Category: Character Interviews

If I Dream: A Book Review

~ lindasmatchett ~ Leave a comment

405 Pages

Independently Published

October 31, 2023

ISBN: 979-8864391839

Everyone should read this book. The author draws from her own knowledge of living in Dubai to create a realistic story about the complex society in Arab countries. The story is set in a fictional Muslim nation, but effectively evokes the exotic, desert setting of the Middle East. I have been exposed to Middle Eastern individuals here in the U.S. but my knowledge is limited, so I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about them and their way of life. Parts of the book are difficult to read as a Westerner, but they provide insight into the people and culture of a patriarchal society. The story shines on people’s need for Jesus’ redemption no matter where they live or what their heritage.

The book is not a romance per se, but there is a romance thread between the hero and heroine. Zahir is intelligent and full of integrity, yet flawed like us all. He has a temper which I can relate to and his responses gave me pause to consider my own reactions to situations. I love his protective nature (which is part of what makes him a great doctor), and the interactions among him and his family members: teasing and loving each other as well as experiencing difficulties and having hard conversations. I especially loved his grandfather. Despite his frail health, he is a force to be reckoned with, and he plays an integral part in setting things right as the story progresses.

My heart broke for Fatima as she struggled to deal with her life, that of a fourth wife of an overbearing and sometimes violent. The other wives are spiteful and mean, and it is difficult to watch her cower rather than speak up. However, as young as she was, and in her cultural situation, her behavior was normal. Her friend Amira is a pistol and has issues of her own. Her world is turned upside down at one point, and she must reconcile how she feels about what happens. Her reaction is very realistic, and I saw her pain behind the anger. I look forward to her story in book 2. The ending is fantastic with lots of twists and turns along the way, most of which I didn’t see coming. If I Dream does a great job of showing that people are the same everywhere, desiring the same things: good health, a loving family, and the ability to provide for themselves. Highly recommended.

Book Blurb:

Her destiny is determined by her family.
Her dreams are overshadowed by her duty.
Until, one night, it all changes…

Six years ago, Fatima al-Fatah was married off to a man old enough to be her father. At first, she had hoped to find love and belonging in her husband’s established household. The reality has turned out to be much more grim. Jealous and bitter, her husband’s other three wives despise and constantly berate her. Fatima begins to believe in her worthlessness, as she has been unable to deliver the one thing her husband desperately desires. Things quickly go from bad to worse in the span of a night, leaving her struggling to survive.

When Dr. Zahir Sayeed failed to protect Fatima six years ago, he ran away in shame, never intending to return. He has only come back to his birthplace out of an obligation to his family. Little do they know, he carries a secret that could send him to prison, or worse. When an accident brings Fatima back into his life, he finds himself drawn to her spirit and courage–an attraction that can only bring trouble. As he helps Fatima discover her true worth, he soon realizes that she is on the verge of uncovering a dangerous secret herself . . .

Meet Marybeth Kruger Vogel from Tracie Peterson’s A Love Discovered

~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment

Marybeth and Edward are compelled by their circumstances to marry as they trek west to the newly formed railroad town of Cheyenne. But life in Cheyenne is fraught with danger, and they find that they need each other more than ever. Despite the trials they face, will happiness await them in this arrangement of convenience?

Novel Cover
Amazon Affiliate Link Used to Support the Blog

Tell us something about where you live. 

My name is Marybeth Kruger…well now it’s Vogel since I married. Up until a few months ago we lived in Independence, Indiana, but now we live in the middle of nowhere in a railroad town called Cheyenne.

Is there anything special about your name? Why do you think you were given that name?

I was given the name because my mother liked the sound of it. There wasn’t anything really special about it, but she always said I looked like a Marybeth.

Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?

My full-time job is to care for my little sister Carrie. My mother died when I was young, and my father remarried.  Carrie’s ma died in childbirth and made me promise to care for Carrie as if she were my own. Since then, I’ve done just that. I’m the only mama Carrie has ever known, and I love her dearly. When our pa died recently some folks figured to take Carrie away from me since I didn’t have a job to support our family. But Edward Vogel came to our rescue, and we agreed to a marriage of convenience.

Who are the special people in your life? 

So many of the special people in my life have died, but Edward and Carrie remain.  Edward is my husband of convenience. He needed a wife, and I needed a husband in order to keep from losing Carrie. We’ve loved and cared about each other as friends for many years since Edward was married to my best friend Janey. After she died, however, we just sort of looked out for each other.

What is your heart’s deepest desire? 

