New from Pelican Book Group
Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians
4:8
Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers
About the Book - "Whatever is admirable (of good repute)"
Manderley Jessup is having enough trouble squeezing into
last summer's dresses. Now her mother expects her to save the family honor? A
film crew has invaded her Tennessee hometown to research a duel. And the
duelists' descendants, still feuding after 200 years. Manderley, one of those
descendants, is heartily sick of the rivalry and decides to do something about
it. She approaches Abram Coventry, descended from the opposing duelist, with a
marvelous plan. Abram would design buttons as a gift for Manderley's mother.
But a button catastrophe threatens to make the original duel look like a
kindergarten squabble. What can Manderley do with those dreadful buttons?
Worse, what can she do about the hopeless crush she's developed on Abram?
Pelican Ventures LLC
March, 2020
Inspirational romantic novella
118 pp
$3.99 eBoook
Buy on
My review
An absolute delight!
Even though Klumpers’s latest addition to her repertoire is
a novella, it’s a fully fleshed charming story that satisfies inspirational
romance readers.
Buttonholed is a feast of southern wit and laugh-out-loud
yet tasteful tale of a two-century-long polite feud, the origin of which has been so politely ignored that no one in the small Tennessee community, known
equally as Coventryville and Lowellton depending on which side of town you’re
on, has never been outed. Until strangers intent on creating a documentary come
to town. Their objectivity uproots a whole cellar-full of secrets.
Reputation is everything in this little hidebound town;
something Manderley Jessop, proud Latimore descendant, realizes needs to be
dealt with after hearing the sermon that stuck with her on the sacrifice Christ
made in giving up his own reputation to clear ours. With so much family
happiness on the line, the time has come to put her own convictions into action
and do business with the enemy. But through the back alley for now.
I adored this story. Full of clever bits of information, the
lines of fiction and fact are blurred by this gifted, natural story teller.
Although a romance, little was completely predictable as Klumpers held back tantalizing
detail as I wondered how these deluded folks were going to unravel the messes
they’d made. The family names had me scrambling to sort out which belonged with
what classic stories, an extra bit of fun. Told in close third from Manderley’s
side, readers of Christian romance with a glass of sweet tea and side of fried
ham will love Buttonholed.
A brief interview
with the author:
Anita, what do you
love about your story?
The family relationships. Manderley loves, honors and
protects her family, and they do the same for her. The family dynamic in the
Jessup household is full of affection and fun.
How does your story
related to the theme verse? Tell us a little about how you worked your story to
meet the theme?
I quote the “whatever is of good repute” virtue word for
word—a pastor preaches on it in an early chapter of the book. But then I
started thinking—when does a virtue become an end in itself, instead of a means
to love God and one’s neighbor? So I explored what happens in a small town when
they cherish their good reputations even more than the directive to “love your
neighbor as yourself.”
What do you hope
readers will tell others when they’ve finished reading?
I hope that people would start discussions that chew on the
Word of God, encourage each other when we feel that the world is against us,
family misunderstands us, “friends” spread false rumors. Encourage each other
that we are in Christ, who gave up everything, including His reputation, for
us. And now we are in Him and own His glorious reputation. So pursue truth,
defend yourself if you can, guard and promote your reputation. But we can remind
each other that we own something far, far greater in Christ! And naturally I
hope they tell others they enjoyed it.
What are you reading?
Oh my. A P.G. Wodehouse upstairs by my bed. An Agatha
Christie audio book in the car. “The Word is Murder” on Audible by Anthony
Horowitz while walking and doing housework. “The Weight of Glory” by C.S. Lewis
on my sofa.
What’s next for you?
I’m editing down a manuscript and hope to submit it. Another
suspense romance. Someone gets killed (unlike Buttonholed).
About the Author
Anita Klumpers, wife, mom and grandma, homeschooled her three sons for seventeen years and emerged relatively unscathed. Her life then and now is remarkable by its very ordinariness. She’s been blessed with a husband who is good and hardworking, a church that is small but gospel-driven, offspring who for every step back took two forward. She dabbles (poorly) at crafts, volunteers frequently at church, meets with fellow readers and writers regularly and dotes on grandbabies constantly. When not keeping the home fires burning, she is at her computer agonizing over plot lines. “Winter Watch,” “Hounded,” “Christmas Passed,” and now “Buttonholed” are all the results of love, sweat and tears.
Check out all eight books in the
series.
Featured here: March 17, 18, 19, 20,
24, 25, 26, 27
Buy in the Pelican book store
Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller
Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten
Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers
A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James
To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick
This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow
A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf
Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel
