Stop by to learn about the book, read a Q&A with Tara, and enter to win a print copy of the book (US ONLY).
Showing posts with label #historical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #historical. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
"Broken Lines" by Kelsey Gietl ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Click here to learn about the book, read my review, and enter to win an electronic copy of the book.
Friday, November 6, 2020
"Stars of Heaven" by Jessica Dall ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Welcome to Friday Reads!
Stop by to learn about the book, read an excerpt and my review, and enter to win one of three e-books (three separate winners)! Click here.
Friday, August 14, 2020
"A Life Once Dreamed" by Rachel Fordham ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Stop by to learn about the new release from Rachel Fordham, A Life Once Dreamed. You can also enter to win a copy of the book.
Friday, June 19, 2020
"The White Rose Resists" by Amanda Barratt ... and a GIVEAWAY!
It's #FridayReads, and I'm featuring the latest release from Amanda Barratt, The White Rose Resists. Stop by to read an excerpt and enter to win a print copy of the book (US ONLY).
Friday, May 8, 2020
Stop by my blog to learn about Kimberly Duffy's debut, read an excerpt, and enter to win a print copy of the book (US ONLY).
Click here.
Friday, March 27, 2020
"Once Upon an Irish Summer" by Wendy Wilson Spooner ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Wendy has offered to give away an electronic copy of the book. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends April 3, 2020. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.
You can read my review, as well as enter the giveaway here.
Friday, March 13, 2020
"The Blizzard Bride" by Susanne Dietze ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Welcome to Friday Reads!
Susanne's publisher has agreed to give away three (3) print copies of The Blizzard Bride. (US ONLY) You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends March 20, 2020. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
You can read a Q&A with Susanne and my review, as well as enter the giveaway here.
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Takeover Tuesday with Camille Eide
Camille has agreed to give away an electronic copy of this book to one lucky blog reader. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends January 14, 2020. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
The story behind the story...
The idea for Anna’s story came on the heels of my previous novel, The
Memoir of Johnny Devine. I wanted to try my hand again at setting a story during
an era with a prominent social issue that could trickle down into the individual
lives of the characters. Wings Like a Dove was birthed by a much
different process than my other novels. The idea for Johnny Devine came from a
dream—one simple, heart-wrenching scene—and an entire novel sprang from that. Wings
came from a “What If” brainstorm. What if an unmarried immigrant found herself
pregnant, in a time in America that would make her predicament more of a
challenge?
After the central story took shape, the characters took on lives
and stories of their own, as often happens in fiction writing. Most of the supporting
characters inherited traits from real life, personal experience, and from
people I’ve known. Thomas speaks reverently of the man who raised him. This
man, Gabriel Johansen, is fashioned after my late father in law. And in small
part, so were most of the orphan boys, who are the same age my father in law
would have been in 1933. Some of details in this story come from stories of his
boyhood.
I didn’t intend for the story to be a difficult read; I wanted to
tell a heart-warming story of redemption. And I hope I have. But as I researched the era, the discovery of
the Women’s Ku Klux Klan and their agenda to “cleanse” their communities of
certain people, including Jews, meant that I had no choice but to include it. The
presence of the Klan in middle America fit all too well with the string of challenges
that Anna would face in 1933. And as a side note, when I was plotting this
story several years ago, before delays kept interfering with its completion, I
had no idea what the future held, what conversations about immigration, racism,
and unity would be taking place now, as the story is released. I can only
wonder if God had a plan for this story, for such a time as this.
Excerpt...
Anna
studied him, the sincerity of his expression, the patient way he waited, the
strong, pleasing angles of his face. “How?”
“You
can help me work on being more connected, and…I can help you search for what
you’ve lost.” He was no longer jovial, but suddenly very attentive, the hope in
his eyes entreating, tender. Tempting. It was not difficult to see herself
spending time with Thomas. It was quite easy. So easy, in fact, that she
suddenly saw the two of them, in her mind’s eye, making a home, working
together and sharing a life, loving these boys, loving…
A
small gasp escaped her.
“Anna?”
His voice was breathless with wonder. He dipped his head closer and peered into
her eyes, studying her carefully.
As
clearly as if in a waking dream, she saw herself married to Thomas, saw herself
loving him with all of her heart and soul. Which, of course, was impossible.
Painfully so.
Quickly,
she dropped her gaze, blocking his scrutiny. Surely her eyes would give away
both her foolish feelings and her dirtiness.
He
reached up with his fingertips and gently tilted her chin upward, forcing her
to look him in the eye. “Forgive me, but … I need to see if that was just my
imagination.”
She
swallowed hard. Look away, Anna ...
My review...
Eide’s latest rivets the reader and has a little bit of
something for just about everyone: romance, history (Great Depression), and
real-world challenges (such as discrimination). (Sadly, some issues addressed
in this book are still alive in today’s society, as well.) It’s a beautifully
written powerful tale that will likely stick with the reader long after the
final page. Grace, love, healing, and forgiveness are key takeaways. It was one
of my favorite books from 2019. Wings Like A Dove is historical fiction
at its finest.
