Mystery Monday: The Mystery of Leap Year

Mystery Monday: The Mystery of Leap Year 

Photo: Pixabay/
Simple-aign

With 2022 being an “even” year, I wondered if it was a leap year, but rushing to the calendar set me straight. The next leap year will occur in 2024. 

First introduced by Julius Caesar more than 2000 years ago, the formula had only one rule: any year evenly divisible by four would be a leap year. Several hundred years later, it was determined that the Julian calendar (named after him) was drifting apart from the tropical year at a rate of one day every 128 years. As a result the Gregorian calendar, implemented by Pope Gregory XIII, skipped some days to realign the calendar with the seasons. 

Photo: Pixabay/
Gordon Johnson

The reason for creating a leap year came from the fact that the earth doesn’t orbit the sun in precisely 365 days, and the extra day acts as a “corrective measure.” Prior to the onset of the Gregorian calendar, many ancient calendars had entire leap months to rectify the problem, however, historians are still unclear as to how the early Romans kept track of their years, mostly because the Romans themselves weren’t entire sure. Research indicates that the Roman calendar consisted of ten months plus and “ill-defined winter period of varying length.” 

There is one exception to the leap year rule that involves century years, such as 1900. Because adding an extra day every four years results in about three extra days being added over the course of four hundred years. Therefore century years are only considered leap years if they are easily divisible for 400, meaning 1700, 1800, and 1900 were not leap years, but 1600 and 2000 were leap years. (who knew this much thought was necessary!!) 

Photo: WikiImages

According to some sources, a tradition in Ireland and Britain allows women to propose marriage during a leap year. In Finland, if a man refuses a woman’s proposal on leap day, he is to purchase her the fabric for a skirt. In Greece, marriage in a leap year is considered unlucky, with twenty-percent of engaged couples choosing not to marry during a leap year. 

There are over four million leap day babies, whom are called leapers or leaplings. There is a one in 1,461 chance of being born on leap day. Actress and performer Dinah Shore, saxophonist and bandleader Jimmy Dorsey, Italian composer Rossini, and actor Dennis Farina were all born February 29. 

Do you know any leap year babies?

 _______________ 

Gold Rush Bride Tegan 

She’s out to prove herself. He’s only looking for adventure. Neither one realizes they’ll find more than gold “in them thar hills.” 

Tegan Llewellyn has always been different than her adopted family, except Grandmother Hannah, a prospector during the 1829 Georgia gold rush. Now, seventy years later there are reports of gold in Nome, and the opportunity is too good to pass up. But Tegan doesn’t count on the dangers that strike from the moment she steps off the steamer, including the threat of losing her heart. 

Elijah Hunter has prospected for gold all over the US and Canada and likes being on the move. The last thing he expects to find on his latest search is a lady miner who proves to be nothing but trouble. Can he convince her that leaving is for her own good before it’s too late...for both of them? 

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3BBdD0c

Release Day: Gold Rush Bride Tegan

Release Day: Gold Rush Bride Tegan

Thanks to everyone who pre-ordered Gold Rush Bride Tegan. I had fun writing her story. She is the granddaughter of Hannah and daughter of Caroline (Books 1 and 2 in the series). Exploring this trio of women has been fascinating. In many ways similar - tenacious, bold, and adventuresome, they are also quite different, dealing with insecurities and issues of their own.

I read lots of diaries and memoirs of women who were part of the various gold rushes, and for this book, the Alaskan gold rush in particular. We often romanticize history, and there may have been some glamour in leaving everything behind to travel to a distant location and seek one's fortune. But the reality was more often than not harsh with injury, disease, danger, hunger, cold, bankruptcy, and failure. Some of the women followed fathers, husbands, or brothers. A small number went on their own, to the dismay of most of the men.

I hope you enjoy this peek into America's history. Here's the blurb:

She’s out to prove herself. He’s only looking for adventure. Neither one realizes they’ll find more than gold “in them thar hills.” 

 

Tegan Llewellyn has always been different than her adopted family, except Grandmother Hannah, a prospector during the 1829 Georgia gold rush. Now, seventy years later there are reports of gold in Nome, and the opportunity is too good to pass up. But Tegan doesn’t count on the dangers that strike from the moment she steps off the steamer, including the threat of losing her heart. 

Elijah Hunter has prospected for gold all over the US and Canada and likes being on the move. The last thing he expects to find on his latest search is a lady miner who proves to be nothing but trouble. Can he convince her that leaving is for her own good before it’s too late...for both of them? 

Gold Rush Bride Tegan is part of the exciting multi-author Gold Rush Brides series set in 19th century America. First, there was Hannah, then Caroline, and now Tegan. If you enjoy clean romances with a taste of intrigue, you’re sure to enjoy this series of books. You might even catch some gold fever of your own.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3gqoFvj

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Alyssa Schwartz

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Alyssa Schwartz

LM: Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your recent release Dear Beth. What was your inspiration behind the story, and why did you decide to issue it as a prequel? 

Alyssa: Hi, Linda! And thank you for hosting me! Last October, I released my debut book, The Glass Cottage, and I knew I wanted to continue the story of the Prescott cousins in a series. I actually alluded to Tye’s and Beth’s story briefly in that book, so when I got around to finally writing it, I knew it had to be a prequel since their love story pre-dated the one in The Glass Cottage. 

I’ve always loved participating in Loveland, Colorado’s Valentine re-mailing program, and I think centering a story around the town’s quirky traditions just evolved from there. This 76-year-old tradition started when Elmer Ivers, the Postmaster of the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, received a few dozen letters with a note to stamp them with Loveland’s postmark. Thinking it a great idea himself, he rounded up the Loveland stamp club and began the letter re-mailing program, complete with its own cancellation stamp. Now all these years later, the Sweetheart City’s re-mailing program has gone international, receiving mail from over 110 countries spanning from Denmark, to China, to Japan! 