To have true love in my life and raise my little sister in a happy home.

What are you most afraid of?

Losing my sister and Edward never really loving me as a wife.

Do you have a cherished possession? 

Not really.  Things have never been all that important to me. My mama taught me early on that things are replaceable, but the people in your life are what really matter.

What do you expect the future will hold for you?  

I’m not sure.  This town called Cheyenne is a wild place with lots of low-life criminals. Danger is all around us and I fear that Edward may get killed in his deputy job. I’m praying God’s protection over him, of course, but in a town where it’s not even safe to walk the streets, I worry that someone will take his life and leave Carrie and me without his support and protection. I pray all the time that God will keep all of us safe.

What have you learned about yourself in the course of your story? 

I learned that God is truly faithful to watch over us and that love really matters. I thought I could live without love, but I was wrong.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you? 

I’m a woman of strong faith in God and that is what has seen me through so many bad times. Without God, I’d be all alone in this world, I’m sure.  His love for me has gotten me through all these bad times and I’m sure it will get me through bad times to come.

Thanks for allowing us to get know you a little better!

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling author of more than one hundred novels, both historical and contemporary, with more than 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.

Get Connected:
Tracie Peterson
www.traciepeterson.com

Meet Emzara from Jill Eileen Smith’s The Ark and the Dove

~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment
Amazon affiliate link used to benefit the blog.

Only Noah and his family know that God’s judgment is coming soon. He and his wife Emzara dedicate themselves to God’s command to build an ark. After years of preparing for the end of life as they know it, can they survive what lies ahead or will they simply relive the past they are trying to escape?

Thank you for speaking with us today. Would you tell us the meaning behind your name?

Thank you for the invitation to meet with me.

My name is Emzara. It means “mother of a princess” though I never had a daughter who became a princess. I am the mother of three sons.

What is your role amongst your tribe?

I am the granddaughter of Methuselah of the tribe of Seth, son of Adam. I am also the wife of Noah, grandson of Methuselah, though we have different parents. As Noah’s wife, I have found myself put into the role of mentoring my three daughters-in-law as we prepare for life aboard an ark that God told my husband to build. With all of the opposition to what we are doing, I find my faith in the Creator stretched, and I often seek Him in prayer. I know I could not survive the evil in this world or the unknown we are about to face without His help. Though sometimes I wonder if He hears me because I do not hear from Him as Noah does.

If you could choose, what role would you rather have?

I would rather not be living in such times as these. I am not a young woman. I did not bear my sons until Noah was 500 years old. (I’m a little younger than he is!) When I was a girl, the world was a kinder, simpler place. My friends believed in the Creator and we all worshiped Him. But as time has gone on, I’ve watched my best friend walk away from Him to create her own god, her own image. I never thought I would see so much evil.

What would you say is your best talent or skill?

Oh, I don’t know. I enjoy working with the plants, weaving, reading, but I suppose what I love to do best is listen to and enjoy my family. I’m not sure it is a skill, but I try to keep peace when our sons or daughters-in-law have conflict between them. Unfortunately, we often have conflict with Keziah, Ham’s wife. She is insecure, and I have a hard time understanding her, but I’m working on that!

We are sharing a meal together. Please tell our readers what is on the table.

Every meal has some form of bread, normally flatbread with sauces to dip it in. We eat dried fruits and nuts, and sometimes make porridge or stews of one kind or another. With all of the animals to feed, we often end up grabbing food to take with us. I do love those times when we gather around the table and eat something new one of the girls has created, and we all talk about the day. Life on the ark can grow monotonous, and even during the years we were building it carried much sameness. Food takes much time to prepare, but I think all of us would agree that we love bread and the cucumber sauces or fig and date spreads we can put on it.

Do you have a personal confidant? Someone to share your deepest thoughts and fears with?

I did. My mother was my confidant before the flood, peace be upon her. She did not live long enough to join us, but she believed in the Creator. She helped me when I struggled with the family squabbles we faced, especially with the girls. I was used to raising sons, not daughters, so having three so different women suddenly in my life was an adjustment. I love them dearly, but they do have their moments!

Has there been a moment in your life that challenged you beyond what you thought you were capable of enduring? If so, how did you meet that challenge?

Years after the flood when Keziah introduced idols into her family and Ham disrespected Noah…I’m sorry…it’s hard for me even now to think on it. To watch our youngest son and his entire clan walk away, never to return…I could barely breathe for the pain of it. Worse, when God confused the languages of our descendants, including Japheth’s family and we had only Shem and Sedeq and their descendants left who could understand us, I knew real despair. It was only when I could look into the future and know that God would send a Redeemer to save us from the sin inside of us that we couldn’t escape that I could hope again. I might not live to see that Redeemer, but He will come. And that is comfort.

