About the Book Tessa Taylor arrives in 1870s Upper Peninsula, Michigan, planning to serve as a new teacher to the town. Much to her dismay, however, she immediately learns that there was a mistake, that the town had requested a male teacher. Percival Updegraff, superintendent and chief mine clerk, says she can stay through winter since they won't be able to locate a new teacher before then, and Tessa can't help but say she is in his debt. Little does she know that Percival will indeed keep track of all that she owes him. Determined to become indispensable, Tessa throws herself into teaching, and soon the children of the widowed lighthouse keeper have decided she's the right match for their grieving father. Their uncle and assistant light keeper, Alex Bjorklund, has his own feelings for Tessa. As the two brothers begin competing for her hand, Tessa increasingly feels that someone is tracking her every move, and she may not be able to escape the trap that has been laid for her. Available to purchase on - AMAZON - About the Author Jody Hedlund is an award-winning and bestselling author of inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults. As a busy mama-writer, she has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of 5 children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes. When she's not busy being a mama, you can find her in front of her laptop working on another of her page-turning stories. She loves reading almost as much as she loves writing, especially when it also involves chocolate and coffee. Author Interview ReviewAward-winning author Jody Hedlund has written another novel in the Beacons of Hope series, Undaunted Hope, which readers will not be able to put down. From page one, readers will fall in love with the main character, school teacher Tessa Taylor, a character readers previously met earlier in the series who finally gets her own story. Readers will also enjoy the love triangle and banter as two brothers, Alex and Michael Bjorklund battle for Tessa’s affection. This story is filled with excitement, tragedy, and romance. It is about a town that is run by a tyrant and how they come together to get rid of him. I would recommend this novel to readers that enjoy historical fiction, romance, and inspirational-Christian fiction. Series: Beacons of Hope Genre: historical, romance, inspirational, Christian Publisher: Bethany House Publication date: January 5, 2016 Number of pages: 384 Content Rating: PG Book Rating: 5 stars  Other books in the series: 0.5-Out of the Storm 1-Love Unexpected 2-Hearts Made Whole 4-Forever Safe (coming June 2016) A review copy of this book was provided by Jody Hedlund Launch Team.  Joshua's Mission (Plain and Simple Miracles #2) by Vannetta Chapman -- Book Spotlight + Giveaway
1/29/2016
About the Book
Joshua's Mission is a new standalone novel in the Plain and Simple Miracles collection from popular author Vannetta Chapman. These stories of love and family and Amish community in Oklahoma tell of the miracles that can happen when lives are lived in service to God and to one another.
Joshua Kline travels from his farm in Oklahoma to offer aid to an Englisch town on the gulf coast of Texas after a category 4 hurricane has ravaged the area. He brings his brother with him, who needs a change of environment. The last thing he wants for Alton is another brush with the law. He is pleasantly surprised when he hears that Becca Troyer, the bishop's granddaughter, plans on joining their team. What will Joshua find when he arrives in Texas? A lack of electricity, certainly, which poses little problem for the Amish volunteers as they help restore order from destruction. But a budding romance? A call from God? And a possible healing of his relationship with Alton? Joshua's Mission is a story of love, forgiveness, and the grace of God that carries us through even the worst situations. About the Author
Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. Her novel, Falling to Pieces, was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner for best mystery. Chapman was a teacher for 15 years and currently writes full time. She lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.
Vannetta's Visit to Port Aransas
Thank you for inviting me to visit your blog today. I’m very excited about the release of Joshua’s Mission (2-1-16), which is book 2 in my Plain & Simple Miracles series. The Amish characters in this book live in Cody’s Creek, Oklahoma. That’s a fictional town, but it’s based on Chouteau, Oklahoma, which is east of Tula.
The bulk of the action happens at Port Aransas, Texas. In my story, a category 4 hurricane hits the gulf and pretty much levels the town. Then volunteers start arriving, all sorts of people from near and far, and among those volunteers are my smallish group of Amish who are serving with Mennonite Disaster Services. 1. Basics about Port Aransas. Port A is the only town on Mustang Island, and is located across the bay from Corpus Christi. There are approximately 3,500 residents in the town, though there are a lot more during summer tourist season. The University of Texas Marine Science Institute is also located here. 2. Past hurricanes. Port A has sustained hurricane damage in the past. The 1916 hurricane destroyed nearly everything. There have been other hurricanes to hit the area, including Carla in 1961 and Celia in 1970. 3. Visiting. I had a wonderful time visiting the Port A area. We went in October, so there wasn’t a lot of tourists, but there was still plenty to do. And yes, it was warm enough to swim. We walked up and down the beaches, visited local restaurants, spoke to the museum curator, stopped by city hall, and interviewed at length one of the local realtors. Everyone was very helpful, and everyone we spoke to said it’s not a matter of IF there will be another hurricane, but WHEN. They are doing their best to raise building codes and of course have very detailed evacuation plans. We also went out on a tour boat that took us around the bay. The crew caught a net full of fish which they let us see and touch before throwing them back in. (Yes, this a scene in the book). 4. Truth vs fiction. Much of what you will read in Joshua’s Mission has already happened. The actual hurricane scenes are from my imagination, but I used firsthand accounts of past hurricanes to make them plausible. The Tarpon Inn and giant shark exist in the downtown area, and the tour boat is exactly as I describe it – right down to the man who handled the fish having only one arm (see picture). This guy was amazing. 5. MDS. The heart of this story is about how people help one another and how they fall on their faith in difficult times. My husband has worked with Mennonite Disaster Services in central Texas, where they have shown up to help many times. The scenes I depict of MDS volunteers rebuilding are fictional, but I interviewed MDS administrators as well as read their book describing their organization. 6. Additional reading. If these subjects interest you, I highly recommend the following books:
Now I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever visited the Texas coast? If not, tell me your favorite beach or vacation spot. Vannetta Chapman Review
A review copy of this book was provided by Vannetta Chapman's Street Team. I have not finished reading this novel at this time, but watch for my review coming soon...
Giveaway
About the Book
Fall 1862 --Following her husband’s tragic death, young widow Abby Butterfield Browett’s first responsibility is to her son. Her desire to provide a secure future for her child has led her to accept a proposal of marriage from Isaac, a man twice her age. In her heart, she knows that Isaac lacks the fire and zest for life that defines Abby, but her son will be cared for. Can she be happy with only that?
Despite her reservations, Abby joins her fiancé on the journey to the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, unprepared for the challenges that begin soon after they embark. When their trouble turns dangerous, it is a group of rough frontiersmen that come to their aid. The incident provides Abby the excuse she needs to turn back and postpone the wedding—and in truth, she simply can’t forget the connection she felt with Scooter, the leader of their rescuers. But as hostilities arise between the local Indians and the white frontiersmen, Abby’s focus turns again to the safety of her son. When the young boy disappears following an attack, Abby disregards propriety and turns not to her fiancé for help, but to Scooter. In the face of unimaginable odds, the pair embarks on a quest to find Abby’s son, a journey that will test their courage and faith as never before . . .
Available to purchase on
About the Author
Darryl Harris is the author of six previous novels—the series of five Lights & Truth historical fiction novels (The Field is White, The Gathering, The Nauvoo Years, The Mormon Battalion, and The Journey Home), and another novel entitled Finding Zerahemla. He lived his childhood in southern Idaho, served a mission to South Korea, and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in communications (emphasis in advertising and journalism). In 1972 he founded Harris Publishing Inc., in Idaho Falls Idaho, which today publishes several national magazines including Sno West, Houseboat, Pontoon and Deck Boat, Dirt Tech, Potato Grower, The Sugar Producer, and a local publication, Idaho Falls Magazine. Harris Publishing owns Falls Printing. He is marred to the former Christine Sorensen. The couple has five children and nineteen grandchildren. Darryl and Christine presided over the Korea Seoul Mission in 1997-2000.
Review
Author Darryl Harris has written a fascinating Mormon historical fiction novel. During a time of war and turmoil, Abby’s husband is killed by an Indian, and she is left a young widow. Through her pain and sorrow Abby takes care of her adopted Indian son and anticipates marrying another man twice her age, but will be able to take good care of her. An accident to her fiancé and a postponing of the wedding leaves Abby to wonder if this man is the one for her, especially when she meets another man that is a freight driver. This story is well-written with characters readers will easily relate to through each circumstance. Rich Mormon culture and heritage ring through the pages of this novel. I would recommend this story to readers that enjoy pioneer, historical, LDS novels and a little bit of romance.
Genre: historical, inspirational, romance LDS, Christian Publisher: Covenant Communications Publication date: January 1, 2016 Number of pages: 279 Content Rating: PG Book Rating: 4 stars 
A review copy of this book was provided byCovenant Communications.