 

LM: What is your favorite aspect of writing? 

Alyssa: I love that I get to do something creative. My background is in geological engineering, which oddly enough involves a fair bit of storytelling in itself, but it’s so much more fun getting to dream up stories all day. 

LM: What sort of research did you conduct for the book? Was there a particular tidbit you felt must be included? 

Photo: Pixabay/Jill Wellington

Alyssa: Since the story revolves around Valentine’s Day in Loveland, I wanted to include as many real-life events as possible aside from the re-mailing program. I went through a ton of old newspaper articles, read a few history books, and pulled some from my own family history. I think my favorite thing I stumbled upon was the “Catch Me If You Can” race. The women are given a 3-minute head start and the men have to try and “catch” their running partners by the end of the 5K run. I’d never heard of such a thing, but I knew as soon as I read about it that I’d have to find a way to include that in the story. 

LM: How do you prepare yourself for writing? (e.g. set up in a particular location, turn on music, etc.) 

Alyssa: I’m still figuring out what works best, but any good writing session requires a cup of good tea and some chocolate. I also try to put together a playlist for each story before I start writing, and I find listening to it while I write helps get me into the story. 

 

LM: In addition to writing, you are a hydrogeologist as well as an artist who recently created your own business. How do you juggle all your responsibilities? 

Alyssa: I’m not currently doing any hydrogeology work at the moment, but it is definitely a juggling act to balance everything some weeks. I try as best I can to block off specific days for certain projects, and that seems to work at the moment. 

 

LM: You are very accomplished. What is one thing you wish you knew how to do? 

Alyssa: I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the ukulele. 

LM: What is your next project? 

 

Alyssa: I’m currently halfway through the next book in the Prescott Family Romance series, and I’m fleshing out ideas for the final book as well. 

LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 

Alyssa: You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram, or check out my website and newsletter for more story-related news:

Website: https://www.authoralyssaschwarz.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralyssaschwarz/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssaschwarzauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21846420.Alyssa_Schwarz 

Dear Beth: 

After finishing his veterinarian training, Tye Prescott is back in Colorado and ready to give his relationship with Beth another chance, only she's made it very clear she wants nothing to do with him. 

Beth Walsh is a hopeless romantic, except when it comes to her own love life. In her opinion, love is best left to the storybooks. But when a few nosy octogenarians decide to play matchmaker, she grasps for the only excuse she can think of to avoid another setup. 

 

Set against the backdrop of Loveland's historic Valentine's Day letter re-mailing program, Tye and Beth must work together to convince the town of their rekindled romance. But Tye has his own plans of winning back the woman who got away. Might it finally be time for Beth to risk her heart again?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3GNeWdq

Traveling Tuesday: Steaming to Nome

Traveling Tuesday: Steaming to Nome 

“At 3 o’clock this morning, the steamship Portland, from St. Michaels for Seattle, passed up [Puget] sound with more than a ton of gold onboard and 68 passengers.” 

July 17, 1897, Seattle Post-Intelligencer 

Three days prior to when they article ran, the SS Excelsior arrived in San Francisco with over $500,000 worth of gold. These two reports prompted an immediate stampede to Nome, Alaska by thousands of men and women to seek their fortune. The percentage of those who “struck it rich” was small, with merchants, suppliers, and service providers often earning more than the miners. 

 

Before they could dig for gold, the miners had to find a way to the gold fields. The land route was long and treacherous. Travelers on this course had the choice of carrying several hundred tons of foods and necessities with them or purchasing the items at exorbitant rates upon their arrival. Most prospectors elected to make the trip via steamship, either from San Francisco or Seattle. 

 

Between July and December, over 8,000 people steamed north out of Washington. Even more flocked from San Francisco. Alaska Steamship Company (1 ship) and Pacific Coast Steamship (4 ships) soon faced heavy competition as more shipping companies created routes to ferry passengers to Nome. The existing companies as well as the new companies scrambled to find ships to send to Alaska. Fares plunged by mid-April as the contest to entice miners continued. 

The aforementioned SS Portland was constructed at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine in 1895 and originally christened Haytian Republic. Before its illustrious voyage to deliver nearly one million dollars worth of gold to Seattle, the vessel was a known opium runner and Chinese smuggler. Another ship, the SS Hassler was renamed Clara Nevada and ran service between Seattle, Skagway, and Dyea with room for one hundred first-class passengers, one hundred in steerage, and three hundred tons of freight. Unfortunately, the ship completed only one round trip before becoming victim to one of the worst gold rush marine disasters when she struck an unchartered rock near Eldred Rock and sank with no survivors. 

 

As the rush continued, reports indicate it became difficult to secure passage as evidenced by another Seattle-Intelligencer article (January 1, 1901) that told about Sarah A. Menagh who paid $100 for a first-class ticket and ended up using a bathtub as her stateroom. According to the essay, she was thrown out of the tub by a “sudden jar” and sustained injuries that confined her to bed for twenty-five days. She sued the owners of the ship for damages of $1,896. It is unclear if she won her case. 

_____________________

Gold Rush Bride Tegan

She’s out to prove herself. He’s only looking for adventure. Neither one realizes they’ll find more than gold “in them thar hills.” 

Tegan Llewellyn has always been different than her adopted family, except Grandmother Hannah, a prospector during the 1829 Georgia gold rush. Now, seventy years later there are reports of gold in Nome, and the opportunity is too good to pass up. But Tegan doesn’t count on the dangers that strike from the moment she steps off the steamer, including the threat of losing her heart. 