What or whom do you love more than anything else?

That is a tough question. I know from the writings of Enoch that the Creator loves us, and in turn, He longs for our love. I suppose I do love Him, but I can’t see Him, so my love seems so inadequate. Noah has always been my dearest friend, and I’m very glad we have each other. I love our children, of course. What mother doesn’t? Though…there were those in the pre-flood world who did not love their children. Even sacrificed them to the Watchers. I never understood that. Even Keziah, hardest of all to love, is one I always tried to love when she let me. Sigh. Love is complicated, yes?

What or whom do you despise most?

The Watchers, without question. I wish the evil ones of the unseen realm had been destroyed in the flood for good. But they cannot die as humans can. They are liars, enemies of the Creator, and if I despise anyone, it is them.

What does the future hold for your family or tribe?

Only God knows. I am old now. Our people, those who came from our sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, are now living in remote places throughout the earth. Noah and I live with Shem’s family, and I suspect that God has blessings in store for them, though I don’t know what they are. My part in their story will end soon, but perhaps the Redeemer will come from one of Shem’s great-great grandchildren. It is my greatest hope.

What one thing would you like the people reading this to learn about your story?

Learn from us. Learn from the people of earth whom God judged for the evil in their hearts. Worship the Creator and no other. Repent of sin and don’t let relationships with people you love fall apart. Life is short, even for one who has lived as long as I have. People matter more than petty disagreements. Forgive. I think with these things the Creator is pleased.

Thank you for talking with us.

Thank you for asking me.

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King, Star of Persia: Esther’s Story, Miriam’s Song, The Prince and the Prodigal, and Daughter of Eden. She is also the author of the
nonfiction books When Life Doesn’t Match Your Dreams and She Walked Before Us. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in biblical times. Jill lives with her family in Michigan.

Get Connected:
Jill Eileen Smith
www.JillEileenSmith.com
Facebook
JillEileenSmith
Twitter
@JillEileenSmith

The Resolute: A Book Review

~ lindasmatchett ~ Leave a comment

325 Pages

Ransom Press

January 15, 2024

ISBN: 979-8989604616

I have enjoyed all the Legacy of the King’s Pirates books, but The Resolute is my absolute favorite. The cover enticed me immediately and captured the essence of the main character Captain Cadan Hayes, then the story snared me from the first sentence. Gabrielle literally hits the floor running, and her life is never the same. Author MaryLu Tyndall does an excellent job of mixing action, adventure, and romance (a sort of 17th century Indiana Jones).

Cadan and Gabrielle are highly complex characters with deep-seated issues they grapple with through the entire book. Just when you think neither is redeemable, they begin to change bit by bit. Cadan is the quintessential pirate without being cliché, and Gabrielle is a combination of high society and down-to-earth. The book can probably be described as “edgy,” and the author pushes “the line,” (we are talking piracy, after all) but keeps things clean.

The book takes place in 1696, a period of time I know little about. The author sprinkles information throughout the story that pushes the plot along, but also educates the reader about the slave industry, piracy, mercenaries, and the type of ships sailing the oceans at this time. Terms are used but in a context that allows the reader to figure out what it means without having to be explained. Especially thrilling is one of the battles between Caden and his enemy, as I was able to visualize the work it took to maneuver a huge ship.

Cadan goes head-to-head with Gabrielle, and he isn’t quite sure how to handle her because she is nothing like his preconceived notions about “ladies of class.” She gets under his skin which alternately angers and intrigues him. I love the relationship between he and Pell, a former preacher who has chosen a life of piracy. Soot is delightful, and his soft side is seen with the use of his pet rabbit. The villains are truly villainous, and I wanted them to receive their comeuppance.  

The battle scenes are well executed and descriptive without being gory, but by the end I was ready for them to be a bit shorter. The ending is wonderful, and included twists I didn’t see coming. Highly recommended.

About the Book

Pregnant, in prison, and about to be hanged for piracy, Lady Gabrielle Hyde has lost all faith in God, man, and life itself. Unlike her wildly adventurous family, all Gabrielle ever wanted was to settle down with a good man and have a bevy of wee ones. Then how did she end up about to take her last breath at the end of a rope?

Captain Cadan Hayes despises women of noble birth. Betrayed by his wife and her lover, he spent five long years as a prisoner-slave on Barbados. Now, as a fierce and successful pirate, he longs to enact revenge on the man who ruined his life.
When Cadan discovers that Gabrielle carries the son of his enemy, he captures her to use as bait. What he didn’t expect was that the lady would be the one to trap him!

Ship battles, sword fights, kidnappings, and a hunt for lost pirate treasure send the couple on a wild adventure that could either grant them their hearts’ desire or end up in disaster for them both.

Meet Catriona Daly from The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel

~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment
Amazon Affiliate Link used to support the blog.

Welcome to Novel PASTimes! We are pleased you stopped by today.

Why don’t you introduce yourself.

Hi there. I’m Catríona. Catríona Daly.

Tell us something about where you live.

Oh, there’s not much to tell, really. I live in a small village in the west of County Clare in Ireland, called Lisdoonvarna. It’s a sleepy little place that only comes alive once a year. And that’s for the annual Matchmaking Festival. It’s been going on since 1847 and my family has been part of it from the beginning.

Big wigs from around Ireland and beyond come to try and make prosperous matches for their kids, and local farmers come hoping to find a wife to help around the farm now that the harvest is in.

Some might call it a quaint little place. And, in truth, it’s not bad. But I’m ready to see the world and live amongst the bright lights of a big city.

Do you have an occupation? What do you like or dislike about your work?

I’m a third-generation matchmaker by trade. My father was one, and his father before him. The trade has been around as long as Ireland has been, but since the Festival started, it’s become a sort of specialty for my family and a few others around the county.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling that comes when a match works out even better than I’d figured. I take my job very seriously—as if a couple gets matched, they’re together for life. But, when they get on far better than I anticipated, it gives me great satisfaction.

The hard part, however, is watching hundreds of people a week fall in love, while I’m still waiting for m’own match.

Who are the special people in your life?

Well, my Da, of course. It’s been just the two of us since I was a girl. My Ma decided she’d had enough of poor rural life and ran off to find adventure elsewhere. While Dad drives me crazy, I love him to death and am fiercely protective of him.

Also, in recent weeks, a wee girl named Sara has come into my life and captured my heart. She’s the daughter of one of my matchmaking clients. Her birthday wish was that her dad come to the festival. Anyway, Sara and I have gotten to spend some time together and she’s just a hoot. Very precocious and fiery. Reminds me a lot of me.

And what about her father? Is he special, too?

I’m sorry, what was the question again?

You said Sara’s getting to be a special person to you. How about her father?

…Eh….I prefer not to answer that one. *clears throat*

What is your heart’s deepest desire?

To find love, and get out of Lisdoonvarna. I feel there’s nothing else left for me here.

I see. And what do you expect the future will hold for you?

Well…I hope it involves falling in love with a wealthy man who can whisk me away to far off, exotic places. Places where we don’t have to smear dung on the walls to keep warm in the winter.

And what if that doesn’t happen?

*Sigh* Then, I suppose I’ll stay here, make as many good matches as I can, and take care of my father.

What have you learned about yourself in the course of your story?

I end up having to confront my biggest fears, and I learn that God’s plans are so much better than our own. And I learn that I wasn’t really afraid of living in Lisdoonvarna. I was afraid of being abandoned again—just like I was by my mom.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?

I’m great craic, and I have a big heart. I may sound a little rough and tumble, but I really think you’ll enjoy coming along and spending time with me in The Irish Matchmaker.

Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal (winner of the
Kipp Award for Historical Romance), The Lady of Galway Manor,
and The Maid of Ballymacool. Her work has appeared on
(in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and
in other publications. 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 with her husband and
their three children. You can find her online at JenniferDeibel.com.

Interview and Afternoon Tea with Adelaide Stanhope from All My Secrets by Lynn Austin

~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment
Amazon Affiliate Link Used to benefit the blog.

Good afternoon, Miss Stanhope. Thank you for allowing me to interview you in your beautiful mansion. 

Adelaide: You’re welcome. Please, help yourself to a scone while the maid pours your tea. Do you take sugar or lemon?

Just one sugar. Thank you. From what I’ve seen of your mansion—the soaring entrance foyer and now this lush sitting room—I must say your home is magnificent! May I ask how many rooms it has?

Adelaide: I’m not entirely certain. Around 75, I believe. My grandmother, Junietta Stanhope, might know. She has lived here ever since my great-grandfather—her father-in-law—built it right after the Civil War. 

Are all the rooms this enormous?

Adelaide: No, the ballroom is the largest room, then the formal dining room, which can seat 100 guests. There’s an art gallery, a conservatory, and a library as well.