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Coming soon from USA Today Bestselling Author Rachael Anderson The Fall of Lord DraysonWho is he really? A high and mighty Lord, or a lowly servant? When Colin Cavendish, the new earl of Drayson, informs Lucy Beresford that she and her mother have two months to vacate the house they've called home for the past two years, Lucy is fit to be tied.They have no money, no relations they can turn to for help, and nowhere to go. How dare the earl break the promise his father had made to the Beresfords without so much as a twinge of conscience? Mere hours later, Lucy discovers the earl unconscious and injured in the middle of the road. Grudgingly, she takes him into her home to tend to his wounds, but when he awakens with no recollection of who he is, Lucy seizes the opportunity to teach a much-needed lesson in humility. Pushing her own twinge of conscience aside, she informs the earl of Drayson that he is nothing more than a mere servant. Her servant, in fact. And thus begins the charming tale of a pompous lord and an impetuous young woman, caught together in a web so tangled that it begs the question: Will they ever get out?
Coming late-summer 2016   Author Rachael Anderson A USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.
Cover Reveal Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Code or Paypal Cash Ends 2/17/16 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Book Mallory’s mother died fifteen years ago. But her father’s last words on the phone were unmistakable: “Find . . . mother.” Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point. Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart—and left—without a word, years ago. When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life—and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie—their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye. As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father’s killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together. Available to purchase on - AMAZON - About the Author USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble has written several romantic suspense novels including “Tidewater Inn,” “Rosemary Cottage,” and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series. Her books have sold more than 3 million copies. Advance Praises“Second chances, old flames and startling new revelations combine to form a story filled with faith, trial, forgiveness and redemption. Crack the cover and step in, but beware --Mermaid Moon is harboring secrets that will keep you guessing.” ~ Lisa Wingate, bestselling author of The Sea Keeper’s Daughterson Mermaid Moon “Coble truly shines when she’s penning a mystery, and this tale will really keep the reader guessing. . . . Mystery lovers will definitely want to put this book on their purchase list." ~ Romantic Times Book Reviews on The Inn at Ocean’s Edge ReviewAcclaimed and bestselling author Colleen Coble’s second novel in the Sunset Cove series, Mermaid Moon, is an excellent edition. Filled with mystery, murders, and romance, this novel will have readers on their toes as they anticipate what will happen next. Mallory has not been home in ages, but rushes there when she receives a strange phone call from her father, “Find…Mother.” Mallory rushes an hour to her father, but she is too late. How did her father die and why? And what does it have to do with her already deceased mother? Once again Colleen has crafted a story filled with intense suspense and romance that readers will absolutely love. With Colleen’s enjoyable characters and powerful plots, readers thrill with each sequence of the story in this conspiracy filled story. Readers that enjoy mystery and suspense will not be able to put this book down. Series: Sunset Cove Genre: mystery, suspense, thriller, romance, contemporary, Christian Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publication date: January 12, 2015 Number of pages: 353 Content Rating: PG Book Rating: 5 stars  Other books in the series: 1-The Inn at Ocean’s Edge 3-Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (coming September 2016) A review copy of this book was provided via LitFuse. GiveawayCelebrate the release of Mermaid Moon with Colleen and a mystery e-reader prize pack giveaway!  One grand prize winner will receive:
  About the Book In 1989, Claire Dellamare disappeared from her own fourth birthday party at the Hotel Tourmaline on the island of Folly Shoals, Maine. She showed up a year later at the same hotel, with a note pinned to her dress but no explanation. Nobody knows where Claire spent that year—and until now, Claire didn’t even know she had ever been missing. But when Claire returns to the Hotel Tourmaline for a business meeting with her CEO father, disturbing memories begin to surface . . . despite her parents’ best efforts to keep them forgotten. Luke Rocco lost his mother under equally mysterious circumstances—at the same time Claire disappeared. After a chance encounter reveals the unlikely link between them, Claire and Luke set out together to uncover the truth about what happened that fateful year. With flashbacks swimming just beneath her consciousness and a murderer threatening her safety, Claire’s very life depends on unscrambling her past . . . even if her family refuses to acknowledge it. Someone—maybe everyone—is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light. atening her safety, Claire’s very life depends on unscrambling her past . . . even if her family refuses to acknowledge it. Someone—maybe everyone—is hiding something from Claire Dellamare, and it will cost her everything to drag the truth out into the light. Available to purchase on - AMAZON - About the Author USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble has written several romantic suspense novels including “Tidewater Inn,” “Rosemary Cottage,” and the Mercy Falls, Lonestar, and Rock Harbor series. Her books have sold more than 3 million copies. ReviewBestselling author Colleen Coble has written a novel that will entrance readers from page one. Filled with mystery and romance this novel is just as thrilling as the cover suggests. From page one, readers will be anxiously anticipating page by page what will happen next. Claire Dellamare disappeared for one year of her live at age four and returned one year later, but everything is blank. And now somehow she is in the middle of a murder case under investigation. What happened to Claire during the year she was missing? This story will captivate readers, with its well-written plot and excellently developed characters. I would recommend this story to readers that greatly enjoy mystery and suspense. Series: Sunset Cove Genre: mystery, suspense, thriller, romance, contemporary, Christian Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publication date: April 1, 2015 Number of pages: 334 Content Rating: PG Book Rating: 5 stars  Other books in the series:
2-Mermaid Moon 3-Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (coming September 2016) A review copy of this book was previously won in a giveaway. 
Sam Miller is always making up for his best friend’s mistakes. Determined to help his childhood friend, Ashleigh, he offers his compassion and companionship as she ventures across a perilous sea. With the faint hope of renewing his lost love for Ashleigh’s sister, Sam never expects to find the woman of his dreams in the love of his childhood friend.
Neither are prepared for the life-altering and heart-breaking journey of their friendship. 
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of 5 great kids, speech-pathologist to about fifty more, lover of chocolate, jazz, and Jesus, and proud AlleyCat over at a group writing blog, The Writer’s Alley. Her debut historical romance novel, The Thorn Bearer, released in May 2015, with the second arriving in February 2016. Her first contemporary romance debuts in spring 2016.
Pepper Basham Author Promo from Dan Phillips on Vimeo. 
The last remnants of the thick morning fog clung to the horizon, but with a bright sun overhead it promised a full evaporation within the hour. A mixture of relief and fear washed over her. Land. With the warnings of torpedoes, nothing looked more reassuring, but with landfall came a closer step to Catherine- and Ashleigh’s next conflict. What price would she have to pay to convince Catherine to be with Sam? Were there other romantic options in Edensbury besides her faithless sister?
“Are you alright?” Sam’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Why didn’t you bring your plate camera? Didn’t you say it made clearer photos?” “It’s with my luggage.” He shook his head and placed his palm over his heart. “My pride and joy and much too nice a camera to toss around on the deck of a ship.” His gaze held hers until she returned his smile. The power the man had over her was unnerving. Her stomach twisted at the thought. Another man with power over her? She stepped toward the railing and looked out toward the coastline. A gray-green mound broke the line of the horizon. Sunlight sparkled across the waves. She blinked her eyes open against the sun’s reflection on the horizon. It was easy to see God in the vastness of the sea and the strength of those waves. A frown pulled at her bottom lip. So where was all that power years ago? Did He even hear her cry for help? She closed her eyes to the sun’s warmth and breathed in the salty air as it sent her well-kept hair into chaos. Her thoughts almost formed into a prayer, years of habit and necessity. But He didn’t care. “Ash, come take a look at this view.” She pushed away her thoughts and walked to Sam’s side. Carefully she leaned close to the small leatherbound box on its precarious tripod perch. Sam hobby had grown into a little business back in Millington, even finding some of his photographs of Appalachia in a few magazines, but Ashleigh had never grown adept in working the tiny device. Her hand reached to steady the instrument and brushed against Sam’s fingers. She attempted to pull her hand back, but he captured her fingers and placed them on the side of the camera, firming his palm over them. “Hold it like this.” He stood behind her now, his arms hemmed her in on each side to steady the camera and his breath warmed her ear. She swallowed, or tried to, but her dry mouth wouldn’t cooperate. Stop these feelings, Ashleigh. Ignore them. She forced the rising heat in her chest to chill and took a deep breath, attention fixed on the site through the lens. It was remarkable how one could frame a piece of the world. The monstrous ocean wasn’t as frightening in such small doses. In fact, the angle at which the sun glazed the water held a magical, almost hypnotic quality. So vast and mysterious, and yet as beautiful as starlight’s reflection in a pond. “It’s beautiful. It truly frames the world.” “One of the many reasons I’m obsessed with it, I think.” Sam’s voice smoothed past her ear. He guided the camera to a different scene, nearer the coast. She ignored the influence of his closeness to the chaos in the pit of her stomach. “Can you see the coast now?” “Oh yes, it’s lovely.” She pulled back and smiled up at him, but hadn’t calculated his extreme closeness. His face hovered just above hers, eyes so intense, she thought he might read her rebel thoughts. His brow tilted upward, slightly, as if he was searching for an answer to an unvoiced question. She didn’t have an answer. She couldn’t have an answer. As if drugged, she drew her attention from his and back to the camera lens. The sea rumbled out to meet the distant shore, waves as confused as the emotions crashing about in her heart. She couldn’t wait to get off of this