Maria von Trapp, a novel? Yes, please! Add to that it’s written by a highly skilled novelist and this is a must-read this summer.
I was excited to receive an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher. This is my unbiased opinion.
I admit, I knew very little about the real people in this story before reading Maria. Now I feel like I have the bigger picture. I love when a novel teaches me something. (You’ve heard me say that before if you’ve read my other reviews, but it’s still true!) What I did know, or thought I knew, came totally from the movie-or was it from watching high school musicals over the years? I’m not sure.
The story takes us to the real Maria, and her discontent with the play that has gone into rehearsals. The author created a character that is assistant to Oscar Hammerstein. The assistant, Fran meets with Maria and hears her concerns while knowing there isn’t much that can be changed at this point. I appreciated knowing about Maria’s pious nature, her sternness, her disapproval with how the family is portrayed (her husband as the strict disciplinarian that in fact Maria was, the oldest child as a girl when he was actually boy … and more) While we know deep down that stories inspired by someone’s life are not usually 100% factual, it’s still good to know what was real and what was Hollywood, or in this time setting, Broadway.
I love how we get to go back in time with Maria and experience her struggle to leave the nuns. Her backstory makes the elder Maria much more relatable. How her decision to marry The Captain came about. How he felt about her. How the children felt about her. The actual songs they sang together. If you knew someone about the von Trapps, this might not surprise you. It did me. The Sound of Music is so fun and entertaining that it’s easy to forget the story is loosely based on real people, so I for one appreciated learning all the backstory.
An important character both in this novel and in real life was Hammerstein. I enjoyed getting to know him and his genius. The last song written was an important factor in resolving Maria’s issues with the play and perhaps, as Moran has suggested, with her children.. You’ll have to read the book to find out which one. I mean, what fantastic musical scores were created!
The only down note, in my opinion, was the unexplored, brief relationship between the two fictional characters, Fran and Peter. I would have liked to have seen more of. a parallel drawn between Fran in the later timeline and Maria in the 1930s I thought that was going to happen seeing as Fran was in an unhappy relationship with a man named Jack and Maria’s early life was also unhappy. But there might not have been enough similarities for that. The ending seemed to be missing something. Maybe it was that. However, this novel was fun to read, educational, and entertaining. If you love The Sound of Music you must read this!
Welcome Elizabeth Montonna—I mean Libby. Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in Tibbetts Point Lighthouse with my lighthouse keeper father and mother, and my two brothers. At least that’s who I thought they were until my dying mother revealed a shocking secret. Now my life is confusing and scary.
Tell me something about you that readers may find surprising?
I love the Thousand Islands, just across the St. Lawrence River’s main shipping channel. The 1,864 islands are shared almost equally between New York state and Ontario, Canada. My lighthouse is where Lake Ontario narrows and becomes the St. Lawrence River. Here the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River intersect to become the world’s largest inland navigation system. Huge freighters pass by us and the tiny islands along the main channel and share the waterway with all kinds of boats including kayaks and canoes.
Tell us more about the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse where you live.
Tibbetts Point Lighthouse is situated on three acres near the place that Lake Ontario flows into the St. Lawrence River. In 1827, Captain John Tibbetts gave the land to build the first lighthouse that used whale oil and was much smaller than the one we now have. Around twenty years later, the St. Lawrence River locks were built and international trade increased, so the lighthouse became even more important to shipping. Our current brick lighthouse was built several years later and is fifty-nine feet tall. It is tapered from twelve feet at its base to eleven feet at the octagonal lantern room. The parapet and wooden deck surrounding the light are covered with copper, and the walls inside are lined with wood, so the metal stairs aren’t as noisy as they are in the unlined towers.”
Who is thisOwen I keep hearing about?
We’re not sure. He’s a sailor who washed up on our shore injured. He can’t remember who he is or where he came from, so we’re trying to help him heal.
And the Lighthouse Inspector, USN Lt. Maxwell Worthington? What about him?
Yes, he’s a lighthouse inspector from Buffalo. He travels the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario inspecting lighthouses.
If you could leave readers with one message, what would it be?
Trust in God and His plans for you. Hope for a better future. Hope for love. Hope for healing. Iwant to give readers hope that God can heal a broken heart and help you forgive those who hurt you. He did that for me.
Here are a few fun, quick questions:
What is your favorite hobby? Reading, of course.
Please describe yourself with three words. Joyful, friendly, and creative.
What’s your most precious possession? My mother’s letters.
Are you a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty kind of person?
That’s easy. I always look on the bright side of things, except when I get in trouble.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
People misunderstand me. Though I try, folks often challenge and judge me wrongly.
What is your biggest secret?
I dream about Owen. Shhh….don’t tell him, please.
What is your heart’s deepest desire?
That’s easy. To love and be loved. After losing my mother and learning of her secret, aloneness is a terrible place to be.
What have you learned about yourself in the course of your story?
I’ve learned to trust in God and His plans for me. God can heal a broken heart and has helped me forgive those who hurt me.
About Susan:
Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has twelve in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession,Peyton’s Promise,Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment,A Summer at Thousand Island House and Libby’s Lighthouse, the first in her three-book lighthouse series. Her book awards include three Illumination Book Awards, four American Fiction Awards, three Indie Excellence Book Awards, five Literary Titan Book Awards, a Golden Scroll Award, and a Selah Award. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Northern Virginia and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.
July 16, 2024; ISBN 9780800740665; Ebook ISBN 9781493445493
Her career as a concert pianist at an end, Joanna Vaughn comes home to Sweetwater Crossing, widowed and unsure what the future holds. The arrival of a pair of newcomers stirs up a decades-old mystery, a shocking revelation—and the chance for Joanna to find true love.
Thanks so much for inviting me. I’m delighted to be here.
Tell us something about where you live.
For almost all of my life, I’ve lived in Finley House, the largest—and some would say the most pretentious—house in a small town in the Texas Hill Country named Sweetwater Crossing. I enjoyed living there and knew it would always be home, but about a year and a half ago I was given the opportunity to go to Europe. It should have been a dream come true, but it turned out … Let’s just say it didn’t turn out the way I’d expected.
Is there anything special about your name? Why do you think you were given that name?
If you’d asked my father, he’d have said there was something special about my name. My mother wouldn’t have agreed. All the while they were expecting me, Mama insisted that if the baby was a girl, she should be named Josephine, since my father’s name was Joseph. But when she died giving birth to me, Father wanted to be certain I’d never forget that my mother’s name was Anna, and so he called me Joanna.
Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?
I am—or, rather, I had hoped to be—a concert pianist. That’s why I was in Europe. I was studying with maestros, perfecting my skill. I loved everything about playing the piano, and the idea that my music could touch people’s hearts filled me with joy. But then everything changed.
Who are the special people in your life?
Without a doubt, the most special people in my life have always been my sisters. Even though no two of us have the same two parents, we’ve been as close as any three girls could be. Oh, there were times when I resented Emily’s bossiness—she’s the oldest—and when I thought Louisa was being spoiled because she’s the youngest, but most of the time they were my closest friends.
What is your heart’s deepest desire?
To make a difference in the world. I believe that each of us is put on Earth to make it better in some way. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a big way or a small one; what matters is that we change things for the better. I had thought I’d do that as a pianist, but now … Now I don’t know what I can do.
What do you expect the future will hold for you?
Oh, how I wish I knew! At first I thought the future would be concert tours, but that ended. Then I thought I’d have a happily-ever-after with my husband, but he was taken from me far too soon. Now the future is cloudy.
What have you learned about yourself in the course of your story?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s never to give up hope. My future may not be the one I planned or even the one I thought would be best for me, but I’m certain that if I wait and trust and never give up hope, God will lead me to the future he knows is the right one for me.
Thanks for allowing us to get know you a little better!
Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of After the Shadows and Against the Wind, as well as several historical and contemporary romance series, including Mesquite Springs, Cimarron Creek Trilogy, Texas Crossroads, Texas Dreams, and Westward Winds. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best. She lives in Wyoming. Learn more at AmandaCabot.com.