That seems like a lot of space for . . . how many people?

Adelaide: Three. My mother, Sylvia Stanhope; my grandmother; and me. And the servants, of course.

Yes, of course. My condolences on the recent death of your father, Miss Stanhope. He was a giant in the business world, and will be greatly missed.

Adelaide: Thank you. His death was quite sudden, and a terrible shock to all three of us. That’s why Mother asked to be excused today. She is still in mourning, as I’m sure you’ll understand. 

Certainly. Now, a wealthy young woman such as yourself must have many suitors lining up for your hand. Will there will be an engagement announcement in your near future? 

Adelaide: I haven’t entertained any serious suitors yet. I’m only nineteen years old. The courtship process hadn’t really begun when Father passed away, and now I must observe the customary period of mourning, as is only proper.

Aren’t you afraid your peers will snatch up all the eligible gentlemen in the meantime?

Adelaide: That’s a very impertinent question! But no, I’m certain there are enough high-society gentlemen here in New York City to go around.

Mm. These scones are delicious. So, will your grandmother be joining us for tea today?

Adelaide: I’m afraid not. As chairman of the Stanhope Charitable Foundation, she has a very busy schedule.

I’m sure she does. She has never been very active in high-society’s social circles, has she?

Adelaide: Only when soliciting donations from other wealthy patrons. The charities she oversees are much more important to her than socializing.

Do you share her passion for the poor and downtrodden, or have you inherited your mother’s love of entertaining with lavish parties and balls?

Adelaide: Neither, at this point in my life. I’m not certain where the future will find me. Forgive me, but I must take my leave now. But please, finish your tea and help yourself to another scone. The maid will show you out. 

Lynn Austin is the bestselling author of nearly thirty novels and was one of the first inductees into the Christy Award Hall of Fame. Her novel Hidden Places was made into a Hallmark Channel movie starring actress Shirley Jones. She and her husband have three grown children and make their home in western Michigan.

Lynn’s Facebook Page

Lynn’s IG Page

Lynn’s X Page

Lynn’s Goodreads

Lynn’s Website

Meet Aleida van der Zee Martens from Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin

~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to Novel PASTimes! We are pleased you stopped by today.

Tell us something about where you live.

Recently, I came to London from the Netherlands. With German bombs raining down on London, this isn’t a safe place, but it’s the only place for me.

Living in London during the Blitz sounds very dangerous indeed! What brought you there?

When the Nazis invaded the Netherlands, my husband & I fled with our three-year-old son, Theo. On the road, my husband cruelly ripped my son from my arms when I was sleeping and thrust him into the car of an English couple bound for London. My husband refused to tell me their names or address, then he was killed by a German fighter plane.

Now I’m in London, searching for my son.

That’s horrible! What are doing to find him?

I keep a notebook listing every place I search. I’ve visited orphanages and refugee camps and hospitals. I’ve visited the Dutch Embassy and placed advertisements in the papers. When I was inquiring at the Ministry of Health, which coordinates the evacuation of children to the countryside, I ended up taking a job there. My original purpose was to search for Theo among the evacuees, but now I see the importance of our work—not only to encourage evacuation, but to support the children in the country, the foster families, and the billeting officers.

In my search for Theo, I hoped to make an appeal on the wireless after I met BBC correspondent Hugh Collingwood. He was unable to make the broadcast, but I’m still glad I met him.

How’s that? Do I see you blushing?

Please, no. Hugh is a good friend, but he’s charming. After being trapped with a man who used to charm to control people, I’m leery.

However, Hugh’s charm has attracted a circle of friends who have welcomed me. This group of reporters hails from England and America and France, and their conversations are lively and intelligent—if a bit heated when they disagree.

What are you most afraid of?

This is worse than the previous question. Hugh once told me to list my fears, to name the monsters so I could fight them. And the monsters howl inside my head, all day and all night, whether or not I list them.

I fear I’ll never find my son. That he’s dead or abandoned or wandering or living in an orphanage in Nazi-occupied Europe. That, even if he’s in an English home, he’s being neglected or abused or that he’s living in terror of bombs.

And I fear he’ll forget me. He’s only three years old, after all. Hugh said Theo will never forget my love. I cling to that hope and to the hope that one day I’ll find my little son.

Do you have a cherished possession?

Theo’s stuffed elephant, Oli. Oli is his best friend. We used to play a game where Theo would hide and Oli would search for him. I used to tell him that Oli would always find him because elephants never forget. I can still see Theo holding Oli to his cheek to comfort himself, and when I press my face to Oli I can still smell a hint of my little boy.