Anna finds herself on her own and pregnant in a world that is intolerant of Jews. Yet through it all, she is courageous and perseveres,
overcoming obstacles no one should have to face. Along the way, she encounters
a group of orphans, and together they’ll each learn from each other things they’d
never considered before. They will all discover that God is always in control.
Aside from Anna, Thomas and Samuel steal the show … and the
readers’ hearts. This is the first book I’ve read by Eide, but it won’t be my
last!
Some of my favorite quotes:
“What if we choose instead to be blind to people’s flaws and
shortcomings and the differences we do not understand?”
“Will we not all need mercy at some time in our lives? Mercy
we do not deserve? It is a precious gift, and yet it is free. Everyone has the
power to give it.”
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t
required to leave a positive review.
Purchase link
About Camille...
Camille Eide is the award-winning author of inspirational romantic fiction including The Memoir of Johnny Devine. Camille lives near the Oregon Cascades with her husband and is Mom to three, Grammy to five, and enjoys the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She also loves the liberating truth and wisdom of God’s word, and hopes that her stories will stir your heart, strengthen your faith, and encourage you on your journey.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About Camille...
Camille Eide is the award-winning author of inspirational romantic fiction including The Memoir of Johnny Devine. Camille lives near the Oregon Cascades with her husband and is Mom to three, Grammy to five, and enjoys the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She also loves the liberating truth and wisdom of God’s word, and hopes that her stories will stir your heart, strengthen your faith, and encourage you on your journey.
Other titles include: Savanna’s Gift (Christmas), Like
There’s No Tomorrow, Like a Love Song, The Memoir of Johnny
Devine, and The Healer (exclusive to newsletter subscribers).
Where you can find her online...
Website: www.camilleeide.com
FB Author page https://www.facebook.com/CamilleEide.Author/
Twitter https://twitter.com/CamilleEide
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/camille.eide/
Friday, December 27, 2019
First Line Friday
Happy Friday! It's time for First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books.
It's time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today on First Line Friday, I'm featuring a book from one of my many TBR piles, A Cup of Dust by Susie Finkbeiner. I had the pleasure of meeting her at a conference a few months ago. This book is about the Dust Bowl. I've only read one other book about this topic, so I'm looking forward to reading this book.
And the first line is ...
As soon as I was off the porch and out of Mama's sight, I pushed the scuffed-up, hole-in-the-soles Mary Janes off my feet.
About the book...
Ten-year-old Pearl doesn't understand a lot of things--why her sister's brain doesn't work right, why the preacher yells so much, why Jesus and the president seem to have forgotten all about Oklahoma. But she does know who she is: Pearl Spence, daughter of the esteemed town sheriff. Generous and always ready to help in a crisis, the Spences bring hope to this desolate town, and Pearl is proud of her family. She knows who she is, she knows she is loved, and even in unrelenting hardship, life feels secure. Not even the dust that sweeps incessantly across Red River can quench her hopes and dreams.
But someone else seems to know who she is, too, and he makes Pearl uneasy. From the moment the mysterious hobo steps off the train and stares at her with his cold blue eyes, Pearl's secure world begins to unravel. How does Eddie know her name? Why does he seem to hover everywhere she turns? And why does he act like he knows something about her family that she doesn't? Pearl is determined to avoid him, but Eddie is bent on forcing his way into her life and disrupting her family's shaky tranquility. The more he badgers Pearl, the greater her confusion, until the storm within her rivals the swirling of dust and dirt without.
Let me know the first line of the book closest to you and then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating.
Friday, December 6, 2019
"Misleading Miss Verity" by Carolyn Miller ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Carolyn's publicist has agreed to give away a complete set of the "Daughters of Aynsley" trilogy (all three books!) to one lucky blog reader (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends December 13, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
My review...
This is the final installment in the “Daughters of Aynsley”
series, but it could be read as a standalone (which is what I did).
The cover catches the reader’s eye, and the characters
quickly pull them in to this charming tale. It’s the first book I’ve read my Miller,
and I found it to be engaging and filled with vibrant descriptions. The book
has a little bit of something for just about everyone, including castles, horse
races, pirates, and foreign settings. Verity’s vulnerability made her easy to relate
to adore. In general, characters (including the secondary ones) and scenes were
well-developed, and things moved along at a realistic pace. There is a
spiritual element woven throughout the story, so it’s not overwhelming. Faith,
hope, and love are key themes. Fans of Regency novels (and those wanting to
check out the genre) should pick this one up!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t
required to leave a positive review.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Excerpt...
Chapter One
Bath, Somerset
January 1820
It was the sobbing that decided her.
The Honorable Verity Hatherleigh eased from her bed and stole
across the room to the disconsolate girl whose snuffling and muffled
weeping made sleep impossible. She touched her roommate on the
arm. “Lucy, dear. What is wrong?”
The shrouded figure shifted, lowering the heavy blankets whose
inability to stifle the sounds of sadness had perturbed Verity’s slumber. Clouded moonlight streamed pale from the window, framing a
plain, round face made less lovely by red eyes and blotched cheeks.
“It’s Papa. He . . . he’s—” Lady Lucinda Wainbridge gulped, her chin
quivering, a sure sign more waterworks were in the offing.
“Now, Lucy, stop, take a deep breath”—Verity waited as the older
girl complied—“and tell me what has happened.”
After another shaky breath, Lucinda exhaled noisily, then blew
her nose with a honk reminiscent of a startled goose.
“If you don’t want Miss Pelling to check in here, you might want
to do that more quietly.”
Lucy’s eyes flashed accusingly. “You weren’t here when I was telling the others.”
“No, because I was in Helena’s room, helping her with her French
for tomorrow’s examination, as you well know.” Verity dashed back
10
Misleading Miss Verity
to her bed and pulled on her padded dressing gown. These rooms, for
all the exorbitant fees paid, were never heated properly. She returned,
wrapping a woolen blanket around her shoulders. “Now, what happened to your father?” Had the Earl of Retford sickened? Her heart
quickened. Had he died? Poor Lucinda . . .
Lucinda shook her head. “Nothing has happened to Papa. It’s
what he will do.”
“Which is?”
“Remove me from Haverstock’s!”
This was a bad thing? “Why are you so certain he will?”
Lucinda wiped her eyes. “He’s bound to as soon as Haverstock
sends him the letter she found from William.”
“She found it? I thought you had it well secured. Didn’t you place
it under the floorboard as I suggested?”
“I was going to . . .”
Lucinda’s shoulders slumped, and she looked so miserable, Verity didn’t have the heart to scold her roommate’s folly. Dear foolish
Lucy, with her silly infatuation for a squire’s son of whom her fastidious parents would never approve. Many had been the confidences
Lucinda had whispered, ever since Verity had been forced to leave the
room she had previously shared with Helena. Many a dull evening
spent listening to Lucy prattle on about William’s inestimable qualities, whilst Verity strained to hear the telltale creaks in the hall that
told of vigilant staff, waiting until the creaks had quite faded away
before stealing across to the room which had fostered a friendship
more dear than that of her family’s.
Helena Chisholm was the most loyal and encouraging person Verity had ever met, filled with a zest for life and mischief that rivaled
Verity’s own. When Miss Haverstock had been informed about one
of Verity’s previous secret visits to the headmistress’s study by the
not-so-honorable Prudence Gaspard, Verity’s separation from Helena had been swift, painful, and irrevocable. Her punishment was to
be bored by Lucinda’s ill-advised romance for the remaining weeks
until their schooling was considered complete.
Not that Verity was against romantic attachments as such; more
Carolyn Miller
11
that with such opposites involved, this particular attachment seemed
a complete and utter waste of emotions, when anyone could see it
was an attachment doomed to futility and failure. Her lips twitched.
Although, judging from Lucinda’s descriptions of her beau, he
seemed as dull as she, so perhaps they were well-matched.
“This is not funny, Verity. What am I going to do? When Papa
sees what we have been writing to one another, he’ll have a fit, and
threaten to marry me off to old Lord Winchester. I’d rather die than
marry him!” Lucinda sniffed, as another tear tracked down her face.
“What did William write that is so concerning?” Normally Lucinda
shared every phrase over and over until Verity could mouth along
too, but lately she had been too busy helping some of the younger
girls prepare for their upcoming examinations. “Surely it cannot be
so bad.”
The moonlight revealed a faint blush on Lucinda’s cheeks. “It was
most poetic. William was describing me, you see. He said I am beautiful.” She smiled a wobbly smile.
“And if he loves you, then I suppose he should.” Verity nodded her
affirmation, while wondering at how men could be so blind. Lucinda,
beautiful? Even at her best she could only be described as somewhat
attractive. Verity knew herself to hold no pretensions to beauty—her
hair was too black, her eyes too pale, her eyebrows too slanted, her
chin too pointed, the whole effect considered to be odd-looking rather
than attractive, or so her mother said. But it had always surprised
her how men could see what they wanted to see, such as the men
who loved her elder sisters and openly admired their golden beauty,
most recently at last month’s Boxing Day Ball during which Cecy’s
betrothal had been announced. In Verity’s mind, Helena was more
attractive, her smile even brighter than the red curls that adorned her
head. “Titian-haired” their drawing master had once remarked.
Lucinda sighed, reclaiming Verity’s attention. “I suppose he did
get a little carried away.” She smiled coyly, clearly inviting Verity to
enquire further.
Verity stifled the yawn. “It’s very late—”
About Carolyn...
Caroloyn Miller lives in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of Regency romance, Miller has won a number of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers awards. Her debut series, Regency Brides, is now available in German and Dutch translations and on audiobook. She's a memeber of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. See more at carolynmillerauthor.com.
Where you can find her online...
Monday, November 11, 2019
"A Silver Willow by the Shore" by Kelli Stuart (Prism Book Group blog tour)
On Tour with Prism Book Tours
A Silver Willow by the ShoreBy Kelli Stuart
Adult Historical, Contemporary, Time-Slip
Paperback & ebook, 380 Pages
October 15th 2019 by Fine Print Writing Press
How do you face the future if you don’t know your own past?
When an unexpected pregnancy changes her dreams, seventeen-year-old Annie tries to keep it from her mother and her grandmother. But secrets have a way of coming out. In a household of strong women, the arrival of a new life sets off a spiral of truth that reveals a past full of whispers and lies—a past that existed in another world under the heavy hand of Soviet oppression. This history has dictated the circumstances of the present, but hope, redemption, and forgiveness will grow in the rocky places of these generational differences.
A Silver Willow by the Shore is the story of the unshakeable love between mothers and daughters and of the impact that past decisions can have on present day circumstances. This novel weaves together the stories of generations of women, from the gulags of 1930’s Siberia, to the quiet oppression of 1980’s Soviet Moscow, to present day Tennessee. It is an unforgettable narrative of the treachery of secrets, and of the light that unites the heart of a family.
(Affiliate links included.)
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
My review...
My review...
As the year draws to a close, I can honestly say Silver Willow by the Shore is one of my favorite reads from 2019. I’ve read other books by Stuart, and she’s become one of my go-to authors.
This book was quite unique, as it’s an engaging multi-generational tale told via three POVs: Annie, her mother Nina, and her grandmother Elizaveta. They’re equally well-developed, and easy to root for and invest in. Their resiliency is inspiring. Each woman has a distinct voice, story, and secrets that are tearing each of them apart inside, though they are keeping them from each other. “Keep it hidden. Share as little as possible.”
The multiple POVs allow the reader to see all angles of the story. James was a wonderful supporting character. He is the perfect definition of a true friend, and I love how his story line unfolds. And that ending? You’ll have to read it for yourself, but trust me when I say it’s beautiful.
A couple of my favorite quotes include:
“No silence is quite so profound as that of unspoken words.”
“Hard doesn’t mean wrong. In fact, doing the right thing will rarely be easy. It will always be hard.”
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy as part of the Prism Book Group blog tour, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
About the Author
Kelli is a wife, mother, novelist, and the driver of a smoking' hot minivan. When she isn't wrangling her five children, she can be found tapping away at the keyboard. Kelli is the award winning author of Like a River From Its Course, her debut novel which won the ACFW Carol Award for Best Historical and was nominated for two Christy Awards. Kelli is also the co-author of Life Creative: Inspiration for Today's Renaissance Mom with Wendy Speake. You can find more information on her life and writings at www.kellistuart.com.
Tour Schedule
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a Kindle Fire Tablet with Alexa Hands Free + $50 Amazon Gift Card
Friday, October 18, 2019
First Line Friday
Happy Friday! It's time for First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books.
It's time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today on First Line Friday, I'm featuring Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan.
And the first line in Chapter One is ...
Like all the pharaohs, emperors, and tyrants before him, Il Duce had seen his empire rise only to crumble.
About the book...
Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man's incredible courage and resilience during one of history's darkest hours.
Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He's a normal Italian teenager--obsessed with music, food, and girls--but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior.
In an attempt to protect him, Pino's parents force him to enlist as a German soldier--a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured, he is recruited at the tender age of eighteen to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler's left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich's most mysterious and powerful commanders.
Now, wih the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.
Let me know the first line of the book closest to you and then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating.
If you're a blogger or just a social media-er, we'd love for you to join us, too!
Friday, September 20, 2019
First Line Friday
Happy Friday! It's time for First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books.
It's time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today on First Line Friday, I'm featuring Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett, the second book in her Vintage National Park series.
And the first line is ...
Olivia Rutherford applied lip rouge the same way she painted--with bold, broad strokes.
About the book...
Watercolorist Olivia Rutherford has shed her humble beginnings to fashion her image as an avant-garde artist to appeal to the region's wealthy art collectors. When she lands a lucrative contract painting illustrations of Yosemite National Park for a travel magazine, including its nightly one-of-a-kind Firefall event, she hopes the money will lift Olivia and her sisters out of poverty.
After false accusations cost him everything, former minister Clark Johnson has found purpose as a backcountry guide in this natural cathedral of granite and trees. Now he's faced with the opportunity to become a National Parks Ranger, but is it his true calling?
As Clark opens Olivia's eyes to the wonders of Yosemite, she discovers the people are as vital to the park's story as its vistas--a revelation that may bring her charade to an end.
Let me know the first line of the book closest to you and then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating.
If you're a blogger or just a social media-er, we'd love for you to join us, too!
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Takeover Thursday with Tanya Eavenson ... and a GIVEAWAY
Tanya has agreed to giveaway one electronic copy of this book to one lucky blog reader. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends September 26, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
Blurb...
Sometimes the path to freedom is found in an unexpected future.
