giving away either a paperback (USA Only).

Enter the Rafflecopter below! **If you don’t want to enter the Rafflecopter, tell me in a comment below: “I’m not entering the Rafflecopter, but please throw me in the hat” so I can manually put you in there for a chance.**

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Mary’s problems with hurricanes in this book reminds me of the time I had to move my story by year’s to avoid a snowstorm that would have ruined my whole plot! This story sounds like a great testament to the resilience of women, hope you check it out!

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Questions about Mary’s Story

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

Jacqueline “Jackie” Cochran was an American female pilot and a pioneer in women’s aviation. She conceived of and headed the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots). I mention her a few times and have her show up in a scene near the end. She was rather a high-level person working with the military brass, generals, and our country’s leaders, so I didn’t feel she would be working directly with my ladies. I also included hurricanes which took place during my story. I knew once I realized my story happened during and where hurricanes were, I needed to deal with them one way or another. (More about hurricanes in my next answer.)

Were there any historical facts that you discovered in your research that made you change something in your story?

Yes, the 1944 East Coast Hurricane season. I was working through some of the details of my plot, minding my own business—or rather the business of my characters—when a stray thought popped into my head. When is hurricane season? Being a West Coast gal—born and bred—I don’t think much about hurricanes until a big one hits and makes the news. So, I researched the 1944 hurricane season and cringed. I needed to either move my story to earlier in the year to avoid the hurricanes, move my story to a different part of the country, again, to avoid hurricanes, or plunge headlong into one of the worst ones that year. Who wants to race into a hurricane? With all the challenges I had planned for my WASPs, the last thing they needed was a hurricane to content with. Also, I really didn’t want to do extensive hurricane research. On a cursory scan of 1944 hurricanes, I found the perfect storm, the Cuba/Florida hurricane. What’s an author to do but shift the timeline and throw her characters into the thick of it? “Watch out hurricane, here come the WASPs.” I don’t know if Peggy has quite forgiven me yet.

What research did you have to look up to make your characters authentic?

I researched a lot about WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots). I needed to know how they were affiliated with the military, what duties they had, their uniform, where they might have been stationed, and so much more about them, as well as how things might have worked. Every time I turned around, there was something else I needed to know, most of them were little things. I couldn’t always find the exact answer I needed and had to extrapolate from what I could learn. One of those little things was what color of flashy lights did the military emergency vehicles on base have?

Did you stumble upon anything in your research for this book that made you sad?

One of the things that made me sad—and also mad—was how poorly some of the military men treated the WASPs. The WASP were given the worst aircraft to fly. They would refer to them as “bucket of bolts,” because they were planes deemed unfit for the men to fly and were poorly maintained. One story I recall from one of the books I checked out of the library was about a WASP in training who was waiting for her final test flight to be certified to fly the military planes. She was told to wait in the hangar for her instructor even after asking multiple times if she should go out to the aircraft. A few hours later, she went out to the aircraft anyway, only to be told she was too late and would have to reschedule her test flight. She had one last opportunity, days later, to take and pass her test. This time she sat in the aircraft and waited. And waited. And waited. She sat for several hours in the Texas heat in the aircraft on the flight line, waiting for her instructor to arrive to test her. Her fellow WASPs brought her a bottle of soda because she had been there so long in the heat. Finally, the instructor showed up and grudgingly tested her. She passed and officially became a WASP. However, it wasn’t only men, women also didn’t think women should be flying, and certainly not military aircraft. When the WASPs were in a parade (I think it was in Boston) both men and women threw things at them in protest to them flying. The WASPs did a huge and great service for our country and the military but didn’t get credit for it. If asked if they would serve again, knowing they wouldn’t get acknowledged and would be treated poorly by some, I believe they would all say, “Yes, sign me up!” They were patriotic and wanted to serve our country.

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Questions about Mary’s Reading

Mary is giving away either a paperback (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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This story is based on a real scandal and makes me want to read it all the more! What about you?

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Questions about Kathleen’s Story

Which scene is your favorite, the one you never tired of working with?

There’s a scene involving a dance on the beach which I loved writing because we get to see the relationship progressing between the hero and heroine. Plus, it’s a secret wink to my husband who taught me to waltz on the beach beneath the stars on my twenty-first birthday.

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

There are so many true historical people, facts, and events included in this novel that I literally wrote pages about them in a “Dear Reader” letter at the back of the book. Not only is the primary plot line inspired by an actual scandal and romance which occurred in 1865 San Diego, but there are direct newspaper articles briefly quoted, and actual events from 1865 newspapers were rewritten to fit the story.

Were there any historical facts that you discovered in your research that made you change something in your story?

When I discovered that San Francisco’s volunteer fireman had brawled in the streets on their way to a fire, it turned out to be the perfect ingredient for a key moment in my story. I also found a way to sneak in the one-man band I learned about, although his mention is brief.

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Questions about Kathleen’s Reading

Kathleen is giving away either a (signed paperback) (USA Only). Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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I’m so excited to have Candice Sue Patterson with us and her contribution to the Heroines of WWII series. The book crosses spying with Lobster catching, what’s not to love!

Have you read any that have come before this one? This is #6 in the series already! All can stand alone.

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Questions about Candice’s Story

What did you learn about yourself while writing this book?

I learned that God is so vital to my writing. I knew this already, of course, but more so with this book. I’ve never written a WWII-era story and I knew that I had to give my very best to the manuscript or I would fail miserably. I prayed over this manuscript more so than any other, and I was amazed at how God provided in so many areas during the journey. That’s what I love most about Christian Fiction. Whether you’re a reader or a writer, God is in the midst.

Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?

Yes! While researching the SPARs, I discovered that the military reached out to Dorothy C. Stratton and asked her to consider directing the reserve. I believed there had to be something special about her that made them go to her, so I began diving deeper into her life. She was a fascinating, highly-intelligent woman with a rich background who could command and stand up for what was right while being a classy lady at the same time. She was the essence of the SPARs, and I knew right away she needed to be in my book. I adore the interaction she has with Shirley (the heroine) and Dorothy soon became one of my favorite characters.

Why did you choose the geographical location in which your book is set?

Though I’ve never lived anywhere other than Indiana, Maine is the home of my heart. Therefore, many of my books are set in Maine. I chose this location for a WWII-era story because when my agent called to let me know about the opportunity for the Heroines of WWII collection, I had just finished writing the first draft of a contemporary story set in Maine that revolved around the lobster industry. I had researched that subject so deeply it was branded on my brain, and I knew I wouldn’t have enough time to research anything else thoroughly enough to create a proposal before the deadline. I started wondering if I could somehow tie lobstering with a WWII-era home front story and before long, I had a plot that coupled lobstering with espionage.

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