Release Day: A Lesson in Love

Release Day: A Lesson in Love

He thinks he’s too old. She thinks she’s too young. 

Can these teachers learn that love defies all boundaries?

Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Her friend talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming.

Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, raven-haired leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. 

Can he trust her not to break his heart?

Purchase link: https://amzn.to/3YHgUb0

Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian Fiction

 

July 2025 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Amish Romance:

Caleb’s Choice by Z Peabody -- Caleb Jacobson, rancher, farmer, and a first-generation veterinarian, has always loved to care for animals. When he was given his choice to either stay in the small community and become a full-time farmer or have his “way about,” Caleb chooses the university, and in doing so, experiences a whole other world outside of his small community. Wanting to start his own practice in his hometown, he returns to the very small community that now shuns him and to the father who hates him. It’s true—sometimes you should never return home. When a college friend asks a favor, that he hire a new head cook, Caleb immediately agrees. But when Caleb walks out of his barn to meet the new employee, he quickly regrets the decision to hire the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on. (Amish Romance from Z Peabody Publishing LLC)

Contemporary Romance:

Rendersella by Amy R Anguish -- Ella dreams of her artwork on display in the famous Prince Gallery, but working for her stepmother leaves her eking out sporadic minutes to draw or paint. When her stepsister steals her drawing and claims it as her own, Ella fears she’s lost her chance. Chaz Prince wants more responsibility at his family’s gallery, but first he must prove he can handle it. Chaz talks his dad into a contest to bring in some new artists, sure this will be exactly what the gallery needs. When he stumbles across Ella’s piece, he not only wants the artwork, but wishes to know the artist too. At the gala to celebrate the contest winners, Ella is determined to let them know the artwork is hers, but time is against her. And where did her shoe end up? (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)

A Family on His Doorstep by Alena Auguste -- Unwed, unemployed and pregnant, Rebecca Young is in desperate need of a job. But finding work seems impossible. So when her late ex-boyfriend’s cousin Walker Greystone offers her room and board, and help getting a part-time job at the library he’s renovating in Eden, Texas, she eagerly accepts. But as they work together on a project that could change both of their lives, their feelings for one another deepen. Can Rebecca and Walk (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

If I Fall for You by Myra Johnson -- She’s a grieving widow. He’s a rancher with too much on his shoulders. Neither expected to fall in love—until God weaves their broken stories together. But when the past resurfaces, will they choose healing or walk away? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Meet Me on Blueberry Hill by Lisa Jordan -- On an island where everyone knows everyone, Asher Quinn is a mystery Sadie Hudson never meant to solve. Once a hopeful songwriter, Sadie's dreams faded after her sister's tragic death five years ago. Now jobless and adrift, she returns to Jonathon Island to care for her beloved grandma, Henrietta. Just as she begins to find solace in the island's charm, a fallen tree damages her grandmother's home, forcing Sadie to accept help from the gruff yet intriguing neighbor, Asher Quinn. Though he seems kind, Sadie can't shake the feeling that he's hiding something. Asher has his own demons, seeking solitude on the island to escape a past that haunts him-especially when he discovers he's responsible for Sadie's sister's death. As they navigate their shared pain, can these two wounded souls find the courage to be honest and embrace love, or will their pasts keep them apart? (Contemporary Romance from Sunrise Publishing)

Plays By the Book by Carolyn Miller -- Britta Johnson knows she’s ordinary, and she’s totally okay with that. She’s secure in God, in her purposes on the planet, and romance is something she finds between the pages of a book. She doesn’t need that in real life. So when a hockey player asks for advice on how to woo his long-distance girlfriend, she knows her heart is safe. Until it’s not. Mitchell Reilly might be feared on the ice-rink, but even he’s intimidated by this little ninja librarian who can whip teenagers into line with a single look. She knows her books too, and seems the perfect candidate to help him find some romantic fictional heroes he can impress his girlfriend with. Until she’s not. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Cozy Mystery:

Down in the Dumpster by Susan Page Davis and Page M Davis -- You never know what you’ll find in a Dumpster. If Cassie had known the misadventures she’d get into on her stopgap job, she would have kept checking the help-wanted ads. With her crabby dispatcher hounding her, she collects the rubbish from a senior citizens’ complex in her garbage truck. When she empties the dumpster, a witness sees a body fall into her compactor. How will she explain this to Mac? And just as important, can rubbish and romance mix? (Cozy Mystery from Scrivenings Press)

Historical Romance:

An Uncharted Dream by Abbey Downey -- Leonora Thornton always envisioned following in her father's footsteps-exploring the world and chasing adventure. But after his tragic death, she can't get past the debilitating fear...until she meets an explorer who promises to take her on his expedition to the very place where her father died. Marcus Turner knows a con man when he sees one, and after years of hiding his family's shameful financial situation, he won't let anyone he cares about be swindled again. Especially not Leonora, his longtime best friend and the woman he secretly loves. Joining the expedition, Marcus embarks on a mission to protect Leonora from the swindler, no matter the cost. When betrayal leaves them stranded far from their destination, Leonora and Marcus must determine if they can rely on God-or each other. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

The Neighbor and the Gifts by Danielle Grandinetti -- When Manitowish Waters librarian Olivia “Ollie” Larson finds a package on the library steps, she expects the children’s books she ordered, not a taxidermied partridge. By the fourth gift from her unknown and unwelcome True Love, disappearing to her grandfather’s isolated cabin in the Northwoods is the only way she can escape him. Deputy Titus Wilburn is happy to escort the lovely librarian to her grandfather’s house on his way to the neighboring Yarwood cabin. After all, he’s been smitten with her since they attended school together, and she needs his protection. However, the plan fails when Ollie’s uninvited suitor discovers her new location. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Uncharted Joy by Keely Brooke Keith -- Daydreaming of running a restaurant sparks joy in Anna Cotter’s solemn heart while she works in her mother’s bakery with her two sisters. Her dream seems impossible until she inherits a charming cottage in the heart of Good Springs. Determined to make her restaurant a blessing to the village, Anna faces challenges from the elder council and a group of rebels who gather at her tables. New-in-town schoolteacher Caleb McIntosh spends his evenings researching the outsiders who have come to the Land in recent years. He uses the village’s new restaurant to work on his manuscript and is struck to the core by the proprietor’s confidence, beauty, and uncrackable demeanor. Anna can handle demanding customers and the council’s edicts, but when the village’s new know-it-all schoolteacher spreads his papers across her corner table every day, her resolve is tested. Yet, as Caleb introduces her to new ideas about the world, faith, and love, her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble. (Historical Romance from Edenbrooke Press)

A Lesson in Love by Linda Shenton Matchett -- Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after most of the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Then her friend Margery talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming. Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, raven-haired leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. Can he trust her not to break his heart? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)

Unending Hope by Cindy Kay Stewart -- April 1940. Nazi Germany carries out a devastating invasion, trapping Americans David Jensen and Natalie Thompson in Norway. Determined to use their medical skills to aid the Norwegians, David and Natalie embark on a harrowing journey to treat the injured and evade the Nazis. Natalie, a dedicated Red Cross worker, values deep relationships. Fearful of settling for a shallow marriage, she broke off her engagement to David several years before. But she never stopped loving him and spending time working together in Norway plays havoc with her heart. David, a charismatic and confident doctor with the Red Cross, desires to advance his career and rekindle his relationship with Natalie. Even though she once rejected him, he believes she is the only woman for him. But years of keeping others at arms’ length guarantees that winning Natalie back will be the biggest challenge he’s ever faced. (Historical Romance from Hope Springs Press)

Hannah’s Quest by Jodie Wolfe -- Hannah Moore escapes the overbearing grip of her relatives and forges her own way in Shippensburg, PA, far away from their clutches. Despite Hannah’s sheer determination, she finds life on her own daunting as she loses job after job. Unsure where she fits in, Hannah wonders if she’ll ever be good enough. She feels as if God has forsaken her and questions if she will ever find a place to belong. The last thing she needs is an ignorant shop keeper constantly questioning her abilities and standing in her way. Hannah will take almost any position available so as not to return to the place of her upbringing. Luke Weiser has one goal in mind—finding a way to save his grandmother and restore her health. Only trouble is, she has other ideas about what is best for her. Gran longs to see Luke’s return to faith in the Lord, but he blames God for his grandmother’s sickness and the tragic events of his childhood. After the death of his mother, followed by his father’s abandonment, Luke refuses to trust his heart to anyone, and certainly not a wife. When Hannah keeps popping up in the hardware shop where he works, Luke is forced to think twice about his convictions. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Western Romance:

A Secret Heart by Wendy Klopfenstein -- The last thing middle brother Ed McGraw wants is to be tangled up in a scheme to find a mail-order bride for his black-sheep brother. But that’s right where Ed finds himself…writing love letters and not signing his own name. Intrigued by the woman who writes back. Rebekah Edwards keeps her dreams to herself and finds contentment working for the local newspaper running matrimonial advertisements. Until the day a new ad appears—one written by the very rancher Rebekah has pined for her entire life. But just as she strikes up a correspondence, Rebekah finds herself drawn inexplicably to Ed McGraw—the wrong McGraw brother for her. What will happen when she finds out the author’s true identity? (Western Romance from Sunrise Publishing)

Crime Suspense:

Five Alive by Luana Ehrlich -- Silas faces the most challenging case of his career at Discreet Corporate Security Services. He has seven days to rescue five oil workers kidnapped in a remote area of Saudi Arabia, and the future of the mission is in the hands of someone who betrayed him in the past. Can he trust her? (Crime Suspense, Independently Published)

Romantic Suspense:

Perilous Tides by Elizabeth Goddard -- Three years after her mother's suspicious death, forensic artist Jo Cattrel is in hiding, working at a storm-watching lodge along the Washington coast. When her father sends her a disturbing and cryptic message, Jo leaves the safety of the lodge to find him. But during the ferry crossing, Jo witnesses a murder--and becomes a target. More surprising to Jo than being in danger is the identity of the person who steps in to protect her--none other than her ex, former Green Beret Cole Mercer. Now a private investigator, Cole has been looking into her mother's death. If he can just uncover the truth, maybe Jo can end her self-imposed captivity and the two of them can pick up the pieces and build a future together. As Cole and Jo search for answers, the past rushes in like a dangerous tide before the truth can be revealed. (Romantic Suspense from Revell)

Alaskan Police Protector by Megan Short -- When a minivan slides off the road into an icy lake, Officer Samuel Miller narrowly rescues a woman and child from certain death. Only, Rachel Harding insists the crash is no accident—it’s eerily similar to how her sister and brother-in-law recently died. As the unexplained attacks escalate, Samuel is determined to protect Rachel and her orphaned niece at all costs. But when they make a shocking discovery, their investigation becomes even more dangerous, and survival may be impossible. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])

Burning Truth by Kelly Underwood -- Dani Barlow, disgraced journalist, has been given one last chance to redeem herself—follow a tip about a secret militia compound in the Alaskan wilderness and get the scoop that will put her back on top. But when her investigation takes a dangerous turn, she finds herself running for her life. Dani's only hope is the rugged hotshot firefighter who comes to her rescue. As danger closes in, she'll have to trust this mountain man with her life... He'd risk everything to protect his home… Grizz has one goal: fight fires and protect the Alaskan forests he calls home. But when a reckless, albeit beautiful, reporter trespasses on his territory, he finds himself in the middle of a terrorist plot bent on destroying everything he’s got left to care for. It seems he’ll have to do the very thing he swore he’d never do again: trust. (Romantic Suspense from Sunrise Publishing)

Supernatural Suspense:

Maranatha the Victory Battle by Blossom Turner -- What if the greatest battle you’ll ever fight is the one you cannot see? Mara has faced the unthinkable—abuse, betrayal, and loss—but nothing can prepare her for the final battle ahead. As demons scheme in the shadows and angels stand guard, she must confront her deepest fears. With her marriage hanging by a thread, an abandoned child thrust into her arms, and a relentless enemy determined to destroy all she holds dear, Mara must decide: will she trust in God’s sovereignty, or will fear consume her? (Supernatural Suspense, Independently Published)

Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:

Timebender by Demi Griffin -- A girl born in the Age of Augury but raised in the Age of Mythic, Everwyn grew up in the tranquil seclusion of Everlasting’s Ruins without fully understanding her identity. Time was irrelevant. Growing up in a secure and predictable environment, she enjoyed a warm family life that allowed her to mature peacefully. To her, her parents were just that - parents. Everwyn had no idea about her true lineage as the daughter of the Realm Caster and Librarian. Building an unexpected friendship with a tracker, Everwyn's limited world broadened. At the tender age of twelve epochs, she discovers she is a girl without a homeland, evading Time. Her once simple life took a complicated turn as destiny revealed itself. Betrayed and facing shattered dreams, Everwyn embarks on a winding path that leads her to unexpected places. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)

  Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Cassia’s Calling by Rachel Blanchard -- King Peter seems like a man who cannot be changed. With her otherworldly ability shadowed by uncontrollable hurt, how will Cassia answer her heart’s call? (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy)