Elijah Hunter has prospected for gold all over the US and Canada and likes being on the move. The last thing he expects to find on his latest search is a lady miner who proves to be nothing but trouble. Can he convince her that leaving is for her own good before it’s too late...for both of them?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3H6cT42

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Sally Carpenter

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Sally Carpenter

Linda: Welcome to my blog. Congratulations on your most recent release, The Notorious Noel Caper, part of the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol Mystery Series. Tell us your inspiration for the plot. 

Sally: Thank you. I write cozy mysteries, and most cozy series have a Christmas book. Many cozy readers love Christmas stories, especially those set in the American northeast with lots of snow, a chill in the air and heavy sweaters. Since my protagonist lives in Los Angeles, my story has sand, not snow, and 75-degree temperatures. 

Southern California is known for its theme parks, and a Christmas-oriented amusement park seemed a logical setting. My protagonist, Sandy Fairfax, is a 38-year-old former pop star making a comeback. He’s hired to emcee the Miss North Pole scholarship pageant, set at the Santa’s Magic theme park. Former teen idol Donny Osmond has hosted the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants, so it seemed like a good job for Sandy. However, Sandy gets in trouble when his girlfriend, Cinnamon Lovette, is jealous of him working near so many beautiful women—but he stays faithful. People begin dying at the theme park and one of Sandy’s friends, who is later charged with the killings, asks Sandy to investigate the suspicious deaths. 

LM: You’ve written most of your books as part of the Teen Idol and Psychedelic Spy series, each with very unique protagonists. Where did you get your idea for the two series/characters? 

Photo: WikiImages

Sally: The Monkees inspired the Teen Idol books. In the 1990s, VH1 began running The Monkees TV show daily and I was hooked. Somehow the guys struck a chord with me at that time. I became interested in the teen idol phenomena. After some research, I discovered that teen idols from the 1950s-1970s followed an almost identical career path: explosive, sudden and intense fame for two to four years followed by a crash and long-term rejection by the industry. Teen idols married young, had kids and, with the exception of Donny Osmond, divorced and drank heavily. Then in their mid-to-late 40s the idols staged a comeback and achieved new success when their grown-up fans searched for nostalgia and the younger generation found them. 

I wanted to explore this type of character and created Sandy Fairfax to follow this trajectory. In the first book of the series, The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper, Sandy recently quit drinking and is just getting back in the public eye after several fallow years. Over the series arc, he reconnects with his estranged family and children. The series follows his journey from a self-centered has-been to a more open, loving human being. 

The Psychedelic Spy series, set in 1967, was inspired for my love of the 1960s: the colors, music, media, fashions, mindset. It was a heady period that preached “love and peace” but was filled with conflict: the Vietnam War, generation gap, civil rights, women’s rights, the rise of Eastern religions, the New Age moment, Vatican II for Catholics and contemporary worship/the Jesus movement for Protestants. 

The popularity of the James Bond books and movies launched the ‘60s spy craze, inspiring many spy-related moves and TV shows. I created Noelle McNabb, an actress and a Christian who is recruited by a spy agency. Her morals and values often conflict with the ends-justify-the-means approach of the agency. 

LM: You’ve been an actress, college writing instructor, jail chaplain, and tour guide for Paramount pictures. How did those jobs impact your writing/story ideas? 

 

Sally: Both of my protagonists are actors LOL. I used my experience at Paramount Pictures for my Sandy

Fairfax books, since he works in TV and films. His second book, The Sinister Sitcom Caper, is an accurate description of the five-day rehearsal and shooting schedule of a typical Hollywood sitcom. The fictional setting, Mammoth Picture Studio, was modeled after Paramount. 

 

LM: How do you decide where to set your stories, and have you visited the places in your books? 

Sally: The Noelle McNabb books are set in Southern Indiana, where I grew up in the 1960s. The cities are fictional but based on my hometown and the nearby “big city,” Evansville. 

Since 2000 I’ve lived in Southern California, the setting for Sandy Fairfax, who works in the entertainment industry. I use a few real places, such as Cantors Deli and Hamburger Hamlet, but I mostly use fictitious stores and places so I don’t have to worry about accuracy. 

The Santa’s Magic theme park in my new book was, of course, inspired by the famous Mouse Park in Anaheim, including the underground tunnels for the staff to move about. I’ve been to Disneyland twice, but only because a friend gave me free guest passes; it’s far too expensive. 

LM: Are you an outliner/plotter or “discovery” writer (i.e., just sit down and start writing)? 

Sally: I outline, although it’s a rough list of scenes I scribble on paper. I don’t use software programs or index cards or color-coded markers. Generally, I often write the opening and closing scenes, then I plan the middle part with the mystery. In the second draft I add more red herrings, suspects and description. In my new book, I had a character, Doug Shaw, who was only mentioned briefly. I expanded his role in later drafts. The outline isn’t set in stone, but I do need to know where I’m going. 

 

In my fourth book, The Quirky Quiz Show Caper, I tried “pantsing.” After 50 pages I was stuck and threw out most of what I’d written. Chapter two became chapter one. I shifted the focus from Sandy and his father to Sandy to his brother, which made a more interesting story. 

LM: What sort of advice can you give to fledgling writers? 

Sally: Finish what you start. Too many “writers” talk about writing but never do it. You can’t publish what isn’t written. And if you want a long-term writing career, you need perseverance and dedication. Many writers publish one or two books, sell a few copies to friends and family, and that’s the end of that. For the career author, the writing and marketing are ongoing. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. 

LM: What is your next project? 

Photo: Pixabay/
TCFA

Sally: I’ve started book six of the Sandy Fairfax series. Working title is The Highland Havoc Caper; the story centers on the Scottish Highland Games. Sandy’s 13-year-old son plays a principal role. After that is book three to wrap up the Noelle McNabb series. I’d like to start a third cozy series if I can figure how to use an angel with a human sleuth. So many ideas, so little time. 

LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 

Sally: My website is sandyfairfaxauthor.com. You can friend me on Facebook at facebook.com.sally.carpenter.54. 

The Notorious Noel Caper: 

Nothing brings a couple together like murder. Former pop star Sandy Fairfax gets sleuthing help from his friend, Cinnamon, when bodies start dropping like snowflakes at the soon-to-open Santa’s Magic theme park in Southern California. The deadly Christmas season kicks off at a celebrity bowling tournament when a pinsetter drops a body in place of the pins. Sandy’s also dealing with a difficult director while he’s the emcee on the televised Miss North Pole pageant. Along with surfing Santas, a seductive executive’s wife and a movie rival, it’s truly the most wonderful time of the year.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3nbwtoG

Happy birthday, Mom!

 Happy birthday, Mom!

Today is Valentine's Day, and for most people that means candy and flowers. However, the day has never been about romance for me because it's my mother's birthday. I'm blessed that she lives close by and is in good health, something I don't take for granted. She is an intriguing mix of her parents: shy and an avid reader like her mother, and tenacious and independent like her dad.

Born in the middle of the Great Depression, she was raised on a farm in a small town in Maryland surrounded by lots of extended family where she was more comfortable with outside chores than being in the kitchen. As a result, she has an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and trees and could easily have had a career as a landscape architect. You should see her front yard!

Mom and her brother,
my Uncle Lawrence

By the time she started school, the country was at war, and several of her uncles and cousins went overseas to serve, some of whom didn't return. Despite being fairly young during WWII, she has strong memories of collecting scrap metal and looking at the maps on the front of the newspapers. She can recall her mother saving fat and mending the family's clothes rather than making new ones. Because of living on the farm, rationing didn't affect Mom or the family as much as it did my dad who lived in Baltimore City, although she does talk about gas rationing, and the fact the family rarely went anywhere. She was eleven years old when the war ended.

Her folks scrimped and saved to purchase a piano and arrange lessons for her. She took to the instrument like the proverbial duck to water and by early high school was playing for the church choir. Further saving allowed her to attend Western Maryland College where she obtained her bachelor's degree in music and met my father. They married, and she followed him to various locations first with the Army, then Citgo, and finally IBM. At each location, she got involved in their church's music program, often serving as church pianist. Her love of books prompted her to start libraries in several of her churches.

Photo: Pixabay/Jill Wellington

She has friends all over the country and faithfully corresponds with them using the postal system. That's right - no email for her. She'd much rather handwrite a letter - a lost art. And folks don't have to be far away for her to bless them with a card or letter - I've received quite a few myself.

Happy birthday, Mom! I don't tell you often enough how much I love you! 

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome back, Sandra Merville Hart

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Sandra Merville Hart

Linda: Welcome back to my blog. Your book Avenue of Betrayal sounds intriguing. Tell us your inspiration for the plot. 

Sandra: Thanks for hosting me again! I wrote a series of articles about Civil War Women on my blog,  Historical Nibbles. The number of spies in the war astounded me, as did the ways they communicated their secret information to others. I learned about Belle Boyd, Elizabeth Van Lew, Rose Greenhow, and many others. 

 

This piqued my interest to research about other Civil War spies. Allan Pinkerton’s detectives are well-known and I was fascinated to learn more about them. 

 

Then I considered what I heard as a child—that this terrible war pitted brother against brother, father against son, friend against friend and some of that turmoil happened outside the battlefield. The story grew inside me from there. 

LM: You are part of a couple of story collections. How did those projects come about, and do you plan to do any in the future? 

Sandra: These were such fun for me to participate in! I’ve learned that writing novellas is much faster than writing novels, not only because of shorter word counts but also for less research. 😊 One of the collections I’m in with Mt. Zion Ridge Press, From the Lake to the River, came about through my involvement with ACFW Ohio Chapter, where Ohio authors wrote stories set in Ohio, any genre. The opportunity to write for Christmas fiction off the beaten path also came through that publisher. 

My editor at Smitten Historical Romance gave me the honor of asking me to write a novella for The Cowboys. That story was so much fun to write. Research and all writing were completed in less than a month. 

Yes, I’d love to write for another novella collection! It’s a refreshing change from my novels. 

LM: Most of your books are set during the Civil War. What draws you to that time period? Is there an intriguing little known fact about the era you can share? 

Sandra: I am fascinated with the Civil War era, a tragic period that reverberates down through our 

Photo: Pixabay/David Mark

country’s history. I discovered that there’s much our current generation doesn’t know about the attitudes, beliefs, and customs of the time. It’s a disservice to judge a previous era with current standards. (If those living then judged the current society, we wouldn’t fare well in their eyes either.) I do a lot of research to shed light on what really happened and how people who lived at the time felt about it. I hope to bring healing. 

LM: How do you decide where to set your stories, and have you visited the places in your books? 

Sandra: So far, I’ve visited the main setting in every novel. Walking the same streets my fictional characters walk sparks my imagination. 

It’s funny you ask about the decision for the setting, for what inspires a book varies for me. For instance, when it came time to write A Rebel in My House, I knew there was a story waiting for me in Gettysburg and I traveled there to find it. Inspiration for another story, A Musket in My Hands, came about when a friend asked, “Did you know there was a husband and wife who fought together in the Civil War?” I did, but hadn’t considered it as a story idea until he suggested it. 

One more example. Long before I began writing, a story of a flood came to me again and again. I was finally able to write those scenes in Surprised by Love, my novella set in the tragic 1913 Great Miami River Flood in Troy, Ohio. It’s part of the From the Lake to the River collection. I really love that story about everyday heroes. 

 

LM: Are you an outliner/plotter or “discovery” writer (i.e., just sit down and start writing)? 

Sandra: I’m a “discovery” writer. What a fun way to write! Yet, I must remain true to history. Research shows me the historical events and I drop my characters into it. 

