Alone in 1870s Idaho Territory, Paisley Abbott has nowhere to turn. With no other options, she finds herself consenting to an unconventional, but mutually beneficial agreement.
During an unplanned return to his family’s farm, prodigal Tyler Shepherdson inherits three orphans. When Tyler finds a woman hiding in the back of his wagon, an idea begins to form and he makes a rash decision that results in perhaps one of the most spontaneous marriages of convenience ever.
Despite an unorthodox beginning to their marriage, will Paisley and Tyler trust God as they forge ahead to create a home for three children? Will love arise from a desperate situation?
In the first book in the Horizon Series, travel to the late 1800s to the town of Horizon in the Idaho Territory with a cast of unforgettable characters, journeys of faith, and abundant humor.
Coming soon, the newest series by the author of the Wyoming Sunrise, Love Letters from Ellis Creek, and Montana Skies Christian Historical Romance Series.
He came to cook for ranch hands, not three single women.
Gideon Swift, a visually impaired Civil War Veteran, responds to an ad for a ranch cook in the Southern California desert mountains. He wants nothing more than to forget his past and stay in the kitchen where he can do no harm. But when he arrives to find his employer murdered, the ranch turned to ashes, and three young women struggling to survive in the unforgiving Borrego Desert, he must decide whether his presence protects them or places them in greater danger.
Bridget “Biddie” Davidson finally receives word from her older sister who disappeared with their brother and pa eighteen years prior, but the news is not good. Determined to help her family, Biddie sets out for a remote desert ranch with her adopted father and best friend. Nothing she finds there is as she expected, including the man who came to cook for the shambles of a ranch.
When tragedy strikes, the danger threatens not only her plans to help her sister, but her own dreams for the future—with the man who’s stolen her heart.
Kathleen Denly lives in sunny Southern California with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.
More from Kathleen
The Making of a Hero
Picture in your mind the typical male rancher or cowboy. Can you see him? If we’re going for the full stereotype, you’re looking at a tall, handsome man who is, above all, strong. Particularly in the nineteenth century, it takes strength to build a house, install fencing, chop wood, haul water, heft hay bales, and most of all manage cattle. Not to mention the 101 other things it takes to start and keep a ranch running.
Now consider the aftermath of the American Civil War. Many men never returned from the battlefields, and those who did often returned with injuries that would remain with them the rest of their lives. Some would suffer chronic pain until the day they died.
In considering whose story I wanted to tell next, I wondered about that last group of men in the context of running a ranch. How could a seriously injured man, suffering chronic pain, keep his ranch going in an era where able-bodied men were more difficult to find? And what about those whose ranches were too new and small to support the cost of hiring help?
This was the beginning of my inspiration for Gideon Swift–a Civil War Veteran still struggling daily with the consequences of having gone to war, ten years after his injuries sent him home.
Raised to believe true men were strong and weak men were next-to useless, Gideon’s identity is shattered when an explosion leaves him with brain damage that causes recurring migraines with aura and the loss of periphery vision in one eye. For those unfamiliar, a migraine with aura is a severe headache preceded or accompanied by sensory disturbances called aura. Examples of such disturbances include flashes of light, blind spots, general blurry vision, and blurry or shimmery lines in vision. There can also be speech or language difficulty, muscle weakness, and/or numbness or tingling in one side of a person’s face, one hand, or one limb. Gideon experiences most of these at different times, but his most common sensory disturbance is a curled shimmery line that appears in his vision.
He is further humbled by a series of tragic losses partially triggered by his medical condition. These are the events that send him to California, determined never to work with cattle again, and never to marry.
I am often asked how much of myself I put into my characters. In Gideon’s case, I modeled his pain partially after my own. While I have no peripheral vision loss, nor brain damage, I do have recurring migraines. In my case, these are brought about by my menstrual cycle and only occasionally involve aura symptoms. Still, these severe headaches have lasted from a mere hour, up to nearly a week, and are frequently beyond anything my medications can alleviate. Too often, this pain leaves me unable to function. If I’m lucky I can sleep through it. If not, I lay awake in a darkened room for hours with pain preventing me from drifting into blissful unconsciousness. Nauseousness, foggy thinking, dizziness, and exhaustion are frequently parts of my experience. I have also experienced one-sided tingling numbness and the same curly, shimmering line that Gideon experiences. Yet, I know others who have far worse migraines. So, in describing Gideon’s episodes, I combined my own experiences with those of family and friends whom I have witnessed suffering.
Through Murmur in the Mud Caves, we see how God works in Gideon’s life and heart to remind him of where his true value and strength come from. It is my hope that his journey will touch the hearts of readers and encourage them in whatever trials they may be facing. We are never alone. Whatever God brings us to, He will bring us through. He loves us and has a good purpose for everything we endure in this life, even when we cannot understand His reasons.
My Impressions
“If you doubt God’s forgiveness, then it seems to me, you’ve been listening to the wrong voice. “
Kathleen Denly brings us back to eastern San Diego County, CA, in Murmur in the Mudcaves(#4 Chaparral Hearts). The year is 1873, and Biddie Davidson, whose adoptive parents and story we read in a previous book, has become a young woman, ready to start her own bakery. But God and her biological sister, Ginny Baker, whom she hasn’t seen since she was four, have other plans for her, or at least, in Ginny’s case, her money.
Biddie meets the war-damaged hero, Gideon Swift, when he shows up to cook for Oliver Baker and his ranch, neither still in existence. When Gideon discovers three women in the middle of the desert with no real shelter, his sense of gentlemanliness will not let him leave the three women alone. But can a man who is damaged from the war really be the protector the women need in this wild place? Gideon has a lot to learn about blaming himself for circumstances beyond his control and also about forgiving himself for false guilt. I love one of the characters who ends up helping him learn this!! Not one I would have imagined.
I love the way Matthew helps interpret Scripture correctly for Gideon, both stealing his argument that he wasn’t strong enough and and offering hope for his spiritual condition as well. That’s what Jesus does. While He may or may not offer physical healing, that healing is never without spiritual healing also offered freely.
I did question one part of the story. “Even as kids, Ginny had always felt she had something to prove.” How would Biddie have understood this at 4 yrs old, since that was the last time she had seen her sister?
I liked that there are some issues and relationships left unresolved, and we are promised another book. I really hope Ginny and Clyve get their own story. Clyve slowly morphed into my fave secondary character. Denly drew him such that I despised him at first, so that is really saying something!
Of course, sometimes Denly just makes me smile. For example: “Biddie could talk a camel into trying to swim the Gulf of Mexico.” What a great word picture!!
With great discussion questions at the end and Denly’s obvious research, Murmur in the Mudcaves is a book I recommend. The Chapparal Hearts Series should probably be read in order.
Notable Quotables:
“God’s voice convicts us when we’ve done wrong, but it sounds like you’ve been living with a heap of shame clogging your ears.”
“Being a man isn’t about what you can’t do, it’s about what you choose to do.”
To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of 1 set of beautifully engraved, metal measuring spoons, 1 pouch of “Baking Day” potpourri, 1 Cat and Mouse kitchen timer, 1 vintage wooden sign with Christian encouragement message, 1 Cowboy Hat cookie cutter with recipe for Cowboy Sugar Cookies, 1 Kitchen towel that reads, “This Home is our Happily Ever After”, and 1 Kathleen Denly engraved pen!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Take a journey through the Bible with Lucy Lu, a colorful, creatively curious first grader who is starting to have serious questions about God.
Questions like: How old is He? Does He sleep? What does He do all day? And the biggest one of all – does God really love me?
After one very hard day, feeling like she doesn’t matter, Lucy sits with her Papa Joe who has promised to answer these questions and more, launching them onto an exciting journey to discover God’s never changing, never failing, never ending love.
What follows in this book series is a wild adventure through the Bible, where Lucy and her Papa find themselves in the middle of it all, on each page of the powerful story of God’s love and faithfulness for all people, throughout all history.
This first book is all about God’s Creation 🌎
Guess How Much God Loves You is a vibrant, fun, and biblically based book that is sure to captivate young readers as it teaches them important Bible truths that will help them build a firm foundation in God and His Good Character – all through the lens of His unconditional love.
Karen Ferguson is a freelance writer and small business owner with a background in K-8 education. A grateful wife, mom, and grandmom she loves words and the Word of God and is passionate about writing stories that grab and hold young readers’ attention, teaching them all about God’s unchangeable truths, and His unchanging love for them.
Her first children’s book, Guess How Much God Loves You, was released in July 2022 through Ambassador International and is available wherever books are sold.
More from Karen
Are you looking for God honoring books that will captivate your child’s imagination, teach them faith-building biblical concepts, and help them grow in their reading skills?
Then I have the perfect book for your young reader…Guess How Much God Loves You
This beautifully illustrated book introduces young readers to the Creation Account, through the eyes of seven year old Lucy Lu, a creatively curious first grader who is starting to have serious questions about God.
Questions like…
How old is He? Does He sleep? What does He do all day? And the biggest one of all – does God really love me?
After one very hard day, feeling like she doesn’t matter, Lucy sits with her Papa Joe who has promised to answer these questions and more, launching them onto an exciting journey through the Bible to discover God’s never changing, never failing, never ending love.
I wrote this book because I want every child to know their life matters. To know that the God of all things created them in His image, on purpose and for a good purpose.
Guess How Much God Loves You will have seven books in the series with each one covering an important Bible account critical to building an understanding of God’s character and His love for all people, including your reader!
This first book is about the Creation Account as recorded in the Bible. Future books will cover the Garden of Eden, Noah’s Ark, the Exodus and more.
I want children to understand these are not just stories about fictional characters, but historical accounts about real people they can relate to. People who experienced God’s power, love, and faithfulness.
My greatest desire is to see this next generation trust the Bible and enjoy reading it. More than ever, young readers need to hear the message that they are valuable, loved unconditionally by the One who created them and gave them the best gift of all, His Son Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
My Impressions
“Lucy, God chose to create people and God chose to create you.
No matter what anyone says to you, remember that God’s love for you is never-changing, never-failing, and never-ending.”
I jumped at the opportunity to review Guess How Much God Loves You by Karen Ferguson. I believe children find it easier to believe in God than adults do, so we want to start training children when they are still young. This book helps us do that. In my personal experience, reading the book to a four-year-old, questions about God came forth as we read. Exactly the opening of discussions we are looking for!
The message that Karen Ferguson desires to help parents, grandparents, and any adult in a healthy relationship with a child, is that they are totally, unconditionally loved. Also, we want our children to have a sense of belonging, love, and significance. When a child can begin to understand how much God loves them, it provides unshakable security for life. Ferguson uses some imagination to allow Lucy to enter into the creation scenes as Papa Joe describes them from the Bible. The pictures are full-page, sometimes double-page with writing that is readable overlaying the picture.