Love’s True Measure by Lori DeJong -- As Hunter and Shannon navigate their growing bond, unexpected challenges force them to confront their fears and priorities. Both must either choose to trust God’s plan is far greater than their own, or risk losing the love of a lifetime. (Contemporary Romance)

Revealed Courage: A Journey Forged Through Fire by Eve M Harrell -- The ruthlessness of the new world order is unlike anything he has ever seen. Can he protect his family from an apocalypse he has no control over? Will they have the courage to stand when the forging begins? (Young Adult)

Mothers of a Nation by Carlene Havel and Sharon Faucheux-- Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah reveal their hearts as each tells her own story of joy and sorrow. Never realizing the historical significance of their roles, these four ordinary women became the mothers of a nation. (Historical Biblical)

The Puzzle Within by Gina Holder -- They must confront their own failures and unravel the secrets hidden within themselves to rescue Bridgette … and survive a madman's twisted game. Because one thing becomes clear: Enigma’s real target is much bigger — and far more personal. (Romantic Suspense)

The Garden down the Beach: A Novelette by Annette M Irby -- Online followers, and Gramps, want to see Kamber and Shiloh spend time together, but each is focused on building their careers. Is there room for a relationship in all their planning? (Contemporary Romance)

Project Sentinel by Elle E. Kay -- With lethal agents on her trail, Faith must unlock buried memories, rescue her kidnapped son and outwit Project Sentinel’s surveillance before the conspiracy that murdered her husband silences her for good. (Romantic Suspense)

Golden Horizon by Darlene Panzera -- When a jealous miner blackmails Maggie and uses dynamite to trap Ben inside a collapsed river cave, Maggie is faced with an impossible choice. As the town rallies for a rescue, both Maggie and Ben must decide—what is truly more valuable, gold or love? (Historical Romance)

The Final Word by Laura Thomas -- When aspiring author, Sophie Brooks, trades the vibrancy of Paris for the tranquility of the English countryside, she doesn’t expect her fairy tale romance to turn into a fight for her life as she’s pursued by the relentless darkness of her past. (Romantic Suspense)

Talkshow Thursday: A Guest Post by Donna Schlachter

Cooking Up Trouble – 

Kitchen Utensils of the 1830s

By Donna Schlachter

In the process of writing Cooking Up Trouble, I researched about kitchen utensils through history, and specifically items used for baking and cooking around 1834. Honestly, when I thought of kitchen utensils, I envisioned iron frying pans, wooden spoons, spatulas to flip eggs and flapjacks, and ladles for spooning soups, stews, and gravies. Did you know that waffle irons were the in thing by 1834? Not me. I thought that was relatively recent.

And, the potato peeler—which I rarely use anymore—was considered a time-saver worth its weight in—well, in potatoes.

As for the story itself, the first documented baking contest in the United States was held less than sixty years ago, although there were plenty of county fair competitions prior to that. However, in my story, I invented the on-site baking contest at the local county fair.

In my story, a cooking contest features. It seems to me that cooking or baking contests would be the

ultimate marketplace for a man to find a wife—although I never actually found any stories about that happy ending. Perhaps for the contestants, there was already enough pressure to win that they didn’t want to let down their guard and fall in love.

Do not worry, though, as this story has a happy ending…

_________________

About “Cooking Up Trouble”

An unsuitable match to satisfy a debt. Can Holly find another solution?

An unsuitable calling--a man in the kitchen. Practically unheard of. Can Adam find the strength to step into his purpose in life?

Or will they both resist God and make their own way?

Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Up-Trouble-Contest-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CGKFS338
Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGM7Q2GM

About Donna:

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story. Learn more at https://www.donnaschlachter.com/the-purpose-full-writer-coaching-programs Check out her coaching group on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651

Website: http://www.DonnaSchlachter.com
Newsletter: https://www.thepurposefullwriter.com/newslettersignup Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive 2 free ebooks simply for signing up for our free newsletter!
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donna-Schlachter/author/B01180A2EE
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-schlachter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=donna+schlachter
The Purpose-Full Writer: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651
Need a writing coach? www.ThePurposeFullWriter.com
Need a writing coach? https://www.donnaschlachter.com/the-purpose-full-writer-coaching-programs
The Purpose-Full Writer: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Z Peabody

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Back, Z Peabody

I'm very pleased to welcome Z Peabody back to my blog so she can talk about her writing journey and her latest release. It sounds fantastic!

