I have this book on my bedside table right now! I haven’t started it because, well life, but it’s waiting for me! Maybe you’ll put it on your bedside table too, maybe even win it through the giveaway below!

PLUS – Roseanna is holding a special giveaway for her release, including a beautiful necklace Roseanna made herself! Make sure you check it out.

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Questions about Roseanna’s Story

What inspired your story?

The first week of 7th grade, I decided I was going to write a novel—and finish it, unlike all those others I’d started. I’d recently fallen in love with historical fiction thanks to Lori Wick’s books, so naturally I decided it had to be a historical romance—never mind the fact that I was only 12 and had certainly never been in love, LOL. Over the course of the next year and a half, I wrote Golden Sunset, Silver Tear…a story of a girl raised as a princess in a small kingdom, but who was really the daughter of English nobility. The story of a girl who unwittingly carried her parents’ secrets with her all the years she was away—and who then had to find the truth about their deaths when finally she came home as a young woman to the land of her birth. Fast-forward 20 years, and most everything about that book had been rewritten a gazillion times, until we ended up with The Lost Heiress—a story about a girl raised as an illegitimate daughter to a prince of Monaco, who then learned she was the heiress to a Yorkshire earl…and who had unwittingly carried the secrets of her mother’s death with her all those years. That kernel has remained the same—while absolutely everything else has changed, LOL.

(Melissa says: Oh my, it was 7th grade when I read my first Lori Wick, and well, I didn’t write until I was in my late 20s, but she’s the reason I’m in love with Historical Romance too!)

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

Love this question!!! My favorite character turned out to be one who hadn’t existed in any of the previous drafts of the book—Brook’s father, Lord Whitby. Originally I’d meant for both her parents to have been killed, but for the purposes of her inheritance, I finally decided it made more sense to have her father still alive…which then gave me a whole plotline I’d never had before, of Brook reunited with and getting to know the man who had been searching for her for eighteen years. I absolutely adore Whitby, who has that dry British charm I find so amusing. And when I told my editors that he was a new addition, they looked at me like I was insane—because really, how did this story ever exist without him?? I have no idea.

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

That would have to be my big middle-twist in chapter 17…which is also The First Kiss. =) In the editing process, some revisions to the pacing of the love story made one of the editorial team suggest getting rid of this, but I just couldn’t—I changed everything else about the romance, but not that! LOL. This is a kiss, but it’s more—it’s Brook being typically-Brook and running headlong into a dangerous situation just to resolve a disagreement. It’s Justin battling with his demons. It’s stolen cars and injuries and…just yeah. The moment where everything between them changes, and there’s no going back. The End of an Era, as they come to think of it. And the beginning of something altogether new.

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Questions about Roseanna’s Reading

	What other Christian Historical Novels are similar to yours in setting or storyline? There are quite a few Edwardian-set book out right now! The ones I’m eager to get my hands on are Carrie Turansky’s Edwardian Brides series.
	Which book got you hooked on reading Christian Historicals? Definitely Lori Wick’s Kensington Chronicles. I devoured her books as a teen, as well as those by Stephanie Whitson, Tracie Peterson, and Linda Chaikin. But I guess even before those were L. M. Montgomery’s books. Not historical fiction, per se—they were contemporary when they were written. But reading them now gave me a glimpse into the historical world that made me never want to leave it.
	What Christian Historical Novel in your To Be Read pile is begging you to make time to plop down with it right now? Chivalrous by Dina L. Sleiman. She’s my critique partner, so I’ve read most of her books, but not this one yet. Very excited to dive in and read about her would-be female knight!

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Roseanna is giving away a copy of her book and I’m giving away winner’s choice of ebook of any of the books mentioned above. Enter the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure you check out her cool prize package on her website:

This month’s giveaway actually came out last month, but you’ll forgive me right? (I’ve been swamped and overwhelmed here lately). I hope you enjoy the interview with Susan!

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Questions about Susan’s Story

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I loved creating a big Irish family full of secrets and complicated relationships. Throw in a boy (now a man) who was taken in as a ward, and a distant relative who arrives to stir up things, and more havoc ensues!

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

Funny enough, it was Rylan Montgomery, the distant relative who comes to stay with the O’Leary’s. He is studying to become a priest, and although I expected him to be kind and compassionate, I never expected him to be funny and to add a quirk of humor to the book!

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

One of my favorite scenes is the first meeting between Colleen and Rylan (Chapter 4). Colleen is sent to meet Rylan at the train, but on the way, her carriage gets stuck in the mud. Rylan (who she doesn’t know is him) stops to help her and they both end up covered in mud!

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Questions about Susan’s Reading

	Who is your favorite Christian Historical hero? It’s tough to choose, but I’d have to say Silas Ballantyne from Laura Frantz’s “Love’s Reckoning”. He is honorable and romantic. I love how instead of writing love notes to Eden, he sends quotes from scriptures.
	What Christian Historical Novel taught you something about the craft of writing because it was so well done? And tell us a bit about what it taught you. It was Julie Lessman’s “A Passion Most Pure” that taught me the meaning of deep Point of View. I had been struggling to figure out what this elusive term meant, and when I started reading APMP, Julie’s emotional style of writing really brought this home to me. I finally understood what it meant to delve into a character’s inner most thoughts and emotions.
	Which was the last Christian Historical Novel you read, and what was your favorite thing about it?     I recently finished “To Win Her Favor” by Tamera Alexander. I loved the Irish hero, Cullen, who buys some land and ends up getting a wife in the bargain! I adored the way he set out ‘to win his wife’s favor’ and how they fell in love. This story had several similarities to mine in that it involved an Irish immigrant and thoroughbreds!

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Susan is giving away a copy of her book and I’m giving away winner’s choice of ebook of any of the books mentioned above. Enter the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This month is when I give away my newest release and I’ve got TWO!

And since interviewing myself every single time I have a release would be silly, I have to come up with something else fun.

So first, my prizes. I’m going to giveaway 5 SETS of books. Five winners get two books, A Bride at Last and The Convenient Bride Collection. (And though the collection is not officially a part of the Unexpected Brides Series like A Bride at Last is, my story in the collection, Blinded by Love, is about a character you’ve met in the novella prequel of the series, Love by the Letter. So Neil sorta makes this collection part of the series!)

To enter my giveaway, you can get points for the normal things of course: Getting the Index’s Newsletter and Visiting the Index’s Facebook page where I post ebook sales.

And of course, if you dislike the rafflecopter, you can always email me that you want one free entry. 🙂 mjagears AT gmail DOT com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’ve got a new novella out in The Convenient Bride Collection called Blinded by Love, and the nine other authors in the collection and I are giving away a loaded Kindle Fire in celebration!! Woot!

I thought since we all wrote novellas, I’d ask them to recommend some good novellas to you before you entered the Rafflecopter for a chance at the Kindle Fire. I know there are plenty of you out there that think there is no such thing as a good novella (because I used to be one of you.) 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Who doesn’t love Karen’s whimsical covers? I remember seeing her first, A Tailor-Made Bride, and thought the cover itself told the story and I was so happy to have the inside story match the cute story on the cover. How many can’t wait to see if this cute cover is just as great? 🙂 Maybe you’ll win the AUTOGRAPHED copy! Hope you enjoy the interview!

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Texas , 1890s , 1880-1900 (US Turn of Century) , Bounty Hunter, Teacher, Orphan/Loner , Witemeyer-Karen

A Worthy Pursuit A teacher on the run. A bounty hunter in pursuit. Can two enemies learn to trust each other before they both lose what they hold most dear? Stone Hammond is the best tracker in Texas. He never comes home empty-handed. So when a wealthy railroad investor hires him to find his abducted granddaughter, Stone eagerly accepts. Charlotte Atherton, former headmistress of Sullivan’s Academy for Exceptional Youths, will do anything to keep her charges safe, especially the orphaned girl entrusted to her care. Charlotte promised Lily’s mother she’d keep the girl away from her unscrupulous grandfather, and nothing will stop Charlotte from fulfilling that pledge. Not even the handsome bounty hunter with surprisingly honest eyes who comes looking for them. When Miss Atherton produces documentation that shows her to be Lily’s legal guardian, Stone must reevaluate everything he’s been led to believe. Is she villain or victim? Then a new danger forces Charlotte to trust the man sent to destroy her. Stone vows to protect what he once sought to tear apart. Besides, he’s ready to start a new pursuit: winning Charlotte’s heart.

Karen’s Website

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Questions about Karen’s Story

What inspired your story?

There is usually a single spark that get’s a book idea started. For A Worthy Pursuit, that spark was the idea of incorporating gifted children—child prodigies, each having a gift in a different field. And the one who doesn’t consider himself gifted ends up being the one who saves the day, proving he is, in fact, remarkable.
I also wanted to play with the idea of opposites attracting. So I chose a refined, educated headmistress who doesn’t trust men and paired her with a man of action and intrigue who practically walks off the pages of a dime novel. Charlotte has to learn to trust the man who was sent to destroy her in order to protect the children in her care, and Stone must dig deep to unearth the patience it will take to win the heart of the plucky woman he comes to admire.

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

All right. I admit it. The heroes in my books are always my favorites. I suppose it’s because I’m a romance reader first and foremost, so when I write, I create heroes that I, myself, would fall in love with if I was the reader. My philosophy is to write heroines that I wish I could be, and write heroes that make me fall in love with them.

So, in A Worthy Pursuit, Stone is my favorite. He was orphaned at a young age and forced to toughen up in order to survive. He found a career that suited his skills and became the best in the business. However, he’s not a shoot-first-ask-questions-later type of bounty hunter. In fact, he leaves the outlaw chasing business and hires himself out as a retriever in order to use his brain more than his gun. He’s intelligent enough to piece together clues to find things/people nobody else can find. And he’s a man of honor. That’s why when he finds Charlotte and the kids he’s open to hearing her side of the story instead of focusing solely on the paycheck at the end of the job.

He also woos Charlotte with a patience and gentleness that goes completely against his action-oriented nature. There is a scene where he takes her on a walk to watch the sun set, and the triumph he experiences when she finally relaxes enough against him to lay her head on his shoulder always makes me melt. His relentless yet patient pursuit wins not only Charlotte’s heart but mine as well.

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Questions about Karen’s Reading

What other Christian Historical Novels are similar to yours in setting or storyline? Mary Connealy writes books that are similar to mine. Western settings, cowboy heroes, late 1800s timeframe. She also incorporates a lot of action and humor into her stories that I really enjoy. In fact, I’m reading her latest right now. It’s called Now and Forever and features a rugged mountain man and a fearless sheep-raising heroine. I’m about a third of the way through and having a great time!

Which book got you hooked on reading Christian Historicals? When I first started delving into Christian Historicals, Deeanne Gist was the first author to completely captivate me. She wrote fabulous romances that were rich in history and just a touch of lighthearted humor to keep me smiling. A Bride in the Bargain was my favorite of hers.

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Karen is giving away an autographed copy of her book and I’m giving away winner’s choice of ebook of the three books mentioned above. Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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Carrie Fancett Pagels is such a wonderfully sweet lady who loves to recommend books to readers (as you’ll see by her long list of recommendations and praises for favorite authors below!) and I hope you’ll enjoy learning a bit about her lumberjack stories! SEVERAL Giveaways at the bottom, don’t miss out on your chance for some good reading!

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The Fruitcake Challenge When new lumberjack, Tom Jeffries, tells the camp cook, Jo Christy, that he’ll marry her if she can make a fruitcake, “as good as the one my mother makes,” she rises to the occasion. After all, he’s the handsomest, smartest, and strongest axman her camp-boss father has ever had in his camp—and the cockiest. And she intends to bring this lumberjack down a notch or three by refusing his proposal. The fruitcake wars are on! All the shanty boys and Jo’s cooking helpers chip in with their recipes but Jo finds she’ll have to enlist more help—and begins corresponding with Tom’s mother. Jo is ready to find another life outside of the camps and plans that don’t include any shanty boys. But will a lumberjack keep her in the very place she’s sworn to leave? The Lumberjacks’ BallA decade after surviving a brutal attack, a mercantile owner’s daughter begins her life anew in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A gifted craftsman wishes to leave the lumber camp and seeks employment at her new store. When his presence dredges up memories she wishes to suppress, the proprietress must learn to face her past and open her heart. When complications arise, will they overcome adversity in time for The Lumberjacks’ Ball?

Carrie’s Website Carrie runs the Overcoming with God blog Make sure you put that in your blog feed. Lots of Book Reviews and Giveaways there!

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Questions about Carrie’s Story

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

Although my cousin’s wife, Jacqueline Williams (thank you Jackie!), told me that the Upper Peninsula was a bustling place, especially with hotels, during the turn of the century, I hadn’t realized that St. Ignace had become a vibrant small city with FOUR newspapers! So the smaller town that I pictured wasn’t correct. And even though I grew up near this town, and thought I knew our history in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, I did not realize.

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

YES!!! The original story was changed because I came across a lumberjack song that creeped me out. It was about a lumberjack going to a sweet young woman’s home, presumably his friend, taking her to the river and killing her. I’d had a different story in mind for The Lumberjacks’ Ball but when I came across that horrid song I added that information into this book.

Questions about Carrie’s Reading

	What other Christian Historical Novels are similar to yours in setting or storyline? Serena B. Miller’s series set in Michigan, in particular The Measure of Katie Calloway     Deanne Gist’s lumberjack story A Bride in the Bargain     And Jody Hedlund’s lumberjack stories, but I’m coming at it from a softer and gentler approach than Jody did.
	Which books got you hooked on reading Christian Historicals? Bodie Thoene’s books, particularly the Zion series, from over 25 years ago.  My best friend, Libbie Cornett, suggested Bodie’s books to me when I was recovering from C-section with my daughter. I got hooked and I also suggested them to my mother-in-law, who loved their stories and writing. I tell Libbie and Bodie that it is their “fault” I gave up being a psychologist and became an author 😉 (There were other reasons, like RA, but I like to tease!) I DID think—wow I would LOVE to write like her!!! Some day, maybe…. We’ll see if God can get me anywhere in the same stratosphere with Bodie Thoene!
	What Christian Historical Novel taught you something about the craft of writing because it was so well done? And tell us a bit about what it taught you.   Ohmygoodnessgraciousmeohmy – I read a novel by Michelle Griep this winter that made me want to STOP writing because it was so good. I will be honest, it was so beyond me that I couldn’t really grasp how or why is was so different from mine because I was so immersed plus I was constantly thinking, wow, how did she do that.  Maybe I’ll read it again and see.   Tamera Alexander’s stories have taught me about telling your story, the unique story that must be told.   Julie Lessman’s stories have taught me about romance and characterization.   Julie Klassen’s are about making your story a little quirky and writing outside of the box.   MaryLu Tyndall has an inclusive approach that I love—she includes characters who are different and sometimes difficult.   Serena B. Miller has it all and some set in the great North woods where I grew up!   Jen Turano has taught me that spunky isn’t totally out of my realm—The Fruitcake Challenge was a spunky story, and I think it went well!
	Which was the last Christian Historical Novel you read, and what was your favorite thing about it? I just read a novella by Melissa Jagears that is part of a collection from Barbour. What I liked about it was that the characters were “mature”! I’d heard over and over you can’t have a hero and heroine over 35, and that is just ridiculous. So I was so thrilled with Melissa and Barbour for publishing a mature romance! (Melissa says, Okay, I just have to say, if my next birthday throws me into the too mature to fall in love category…..stick a fork in me, I’m done!)

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Carrie’s been nice enough to help me pile on the Giveaways! She’s offering both books of her series in any format to a reader, Jen Turano’s After a Fashion in Paperback, MaryLu Tyndall’s A Veil of Pearls in paperback and I’m giving away winner’s choice of ebook of any of the books mentioned above. So FOUR winners. (If the winner chooses Carrie’s books, I’ll buy both if desired.) Enter the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also Carrie has a virtual tea party scheduled that you should check out.

The Tea Party on Colonial Quills is the third Friday in May (15^th). The Facebook Party is at this link from 3-6 pm EST. At the FB party, we encourage our readers to post pictures of themselves in their favorite old fashioned party clothing or tea party gowns. We also post pictures of our settings, recipes, music that fits with our new releases, etc. Giveaways are over on the Colonial Quills blog, though. The FB party is the place where we go to show off our party shoes, etc.!

The blog party is at this link that same day, all day till 9 pm EST. To ENTER, visitors MUST comment on the Colonial Quills blog. http://colonialquills.blogspot.com/2015/05/may-tea-party-most-eligible-bachelor.html

Today we get to meet Dawn Crandall and her newest book. There’s lots of buzz going for this series that has come out so quickly you didn’t have to wait very long to read them!

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The Captive Imposter

Sent away for protection, hotel heiress Estella Everstone finds herself living undercover as a lady’s companion named Elle Stoneburner at one of her father’s opulent hotels in the mountains of Maine—the one she’d always loved best and always hoped to own one day, Everston. The one thing she doesn’t like about the situation is that her ex-fiancé is in the area and is set on marrying someone else. Reeling from her feelings of being unwanted and unworthy, Estella reluctantly forms a friendship with the gruff manager of Everston, Dexter Blakeley, who seems to have something against wealthy young socialites with too much money, although they are just the kind of people Everston caters to.