What have you learned about yourself in the course of your story?

For all my lists and routines and plans, I can’t control my life. My rituals have always given me a sense of comfort, but it’s a false comfort. Turning a knob twelve times doesn’t cause God to release the desires of my heart. The Lord isn’t an automaton to manipulate. I’m slowly learning to trust him.

Thanks for allowing us to get know you a little better!

As the German army invades the Netherlands in 1940, Aleida vander Zee Martens flees her homeland with her husband and her three-year-old son. But when her husband is killed and she is separatedfrom her son, she must escape to London alone to wait out the occupation. She finds work with an agency responsible for evacuating children to the countryside and is determined to use her connections to help her find her son. This includes enlisting the aid
of a handsome BBC correspondent. BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood is caught in the middle
of the London Blitz. As German bombs set the city on fire, Hugh is determined to boost morale while walking the fine line between truth and censorship. But the Germans are not the only ones Londoners have to fear as a series of murders flame up amid the ashes. As Aleida and Hugh work together to find her missing son and also
uncover the culprit behind the murders, they continue to grow closer. But with bombs falling and continued killings, they may be running out of time

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of When Twilight Breaks,
Until Leaves Fall in Paris, The Sound of Light, and the popular WWII
series Sunrise at Normandy, among others. She is a Christy Award
winner and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received
starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers
Weekly, and have appeared on Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels
of the Last 10 Years.” Sarah lives in California.

Sarah Sundin
www.SarahSundin.com

Facebook
SarahSundinAuthor
Twitter
@SarahSundin
Instagram
@SarahSundinAuthor

Interview with Iris Magia from Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle

~ Cindy Thomson ~ Leave a comment
book cover

Welcome, Iris. Thank you for agreeing to answer a few questions. Just relax. No need to be nervous.

Iris: Is there a problem? It’s just that usually when the Praetorians bring people in for questioning, they’ve done something wrong, and I haven’t . . . unless . . . I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, just don’t tear out my fingernails.

What? No! No. That’s extremely disturbing. Nothing’s wrong, we just wanted to get to know you. Chat, you know?

Iris: With me? No one ever wants to talk to me. You know how superstitious Romans are; they just see a blind woman and assume I’m cursed. Maybe I am. I’ve tried everything I can think of to get my sight back. For things to go back to normal, but . . .

You mentioned Romans. Have you always lived in Rome?

Iris: Yes. My pater and I live in a fourth-floor apartment in the insula on Cedar Street. Do you know it? Probably not. It’s not in the nicest part of the city. The stairs can be treacherous, and the neighbors are . . . lively. But it’s our own little place in the world, and it’s not far from the Markets of Trajan. I work in a bakery there.

You’re a baker?

Iris: I don’t do the baking part. Mostly just kneading and shaping, and sometimes if Paulina’s away—it’s her bakery—I work up front. Most of the customers are pleasant, especially Val—never mind. It doesn’t pay much, but every little bit helps, especially now that . . . well, Pater’s debts have been called in. 

His debts?

Iris: The gods won’t be bribed for free, you know. And paying physicians to try to heal my eyes isn’t cheap either. They all make grand promises, and in the end, they all disappoint. *shrugs* You probably think me foolish and naive to keep looking for a cure, hoping. But I can’t help it. There’s this part of me that won’t let go of hope no matter how silly it seems. 

I don’t think it’s silly. It takes a strong person to keep hoping in the middle of disappointment. 

Iris: Maybe. It doesn’t hurt that the man I keep meeting in the market . . . he seems to think I could be healed.

 A man?

Iris: Please don’t tell my pater or Titus about him. I don’t think Pater would notice—he’s been worried about money lately and spending a lot of time at the Centaur’s Cup, if you know what I mean. But if Titus knew about this man, he’d do his annoying Praetorian Guard thing and try to hunt him down for questioning—and not this chatting kind.

I see. And Titus is . . . your brother?

Iris: He might as well be. Pater took Titus in and raised him when his father died. He’s hoping to be a Praetorian tribune someday, and I think he’ll make it. He’s very dedicated to eradicating criminals and threats to the empire. 

So, going back to this man you met—

Iris: His name is Valentine, of all things. No one could possibly be a criminal with a name like that. 

 …

Iris: He has a kind voice, and when he comes into the bakery in the mornings, he talks to me the way no one else does. It’s like he sees . . . me. 

Why don’t you want your father to know about him?