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

“I knew that I wanted to write a romance novel after I read my first romance novel, ‘Adora’, written by Beatrice Small. At that time, I had no idea what I was reading at 14 years-old, but I liked the cover and the historical time the story took place in.”

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

“I enjoy everything about being an Indie-Writer. I have the final say-so over the design of my book covers. I set the release dates. I enjoy maintaining the website. I enjoy promoting and marketing my books, and it’s my publishing name that is on the copyrights.”

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

In total, I have written and published twenty books. The first nine are no longer out for sale. I enjoy writing historical romance as a favorite, because of the amount research I have to do for a historical romance and the knowledge I learn from that research.”

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

“That I really enjoy writing Scriptural Inspirational romance. I enjoy the entire process of Indie-publishing; from the writing, formatting, creating the cover, promoting, and even editing.”

Who is your favorite author and what is it that strikes you about their work?

“One of my favorite romance authors, is Beatrice Small. The first historical romance I read was her

book, Adora. I have read, re-read and enjoy Mrs. Small novels to this day. Back in the day, and coming from a small community, her novels seemed so imaginary to me. I enjoy the dialogue between her characters and her plots and scenery description. Her historical romances take place in places far from the southside of Chicago.”

How did publishing your first book change your writing?

“In the beginning of my writing career, in my mind, I was just writing a romance novel, because, that’s what I wanted to do, no big deal. After I became a published author, I felt that I have legitimately became a writer of romance. With that first book I got some good reviews with helpful criticism. After that first book, my writing became more descriptive and I began to write the main characters being more engaging with the secondary characters.”

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series?

“Caleb’s Choice isn’t part of a series, and that is because I didn’t want that particular book to be a part of a series. When I start out writing a new manuscript, I look at the storyline outline, and then see how the next book in the series will pick up the ongoing plot or, spinoff the other books from that storyline. Also, I like to build up my secondary characters in the first book of a series, to help build up the series and the next book in the series. In Caleb’s Choice; my focus was mainly placed on the two main characters, and not so much on the rest of the characters.”
 
What draws you to the time period about which you write?

“I appreciate contemporary romance. I live in the time of here and now. I appreciate the happenings of what’s going on around me, so I write contemporary romance. I appreciate history too, so I write historical romance. I like to create my own worlds in a historical romance, and my worlds are always in a time and place believable to that time and place I’m writing about. For example, my seventh book, The Highlander’s Charity took place in Scotland and in my fictional world of Adebowale.”

What is your process for writing? (do you outline, have a special place or time of day you write, etc.) What is your favorite part of the process? 

“First I write out a description of the main characters. I actually have a binder filled with loose leaf, college ruled paper in it, which I write on using only a black pen. Then, I write out all the chapter outlines, with the storyline, and plot. After all of that, I sit down to write out three pages a day, which adds up to a full chapter at the end of my work week on Friday. Lastly, I sit down, Friday and Saturday to type out that chapter.”

What is your next project?

“My next project is a new series; Riding with the Bulls, MC’s. The first book from that series is titled, Ezekiel, and it is due out next year.”

_______________________

About Caleb's Choice

Caleb Jacobson, rancher, farmer, and a first-generation veterinarian, has always loved to care for animals. When he was given his choice to either stay in his small community; where he was raised, and become a full-time farmer or have his “way about,” Caleb chooses the university, and in doing so, experiences a whole other world outside of his small community. Wanting to start his own practice in his hometown, he returns to the very small community that now shuns him and to the father who hates him. It’s true—sometimes you should never return home.

When a college friend asks a favor, Caleb can’t refuse. But when Caleb walks out of his barn to meet the new employee, he quickly regrets the decision to hire the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on.

Lola Charles loves to create delicious dishes that are tastebud sensations. Attending culinary school was her dream. One of Lola’s life greatest accomplishments was graduating from one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the country, only to end up working the evening shift at a one-and-a-half-star diner.

Lola, at the wrong place at the wrong hour, witnesses something she shouldn’t have. Now, she has to trade in the concrete streets for grass beneath her feet. Forced to hide out in the last place she thought she would ever be, in an Amish community with a not-so-Amish vet for a boss while running her own kitchen, she is unaware that the enemy is closing in. Some things that are done in the darkness don’t always come to light. Those things that are now trying to pull her into that darkness.

Together, both she and her new boss will learn, they both have evil lurking in the shadows.

Purchase Link: https://zpeabodypublishing.com/calebs-choice/  

Photo credits:

Beatrice Small: Courtesy New York Times

Three Ring Binder: Pixabay/warrenrandallcarr

Wartime Wednesday: British Stars Who Served

Wartime Wednesday: 

British Stars Who Served

More than 3.5 million men and women serviced in Britain’s armed forces during World War II. As in America, some of those individuals were film or stage stars and put their careers on hold to enlist. Others were young enough their careers hadn’t yet begun.

Alec Guiness, perhaps most well-known by current generations as the original Obi Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars films, was twenty-seven years old and a successful stage actor when he decided to take a sabbatical and join the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in 1941. His initial assignment was that as seaman, but he quickly rose in ranks, first as a sub-lieutenant, then as lieutenant. He eventually commanded a landing craft of 200 soldiers during Operation Husky, which was the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. The campaign lasted until August 17, 1943, and drove the Axis powers from the island opening up sea lanes in the Mediterranean for Allied merchant ships.

Guiness also participated in other amphibious operations as well as transported troops and supplies

across the English Channel in the months leading up to D-Day, then later helped deliver arms and agents to partisans fighting in Yugoslavia. At one point during the war, he was granted a leave to appear as the lead role in the Broadway production of Flare Path, a play about RAF Bomber Command and loosely based on playwright Terence Rattigan’s wartime experiences in 1941. A couple of sources claim that a Royal Navy commander told Guiness that, as an actor, he would be unsuited to naval work, and Guiness is said to have replied, “And if you will allow me to point out, Sir, as an actor, that in the West End of London, if the curtain is advertised as going up at 8 PM, it goes up at 8 PM, and not an hour later, something that the Royal Navy might learn from.”

Our second British star who served is Peter Ustinov, actor, director, and writer. Born on April 16, 1921, he was eighteen years old when England declare war on Germany in September 1939. I was unable to determine when Ustinov joined the British Army – he was an age to be immediately drafted.

Intriguingly, his father Jona (or Iona) von Ustinov worked for a press officer at the German embassy in London during the 1930s and was a reporter for a German news agency. In 1935, Jona became a British subject and began to work for MI5. One of his responsibilities was to “handle” spy Wolfgang Gans zu Putlitz. In his autobiography Peter Ustinov comments that his father hosted secret meetings in their home with senior British and German officials.

Peter served as a private during the war spending most of his service in the Army Cinema Unit where he made recruitment films, wrote plays, and appeared in three films as an actor, including the propaganda film One of Our Aircraft is Missing. At one point he was writing the David Niven film The Way Ahead, but the difference in their ranks (Niven was a Lt. Colonel) didn’t allow for “regular military association,” so Ustinov was appointed as Niven’s batman, basically his personal servant. In 1944, under the Entertainments National Service Association, he performed the role of Sir Anthony Absolute in the play The Rivals at the Larkhill Camp, a military garrison in Wiltshire. He later spoke about his service in an interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S60wU7Y19EA

__________________

A Lesson in Love

He thinks he’s too old. She thinks she’s too young. Can these teachers learn that love defies all boundaries?

Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after most of the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Then her friend Margery talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming.

Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, raven-haired leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. Can he trust her not to break his heart?

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/3YHgUb0

Photo credit: 

Alec Guiness: Getty Images

Normandy: By Chief Photographer's Mate (CPHoM) Robert F. Sargent - Public Domain, 

Peter Ustinov: Public Domain

Talkshow Thursday: Author Donna Jo Stone

Talkshow Thursday: 

Meet Donna Jo Stone!

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

I’ve published four books so far, and have more on the horizon. They all have their special place in my heart, so it’s hard to say one is my favorite. Promise Me Tomorrow and When the Wildflowers Bloom Again were books that my children encouraged me to write, so I think that makes them extra special. As I was writing both of these books, I was developing my skills as a writer, and rewrote them several times. Readers seem to really like these two. I suppose that makes them special as well! Both have won or placed in different writing contests.

Tell us about your road to publication.

After I wrote the first version of Promise Me Tomorrow, I naïvely followed what I thought were the proper steps, and queried the only agent I knew of who accepted my genre. When she requested the full manuscript, I had no idea what a big deal that was, but I was excited. While awaiting her decision, I kept working on the next book. Then the rejection came. 

