Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Laurie Larsen!

A Holy City Christmas: Charleston Holiday Tales

An Anthology That Helps Others With Every Purchase!

Linda, thanks for having me on your blog. Since the Christmas holiday is quickly approaching, I wanted to tell you and your readers about a new anthology -- a collection of stories that are guaranteed to fill your heart with inspiration and warmth and put you in the Christmas spirit.

The anthology is called A Holy City Christmas. Did you know that the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina is known as the Holy City because of the sheer number of churches it contains? The anthology is made up of eight novellas written by authors who belong to the South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. We’re a small chapter with a little over a dozen members but we are all convinced that we’ve got something really special going on. Once a month we all meet to learn about our craft, listen to knowledgeable speakers, share our own questions, progress and challenges. We support each other, pray for each other, and challenge each other to keep moving forward.

Eighteen months ago, we released our first group anthology, called Charleston Light. That collection contained stories that all featured the famously awkward lighthouse on Sullivans Island. Our first effort won a silver medal in the Golden Scroll contest and by donating all our proceeds earned, we were able to support a special charity, Sanctuary of Unborn Life of Charleston. We had so much fun with our first anthology we decided to do it again! For our next group project, we wanted to incorporate the beauty of Christmas in Charleston. Each story features a Christmas storyline and takes place in a real-life landmark within Charleston. Each author brings a different take, and even within those parameters, each story is completely different! Historical and contemporary, romance and mystery. Each one is a joy to read.

DOCK STREET MIRACLE by Laurie Larsen: Susannah, raised in foster care, now making her timid path into adulthood, receives the chance of a lifetime when exuberant off-Broadway theater veteran Molly arrives to direct the Christmas Nativity play at the historic Dock Street Theater. Working with Molly changes Susannah’s life in many ways. But she could never agree to Molly’s last-minute request to play the important role of Jesus’ mother. Could she?

THE LITTLE THINGS by Robin Stearns Lee: A homeless mother, missing children, and a mystery

disappearance from a Christmas nativity scene -- How will Pastor Ben Owens and his wife Rachel navigate these complications during the busy season of celebrating the birth of Christ?

A SOUTH OF BROAD CHRISTMAS by Christina Sinisi: A member of Charleston’s upper-crust meets a money-grubbing tour guide when he sneaks his tour group into her backyard—without her permission. Then, life keeps throwing them together—at Christmas. It’s almost as if the good Lord knows what he’s doing.

SUNRISE SHELLS AND CHRISTMAS BELLS by Melissa Henderson: Lana Pierce has experienced the loss of her husband due to illness and then, a hurricane that almost destroyed her home. While life continues, Lana becomes involved in a mystery and possibly a new love in her life. “Sunrise Shells and Christmas Bells” brings love, faith in God, and hope for the future.

NINE O’CLOCK, DECEMBER by Jody Stallings: For 31 nights every December, the mysterious stranger appears in her backyard and gazes into the harbor. Who is he? What is he seeking? As Jennie searches for his identity, she realizes she hasn't yet found her own.

IT HAD TO BE YOU by Annette Wiley: Marie’s idyllic world is crumbling bit by bit. Now, the United States is officially at war after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. She hasn’t heard a word from her deployed boyfriend James. When her friends drag her to a local USO dance, she’s stunned to feel a magnetic pull to a handsome sailor. Not only is the country's future hanging in the balance, but Marie’s sense of stability and hope is shaken to the core. Would God bring hope for her future through the turmoil?

BEAUTY FOR ASHES by Dianne Miley: High school senior Calli Williams refuses to let a little pink plus sign seal her fate into a life like her mom’s. But her firefighter boyfriend, Ember Alexander is just as determined to marry Calli and raise their child together. While she explores options other than parenting, Ember is called to a fire that threatens to take his life. Only divine intervention can save their love—and their lives.

IT HAPPENED ONE CHRISTMAS by Larry and Margaret McNab Gale: Post World War II Charleston is a city where social standing matters. A chance meeting of two people on the street at Christmas could lead to something more. But can they overcome the differences between their backgrounds and the prejudices of their families? It may all depend on the outcome of a life-threatening medical procedure.

In order to help others through this special book, we chose a charity to which we’ll donate all our proceeds from sales, RISE Men’s Recovery Ministry. Our chapter member, and line editor of this anthology, Laurie Sibley and her family are heavily involved with RISE so it’s a marvelous labor of love. Here’s Laurie S telling us why RISE is such a positive ministry:

“RISE exists so that men of Orangeburg County, South Carolina who are trapped in poverty, homelessness, or addiction are Restored, Ignited, Supported, and Empowered to flourish by the grace of Jesus Christ. RISE is a Christian organization, giving us the opportunity to walk beside men and their families who are stuck in cycles of addiction, which lead to financial crises, homelessness, and jail time. RISE is a voluntary, residential program, a place to come when you’re ready for help breaking the cycle.

The program includes on-campus living, dormitory-style. The residents will attend classes on job readiness, soft skills, financial planning, relationships, and parenting. They’ll work on campus doing laundry, preparing meals, mowing the lawn, and whatever else is needed.

Eventually they’ll obtain an off-campus job, allowing them to begin saving up for an apartment of their own. Meals will still be provided, ensuring a “soft launch” back out to the real world. And of course, the gospel and grace and accountability will be infused over everything. We’re so excited about this ministry!”

Another exciting feature of this anthology is that Sheila Sledden, one of our Lowcountry chapter members, created exclusive charcoal line drawings of the Charleston landmark featured in each story, and the drawings are included in the anthology pages accompanying each story.

The SC Lowcountry chapter is excited to bring you this special book! Secure your own copy (paperback or ebook) on Amazon. God bless and have a very merry Christmas!

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4hS6q09

Traveling Tuesday: Britain’s Requisitioned Homes, Part 2

Traveling Tuesday: 

Britain’s Requisitioned Homes, Part 2

A couple of weeks ago, I shared about three of Britain’s country homes that were requisitioned by the government during WWII . Today I’m sharing about three more of these grand properties who as the English liked to say “did their bit for the war effort.”

Rufford Abbey is situated in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire and was already declining when taken over by the War Office for billeting troops. As its name indicates, the house began as an abbey, specifically a Cistercian abbey (a Catholic order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines). After Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, the property was purchases by George Talbot, fourth Earl of Shrewsbury. The house was expanded over the years as it passed to one descendant after the other. By the early 1800s there were 111 rooms. The home continued to hold its own until Lord Savile died. His heir was a minor, and apparently the trustees had little interest in dealing with the remaining debts and death duties. They sold off bits of the acreage, then the house was sold to manufacturer Sr Albert Bell who did little to it before selling it to a Frenchman who didn’t bother to live in (or managed) the property. By all reports the soldiers stripped the silk damask from the walls, used paneling as firewood, and ruined the floors with their boots. They also made off with tapestries, plasterwork, and carved chimneypieces. It didn’t help that dry rot had begun long before they arrived. Fortunately, the Nottinghamshire County Council purchased the house and 130 acres to create public gardens in 1952. The grounds were restored and developed into a public park and garden in 1969, and the house was renovated during the 1970s.

Woburn Abbey, also a former Cistercian abbey, receives hundreds of thousands of guests now, but in

1939 was considered one of the most secluded and private of all the “great” houses. According to John Martin Robinson’s book, Requisitioned, the reason was that Herbrand Russell, the eleventh Duke of Bedford and president of the Royal Zoological Society, had turned the property into a reserve for herds of exotic deer, Russian bison, Highland cattle, and other rare animals. He’d lost his wife two years previously in a flying accident. The house had been in the family since the reign of Edward VI (1537-1553) when the buildings were given to the first Earl of Bedford. Over the centuries, reconstruction and renovation occurred adding wings and changing architectural styles. Successive dukes were wealthy from London properties, tin mining, and well-managed agricultural estates, and filled the house with art treasures. The 11th had funded and run a military depot on the estate during WWI, so when the second World War appeared on the horizon, the duke again offered his property for us. The house was so enormous it was considered for use by multiple organizations such as a riding school, stables, and subsidiary housing, but the Propaganda in Enemy Countries department won out.

Bentley Priory originally founded in 1170 for Augustinian canons. This property was also given away after the Dissolution of the Monasteries and eventually ended up in the hands of James Duberley, an army contractor who did well during the Seven Years War. He built a brick home which he sold to John James Hamilton, 9th Earl of Abercorn in 1788 who’d made his money from large estates and coal mines in Scotland. The following year Hamilton was created first Marquess of Abercorn and conducted many renovations to the home over the next decade. At some point, Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV leased the home and would pass away there in 1849. Fifteen years later, Sir John Kelk purchased the property and proceeded to redo their entire façade in a stucco Italianate style. In 1908 the house was sold to a girls’ school which remained until 1924 at which time the house and 40 acres were purchased by the Air Ministry, so when the second world war, it was a natural progression to use the facility and grounds as the headquarters for RAF Fighter Command. Lord Dowding and his team planned the Battle of Britain, and the Allied Expeditionary Air Force War Room took up residence in the underground bunker. On D-Day, King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill monitored the landings in the bunker.

Photo Credits:

Rufford Abbey: By Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK - Rufford Abbey 4Uploaded by oxyman, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15628378

Woburn Abbey: Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=716546

Bentley Priory: By David Marsden, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13797970

____________________

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 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)