The good ladies of Timber are ready to find a wife for their
new single minister. Charles has ideas of his own when he meets Fiona, the
lovely accident-prone and outspoken part-time librarian. Fiona, on the other
hand is holding out for a knight on a white charger to carry her away from her
humdrum small town life. Fiona and Charles are thrown together as they begin to
solve an old mystery which has turned up in a library book. Will Fiona's white
knight ever show up to sweep her away? Will Charles ever run out of invitations
for cream cakes and lemon slice? Fiona might just discover the sound of
hoof-beats when she least expects it.
My Review:
Post World War II in Canada...everyone has been affected
somehow, whether family member or friend, and the new young single pastor in
Timber has his own experience as an army chaplain. Fiona thinks of herself as a
klutz and futureless. Young, naive, unsure, she’s not sure what to think when the
pastor comes calling. Using a little mystery in a library book as the beginning
of their courtship, McGregor paints a charming story of regaining a life of
purpose, and finding a sure path to the future in this novella.
I enjoy this author’s stories and recommend them for readers
who like clean and sweet bite-size romances for a vicarious adventure in
historical Canada.
Sharon McGregor is a west coast transplant from the Canadian
prairies. Her imagination and story weaving got its start when she was an only
child living on a farm. She's moved on from cowgirl dreams to romance and
mystery, but hasn't lost her love for horses.
When not writing or reading, she's busy with the two shops she shares with her
daughter- an ice cream and candy store and a bath boutique.
Kate and Vanessa hadn't plannedon the summer night
that changed their lives. Could they have imagined the darkness that descended
and how gripping fear could be? The beauty and sweeping moss, gentle palm trees
and Florida breezes was wrapped with the memory of that awful evening. Time steals away from the 60s, Kate and her husband return to the winter home where
bygone memories are stored. Nestled next to her husband's strong frame they
drive toward town. Watching the egrets, the salty smell and beauty surrounding
them, she wonders if she should tell him...Kate never had. Maybe it was time he
knew.
Thank you for having
me, Lisa. This book captures
the experience two college bound girls have when visiting Kate’s uncle’s
Florida home in 1966. The girls enjoy the sunshine, beach days in the quaint
area, very rugged and nothing like the north. They also have an unforgettable
experience which goes along with the era and time period. I loved weaving the
sixties to present day, and dealing with a plot that revolves around their
lives, and extending circumstances from the trip to Florida. Each incident comes
full circle. I really enjoyed writing this book, as the Lord guided, giving me
the ideas to share.
Introduce us to Florida
and share what makes the setting special.
The setting is in a
fictional town called Gladesville, much like the Everglades were in the 1960s.
The prologue begins with Kate and her husband, recently retired going to her
uncle’s home which he left to her, and she had not returned to after the
traumatic night with her girl friend. Chapter one goes back to the 1960s, and
several chapters later the story starts present day.
Share two things you
learned about writing/publishing process/history/yourself while researching and
producing this story.
My book was picked up
by an approved ACFW publisher, and then during the editing process he announced
it would cost me $260.00 for the ebook. I know how popular ebooks are to many
readers, and I felt cheated, since he claimed to be a traditional publisher.
They removed him from the approved list, but two other girls followed me, and
were hurt too. I did finally buy back my rights after seeing the horrendous
price of $19.95 that he listed it for, and wouldn’t lower it. I have it priced
at $3.99 and it’s now on ebook only. That was quite a learning experience. After
dealing with editors for years, this one took the zip out of me and makes self
publishing more pleasing. :)
What do you hope readers
will tell others about the book?
It’s a story that
shares human mistakes, harboring hurt, a loss, God’s love and redemption. I do
pray others who read it will see the way the Lord works out the details of our
lives when we turn to Him, and how beautiful knowing that He is in control can
be. It’s a book of inspirational romance and suspense. Although fictional
there’s a lot of reality about the problems that took place during this time
period in southern Florida.
What are you working on
now?
I’m final proofing a
book called This Side of Heaven,
which probably is my most suspenseful romance yet. I loved writing this. It
takes place in present day rural Georgia. And two of my favorite characters
from On a Summer Night are my lead
characters in this one. We lived in a small Georgia town for a few years in the
late 70s and I think I’m finally able to capture some of those feelings. The
book deals with a loving newly married couple, a visiting aunt that left an old
flame and moved away, the reality of teens making and selling drugs, a murder
and losses. Throughout the story the main characters will touch your hearts and
you’ll identify their love, their losses and God’s perfect timing in a world
that is indeed NOT perfect until we get to Heaven.