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Welcome to Novel PASTimes! We are pleased you stopped by today.
Tell us something about where you live:
Thank you for inviting me. I was born on a farm near Bloomington, Illinois, but we moved to town when Papa took a job at the carriage shop. I hated to move away from my best friend, Jubilee Walker, who lived on a neighboring farm, but we continued to go to school together and maintain our friendship. I grew up in a house my father built, and completed my basic education at public school. After high school, I was planning to live at home and attend Illinois State Normal University to gain training as a teacher. But events transpired that caused me to change my plans. I made a difficult decision to leave home, and the comfort of my friends and family, to move to Poughkeepsie, New York, where I currently reside as I continue my education.
Is there anything special about your name? Why do you think you were given that name?
My Christian name is Cornelia—Cornelia Mae Boswell. I was named in honor of my mother’s mother, who died before I was born. Thankfully, my parents didn’t care much more for the name than I do, and they’ve always called me Nelly.
Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?
I am a student at Vassar College, studying for a career in the literary arts. I love the intellectual challenge of my studies and the feeling of accomplishment I gain from meeting those challenges. I’ve gained a much broader and clearer understanding of issues in our society, and I’ve made the acquaintance of inspiring people. But being so far away from the people I love is difficult. At times, the freedom of being away from my family and Jubil is a guilty pleasure, but at other times, I desperately miss their love and the ease and comfort of being with them.
Who are the special people in your life?
My family foremost, but Jubilee Walker also feels like family. He and I were best friends throughout our childhood, then as we grew older, our friendship deepened. Now that we are adults, our relationship has gotten complicated, but we care very much for each other. Lily Warner, the wife of Jubil’s business partner, is a mentor to me and an important influence. And her sister, Professor Maria Mitchell, is my chaperone and benefactor while I am at college. She introduced me to her friend, Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who has also become a friend and mentor, as well as my inspiration in the struggle for women’s social equity.
What’s your family like? Do you have brothers and sisters?
I have twin brothers who are two years younger than me. They are annoying! They are identical twins, but easy to tell apart—Ike has good sense, and Eli does not—but they are an inseparable team. The boys are loud, overly energetic, clever to a fault, and determined not to let their elder sister rule the roost. My father can be opinionated and overbearing, but my mother reminds me that I take after him. She deserves a sainthood for her efforts as a peacekeeper and shepherd to such a rowdy flock. I love them all dearly.
What is your heart’s deepest desire?
To be in control of my own destiny and circumstances. To live a life filled with accomplishment and exciting experiences. Hopefully, to find someone to share love and life with.
What are you most afraid of?
That I will be forced to live in a way that goes against my nature. That I’ll live a dull life and accomplish little, and that my convictions will drive love away. I also harbor a deep concern that I will lose Jubil to some fatal event while he is on one of his adventures, but I accept that he must live his life as he chooses.
Are you harboring a grudge against anyone, and why or why not?
You could say I harbor a grudge against males in general—at least those who feel that women should remain subordinate to men and live without the same social rights and status that they enjoy. For example, I find it difficult not to resent my father for his efforts to control my life. He insists that I live according to his wishes, regardless of my own interests and my own will. His viewpoints are widely shared today, but times are changing, and people should change with them. I was also upset for a time with Jubil for upending our marriage plans, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me, so I am no longer holding that grudge.
Do you have a cherished possession?
Ever since childhood, I have maintained a journal of my experiences, thoughts, and feelings. My brothers got into my writings once, but my parent put a firm end to that before it became a habit. I also have a beautiful pair of beaded moccasins given to me by Jubil. He brought them back following one of his Colorado expeditions with Major John Wesley Powell. I wear them almost every evening, and they remind me of him and of home.
What dreams do you have for your future?
I want a career, to be able to support myself financially and to live wherever I choose. I’d like to be recognized for my talents, though I am not entirely sure yet what those are. I would like to be a writer, but I am not sure yet whether I would be a better journalist or novelist. I am quite willing to accept a position with a publishing business until I find my literary wings. I also have romantic dreams, but I feel those will have to be fulfilled after my career ambitions have been realized.
Is there anything you’re afraid people might find out about you?
Not really. I have no deep dark secrets. I suppose I do have a phobia about people discovering my first name, and deciding to use it publicly.
What have you learned about yourself in the course of your story?
That I am willing to stand up for myself and do what I must to be an independent woman in the world and to fight for the same rights and opportunities as any male.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?
Despite my very feminine appearance and demeanor, I am quite capable on horseback, and not at all squeamish about the outdoors.
Thanks for allowing us to get know you a little better!
Tim Piper is retired from a long career in Information Technology and has been a lifelonghobbyist musician. In his earlier days he was an avid hiker and backcountry camper, but his adventures these days are less strenuous and more comfortable. He began his education at Illinois State University as an English major, but life circumstances put him on a more pragmatic path, and he graduated with a BS in Business Admin, a degree he finds appropriately named. He lives in Bloomington, Illinois. You can stay in touch with him at www.timpiper-author.com or follow him on Facebook.
Until Our Time Comes by Nicole M. Miller July 2, 2024; ISBN 9780800744700; Ebook ISBN 9781493445578; $18.99; Paper
The German invasion of Poland derails Adia Kensington’s plans to learn from the greatest breeders of Arabian horses in the world, but brings a British spy to her aid. Amidst the Blitzkrieg and a tense occupation, the two clash over everything—except their efforts to save the horses. Based on true events.
Welcome to Novel PASTimes! We are pleased you stopped by today.
Tell us something about where you live.
I live and work at a Arabian horse breeding farm in Eastern Poland called Janów Podlaski—it is a beautiful farm steeped in history and splendor. It had been my life’s goal to work here and the Polish Arabian horse is a unique breed with its own history of war, sport, and excellence.
Is there anything special about your name? Why do you think you were given that name?
Adia means “Gift from God” and as my parents were spies in the Great War, I believe they viewed me as such. They died before I could ever ask more about this.
Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?
I am a horse trainer, which I know is rare for a woman. For most of my life I was underestimated and ignored, but I work hard and have risen to gain the respect of my colleagues here in Poland. I enjoy being around the horses all day—I understand them far more than people.
Who are the special people in your life?
The director of Janów Podlaski, Filip, and the orphan who adopted me, Ewan, are two of the most special people in my life. They are my constant companions and supporters, and both of them I trust with my life.
What is your heart’s deepest desire?
My deepest desire is to import the best of the Polish Arabian horses to my own fledgling farm in America. I’ve learned so much in my time in Poland, but I would love to share this special breed with the broader world and especially with American audiences. But these are some of the best horses in the world, and the cost is so far out of my reach.
What are you most afraid of?
I’m most afraid of failure—I’ve always been told that I don’t know what I’m doing, and that my place isn’t inside the barn. But I don’t really care what others think. I care about what I can do, and I know I’m stubborn enough to make just about anything happen. With the rising tensions between Germany and Poland, though—I’m also afraid that time simply won’t be on my side.
Do you have a cherished possession?
No, I care far more about animals than things, so as long as I have what I need to do my job (which isn’t much,) I’m happy.
What do you expect the future will hold for you?
I’m not sure when so many things are outside my control—but I know that the one thing that is within my control is that I’ll always be looking after horses and the helpless. Nothing can keep me from that.
What have you learned about yourself in the course of your story?
I’d always believed that I could handle anything that comes at me, on my own. But in the course of my story, I learn how deeply I must rely on others and that it’s not a weakness to do so. I also thought that things were so simple, before the war. And after war falls on our doorstep, I realize that things aren’t quite so black and white.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?
I don’t like having the attention on me—I’d much rather talk about horses. I’d always much rather be behind the scenes, cleaning stalls and tending to the horses, but I’ll say that I’m glad for being able to share my story and the incredible efforts of those around me to save the Polish Arabian breed from annihilation. My role is just a small part of this bigger story.