When Estella finds herself in need of help, Dexter comes to the rescue with an offer she can’t refuse. She sees no other choice aside from going back home to her family and accepts the position as companion to his sister. Throughout her interactions with Dexter, she can’t deny the pull that’s evidenced between them every time he comes near. Estella realizes that while she’s been hiding behind a false name and identity, she’s never been freer to be herself than when she’s with Dexter Blakeley. But will he still love her when he finds out she’s Estella Everstone? She’s not entirely sure.

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Questions about Dawn’s Story

Did any of your characters “fight” with you until you succumbed and changed their personality or the story choice you were forcing them into?

I had a certain character who I was certain was supposed to die during the course of the book… but when I tried to get past that point in the book while reworking the rough draft, she simply would not let me kill her off. I had to completely rethink things at the three-quarter mark since she wasn’t going to die after all. And now that she’s still alive for the end of the book, I’m planning to write a book about her in the future!

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

My favorite chapters are 18-20 because although my heroine is determined NOT to allow the hero to know how much she’s falling for him (since she’s convinced by certain circumstances that they could never be together), something happens that leaves her a little incoherent, and she ends up telling him more of what was in her heart than she ever planned!

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

The mountain resort in The Captive Imposter (Everston) is loosely based on a hotel called Mt. Kineo House which used to set on a peninsula at the heart of Moosehead Lake in central Maine. I loved looking at www.baharris.org/historicpolandspring/MtKineo/MtKineo.htm since it included tons of old photos and even the floorplans of each floor! Before I started writing the book, my husband and I even went there on vacation and climbed Mt. Kineo (called Iron Mountain in the book). And for some reason, although I’ve climbed plenty of other mountains with my husband before that point, I was so very tired and worn out from that 1000ft trail up the mountain! It turned out that I was a week pregnant with my son!

Questions about Dawn’s Reading

	Who is your favorite Christian Historical hero? Carl von Reichert/Carl Richards (his Americanized alias) from A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund
	If your job was to sell one author’s historical fiction (besides your own) which author’s wares would you want to peddle? I would choose to sell Lori Benton’s books—her three-time Christy-winning debut novel, Burning Sky, her second book, The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn, and her third which comes out later this month, The Wood’s Edge.
	What Christian Historical Novel are you most excited to read that hasn’t yet come out? I CANNOT WAIT to read Not by Sight by Kate Breslin!—her debut, For Such a Time, was one of my favorite books from 2014! I’m not even that huge of a WWII reader, but I just love her voice and the way the turns her novels take twist my heart!
	What Christian Historical Novel in your To Be Read pile is begging you to make time to plop down with it right now? I haven’t had a huge amount of reading time lately, but I have The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen on my kindle, and I can’t wait to read it after so many of my readers have been mentioning it lately! I’d meant to start it earlier this year and never got around to it.

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Dawn’s has been nice enough to offer one ebook copy of The Captive Imposter. Enter the Rafflecopter below!

Also Dawn is hosting giveaways of her books and other new releases from author friends all through April. See her blog or Facebook author page for details.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’m excited to introduce you to Debbie Lynne Costello today because I certainly don’t think there are enough Medieval Christian books out there! (I love castles and knights 🙂 Make sure you enter the giveaway at the end of the interview!

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Sword of Forgiveness

After the death of her cruel father, Brithwin is determined never again to live under the harsh rule of any man. Independent and resourceful, she longs to be left alone to manage her father’s estate. But she soon discovers a woman has few choices when the king decrees she is to marry Royce, the Lord of Rosencraig. As if the unwelcome marriage isn’t enough, her new husband accuses her of murdering his family, and she is faced with a challenge of either proving her innocence or facing possible execution.

     Royce of Hawkwood returns home after setting down a rebellion to find his family brutally murdered. When all fingers point to his betrothed and attempts are made on his life, Royce must wade through murky waters to uncover the truth. Yet Brithwin’s wise and kind nature begin to break down the walls of his heart, and he soon finds himself in a race to discover who is behind the evil plot before Brithwin is the next victim.

Questions about Debbie Lynne’s Story

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

I’d choose to by Royce. (Just for your information, I have no desire to be a man! But I love his spiritual arc).  Royce struggles with being forgiven. He doesn’t feel worthy. All he sees is his past failings and how they have hurt people. I love how he wants to be a good person but he does it for the wrong reasons. And then God opens Royce’s eyes and heart and he not only sees real forgiveness but accepts it.

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

Yes, while researching I learned more about John Wycliffe and his Lollards. The history behind Wycliffe and his dedicated followers was fascinating and not something I’d heard much about. As I researched more about the Lollards, I discovered that they believed that every man and woman should hear the word of God and sought to get God’s word to the people. That gave me the basis for Pater.

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

Joseph and Frances Gies have several wonderful books when researching medieval topics. I used several of their books, Life in a Medieval Castle, Life in a Medieval Village, and Daily Life in Medieval Times.  I used Marriage and the Family in the Medieval Ages by Gies to write the wedding scene along with the words that were used for the ceremony.

Question about Debbie Lynne’s Reading

What other Christian Historical Novels are similar to yours in setting or storyline? Melanie Dickerson sets her stories in Medieval times, although most of hers are not set in England, she, like me, likes to have intrigue and danger included in her stories like The Princess Spy and her upcoming release The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest.

Which book got you hooked on reading Christian Historicals? Wow, you are going to make me go back a few years here. I read a lot as a teenager, but then marriage and young children took so much of my time that reading other than my bible went to the wayside.  I was taking my daughter and her best friend to see my parents who lived 12 hours away and my daughter and her friend took turns reading to me to keep me awake. They read to me The Sword of Truth by Gilbert Morris.  I fell in love with the characters and the castles and everything historical. I was hooked.

If your job was to sell one author’s historical fiction (besides your own) which author’s wares would you want to peddle? MaryLu Tyndall. There is never a dull moment in MaryLu’s books not to mention I love her heroes! They are all so flawed and yet so wonderful. I enjoyed her stories with danger around every corner so much that it really influenced that aspect of my writing. The Redemption, The Reliance, The Restitution, and The Ransom all are great page turners. And I can’t wait for her next installment in  Legacy of the King’s Pirates Series!

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Debbie Lynne has been nice enough to offer one ebook copy of Sword of Forgiveness. I’ll give away a copy of any book mentioned in the interview in ebook form. Enter the Rafflecopter below!

Also Visit Debbie Lynne’s Blog The Sword and the Spirit to enter the big contest she’s throwing for her release!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yes, yes, you’ve seen this author several times on the Index in my giveaways before, well that’s because when a writer’s one of your best friends, she gets the new release slot whether she wants it or not! 🙂 She’s actually pretty sickly at the moment, pregnancy is not being kind to her, so instead of an interview, I’m just giving away books!

Here’s her new release:

(Which has my favorite Naomi Rawlings’ cover so far, the lantern is PERFECT. (I want a lantern on a cover of mine–writing a book with a lantern is now on my to-do list), and this is also my favorite Hero/Heroine setup so far in her books.)

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Falling for the Enemy by Naomi Rawlings

Betrayed and stranded in France at the height of war, Lord Gregory Halston has few options. After rescuing his ailing brother from jail, they struggle to survive in hostile territory without outing themselves as Englishmen. Gregory hopes the feisty French peasant woman he meets is willing to guide them to safety. 

Danielle Belanger doesn’t wish to protect any man from the same country responsible for her brother’s demise. But there’s something about the determined Englishman that makes her willing to try. Though a match between Danielle and Gregory is impossible, their attraction can’t be denied. The only thing more dangerous than aiding the enemy…is falling in love with him.

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 Others in this series:

Since there’s no interview , I figured I’d highlight the newest search category in the Index’s new search capabilities. Storylines are the favorite tropes readers love (or don’t!), like Marriages of Convenience, Based on Real History, Love Triangles, Fairytale Spinoffs, etc.

This story has two: Socially Unequal Romance and Enemies to Lovers – I figured I’d show off the newest three books in each of these categories (besides Naomi’s).

Social Unequal Romance

Mary Varrs prefers botany to romance.

She thinks studying the growth pattern of her tomato seedlings is more time-worthy than pursuing a mate. When she needs illustrations of her prized plants, Mary turns to Priscilla Dane Osbourne for help.

Zenus Dane also seeks help from his Aunt Priscilla. In order to salvage his flooded textile mill, he wants to sell her hand drawn quilt patterns alongside his repurposed fabric scraps. No quilter had national name recognition like his aunt, but Priscilla is fiercely protective of her patterns. Convincing her would not be easy.

It seems Priscilla is the answer to both their prayers. But Priscilla would rather weave a masterpiece marriage for her nephew than save his flooded business. Trouble is, her plans don’t include Mary, whose own growing attraction for the textiler could jeopardize Priscilla’s good will toward her. If faced with a decision between love and ambition, will Mary be able to choose?

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Thank you, Gina, for coming to share about your story, some good historicals, and hosting a giveaway!

Questions about Gina’s Story

What was the hardest part of your book to write?

Chapters 14-16 were originally plotted to be five chapters instead of three. With deadline looming, I didn’t have the leisure of spending a day at Starbucks brainstorming a solution with my brainstorming partner, Becca Whitham. At dinner, I kept muttering, “How am I going to condense five chapters into three?” My loving family kept offering solutions. Hubby finally said, “Kill someone.” Soon our kids were pounding the table, chanting “kill someone!” I didn’t kill anyone fictionally or otherwise. I did, however, scrap all my pre-planned scenes and came up with a new idea.

Melissa says: Ha! I love the chant for murder 🙂 My own hubby, poor thing, has to deal with me asking “what shall I do???” and I rarely do whatever he proposes, yet he’s game to propose things anyway!

Did any of your characters “fight” with you until you succumbed and changed their personality or the story choice you were forcing them into?

Sort of. When I was writing chapter 2, my heroine Mary leaves the café and is heading home. I remember typing, “Mary Varrs! Miss Mary Varrs!” and then stopping. Why did I type that? Who in the world is calling her name? I had no idea so I deleted it. Only my brain wouldn’t give me any word to say next. Mary was literally frozen at the intersection. I finally gave in and retyped “Mary Varrs! Miss Mary Varrs!” Next thing I knew I “saw” Mary (in my mind) look over her shoulder. The rest of that scene was the easier of the book to write. A few days later I met my brainstorming partner at Starbucks. I said, “I just had the strangest thing ever happen to me. This person—Arel Dewey—forced her way into my story. She came out of nowhere. She’s strange and driving me and Mary crazy.” To this day, I adore Arel … and want to smack her upside the head.

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

I originally intended Zenus’s mill to be damaged by fire. But after researching insurance companies and policies offered during the Victorian era (not at all interesting information), I went to my husband for help. He sells church building insurance. We talked natural disasters, acts of God, pre-existing conditions, blah blah blah. In the end, my fire became a flood. While there wasn’t an actual flood in Philadelphia in the year of my story, I based mine on one in the 1980s. I also had to do a lot of research about women earning botany degrees, doctorates available, what universities offered masters and doctorate degrees, job opportunities, etc. The historical details in the last chapter aren’t fictional. Christine L— and the Martin fellow really existed, descriptions accurate too.

What is your home on the internet?

www.GinaWelborn.com

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Questions about Gina’s Reading

Which book got you hooked on reading Christian Historicals?

The first Christian Historicals I read were written by Lori Wick back in the early 1990s. Her stories had what I loved about ABA romances yet no sex. I used to read her books over and over again.

FREE Right Now!

And Gilbert Morris. I loved how he began a series in colonial American and carried it through the changes in America over the next 250 years.

What Christian Historical Novel taught you something about the craft of writing because it was so well done? And tell us a bit about what it taught you.

When I read DeeAnne Gist’s The Measure of a Lady, I remembered thinking this is the type of Christian romance I want to read and to write. Her heroine was likeable despite her pious attitude. The sexual tension between the leads was realistic and not forced for the sake of having tension. Their spiritual growth/change came as a result of both having to make not-easy sacrifices.

What was the last Christian Historical Novel whose characters stayed in your head days after you finished reading it?

The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson isn’t the traditional Christian Historical. Most of the setting, though, is prior to 1970, and I figure anything that takes place before I was born is historical enough for me. My friend, author Dina Sleiman, insisted I read the book. A nun heroine. First person pov. Told through journal entries. Takes place over 70 years. Nope, not the book for me. Once I started the book, I couldn’t stop reading . . . and couldn’t stop praying, “Jesus, I want to have a passion for you like Mary-Margaret had.” That is real romance.

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Gina has been nice enough to offer one paperback (US resident only) of Masterpiece Marriage. I’ll give away a copy of any book mentioned in the interview in ebook form. Enter the Rafflecopter below!

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Book two in the Edwardian Brides Series, The Daughter of Highland Hall, follows 18-year-old Kate Ramsey on a journey of faith and self-discovery as she travels to London to make her debut in society. Her overbearing aunt insists she secure a marriage proposal from a wealthy, titled man to gain a position and secure her future. As Kate begins making the round of balls and garden parties, she attracts the attention of Edward Wellington, who seems to have all the qualifications she is looking for, yet, she’s not sure if he is the best choice. Will that lifestyle bring her true happiness?

When a shocking family scandal forces Kate out of the social spotlight, she has time to volunteer with medical student Jonathan Foster, the handsome and caring brother of her governess. Jonathan, a strong Christian, is determined to help the poor in London’s East End. As her friendship with Jonathan deepens and her faith grows, Kate begins to envision a different kind of future, one that includes Jonathan. Is she ready to make the sacrifices that choice would require? If she does, what will her family and society think? Downton Abbey meets Pride and Prejudice in this pure romance.

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Questions about Carrie’s book

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I loved learning about a debutante’s royal court presentation, which was a coming out ritual for aristocratic young women. It announced they were ready to enter society, take part in the events of the London season, and meet their prospective husband. Young women spent months preparing and practicing their curtsy, which they would make before the king and queen. There were several dress fittings for a beautiful white dress that must be unique but follow the rules of court dress. Flowers for her bouquet and to decorate her coach must be ordered. Jewelry and an ostrich feather headpiece were purchased. An older woman who had been presented when she was a debutante must act as her sponsor and accompany her to the presentation. It was an exciting but also nerve-wracking event for these young women . . . and especially for my heroine, Kate Ramsey.

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

I wanted my wealthy young heroine to be inspired to consider the needs of the poor, so I had her attend a lecture given by Catherine Bramwell-Booth, who was the granddaughter of General William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army.  The Salvation Army began in England in the mid-1800’s and was known for meeting both spiritual needs and physical needs of the poor. I wanted readers to “meet” Christians who lived out their faith and made an impact for Christ, so I am happy I can introduce them to the Booth family.

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

I love Evangeline Holland’s blog, Edwardian Promenade. She has pages and pages of information about all aspects of Edwardian life. She took time to answer my questions about English forms of address for titled members of the family and was very helpful. She’s is a fellow Downton Abbey Fan too! Edwardian Promenade.

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

The living conditions of the poor on London’s East End was heart wrenching. That’s one reason I wanted my hero and heroine to reach out and make a difference there. I was especially touched by photos of children living on the East End in the early 1900’s. Take a look at my Pinterest board.

What is your home on the internet?

http://carrieturansky.com/

Other books in this series?

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Questions about Carrie’s Reading

What Christian Historical Novel did you reread last, and why did you reread it?

Several friends recommended I read Blackmore by Julianne Donaldson. I’ve read it twice and just listened to the audio version. That was a whole new experience. I loved it just as much this time…maybe even more hearing it read aloud by a wonderful British narrator, Cassandra Campbell. It’s set in England during the Regency period, with a wonderful hero and heroine, and great romantic tension. It’s a pure and proper romance that very much reminds me of a Jane Austen novel. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy English historical romance.

What Christian Historical Novel are you most excited to read that hasn’t yet come out?

I’m looking forward to Julie Klassen’s next novel, The Secret of Pembrook Park. I’ve enjoyed several of Julie’s books. Her research is exceptional, and she always makes me feel like I’ve been whisked back to England when I read one.

What Christian Historical Novel in your To Be Read pile is begging you to make time to plop down with it right now?

I have an advanced copy of Into the Valley of Secrets by Cathy Gohlke. I am so excited to read her next book! Cathy and I are good friends, and we often brainstorm ideas for books…so I can’t wait to see how this WW2, time-slip novel has come together.

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Carrie has been nice enough to offer one paperback of The Daughter of Highland Hall to a US resident. I’ll give away a copy of any book mentioned (besides that advanced copy that’s not out!) in the interview in ebook form. Enter the Rafflecopter below!

Also check out her special giveaway:

We will be celebrating the release of The Daughter of Highland Hall with a giveaway hosted on my blog: http://carrieturansky.com/index.php/blog/   Readers can enter for a chance to win one of 5 prizes packages that will include copies of the book, tea cups, tea time cookbook, tea towels, and other English tea-themed gifts. The giveaway will run Sept 30^th – October 31, with giveaways Oct 7^th, 10^th, 17^th, 24^th, and 31^st.

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My new book is out this very month! Hooray! And I’m the Author Visit….but it seemed a little weird to interview myself. 🙂 So, I thought I’d give away a package of books that would show up in the same Index search that A Bride in Store would pop up in.

Have you checked out the new search capabilities in the right hand side of the Index? If you were to go down to “Main Character Occupations” and select “Mercantile/Shop Keeper” and hit the “Submit Search” button, you’d find my book and these others that I’m giving away.

Keli Gwyn has been nice enough to sign hers for the winner! (Check out Keli’s website, it’s so pretty!)

So the GRAND FIRST PRIZE is the top SEVEN books that show up in the search. Keli’s and mine will be signed. Hope the winner likes reading about Mercantiles! 🙂

And a SECOND PRIZE will be a single copy of A Bride in Store, signed by me. 🙂

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A Bride in Store

1881 – Kansas

Impatient to meet her intended groom and help him grow his general store, mail-order bride Eliza Cantrell sets out on her travels a week early. But her plan goes sadly awry when her train is held up by robbers who steal her dowry and Axel, her groom-to-be, isn’t even in town when she finally arrives.

Axel’s business partner, William Stanton, has no head for business and would much rather be a doctor. When his friend’s mail-order bride arrives in town with no money and no groom in sight, he feels responsible and lets her help around the store–where she quickly proves she’s much more adept at business than he ever will be.

The sparks that fly between Will and Eliza as they work together in close quarters are hard to ignore, but Eliza is meant for Axel and a future with the store, while Will is biding his time until he can afford medical school. However, their troubles are far from over when Axel finally returns, and soon both Will and Eliza must decide what they’re willing to sacrifice to chase their dreams–or if God has a new dream in store for them both.

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Vickie McDonough writes the well beloved Prairie Christian Romances that so many readers love, and she’s here today to tell us about her newest one, Song of the Prairie.

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Janie Dunn’s dream of being an opera singer suddenly fades when, at her dying cousin’s request, she flees Boston with her deceased cousin’s newborn son to protect him from his abusive father. She moves to Kansas to live with her brother, but life takes another dire change when he is suddenly killed. Is a marriage of convenience the answer to her problems? Is Kansas far enough away from Boston that they are safe from the baby’s vengeful father?

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Questions about Vickie’s Book

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I loved writing my hero, Aaron Harper. He’s the oldest of the three Harper brothers and has waited patiently for me to tell his story in the final book of the series. He’s such a good, honorable man, but he’s troubled because he was unable to make his first wife happy. He feels partly responsible for her death even though he wasn’t. I loved giving him the woman he deserves—a woman who could love him as much as he loves her.

What was the hardest part of your book to write?

I can’t tell you because it’s a spoiler, but let’s just say it happens toward the end of the book and involves guns.

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

I had to do quite a bit of research for Janie’s character. Her dream is to be an opera star and sing on the big stage—and she has the voice for it—but the right doors haven’t opened for her. I had to study opera a bit and learn some musical terminology to make creative analogies and metaphors for her character.

Other Books in this Series:

#1 #2

Where is your home on the web?

www.vickiemcdonough.com

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Questions about Vickie’s Reading

Which book got you hooked on reading Christian Historicals?

Way back in the 1980s when I was the frazzled mom of three young boys, I discovered Christian romances. I read every one that I could get my hands on, and just kept reading. The first authors I discovered were Janette Oke, Tracie Peterson, George MacDonald and Gilbert Morris. Janette Oke’s A Gown of Spanish Lace is one of my all time favorites.

If your job was to sell one author’s historical fiction (besides your own) which author’s wares would you want to peddle?

Marylu Tyndall. I LOVE her fast-paced romances, which are usually set aboard a ship in the beautiful Caribbean. Oft times there’s a pirate aboard ship. Her hero and heroines always have such wonderful conflict and delicious chemistry. Every one of her books are keepers.

What Christian Historical Novel in your To Be Read pile is begging you to make time to plop down with it right now?

I actually just finished it—Karen Witemeyer’s Full Steam Ahead. Karen is another author whose books I love and can’t wait to read each new one.

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Vickie has been gracious to offer one ebook copy of Song of the Prairie to a lucky winner. And I’ll be giving away one ebook copy of any of the books mentioned in Vickie’s interview. Enter the rafflecopter below! Good luck!

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Please welcome fellow Kansas author, Christina Rich, who had two books come out just in the last few months in a time period you don’t see often.

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Swept away from her home and into the desert, Abigail is as much a prisoner as she is a princess. A ruthlessly ambitious captain of the palace guard intends to force her into marriage and rule Judah through her. Yet the badly beaten soldier Abigail rescues offers another choice—if she dares trust him.

She is royalty, yet Jesse is surprised by the gentle compassion Abigail shows him as he heals. In return, he will help her escape to Jerusalem, protecting her life with his own. But Abigail’s rank and Jesse’s deadly past makes any future impossible, unless forgiveness forged by love can triumph over all.

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Questions about Christina’s Book

What did you learn about yourself while writing this book?

Abigail struggled with gaining her mother’s approval, which she never received. It wasn’t until after The Warrior’s Vow released that it hit me, I no longer need to seek anyone’s approval, not when I have such a beautiful Savior who loves me. He knows the thoughts and intents of my heart and that’s all that really matters.

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

The twins. I hope to one day write one, if not both, of their stories.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Researching how to treat wounds, which is odd for me given I can’t stomach certain aspects of the medical field.

Other books in this series:

What is your home on the web?

www.threefoldstrand.com and http://www.authorchristinarich.com/

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Questions about Christian’s Reading

Who is your favorite Christian Historical heroine?

Meredith Hayes from Karen Witemeyer’s Short Straw-Bride.

Who is your favorite Christian Historical hero?

Of course, Travis Archer from Short Straw-Bride.

What was the last Christian Historical Novel that made you cry?

Okay, this isn’t a novel, but a novella. I related so much to the characters that I cried and cried. Gina Welborn’s Mercy Mild.

Christina is giving away a hard copy of Warrior’s Vow and I’ll be giving away an ebook copy of any book you see in the interview! Enter the rafflecopter below.
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If you haven’t visited Amber’s Review Website – The Historical Christian Romance – You’re missing out on a historical blog that followers of this one would likely love. She’s released her debut novel, So Fair a Lady, and you can win a copy here!

Boston, MA 1773: Shards of Eliza Campbell’s life crash to the ground when she discovers a devastating secret: her father was a spy for the Sons of Liberty. Determined to uncover the truth–at any cost–not even a marriage proposal from the dashing British Officer Samuel Martin can dissuade her. When rescued from British capture by handsome patriot Thomas Watson, Eliza discovers what her father risked his life for and yearns to know more. But will her budding attraction to this courageous patriot damage her already wounded heart? After years of being blackmailed by Officer Martin, Thomas plans to start a new life in the small town of Sandwich. However, when his actions place Eliza and her sister in danger, he must act quickly to protect them from falling into enemy hands. If the three of them are discovered, their lives will never be the same. Now, not only must he protect Eliza, he must protect his heart from a love that is sure to wound him far greater than any British soldier ever could.

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Questions about Amber’s Book What inspired your story? When I was 13, I started developing a strong love for the American Revolution, and being a hopeless romantic from the beginning, I had the idea for a love story and actually started writing this story way back then. But the years past and I almost completely forgot about it until I started reading Historical Christian Romance and though I’d like to try and bring my story to life. Of course, its not the same story from twenty years ago, but it has its roots from way back when. I wanted to show the struggle that Whigs and Tories shared—and how the revolution really was a civil war in many ways—tearing up families and changing their very way of life. 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 by far is the scene where Eliza is asked to read something from a Shakespeare play—the romantic tension sizzles!! I always looked forward to editing/reading that scene. Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story? When I was doing research for my story, I learned about man named Nathaniel who was the town’s doctor and also a very active patriot. I was intrigued by him and even included him in the story. (He will be the hero in my second book in the series. 🙂 What is your home on the web? www.amberlynnperry.com

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Questions about Amber’s Reading Who is your favorite Christian Historical hero? I absolutely love Luke from TO WIN HER HEART. I actually think about him a lot—especially when I am writing because I loved how he worked through his struggles and how he really turned his life over to God. I also LOVE how he loved the heroine!!! So dreamy! I could go on and on about him, but I won’t. Needless to say, that book is fabulous. (Melissa says: I agree with you, he’s awesome (Mainly because my real-life hero is a lot like him. :). Love that blacksmithing arm on the cover. Though I’m glad I can’t smell the coal smoke he’s wafting around, that I put up with it in real life–this is one cover you don’t want to scratch-n-sniff. Ha!) If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one Christian Historical Novel, which would you pick?   Oh boy, I wouldn’t even think twice! Without a doubt I would pick A BRIDE MOST BEGRUDGING. The hero in that book is mind-blowingly amazing. In fact, it’s really hard to be choose who is better—Drew or Luke. This book has it all: fabulous setting, unforgettable characters and romantic tension that will stay with you for ever. I love, love, love this book.   If your job was to sell one author’s historical fiction (besides your own) which author’s wares would you want to peddle? Oh gosh, you know, honestly I would have to say Deeanne Gist. I absolutely LOVE her books. I mean LOVE. I think almost all of her books are in my top twenty. She is a brilliant author and when I grow up, I hope I can write exactly like her. (In fact, funny side note…she was the one who got me thinking about writing this story! I had emailed her long ago, saying “I have this great idea for a story, but I can’t write—so I think you should do it!” She wrote back and said, “You are very sweet, but I can’t undertake a war story right now. You should write it!” So, I did. ;))   What was the last Christian Historical Novel whose characters stayed in your head days after you finished reading it? THE PURSUIT OF TAMSEN LITTLEJOHN was amazing! I thought about that for days. Not only is it set in the 1700’s—which I love, Lori Benton’s writing is exquisite! I love the setting and the turmoil affecting the characters. I really couldn’t stop reading.