The bit of imagination Ferguson uses (i.e., Lucy flying on Grandpa’s scooter over the ocean, or Lucy riding an elephant during the sixth day of creation) makes for exciting “you-are-there” experiences.
There are discussion questions at the end that help the listener check comprehension. Ferguson includes some important one-line facts with Bible verse support in a version a child can understand.
Perhaps my one regret has nothing to do with the story, but the illustration, and there’s no fault there, either. I was very pleased Grandpa Joe was confined to a scooter, as my grandson’s own great-grandfather was. Unfortunately, my father passed away just months before we got a chance to read the book together.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author through Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize package of a $30 Amazon gift card, one signed hardcover, one eBook, and one digital activity workbook that will help to reinforce the learning concepts in a fun way!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
The Narrow Path Trilogy takes you on a journey that began before the dawn of time when angels rebelled and the dark, broken days of Earth began. Now is the time of the end. The terrifying reality is Josh is being pursued by the Manhunters. He has no idea why. His family has been captured. Are they alive? To survive the Tribulation, the reign of terror of the king, the children’s prison, the re-education camp, PTSD, the great deception, and betrayal by family and friends, deep faith in God and extreme courage are required. Only the strong survive.
I am an artist, writer, online course creator (Broken to Beautiful…rena-groot.mykajabi.com), BnB host, have a Bachelor Of Education and a Master of Religious Education, have been a teacher in Canada and China, a tour manager from the Rockies to the Pacific, and a missionary to the ends of the Earth. God has given me the honor of being an ambassador with “The Department of Eternal Affairs” to so many cool places–Haiti, a jungle village in Belize, the Ghetto in NYC, behind the Iron Curtain in Poland and Romania, in Israel, China, Thailand, Mexico, Canada, Africa, and Greece. I started a blog to bless, encourage, and sometimes challenge people. Here’s the link. renagroot.com.
More from Rena
The Narrow Path Trilogy takes you on a journey that began before the dawn of time when angels rebelled and the dark, broken days of Earth began. Now is the time of the end.
The terrifying reality is Josh is being hunted and he has no idea why. His family has been captured by the Manhunters and he doesn’t know if they are alive or dead. To survive the Tribulation, the reign of terror of the King, the children’s prison, the re-education camp, PTSD, the great deception, and betrayal of family and friends; deep faith in God and extreme courage are required. The ancient, narrow path is calling you. Come…
My Impressions
“The days were dark but the light shone brighter.”
Rena Groot has written a harrowing story about the End Times as referred to in the Bible, as a warning for people to be ready for Jesus’s return. The story centers around Josh Williams and his family, who turn to Jesus after the Rapture.
Josh suddenly, inexplicably, finds himself being hunted down as the worst kind of criminal. His family is torn apart, and he is desperate to save them and himself.
While there is a good deal of suspense, this was not an easy book for me to read. Stream of consciousness is employed in much of the book, plus flashbacks, and I found it hard to follow cohesively.
There are large portions of Scripture quoted throughout the book. Sometimes so much so, the storyline almost gets lost.
You will definitely be left thinking about the thoughts and truths presented on these pages. What will you do with these truths?
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required and all opinions are my own.
Can paper and paw prints draw these two nemeses together?
All Carleigh Adams wants is a relaxing evening. But Sullivan Theodore IV, her wayward Shih Tzu, has other plans. After escaping from home, Sullivan Theodore unlawfully enters what Carleigh assumes is a stranger’s house via a doggy door. Much to Carleigh’s horror, it is actually the home of her coworker and nemesis, Trey “The Irritating” Montgomery.
Trey Montgomery has had to work with “Quirky Carleigh,” his top competitor for the best articles at The Oakville Daily, for the past two years. It’s safe to say that she and her criminally-minded pet are his adversaries. Trey’s attempts to keep his distance from her are demolished when their boss thrusts them together as The Oakville Daily Duo, forcing them to work as a team on every. Single. Article.
Petty crimes and crazy shenanigans in Oakville soon draw Carleigh and Trey into doubling as detectives. When dogs, including their own pets, begin to mysteriously disappear, Carleigh and Trey join forces to uncover the culprit. As they work to report the daily news and solve the crimes in Oakville, can these two stubborn reporters find love in the headlines?
Faith, plentiful humor, and tender romance round out the latest Christian contemporary romance novel by Author Penny Zeller.
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.
Today Penny is the author of over a dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.
When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, bicycling/cycling, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.
She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her website, blog, and on Facebook.
When the idea for Love in the Headlines popped into my head, I knew I wouldn’t have to go far to find the inspiration for Sullivan Theodore IV, the spunky and mischievous Shih Tzu in the story.
For, once upon a time, a little white puppy needed a home.
From the second my niece and nephews walked through the door with him, Sulley Jaxx became more than just a pet. He became a member of the family.
It’s definitely not uncommon for dogs to become members of families. However, Sulley’s adoption became even more special because of his new family.
Years ago, my mom suffered a serious accident and she subsequently became wheelchair-bound. Unable to live the active life she once did, she and my dad were blessed to be able to move into the “mother-in-law apartment” of my sister and brother-in-law’s house.
My niece, Ally, has been diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder, POTS, which can, at times, seriously interfere with her daily activities.
Enter Sulley.
My mom and Ally have what could only be considered as a “joint custody” arrangement. While Sulley’s favorite person is Ally, he is also quite partial to snuggling with my mom in her chair, and truly, my mom spoils him and lets Sulley get away with everything.
Sulley begs treats off a big softie known as my dad, aka Poppy, to his grandchildren, and Sulley runs like the wind with my nephew, Kolten. He recently gained a new admirer when my nephew, Seth, and his wife, Autumn, had their baby daughter.
And the inspiration behind the newspaper reporters? Back when video cameras were big, clunky, and oversized, my sister, cousin, friends, and I pretended to be reporters. We’d report and record the news, including some fun and very fabricated stories. Sometime I’ll have to do an archeological dig and locate those old VHS tapes.
I also wrote “articles” with friends and co-workers from my after-school job as the main characters of those articles. I wanted to be a reporter, and was blessed to be a photojournalist when my daughters were little. That launched my career as an author, my dream since I was in second grade.
Love in the Headlines takes readers on an enjoyable journey into a small, close-knit, American town where everyone knows everyone else. A town where faith and church are important. A slow-paced town where the newspaper’s main goal is to provide a family-friendly news outlet and everyone is excited when their photos or stories are featured. As Howard, the owner, says, “We should have an entire cache of great photos and well-written articles that will cause parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and everyone twice removed to purchase copies of The OakvilleDaily.”
Love in the Headlines is a Christian contemporary romance with an enemies-to-lovers trope as the main theme. And, while most things in Oakville move at a relaxed pace, when a stranger begins committing crimes, including dognapping, Howard puts Carleigh and Trey, aka, TheOakville Daily Duo on the story. Will they realize their feelings for each other in the process?
With tender romance, faith, and abundant humor, I can’t wait for readers to meet Carleigh, Trey, Sullivan Theodore IV, Jaxx, and the rest of the gang.
My Impressions
Need to cleanse your reading palate after an emotional read? Love in the Headlines by Penny Zeller is just the solution. A light-hearted rom-com for dog lovers, you will laugh aloud often, maybe recognize your dog, and wonder at a small town that can be so close-knit.
Carleigh Adams and Trey Montgomery, competing writers for the small Oakville Daily, suddenly find themselves equal parts of the Oakville Daily Duo. They are assigned to work every story as a team. But this is one team that can’t stand itself!
This is a fun frenemy-to-lovers story. It borders on the cozy genre, but not quite. I loved seeing inside the slowly evolving thinking of both Carleigh and Trey. Their newsroom coworkers are interesting characters, as well. The dogs steal the show, as might be expected. I really enjoyed this part. It brought back memories of chasing our first Shih Tzu all over the neighborhood. Zeller captures the stubborn, lovable Shih Tzu personality perfectly. And the big dog/ Shepherd characteristics! How fun!
Chewie cheered on Sullivan Theodore IV all the way!!
Except when they cause trouble for Carleigh and Trey, or throw them together in one too many undesirable situations! Some great nods to the past with a vintage newspaper minivan that somehow had me channeling Scooby Doo.
Snippets of faith moments, laughter, gentle romance, and a clean, light mystery make this a novel that I would recommend to anyone.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit, plus I bought a copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great fun! A clean, very humorous rom-com that incorporates faith and adorable dogs!
They Waited Their Whole Lives for Their Papa to Return
Nan and Heath Duncan, siblings abandoned by their papa and abused by their guardian, have no choice but to survive on the London streets. When a kind gentleman rescues Nan from such a life, the siblings are separated and raised in two vastly different social worlds. Just when both are beginning to flourish and years have healed some of their wounds, their long-awaited papa returns and reunites them—bringing demands with him. Nan is expected to marry a rich suitor she’s never liked, and Heath is expected to forsake his gentle spirit and become the hardened man his father always was.
Dangers unfold, secret love develops, fights ensue, and murder upsets the worlds Heath and Nan have built for themselves.
They’ve waited their whole lives for their papa to return, for tomorrow to come—but now that it has, will they be able to see through to the truth and end this whirlwind of a nightmare before it costs one of their lives?
Hannah Linder resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels. She is a double 2021 Selah Award winner, a 2022 Selah Award finalist, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Hannah is a Graphic Design Associates Degree graduate who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and International bestsellers. She is also a local photographer and a self-portrait photographer. When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments—piano, guitar, and ukulele—songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse. To follow her journey, visit hannahlinderbooks.com.
More from Hannah
Love interests me. Not just in the romantic sense, but in every sense, because love is the driving emotion behind so much of what we do. It’s the heartbeat of everything. What do we have but love? Yet isn’t it the very essence of our greatest pain?
Sometimes it doesn’t make sense. Sometimes love has no reason. Like a tumultuous wind or a wet branch that sways in different directions, love is often petulant and aimless and powerful. But sometimes it’s soft, like a flower lifting dewy petals to the sunshine. The epitome of everything good, sweet, and true.
What makes love change? What makes two friends who have always been fraternal one day confess romantic affection? How much wrong, how much affliction, does it take for sweet love to sizzle into hatred? Even then, is it really hatred? Or merely the charred crust of the adoration still throbbing beneath? And how strong are the cords of new love? Will they break at every pull and tug, or are they more unfaltering than anyone might think?
Maybe those are silly questions. Maybe, like snowflakes, every heart knows a different answer. But if I explored anything in When Tomorrow Came, it was this. I glided through the story and felt love shift from brotherly to intimate, from hopeful to disappointed, from untested to proven, from safe to betrayed.
Just as love is the heartbeat of life, it is also the heartbeat of this story. I hope you will find yourself falling in love with the characters and their journey as much as I did.
My Impressions
“When’s Papa coming back?” “Today or tomorrow.”
Young, starving, street urchin siblings from London in the 1800s are separated and raised quite differently, in When Tomorrow Came by Hannah Linder. Nan is raised in high society, by the Stanhope family, with a special attachment to her older foster brother, Gilbert. Nan’s brother Heath is taken in by a poor, caring rector, who teaches Heath how to show people the love of God. This is a balm to my reader’s heart, as Heath is so abused as a child that he cannot understand or love a God who allows many horrible things to happen on His earth.
When Heath and Nan’s absentee biological father finally reappears, the expected bliss of belonging and unconditional love do not come with him. Instead, a papa they don’t remember, who is given to drink, meanness, lies, and threats has arrived.
I did love Nan and Heath and their devotion to each other, as well as Gilbert and Nan’s relationship of deep sibling love. Loftus and Temperance added much to the story. While I loved Mr. Stanhope for his wisdom and caring ways, he was not as developed as other characters.
Linder paints great, but not pretty, pictures of child poverty, abuse, and the machinations of minds bent on revenge.
The loyalties we see in different relationships are beautiful, but choking for Nan and Heath, in the case of their father.
I found the narratives hard to follow as there is no distinction or separation between which characters are being discussed. I had to go back and re-read many times, when the character discussion switched with no warning to the reader, from one sentence to the next.
While an emotionally-charged novel, I had trouble becoming fully engaged until the last third, when it seemed finally all story seeds sprouted. Action, danger, suspense, mystery, romance- it all seemed to come together here and the novel became unputdownable.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Why couldn’t he just grab her onto his lap, hum the old songs, and be the papa the little girl inside of her still needed?”
“Perhaps it is as important to forgive as to ask for it.
“Love was too powerful to die, so it shriveled and formed into something new. A kind of hatred. A bitterness…”
“There was no changing what already was. There would never be room for tomorrow until Papa let go of every yesterday—and all of its hurt.”
Lilac Cottage – set on Mackinac Island, Book 2 Mackinac Cottages Series
Out of options, after losing her job and apartment, Rachel Dunmara “camps out” at her deceased Grandmother’s cottage on Mackinac Island. Next door, her childhood nemesis, Jack Welling, is overseeing his family’s remodeling of their home on the West Bluff. When Rachel’s new boss, at a local coffee shop, pushes her to work as Jack’s assistant, for her second job, can they mend their rift?
Kareen Parker, widowed in the past year, returns to the island to share long-held information with her son and to transition ownership of her resort to her son. Her grandson befriends Rachel, who was banned by her family from associating with the Parkers.
After a summer full of secrets that are finally revealed, can three families be healed?
Carrie Fancett Pagels is the award-winning author and bestselling author of over twenty Christian fiction books. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn’t “cure” her overactive imagination! Raised in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula, you’ll find her most summers at the Straits of Mackinac—where many of her stories are set.
More from Carrie
Why I Wrote Lilac Cottage
I had felt the Lord nudging me to write a sequel to my first-ever Women’s Fiction, Butterfly Cottage (after writing 20+ Historical Romances in Christian Fiction). I travel up to the Straits of Mackinac each summer to do book signings, library visits, and to see family and friends. At several of my book signings at the Island Bookstore, on Mackinac Island, I had readers ask if I had a sequel planned for Butterfly Cottage. I met a lovely young reader at one of the signings, who worked at Lucky Bean, my fave coffee shop in the world and it is on the island. Rachel asked me about plans for the next book and I thought – what if I had a young heroine who worked at Lucky Bean for the summer? Ya know, most authors stories start with the what if. So, I also tossed around the notion of what if Rachel was actually camping out in one of the mansions, called “cottages”, up on West Bluff? That spawned my plot thoughts.
When I work, I percolate an idea. I also will not pursue writing a story unless God’s hand is on it. So, I first submitted my will to His. I got the go ahead. I also got a lot of other stuff: Norovirus, Covid, a root canal and crown, a bleed on an optic nerve, and also what I thought might be a heart attack but thankfully it was only my Rheumatoid Arthritis, oh and did I mention recurrent shingles? Yup—all that. So, I figure there must be a reason this book needs to be written for me to have confronted such opposition from the enemy.
This is my very first novel where the main characters are all saved and are all newbies as far as being refreshed in their faith. At my church, one of the pastors preached about how new Christians are so on fire for the Lord and how they are often different from those of us who have been saved for a long time. I wanted to have that reflected in this novel.
I know people have strong feelings about the pandemic. I wanted to make sure I had written something that included some reality of what the winding down was like in 2022, which is when the story is set. My father was born in 1918 during the Spanish Flu pandemic and I always felt that authors from that time didn’t include enough references to how this affected people. I didn’t dwell on Covid in this novel, but I did touch on it in I hope realistic ways, such as shortages of workers.
Whew! One other reason I wrote some of the characters in this book was to give one of my continuing characters, Mrs. Hampy Parker, some redemption. She’s been a Co-dependent in two of my books (Butterfly Cottage and Behind Love’s Wall) and it was time, since she’s now in her early 80’s, for her to get free from that. I enjoyed the new start her character got and it was inspired by one of my friend’s real life stories.
Thank you for being part of the tour!!! And may God bless and keep you!
My Impressions
“I can’t. God can. I think I’ll let God.”
( from Co-Dependents Anonymous’s Twelve Steps.)
Location, location, location! While those may be the three most important words in real estate, they certainly can be important to a reader!
I love this newest book, Lilac Cottage, by Carrie Fancett Pagels for many reasons, but foremost is its setting on Mackinac Island, a tourist place we are somewhat familiar with. I loved remembering the feel of the mist on our faces as we sat on top of the ferry, seeing the Grand Hotel come into view as Rachel Dunmarra and Kareen Parker do. I loved envisioning the crowded streets with people, horses and carriages, and bicycles swerving between the first two. Pagels describes the island so well. And mentioning the iconic Pink Pony? What a treat that place is! And the island bookstore is really there, with its manager, and even Pagels’s books on the shelf!
Wow, when our novel starts, there are so many people and so many threads involved. It was like having a giant skein of yarn that was tangled impossibly. As we meet Rachel, we begin to see her search for significance and family. We see Jack’s need to grieve a sister who died years before. Then we see the Parkers, with their matriarch’s issues and the family’s odd exclusion. And the the characters and their situations seem to multiply. Kudos to Pagels for eventually unraveling that very tangled yarn and producing a masterpiece in the end!
When we visit the island, it is a peaceful time. Yet, Mackinac Island is home to real people, past and present, with real problems. I am amazed at how many skeletons are itching to escape their closets in Lilac Cottage! The mystery, broken relationships, and danger mixed with romance continue until the very end.
Pagels tackles topics like parental rejection, grief denied, narcissism, dependency, COVID, ancestry, fresh faith, and not to be ignored, coffee!😊
If none of this excites you about the book, look at its beautiful cover. That alone would entice me in! So pull up a chair and travel to Mackinac Island. And don’t forget the fudge!
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:
The truth could destroy her family. But it had to be shared.
“it’s far worse to have a breaking heart and no one to share that with.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent! I loved revisiting Mackinac Island with Rachel, Jack, their families, and the Parkers!
To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away the grand prize package of $70 Amazon Gift Card, a copy of Lilac Cottage, and a copy of Butterfly Cottage!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Lilac Cottage – set on Mackinac Island, Book 2 Mackinac Cottages Series
Out of options, after losing her job and apartment, Rachel Dunmara “camps out” at her deceased Grandmother’s cottage on Mackinac Island. Next door, her childhood nemesis, Jack Welling, is overseeing his family’s remodeling of their home on the West Bluff. When Rachel’s new boss, at a local coffee shop, pushes her to work as Jack’s assistant, for her second job, can they mend their rift?
Kareen Parker, widowed in the past year, returns to the island to share long-held information with her son and to transition ownership of her resort to her son. Her grandson befriends Rachel, who was banned by her family from associating with the Parkers.
After a summer full of secrets that are finally revealed, can three families be healed?
Carrie Fancett Pagels is the award-winning author and bestselling author of over twenty Christian fiction books. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn’t “cure” her overactive imagination! Raised in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula, you’ll find her most summers at the Straits of Mackinac—where many of her stories are set.
More from Carrie
Why I Wrote Lilac Cottage
I had felt the Lord nudging me to write a sequel to my first-ever Women’s Fiction, Butterfly Cottage (after writing 20+ Historical Romances in Christian Fiction). I travel up to the Straits of Mackinac each summer to do book signings, library visits, and to see family and friends. At several of my book signings at the Island Bookstore, on Mackinac Island, I had readers ask if I had a sequel planned for Butterfly Cottage. I met a lovely young reader at one of the signings, who worked at Lucky Bean, my fave coffee shop in the world and it is on the island. Rachel asked me about plans for the next book and I thought – what if I had a young heroine who worked at Lucky Bean for the summer? Ya know, most authors stories start with the what if. So, I also tossed around the notion of what if Rachel was actually camping out in one of the mansions, called “cottages”, up on West Bluff? That spawned my plot thoughts.
When I work, I percolate an idea. I also will not pursue writing a story unless God’s hand is on it. So, I first submitted my will to His. I got the go ahead. I also got a lot of other stuff: Norovirus, Covid, a root canal and crown, a bleed on an optic nerve, and also what I thought might be a heart attack but thankfully it was only my Rheumatoid Arthritis, oh and did I mention recurrent shingles? Yup—all that. So, I figure there must be a reason this book needs to be written for me to have confronted such opposition from the enemy.
This is my very first novel where the main characters are all saved and are all newbies as far as being refreshed in their faith. At my church, one of the pastors preached about how new Christians are so on fire for the Lord and how they are often different from those of us who have been saved for a long time. I wanted to have that reflected in this novel.
I know people have strong feelings about the pandemic. I wanted to make sure I had written something that included some reality of what the winding down was like in 2022, which is when the story is set. My father was born in 1918 during the Spanish Flu pandemic and I always felt that authors from that time didn’t include enough references to how this affected people. I didn’t dwell on Covid in this novel, but I did touch on it in I hope realistic ways, such as shortages of workers.
Whew! One other reason I wrote some of the characters in this book was to give one of my continuing characters, Mrs. Hampy Parker, some redemption. She’s been a Co-dependent in two of my books (Butterfly Cottage and Behind Love’s Wall) and it was time, since she’s now in her early 80’s, for her to get free from that. I enjoyed the new start her character got and it was inspired by one of my friend’s real life stories.
Thank you for being part of the tour!!! And may God bless and keep you!
My Impressions
“I can’t. God can. I think I’ll let God.”
( from Co-Dependents Anonymous’s Twelve Steps.)
Location, location, location! While those may be the three most important words in real estate, they certainly can be important to a reader!
I love this newest book, Lilac Cottage, by Carrie Fancett Pagels for many reasons, but foremost is its setting on Mackinac Island, a tourist place we are somewhat familiar with. I loved remembering the feel of the mist on our faces as we sat on top of the ferry, seeing the Grand Hotel come into view as Rachel Dunmarra and Kareen Parker do. I loved envisioning the crowded streets with people, horses and carriages, and bicycles swerving between the first two. Pagels describes the island so well. And mentioning the iconic Pink Pony? What a treat that place is! And the island bookstore is really there, with its manager, and even Pagels’s books on the shelf!
Wow, when our novel starts, there are so many people and so many threads involved. It was like having a giant skein of yarn that was tangled impossibly. As we meet Rachel, we begin to see her search for significance and family. We see Jack’s need to grieve a sister who died years before. Then we see the Parkers, with their matriarch’s issues and the family’s odd exclusion. And the the characters and their situations seem to multiply. Kudos to Pagels for eventually unraveling that very tangled yarn and producing a masterpiece in the end!
When we visit the island, it is a peaceful time. Yet, Mackinac Island is home to real people, past and present, with real problems. I am amazed at how many skeletons are itching to escape their closets in Lilac Cottage! The mystery, broken relationships, and danger mixed with romance continue until the very end.
Pagels tackles topics like parental rejection, grief denied, narcissism, dependency, COVID, ancestry, fresh faith, and not to be ignored, coffee!😊
If none of this excites you about the book, look at its beautiful cover. That alone would entice me in! So pull up a chair and travel to Mackinac Island. And don’t forget the fudge!
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:
The truth could destroy her family. But it had to be shared.
“it’s far worse to have a breaking heart and no one to share that with.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent! I loved revisiting Mackinac Island with Rachel, Jack, their families, and the Parkers!
To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away the grand prize package of $70 Amazon Gift Card, a copy of Lilac Cottage, and a copy of Butterfly Cottage!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
In 1837, Juniper Collins and her sisters are shocked by their father’s final request in his will for a special set of beads to be returned to a Piegan Blackfoot woman he credits with saving his life during his travels west. Together, the sisters set out for the trapper rendezvous to find the woman, but their mission turns more daunting when they come upon the mass of men and lodges spread out in the Green River Valley.
Riley Turner came west to find peace and quiet and live off the land, but when four unprotected women arrive at the rendezvous, he feels compelled to help them and is more fascinated by Juniper than any other woman he’s known.
As their search brings only empty leads and dead ends, the sisters must decide whether to return east or stay in the mountains to continue looking–and that’s if the mystery woman is even still alive. Is the risk to honor their father’s last request worth the danger they find at every turn?
Discover the majesty–and treachery–of the Rocky Mountains in this unique combination of exhilarating adventure, inspiring faith, and sweet romance from USA Today bestselling author Misty M. Beller.
Misty M. Belleris a USA Todaybestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.
Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.
Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.
Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.
More from Misty
What IS a trapper rendezvous?
Rocky Mountain Rendezvous is the story of four sisters who head west to accomplish their father’s deathbed request—return a special set of beads to a Blackfoot woman who saved his life during his travels west two decades earlier. The sisters head west with the supply wagons bound for the 1837 trapper rendezvous to find the native woman. But the sight that greeted them in the Green River Valley (in modern-day Wyoming) was nothing like they expected!
Men EVERYWHERE!
Supply wagons would come from the east every summer, and mountain men and natives would come from all throughout the Rockies to trade furs for the supplies they’d need in the coming year. This was usually the only opportunity for trading each year, so EVERYONE came and the camp stretched for miles. This was a great time for friends to catch up, and the festivities always included a great deal of drinking and horse racing. The rendezvous was a sight to behold!
In Rocky Mountain Rendezvous, Riley Turner is one of the trappers at the meet-up, and he realizes immediately what kind of danger the ladies are in from unscrupulous men in the crowd. He helps them with their search, and they find so much more than they expected along the way!
Each book in this series will take place during a different year, featuring a different rendezvous. Definitely fodder for fun stories. I pray you love this first book as the Collins sisters embark on the search of a lifetime.
Blessings!
Misty
My Impressions
“It’s been a while since we’ve discussed the rules we set for ourselves before we started on this journey. It might be good we take time to recall them. Especially the one about not allowing an attachment to form with any of the men here.”
It’s time to visit the Rockies again (as they were in the 1800s) with Misty M Beller as she leads us into a new series, Sisters of the Rockies. Rocky Mountain Rendezvous introduces us to the four Collins sisters, but we get to know Juniper best.
The four sisters arrive in 1837 in the Green River Valley, now Wyoming, at an annual trading rendezvous. Having promised their dying father they would find the Piegan woman who used her healing knowledge to save his life, the young women hire a young and handsome trapper, Riley Turner, to lead them to different Blackfoot Piegan tribes.
Riley and Juniper both are very likable. However, Riley’s childhood leaves him with scars hard to overcome. Juniper may be attracted to Riley, and decides to help him in a way he may not be prepared for. But she must guard her heart, as the women made a list of rules for themselves before coming west. Topping the list was no romantic attachments to men on the trip!
Part of the mystery I figured out. There was some unfinished business at the end, which leads one to believe it will be solved in the next story.
I loved learning about the rendezvous, a new historical event for me. I wonder if Dragoon’s character will grow more in another book, or is he just not a strong person? While I had fun imagining the pet coyote pup and the story flowed well, I really yearned for more vivid descriptions of the gorgeous, dangerous scenery and events.
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“He wouldn’t be his parents. He would be better.”
Why did she have to say no to one love in order to accept the other?
Loving someone made you far too vulnerable to the pain of loss, whether they left you by choice or through injury or sickness.
“Even when you think you know a person, sometimes they change.”
I try to take the measure of each person individually instead of labeling an entire tribe as dangerous. There’s good and bad in every village.
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great! I love Beller’s Western historicals set in the 1800s Rockies!
If you make a deal with evil, be prepared for the consequences.
When a metal dragon kidnaps Alice, Hatter gathers the troops and charges off to rescue her. If only things were so uncomplicated. In the Ivory Kingdom, they find upheaval of the worst kind and all heading to civil war spearheaded by a man known as the Bandersnatch.
Turmoil and the terror of fighting against a giant wolf, the Bandersnatch is bad enough, but when the Ivory Queen’s secrets are exposed, Hatter and Alice face off in a battle of wills and points of view. How can Alice trust a woman who deceived them? Why can’t Hatter see the bigger picture? If they don’t reconcile their differences, more could be at risk than the Ivory Kingdom.
More questions than answers bombard them in their quest for truth and freedom for all. Who is stealing children? What dark secret overshadows the Ivory Kingdom? Can they avoid the Bandersnatch’s clutches? And most important of all, who can they trust?
Join forces with Alice, Hatter, old friends and new, and be prepared to discover that trust and risk are often two sides of the same coin in this next Beyond Wonderland novel.
Tabitha Bouldinis a student at Southern New Hampshire University, where she is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Creative Writing. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she works with critique groups and provides endorsements for other authors. Tabitha’s genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart. Tabitha spent ten years working as a Medical Assistant before God opened the door which allowed her to become a stay-at-home-homeschooling-mom and author.
More from Tabitha
Writing Lost in Wonderland was such a wonderful creative outlet for my imagination. After writing Madness in Wonderland, I knew I wasn’t ready to let these characters go. They were anxious for new challenges and new adventures that allowed them to explore more of the world they’d just freed.
Of course, new characters were a must, and Scarlett stepped right up to have her story told.
While Madness in Wonderland is an Alice in Wonderland and Frankenstein mashup, for Lost in Wonderland, I went with a Through the Looking Glass and Red Riding Hood mashup that gave a deeper well of storytelling for Wonderland and brought all sorts of new creatures into the mix.
Alice and Hatter face new obstacles in their journey, and Scarlett is not one to be left behind. Especially when he has her loyal guard Faolan by her side.
Prepare to set sail across a new Wonderland.
My Impressions
“What was she thinking to challenge this journey with her pitiful arsenal? She had one soldier and a headful of dreams.”
“In end, who will truly rule Wonderland?”
Lost in Wonderland by Tabitha Bouldin leaves me in wonder as I reflect how much I enjoyed this book so far out of my usual genre. Steampunk, fantasy, and Christian by category, this novel contains plenty of suspense. Loosely based on Through the Looking Glass and with a nod to Little Red Riding Hood, this second book in the Beyond Wonderland series brings all the feels. ( It is best read following its predecessor, Madness in Wonderland.)
I enjoyed the storyline, well-crafted by Bouldin around two different couples, Alice, (now Queen of Crimson Isle)and Hatter, as well as Scarlett, (daughter of Queen Ivory) and Faolan, Scarlett’s best friend.
Incredible metal monsters, characters and quotes from Through the Looking Glass, along with well-timed twists throughout, make this a compelling story. Bouldin’s descriptions caused me to freeze in the cold winter, see the formidable iron steam beasts, nearly cry for the children, plus get plenty motion sick! I loved that we see the need for the characters’ reliance not only on each other, but also on the Maker for help, guidance, and even realization of worth.
I really wanted an epilogue to this story. There were just a few small details I wanted to see clearly cleaned up just so. Truly an unforgettable story!
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit, plus I bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Her mother sacrificed too much. A kingdom for one heart. A heart that broke with each passing second.”
“But this blasted cold threatened to send his teeth into chattering so hard they rattled straight out of his mouth and bounced away. “
“Our hearts are bigger than our kingdoms.”
“Be wary of dealing in absolutes.”
“…the Maker loved her with an abiding love that could fill every crack and crevice of her broken heart. “
“Impossible was, after all, just a word. And according to the old text, the Maker made all things possible.”
“…friends do not leave each other to battle alone. We go in together.”
“I always value your opinion. I might ignore everything you say, but I value that you’ll tell me the truth.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent!! I love Bouldin’s twisted steampunk tales about Alice in Wonderland! Fascinating ideas!
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions 