When a massive earthquake levels the region, secrets and unknown dangers are exposed…
The ground in still-icy Yosemite National Park isn’t stable, and K-9 handler Von Sharpe fears the worst. But his worries are pushed aside when he sees an SUV viciously forced off the road…with his ex-fiancée at the wheel. It’s only when Stella Rivers steps out of the vehicle that the very ground under their feet cracks and breaks with the onslaught of a terrifying earthquake. When her meeting with a mysterious client is ambushed, Stella witnesses the man being gunned down by a sniper and becomes a target herself. With the threat of aftershocks triggering landslides and floods, the new mom has no choice but to run to save her baby girl—even if it means teaming up with the man who has no idea he fathered her child. Trapped in a dangerously unstable wilderness with a killer closing in, Von and Stella are running out of time to get to safety. And every fissure reveals a new secret that will shake them to their foundation…
Dana Mentink is a USA TODAY and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author. She’s written more than forty mystery and suspense novels for Love Inspired Suspense, Harvest House, and Poisoned Pen Press. She is honored to have received two ACFW Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion Award, and a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. Please visit her on the web at http://www.danamentink.com to sign up for her newsletter, or find her on Twitter, Facebook and Bookbub.
My Impressions
“Stella Rivers scoured the dense shrubbery like she’d been doing for the past hour as if the branches might somehow reach out and snatch her van off the mountain road. Ridiculous, but the isolation raked her nerves.”
Yikes!! Dana Mentink knows how to build tension in the first sentence, and in Trapped in Yosemite, that tension only gets more and more taut until the last sentence!
Stella Rivers is an arborist with something to prove and a nine-month-old daughter to support on her own. She becomes a human target while going to an appointment near Yosemite. As Stella flees, her vehicle is destroyed, and she is rescued by her former fiancé, Von Sharpe. Von is ex-military and grudgingly leads tours in Yosemite at his brother’s wilderness survival camp.
Stella is keeping a huge secret from Von and has put up a wall around her heart. She vows to stay away from Von and to never make him as important in her life as he once was. “She wouldn’t and couldn’t make him her everything, the source of her happiness and fulfillment.”
Von doesn’t understand how to deal with a young child, but his precious Malinois is like a child to him. Burned once by Stella, Von finds himself protecting her from incredible natural and human disasters. Von doesn’t believe God gives second chances, and he’s not about to give himself or Stella any grace.
I loved the eventual solution to Stella’s mysterious stalker. I didn’t see it coming until just before the reveal.
If you love high-octane romantic suspense with mystery or secret baby trope, you will enjoy Dana Mentink’s Trapped in Yosemite.
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. I also purchased my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Why hadn’t he told her the truth? Truth and facts were what kept people alive.”
“If you aren’t tied together by God, the world will tear you apart in short order.”
“‘You weren’t put on this planet to be happy.” ‘Tate’s equanimity only infuriated Von further. ‘Yeah? Then why am I here, oh, wise sage?’ ‘To learn how to love.’”
“‘I try very hard not to dwell in what ifs.’ That would turn into a spiral of intrusive thoughts that would hold her hostage. “
“Love couldn’t be enough without the bedrock of faith.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
An exciting, clean, and faith-filled high-octane novel with both a dog and a baby!
When Sergeant Daria Gordon saves US Marine Jake Fisher and his baby niece from an attacker, she instantly puts a target on her own back. Someone murdered Jake’s sister, and now they want Jake and Daria dead. To survive, Jake and Daria must discover this ruthless killer’s identity. But can they uncover the truth and keep the baby safe . . . before the killer finds them?
Award-winning author Loretta Eidsonloves writing inspirational romantic suspense. Her first novel, Pursued in the Wilderness, published by Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, won the 2023 Romance Novel of the Year award in AWSA’s (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) Golden Scroll Awards and was a finalist in the 2023 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Director’s Choice Award in General Fiction.
She believes in the power of prayer and enjoys challenging her characters to trust God in all things. Loretta is an AWSA Certified Coach for aspiring writers, and she lives in North Mississippi, close to her family.
More from Loretta
One of the fun parts I enjoyed writing in The Marine’s Deadly Reunion is the interaction between US Marine, Jake Fisher, and his eighteen-month-old niece, Emma. He knows nothing about caring for a baby. He thinks if he isn’t hungry, Emma isn’t either. During one scene, he glances at her in the rearview mirror. She had tossed everything out of her diaper bag and found her juice cup. He grins, thinking this little human is self-sufficient and they’ll get along just fine.
My Impressions
“Something isn’t right. ‘Daria, I just received word from my confidential informant that this case isn’t over…And they’re after the rest of the evidence.’”
Can old friends from another lifetime reconnect in their new lives to help solve a murder and to keep a town safe? Loretta Edison brings us this question, along with a myriad of others, in The Marine’s Deadly Reunion. Police Sgt. Daria Gordon attempts to break up a parking lot scuffle, only to find her middle school best friend. Long since moved away, and now a former Marine Sergeant, Jake Fisher is furious that she intervenes in his protection of his 18-month-old niece, whose parents he believes were murdered. Can Daria and Jake get past their own ideas of “doing their job” their way and make room for help from each other? Both Jake and Daria have to relearn trust in God and their fellow man.