Upon the death of her mother, Rosalind Standford’s life shatters, the
pieces scattering to the wind when she is forced into a betrothal to
a cunning banker. But when a telegram arrives announcing the man who
captured her heart is on a train to Boston, Rosalind must hide her true
feelings before the thin cord of her existence unravels the deadly secrets she
keeps.
Cowboy Trent Easton returns to his roots in Boston society to find his
childhood friend, the love of his heart. Instead he finds a broken woman engaged to a man close to
her father’s age. Though she once rejected him, when Trent learns she’s in danger, he determines to do whatever it takes to keep her safe—even
taking her to the altar in the black of night. But will his name and the remote
wilds of his Texas ranch be enough to protect her? Or will freedom cost them
their lives?
Excerpt...
“Father, can we do nothing?” Rosalind asked. “Mother?” She
looked from one to the other, but they both looked afraid and lost, an
expression she’d never before seen on either of their faces.
When they arrived at the house, Father instructed Mr.
Richards to find the doctor, and only after several stumbles did they manage to
get Mother inside. Mother’s strength had simply vanished, leaving her pale and
aged, too weak to even keep her eyes open as they helped her to bed.
It seemed a lifetime passed before the doctor arrived.
During the examination, Mother lay still. Too still. Fear surged to Rosalind’s
core at Mother’s motionless state. Then another cough raked through Mother’s
body, blood dripped from her nose, and Rosalind didn’t know which was
worse—watching Mother lie still as death or seeing the spasms and hearing the
awful retching. Tears filled Rosalind’s eyes as she stroked strands of soft
brown hair from her mother’s face and tucked them behind her ear.
“Do you know what’s wrong with her, Doctor? Is it consumption?” her father asked.
Kneeling next to the bed, the physician wiped her mother’s
nose and folded the cloth. “Her coughing is worse. I’m afraid you are correct.
She has tuberculosis.”
Rosalind shook her head and ran from the room. She flew down
the stairs, faltered into the stagnant night air, and stopped on the porch as
reality weighed heavily on her shoulders. She swallowed down her screams. “God,
are You listening? Don’t You see? You must help my mother. Please don’t take
her. Don’t …” She fell to her knees, sobbing into her palms.
Arms came around her shoulders, and she jerked back, biting
back her tears. “Mr. Richards.” She moved from him and stumbled on the hem of
her gown but caught her balance.
“It’s all right.” He followed her. “I have your father’s
permission.”
She wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. “What do you
mean you have his permission?”
“We will be married.”
Rosalind fought to understand what Mr. Richards was saying,
but the words seemed scrambled, incomprehensible. Her mind a fog. “What do you
mean, married?”
“Earlier tonight I asked permission to court you, but
moments ago, he gave me his full blessing.”
Surely she’d misheard him. “You asked for my hand in
marriage now, while we’re learning my mother is dying? My father is as
distraught as I am.”
“Perhaps the doctor’s wrong,” Mr. Richards whispered against
her ear. “Perhaps she will recover. Nevertheless …”
“We shouldn’t be … you shouldn’t be alone with me here like
this. Propriety …”
He dragged a fingertip along her jaw, then down her bare
arm, his expression declaring ownership even as it dared her to argue.
Though her heart galloped, she fought her instincts to
flinch. Glover Richards was a very powerful man, she’d overheard her father
saying once, powerful enough to harm his enemies. Father must need the man’s
friendship, otherwise he would never have agreed. “Why? Why me?”
“I will court you as your father wishes.” A slow smile slid
up one side of his face. “And at nineteen you will be my bride.”
Rosalind’s pulse pounded in her ears. None of this made
sense. If only Mother were well. She’d never let Father agree to this marriage,
and he would listen to her.
She balled her hands into fists at her waist, squeezing the
satin lace crisscrossing there—satin meant to draw Trenton’s eye. Yet Trenton
was packing his trunk for Texas, even as Mr. Richards’s gaze roamed her hair,
her face and throat, and her bodice and cinched gown.
“We don’t have to announce our betrothal … yet,” he said as
if the deed was done.
She swallowed, meeting Mr. Richards’s stare.
He took her hand and slid it through the crook of his arm.
“Let’s get you back inside, shall we?”
She let him lead her, but her heart recoiled, and she threw
a desperate prayer toward heaven. Lord,
You must heal my mother and rescue me. Save us.
What I'm working on next...
About Tanya...
Tanya Eavenson is an international bestselling and award-winning inspirational romance author. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, and reading a good book.
Where you can find Tanya online...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thursday, September 5, 2019
"Memories of Glass" by Melanie Dobson ... and a GIVEAWAY!
The publisher has agreed to give away one print copy of this book (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends September 12, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
Q & A with Melanie...
Q: How did you come across the true accounts that inspired Memories of Glass? What research went into writing this novel?
A: Several years ago a dear friend told me about thousands of Dutch mining tunnels in Maastricht that were used to hide people and artwork during World War II. As I researched those tunnels, I stumbled onto the incredible story about a network of seemingly ordinary people in Amsterdam who rescued more than six hundred children from a Nazi deportation center during the war. This amazing feat became the foundation for Memories of Glass.
During my months of research, I read countless interviews with men and women involved in the Dutch resistance and then spent a week in the Netherlands visiting all the major locations for my story, including the Amsterdam deportation center and the marlstone tunnels down south. When I boarded a bus to Kamp Westerbork, the elderly driver was so pleased to hear I was writing a novel about Holland's Holocaust that he covered my fare. across this beautiful country of windmills, canals, and fields of flowers, I discovered a number of gracious people like this gentleman who were eager to share what happened to their ancestors during the war.
Q: Oh, that's wonderful that you met so many gracious people eager to help you. What is the inspiration for the title of your book, Memories of Glass?
A: In both the past and present stories, my characters wrestle with how to process the broken memories of loved ones who were stolen away from them, and one of my Dutch heroines collects antique glass bottles many years after the war to remember someone she lost. At the end of the story—well, I won't tell you exactly what happens at the end, but after many years of brokenness, the shards of those memories are finally welded back together again.
Q: How did the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands differ from their occupation of other European countries?
A: Before the war, the Netherlands had been a neutral country, welcoming many German Jewish refugees across the border, but everything changed for the Dutch in May 1940. After promising not to attack, Hitler's army swept furiously into Holland and overtook this beautiful land. The Dutch were stunned but consoled by promises that the persecution happening in Germany wouldn't occur in their country.
A special council—the Judenrat–was formed to meet the needs of Jewish citizens. Even as new regulations were implemented in Holland, many of the 140,000 Dutch Jews believed they were safe because the Nazis granted thousands of exemptions to their growing list of rules. In 1942, assisted by the Judenrat, the Nazis began rounding up the Jewish people and cramming them into a gutted Amsterdam theater called Hollandsche Schowburg. Still they continued to grant exemptions to elite Jewish citizens until near the end of the war when even the leaders of the Judenrat were rounded up and deported to concentration camps. More than a hundred thousand Jewish people lost their lives during the Dutch Holocaust, but of the twenty-five thousand who went into hiding, including four thousand children, more than fifteen thousand remained hidden until liberation.
Q: You've highlighted three real-life Dutch heroes in this novel. Could you tell us a bit about their stories?
A: Walter Süskind was a German Jewish salesman appointed to register each man, woman, and child forced into an Amsterdam theater for deportation. Across the street from the theater, separated by a tram line, were two brick-clad buildings–a day care run by a matronly Jewish woman named HenriÑ‘tte Pimentel and the Reformed Teacher Training College, overseen by Johan van Hulst. These three leaders partnered together to rescue six hundred children from their vigilant occupiers, and the Nazis never found out what they were doing.
Sadly Henriёtte was killed at Auschwitz in 1943 after accompanying her staff and the remaining children in her care. Walter was exempted from deportation, but his wife and daughter were not. He chose to live with them and many think he was killed in 1945 by fellow inmates at Auschwitz who thought he, a former employee of the Judenrat, was a traitor. Dr. Hulst Passed away last year at the age of 107. He knew that I was writing Memories of Glass, and it was a great honor for me to connect with those who loved him.
Q: Oh, that's wonderful! What is your favorite thing about writing in the time-slip genre? What's the most challenging aspect of it?
A: I love to research and learn stories from the past, especially stories about ordinary people who did extraordinary things to fight against evil. In time-slip fiction, I can write a past plot alongside a contemporary one to show the repercussions of an event that occurred long ago. I like peeling back the layers of a family secret to discover the reality of what really happened and how it continues to impact people today. The most challenging aspect of writing time-slip fiction is weaving together the past and present stories so readers will be engaged with the characters in both time periods.
Q: What role does faith play in the story?
A: I really enjoyed writing about the journey of Landon West, my contemporary character who partners with Ugandans to provide both jobs and the good news about God's redeeming love. The role of faith is integral in both the past and present stories as Josie, one of my past heroines, is motivated to help others because of God's call on her life.
Also, the story shines a light on the persistent, nagging struggle of doubt and shame. Ava, my contemporary heroine, ultimately determines: "This burden of my memories, the extra weight of guilt, has almost crushed me. But long ago soldiers nailed up the burden of my sin on a cross, the depth of my shame, when they crucified Christ. Perhaps I can remember now without the weight of sorrow."
God gifts Ava with a beautiful memory as she begins to realize that what happened in the past wasn't her fault. God doesn't need to forgive her for this loss. She needs to forgive herself.
Q: In this novel, one of the contemporary characters must confront a difficult truth about her family's history and involvement with WWII. What lessons do you hope readers will learn from this character's struggle?
A: Ava is shocked to discover the terrible destruction initiated by some of her ancestors during World War II, but near the end of the novel, she is encouraged to find that others in her family tried to repair this damage.
Through my life, I've learned that it's difficult to understand someone's actions — a relative or friend — until you understand their journey. Many people, though, are ashamed or embarrassed about their past. I hope this story encourages readers to share their own stories and then, with a heart of compassion, be diligent about learning the stories of those they love. The truth, through Christ, is the power to set all of us free.
