Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Danielle Grandinetti!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Danielle Grandinetti!

I'm excited to welcome Danielle to my blog. She writes books set in one of my favorite eras. Listen in!

What was your inspiration for the story?

I call Investigation of a Journalist Buck’s story. Buck is the hero, and I’ve been anticipating telling his story since book one. Who would be his heroine—and other details—I worked out along the way. But at its core, this has been, and always will be, Buck’s story.

How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)?

Buck is head of the Crow’s Nest Conglomerate, a history that is complicated and explored through the previous books in the series. However, Caroline, the heroine, has a unique job for her gender. She’s an undercover investigative reporter. Since the story is about investigating a journalist in Buck’s town, Caroline’s job was the perfect counterpoint.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?

Before I knew who Buck’s heroine would be, I had been studying female stunt reporters like Nellie Bly. I knew I wanted to write a book about one, and it fit perfectly with this story. But the exceptionally interesting tidbit I had to include was actually about Halloween. Originally, I planned to end this story at Thanksgiving. It’s a series finale, what better way to end than in thanks? But with Caroline’s undercover job, Halloween became more fitting. Masks and darkness and pranks and creepy decorations.The line between light and dark …it fit. What I learned as I researched is that the 1930s was the “hay day” of Halloween. The tricks were dangerous and disruptive, fed by the desperation of the Great Depression. And the decorations … wow. I included descriptions of actual decorations sold during that time whenever I could.

Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym? Why or why not?

I have because I do! I began my career and my publishing journey before I married, so I decided to keep my pre-married name for work. I especially love that it allows me to show my Italian side.

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

Investigation of a Journalist is part of a series, and yes, I had always planned it that way. As I

Pixabay/Valerio Errani

mentioned earlier, I knew Buck would get his story. But how many books in the series, or how it would all develop, was a book-by-book process. When I told my cover designer about the premise of this book, she ended up using pieces from Book One in the cover of this book, providing a visual bookend effect. I love it! And it’s perfect because Buck’s story brings everything full circle from book one.

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

So I love this question because 1) I already have, and 2) I have more planned!

For Investigation of a Journalist, I included a character found in another of my series, bringing the two series into the same world. It was so much fun! And the more planned … well, this goes back to my research about female stunt reporters. Writing about just one isn’t enough … so readers will have to stay tuned for an exciting announcement coming in 2025!

What draws you to the time period about which you write?

I love writing in the 1930s, and you can expect all of my historical books will be set there (unless they are an origin story). I grew up listening to stories my Italian grandma told of growing up in 1920s-30s Chicago and my fascination of the decade grew from there.

There is so much in the 1930s. From the desperation adding a layer of suspense to my stories to the variety of events that occured. For example, technology and culture not only changed so fast within the decade, they were not unilateral changes. For example, electricity may be in the city, but not in the country. Then there was the world climate and prelude to WWII. The amount of strength it took to survive those years … it’s no wonder they are called the Greatest Generation.

Why do you write in your particular genre?

I love romantic suspense and romantic mystery, so when I decided to put that plot in an historical timeline, I immediately fell in love with the combination. History, romance, intrigue … all my favorite things in one.

What is your next project?

My next release is Heart of Beauty, which is part of the Hearts of the West historical romance series. This Beauty of the Beast retelling is the origin story for the ranch where one of the heroes from Crow’s Nest worked. It releases on Februrary 11.

Let's connect! https://daniellegrandinetti.com/links/

About Investigation of a Journalist

A second chance to set the record straight, and rekindle a lost love.

Wisconsin, 1931—Buck Wilson refuses to accept failure as his reward for all he has sacrificed, but he’s kept secrets for too long to be believed. With his freedom on the line, there’s only one person he trusts to mine for the true story: the woman he left one month before their wedding.

All investigative journalist Caroline Wagoneer wants is to shine a light on the truth wherever darkness threatens to obscure it. Which is the only reason she agrees to help her ex-fiance when he begs for her to go undercover in Crow’s Nest. What she discovers paints Buck in a whole new light.

With lies and rumor hemming them in, Buck and Caroline realize their love may be doomed on the altar of altruism. Unless love can truly conquer all.

Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/3Gq8Vp

Traveling Tuesday: Britain's Country Homes

Traveling Tuesday: 

Britain’s County Homes

Pixabay/Vane Monte

A Lesson in Love, my contribution to “The Strength of His Heart” charity anthology takes place in an English country home. Simply put, a country home is a large house or mansion in the countryside. The reason for the moniker was that many who owned such places also owned a house in town (or the city), referred to as a “town house.” According to Wikipedia, the term also “encompasses houses that were, and often still are, the full-time residence for the “landed gentry.” Depending on which sites you peruse, country homes may also be called manor homes. Other sites, differentiate between the two.

Country homes were generally not fortified. If a structure is fortified, it is called a castle (however there

Pixabay/VariousPhotography

are notable exceptions such as Highclere Castle in Hampshire that is not fortified.) The term “country home” was first used in Felicia Hemans’ 1827 poem “The Home of England.” Noel Coward’s 1938 song “The Stately Homes of England” written for the musical “Operette” uses the term and spoofs ownership as Genius.com puts it “making it clear that owning such a property isn’t nearly as romantic as it seems.”

Country homes have evolved since their inception in the second half of Elizabeth I’s reign as well as her successor’s, James I. Some of the homes were converted into private residences from ecclesiastical properties after Henry VIII’s “Dissolution of the Monasteries.”

Pixabay/Siggy Nowak

Some of the country homes were the creation of one architect or designer built in a short period of time, such as Blenheim Palace, however most country homes involved successive owners over decades, if not centuries, multiple designers who combined a mixture of architectural styles. Depending on the size of the owner’s ego, the designs were a testament to the individual’s power or desire for power.

Today, many of the homes have become hotels, schools, hospitals, and museums, while others have transferred ownership to trusts to avoid taxation. Others are available as venues for parties, weddings, filming locations, or corporate entertainment. Still others are open for public tours.

Have you had a chance to visit one or more of Britain’s country homes?

_____________

About A Lesson in Love (Part of The Strength of His Heart anthology)

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?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3O3nuCW

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome KC Hart!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome KC Hart!

I'm excited to welcome KC Hart to my blog. I read Our Head Strong Love back in April and adored this book! Second chance stories are my favorite. Take a few minutes to get to know this fascinating lady.

What was your inspiration for the story? The inspiration for Our Head Strong Love came from the conversion of Saul to Paul in Acts 26. I began thinking about what it would be like to have to return to a group of people that you had been trying to slay and imprison and try to teach and minister to. Can you imagine the trust issues that had to exist at the beginning?

How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)? Lucy, my female main character rose out of what I mentioned on the last question. What could she do that would make my readers dislike or maybe even loathe her, not trust her. She abandons her six little ones, the youngest still a baby, with her husband and goes off to chase a music career. She returns over twenty years later, after having no contact with any of them to try to form a relationship. Orville, her husband, has devoted his entire life to raising this family without her. He has a strong faith, but he could never stop loving the woman that betrayed not only him, but the kids as well.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include? I did a ton of research on the music industry, song writing, royalty shares, song writer’s rights. All of that was so interesting. I also did a lot of research on owning a junk store, taking things on consignment, contract agreements in these situations, things I’ve never thought about before.

Tell us about your road to publication. I lost my sister, two brothers and my mother to different unrelated illnesses in a two-year time span. I had been a hospice nurse for years, but after this I felt drained with nothing left to give. Hospice was not only a job, but also a ministry of sharing my faith. When this was gone, I felt like a large part of me had died. I had written some things over the years that only my family have seen. My daughters suggested I do this crazy thing called Nanowrimo. I had never heard of it before, but my oldest daughter and I started writing that November and texting our daily word count to each other. I love murder mysteries like Columbo, Murder She Wrote, Perry Mason. By the end of the month I had almost completed the first very rough draft on Moonlight Murder and Small Town Secrets, a Christian cozy mystery.

Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym? Why or why not? I actually do write under

Pixabay/Anna

the pen name KC Hart. My real name is Kathy Crosby. Hart is my maiden name. I think the reason I used a pen name to start with was fear. I was scared I would embarrass myself and my family with my little books. I truly did not expect anyone to want to read them.

How are your characters like you? Different? Well, my cozy mystery sleuth is a nurse, like me, living in a little town in Mississippi, like me. Those things are sort of obvious. Things that are not so obvious is that all my characters fail, stumble , can’t get up on their own even though the want to. They either turn to God for help, or turn back to God for help. I haven’t experienced a lot of the soul crushing things they have went through, but I can feel their heartache, because it mirrors my own in so many ways.

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series? Yes. All of my books are in series. I love reading series, so that may be why I write in series. In the Red Creek Redemption Romance series that I’m working on now, the father and mother are in book one, Our Head Strong Love. The other books are about their grown children.

How has your book changed since your first draft? I do not edit as I go. I just write what flows our after I get an idea and a general outline of characters and the story. When I go back through the finished first draft, I flesh things out. Like Orville, my main character gave up smoking when his kids were little. Now he always keeps butterscotch in his shirt pocket and won’t wear a shirt without a pocket.

Pixabay/Eddie K

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why? Two characters come to mind. One is Aunt Sadie. When Lucy left Orville with the kids all those years ago, Aunt Sadie basically gave up her life and stepped in to help her little brother Orville raise them. The other is Gordon Blue. He’s a wealthy man who owns the Blue Motel and a lot of other real estate in the little town of Red Creek. He’s a good guy, but has always been shortchanged in love. I’m wondering if a later in life romance between him and Aunt Sadie could happen.

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? I get this idea with a couple of characters, very general. I jot it down and flesh it out the best I can, but the real magic happens when I talk about it with my husband and daughters. I bounce ideas off of them and they give me feedback. My husband has to be kept on track, though, because he turns everything into a murder mystery if I don’t reign him in. I put all of that on an outline then I try to come up with a few things, like how the couple meet, what will be the spiritual growth aspect, what will be the dark moment, and what will bring them back together? Then I sit down and write, just seeing where the story takes me.

What books are on your nightstand right now? My Bible, a study of the life of Elijah and a craft book on writing.

What is your next project? I’m working on Our Unlikely Love, book three in the Red Creek Redemption series. This story is about the second son in the Robinson family, Owen, and Rachel, a girl from his past. He has ADHD and is sort of like a very handsome overgrown puppy. He’s inquisitive and very smart, but tends to be like a bull in a china shop. Rachel has moved back to town after a tragedy to live with her elderly grandmother and work in their ancient dry cleaners. She doesn’t have time for Owen, but he just won’t go away.

________________________

About Our Head Strong Love:

Sometimes giving a second chance is just too painful.

In the small town of Red Creek, Alabama, Lucy Robinson is back after 23 years of running away from her mistakes. She has returned broken, but with a newfound faith, hoping to prove to her husband Orville and their six children that she has changed and can be trusted again.

Orville Robinson thought the love for his wayward wife had died long ago, but when Lucy returns, he can’t help but feel a spark of love reignite. He doesn’t know if he can trust her again, and his decision will decide the fate of their family.

If you enjoy small town Christian romance with seasoned characters and stories of a second chance at happiness, Our Head Strong Love, book one in the Red Creek Redemption Series, is for you.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/40MLlyb

Connect with KC:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20570083.K_C_Hart

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kc-hart?list=author_books

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

Newsletter signup: https://www.kchartauthor.com/newsletter.html

Wartime Wednesday: Britain's Requsitioned Homes

Wartime Wednesday: 

Britain's Requisitioned Homes

Arundel Castle: Pixabay/Roman Grac

In a recent episode of Moments in History I discussed how the British government requisitioned thousands of manor homes from the country’s well-do-to and members of the peerage. The uses were as varied as the houses themselves, but the military acquired the vast majority; the Air Ministry inhabiting 20,000 alone. Are you familiar with these properties?

Arundel Castle: Located in Sussex, the medieval Arundel Castle was established in 11th century by Roger de Montgomery, cousin to William the Conqueror. Extensive damage was done during the English Civil War in the mid-1600s, and repairs and restoration did not begin until 1787. Fully completed in 1900, it was one of the first English country houses to be fitted with electric light, integral firefighting equipment, service lifts and central heating. The gravity fed domestic water supply also supplied the town. The estate covers 16,000 acres and was front line defense when an invasion of England’s south coast was thought to be imminent. Redoubts were built and anti-aircraft guns brought in. The banks of the moat were reinforced with brick-build emplacements, and a concrete pillbox was constructed at the end of the lake. Battle training, including tank and live ammunition, occurred day and night for the entirety of the war. Damage to the property was extensive, and it was not fully restored until the mid-1900s.

Blenheim Palace: The ancestral home of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace was

Blenheim Palace: Pixabay/averynichols

constructed on 2,000 acres (3.125 square miles) as a reward for John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough because of his win over France and Bavaria during the Battle of Blenheim in 1704 (War of Spanish Succession). One of England’s largest houses, the palace is in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, about two hours northwest of London. During WWII, the 400 boys from Malvern College, a boarding school for students aged 9-18. MI5 also took up residence after their London headquarters was bombed in September 1940. Trials of two prototype landing craft manufactured at the Morris car factory were conducted in one of the estate’s lakes, however, reports indicate neither vehicle was further developed. One source indicates the project was one of Winston Churchill’s “pets” because he wanted to create a counterpart to the American landing craft (DUKW).

Castle Howard: Pixabay/Peter

Castle Howard: One of the most popular of Britain’s country homes, Castle Howard attracts more than 250,000 visitors each year. Construction began in 1699 and was finally completed in 1811. Covering about 13,000 acres the estate includes the villages of Welburn, Bulmer, Slingsby, Terrington, and Coneysthorpe. From 1845 to 1950, the estate was served by its own railway station, probably the reason it was requisitioned during WWII. Shortly after the war began in 1939, the trustees gave permission to Queen Margaret’s school to occupy the premises, however large portion of the house gutted by fire in 1940, sending the girls home until the damage could be assessed and/or repaired. Fortunately, the kitchen and chapel survived, and the sleeping quarters in the northeast wing were unharmed. It was determined there were enough rooms in the western section of the south-front to serve as classrooms. Repairs would not be done to the fire-damaged portions of the property until after the war, after which the house was opened to the public since 1952.

________________

A Lesson in Love (part of the Strength of His Heart charitable anthology)

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?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4X5JZ1

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Taylor Newport!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Taylor Newport!

I'm always on the lookout for a new-to-me author, so I was thrilled when Taylor signed up to visit. Grab your favorite beverage, pull up a chair, and get to know this interesting lady and learn more about her debut novel!