Iris *whispering*: I think Valentine is a Christian. And they’re not supposed to talk about their God. But he does it anyway and . . . I can’t help it. I want to know more. 

And your father would discourage you?

Iris: He’s the head jailor at the carcer, and he’s likelier to throw Valentine in prison than listen to him. It’s illegal for Christians to proselytize and illegal to convert. I . . . I have listened, though, and the Christians are nothing like the stories. I wish Pater could listen. Valentine has a nice voice, and Pater has a heavy mind right now. 

Oh?

Iris: I mentioned the money troubles already. If we can’t pay, everything we have will be taken and sold. Including ourselves. The only other way is . . . *shudders*. Pater’s tribune offered to cover the debts . . . in exchange for me. 

Oh.

Iris: I don’t know what we’re going to do, but I’m hopeful. If Valentine’s right and I can be healed, perhaps we can find a way out of this mess.

I sincerely hope so. Will you let us know what happens?

Iris: I think you’ll know. This feels like a story that will live on through the ages. 

___________________________________________________________________________

About Of Love and Treason:

Valentine defies the emperor and becomes a hero . . . and the most wanted man in the empire. Compelled by his faith, he has nothing to lose, until a chance encounter with the daughter of a Roman jailor changes everything. 

Rome, AD 270. In the wake of the emperor’s marriage ban, rumors swirl that there is one man brave enough to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, Valentine believes the emperor’s edict unjust and risks his own life for the sake of his convictions. But as his fame grows, so do fears for his safety.

Iris, the daughter of a Roman jailor, believes regaining her sight will ease the mounting troubles at home. Her last hope rests in searching out Valentine and his church, but the danger of associating with people labeled a threat to the empire is great. Still, as Iris’s new friends lead her to faith in God, Iris is drawn to Valentine and they both begin to hope for a future together beyond the treacherous empire.

But when a past debt and a staggering betrayal collide, Valentine, Iris, and everyone they love must fight for their lives . . . and wrestle with trusting a God who can restore sight yet does not always keep His followers from peril.

Photo credit: Author photo by Jodi Sheller, Copyright © 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Jamie Ogle is a predawn writer, a homeschool mom by day, and a reader by night. Inspired by her fascination with the storied history of faith, she writes historical fiction infused with hope, adventure, and courageous rebels. A Minnesota native, she now lives in Iowa with her husband and their three children, and she can usually be found gardening, beekeeping, and tromping through the woods.

Helpful Links: 

Chatting with Elspeth Lawrence from A Cherished Betrothal by Denise Weimer

~ Kathleen Rouser ~ Leave a comment

Today we’re hosting Elspeth Lawrence, the heroine of A Cherished Betrothal, for a cup of tea. We catch up with her partway through her story as told in Book Three of the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier, the latest series launched by Denise Weimer and Wild Heart Books. 

Right now, we’re sitting down in Ninety-Six, South Carolina. It’s a national park in the countryside in 2024, but in 1775, it was a crossroads of trade and commerce in the Carolina backcountry. Elspeth, do you live in Ninety-Six?

Elspeth: No, I live with my father, who is a minister, on our mission to Cherokee children between here and Fort Charlotte, which sits on the Savannah River and the border between South Carolina and Georgia. I’m in Ninety-Six visiting Roger Bailey and his mother for the celebration of my birthday.

The Baileys must be very good friends of your family, then?

Elspeth: Yes. My father has great respect for Roger Bailey, a planter and justice of the peace. He’s known to be a moderate in these parts. Folks are divided ever since South Carolina established a Council of Safety and started talking about forming their own government against the king. After the fighting at Lexington and Concord, you know. The truth is, at twenty-two, I’m getting older, and Father would like to see me settled with a respectable man.

Your father thinks you should wed this Roger Bailey, this moderate?

Elspeth: Well, if he can convince me to consider it. After my birthday dinner, I’m not so certain where Roger stands. He had a guest that night, this awful man named Thomas Brown, who railed against what the Sons of Liberty had done to him when he refused to sign their Association. Frankly, both sides seemed to bear some fault. Father and I want to stay out of the trouble between the patriots and the loyalists. We are here to be a bridge between the settlers and the Cherokees who live just the other side of the river.

Elspeth, I read your back story (see below), and I must say, I’m perplexed about your work at your father’s mission. Did you not lose your mother and sister in a brutal attack in 1760 by the Cherokees? 