About the author:
Diane started her writing at an early age, but it
wasn’t until her husband’s work took them to a small southern town she wrote
her first column, “Yankee Viewpoint's” for a local newspaper. Returning to her
home-state of Michigan, she did stringer work over the years, ancestral
history, and donor appeal letters for non-profit organizations. Diane
self-published two books in the early 2000s, and she became a columnist for a
weekly magazine, for four years. She is the author of over three-hundred short
stories. Her book On a Summer Night was
released in October and her ebook, Stories
from a Porch Swing in April. Texting
Mr. Right was released September 1 of this year, and re released in April
2015, and her Christmas novella, Winter
Wonderland was available at the end of October. She and hubby, Stephen,
have been married for forty-two years, and they are the parents of three grown
children and three grand-gals. Look for This
Side of Heaven in late summer 2015.
From the Publisher: Lilli Clarke. They call her the marked girl. Beginning at her left shoulder, a pink birthmark tracks up her throat just past her jaw, like a finger pointing to her brain. Abandoned by her family, she is ostracized by everyone but her grandmother and cousin Bert, Six years of dust storms have left sixteen-year-old Lilli close to death with dust pneumonia. Now she must leave the only real home she’s ever had, or risk death when the next storm hits.
Lilli is sent to her aunt and cousins in Florida to recover. The possibility of a different life presents itself, yet circumstances snatch it away, and she flees to New York City. Unable to find a safe place, she yearns for the storm ravaged home she left. All doors appear to be closed to her, and she resigns herself to the lonely fate of a marked girl. Once again, she is close to death, this time with no one to help her. Will this storm prevail, or is there a new answer for Lilli? My Review: The obvious storms of the Dust Bowl era in US history, the burden of a dysfunctional family and emotionally frail mother, topped by a prominent, distracting mark, Lilli has always believed the worst of herself and coincidental events, despite a loving grandmother and neighbor. The depths of superstition and despair brings out the depravity of people, and Bolton shows us no mercy. Lilli winds her way through too many unfortunate events starting with family members who take her in and try to help, and ending broken and living on the streets of a merciless New York City. Lilli is broken before realizing she's always been loved, most of all by the Father who never leaves us, and a neighbor who never gives up. Lovely tale. Deeply emotional. Satisfying.
A captivating tale of love and duty as
the last princess of Meigen searches for her true purpose amidst conflict and
betrayal.
It is 626AD, and the ancient Kingdom of
Meigen is left vulnerable to neighboring Saxons. To unite the kingdoms and
bring peace, Princess Alena must enter into a royal marital
alliance. But when the handsome
physician, Sherwin, befalls her, matters become
complicated. Torn between obligations to
her young son and country, she faces a
difficult decision. Will Alena obey the
king’s orders, or choose to follow her
Rachel A. James grew fascinated with the
medieval time period as a child. Dubbed a bookworm from a young age, Rachel
found herself surrounded by places steeped in history and adventure. She
enjoyed trips with her family to visit nearby derelict castles and Roman ruins,
and that coupled with a zealous imagination and love for stories, sparked her
interest in knights, fortresses and ancient kingdoms.
Born and raised in England, Rachel now writes inspirational historical romance,
she is also a pastor's wife and has three beautiful little princesses. She
minored in creative writing at university and strives to entertain, inspire and
encourage others in their own spiritual journey. She's also insanely addicted
to romantic tales... combine it with a little history and a hot cup of tea, and
she's smitten! Find her at www.rachelajames.com for more information.
I
love Alena’s character, and her journey of discovering personal value and
acceptance. Alena is an introvert by
nature, but circumstances thrown at her cause her to step out of her
comfort–zone. She certainly has had a tough life, what with suffering from
asthma in a world where there are no inhalers, and raising her small boy
without a father. Being a peasant by birth has not made it easy for her to
adapt to royal life either (she was a peasant by birth, and married the Prince
of Meigen years earlier).
Can
you share what you learned during the writing/publishing process?
I
had to do a lot more research for this novel, particularly on ancient
herbal/medicinal practices. I thought, seeing as I had already undertaken a great
deal of study for my first novel that I would not need to do quite so much this
time around. Well I was wrong. I found myself re-creating historical timelines,
looking into Old English language and calculating how long it would take to
travel by land and sea from various different ancient kingdom borders. What I
learned? One can never do enough research!
What
do you hope readers will tell other readers when they've finished?
My
goal is that readers will be inspired and encouraged to depend on God more in
their own circumstances after reading the book, and I hope they’ll tell others
how they were touched by Alena’s love story.
Years later, Rose Crosby’s fifteen-year-old daughter Ginny can’t understand why
her relationship with her mother has fallen apart. Ginny could swear that Rose
is terrified of her lately.