What was your inspiration for the story? A lot of different things to be honest. Books. Movies. The Bourne and Reacher movies, among others, inspired me quite a bit. I’ve always been a fan of action thriller books and movies, but the language and inappropriate scenes always bothered me. I wanted to create a series where people had the same suspense and tension without any of that. That led me to create one version of the bookI.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include? I did so much research. This book, while fictional, has as many factual things as I could find and pack into it. The characters are as realistic as I could get them. I did extensive research on Australian slang to make sure the MMC sounded authentic. I also had to figure out all of the weapons. But the gambling scenes in the book may have been the hardest to learn. It’s hard to write something that you can’t do. It took me several days of research to figure out the basics to poker.

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series? I always planned on having a series, but the number of books has expanded quite a bit. My plan has always been to create loveable and authentic characters that people would miss when the series ended. Only I’d miss them too. I have roughly planned out a 12 book series so people can hang out with the same characters for a while. ;)

How has your book changed since your first draft? Um…well it’s completely different. The characters have mostly stayed the same (personality and looks-wise) but the plot has drastically changed. I completely rewrote Line of Fire four times to get it where it is now. The original version will never see the light of day. LOL.

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

Pixabay/Jacques Tiberi

choose and why? Yes, I actually am planning on writing a trilogy for one of the side characters, NY Patrol Officer Edmond “Ed” Lennox. He’s a fun character who comes off quite comical in Line of Fire, although he’s a pretty laid back guy. He’s got an interesting past that I want to explore and also wanted to give him room to grow…and maybe a HEA.

Why do you write in your particular genre? I just love this genre. I’ll admit I have watched more action thriller movies than I’ve read books. I love the high-stakes, the edge-of-your seat tension. I’ve never been a huge fan of romance, although that is also included in my books in a small amount.

How do you celebrate when you finish a manuscript? I honestly don’t know. My ideal celebration would be eating three containers of ice cream with a cup of hot chocolate on the side. Probably won’t happen though. What is your advice to fledgling writers? Just write. Pray, then write. You may think that your manuscript is terrible, but practice will only improve. Your first book may never be published, but the experience that you gain from writing that first book will help you with the next book. Just persevere. But also let God guide you. If it’s His will, He will help you. Although Satan may place some setbacks, just push through them. It’s so worth it to be able to hold your finished book in your hand.

What writers or books have influenced you? Only one author really, Ronie Kendig. I enjoy reading, but don’t do it that often. But her books always hook me. Her writing style really inspired mine. She’s such a great author!

What is your next project? Currently I am working on Book 2 of the Dauntless Defenders Series. It’s coming along nicely. I hope to release it in 2025.

LINE OF FIRE

The enemy is relentless, but they made one fatal mistake: they underestimated him.

Australian mercenary Tyler Reid, known as "The Ghost of OZ," has a talent for evading detection, a skill that has caught the eye of multiple government agencies. When a shadowy group targets a CIA asset and her revolutionary drug ND1, the Deputy Director calls in Tyler. Eager for action, Tyler takes the job. He soon realizes that the enemy is not only after the drug, but also out for his blood. Then the mission goes south, and he is forced to seek an unlikely ally.

For covert foreign operative Alexandra Romanova, freedom is a distant dream. Escaping one prison only led her to a more dangerous one. Her deadly skills are at her boss's disposal, but she’ll use them only to escape. Her final chance hinges on retrieving ND1, but the elusive Ghost of Oz complicates things. Tyler Reid isn’t an easy mark, and the better she gets to know him, the more she questions the mission she's tasked with. Soon she faces a dire choice: kill a man she is convinced is good, or pay with her own life.

As Tyler and Alex venture beyond their orders, the line between enemy and ally blurs. On the edge of failure, trust becomes a dangerous gamble with every decision dragging them deeper into the line of fire. As enemies close in and alliances shift, they are ensnared in a ruthless battle where survival depends on split-second choices. In this high-stakes fight, time is running out, and the margin for error is zero.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4f1uKen

Connect with Taylor:
Website: https://www.taylorsnewport.com/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/taylorsnewport/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylor.newport.94
X: https://x.com/TaylorSNewport
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/taylorsnewport/
Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Taylor-Newport/author/B0DHLKKL51?ref
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/taylor-s-newport
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52045265.Taylor_S_Newport

Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian Fiction

November 2024 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Contemporary Romance:

Matchmaking the Cowboy by Emily Conrad -- What’s a little covert matchmaking between friends? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP]

The Daze Before Christmas by Laurie Germaine -- She fled her old life for a new one. Trouble is, she can’t remember why she ran--and now God is prompting her to return. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Wishing for Mistletoe by Robin Lee Hatcher -- When the heart pens its own holiday romance, even a skeptic can find magic under the mistletoe. (Contemporary Romance from RobinSong, Inc.)