Thanks for allowing us to get know you a little better!
Nicole M. Miller lives in Washington State with her husband and two sons, along with her Arabian horses, chickens, ducks, dogs, cats, and guinea pigs. As a longtime horse owner, she’s been involved in many horse organizations, including serving on the Clark County Fair Court and as Miss Teen Rodeo Washington. She’s received national and regional awards for her nonfiction from American Horse Publications and the Society of Professional Journalists. See her stories in The Horse of My Heart, The Horse of My Dreams, The Dog Who Came to Christmas, and Second-Chance Horses. Learn more at NicoleMillerWriter.com.
July 2, 2024; ISBN 9780764241086; Ebook ISBN 9781493446575
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Welcome to Novel PASTimes! We are pleased you stopped by today.
Tell us something about where you live.
My name is Melody Doyle, and I live in 1867 Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, with my Irish father whom I call Da. Da is helping build the Transcontinental Railroad, and that’s what brought me here. It’s a happening kind of place, let me tell you. This is a railroad town set on the edge of a vast prairie in the Front Range area of the Rocky Mountains. It’s not very big yet, but there are plans for it to grow into a city to rival Denver and Chicago.
Is there anything special about your name? Why do you think you were given that name?
Having me put a song in my mother’s heart. She always loved music, but she died when I was ten, which was fifteen years ago.
Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?
I do house cleaning and gardening for a woman who owns a boarding house for men. I like working for her. I’ve always enjoyed keeping busy, and these are the kind of skills I’m good at, since I’ve been practicing them since my Mama died fifteen years ago and I had to take care of our home.
Who are the special people in your life?
My da. He’s the best father in the world. He loves God and has incredible discernment when it comes to knowing if a person is bad or good. He’s an amazing man, and I love him so dearly.
What is your heart’s deepest desire?
It may sound silly, but I just want to get married and settle down. After growing up as an only child, I want to have a big family with lots of music and laughter in our house.
What are you most afraid of?
Losing the people I love. I lost my mother when I was just ten years old, and because of Da’s job with the railroad, I’ve always been afraid of losing him too. I think being alone in the world frightens me more than anything, which is why I want to settle down in Cheyenne. I have lots of really good friends here, and Da will be working close by as the railroad moves west. He can come visit me often. Hopefully when the railroad is finished, he’ll settle here too.
Do you have a cherished possession?
Not really. There are things I love, but they’re just things. I cherish people most of all.
What do you expect the future will hold for you?
Marriage and a family is my goal, and that’s Da’s goal for me. I want to settle down in Cheyenne and not move on down the road with the railroad, but Da says I can’t stay here unless I have a husband. And not only that, but he has to be someone Da can approve of. That won’t be easy, but I’m trusting God to deliver the right man.
What have you learned about yourself in the course of your story?
I’ve learned a lot of things, but maybe the most important is that I’m better as part of a team than on my own. Trusting God and putting myself in His hands is the first and best thing I can do. Trying to manage on my own often gets me in trouble. My relationship with my earthly father is also something that has been very special, and I’m blessed to have such a good father. My prayer is that I can find an equally good husband. After all, it’s not good for man to be alone—God said that, and I think He would say the same is true for women.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?
My faith in God is what has gotten me through the roughest times, and God has never failed me. I know there will be ups and downs in life, but God is faithful and constant. He will never leave me to face anything by myself. So long as I walk close to Him, I know I will be all right. Also, cherish friendship. Friends are special gifts that I believe come from God. They help us along the way and often fill the role of being God with skin on in the sense of encouraging and uplifting us. Never underestimate the power of friendship. Especially in marriage. It’s good to be friends with the love of your life.
Thanks for allowing us to get know you a little better!
Tracie Peterson (TraciePeterson.com) is the bestselling author of more than one hundred novels, both historical and contemporary, with nearly six million copies sold. She has won the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her avid research resonates in her many bestselling series. Tracie and her family make their home in Montana.
Novel PASTimes 