I kept learning more about the industry, and began sending out query letters. At the same time, I continued to write more books, got a book coach, took classes, joined all the writing organizations, entered contests, and so on. After I had received over one hundred rejections from agents, the number I’d been told to try, I wasn’t quite sure what to do next. Self-publishing was a possibility, and I was trying to learn about that avenue and getting overwhelmed. 

Then I “met” Jenny Knipfer. I am a total book nerd and often write about books I love. I read Jenny’s book, In a Grove of Maples, liked it, and posted about it on Instagram. A few months later, Jenny approached me about being in a collaborative project. Without her nudge, I would probably still be trying to figure out the best way to approach self-publishing and suffering from information overload. Joining up with her for the Apron Strings project was the best thing that could’ve happened to me.

I’ve been publishing now for a little over a year. Promise Me Tomorrow is my fourth book to publish. When the Wildflowers Bloom Again was the third I published, although it was the first novel I ever wrote.

How are your characters like you? Different?

In every novel, parts of me work their way into the characters. For instance, with arty, teenaged Nina (Promise Me Tomorrow) I could draw on my own sensory issues and those difficult teenage years. At the time I was writing the book, I had not lost my mother yet, but I could imagine how such a loss might feel. Like Nina, during my teen years I often felt confused and overwhelmed by relationships.

There are other characters who may resemble people I know or even family members, but they are not based on real people. Characters are an amalgam of different people and other fictional characters. In the story, Nina’s mother does things that I have done. In one part of the story, Nina’s mother compiles a list of resources and instructions regarding the future for her son. Clearly, Nina’s mother worries about what is going to happen after she passes on, which is a common concern of parents when their child requires a great deal of support.

How has your book changed since your first draft?

I originally wrote the book as a middle grade novel, and specifically wrote it for my daughter. Two of the moms in our community had passed away leaving behind children who were on the autism spectrum. I became ill, and although I was not in any type of life-threatening situation, combined with the loss of these other moms, it frightened her. I couldn’t comfort her. So I did what writers do. I wrote her a story.

Later, after we talked it over together, we decided that this was a story that could help other teens and

people going through hard times. The story was difficult for me to write. Had it not been for my daughter, I probably would not have finished and eventually published it. It’s truly a story from my heart, and sharing vulnerable stories is very scary. Of course, most things that are worthwhile and deserve our best efforts often feel a bit frightening while we are doing them. The book changed and grew through re-drafts and edits, and had a few title changes along the way.

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why?

I didn’t intend to write a series from the outset. The second book in the Wishes and Dreams series tells the story of Nina’s best friend, Avery. I chose her story because it seemed a logical choice. Flush with the success of finishing—or thinking I had finished—my first book, and still having the characters clear in my mind, I began drafting the next one. It felt very organic and natural, for the most part, to get that first messy draft done. I can’t say the revisions were easy, but they were easier than the first book, if only because I’d had quite a bit of practice disassembling and reassembling stories by then.

In the third book in the series, Nina’s brother gets a love interest. Readers seem to really enjoy his character, and I felt he deserved a love interest.

Why do you write in your particular genre?

All of my books are told from a Christian worldview, but I do stray a little with genre, writing both contemporary and historical, and both women’s fiction and fiction for young adults. My novels tend to tackle family issues. They are often serious but may have splashes of humor. I have the same genre-crossing habits as a reader, and read widely and voraciously. Anytime someone asks me for a book recommendation, invariably I ask, “What genre?” I love to match up people with the perfect book.

What is one thing you wish you could do?

Considering how much I love books and writing, you would think that if I could do one thing, it might be to own a bookshop. I adore bookshops, but I think I’d like to own a tea shop and visit with the customers. I think this might be because I enjoy hanging out with friends, but have also always been curious about the world and like meeting new people. It could also partly be because I grew up in the south, where people are endlessly entertaining and everyone has a story to tell.

What is your next project?

I have several projects going. Promise Me Tomorrow is book one in a series of three standalone YA novels. The Weight of Dreams, book two in Wishes and Dreams series, is expected in 2026. On the historical fiction front, I’m working on a book as part of a new collaborative project for the Apron Strings series. This 1930s novel is loosely based on the fairytale, The Seven Swans, and is scheduled for release in May 2026.

About Promise Me Tomorrow

Sometimes the only way to hold on is by learning to let go.