Faking the Shot by Carolyn Miller -- Faking the Shot is a fake-dating Christian romance and the fourth book in the Northwest Ice Christian hockey romance series. It can be read as a standalone, and is perfect for fans of banter-laden romance with hope, heart and humor. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Rediscovering Christmas by Mindy Obenhaus -- She feels she’s lost everything… Will love give her hope? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

A Kringle Family Christmas by Miriam Thor -- When Bethany Kringle's brother unexpectedly comes home for Christmas with his friend, Jay, in tow, Bethany shelves her plan to skip the holiday, and instead, with a little help from Jay, makes it a Christmas to remember. (Contemporary Romance from Pelican Book Group)

Guarding Her Christmas Secret by Jill Weatherholt -- 'Tis the season for second chances and a special puppy. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Contemporary/Women’s Fiction:

Maddie by Dawn Kinzer -- Messages scrawled in a century-old cookbook and the residents of a tourist town in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains add important ingredients to the life recipe an ER travel nurse is searching for. (Contemporary/Women’s Fiction, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:
Pretending to be the Mountain Man’s Wife by Misty M. Beller -- In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Courting the Country Preacher by Angela K. Couch, Carolyn Miller, Naomi Musch, Kari Trumbo -- Four inexperienced preachers face a myriad of challenges including those who figure a man of the cloth needs a wife. Can they meet the expectations of “helpful” congregants and be true to their hearts? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

An Unexpected Catch by Abbey Downey -- Can she count on the pitcher to save her dream, or will his secret destroy their futures? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

Investigation of a Journalist by Danielle Grandinetti -- A story of love and second chances when secrets come full circle in this suspenseful conclusion to the Harbored in Crow’s Nest series. (Historical Romance from Hearth Spot Press)

The Library by Edwina Kiernan -- How can someone keep the peace when there’s never been any peace to keep? (Historical Romance from Moliant Publishing)

Seeking Simon by Susan Pope Sloan -- When a mysterious stranger claims to be her fiancé, the fight to save her land turns into a battle for her heart. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

Abigail’s Pursuit by Jodie Wolfe -- With the Civil War raging, Abigail is on the verge of losing everything, and the other seeks forgiveness from the family he can’t find. Can two wounded hearts find their way back home? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Beyond the Horizon by Penny Zeller -- She's desperate to keep her job. He's desperate for solitude. What is God's plan in this complicated situation? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Mystery/Crime:

Seven Days Off: A Mylas Grey Mystery by Luana Ehrlich -- Private Investigator Mylas Grey can’t take seven days off—not when an ex-con gives him information that could help him locate a missing school counselor. (Historical Romance from Potter’s Word Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:

Bayou Beginnings by Robin Caroll -- In a romantic suspense Louisiana mystery that is set amid historical events, two very different people must come together to survive. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

His Last Text by Rebecca Lake -- A romantic anniversary dinner. A heartfelt message. Then silence. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Deadly Christmas Inheritance by Jessica R. Patch -- This holiday, an unexpected gift could be lethal. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])

Speculative Fiction/Allegory:

Here Lyeth by Johanna Frank -- Answers are buried beneath a grave marker. Only it happens to be her own. (Speculative/Allegory, Independently Published)

 




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

River of Peril by Sandra Merville Hart -- A Civil War volunteer nurse is shocked to learn that her Confederate soldier beau came to her ward overnight with a head wound--and doesn't remember her. (Historical Romance)

A Christmas Gift by Annette M. Irby -- A stateside farmer. An international boy-next-door model. And the Christmas reunion that brings them back together. (Contemporary Romance)

Murder by Half by Dony Jay -- A troubled detective with a blue-collar background and an Ivy League degree must risk everything to solve the murder of his high-profile attorney friend—and do so before more people die. (Crime/Suspense)

Sea Thrifts & Thistles by Ruth Kyser -- After the unexpected deaths of her parents in a plane crash, Heather Conners makes a discovery that turns her world upside down. (Contemporary Romance)

Where Secrets Lie by Rebecca Lake -- Some secrets refuse to stay buried… (Romantic Suspense)

The Perfect Getaway by Nancy Lavo -- Riley is tired of looking over her shoulder. Can she trust the small-town superhero with her secret, or will the loyalty she admires in him bring danger to her door? (Contemporary Romance)

On the Right Track by Shaen Layle -- On The Right Track is the eighth book in the Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm Series. (Cozy Mystery)

Julia’s Joy by Susan G. Mathis -- She came to claim her inheritance, but the mysterious scarred lighthouse keeper makes her question all her plans. (Historical Romance)

Why the Nations Rage by Aidan Meerman -- Casey Cole is three hundred years old but expects to be dead in as many seconds. The brutal regime that governs his home crushes all forms of dissent... and he's about to put his neck out. (Biblical Suspense/Thriller)

The Lost Daughter’s Irishman by Carolyn Miller -- She wants to find a way to live again; he wants to close a deal and move on, until sparks fly and these opposites attract. (Contemporary Romance)