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Amber has been gracious to offer one copy to a lucky winner. And I’ll be giving away one copy of any of the books mentioned in Amber’s interview. Enter below!

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Wait a minute. Wasn’t Naomi Rawlings just on here? Why yes she was back in January with The Wyoming Heir! She’s got two out this year, and being my lovely crit partner and friend, I hope you all are putting these on your wishlist if not buying them immediately! Love Inspired paperbacks sell out quickly, so if you want a paper copy of The Soldier’s Secrets, order this month!

Brigitte Dubois will do anything to keep her family safe. When she is blackmailed by her father-in-law, his quest for revenge leaves her no choice. To protect her children, she must spy on the man who may have killed her husband. But Jean Paul Belanger is nothing like she expected. The dark, imposing farmer offers food to all who need it, and insists on helping Brigitte and her children.

Everything Jean Paul did was in the name of liberty. Even so, he can never forgive himself for his actions during France’s revolution. Now a proud auburn-haired woman has come to his home seeking work and has found her way into his reclusive heart. But when she uncovers the truth, his past could drive them apart….

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Questions about Naomi’s Book

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

The hero, Jean Paul Belanger. I love taking a former troublemaker and getting to reform him (or her).

(Melissa says, you and Julie Lessman. 🙂 Though I ended up liking Jean Paul better than I did Charity. I’m still out on her, I’ll have to read more to the series to see if Charity ever wins me over!)

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

I have one scene where my heroine, Brigitte, is trying to defend Jean Paul to one of her father-in-law’s guards. She’s very ardent in her defense, claiming he’s gentle, caring, and compassionate, but the entire time, she has doubts in her head. As much as she wants to believe Jean Paul, she doesn’t really know if she can trust him. It was a fun scene to write with the conflicting emotions and war inside my heroine’s head.

Why did you choose the year your book is set?

This book is a sequel to my first novel, Sanctuary for a Lady. So I had to choose something set after 1794, and I wanted a relatively peaceful time of the French Revolution so that I could focus on matters on Jean Paul’s farm rather than an invading army or some such. That made the summer of 1795 (about a year after my first novel takes place) the perfect time.

Other Books in this Series:

What is your home on the web?

www.naomirawlings.com

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Questions about Naomi’s Reading

What other Christian Historical Novels are similar to yours in setting or storyline?

The first book in my Belanger Family Saga, Sanctuary for a Lady, is similar, of course. Another Christian novel set during the French Revolution is Love’s First Light by Jamie Carie.

If your job was to sell one author’s historical fiction (besides your own) which author’s wares would you want to peddle?

Melissa Jagears, of course!

Julie Lessman’s novels would be a close second though, as would Roseanna White’s.

(Melissa says, I’ll just pick my favorites of the one’s I’ve read from these. Of course the favorite of my own novels isn’t even bought yet, maybe it will be! So I’ll just pick the one available 🙂

What Christian Historical Novel are you most excited to read that hasn’t yet come out?

A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears—which releases in September.

I’m also really excited about Circle of Spies by Roseanna White, which released on the same day as my novel. Both of our stories feature spies, which is pretty fun.

What Christian Historical Novel in your To Be Read pile is begging you to make time to plop down with it right now?

Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman. It’s staring at me from my kindle (and has been for the past couple months). All I need to do is open it up and begin reading . . . so why haven’t I started it yet??? Am I the only one who procrastinates reading books I know I’m going to like?

(Melissa says: I tend to read scenes and sections over and over at the end of a book I’m enjoying to keep from getting to the end too quickly.)

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We are giving away two copies of The Soldier’s Secrets – Enter the Rafflecopter this weekend for one of two chances!

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Today, I’m featuring a historical mystery, Death by the Book, by Julianna Deering.

Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement to Madeline Parker. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.

Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl’s tearful confession point to the victim’s double life, but what does the solicitor’s murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem–except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.

Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn’t at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?
Romantic Times – Four Star Review
“Fans of Agatha Christie need to make room on their bookshelves for the Drew Farthering mystery series.  Even as readers are kept on their toes trying to figure out ‘whodunit’ and may be shocked at who dies next, a message of hope weaves throughout the story.”

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Questions about Julianna’s Book

What inspired your story?  
I’ve always enjoyed the classic mystery novels of the 1920s and ‘30s, so I wanted to give that sort of story a try in this series.  This book is, of course, a continuation of that, but its particular inspiration is one of the clues in the story, so I can’t give that away ahead of time.  However, I have always thought hatpins rather beautiful and dangerous, so I enjoyed including them in the tale.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I have a great time just hanging out with Drew and Madeline and Nick.  They often surprise me with what they say and how they react, and they certainly have decided ideas about what they will and will not do.   And, of course, throughout the series, I enjoy writing dialogue from this era. It has a definite flavor to it that I just love.

What was the hardest part of your book to write?
The hardest part of any mystery is getting the mystery to work properly.  You really have two stories to write:  what seems to be happening and why and what is really happening and why.  Getting the two parts timed and integrated properly can be quite a task.

(Melissa says: I am so in awe of mystery writers!! What a juggling act to get it right to “fool” the mystery reader who wants it not to be obvious, but at the same time is trying to guess your ending from the very beginning.)

Where is your home on the web?

www.juliannadeering.com and www.drewfarthering.com

Other Books in this Series:

#1 –

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Questions about Julianna’s Reading

What Christian Historical Novel are you most excited to read that hasn’t yet come out?
I’m eager to read Rebecca DeMarino’s A Place in His Heart.  This is a new author for me, but I really like that this book is about people settling in America during the 1600s.  We don’t see a lot of that in Christian fiction, and it has such dramatic potential.

What Christian Historical Novel in your To Be Read pile is begging you to make time to plop down with it right now?
I’m looking forward to The Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson.  I love fairy tales, and the idea of fleshing them out into novels fascinates me.  Plus, I love the medieval period (my first trilogy, written as DeAnna Julie Dodson, is medieval), and this series looks really interesting.  I’ve heard great things about it.

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Julianna is giving away a copy of Death by the Book  – Enter the Rafflecopter this week for a chance at her new book!

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Today, I’m featuring Ann Shorey’s newest release, Love’s Sweet Beginning.

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What will it take for a once-privileged young woman to make her way in the world?

It isn’t Cassie Haddon’s fault that she has reached the age of twenty-five without possessing any useful skills. Until the War Between the States, she always had servants. Since then, she and her mother have been forced to rely on family to care for them. But now the well of human kindness has run dry—and Cassie must find work to support them.

Unfortunately, leaving the past behind is easier said than done, and Cassie must summon all of her courage and wits to convince local restaurateur and grocer Jacob West that she’s exactly what he needs.

With her signature sweet romance, Ann Shorey weaves a tale of two people from different backgrounds finding common ground and the hopes of a bright future together.

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Questions about Ann’s Book

Why did you choose the year your book is set?

I went to my great-grandparents’ history. They settled in Missouri shortly after the end of the War Between the States, and I wondered what conditions would have been like in that state at that time. Even though Missouri was officially a Union state, feelings there were sharply divided between Union and Confederate sympathizers.

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

I learned a great deal about the methods used for building the transcontinental railroad in the immediate post-Civil War years. I needed to change where and when the railroad went, in relation to my story, although I’ve used fictional names for the towns.

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

I had to research wages for women in the late 1860’s. It took a lot of hunting to figure out how much Cassie might earn if she found a job.

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

I used many books and websites. With historical fiction, everything from clothing to clocks needs to be researched to be sure I get it right! My favorite book was Nothing Like it in the World, subtitled “The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863 – 1869,” by Stephen E. Ambrose. Fascinating reading!