Elspeth: That’s true. Well, my mother died and my sister was taken captive at the Long Canes massacre. I only survived because Alex Morris hid me in the canes by the creek. Alex’s brother and father died in that attack, and Alex was terribly wounded. But together, we survived. It almost killed me, though, when his mother took him to live on the Georgia coast near her family. I’ve always wondered what happened to him, and when he showed up with the South Carolina Rangers when the patriots took over Fort Charlotte, I couldn’t believe my eyes. 

Alex must have been delighted to see you after so long.

Elspeth: Actually…he didn’t even remember me. Or the attack. It’s as though he’s blocked it all out. But I think God has brought him here to face his past and heal from it. I know it’s possible because it took me a long time, but God has helped me to do so. Maybe He will use me to reach Alex. He has to forgive the Cherokees if he’s going to fulfill his duty to the rangers. Both the patriots and the loyalists want the Cherokees on their side. And folks are saying fighting could break out any day. Maybe right here, in Ninety-Six.

Patriots, loyalists, Cherokees…this seems like a volatile situation. Not to mention, it sounds as though you have two men in your life. You say Alex doesn’t remember you, but you light up at the mere mention of his name. How can you consider Roger as a suitor if you have feelings for Alex?

Elspeth: I can’t tell him this. Don’t tell him this. Don’t tell my father either. But I’ve always loved Alex. You can’t survive something together like we did and not have a bond. But right now, he seems to want to avoid me almost as much as he’s drawn to me. I can tell he still feels the need to protect me. To find out what happened to my sister if he can. So yes, I’m stuck in the middle. Of two men. Of two sides on a coming war. And I know I’ll have to make my choices soon. I pray to God I make the right ones. Because not only my own future but the fate of a nation could hang in the balance.

More about A Cherished Betrothal – Book Three of the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier

1775

Alexander Morris bears the childhood scars of the Long Canes massacre that killed his brother and father. His dark past forces him into the lonely life of Georgia Ranger, and eventually, to join the bordering South Carolina Rangers that 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 to not only forgive but help minister to the Cherokees at her father’s mission. Alex Morris’s arrival at nearby Fort Charlotte stirs Elsie’s memories and her emotions. 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 saved long ago

Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance from her home in North Georgia and also serves as a freelance editor and the Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books. A wife and mother of two daughters, she always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

Connect with Denise here:

Bio:

Monthly Newsletter Sign-up

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Book Review: Trail to Clear Creek by Kit Morgan

~ lindasmatchett ~ Leave a comment

260 pages

Independently Published

September 8, 2018

ISBN: 978-1794240117

Part of the Thanksgiving Books & Blessings Collection One, Trail to Clear Creek is a delightful story with lots of twists and turns. Author Kit Morgan knows how to pack a lot into a novella-length book. The female protagonist and her sons are English, and the author did a good job of capturing the cadence and slang of the British dialect. Honoria has several challenges – to follow her dead husband’s dream, survive on a wagon train journey, and figure out how to live in the American West. The other characters who made up the community within the train were unique, some likable, some not so much! I loved the male protagonist, Jefferson Cooke. An integrity-filled, gentle soul, he is just what Honoria needs. I liked how he was with her boys. Even though he wasn’t their father, he expected respect and gave them a firm but fair hand, leading by example.

I’m a strong-willed individual, and I moved several times while growing up because of my dad’s job. In fact, I attended three high schools, and you haven’t lived until you’ve tried to fit in with teenage girls. But the experiences helped shape my character.

Having said all that, I cannot imagine what it would be like to pare down my belongings to the bare essentials, pack enough food for weeks, and travel thousands of miles in a covered wagon. I’ve ridden in wagons during farm festivals and between the hard bench and constant swaying, the allure dried up pretty quickly. Without bringing the story down, the author conveyed the tedium and danger of being part of a wagon train as well as the unpreparedness of Honoria for which the West was like a foreign land.

I also like how the author addressed blending Honoria’s and Jefferson’s families. In the best of circumstances, that would be difficult. Add a cross-country journey, grief of lost spouses, and the kids dealing with the loss of parents, and the situation would be even more challenging. The two sets of children are very different from each other and dislike each other immediately. Without the maturity to deal with what they are feeling, squabbles start, then escalate to more.

Likewise, Honoria and Jefferson must learn to blend their relationship. On the trail! Having both been widowed, yet having very different experiences, they bring baggage to the table, lots of baggage. Again, Ms. Morgan has done a great job of creating realistic scenes and situations the pair must deal with as time passes. My heart went out to the couple.

Messages of hope, faith, forgiveness, and God’s sovereignty are effectively woven throughout the story, leaving the reader with food for thought. A highly enjoyable read.