Christmas in Nutfield by Robin Patchen -- Come home to Nutfield in these two Christmas novellas, featuring Daniel Nolan, the little boy from Innocent Lies, all grown up, and Caro Neely, from Convenient Lies. (Contemporary Romance)

When Love Overcomes by Denice Perkins -- Having everything we want and a plan for our future doesn't prevent God from abruptly sending our lives in a whole other direction and showing us even greater happiness. (Contemporary Romance)

’Tis the Time, ‘Tis the Season by Chris Posti -- Three women in their late fifties learn that change is possible at any age. (General Contemporary)

The Cowboy’s Forgotten Love by Tina Radcliffe -- He finally found the love of his life. Now if only he could remember… (Contemporary Romance)

A Country Christmas Collection by Davalynn Spencer -- Two Holiday Novellas, each a complete romance with cowboys, a second chance at love, and a feel-good, happily-ever-after! (Contemporary Romance)

Tangled Promises by Lynn U. Watson -- Thunderous applause extinguishes her dream and ignites her worst nightmare. (Historical Romance)

Neurifact by Kenneth Dale Watts -- A neurological AI tool observes and assesses a unique brainwave phenomenon associated with one F-35C pilot's impulsive action and arrives at a spiritually based finding. (Military Thriller/Suspense)

To Touch the Earth by Kristy Werner -- Love calls her home. But can love last forever? (Contemporary Romance)

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Aubrey Taylor!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Back, Aubrey Taylor!

I'm thrilled to welcome Aubrey Taylor back to my blog. Her books are intriguing, thought-provoking, and unique. Get to know this interesting lady and the inspiration for her work.

What was your inspiration for the story?

I have been writing WWII fiction from the German perspective since 2021, but this story is different in that it is a contemporary piece in which a German veteran looks back on his wartime experience. The inspiration comes from my prior research, the many memoirs I’ve read, and conversations I’ve had with people who survived the war as teens. I also have to say that the modern middle schoolers in the story “may have” been inspired by some of the young people in my life!

How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)?

Most of my main characters started out as supporting characters in another book. Some characters just stand out to me. It’s as if they beg me to write their stories. Once I get a particular character in my head, I start seeing them everywhere—in historical accounts, films, on the street—I begin to collect details such as backstory, vocation, hobbies, temperament, mannerisms, and yes, names. Sometimes I just know things on a gut level too. Recently, I have begun interviewing my characters, too. This helps me bring all the pieces together into a cohesive whole, develop the storyline, and decide what can be omitted.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?

For Hans Waldemar, I focused my research on the youngest of Germany’s warriors, members of the Hitler Youth who volunteered for the 12th SS Division in the latter part of the war. There were already young soldiers scattered throughout Germany’s armed forces, but this was the only division entirely composed of Hitler Youth.

Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym? Why or why not?

I am actually considering this now. While there are some marketing reasons for this (the move from

Christian Fiction to the General Market), my primary reason is that I would like to use a name that more clearly connects my German-perspective fiction to my German heritage. It may be as simple as adding one of my ancestral surnames to “Aubrey Taylor,” so that I can continue to use all my current platforms (website, Instagram, newsletter, etc.) without reinventing the wheel.

How are your characters like you? Different?

My characters all carry a piece of me with them, however, I have only recently created a female character who is very much like me—or at least the person I imagine when I think of who I would be without Christ. She looks nothing like me, but her struggles and sins are all too familiar to me. Readers will have to stay tuned. She will not appear until the latter part of 2025 or early 2026 when I release the third book in my new series.

What draws you to the time period about which you write?

I think I was always meant to write WWII fiction. I grew up with the knowledge of the war because my
Grandfather fought at Iwo Jima. I watched my first war movie at 7 years old. It’s also really no surprise that I ended up taking on the German angle, since I have always been the girl that roots for the redemption of the “bad guy,” and there is still so much that needs to be said about their side of the story.

I saw an article online, the subtitle of which was something like, The grandchildren of the Holocaust are ready to speak. I may not be a direct descendent of the perpetrators of the Holocaust, but I am willing to identify myself with them because Christ identified Himself with me. I believe there is still healing that needs to be done on both sides, and I’m grateful to be able to play a small part in that.

What is your advice to fledgling writers?

Getting too hung up on minute details is a pitfall for authors of any genre that involves a lot of research. I have had to ask myself, What kind of historical fiction am I writing? Is my focus on the facts, or the way the story fits into history? The event itself, or seeing the event through the characters’ eyes? Of course I want to be as historically accurate as possible, but if that is hindering my work and getting me stuck, I have to work around it. As authors of fiction, we don’t have to know everything, nor should we, because fiction is by definition creative—and sometimes, you have to creatively work around what you don’t (or can’t) know.

What books are on your nightstand right now?

The Other Trench, the WWI diary of a German Lieutenant named Alexander Pfeifer, assembled, translated, and edited by Pfeifer’s great-grandson, Philipp Cross. Cross included many of Lieutenant Pfeifer’s photos from the war, and wrote his own historical commentary. The book is an excellent example of what an independent author is capable of when they truly make something their life’s work.

I am also reading My Father Joachim von Ribbentrop, a biography of Adolf Hitler’s foreign minister by von Ribbentrop’s son Rudolf.

I find both of these books nearly impossible to put down. They sink me right into the time periods in which I write. Both books were written by descendants of the men whose lives are being portrayed, and I love the family connection. Rudolf von Ribbentrop might be a bit of an apologist when it comes to his father, but I also think that he had the inside scoop on the man because he actually lived with him, and was privy to things other people were not. He certainly did his research, too. It is well documented and annotated, a good read for anyone with an interest in the Second World War and Foreign Policy.

What is your next project?

I mentioned it a little already and I am very excited at how it is coming along. It is currently a three-book project that spans 1914 (the months before the First World War) until 1945. Book 3 is basically drafted. Book 1 is two-thirds complete, and I am brainstorming ideas for Book 2. I have never worked this way: Gott Mit Uns was kind of an accidental series. This series is intentional, and I am trying to approach it as such. You will recognize a few characters from the Gott Mit Uns Series, one of whom gets his starring, heroic role in the third book of this new project.

BOOK BLURB for Hans Waldemar Remembers Normandy

I told her that I would not stay home while my comrades risked their necks on the front lines.

He was just a youth when he received his baptism of fire in June 1944. Eighty years after the defeat at Normandy, he is asked to share his story, dredging up the horrors of war and challenging his loved ones to discover the truth about the past. Could this be an opportunity to mend the wounds that have never been healed?





Connect with Aubrey!
Website: www.aubreytaylorbooks.com
Blog: www.aubreytaylorbooks.com/blog
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aubreytaylorbooks
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BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/aubrey-taylor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21846520.Aubrey_Taylor
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Aubrey-Taylor/author/B0973KWXV8

Release Day: Strength of My Heart

 Release Day! 

I'm pleased to be part of The Strength of My Heart charity anthology. This seven-story collection is available for a limited time and all proceeds benefit Marsha's Place in Henderson, Kentucky, a pregnancy resource center.

My story is 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?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4X5JZ1

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Terri Reed!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Terri Reed!

I’m so excited to share with you Search and Detect, book 8 of the Mountain Country K-9 Unit continuity series from Love Inspired Suspense. This series follows a joint federal task force consisting of various law enforcement personnel from the Rocky Mountain states. My hero, FBI Wyoming Bureau supervisory special agent Chase Rawlston, along with his Golden Retriever, Dash, lead the investigation into a cold case that is somehow connected to a string of recent murders. With the unidentified suspect, dubbed The Rocky Mountain Killer, threatening to up the body count, Chase has his hands full. But when a local woman, Zoe, and her toddler, Kylie, are targeted, Chase, still grieving from a personal tragedy, is compelled to provide protection, especially since this is happening in his hometown.

Chase was a complex character. He had so many layers to unfold before he could find his way to opening his heart to both God and Zoe. I love to visualize the physical appearance of my characters and keep a photo up on my desktop of them as I write. But to build out the inner being of my characters, I use a wide variety of methods to make a three-dimensional person who readers can relate to as well as root for. So many of us have issues around trust and forgiveness, especially forgiving oneself. Chase had a lot to learn in the course of this story about trust and forgiveness. But then, so do I. I love how God speaks to me through my characters, and I hope you’ll find some inspiration as well.

I hope you’ll enjoy this short excerpt. Chase and Dash make a great team.


“The trap has been set,” Chase said. “Now, we just have to hope he takes the bait.”

Chase’s cell phone buzzed inside his jacket pocket. Still walking, he took the device out. He didn’t recognize the number. He pressed the answer button. “Rawlston.”

The sound of maniacal laughter filled his ears. Unease slithered down Chase’s spine. Hadn’t Zoe said she’d heard a weird sort of laughter before the bomb that destroyed her home exploded?

He halted and held the phone away from him, putting it on speaker so that Rocco could also hear.

“Who is this?” Chase demanded.

Suddenly, Dash started pulling, straining at the end of the lead, scrabbling on the sidewalk. He nearly pulled Chase off his feet. Sharing a concerned glance with Rocco, Chase unhooked Dash and the dog took off like a rocket. Chase ran after him with Rocco and his K-9 close on his heels. Keeping Dash in sight, Chase’s stomach dropped when he realized Dash was headed straight for the town hall building.

The dog veered off to the right side of the building housing the event space and came to a skidding halt. He sat by the wall and barked.

“He’s alerting!” Chase told Rocco. “Evacuate the premises.”

Rocco and his dog peeled away and rushed inside the town hall entrance.

Chase rushed to Dash’s side and quickly attached his leash to his harness. Following the dog’s gaze, Chase searched the ground on the side of the building. His gaze snagged on a patch of earth that had been disturbed near the outer wall beneath a window.

Going to his knees, the soft dirt squishing under his weight, he dug with his hands until he uncovered an explosive device.

His throat closed tight. Zoe and Kylie were in the building. So was his father. Sadie and others. They were all in danger. He couldn’t let anything happen to them.

_____________________

Search and Detect

A bomber with a deadly agenda…and a K-9 team determined to catch him.

When single mother Zoe Jenkins and her baby are caught in an explosion that destroys her home, she’s saved by FBI special agent Chase Rawlston and his K-9, Dash. But who set the bomb? Fearing that the notorious Rocky Mountain Killer he’s been investigating has the mother and daughter in his sights, Chase takes them under his protection. But can he uncover the killer’s identity before more innocent lives are caught in the crossfire?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Mountain Country K-9 Unit

Book 1: Baby Protection Mission by Laura Scott
Book 2: Her Duty Bound Defender by Sharee Stover
Book 3: Chasing Justice by Valerie Hansen
Book 4: Crime Scene Secrets by Maggie K. Black
Book 5: Montana Abduction Rescue by Jodie Bailey
Book 6: Trail of Threats by Jessica R. Patch
Book 7: Tracing a Killer by Sharon Dunn
Book 8: Search and Detect by Terri Reed

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/b568lG

Traveling Tuesday: Historic Honeymoon

Traveling Tuesday: Historic Honeymoon

Forty-one years ago today, I married my best friend. We didn’t have a lot of money, so fancy locations that one had to fly to were out of the question. Instead, we decided to explore Pennsylvania and West Virginia: Gettysburg, Strasburg (Amish country), Philadelphia, Valley Forge, and Harper’s Ferry. By the way, we had rain…lots of rain …the entire week we were away. Check out this photo taken with our little Kodak 110 – awful isn’t it?

First stop: Gettysburg, a mere one hour’s drive from the church where the ceremony was held. We felt very flush putting ourselves up in the Holiday Inn, and the following morning set out for Gettysburg National Military Park, a nine-square mile area that includes the battlefield, cemetery, memorials, and visitor center. We followed the auto tour which took about three hours because of getting out at the numbered stops to explore and read the information. An interesting and sobering experience.

The following day we took a walking tour through Gettysburg and visited the Lincoln Train Museum, Soldier’s National Museum, Lincoln Room Museum, Hall of Presidents and First Ladies, and the Jennie Wade House. (I’m not sure Wes understood at that point just how much of a history nerd I was!)

Day three found us on Route 30 heading a little over an hour northeast to Strasburg, located in

Pexels/Kurt Anderson

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and seemingly the heart of Amish country. Because of my love of trains we took another train ride, this time on the Strasburg Railroad “The Road to Paradise since 1832” according to the brochure. After a 45-minute trip in the fifty-year-old train which featured coal oil lamps and a pot-belly stove, we visited the Train Museum, Traintown, and The Amish Village. Looking back I wonder at the Amish people’s willingness to put themselves on display. For this girl who was raised in urban and suburban locations, learning about running a farm was an eye-opening experience.

Yet another hour east, and we were in Philadelphia where we took the trolley, visited City Hall, Independence National Historic Park, the tavern frequented by the Founding Fathers, Dolly Todd Madison’s house and garden, the Post Office Museum, Ben Franklin’s tenant houses, and of course, the Liberty Bell. As we finished up our day, we were pummeled from above by acorns being thrown by a chattering squirrel.

Pexels/Kevin Ku

We were on the downhill slide of our week, so headed west and stopped in Valley Forge, home of George Washington’s headquarters. More battlefields, cannons, and memorials awaited. The last two days were spent in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, a tiny town of 361 at the 1980 census. A gorgeous valley located where the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers meet, history runs deep here. The site of John Brown’s raid against the armory in an unsuccessful effort to start a slave rebellion. Named for Robert Harper who purchased the land in 1747, and whose heirs sold a portion to the federal government to build the armory, Harpers Ferry was the site of five battles during the American Civil War. Sources differ about the number of times the town changed hands: one says eight, another twelve. A hike to the top of Jefferson Rock enabled us to see three states (West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland). In case, you're wondering Harpers Ferry lost their apostrophe in 1891 when the United States Board on Geographic Names updated the name.

_______________________

Love and Chocolate

She just needs a job. He wants a career. Is there room in their hearts for love?

Ilsa Krause and her siblings are stunned to discover their father left massive debt behind upon his death. To help pay off their creditors and save the farm, she takes a job at Beck’s Chocolates, the company her father despised and refused to supply with milk. Then she discovers her boss is Ernst Webber, her high school love who unceremoniously dumped her via letter from college. Could life get any more difficult?

A freshly-minted university diploma in his hand, Ernst Webber lands his dream job at Beck’s Chocolates. His plans to work his way up the ladder don’t include romantic entanglements, then Ilsa Krause walks back into his life resurrecting feelings he thought long dead. However, her animosity makes it clear she has no interest in giving him a second chance. Can he get her to change her mind? Does he want to?

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/mdQerZ