Where is your home on the web?

www.annshorey.com

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Questions about Ann’s Reading

If your job was to sell one author’s historical fiction (besides your own) which author’s wares would you want to peddle?

I’d choose Lori Benton’s books. Burning Sky was her debut novel, and it knocked my socks off! Waterbrook/Multnomah is releasing her next novel, The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn, in April of this year. It promises to be every bit as good as Burning Sky.

What Christian Historical Novel in your To Be Read pile is begging you to make time to plop down with it right now?

I’m eager to pick up Laura Frantz’s first book in her Ballantyne Legacy series, Love’s Reckoning. The second book in the series has already released, so I’m running behind in my reading. Laura is a friend and a skilled writer of historical fiction.

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one Christian Historical Novel, which would you pick?

This is a difficult question, since there are a goodly number of Christian historical novels I’ve enjoyed. Having said that, though, I’d take Lori Benton’s Burning Sky with me. Burning Sky is the best historical novel I’ve read in many, many months! Well worth re-reading just to savor the characterizations and the many turns the plot takes.

****Ann is giving away a copy of Love’s Sweet Beginning to one visitor – Enter the Rafflecopter this week for a chance at her new book! And check below for other places to win her book and other prizes!****

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And you could also throw your name in the hat for a copy over at GoodReads if you have an account there.

And, Ann is having a BIG sweepstakes giveaway with lots of prizes STARTING TOMORROW, enter here.

Today, I’m featuring my wonderful Critique Partner, Naomi Rawlings’s newest release, The Wyoming Heir. A Western set in the East!

Given a choice, Luke Hayes wouldn’t ever leave his Wyoming ranch. Yet when his estranged grandfather dies, leaving him everything, he’ll travel to Valley Falls, New York—but only to collect his sister and his inheritance. He won’t be roped into saving a floundering girls’ school, no matter what mathematics teacher Elizabeth Wells says.

Elizabeth has defied social convention and her own family for the sake of her beloved Hayes Academy. Luke is pure rancher, from the tip of his Stetson to the scuff on his boots, yet he’s also becoming her unlikely ally. Only he can help save her job and school…but how much will she lose when the time comes for him to leave?

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Questions about Naomi’s Book

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

It was fun to have such different characters with different outlooks on life. Luke eats, drinks, and breathes the American West. He loves his Ranch. He loves the Tetons Mountains. He loves the feel of the sun on his face and wind in his hair, the sight of dust on his boots, and the feel of sweat on his back after putting in a long day on the prairie. Elizabeth is quite the opposite, a brainiac bluestocking who’s familiar with propriety and appalled at the sight of dirt. Putting these two characters together was really fun, and on top of that, I got to invert the roles. Instead of having the bluestocking go west and get dirty, I have the rancher come east and get spiffed up. That made for a lot of smiles while I was writing this story.

What did you learn about yourself while writing this book?

That I’ve got a lot more bluestocking in me than rancher. I’m totally sympathetic to Elizabeth’s plight, as far as Luke and his ranch out west, well, good for him. But that doesn’t mean I’m reading to move to the Teton Valley.

Did any of your characters “fight” with you until you succumbed and changed their personality or the story choice you were forcing them into?

Yes. They always fight with you, don’t they? Maybe I’m doing something wrong as an author, because I can’t recall a single time I’ve written a book where my characters have behaved for me. Luke was the biggest trial. It was difficult to have him appear hard toward his sister and Elizabeth at first, but still likeable for reader. I ended up toning him down a good bit.

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

In Chapter 4, there’s a scene where Luke rides up on his younger sister and Elizabeth having a picnic. It’s one of my favorites because of the witty way Luke and Elizabeth banter back and forth and the way she accidently gets his hand dirty and insults him about being a cowboy instead of a rancher. It’s a fun all around scene. Interestingly enough, that’s also the scene that’s on the cover of The Wyoming Heir, plus my editor picked a part of it to use as the excerpt just inside the jacket cover. So it appears as though a lot of people like that scene, not just me. I’ve also got a longer excerpt of that scene up on my website, if some of you want to hop on over and read it now.

(Melissa says: I’d choose the first kiss scene. Naomi writes great kisses! And she always makes me write more in my stories, so you have her to thank for that. ;^) )

Where is your home on the web?

www.naomirawlings.com

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Questions about Naomi’s Reading

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one Christian Historical Novel, which would you pick?

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Do you get that answer a lot? It just sticks out in my mind as one of the best.

(Melissa says: Yes, I think that book is often chosen for the “pick only one” kind of question. That’s why I hand sold it so often when I worked at bookstores!)

If your job was to sell one author’s historical fiction (besides your own) which author’s wares would you want to peddle?

Melissa Jagears’s, because her writing is fun and fresh. Plus she he keeps me guessing about how the hero and heroine will end up together until the very end. 😉

What Christian Historical Novel are you most excited to read that hasn’t yet come out?

A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears. Just because I love her writing so much (but I might happen to be a little biased). 😉

(Melissa says: Aw, shucks. . . .I feel very funny about letting you rave about myself on my own blog, but thanks.  And for anyone wondering, A Bride in Store doesn’t come out until September 2, 2014.)

If you had to live with the characters in a Christian Historical Novel, which novel would you choose to live in and with which character would you want to be a friend or relative and why?

I’d choose to live in Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund, and I’d choose to be friends with Connell McCormick. Or actually, I wouldn’t mind completely stealing Connell away from Lily and marrying him myself. He’s tall, rich, burly, strong, a good worker, a lumberjack with a business sense, and rich. Plus he stands for right in the midst of tremendous opposition. What’s not to love about him? (Actually, he sounds a lot like the man I already married, minus the “business” and “rich” parts.) I already live in a Michigan logging community, so going back in time 130 years and living in a different Michigan logging town doesn’t seem too crazy. Though really, I might just pack Connell up and bring him up here with me. The southern shore of Lake Superior is a way cooler part of Michigan than the central inland portion (in my opinion, at least).

***Don’t forget to check out her Picnic basket giveaway on her  book review site, Inspirational Romance Ratings!***

Naomi is giving away a copy of The Wyoming Heir to one visitor and I’m giving away another – Enter the Rafflecopter this week for a chance at her new book!

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Today, I’m featuring a very hard to come by setting for Christian Historical Fiction–Vikings!


God’s Daughter Blurb:

One Viking woman. One God. One legendary journey to North America. 

In the tenth century, when pagan holy women rule the Viking lands, Gudrid turns her back on her training as a seeress to embrace Christianity. Clinging to her faith, she joins her husband, Finn, on a voyage to North America.

But even as Gudrid faces down murderous crewmen, raging sickness, and hostile natives, she realizes her greatest enemy is herself–and the secrets she hides might just tear her marriage apart.

Almost five centuries before Columbus, Viking women sailed to North America with their husbands. God’s Daughter, Book One in the Vikings of the New World Saga, offers an expansive yet intimate look into the world of Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir–daughter-in-law of Eirik the Red, and the first documented European woman to have a child in North America.

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Questions about Heather’s Book

What inspired your story? 

A real Viking Christian woman, Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir, who sailed with her husband to North America–with a crew comprised mostly of men. I had to ask why she did it. Especially since she had a baby over here. And she’s the daughter-in-law of Eirik the Red, who I’m supposedly related to. So I loved learning her story. Oh, and did I mention she was twice widowed and on her third husband when she sailed? Lots of great bones to her story in the sagas–I loved fleshing them out. 

What did you enjoy most about writing this book? 

Delving into what makes marriages tick–the experiences that can make or break them. Trying to show that Vikings weren’t so different from us in their motivations and dreams.

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

Yes. But that’s coming up in my follow-up novel, Forest Child. Let’s just say I have a bit of an uncontrollable wild child main character in that, and I have to figure out why she did what she historically did. 

Where is your home on the web?
http://heatherdaygilbert.com/

Wow. Good question. I’d say the book closest to mine in point-of-view (first person) and love relationships would be When Mountains Move, by Julie Cantrell. Honestly, there aren’t a lot of married main characters in the CBA.

What Christian Historical Novel in your To Be Read pile is begging you to make time to plop down with it right now? 

Oh my goodness, I’ve been trying to finish My Hope is Found by Joanne Bischof since the day I started it! I love Joanne’s characters and setting, and this last novel…I have to know what happens with Lonnie and Gideon! Once my book is out in the world, I’m dropping everything to finish it!

What was the last Christian Historical Novel whose characters stayed in your head days after you finished reading it? 

Willa Obenchain, from Burning Sky by Lori Benton. She’s a stoic kind of main character, very like my Gudrid. And the history in Lori’s books is so deep and well-researched. Not to mention her writing is lovely. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’m excited to be hosting my friend, Sarah Ladd, to the Index.