boat. There would be plenty of opportunities to flee Sam’s closeness in Edensbury. She knew all the hiding places at her mother’s home. As a child, hiding had been a survival skill honed to near-perfection. She blinked the framed scene back into view. A strange stream of bubbles broke into her line of vision making a surprisingly straight path through the waves. A fish? Whale? Whatever it was, it moved fast. “Sam, look here. There’s some strange fish coming up from the water toward the ship.” His lips quirked into a doubtful smirk as he took the camera. “A fish coming toward the ship?” He peered through. “I don’t know of any fi—” His breath caught and his body stiffened. “No.” His exclamation pierced through her and echoed from her own lips. “What, Sam? It can’t be—” “Torpedo on the starboard side!” The shout rang down from a place above her followed immediately by another from somewhere else on the boat. A chill trembled down her spine. Sam’s gaze locked with Ashleigh’s and everything slowed. Sounds muffled except for the thrumming of her heartbeat in her ears. Sam pushed his camera aside and took hold of her shoulders just as an explosion sent them staggering like ragdolls toward the railing. Ash and dust flew into the air and rained down upon them, a few pieces stinging against her back. No, dear Lord. We’ve been hit. 
Pepper D. Basham’s book one in her Penned in Time Series, The Thorn Bearer, is intriguingly beautiful and aw-inspiring! Readers will absolutely not be able to or want to put down the heart-wrenching and stunningly inspirational story of struggle, forgiveness, and love. Ashleigh Dougall fights with herself to forgive past wrongs from her father, who stole her innocence, and her fiancé, Michael, who broke her heart, and her older sister, Catherine, who for some reason hates her. But more tragedy strikes when Ashleigh’s ship, the Lusitania, sinks on its way to Europe. To help forget her pain, Ashleigh serves in a war-hospital as a nurse in war-torn Europe. And, as her childhood friendship with Sam blossoms, can Ashleigh hope to find forgiveness and love? Readers will be consumed by the feelings of the characters, whether pains and sorrow or blissful joy. Pepper has crafted a charming and gorgeous story that readers of inspirational, historical fiction, focusing on WWI, will immediate fall in love with.
Series: Penned in Time Genre: romance, historical, Christian, WWI Awards: 2015 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award; 2016 Inspy Awards Lonlist for Debut Fiction Publisher: Vinspire Publishing Publication date: May 7, 2015 Number of pages: 362 Content Rating: PG Book Rating: 5 stars 
Other books in the series:
2-The Thorn Keeper (coming February 2016) 3-The Thorn Healer (coming TBD) A review copy of this book was provided viaSLB Tours. 
January 25--Reading Is My SuperPower
January 26--Toni Shiloh Prayerfully-Lifted Romance January 27--Bookworm Lisa | Singing Librarian Books January 28--A Holland Reads | The Green Mockingbird January 29--Just Commonly | The Artist Librarian January 30--Fictionally 
About the Book
Abducted against his will, Matthew Scott is conscripted into the Confederate army because of his Copperhead father's political leanings. Injured at Malvern Hill, Matthew is taken by the Union army to Shirley Plantation in Virginia where he is tended by seamstress Angelina Rose, a freed slave. Given an opportunity to leave the South and start a new life for herself, Angelina remained for the sake of her sister's orphaned twins who are still enslaved. Will Matthew's return to Shirley Plantation settle a mystery concerning his father's past? And help Matthew find the family he longs for. 150 years ago the history of America changed forever. Live 1863 through the stories of some of our finest writers - the passion, the romance, the tragedy, and the triumph. Carrie Fancett Pagels. Kathleen Maher. Joy Ross Davis. Sarah Price. Karen Anna Vogel. Patrick E. Craig. Willard Carpenter. Big Daddy Abel. Murray Pura. David Stearman. And many more. The plantations. The Underground Railroad. Chancellorsville. Vicksburg. Gettysburg. Little Round Top. Chickamauga. Chattanooga. Missionary Ridge. The soldiers in the field. The families at home. The nurses in the hospitals. The speeches at Richmond and Washington. The prayers in churches North and South. It's all here in one of the most dramatic series ever produced. A new story by a different author released every two weeks between April and November. Join us for one of the most exciting events in American inspirational publishing - Helping Hands Press presents CRY OF FREEDOM!
Available to order on
- AMAZON - About the Author
Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D.
Carrie Fancett Pagels is a multi-published award-winning author of Christian historical romance. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn't "cure" her overactive imagination! She resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia, which is perfect for her love of history. Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel – but not all at the same time! Previous Author Interview with Carrie10 Behind the Scenes Facts About the Book
1. Angelina’s name is taken from the song Angelina Baker, a funny song from the era. Her “Aunt Wilda” who takes her in is name for my real life aunt, Wilda Roat Fancett! She has gotten a kick out of this!
2. I worked closely with the Shirley Plantation staff to make sure the story was accurate. Part of this involved making a trip up to the third floor of the “Big House” in a knee boot during a time when I could barely walk! The things we authors will do for the love of a story! 3. Part of the inspiration came from a trip up north, through Ohio, and then back through Kentucky. Somehow (and I’d still swear I was in Ohio, at that Bowling Green) I’d seen signs that talked about young men being forced to serve in the Confederacy. So originally I had the story set in Bowling Green, Ohio, only to find out there were no Confederate troops ever there and that Bowling Green, Kentucky had been under occupation. I’d never heard of Bowling Green, Kentucky! And I am NOT a Civil War history junkie—so I didn’t know that Bowling Green was taken over by the Confederates and became their capital in Kentucky! 4. My critique partner, the wonderful author Kathleen Maher, called me and asked if I’d heard about a Copperhead Ohio senator from near Dayton, which is where my cousins live. So with Dayton being further south in Ohio, I changed up the story and had Matthew conscripted into the Confederate army because of his Copperhead father. The real life senator had all kinds of awful things happen because of his politics. So I inflicted some of those on Matthew! 5. The hero’s name is from Colonel Matt Ruckman, who has toured Shirley Plantation with his wife and me and Matthew Zumbrun, Retired USN. These are two of my close friends’ husbands, both military, and because my bible inspiration verses were from the book of Matthew 6. This novella released three years ago and was my debut Christian fiction publication and stayed on the Amazon bestselling Civil War ebooks for over seven months and on the Top-Rated Civil War ebooks for a year! 
7. The book is re-releasing under a new cover designed by Roseanna M. White. It more reflects the storyline and characters than the original cover.
8. The original cover was REALLY taken at Shirley Plantation and is a shot that photographer Alice Walton took through the keyhole and out the front door of the Great House! 9. Some time near when I wrote the book, there was an exhibition of “White Slaves” and the Abolitionist movement. I was intrigued and although I couldn’t attend, I went through the images online. I tried to imagine what it was like for Northern mothers to see images of by all appearances little white children not only living in slavery but working, too. No wonder the Abolitionists used those cute little blonde-haired kids to stir up Northern sentiments! I decided freedwoman one-eighth African Angelina would have golden hair and light eyes! 10. After I’d written the story, several of my friends shared with me that, like Angelina, they too were descendants of slaves. It was as though the story gave one person, in particular, permission to own that part of her history. This friend indicated that “Granny did seem to have dark skin but nobody really thought much of it” until they looked back a generation or so and discovered that her mother had come out of slavery. What a blessing we live in a time where people can embrace their background. According to my DNA results I don’t have anything nearly as interesting in mine, although I was surprised to learn I had Greek/Italian and Scandinavian DNA (no known recent ancestors!)—surely there is a story there, too! 
Review
Carrie Fancett Pagels has written a sweet historical, inspirational, romance short story that readers will thoroughly enjoy. Filled with charming characters and an intriguing plotline, taking place in the south, this story deals with slavery and eventually freedom. Readers will be pulled into this adoring story from page one and is a historical fiction lover's delight. I would recommend this story to readers that enjoy stories taking place during the Civil War.
Genre: historical, romance, military, inspirational, Christian Publisher: Helping Hands Press Publication date: March 26, 2016 Number of pages: 74 Content Rating: G Book Rating: 5 stars 
A review copy of this book was provided by Pagels' Pals.
Giveaway
Highbrow Hoodwink (The Lassoed by Marriage Romance Collection Novella #5) by Rebecca Jepson
1/26/2016
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