For sixteen-year-old Nina, communicating her emotions is ridiculously hard. She expresses those best through art, the one thing she’s good at. When she’s chosen to design the school mural, she’s ecstatic. It’s a chance to connect with Mom and make her proud, because even though they don’t always see eye to eye, Mom always loves Nina’s art. But Nina’s joy is cut short by the news that her mother's cancer has returned, and this time it’s terminal.

Nina can't accept Mom's decision to refuse further treatment. There must be a way to save her. If Mom won't find it, Nina will. Consumed by her obsession to find a cure, Nina risks alienating the people she needs most—her friends, her family, and the boy who only wants to help. Is it better to let Mom make her own choices about treatment, or should Nina keep pressing for a miracle, even if it builds an emotional wall between them?

 
Amazon purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3TSVZGF

About Donna Jo

Donna Jo Stone writes southern-flavored fiction for the inspirational and general market. Her stories are often about people facing tough times. She strives to write novels that leave the reader with a sense of hope. When she’s not writing, reading, or talking about writing or reading, she loves spending time with her family and friends or creating art. You can read her thoughts on books at her blog, or find writing advice at Almost an Author, where she writes the YA column. Her recent novel, When the Wildflowers Bloom Again, is a Carol Awards finalist.

Social Media Links

Website: https://donnajostone.com
Blog: https://donnajostone.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556916105499
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnajostone/

Traveling Tuesday: The Netherland - More than Tulips and Windmills

Traveling Tuesday: The Netherlands – 

More than Windmills and Tulips

Tucked between Belgium and Germany in Western Europe, the Kingdom of the Netherlands (literally “low country”) is a bit larger than the US state of Maryland, but smaller than West Virginia. The North Sea which borders the north and west of the country is constantly a threat. If the Dutch had not erected dikes, canals, dams, and pumping stations, the country would have washed away centuries ago. There are more than 1,491 miles of dikes that protect the low, flat lands (nearly 50% of which lies below sea level) from the North Sea. One source indicates that without the dikes 65% of The Netherlands would flood daily.

Because of its lack of mountain ranges and natural borders, The Netherlands has not been able to prevent invasions, and other nations occupied the country for a large part of its history: the Romans, Celtic tribes, Germanic groups, Vikings, the Franks, Austrians, and the Spanish have all invaded and/or occupied the country.

It would take the Eighty Years’ War with Spain to finally give The Netherlands their independence in 1648. During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon put his brother Louis on the throne, but in 1814 Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands joined together as one country called the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands are often erroneously referred to as Holland. In actuality, Holland is a region within the country that consists of the two provinces of North and South Holland. The country has twelve provinces in total.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a “sovereign state” which includes four “constituent countries” of

Aruba, Curaca, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands. The mode of government is a constitutional monarchy which means the head of state is a King or Queen whose limited powers are laid down in the Constitution. A cadre of ministers and state secretaries are responsible for the day-to-day duties of running the government. The official language is Dutch, with West Frisian as a secondary official language in the province of Friesland.

Most of the 17th century is referred to as the Dutch Golden Age, a time when the Dutch empire became one of the major seafaring and economic powers – By 1650, they owned 16,000 merchant ships and through the Dutch East India Company and Dutch West India Company established colonies and trading posts across the globe. Their science, military, and art (Rembrandt, Vermeer, Steen, van Ruisdael, and van Gogh to name a few) were world-renowned.

Most people conjure up visions of tulips and windmills when they think of the Netherlands, but since the 16th century, the Dutch economy has included shipping, fishing, agriculture, trade, and banking. The country is one of the world’s ten leading exporting countries with food being the largest sector. Other major industries include chemicals, metallurgy, machinery, electrical goods, and tourism. In addition, the discovery of natural gas in the 1950s has played a major part in the revenue for the country.

Bicycling is the common form of transportation with almost as many miles covered by bicycles as by train. There are an estimated eighteen million bicycles which is more than one per capita, and twice as many as the approximately nine million motor vehicles.

__________________

A Lesson in Love

He thinks he’s too old. She thinks she’s too young. Can these teachers learn that love defies all boundaries?

Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after most of the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Then her friend Margery talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming.

Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, raven-haired leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. Can he trust her not to break his heart?

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/3YHgUb0

______________

Photo Credits:

Map: By U.S. Central Intelligence Agency - Netherlands (Political) 1987 from Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection: Netherlands Maps, Public Domain

Castle: Pixabay/Eveline de Bruin

Bicycles: Pixabay/Ralf Gervink