Her book came out this week, and I am dying to read it? Why? Well, beside the cover blurb, this book knocked my book out of like every contest back when we were both finaling in book contests for unpublished writers. This book should knock my (and your) socks off!

And Sarah is giving away a book–even better! I’ve got my copy already, will you win yours here? She’s set up a rafflecopter giveaway, I’ve never hosted one, so let’s see how it goes!
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The Heiress of Winterwood Blurb:

Amelia Barrett, heiress to an estate nestled in the English moors, defies family expectations and promises to raise her dying friend’s baby. She’ll risk everything to keep her word—even to the point of proposing to the child’s father—a sea captain she’s never met.

When the child vanishes with little more than an ominous ransom note hinting at her whereabouts, Amelia and Graham are driven to test the boundaries of their love for this little one.

Amelia’s detailed plans would normally see her through any trial, but now, desperate and shaken, she’s forced to examine her soul and face her one weakness: pride.

Graham’s strength and self-control have served him well and earned him much respect, but chasing perfection has kept him a prisoner of his own discipline. And away from the family he has sworn to love and protect. Both must learn to have faith and relinquish control so they can embrace the future ahead of them.

Questions about Sarah’s book:

What inspired your story?

I have always loved England’s Regency period and knew that I wanted it to be the setting for my novel. My goal was to write a heroine that really challenged the strict societal expectations of the time, so I asked myself the following question:  What is the one thing a woman in the Regency would NOT do?  And my answer to that question was:  “Propose marriage to a man.” And that is how the idea for The Heiress of Winterwood was born!

Why did you choose the year your book is set? 

The Regency is a fairly narrow time period (1811-1820).  My hero is a naval captain who is fighting in the War of 1812 (which began in 1812 and continued into 1815).  I wanted the story to take place toward the end of the war, so the bulk of the book takes place in late 1814.

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

Oh my goodness! That is a tricky one … I LOVE reading research books and could get lost in them for hours.  But I do have a couple of favorites:
      Georgette Heyer’s Regency Worldby Jennifer Kloester
      The Complete Servant: Life Below Stairsby Samuel and Sarah Adams
     Georgian and Regency Houses Explainedby Trevor York
      Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Managementby Isabella Beeton

What is your home on the web?

You can find me here:
    Facebook:   www.facebook.com/SarahLaddAuthor
     Twitter: http://twitter.com/SarahLaddAuthor
     Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Sarah_Ladd
     Website: www.sarahladd.com

Questions about Sarah’s reading:

What Christian Historical Novel are you most excited to read that hasn’t yet come out?

Melissa Jagears’s A Bride for Keeps

**Note, I did not bribe her to say that, she’s just plain sweet.**

What was the last Christian Historical Novel that made you cry? 

Laura Frantz’s Love’s Reckoning

What was the last Christian Historical Novel whose characters stayed in your head days after you finished reading it?

Julie Klassen’s Girl in the Gatehouse

If you would like to enter to win your very own copy of The Heiress of Winterwood, enter the Rafflecopter below. The more you do, the more chances you get. Don’t forget to comment on the blog post and push that you commented in the rafflecopter. Enter by THURSDAY! Winner announced Friday.  A Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  It has become a classic, and I love it.

I’m reading The Tutor’s Daughter by Julie Klassen right now. I’m loving it. I really like the setting, but the characters are very interesting and varied.

Blog: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Dooley-Lena Nelson
Several US States
Adoption
Wagon Train
Aristocrats/Social Elite

Welcome Pam Hillman, whose ebook Claiming Mariah is coming out through Tyndale House this month. Isn’t the cover lovely?

I will give away one ecopy of her newest release to a random commenter who ALSO answers one of the questions 5-8 below! Comment/Answer by January 11, 2013, and I’ll post the winner on the 12th. Pam is doing several giveaways too (two ereaders!), you’ll find that at the bottom of this post.

*Questions about Pam’s books:

1. What inspired Claiming Mariah?
Several years ago, I read a novel where a bank robber tosses a sack of stolen money in the back seat of a hand-to-mouth college student’s car. She kept the money and eventually started a very successful business. She justified her actions because she anonymously created a charity to help destitute young women get back on their fee. But, as the old saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right, and that wasn’t quite right from a Christian’s perspective, was it?

I based Claiming Mariah on the following question: “What would a Christian do if they found out their whole livelihood had been based on a lie?” Mariah does the right thing by writing to Slade’s father asking for forgiveness, but the consequences of her actions end up being way more than she bargained for.

2. What was the hardest part of this book to write?
Without giving away too much of the story, I wrestled with Red Harper. What kind of man was he? What were his redeeming qualities? What were his faults? How did he get to where he was in his life? People find themselves in tough situations all the time with no way out just like Red did.

3. What character in this book turned out to be your favorite?
I enjoyed getting to know Mariah’s grandmother. Grandma Malone doesn’t dance around particulars or stand on ceremony. This line sums Grandma Malone up to a tee. She gave him that peculiar look of hers that said she was old enough to say what she wanted and get away with it.

4. If you could be one of your characters, who would you choose to be and why?
The street kid named Luke in Stealing Jake. One reader said that Luke’s story was interwoven so much with Jake and Livy’s story that she couldn’t imagine one without the other. Even though delving into Luke’s story wasn’t part of the original draft, he kept niggling at my brain, and once I added the thread in his point-of-view, the story felt complete. Luke is just a kid, but he risks his life to search for his little brother, and becomes a father figure of sorts to the other street kids. Given the same circumstances, I would hope to be half as brave, caring, and compassionate as Luke.

*Questions recommending other Christian Historical Novels:  

5. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take one Christian Historical Novel, which would you pick?
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Not only is Redeeming Love written by a master craftsman, it’s the retelling of a love story from the Bible, the story of Gomer and Hosea, which, by the way, is an allegory of the greatest love story of all time, the love God has for all humanity. So, if I had Redeeming Love with me, I’d be getting three for one. Right?

6. Which was the last Christian Historical Novel you read, and what was your favorite thing about it?
This is a really hard question. Thinking….. The last Christian Historical novel I finished (as opposed to one I’m currently reading) was The Preacher’s Bride by Jody Hedlund. One of the things that stuck with me about Elizabeth, the preacher’s bride, was that she was doggedly faithful in taking care of the helpless, the needy, and the preacher’s children even at the risk of her own life. I’m a sucker for anyone who fights for the underdog.

7. What Christian Historical Novel are you most excited to read that hasn’t yet come out?
Johnnie Alexander Donley’s Where Treasure Hides is a Tyndale House Digital First title that released the same day as Claiming Mariah. I’m naturally excited about reading it. Where Treasure Hides is Johnnie’s debut novel, and I’ve had the pleasure of reading the opening chapter. I can’t wait for the rest!

8. What Christian Historical Novel in your To Be Read pile is begging you to make time to plop down with it right now?
You do know how to put a girl on the spot, don’t you? So, if I could spend a cold winter’s day just reading (oh, what joy!), I’d fix a hot cappuccino, cuddle up on the couch with a plush blanket and read, I’d start with (wait while I peruse my Kindle)… To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer. I just got it on my Kindle (squeeeeee!). I really enjoyed A Tailor-Made Bride, so I’m anxious to read To Win Her Heart as well. Shoot, Melissa, now you’ve done it — I want to start reading and instead I have to finish your blog post for you….. Aaarrrghhhhh!!!! Okay, I’m going to take an itty-bitty peek at the first few pages…reading…reading…reading…. Sigh…. It’s going to be just as good as I hoped.

[Melissa interjects: Oh, Pam, that’s my favorite book I read in 2011; good luck stopping at one chapter! Thanks for taking the time to share about your books and your Christian Historical favorites!]

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*****DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT AND GIVE ME YOUR ANSWER FOR ONE OF THE QUESTIONS 5-8 TO BE ENTERED INTO A FREE EBOOK COPY–AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN EBOOK READER, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ONE TO YOUR COMPUTER OR I CAN SEND IT TO A FRIEND YOU THINK MIGHT BE INTERESTED. YOU MUST BE CONTACTABLE, EITHER LEAVE AN EMAIL IN THE COMMENTS OR BE SURE YOUR BLOGGER PROFILE HAS IT!*****

 

Publisher’s Weekly calls Unending Devotion “A meaty tale of life amid the debauchery of the lumber camps of 1880s Michigan . . . exciting and unpredictable to the very end.”

 

If you’d like to get a monthly email of all the new Inspirational Historical Releases from me, sign up for the newsletter. And if you’re on Facebook, I post all the Inspirational Historical Kindle deals and Freebies on this website’s Facebook page.

Don’t forget to answer Jody’s questions, she plans to swing by today and leave your email address to be entered in the drawing for a free book!