LM: Now that you have several books published, what is a piece of advice you can give fledgling writers? 

Sandra: Persevere. Keep working hard. Take classes and workshops. Attend writer conferences and apply what you learned there to your WIP. Rejections cut deeply. Remembering that all authors experience this sting may help you pick yourself up and find the courage to write again. 

LM: What is your next project? 

Photo: Pixabay/StockSnap

Sandra: I’m so happy you asked! In addition to this “Spies of the Civil War” series, I am writing a series that begins in 1877, so this one isn’t set during the Civil War. In Ginny’s Shadow is the first book of the as yet unnamed series. Rose understands Samuel only considers his children when he proposes a marriage of convenience after losing his wife. He feels his schoolteacher friend can help raise his children, but can she find love with her schoolgirl crush when the family pushes her away? 

LM: Where can folks find you on the web? 

Sandra: I’d love for readers to connect with me on my blog, Historical Nibbles, where I share historical recipes and food-related posts, American history posts, and book reviews. I also share recipes from my books and historical background for my stories. It’s a lot of fun—and a fair amount of work—to maintain this blog. I invite readers to check it out. Readers can also look for me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and my Amazon Author Page.  

About Avenue of Betrayal: Betrayed by her brother and the man she loves … whom can she trust when tragedy strikes? Soldiers are pouring into Washington City every day and have begun drilling in preparation for a battle with the Confederacy. Annie Swanson worries for her brother, whom she’s just discovered is a Confederate officer in his new home state of North Carolina. Even as Annie battles feelings of betrayal toward the big brother she’s always adored, her wealthy banker father swears her and her sister to secrecy about her brother’s actions. How could he forsake their mother’s abolitionist teachings? 

Sergeant-Major John Finn camps within a mile of the Swansons’ mansion where his West Point pal once lived. Sweet Annie captured his heart at Will’s wedding last year and he looks forward to reestablishing their relationship—until he’s asked to spy on her father. 

To prove her father’s loyalty to the Union, John agrees to spy on the Swanson family, though Annie must never know. Then the war strikes a blow that threatens to destroy them all—including the love that’s grown between them against all odds. 

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books 

I had a wonderful time being a guest on your blog today. Thanks, Linda!

Wartime Wednesday: The Spanish American War

Wartime Wednesday: The Spanish American War 

Photo: Pixabay/Mooline1

Despite only lasting four months, the 1898 Spanish American was a great turning point for world powers. The war originated during the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain which began three years earlier. Some scholars feel that Spain treated Cuba like a province rather than a colony, depending on the country for prestige and trade. Spanish Prime Minister Antonio Canovas del Castillo was quoted as saying, “the Spanish nation disposed to sacrifice to the last peseta of its treasure and to the last drop of blood of the last Spaniard before consenting that anyone snatch from it even one piece of its territory.” He was assassinated in 1897, the years before the war started. 

Many Americans likened the Cuban desire for independence to that of the United States more than one year prior. Additionally, several sensational newspapers engaged in “yellow journalism” and graphically portrayed Spain as using brutally repressive measures to halt the revolution. American sympathy rose. 

 

After some anti-Spanish rioting in Havana, the United States sent the USS Maine was sent from Key West, Florida to the city in January 1898 to protect US citizens and property. Three weeks later, an explosion occurred on the ship, killing 260 of the 355 men on board. It was later determined that the powder charges for the vessel’s six- and ten-inch guns detonated, but at the time, it was assumed that the Spanish had destroyed the ship. 

Photo: WikiImages

The cry went up from the American public that US must intervene and seek revenge. The cause of the accident was debated for several days. Soon afterward, Congress issued a resolution that declared Cuba’s right to independence and demanded the withdrawal of Spain’s armed forces from the island. The resolution also authorized the use of force while renouncing any design for annexing Cuba. 

By all accounts, the war was one-sided. Spain had seemingly not readied its army or navy for a distant war with a formidable power such as the US. On May 1, 1898 a US naval squadron arrived in Manila Bay in the Philippines and destroyed the anchored Spanish fleet within two hours. The US then moved onto Cuba where troops (Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders among them) landed on the coast east of Santiago. The Spanish commander Admiral Pascual Cervera tried to escape with his squadron westward but they came under heavy fire from the US and all his ships were lost. 

Photo: WikiImages

On July 17, 1898, Spain surrendered, and five months later signed the Treaty of Paris renouncing all claims to Cuba, and ceded sovereignty over Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the US. As a result, America emerged as a world power with far-flung overseas possessions, and Spain turned its attention inward upon its domestic needs and away from colonial expansion. 

_________________________________

Gold Rush Bride Tegan

She’s out to prove herself. He’s only looking for adventure. Neither one realizes they’ll find more than gold “in them thar hills.” 

 

Tegan Llewellyn has always been different than her adopted family, except Grandmother Hannah, a prospector during the 1829 Georgia gold rush. Now, seventy years later there are reports of gold in Nome, and the opportunity is too good to pass up. But Tegan doesn’t count on the dangers that strike from the moment she steps off the steamer, including the threat of losing her heart. 

 

Elijah Hunter has prospected for gold all over the US and Canada and likes being on the move. The last thing he expects to find on his latest search is a lady miner who proves to be nothing but trouble. Can he convince her that leaving is for her own good before it’s too late...for both of them? 

Gold Rush Bride Tegan is part of the exciting multi-author Gold Rush Brides series set in 19th century America. First, there was Hannah, then Caroline, and now Tegan. If you enjoy clean romances with a taste of intrigue, you’re sure to enjoy this series of books. You might even catch some gold fever of your own.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3HClHA0

Traveling Tuesday: Sailing Vessels and Steamships

Traveling Tuesday: Sailing Vessels and Steamships 

Photo: Pixabay/
Susann Mielke

Like most folks living the modern era, I tend to take modes of transportation for granted. I expect my car to start when I turn the key, and for the vehicle to get me to my destination. The same applies to airline flights, train trips, and the cruises I’ve taken. The research I’ve done over the last couple of years about the 1800s has given me a new appreciation for the technological advances that surround me: specifically water travel. 

My husband and I have been to be able to take quite a few cruises over the years. Gigantic ships that come with stabilizers to ensure smooth passage and engines designed to run efficiently, effectively, and quietly made our journeys delightful excursions. From what I’ve read, the term “cruise” could hardly be applied to ocean-crossing voyages of old. 

Scholars know that early civilizations (as long ago as 4,000 years) used watercraft for transportation. It is thought the Egyptians used the first seagoing vessels, followed by the Phoenicians, Cretans, Greeks, and Romans. A thousand years later the Chinese and Japanese travel the internal and coastal waterways. However, it wasn’t until the spice and tea trades arose that shipping came into its own as an industry.

Photo: Pixabay/enzol

The Age of Sailing is considered to have lasted from the mid-1600 through the mid-1900s. A “sailingship” is simply defined as a sea-going vessel that uses sails mounted on masts in order to use the power of wind to propel it. There are a variety of sail plans or the way a ship is rigged such as the square-rigged, in which the primary driving sails are carried on horizonal spars which are perpendicular (or square) to the keel of the vessel or a fore-and-aft in which the sails are mounted along the line of the keel. 

As understanding of wind and currents progressed, and more speed was desired, the number of masts and configuration of ships changed, as did their names. A brig has two masts that are square-rigged. A full-rigged ship referred to a vessel with three or more masts. Schooners were typically fore-and-aft rigged with the foremast shorter than the mainmast. A variant is the topsail schooner that has a square topsail on the foremast. Additional variants are the barque, barquentine, and brigantine. And don’t forget the galleon or the clipper. Are you as confused as I am?? Fortunately, there will NOT be a test. As sailing ships became longer and faster over time, with taller masts and more square sails countries developed large fleets of well-armed warships. However, even the fastest ship couldn’t go more than fifteen knots, or just over seventeen miles per hour. Thus, voyages from Europe to America took from six weeks in good weather to as many as fourteen weeks in inclement weather. A long journey, to be sure. 

Photo: Pixabay/jgerim

In 1807, Robert Fulton’s steamship Clermont was the first ship to demonstrate the feasibility of steam propulsion for commercial use, but it was not until the 1840s that steam-propelled vessels came into their own. Another sixty years would pass before, the ships stopped carrying sails as a backup. By the 1860s, steamships allowed for more tonnage than sailing ships. Additionally, the speed of a steamship surpassed that of a sailing ship, some traveling as fast as nineteen knots or over twenty-one miles per hour. This seems like an imperceptible difference, but it allowed steamships to cross the ocean in just two weeks – a thrill for travelers whose berths were nothing like the spacious well-appointed cabins of today’s cruise ships. 

 

Have you ever taken a cruise? Do you sail or kayak? Or would you rather stay on land? 

___________________________

Gold Rush Bride Tegan

She’s out to prove herself. He’s only looking for adventure. Neither one realizes they’ll find more than gold “in them thar hills.” 

Tegan Llewellyn has always been different than her adopted family, except Grandmother Hannah, a prospector during the 1829 Georgia gold rush. Now, seventy years later there are reports of gold in Nome, and the opportunity is too good to pass up. But Tegan doesn’t count on the dangers that strike from the moment she steps off the steamer, including the threat of losing her heart. 

 

Elijah Hunter has prospected for gold all over the US and Canada and likes being on the move. The last thing he expects to find on his latest search is a lady miner who proves to be nothing but trouble. Can he convince her that leaving is for her own good before it’s too late...for both of them? 

Gold Rush Bride Tegan is part of the exciting multi-author Gold Rush Brides series set in 19th century America. First, there was Hannah, then Caroline, and now Tegan. If you enjoy clean romances with a taste of intrigue, you’re sure to enjoy this series of books. You might even catch some gold fever of your own.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3HClHA0

Fiction Friday: New Releases for February

February 2022 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Amish Romance:

Strength in the Storm by Laurel M. Blount -- After the murder of both her parents, Emma Hochstedler returns to the small community of Johns Mill, hoping to resume her quiet existence. Reclaiming her place proves harder than expected—especially now that a movie is being made about her family’s loss. But then, an old friend offers her a lifeline that gives her new purpose. Amish builder Samuel Christner is the biggest—and the strongest—man in town. In fact, the gentle giant has only one weakness—Emma. Even though she broke his heart, he won’t let his childhood sweetheart face her troubles alone. He hires Emma as a nurse for his elderly aunt…and finds himself falling for her all over again. (Amish Romance from Berkley Penguin Random House)

Biblical:

Defending David by Barbara M. Britton -- When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six-hundred warriors. Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman's niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land. Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir's betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son? (Biblical from Harbourlight Books/Penguin)

Contemporary Romance:

Book Title by Carolyn Miller -- parks fly when a hometown hockey hero meets a classy art-loving museum guide hiding a secret...Jai Mullins is used to being the fastest man on ice. Trouble is, his ability to find a genuine woman is tracking at glacial melt levels. He’s trusting God she’s out there, but he’s wary of getting trapped by a superfan, when all he wants is someone with whom he can be real. Allie Davis has two great loves: impressionist art and hockey. More specifically, a certain hockey player. But between her shyness and her family, she’s convinced she’ll never meet him, let alone connect with him in a non-embarrassing way. Until she does. And they connect. And romance sparks. But she is hiding a big secret, and he’s about to find that first impressions sometimes need a reality check. Will they learn to trust and find a way forward, or will half-truths lead to further hurt on opposite sides of the country and lonely lives? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Her Tycoon Hero by Narelle Atkins -- Cassie Beaumont believes in second chances. Cassie is set on proving she’s no longer a party girl, instead focusing on her career as an event planner. Ryan Mitchell, her dad’s top executive, proves to be a handsome distraction, especially when someone from Cassie’s wild past tries to draw her back into the life she has worked hard to escape. Ryan is taken with his boss’s beautiful daughter. But he is slow to trust, having been burned by a brother who ran in the same circles. When Cassie’s newfound faith works its way into his heart, Ryan wants to claim both Cassie and her faith as his own. Can they forgive past mistakes and navigate a future together? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh -- Brielle Adebayo is fully content teaching at a New York City public school and taking annual summer vacations with her mother to Martha's Vineyard. But everything changes when her mom drops the mother of all bombshells--Brielle is a princess in the kingdom of Oloro Ilé, Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, King Tiwa Jimoh Adebayo, is failing. Distraught by her mother's betrayal, Brielle is further left spinning when the Oloro Ilé Royal Council brings up an old edict that states she must marry before assuming the throne or the crown will be passed to another. Uncertain who to choose from the council's list of bachelors, she struggles with the decision along with the weight of her new role in a new country. With her world totally shaken, she must take a chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring. (Contemporary Romance from Bethany House/Baker Publishing)

Secrets of Their Past by Allie Pleiter -- Facing the past could change his future. Veterinarian Neal Rodgers is in Wander Canyon seeking the truth about his past—not to rescue a litter of kittens under his next-door neighbor’s porch. But persistent single-mom Tessa Kennedy is impossible to ignore—especially when she uncovers a family secret of her own. Discovering the hidden facts of their histories could be the key to unlocking everything in this small town. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

The Valentine Proposal by Beth Pugh -- Can Love Be 10 Years in the Making? Award-winning photographer Mason Montgomery is back in Pine Valley, Kentucky. Hopefully, for good, if his business proposal is accepted. On paper, he’s the perfect buyer for Forget-Me-Not Photography. Too bad the seller, Ol' Man Rowe, doesn't see it that way. He's looking for a family man to take over, and Mason's bachelor status doesn't fit the bill.For shy Lily Anne Dawson, life has not turned out the way she'd hoped. Working at her mother's bakery and editing for the local newspaper is a far cry from her journalistic dream. She's a failure. A lonely failure worrying about infertility with no romantic prospects in sight. That all changes when a decade-old promise to marry on Valentine's Day pushes the two together at their high school reunion. The impromptu proposal offers a solution to their problems. But marriage requires honesty―and both have secrets. Secrets that could make or break their budding love. (Contemporary Romance from Candlelight/Iron Stream Media)

To Belong Together by Emily Conrad -- Fame and money have a way of complicating love. Drummer John Kennedy can keep a beat, but he can’t hold a conversation, so he relies on actions to show he cares. Unfortunately, when he’s instantly intrigued by a spunky female mechanic, he can’t seem to convey the sincerity of his intentions. And the rejections don’t stop there. His own sister is pushing him away just when he could help her most. Erin Hirsh’s life would be easier if God hadn’t given her a love for cars. Only her father understood her, and she’s losing him to dementia. Her brief romances have always backfired worse than a mistuned engine, and she refuses to give John the chance to wreck her heart. A rock star with a supermodel ex can’t possibly see anything in her. At least that’s what she thinks until they find common ground in faith and their worsening family situations leave them each longing for a place to belong. Could God intend for this pair of opposites to belong together? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

General Historical:

Wilderness Wife by Delores Topliff -- arguerite Wadin MacKay believes her 17-year marriage to explorer, Alex MacKay, is strong—until sudden fame makes him announce their frontier marriage is void in Montréal where he now goes to choose a society wife—not one with native blood. Taking their son, MacKay sends Marguerite and their three daughters to a trading post where she lived as a child. Deeply shamed, she arrives in time to assist young visiting Doctor John McLoughlin with a medical emergency. Marguerite now lives only for her girls. When Fort William on Lake Superior opens a school, Marguerite moves there for her daughters’ sake. Newly assigned there, Doctor McLoughlin’s friendship with Marguerite grows. When he declares his love, she dissuades him from a match harmful to his career. She’s mixed blood and nine years older. He will have no one else. After abandonment, can a woman love again and fulfill the key role in North American History that is her destiny? (General Historical from Scrivenings Press)

Historical Romance:

Avenue of Betrayal by Sandra Merville Hart -- Betrayed by her brother and the man she loves…whom can she trust when tragedy strikes? Soldiers are pouring into Washington City every day and have begun drilling in preparation for a battle with the Confederacy. Annie Swanson worries for her brother, whom she’s just discovered is a Confederate officer in his new home state of North Carolina. Even as Annie battles feelings of betrayal toward the big brother she’s always adored, her wealthy banker father swears her and her sister to secrecy about their brother’s actions. How could he forsake their mother’s abolitionist teachings?Sergeant-Major John Finn camps within a mile of the Swansons’ mansion where his West Point pal once lived. Sweet Annie captured his heart at Will’s wedding last year and he looks forward to reestablishing their relationship—until he’s asked to spy on her father.To prove her father’s loyalty to the Union, John agrees to spy on the Swanson family, though Annie must never know. Then the war strikes a blow that threatens to destroy them all—including the love that’s grown between them against all odds. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

Gold Rush Bride Tegan by Linda Shenton Matchett -- Tegan Llewellyn has always been different than her adopted family, except Grandmother Hannah, a prospector during the 1829 Georgia gold rush. Now, seventy years later there are reports of gold in Nome, and the opportunity is too good to pass up. But Tegan doesn’t count on the dangers that strike from the moment she steps off the steamer, including the threat of losing her heart. Elijah Hunter has prospected for gold all over the US and Canada and likes being on the move. The last thing he expects to find on his latest search is a lady miner who proves to be nothing but trouble. Can he convince her that leaving is for her own good before it’s too late...for both of them? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)

Lumberjacks and Ladies by Jennifer Lamont Leo, et. al -- Lumberjacks and Ladies Work Together to Build America...Struggling to remain independent in the 1800s, four women reluctantly open up to help from lumberjacks—and love. All That Glitters by Candice Sue Patterson, 1851—Maine. Winifred finds herself running the family lobstering business when her father and brothers join the California gold rush. Will she stubbornly reject help from a local lumberjack? Winter Roses by Pegg Thomas, 1865—Michigan. Elizabeth cooks for a logging crew, spurning the men’s advances, until reoccurring gifts capture her attention. Will she heed her mother’s warning about “shanty boys”? Not for Love by Naomi Musch, 1881—Wisconsin. Widowed, Maggie seeks a husband—in name only—from the logging camps, but the man who answers her letter is a surprise. Can she open her heart to love again? Undercover Logger by Jennifer Lamont Leo, 1890—Idaho. Carrie will not sell her timberland and allows the banker’s nephew to sign onto her logging crew to ferret out the reason she is losing money at an alarming rate. Will truth be revealed to her forlorn heart? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War by Mary Eileen Davis -- A WASP Goes Above the Call of Duty to Free Captive American Soldiers. Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes--the heroines of WWII. Peggy Witherspoon, a widow, mother, and pilot flying for the Women Airforce Service Pilots in 1944 clashes with her new reporting officer. Army Air Corp Major Howie Berg was injured in combat and is now stationed at Bolling Field in Washington D.C. Most of Peggy's jobs are safe, predictable, and she can be home each night with her two daughters--until a cargo run to Cuba alerts her to American soldiers being held captive there, despite Cuba being an "ally." Will Peggy go against orders to help the men--even risk her own life? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin -- As the Nazis march toward Paris in 1940, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape. Lucie struggles to run Green Leaf Books due to oppressive German laws and harsh conditions, but she finds a way to aid the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books. Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers. As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory. After they meet in the bookstore, Paul and Lucie are drawn to each other, but she rejects him when she discovers he sells to the Germans. And for Paul to win her trust would mean betraying his mission. (Historical Romance from Revell/Baker Publishing Group)

With a Trusting Heart by Dawn Kinzer -- Will trust be the winning ticket to mending two wounded hearts? The 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition is taking place in Seattle with participants from all over the world when Lizzie Clark accepts a position at an orphanage in the city. After suffering heartbreak and loss, she is determined to make a life for herself independently. Jack Butler’s mother abandoned their family when he was a young boy. Loyalty to his father cost him fulfilling his own aspirations, so Jack strives to take their family farm in a new direction. A newborn is left at the orphanage with a note asking Lizzie to take care of him. Why did the woman abandon her child? And why is Jack, a handsome local farmer so interested in helping Lizzie search for the infant’s mother? When shocking revelations disrupt their plans, Lizzie and Jack are faced with life-changing decisions. Will they open their hearts to trusting again? (Historical Romance from Morningview Publishing)

Mystery: Cozy:

Cliffhanger by Susan Page Davis -- The Novel Inn’s reopening goes smoothly until a guest vanishes. The new owners prepare for their first large group—a former squad of cheerleaders meeting for a reunion. Things go awry when the head cheerleader fails to show up. Sisters Kate and Jillian, the innkeepers, enlist the help of their brother Rick, a local police officer. They’re confident the missing woman will be found, but they soon learn to expect the unexpected, even during a walk on the beach. (Mystery: Cozy from Scrivenings Press)

Mystery: Romance:

The Prediction by Jean Rezab -- Thea deals with the limits her father places on her when she has a vision of his death. He has never accepted her ability, and he also deals with his own depression regarding his past. (Mystery: Romance, Independently Published)

Thriller/Suspense/Romance:

Safe House Exposed by Darlene L. Turner -- Witness protection should have kept them safe. Instead, it left them completely exposed…Canadian border patrol officer Emma James has only one concern after putting a crime boss behind bars: keeping her daughter safe. But witness protection has a leak, and Emma's enemies know exactly where to find her. Now on the run with no safe haven, trusting her estranged former brother-in-law, police constable Mason James, to shield them is her only hope… (Thriller/Suspence/Romance from Love Inspired/Harlequin)

That Scott Woman by Carlene Havel -- Maggie Scott returns home in 1966 after serving four years in prison. She has only one goal in mind, to create a secure and stable life for herself. Then Maggie meets Blake Hamilton, ex-rodeo cowboy turned preacher. The chemistry between this unlikely pair is undeniable, but there are problems. Blake is sure his calling is to serve God. Maggie is convinced she is beyond redemption. Common sense tells Maggie her attraction to Blake will end in heartbreak. (Thriller/Suspense/Romance, Independently Published)

Touch of Innocence by Robin Patchen -- How can she protect the child if nobody believes her? Grace used to try to save people, but that was before she realized how powerless she is. Now, she avoids emotional ties, working from her secluded cabin, content with her aloneness. When eight-year-old Lily starts hanging around, Grace enjoys her company but carefully keeps her distance—until she discovers the girl is being exploited. Little though she wants to, she must get involved, even if it means risking her own safety to secure Lily’s. Andrew can’t help but be drawn to his new neighbor and her beautiful foster child. When he learns about Lily’s disturbing history, he offers to help Grace prove her suspicions about the girl’s father. But the more they learn, the more puzzling Lily’s history seems. They work together to unravel the mystery, determined to ensure Lily ends up with a family who loves her. But Lily’s father isn’t giving up his muse—or his obsession—that easily. He believes Lily is rightfully his, and he’ll do anything to get her back. (Thrilled/Suspense/Romance, Independently Published)

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