Did I say fellow man? Maybe bad word choice. Nobody is trustworthy, except hopefully our protagonists, until the end of the story. Now I know why I wear a neck pillow when I read. Eidson will whip you back and forth so fast, as you think you know the antagonist, then pull that rug out from underneath you and set you on another direction. ( Full-speed, of course!) Then, extreme action, apparent quiet, but no, that wasn’t the answer to safety for Jake, Daria, and little Emma, either! Back off to the races you go! I don’t think I’ve ever seen an author who made me think “peace and safety” so many times, and then added so many twists!
As the stakes heighten, Daria and Jake both individually realize their need to return to faith and prayer. I appreciated that their prayers were included. As Daria reminds Jake, “God hears all prayers, including yours and mine. Prayers don’t have to be perfect.”
The novel is brightened by the season, as well as baby Emma. I also loved the short respites of time Daria and Jake share with Robert and Gina. Those are precious.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also purchased my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent! I would advise a neck pillow when reading, to avoid whiplash!! ☺️
As daughter of a well-known matchmaker, Catríona Daly is no stranger to the business of love–and sees it as her ticket away from the sleepy village that only comes alive during the annual matchmaking festival. Enter Lord Osborne’s son, Andrew, who has returned to the festival after being disappointed by a rival matchmaker’s failed setup. Catríona seizes the opportunity to make a better match for the handsome man–and for herself!
Cattle farmer Donal Bunratty is in desperate need of a wife after loss left him to handle the farm and raise his daughter on his own. Shy and lacking the finer social graces, he agrees to attend the matchmaking festival to appease his daughter. But when he arrives, it’s not any of the other merrymakers that catch his eye but rather his matchmaker–who clearly has eyes for someone else.
Catríona will have to put all her expertise to work to make a match that could change her life forever. Will her plan succeed? Or will love have its own way?
About the Author
Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher and freelance writer. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic Magazine, and others. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona.
Author photo credit: Katherine Marini, Photography by Katherine Nicole
My Impressions
Let Jennifer Deibel sweep you away to the beautiful land of Ireland at the turn of the last century. As the time for the annual matchmaking festival in Lisdoonvarna nears, professional matchmaker Catríona Daly rues the irony of being an unmatched matchmaker. Her dearest wish is to for some rich festival-goer to woo her away from this small, backward town to a bustling city.
Meanwhile, Donal Bunratty and his nine-year-old daughter are struggling to make a go of their small farm a few miles away. Donal will do anything for his daughter, so he reluctantly agrees to attend the matchmaker’s festival.
Andrew Osbourne’s match from last year was a flop. He is back with his determined parents, set on finding a match that will see him well politically.
When Catríona becomes the matchmaker for both men, scheming on more than one front nearly brings disaster. Will true personalities show through the posturing of such times? Will wisdom or personal gain drive decisions?
Of course, my fave character is 9-year-old Sara, so precocious in some ways and forced by circumstances to assume adult roles never meant for children. No wonder her father will go to great lengths to please her, or that she attracts goodwill and help from Caty.
A glossary at the front of the book helps with Irish words and phrases and gives an air of authenticity to the novel. It was fun learning some of the details of what went on behind the scenes of a match, like the “plucking of the gander.”
Bullying, social status, love of the land, and pure selfishness, plus romance and trust in God all make this a believable and enjoyable novel to be visited more than once.
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via Netgalley. I also bought my own paperback for my keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent! Jennifer Deibel’s novels will cause you to fall in love with Ireland and its people.
He is now one of them. Genetically altered . . . Designed to kill . . . Trained to eradicate . . . Until he became more. Juliet 7-A was the top elite assassin for the Global Federated Territories until an ambush deemed him beyond salvaging. He was scheduled for decommission. His only recourse for survival is a new identity and his search for the one friend he had―a friend who defected and deserted him. Those he once hunted will save him. Yet it comes with a price. A price that demands much of him. What happens when an assassin awakens?
Daphne Self, formerly published under the name D.M. Webb, resides in Iowa. As a Mississippian transplant, she spends her days in the Midwest state writing, editing, reading, antiquing, and planning adventures. She pursues her dream as an editor and author with one goal in mind: To Glorify His Name. Daphne is also an avid reader who devours book in many genres. As a long time member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and Realm Makers, she volunteers her time helping published and unpublished authors.
More from Daphne
It started as an idea back in the late 90s. It came to fruition in May 2021. The inspiration was this: salvation is free. That began the questions of: what if someone committed horrible acts, what if that person was indoctrinated and changed, what if when faced with the truth how would he react, and finally, what story from the Bible would work for my character? Of course, the story of Saul of Tarsus (Paul) came to mind. Blood was on his hands, yet he found salvation in Christ. And the story of Samson gave a bit of a parallel to my story, too.