Q: In many of your novels, ordinary people are challenged to do extraordinary things. How do the historical characters in this novel respond differently to the same threat?
A: It was a fascinating challenge me to work through how each of my Dutch characters would respond to the Nazi occupation and eventual persecution of the Jewish people. Some of m characters collaborated with Hitler and profited off the persecution of their fellow man. Some gave their lives to help others escape. Other characters are forced to walk a terrifying middle line between good and evil, a line that kept shifting our from under their feet.
As I wrote this story, I had to continually ask myself — what would I do if I had lived in Amsterdam in 1942? It's impossible to know, of course, but I was greatly humbled and encouraged to learn the stories of the many heroes and heroines who risked everything to love their neighbors.
Q: Memories of Glass, like other novels you've written, highlights the virtue of sacrificial love. How do you hope your readers will relate this to their daily lives?
A: The heart of the story is about two Dutch women who've been wounded by a broken friendship. When the Nazi occupation brings them back together, they must work closely together to rescue the Jewish children in their care.
My hope is that the friendship and sacrifice of these women will represent the thousands of Dutch men and women who gave their lives for people they loved and often for people they didn't even know. Memories of Glass poured out of me as a reminder that in my own small world, my busyness, I often overlook opportunities to help others around me. I hope readers are inspired alongside of me to be vigilant in sacrificially loving those whom God brings into our world as well as, like Landon in the story, be open to stepping outside our comfort zones partner with people in need around the world.
During my months of research, I read countless interviews with men and women involved in the Dutch resistance and then spent a week in the Netherlands visiting all the major locations for my story, including the Amsterdam deportation center and the marlstone tunnels down south. When I boarded a bus to Kamp Westerbork, the elderly driver was so pleased to hear I was writing a novel about Holland's Holocaust that he covered my fare. across this beautiful country of windmills, canals, and fields of flowers, I discovered a number of gracious people like this gentleman who were eager to share what happened to their ancestors during the war.
Q: Oh, that's wonderful that you met so many gracious people eager to help you. What is the inspiration for the title of your book, Memories of Glass?
A: In both the past and present stories, my characters wrestle with how to process the broken memories of loved ones who were stolen away from them, and one of my Dutch heroines collects antique glass bottles many years after the war to remember someone she lost. At the end of the story—well, I won't tell you exactly what happens at the end, but after many years of brokenness, the shards of those memories are finally welded back together again.
Q: How did the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands differ from their occupation of other European countries?
A: Before the war, the Netherlands had been a neutral country, welcoming many German Jewish refugees across the border, but everything changed for the Dutch in May 1940. After promising not to attack, Hitler's army swept furiously into Holland and overtook this beautiful land. The Dutch were stunned but consoled by promises that the persecution happening in Germany wouldn't occur in their country.
A special council—the Judenrat–was formed to meet the needs of Jewish citizens. Even as new regulations were implemented in Holland, many of the 140,000 Dutch Jews believed they were safe because the Nazis granted thousands of exemptions to their growing list of rules. In 1942, assisted by the Judenrat, the Nazis began rounding up the Jewish people and cramming them into a gutted Amsterdam theater called Hollandsche Schowburg. Still they continued to grant exemptions to elite Jewish citizens until near the end of the war when even the leaders of the Judenrat were rounded up and deported to concentration camps. More than a hundred thousand Jewish people lost their lives during the Dutch Holocaust, but of the twenty-five thousand who went into hiding, including four thousand children, more than fifteen thousand remained hidden until liberation.
Q: You've highlighted three real-life Dutch heroes in this novel. Could you tell us a bit about their stories?
A: Walter Süskind was a German Jewish salesman appointed to register each man, woman, and child forced into an Amsterdam theater for deportation. Across the street from the theater, separated by a tram line, were two brick-clad buildings–a day care run by a matronly Jewish woman named HenriÑ‘tte Pimentel and the Reformed Teacher Training College, overseen by Johan van Hulst. These three leaders partnered together to rescue six hundred children from their vigilant occupiers, and the Nazis never found out what they were doing.
Sadly Henriёtte was killed at Auschwitz in 1943 after accompanying her staff and the remaining children in her care. Walter was exempted from deportation, but his wife and daughter were not. He chose to live with them and many think he was killed in 1945 by fellow inmates at Auschwitz who thought he, a former employee of the Judenrat, was a traitor. Dr. Hulst Passed away last year at the age of 107. He knew that I was writing Memories of Glass, and it was a great honor for me to connect with those who loved him.
Q: Oh, that's wonderful! What is your favorite thing about writing in the time-slip genre? What's the most challenging aspect of it?
A: I love to research and learn stories from the past, especially stories about ordinary people who did extraordinary things to fight against evil. In time-slip fiction, I can write a past plot alongside a contemporary one to show the repercussions of an event that occurred long ago. I like peeling back the layers of a family secret to discover the reality of what really happened and how it continues to impact people today. The most challenging aspect of writing time-slip fiction is weaving together the past and present stories so readers will be engaged with the characters in both time periods.
Q: What role does faith play in the story?
A: I really enjoyed writing about the journey of Landon West, my contemporary character who partners with Ugandans to provide both jobs and the good news about God's redeeming love. The role of faith is integral in both the past and present stories as Josie, one of my past heroines, is motivated to help others because of God's call on her life.
Also, the story shines a light on the persistent, nagging struggle of doubt and shame. Ava, my contemporary heroine, ultimately determines: "This burden of my memories, the extra weight of guilt, has almost crushed me. But long ago soldiers nailed up the burden of my sin on a cross, the depth of my shame, when they crucified Christ. Perhaps I can remember now without the weight of sorrow."
God gifts Ava with a beautiful memory as she begins to realize that what happened in the past wasn't her fault. God doesn't need to forgive her for this loss. She needs to forgive herself.
Q: In this novel, one of the contemporary characters must confront a difficult truth about her family's history and involvement with WWII. What lessons do you hope readers will learn from this character's struggle?
A: Ava is shocked to discover the terrible destruction initiated by some of her ancestors during World War II, but near the end of the novel, she is encouraged to find that others in her family tried to repair this damage.
Through my life, I've learned that it's difficult to understand someone's actions — a relative or friend — until you understand their journey. Many people, though, are ashamed or embarrassed about their past. I hope this story encourages readers to share their own stories and then, with a heart of compassion, be diligent about learning the stories of those they love. The truth, through Christ, is the power to set all of us free.
Q: In many of your novels, ordinary people are challenged to do extraordinary things. How do the historical characters in this novel respond differently to the same threat?
A: It was a fascinating challenge me to work through how each of my Dutch characters would respond to the Nazi occupation and eventual persecution of the Jewish people. Some of m characters collaborated with Hitler and profited off the persecution of their fellow man. Some gave their lives to help others escape. Other characters are forced to walk a terrifying middle line between good and evil, a line that kept shifting our from under their feet.
As I wrote this story, I had to continually ask myself — what would I do if I had lived in Amsterdam in 1942? It's impossible to know, of course, but I was greatly humbled and encouraged to learn the stories of the many heroes and heroines who risked everything to love their neighbors.
Q: Memories of Glass, like other novels you've written, highlights the virtue of sacrificial love. How do you hope your readers will relate this to their daily lives?
A: The heart of the story is about two Dutch women who've been wounded by a broken friendship. When the Nazi occupation brings them back together, they must work closely together to rescue the Jewish children in their care.
My hope is that the friendship and sacrifice of these women will represent the thousands of Dutch men and women who gave their lives for people they loved and often for people they didn't even know. Memories of Glass poured out of me as a reminder that in my own small world, my busyness, I often overlook opportunities to help others around me. I hope readers are inspired alongside of me to be vigilant in sacrificially loving those whom God brings into our world as well as, like Landon in the story, be open to stepping outside our comfort zones partner with people in need around the world.
My review...
I enjoy books about WWII, and I enjoy Melanie Dobson’s books, so I’m not surprised that I loved this book. It's a story that will stick with me for some time, and it should, as this is about a part of history that shouldn't be forgotten.
Dobson has crafted a powerful time-slip novel with well-developed characters who show strength and determination when faced with unbelievable circumstances. This book is a testament to the numerous men and women who risked their lives during WWII to help save others (in the case of Memories of Glass, children). While many people have heard horrific details about the Holocaust, this side of the Holocaust is not as widely known.
The story weaves together Ava Drake’s present-day story, as director of the Kingston Family Foundation, with the historical angle, where she uncovers secrets about her family’s history in Holland during WWII. The conclusion is one that will likely leave the reader feeling a bit more hopeful.
Themes of forgiveness and resilience are key, as well as the message that God’s grace is always present. Faith is woven throughout. It’s obvious that Dobson did an extensive amount of research for this book. I also enjoyed the Author’s Note, which gave some insight on how the story came to be written.
Some of my favorite quotes:
- “God is going to use you to bring people together instead of tear them apart.”
- “We’ll never be satisfied in here … by relying on someone other than God to heal us.”
- “Hatred stops at nothing to destroy, but love can break through the root of evil.”
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
About Melanie...
Melanie Dobson is the
award-winning author of nineteen historical romance, suspense, and time-slip
novels, including Hidden Among the Stars,
Catching the Wind, Chateau of Secrets, and Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor. Four of
her novels have won Carol Awards, Catching
the Wind won the Audie Award for inspirational fiction, and The Black Cloister won the Foreword magazine Religious Fiction Book
of the Year.
Melanie
is the former corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family and owner of
the publicity firm Dobson Media Group. When she isn’t writing, Melanie enjoys
teaching both writing and public relations classes.
Melanie
and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with
work, the Dobson family has settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to hike
and camp in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and along the Pacific Coast.
Melanie also enjoys exploring ghost towns and abandoned homes, helping care for
kids in her community, and reading stories with her girls.
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