Then one terrible day, Ginny overhears Rose confessing that she truly is
terrified of Ginny—because to her, every day Ginny grows more and more like
Jordan, the girl who's been dead many years. In fact, she swears that somehow,
Ginny is turning into Jordan.
Is Ginny’s mom insane? Is there a ghost in their house, threatening to possess
Ginny? Or is the demon in Rose's past, forcing her to confront what happened on
that horrible day in 1984 when Jordan was killed?
My review:
A must-know page turner.
It hurt when I had to set this book
down. It’s not a quick read...just a heads up.
Jordan’s Shadow is a YA mystery
paranormal thriller that will glue readers of all ages to their favorite
reading chairs. I thought I had the mystery pretty well sewn up—and then Grant
would take me back in time and prove me wrong. I’m the kind of reader who
normally reads the end when I think I’m right, but this is one book where I
didn’t skip and I was glad I didn’t.
This multi-generational
dysfunctional family drama will make you cheer and boo until the last curtain.
The lingering question of mental illness keeps the reader on her toes with the
question of who do you trust when the story of deaths in the family begin to
appear. I loved the paranormal aspect of moving through time and I got a kick
out of mulling the questions that remain.
Well-done sophomore book from
talented author Robin Johns Grant. Great characterization, terrific setting and
dialog. Told from the viewpoints of Ginny and her mother back and forth between
twenty-five years, Jordan’s Shadow will keep you reading. Recommended for those
who like family dramas, teen angst, faith-based YA with a twist of fantasy.
About the author:
While waiting for her writing to pay off, Robin Johns Grant did a lot of crazy fan stuff and was way too involved with books and movies like Harry Potter and Star Wars, which helped her dream up Jeanine and Jamie for Summer's Winter.
With a degree in English and a mid-life crisis coming on, she returned to school and earned a master's degree in library and information science. She now has her best day job ever as a college librarian, which keeps her young by allowing her to hang out with students.
Robin was named 2014 Author of the Year by the Georgia Association of College Stores, and Summer's Winter won a bronze medal in the Romance - Suspense category of the International Readers' Favorite Book Awards.
Robin lives in Georgia with her wonderful husband Dave and formerly feral felines Mini Pearl and Luna. She is also surprised to find herself part owner of a sweet pit bull puppy named Pete who showed up as a stray at her mom's house.
Katy is a nineteen year old girl sent to Canada by her family in the
late 1890s to find a suitable husband. Katy has other plans however--she wants
a career, not marriage.
During
the round of social activities arranged by her sister, she is drawn against her
will towards her distant cousin, Robert, who loves Katy on sight. She has also
attracted the attention of her brother in law's boss, Martin, who doesn't take
rejection easily and evens the score by destroying Katy's reputation.
Facing a
return home in disgrace, Katy tries another way out. She accepts the offer of
marriage from Robert, who is on his way west to set up a homestead on the
prairies.
Katy is
not prepared for the loneliness and hardships she is about to face. She has a
difficult journey ahead, learning to become a woman and a wife and discovering
how to love.
Author Sharon McGregor packs a lot into this sweet little
historical novella. Immigrating to Toronto, Canada from Ireland, Katy has
bigger dreams than finding a husband to take care of her. She is invited to
live with her expectant sister, Maggie, and husband while she’s introduced to
society just before the turn of the twentieth century. An unfortunate incident
damages Katy’s reputation beyond repair, and instead of being sent home to
Ireland, Katy accepts an offer of marriage to a stranger.
Katy may be considered an adult in her era, but she has a lot
of growing up to do. Things didn’t turn out her way—any way she wanted—with either
education and career first, followed maybe by a suitable husband. Stuck with a
quiet man she admires but isn’t sure she can love, she reluctantly follows him
out to the prairie, along with Robert’s partner and his wife, Dan and Ellen,
who is used to living without many amenities. Katy meets the neighbors, Ukrainians,
and makes friends, such as she can. With her letters to her sister filled with
angst, Maggie announces a visit, a cause of even deeper rift between Robert and
Katy as Katy wants to offer comfort that simply isn’t available. It takes some
deeper sorrow for Katy and Robert to face themselves and their relationship and
decide whether they can make their new life work.
Told from Robert and Katy’s sides, this lovely story shows
the reader both joy and hardship in a long-gone era, on the great western
prairies of Canada. I loved it and recommend it for a sweet afternoon read.
Fiona’s Knight of Dreams
Sharon McGregor is a west coast transplant from the Canadian
prairies. Her imagination and story weaving got its start when she was an only
child living on a farm. She's moved on from cowgirl dreams to romance and
mystery, but hasn't lost her love for horses.
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