I wrote this book before the show Halo was released, yet I had been playing the Halo video game for years. I’ve always enjoyed the backstory of Master Chief, so the main character of When Legends Rise is a bit like Master Chief John-117. Plus, if you have seen The Mandalorian, then you will see a few common themes between my book and that show. There’s also a bit of a Star Trek vibe in that I use “tech” speak and plausible science.
And what began as one book has now evolved into a 5-book series titled Legends of Light. Book two, What Legends Become, releases in June 2024 and follows the family and the continuing story of salvation, persecution, faith, and hope.
My Impressions
“Jules mulled over that word. Free. That was what he had been wanting for so long. To be free.”
Wow!! Buckle yourselves in securely for a very wild ride with Daphne Self’s When Legends Rise. I selected this book because it was billeted as reminiscent of Star Wars and Star Trek. I also found several nods, in my opinion, to the childhood tale of Pinocchio, at least in the first part of the book.
A genetically altered assassin, whose job it is to hunt down and destroy the Christian Coalition in the Galaxy, finds himself about to be decommissioned. Fleeing his former Global Federated Territories squads, he searches for a friend who defected GFT after their last joint engagement. He pilots a cargo interplanetary ship as his cover, while transporting a few humans as he continues his search.
Much of the novel centers around the time on his ship, the Nightingale, with his coder/second-in-command Huey, his med-tech Anya, who supplies him with life-sustaining serum, and an unknown traveler, Abigail du Soleil.
I enjoyed the space details and felt the fear Abby has of being too close to outer space in many situations. The medical details were intriguing as they were revealed. In keeping with the Star Wars theme, there was a lot of space travel and fighting with advanced weaponry. You will definitely be anxious to discover if Jules can indeed break free from who he was created to be. And will he be loyal? To which side? I appreciated the inclusion of Scripture that guided the Christian Coalition and the path of salvation being clearly shown. Self also shows that life doesn’t become automatically easy once one chooses Christ, but there are still hard choices many characters must make, just as in real life.
If I had to describe the book in three words, I would say: riveting, terrifying, emotional. Grab it for yourself as this is the first of five in a sure-to-be sensational series!!
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“…things are always in motion. We live for today and let tomorrow worry for itself. We are not guaranteed safety in this world.”
“…forgiveness is not earned. It’s given.”
“You are okay now. I promised you I would keep you safe, and I meant it.” Her finger reached up and traced his bottom lip. “Some promises cannot be kept.”
To celebrate her tour, Daphne is giving away the grand prize package of a paperback copy of the book, bookmarks, character cards, and a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
On the surface, Shady Valley looks like the ideal all-American place to live with beautiful flowering trees lining both sides of the street as you enter the picturesque town. Neighbors help neighbors. Doors are often left unlocked.
Serious crimes are practically nonexistent— almost but not quite!
But like all small towns, everyone knows everyone, which means everyone knows everyone’ s business, and not everyone in Shady Valley is what they appear to be. Some have secrets— deadly secrets— that they hide behind the masks they wear.
When Angie McVey disappears on her wedding day, rookie officer Cami Martine is determined to find her best friend, but there are no leads to follow. Angie seems to have disappeared into thin air.
If Cami is to bring her best friend home, she will need to discover the deadly secrets of her friends and neighbors to find the one who wears the biggest mask.
For years, my tagline was “stories of faith mingled with murder & mayhem” since I wrote Christian suspense and mystery novels.
In 2012, I heard the words, “you have bilateral brain tumors.”
I had no idea how much those words would change my life, but they did. When life changes for a writer, their writing changes as well. So I wanted my tagline to reflect the new me. I still love to write suspense and mystery novels but also have branched out into other genres.
In spite of being diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors and a rare genetic disease (Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), God continues to strengthen me and give me peace and joy as well as the blessing to be able to continue to write.
I’m a multi-published author who lives in the middle of Ohio Amish country with my husband and a menagerie of pets. After more than 30 years working as a speech pathologist for children, I believe in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.
My goal is to write stories that entertain but also demonstrate God’s love for all of us.
More from Lillian
Small Town Life VS. City Life
I spent most of my growing up years in the country, then I moved to a larger city for college and then an even larger city for much of my adult life. And then I slowly made my way back to the area I grew up in. I’ve spent the last twenty-two years living in the quaint little town of Shreve, Ohio.
Shreve has two gas stations, one stop light and zero fast-food restaurants! I love living in Shreve. Is there a difference between small town life and city life? Absolutely.
Big cities have a lot to offer. You won’t get any argument from me about that. Museums, your choice of restaurants, plays and concerts. But small towns have a lot to offer as well. Neighbors that know each other’s names a sense of community, peace and quiet, and low crime. Oh, and did I mention peace and quiet?
I know people love living in big cities, but I’ll stick to small town life. And that’s why most of the books I write are set in small towns—not always but most of the time.
My latest book, SMALL TOWN SECRETS, is based in the fictional small town of Shady Valley, but definitely resembles my hometown of Shreve, Ohio. Except nothing this exciting happens in Shreve–which is a good thing. That’s why I like living there.
But nothing happening would make for a boring book so Shady Valley has a few secrets–secrets that could kill!
On the surface, Shady Valley seems to be the ideal all-American place to live with beautiful flowering trees lining both sides of the street as you enter the picturesque town. Neighbors help neighbors. Doors are often left unlocked.
Serious crimes are practically nonexistent—almost but not quite!
When Angie McVey disappears on her wedding day, rookie officer Cami Martine is determined to find her best friend. Unfortunately, there are no leads to follow.
Angie seems to have disappeared into thin air.
But not everyone in Shady Valley is what they appear to be. Some have secrets—deadly secrets—that they hide behind the masks they wear. If Cami is to bring her best friend home, she will need to discover the deadly secrets of her friends and neighbors and find the one who wears the biggest mask.
SMALL TOWN SECRETS is a fast-paced mystery and suspense novel that will keep you turning pages past your bed time. By the way, the book will also be available as a Large Print book as well.
My Impressions
“Her mind told her not to trust him, but her heart told her something different.”
Small towns can be a lot of fun with everyone knowing their neighbor and their business. Shady Valley, OH, is no exception, with its unlocked doors and safe environment. However, things take a dark turn when a bride goes missing on her wedding day, and secrets begin to unravel.
I was hooked by Lillian Duncan’s plot in Small Town Secrets. It was like I was transported down a rabbit hole, eagerly reading to discover who was behind Angie’s disappearance and the other crimes that followed. I was curious to see if Cami and Zack could put aside their differences and work together to bring justice.
If you enjoy contemporary mystery and suspense, with a touch of romance and faith, this book is definitely worth checking out. It also explores the themes of enemies-to-lovers, being unequally yoked as a couple, and mental illness. The book also emphasizes the need for earthly fathers to accurately portray the Heavenly Father. Even if you solve the mystery before the end of the book, you’ll still be on the edge of your seat between your knowledge and the criminal’s capture!
The book ends with a devotional note that offers guidance on how to deal with unjust situations.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, but I also bought my own copy. This review is entirely my own, and no positive review was required.
Notable Quotables:
“You do know that you don’t have to keep the entire world safe. That’s not your job. God loves you for you, not for what you do.”
“God listened to her wordless prayer anyway. He knew her heart.”
A heart-pounding tale of danger and devotion, the riveting second installment of the Wright Heroes of Maine series by a USA Today bestselling author.
CIA agent Michael Wright’s world crumbles when his girlfriend, Leila, is snatched off the street and later seen in the grasp of a terrorist he’s been tracking, Michael blames himself. Keeping his identity secret from her clearly didn’t protect her. Now he must defy the Agency and fly to Iraq to rescue her.
Leila Amato escaped Iraq a decade earlier, only returning in her worst nightmares. But those nightmares have come true when she finds herself captive and all alone, or so she thinks until she sees her identical twin sister.
Michael tracks Leila to a desert compound, but his rescue mission goes awry when he discovers her sister needs to escape as well. His detailed strategy can only ensure one woman’s safety. Now they’re on the run, trying to get out of the country before their enemies track them down.
But Leila’s kidnapping is only one small part of a larger plot—one that endangers thousands of lives—and now he can’t trust anyone. Not even the woman who’s stolen his heart. A woman who’s been keeping secrets of her own…
A high-stakes international chase full of romantic suspense, spies, and a ticking time bomb that will keep you reading all night long.
Robin Patchenis a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Nutfield Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. After college, working in marketing and public relations, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while she homeschooled her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.
More from Robin
I spent a week this year serving refugee women on the Greek island of Lesvos. Along with helping to distribute food and clothing, I gave hand massages. It seems like such a little thing, but it was powerful.
Many didn’t speak English, and I found it difficult to connect even with those who did. What do I have in common with women escaping war or oppression?
But I could perch on a tiny stool at their feet and rub lotion on their hands. I didn’t know their stories, but God did. So while they chatted with friends in languages I couldn’t understand, I prayed silently. As I did, God stirred in me a deep love for each one.
Imagine the courage it must take to leave everything you know—your home, your community, in some cases, even your family—to seek freedom. Imagine how desperate or afraid or, frankly, hopeful a person must be to attempt it.
The heroine in Rescuing You did just that. An Iraqi who came to Christ as a teenager, Leila feared her family would discover her secret and felt she had no choice but to run away. Resettled in Germany, away from her mother, father, and twin sister, she built a life for herself and fell in love.
And then someone snatched her back to Iraq.
Rescuing You is about a man determined to save the woman he loves. It’s about a woman willing to risk everything for the freedom to…
…Love the man she chooses
…Live a life of purpose, and mostly…
…Worship the One True God
It’s easy to take our freedom for granted—and to forget that true and lasting freedom isn’t political or social but spiritual. Christians are free in Christ no matter what their society looks like.
But what an incredible blessing to live in a free country.
Rescuing You barely scratches the surface of the refugee crisis. It’s mostly about a man and a woman and whole bunch of terrifying villains. Even so, I pray it’ll stir in you a deep love for refugees seeking freedom worldwide. Pray for them and for the nations they’ve escaped. Our world needs Jesus.
My Impressions
“She was keeping secrets, but he was too. And he wasn’t ready to reveal his.”
Honestly, I fell in love with one of Robin Patchen’s books about another Wright brother, so I knew I had to read the stories of the other brothers as they are launched in this series, The Wright Brothers of Maine. Rescuing You is the second book of the series, and features the story of Michael and Leila. Michael, an undercover CIA agent in Germany, is horrified to find his girlfriend has been kidnapped by Vortex, the terrorist he is trailing.
Leila is a native Arab who left Islam to turn to Jesus. Her captors would not treat her well for defecting from the faith, their perception of a Middle Eastern woman’s role, or her first escape into Germany. Michael chomps at the bit when histeam leader, Brock, asks him to remove himself from the situation and let the team handle it.
Explosions, daring escapes, and shoot-outs up the suspense ante. Ruthless, strategic terrorists and a sick twin complicate matters. As does the fact that Michael does not stand down as told, nor does Leila like to be given commands without knowing ‘why.’
Secrets. This novel is all about secrets and trust. Both Michael and Leila hold dangerous secrets, and both need to learn to trust God and other people if they are to survive. There were a few times each I wanted to sit Michael and Leila down and “straighten them out, but good!”
Rescuing You is a novel that will also have you thinking about what some immigrants are willing to endure to reach our shores. By the end of the book, you’ll be looking to tie up a few loose ends and read more of the Wright brothers’ stories, starting with Bryan’s adventures in Finding You.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“But in his arrogance—and his fear—he’d gone it alone. As he so often did. And because of that, he’d lost…everything.”
“Hope seemed lost, but God was a God of hope, wasn’t He?”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent!! Ready for the other brothers’ stories!
He rescued her once, but a chance at love will require the ultimate sacrifice.
Alexander Morris bears the childhood scars of the Long Canes massacre that killed his brother and father. Forced by his dark past into the lonely life of Georgia Ranger, Alexander joins the bordering South Carolina Rangers in their revolt against the Crown. When he’s posted to the fort erected to defend the community once decimated by the massacre, duty demands he court the loyalty of his sworn enemies, the fierce Cherokee warriors.
Elspeth Lawrence never forgot the boy who sacrificed himself for her at Long Canes—any more than she forgot the younger sister taken captive. She’s learned not only to forgive, but also to help minister to the Cherokees at her father’s mission. When Alex Morris arrives at nearby Fort Charlotte, Elspeth finds her memories—and her emotions—stirred. He doesn’t even remember her…or the long-ago attack. But the bitterness that simmers just beneath his stoic exterior—as well as her courtship by a local landowner—challenge their undeniable bond.
When Alex uncovers a long-held secret and a plot to sabotage patriot talks with the Cherokees, he must choose between his desire for revenge and his love for the girl he rescued long ago.
North Georgia native Denise Weimer has authored over a dozen traditionally published novels and a number of novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.
More from Denise
That Event That Changed You Forever: The Backstory Catalyst of A Cherished Betrothal
Most of us can pinpoint it—a moment in time that forever altered us and the course of our lives. Maybe it was a place. Or a person. For good or bad, we can never go back to who we used to be. The good or bad depends on how we react to that moment, place, or person, doesn’t it? Whether we allow God to make us more like Him because of it.
Both the hero and heroine of my third novel in the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier, A Cherished Betrothal, live with such a moment. Experts in book plotting say our characters should have a dark moment in their backstory. For Alex Morris and Elspeth Lawrence, the Long Canes Massacre of 1760 is that dark moment. Together, they survived the attack of around a hundred Cherokee braves on a group of settlers fleeing across the South Carolina border into Georgia. Alex lost his father and brother, Elspeth her mother while her younger sister was taken captive. With the resilience of the Scots-Irish who formed a barrier between the colonies and the Native Americans, the Long Canes settlers returned to the border of South Carolina later that same year.
A Cherished Betrothal actually begins in 1775, with the South Carolina backcountry on the brink of revolution. Since the childhood attack, Alex has lost his sense of home. He draws his identity from his service as a Georgia and South Carolina Ranger (yes, this tale veers over the border into South Carolina and the fascinating history around the town of Ninety Six) and waits for the opportunity for revenge. He keeps his anger carefully banked, just as Elspeth hides her fear—especially when she has to face warriors who visit the mission for Cherokee children she runs with her minister father. She’s forgiven her enemies, but she can no more prevent her knees knocking upon sight of the braves than she can forget the boy who saved her life fifteen years ago.
It seems God has answered her prayers when Alex shows up at nearby Fort Charlotte. Only…he doesn’t remember her…or the dark moment that shaped both of their histories. Between Elspeth’s not-so-gentle pressure, a Cherokee boy Alex can’t shake as a shadow, and his commanders’ determination to court the Cherokees as allies for the Patriot cause, Alex is forced to look his past in the eye.
Pivoting between Fort Charlotte, the mission school, and the town of Ninety Six where Elspeth’s wealthy Loyalist admirer helps stir conflict, including the first battle of the Revolution in South Carolina, A Counterfeit Betrothal is a tale of unshakeable love and soul-deep healing. I loved this story so much when I was writing it, I wanted to move into Colonial Ninety Six. I hope you will too!
My Impressions
“If anyone could break this heart of stone in me chest, ye could, lass. But it has been hard for too long.”
“‘A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of yourflesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.’” Her eyes settled again on his. “What me da said was true. I canna save ye, Alex. Only God can.”
The year is 1775, the place the colony of South Carolina. It is a time of great political uncertainty, as Patriots and Loyalists vie for not only control of the land, but an alliance with the Cherokee, the Native Americans in the area. Denise Weimer, in A Cherished Betrothal, introduces us to Lt. Alex Morrison and Elspeth Lawrence. While both Elspeth and Alex survived a horrific massacre of their neighboring families while children, Elpeth’s reaction is to depend on her faith and idolize Alex, who saved her. Alex’s reaction is to develop amnesia and turn away from the God Who would allow such a tragedy.
What I liked/loved about the book was the early American history including Native Americans and the location, South Carolina. I loved how Alex grudgingly learns to love someone unthinkable, but still struggle with forgiveness.
I loved that Elspeth hangs on to her dream, but want to ask, what if… Alex has married while she yearns for him, what if he never commits to her or Jesus? Or follows Him in a heart-chaging way. I love that Elspeth has to decide if she will release her most precious dreams to the Lord.
The secondary star of the show in this novel is Inoli! How I wanted to help heal him, hug him, show him a better way than the gods he grew up with.
I loved the eventual ending, with a caveat. One specific part of the HEA I thought I wanted, and got, didn’t fit my idea of reality. You’ll have to read the book to see what I mean. And maybe you’ll disagree. The novel would have gotten five stars from me, but I felt there were places it lagged a bit.
Overall, still a great read of the times in South Carolina frontier, preceding the Revolutionary War. A key statement I loved, showing more understanding of the complexity of the conflict between the Patriots, Loyalists, and Cherokee: “That these were people, not monsters. Their anger at the loss of their freedoms ranked no lower than his. Was he not joined to the Patriot cause, fighting for the same reasons as they? Whatever side they took, like the whites who remained divided, they took it for the best chance of preserving that freedom. Their way of life.”
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Love your enemies. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”
“Could it be possible to battle even more effectively from a place of righteousness…right standing with God? Would God be the source of strength he could exchange for revenge? And would that lift the heaviness that had followed him for sixteen years? He could not imagine breathing free.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great! I recommend this book for history buffs of the pre-Revolutionary War, South Carolina history buffs, and of course historical fiction lovers who desire to see cross-cultural interactions of the time.
Genre: Christian Historical Mystery, Fairytale retelling
Release Date: November 7, 2023
When life already seems bleak, the Russians send her to Siberia.
Aircraft mechanic Katya Morozov longs for her beloved Mikhail, a Russian naval officer, to return from war. But when an unwanted work assignment takes her far from her home into remote Siberia, Katya faces threats—perhaps because she and her father were engaged in covert protection for persecuted Christians.
A chance encounter with charming test pilot, Yuri Sokolov, turns into more than a passing acquaintance…igniting the flames of a conflict between Katya’s faithfulness to Mikhail and her growing attraction to the enigmatic pilot. Will messages from a mysterious woman in the woods give her the wisdom and strength she needs?
Yuri, who has hidden battles of his own, must likewise make a decision—does he follow his dreams or pursue the lovely mechanic who has captured his heart?
To Love a Falcon, a retelling of the Russian fairy tale “Finist the Falcon,” takes readers into the intrigues of Russian operatives, the stark landscape of Siberian winters, and the courage of those who risk death for faith and love.
Nancy C. Williamsgrew up on “Nancy Drew” books…and occasionally still tells people her middle name is “Drew,” just to get their reaction. Following in the steps of the intrepid sleuth, Williams is an adventure enthusiast who loves hiking, snow-skiing, taking photos, sharing a good laugh, and enjoying a good mystery. She’s a history buff, too, with an affinity for antiques and fascinating stories from the past. Her writing career began with five years in the “Mad Men” world of ad agencies, crafting ads and commercials for ceiling fans, soft drinks, and pest control, among others. Then, during nearly a decade of editorial work at Federal Express headquarters, Williams traveled the globe (often in FedEx jet cockpits) and collected memories of international cultures. She also taught PR at a Christian college for a decade, sharing strategies and practices to the next generation of professionals. These days, blogs and novels are at the top of her “fun stuff to-do” list. She’s serious, though, about serving Jesus Christ…as a prayer warrior and writing for God’s glory, striving to encourage others on their spiritual journeys. When she’s not writing, look for her on the Appalachian Mountain trails with her beloved husband and mini-schnauzer.
More from Nancy
Want to know more about the real-life murder of a Russian naval officer…during a top-secret World War II mission? It’s a fascinating story that sparks even more questions, such as, what if the slain officer had a fiancée back home who didn’t know he was killed?
“To Love a Falcon” is a historical fiction novel set against the backdrop of life in post-WWII Siberia, the persecution of Christians by an anti-religious régime, and the plight of loved ones left at home who waited for lost soldiers. There’s a dash of suspense, romance, and fairy-tale lore thrown into the mix, too!
My father-in-law, who served in the U.S. SeaBees for the top-secret mission, had shared some of the details about the murder…and, I knew an old Russian fairy tale called “Finist the Falcon” that would serve as the perfect template for telling his story. I have my own personal story from Siberia (my husband and I adopted our son from there in 1999), but I learned many more interesting facts during research about this mysterious, challenging place—still largely uninhabited to this day. Our son, who is now a pilot, also helped tremendously in delving into the MiG-9, the first jet-powered fighter aircraft developed in Russia.
I hope you’ll join me on this adventure into the risks of untested flight…the murderous threats of anti-religion zealots…the relationship between a plucky female aircraft mechanic and a charming test pilot…and the possibilities of love and forgiveness in a snowy wilderness. Maybe you’ll fall in love with Siberia, too!
My Impressions
“But forgiveness begins in your heart. It breaks the chains of bitterness. It releases you from bondage. You will be like a bird set free from a cage, who soars into joy.”
“To Love a Falcon”- what a beautiful double or even triple entendre title for this novel by Nancy C. Williams that ties so many story threads together into a magnificent Russian 1940s tapestry. I was a little worried the focus on WWII planes would be either beyond me or boring, but Williams presents the MiGs and other planes, plus mechanical info in a very understandable way for the non-airline mechanic. It is amazing and fun to see Katya, a woman mechanic who is valued for her great knowledge. Or is she sent to the special secret MiG-9 camp for a more sinister reason, as she fears?
The verse from Esther, about “such a time as this” is used by Katya and her father as they consider her Siberian assignment. Frankly, in this novel, so many characters are divinely placed and are indispensable to the furtherance of the amazing tale. Watch for plot twists!
It was quite interesting to see Williams base the “Narrow Path” on the American Underground Railroad, which immediately comes to mind when you read of Katya’s and Ivan’s work. The author’s notes at the end confirm this and recount the author’s real-life connection to the story.
I would encourage you to take the time, before you read the book, to familiarize yourself with the Russian fairytale upon which it is based. Once I read the synopsis of Finist the Falcon, I found the similarities of the fairytale and this retelling very intriguing and the differences applaudable! Bravo, Ms. Williams!!
I received a copy of the book from the author and from Celebrate Lit. I also purchased my own e-copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“None of us deserve forgiveness, especially me. But it’s a gift that, once it’s given away, does not require the recipient to be thankful. The giver is the one who is grateful, free from bondage to bitterness…especially when we forgive ourselves.”
“We must remember His faithfulness to us in the past as evidence that He will carry us into the future He has planned for us.”
My Rating
Magnificent! I love the way Nancy C. Williams blends the Russian fairytale with that of a female, Russian, Christian, airplane mechanic at the end of WWII.
Introducing a new series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic American disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.
Pastor Montgomery Childs has tended his flock in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for two years. While his pews are full every Sunday, he most desires to see a reckoning between God and the kings of industry who recreate on Lake Conemaugh. The pleasure grounds, flowing alcohol, and business dealings of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club taunts Monty as he works to heal the wounds inflicted from his own privileged childhood among Pittsburgh society. Like Noah, Monty prays against the evil surrounding him, but he never expects God to send a flood.
It takes five days for the Red Cross to respond to the Johnstown flood disaster, but when it does, Annamae Worthington is ready to help. Apprenticing under Clara Barton has prepared her for the job, but nothing can prepare her for the death and destruction that awaits. As if the survivors haven’t suffered enough, typhoid fever ravages the town, resurfacing suppressed emotions regarding her father’s death.
Narrowly surviving the flood and the horrifying things he’s witnessed, Monty’s faith is floundering. Then a Red Cross nurse puts him to work helping with the typhoid fever victims arriving at the hospital tents every hour. Monty and Annamae work together distributing disinfectants and supplies, housing orphans, and serving those left behind. Slowly, his faith resurfaces. A kinship forms between them neither can ignore. But when an investigation into the collapsed dam points to the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, secrets emerge that may tear them apart.
Candice Sue Patterson studied at The Institute of Children’s Literature and is an elementary librarian. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, snuggling with her Great Pyrenees, or helping children discover books they love, she’s working on a new story. Candice writes Modern Vintage Romance–where the past and present collide with faith. For more on Candice and her books, visit http://www.candicesuepatterson.com.
More from Candicep
On May 30, 1889, the industrious residents of Johnstown, Pennsylvania fell into slumber to the sound of rain pattering their rooftops, unaware that, for many, it would be their last night on earth. This was the thought I carried with me through the entire journey of writing When the Waters Came. Every survivor’s account of that day, every loss, every miracle, every emotion will stick with me for years to come.
My first knowledge of the Johnstown Flood came several years ago when I watched The Men Who Built America in its first airing on the History Channel. The idea that so great a loss of life could’ve easily been prevented by some of the richest men in the world strummed an invisible chord inside me. I remember looking at my husband and saying, “I’m going to write a book about it someday.”
A few more years went by and each time I sat down to plot a new story idea, Johnstown whispered across my heart, but the timing wasn’t right. Then, in 2021, I was shopping at our local community book fair and stumbled upon a first edition of History of the Johnstown Flood, Illustrated by Willis Fletcher Johnson, published in 1889, months after the disaster. Not meaning to sound hokey, I felt as if God handed me the book Himself and confirmed He wanted me to write this story. The next year, at the same book fair, I found a first edition of The Life of Clara Barton by Percy H. Epler, published in 1919. It contained transcripts of her journals and correspondence, some specifically mentioning the Red Cross and her role in aiding the survivors of the Johnstown flood. Once again, I felt that God had provided all the material I would need to tell my tale. Then, in 2022, when my publisher reached out looking for proposals for a new series centered on disasters, I knew the time had come to remind folks of that tragic day.
I’ll be honest, I shed a lot of tears during my research. The accounts are heartbreaking. But the faith and determination in some of those accounts are inspiring as well. Many of the characters in When the Waters Came are real survivors of the flood, and Clara Barton, herself, walks on and off the pages throughout the story.
In May 2023, a month before I turned the manuscript in to my publisher, my husband and I traveled nine hours to Johnstown to experience what we could for ourselves and to make sure my historical facts were correct. I stood where the South Fork Dam once did. I imagined the roar of the water as the dam crumbled. I toured the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club clubhouse, where America’s elite once recreated. I stood at Colonel Unger’s homestead where he’d stood that fateful day, powerless to reinforce the dam and save the folks in Johnstown below. I walked the rows of 777 graves in Grandview Cemetery honoring the unidentified bodies that were rescued. I thought of all the lost loved ones never found.
Where the retelling of the Johnstown Flood is hard and tragic, I also packed the story with plenty of faith, hope, and love to give readers a well-balanced experience. For on-site videos, behind-the-writing-scenes info, and more details about the Johnstown Flood, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
My Impressions
Barbour kicks off a new series, A Day to Remember, with When the Waters Came by Candice Sue Patterson. Each historic American tragedy steals many lives and effects great changes in those left behind.
When the Waters Came recounts the chilling details of the 1889 Johnstown flood. This is a rough read, emotionally. Fortunately, I could keep reading because I knew that Patterson’s second goal, besides giving life to a horrific disaster, is to give hope.
The first sentence is forbidding and had the hackles on the back of my neck standing straight up. I was ready for the deluge of words that would describe this horrible tragedy. But, no, just as the people of Johnstown are caught unprepared, I was unprepared for the raw, gritty picture Patterson presents.
We meet Pastor Monty, who struggles to help his fellow survivors in town. Monty wants desperately to help his neighbors, but his faith is wavering amidst all the death and destruction. Plus Monty is hiding a secret that could destroy everything he has worked so hard to build.
We also meet Annamae, a nurse who accompanies Clara Barton to set up a Red Cross hospital camp and temporary residences for survivors. Annamae’s own past causes her to become very self-righteous as she seeks vengeance for those who lost their lives.
The burden of reading this story is twofold: first, I found the tragedies hard to work through, while knowing the value of understanding them. Secondly, Patterson forces the reader into both Monty’s and Annamae’s shoes. How would you handle their experiences, made more complex by the good they want to do and the answers they seek, plus the secrets they keep so carefully guarded? Don’t miss this chilling, but hopeful start to Barbour’s new series!
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley, plus won a copy through GoodReads Giveaways. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“If every member of Johnstown, no matter their station, lined up and told their stories, the horrific tales would last for months. One thing the newspaper headlines had correct: the disaster was something ‘no pen could describe.’”
“Never take your eyes off the cross. No matter what happens in your life, you’ll always find healing at the cross.”
“My father taught me how to navigate the stars so I could always find my way home. Keep your gaze fixed upon the One who created those stars, Monty. He’ll guide you home.”
“The Lord’s words were powerful, His promises true, but one had to open their soul and allow it to soak in, to nourish, to heal. Circumstances such as these made trusting anything difficult.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent. You will learn much about the great Johnstown flood, while finding hope in a hopeless circumstance.
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions 