JOY - (An invitation to share in Mary's gift)

 When I received Ward Tanneberg's newsletter this month, I asked if I could share it with all of you. He agreed.

JOY “… Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.”[1] THE EIGHTY MILES from Ein Karem to Nazareth is not any shorter than it had been on her going, but it feels shorter this time. At least to Mary. Hugging Elizabeth tightly, holding little baby John one more time before saying goodbye, hearing Zechariah speak after months of silence. Highlights of an amazing three months. She has so much to tell Ima and Papa and her sister and her forever friends since childhood. Each step on the dusty trail helps close the circle back. Of course, neighbors must be talking … whispering … not to her sister or her parents, but word gets around …. even faster, it seems, when not true. She knows this. There is uneasiness, but there is contentment, too, an inner joyfulness. She is going home. MEANWHILE JOSEPH IS DEEPLY TROUBLED learning of Mary’s pregnancy and decides to release her from their betrothal vows. Then in a dream an Angel tells him, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”[2] But while Joseph is getting his head around this amazing turn of events, her parents send Mary away for three months. Granted the Angel assured Joseph he has nothing to worry about. Everything will be okay. Mary is pregnant with the Son of God. Your job is to give him the name Jesus. That’s it. When he is grown, Jesus will do the rest. God always has the big picture. Joseph is a righteous man so he believes this. Adonai  knows what he is doing. But sometimes, let’s face it, Adonai can be short on the details. Either he forgets to pass them along to us, or he thinks we can figure them out on our own. For Joseph, this is one of those times. Where to begin? Her father, Joachim, of course. Man to man. A woman they both love is carrying Israel’s long awaited Messiah. She must be protected and provided for. These are difficult, even dangerous times. But this is only part of it. Like any red-blooded male about to marry the woman of his dreams, Joseph has enough angst over bringing a wife into his home and raising a family. But God’s Son? Really? How do I bring up God’s Son? Will he ever disobey me? And if he does, what am I supposed to do? Punish him? Make God’s Son sit in the corner? Send him to bed without his supper? After Jesus is born, wouldn’t it be better if we just dropped him off at the Temple and let the priests and teachers take care of him? After all, that is his real Father’s house, right? Teach him a trade? Won’t he know everything before I explain it to him? What will he be like? Will he fit into the family if we decide to have more kids? Joseph may have gotten the message straight from God’s Angel, but he and Mary have a lot to talk about when she gets back. WITH THE LATE AFTERNOON SUN in her eyes, Mary makes her way up the familiar path. There is her sister by the well. There is her ima standing in the doorway. Mary’s tired feet grow lighter when she sees her ima’s face light up with recognition. Her sister screams with delight and dropping her water vessel runs to greet her, their ima hurrying after. The three of them laugh and cry and embrace. There is great joy. Mary is home at last. That evening, a family dinner features all of Mary’s favorites. And many questions. How is Elizabeth? Did she have her baby yet? What was it like living with them? Excited responses. Joachim and Anne and Mary’s sister, the other Mary. The family around the table. With Joseph there, sitting next to their beloved Mary, her face aglow in the candle light, her hand in his hand. And God is in the room. Like it used to be. Like it will never be again. “Joy unspeakable and full of glory.” WHAT IS JOY? An idea? A feeling? Some words are difficult to describe with other words. A limitless potential. A repository of transformative power, waiting to be tapped into. More than happiness. A feeling we experience in spite of circumstances, in difficult times of sadness, anger or grief. It has been said that joy can share space with other emotions and doesn’t need a smile in order to exist. Happiness exists because of. Joy exists in spite of. For Mary on this first night home, joy feels like family, like the man sitting beside her, like the approach of motherhood, like her new home and new life only days away. Being with Elizabeth and Zechariah has been a coming of age experience for Mary. Leaving home a teenager, returning home a young woman. Three months during which there has emerged a greater realization of her place in the world, a further understanding of how personal actions and reactions and meaning and purpose and calling are linked to God’s design in us once we open ourselves to him.  “I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.”[3] It’s all so exciting. Mary now knows what we can know, too. The source of true joy is the pleasurable presence of the Holy Spirit within us, our hope in his unchanging Word. Joy is a choice ready to be made. May Jesus keep us close.     [1] Luke 1:56 [2] Matthew 1:20,21 [3] Luke 1:38

MIRACLE AT MADVILLE - MaryAnn Diorio - One Free Book

Welcome back, MaryAnn. What made you decide to write for children? Many years ago, while browsing in the children’s section of my local bookstore,  I noticed a book about Jesus. I got so excited to find such a book in a secular bookstore. But when I flipped through its pages, my excitement crashed. The book presented Jesus as merely a prophet and teacher, just like Mohammed and Buddha. In fact, after presenting these two false prophets along with Jesus, the author invited the children to choose which one they wanted to follow!

I literally began to weep in that bookstore. Right then and there, I said, “Lord, I’m going home right now to start writing a children’s book that portrays the truth about You. The devil is not going to capture children’s minds and hearts on my watch!

So I went home and started writing Who Is Jesus?, a picture book that portrays the truth about Jesus Christ in a way that children can comprehend and relate to.

After that book, the Lord began giving me other ideas for children’s books. I have always dearly loved children and am able vividly to recall my own childhood. This helps me a great deal when I write for little ones.

It’s been said that it’s easier to write for children than it is to write for adults. You write for both, so what is your opinion? I think it’s definitely more difficult to write for children. When we write for children, we write for little people who are just like us grown-ups but less nuanced, yet, I believe, more spiritual in their life experiences. I like to say that children are “fresh from the heart of God,” with all the innocence that position implies. So when we write for children, we write on a different, and I think, more noble, level of the human heart.

One of my favorite quotes is that by Madeleine L’Engle: “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”

Do you get input from children for your children’s books? Most certainly, especially from my grandchildren. One of my granddaughters is especially literary. She and I brainstorm, and she offers excellent ideas for plots and plot twists. Unlike adult family members, children will tell you exactly what they think of your story. So, you can always count on having an unbiased critic in a child.

The most wonderful moment of my writing life came shortly after I had published my first middle-grade novel, Dixie Randolph and the Secret of Seabury Beach. On a visit to my home, my nine-year-old granddaughter pulled me aside and said, “Nonna, I really liked your book!” Her words so touched my heart and brought me to tears.

Why do you think writing for children is so important? We live in a culture today where absolute truth has been driven out. Our children are being exposed to unmentionable evil unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime. We are planting seeds of sin into their fragile, impressionable hearts instead of seeds of righteousness. This is nothing short of child abuse. I am often reminded of our Lord’s comment in Luke 17: 2: “It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin.”

There are several genres of children’s books: picture books, storybooks (like picture books, but longer), chapter books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult, aka YA. Do you have a favorite? I have written in all genres except  YA. I don’t know that I have a favorite. As long as I can tell an engaging story, I’m happy. Picture books, I think, are more difficult to write in that the story should not exceed 800 words. Recently, that number has even been reduced to 500 words by some publishers. So a picture book writer must tell a good story with a beginning, a middle, and an end in only a few words. This forces the writer to get down to the heart of the story—the bare bones, as it were—while still considering all the elements of good story-telling.

What advice would you give to an aspiring children’s writer? First of all, I would say that if you are not consistently around or with children, find a way to spend as much time as you can with them. Get involved in their lives. Listen to them. Mostly, listen. Ask them questions. They will share their hearts with you. Those nuggets they share will be seeds for your stories. 

Observe children interacting with other children. Observe them when they are alone. Observe them when interacting with adults. You will learn a great deal about them from their body language and their facial expressions. Most of all, love them with all your heart and they will love you back. You will grow in awe of them. You will come to understand what Jesus meant when He said we must become like little children to enter the Kingdom of God.

Finally, read as many children’s books as you can, particularly in the genre you wish to write.

How much say does a children’s author have in the illustrations for his book? It depends on who publishes the book. If your story is published by a traditional publisher, you will likely have very little say in the illustrator chosen or in the illustrations. Some publishers may ask your opinion on a cover, but most do not.

If you indie-publish, then you have all the say on the illustrator you choose. Since my children’s books are indie-published, I chose all my illustrators. But once I choose the illustrator, I allow the illustrator freedom of artistic expression in the illustration process. This is my way of honoring the artistic gift God has given the illustrator. I feel comfortable giving the artist full reign on the artwork, however, because I have first chosen the illustrator and have seen his or her artistic style and am happy with it.

How does publishing a children’s book differ from publishing a book for adults? Again, it depends on whether you go with a traditional publisher or you indie-publish. Since I have indie-published my children’s books, I can tell you there is a lot of work involved. I have to hire my own professional illustrators and editors. Also, I have to have the files formatted properly, although an experienced illustrator will know how to do that. Books with illustrations require a different kind of formatting compared to simple print books. When I publish my books for adults, however, I don’t need to consider hiring illustrators, only editors. So, publishing for adults is much easier when it comes to logistics.

Do you have any more children’s books in the works? Yes, I am currently working on a children’s storybook titled Nonna Cioccolata (Italian for Grandma Chocolate.) Because I bring my grandchildren Hershey chocolate kisses when I visit them, they have taken to calling me Nonna Cioccolata. So, I decided to write a story about a character by that name.

Do you have any final words to encourage our readers?  Yes. If God has called you to write for children, then consider it a great responsibility and a high honor. Children believe everything they are taught, so our responsibility as children’s authors is, I believe, more onerous than it is when writing for adults. Not that we have less responsibility when writing for adults. We don’t. But when we write for children, we are holding impressionable hearts and minds in our hands. Hearts and minds that are not yet experienced enough to be able to nuance and to discern between truth and error. So, write for children with great care, knowing that you are writing for the very heart of God. 

Thank you, MaryAnn for sharing Miracle at Madville with us. I'm eager to share it with my great-grandchildren.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-at-Madville-Maryann-Diorio/dp/0930037731/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1671127810&sr=1-1

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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THE SISTERS OF SEA VIEW - Julie Klassen - One Free Book

Bio: Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold over a million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing’s Best Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full-time. She and her husband live in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit JulieKlassen.com.

About the story: When their father’s death leaves the Summers sisters impoverished, Sarah Summers hatches a plan to open their seaside home to guests to provide for their ailing mother. Younger sisters Emily and Georgiana are on board, but Viola, physically and emotionally scarred, is distressed at the idea. 

Left with no other choice, the four sisters begin their new venture with the help of family and friends. But instead of hosting elderly invalids in need of fresh sea air, the sisters find themselves in the company of eligible gentlemen and a mysterious Scottish widower. Some guests have come for a holiday, others for hidden reasons of their own. . . .

As Sarah is torn between a growing attraction to the mysterious stranger staying at Sea View and duty to her family, their new situation also threatens to expose Viola’s scars—both the visible and those hidden deep within. 

The Sisters of Sea View is a story full of faith, intrigue, and the unbreakable bonds between sisters. Readers will be eager to escape into this new series set on the charming Devonshire coastline.

Welcome, Julie. Your new novel, The Sisters of Sea View, is the first book in your new ON DEVONSHIRE SHORES series. Please provide a brief summary of your new release, The Sisters of Sea View. The novel is about four genteel sisters who open their seaside home to guests to make ends meet. They expect elderly invalids, who frequent Devon’s south coast to improve their health, and are surprised instead to host eligible gentlemen and a mysterious Sottish widower. As they begin their new venture, they soon encounter mystery, romance, heartache, and healing.

This book, as well as the whole series, is set on the scenic Devonshire seaside. Can you share what led you to choose this as the setting for your new series and why readers may recognize it? I chose the south coast of Devon because Jane Austen visited the region more than once and enjoyed the seaside there. I chose Sidmouth in particular because many people believe she based her unfinished novel Sanditon (the inspiration for the PBS television drama of the same name) on the town. Devonshire is also a setting in Austen’s novels Sense and Sensibility and Persuasion.

What research was required to write this book? Did you learn anything interesting along the way? I read many books about English seaside resorts and customs of the early 1800s. I enjoyed learning about bathing machines and beliefs about the medicinal value of sea bathing—and even the drinking of sea water! And, since I am using a real town versus a fictional setting, I learned all I could about Sidmouth. Volunteers from the museum there have been extremely helpful in my research.

Can you tell us a little more about the inspiration behind this book and what ties each novel in the series together? The inspiration for this novel came from several sources: past visits to the beautiful Devonshire coast, old advertisements I read from women who were letting out rooms in their seaside homes, and even an elderly man from church who told me his mother Viola’s story, which ended up inspiring one of the characters in the book. The series will be tied together by its seaside setting and by the sisters. 

Each of the four Summers sisters, Sarah, Emily, Viola, and Georgiana, is unique. What is most important to know about each sister? Sarah, the eldest at home, feels duty-bound to try to keep her family together. Viola and Emily are twins but look nothing alike. Emily is pretty and confident, while Viola was born with a defect that left her with a small scar—and big emotional wounds. The youngest, Georgiana, loves the outdoors and tends to adopt strays.

Readers may not know this about you, but you were an editor for many years before writing fiction books of your own. How do you think that experience has made you a better author? Yes, I am very thankful for that experience and learned a lot from the authors and fellow editors I worked with over the years. During that time, I learned a lot about the essence of story, the importance of maintaining an author’s voice, and the fact that every writer needs skilled editors to produce the best possible novel. I am very grateful for my editors and would never want to try to do this without them!

For those that know you, it’s no secret that you love all things Jane—Jane Austen and Jane Eyre, that is. How have those interests influenced this book and your writing over the years? I credit the novels Jane Eyre (and The Secret Garden) with inspiring my early love of British literature. By reading Jane Austen’s novels (and attending workshops and talks through the Jane Austen Society of North America) I continue to learn more about the customs of the time period.

What themes or lessons do you hope readers pick up on while reading The Sisters of Sea View? Some of the themes include family loyalty, acceptance of old wounds, and finding joy even amid difficult life circumstances. 

How can readers connect with you? Readers can find me on Facebook (my author page and the group: Inspirational Regency Readers), as well as on Instagram, or by email.

Thank you, Julie, for sharing this book with us.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Sea-View-Devonshire-Shores/dp/0764234269/ref=monarch_sidesheet 

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com  

WINNERS

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BOOKMAS 12 GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS - DAY 8 - Lena Nelson Dooley - A Free Book for all!

Hello, dear reader,  

🎵🎵 On the first day of Christmas… 🕊️🕊️ 

The holiday season is upon us and I’m so thankful for you. I’ve teamed up with some author friends to bring you 12 Days of Bookmas. 12 days with a gift for you from each one of us (including a special gift from me). All you have to do is save this email and on each day click over to Amazon to download your free book. Don’t delay—the books will only be free for twenty-four hours on their assigned day. There are 4 more free books.

A Heart’s Gift is an award-winning novel with a marriage of convenience with an unusual mystery.

🎁 Dec 1 - Lacy Williams, Christmas Homecoming

🎁 Dec 2 - Shanna Hatfield, The Christmas Bargain 

🎁 Dec 3 - Julia Ridgmont, The Christmas Switch

🎁 Dec 4 - Vickie McDonough, Beloved Enemy

🎁 Dec 5 - Misty Beller, Freedom in the Mountain Wind

🎁 Dec 6 - Lorri Dudley, The Duke's Refuge

🎁 Dec 7 - Kathleen Denly, Waltz in the Wilderness

🎁 Dec 8 - Lena Nelson Dooley, A Heart's Gift (This is mine.)

🎁 Dec 9 - Keely Brooke Keith, The Land Uncharted 

🎁 Dec 10 - Linda Ford, Austin

🎁 Dec 11 - Kit Morgan, The Christmas Mail-Order Bride

🎁 Dec 12 - Kari Trumbo, A Sugar Plum Christmas

 

HOLDING THE LINE - Jennifer Delamere - One Free Book

Bio: Jennifer Delamere’s debut Victorian romance, An Heiress at Heart, was a 2013 RITA Award finalist in the inspirational category. Her follow-up novel, A Lady Most Lovely, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and the Maggie Award for Excellence from Georgia Romance Writers. Jennifer earned a BA in English from McGill University in Montreal, where she became fluent in French and developed an abiding passion for winter sports. She's been an editor of nonfiction and educational materials for nearly two decades, and lives in North Carolina with her husband.

About Holding the Line: A widow at just 30 years of age, Rose Finlay is determined to put all ideas of marriage and family behind her and pursue an independent life. But when she notices a young woman about to be led astray by a roguish aristocrat, bitter memories from her past arise, and she feels compelled to intervene. The unintended consequences of her efforts will ultimately force Rose to reexamine her life in a new light.

As the overseer of his two widowed sisters' financial and domestic affairs, John Milburn carries heavy responsibilities for a single man. But he's faced with his biggest challenge when his headstrong niece falls prey to the attentions of a powerful man who could ruin both her and her family.

When Rose and John join forces to protect his niece, they put everything they hold dear—including their growing attraction—in jeopardy.

Welcome, Jennifer. Please provide a brief summary of your new novel, Holding the Line. Rose Finlay is a young widow who teams up with wealthy businessman John Milburn to shepherd his niece through her launch into society. It’s an unusual move for Rose, who revels in her own independence and has built a successful career through years of hard work. She is spurred on by memories of her own unhappy past and a desire to keep the girl safe from unscrupulous men. When she thwarts the questionable intentions of a powerful aristocrat, the results are disastrous. John and Rose must fight to save the things they hold dear—including their growing attraction to each other.

Can you tell us a little more about what and who were the inspirations behind this book? The series is largely tied together by three women who all work in the field of telegraphy. For Holding the Line, I tried to envision a situation where a telegraph operator might struggle over whether to keep important information confidential if it had a direct negative effect on someone they cared about. Another perhaps unusual inspiration was a tidbit I came across in a history book, that Richard Henry Lee, one of America’s Founding Fathers, was heavily involved in helping the widows of his two deceased brothers oversee their estates and their children. That gave me the idea for John’s family situation.

What did you enjoy most about creating a resilient and independent protagonist like Rose Finlay? I love that even though she is happy living alone, she also cares deeply for her friends and family. She doesn’t hesitate to help others when she sees a need. She’s fearless about stepping into new situations, and she doesn’t shirk from unpleasant tasks if she feels they are important and necessary. The fact that Rose is a widow gives her character depth, and her successful career as a business manager gives the story a more modern twist.

In your opinion, what about the character of Rose do you think your readers will most resonate with? We see Rose’s emotional growth from an overconfident young woman who made some disastrous early choices, to one who is more circumspect. Her efforts to save another young girl from the same fate makes her an admirable and endearing heroine. However, even the most self-assured people can have times of doubt. When Rose begins to care for John, she finds herself tested in the one area where she is not so confident, where she doubts her ability to know what is right. Can she really trust where her heart seems to be leading her? Her uncertainty is understandable, and yet it makes us root for a happy ending for her. Who doesn’t love a second chance at love?

Without giving away any spoilers, what makes Rose Finlay and John Milburn such a captivating duo? They are hesitant in their relationship with each other, and yet the chemistry is undeniable. I love that they are both avid readers, and this is one of many things that draws them together. Both have been through difficult trials, but John has retained a touch of humor and whimsy that often helps lift Rose out of her more serious approach to life. Rose and John are fiercely loyal to their families and friends. They share a concern for the welfare of others, and are willing to go out of their way to protect them. This sensitivity bodes well for a happy union, as they will be able to show that same kindness and empathy to each other—a requirement for a true, intimate connection.

Did you explore anything new as a writer while working on Holding the Line? What continues to motivate your writing? This is the first book I’ve written where there were so many extended family members directly influencing the story, and where the heroine is a widow. She will be approaching the idea of love and marriage with a very different viewpoint than someone who has never been married before. In my books, I love exploring the many ways the women of this era were navigating the expectations of society while forging their own new paths in the workplace. It was a challenging balancing act at times.

What sets Holding the Line apart from your previous novels? One interesting difference is that Rose’s character arc actually spans all three books in this series. Although Holding the Line can be easily read as a standalone, we do see a lot of Rose in the previous books and can see how she changes. I haven’t ever given a character that much buildup before the book where they are the main protagonist.

What lessons do you hope readers will gain from reading Holding the Line? The lessons are subtle, I think, and yet powerful, too. We plan our lives based on our past experiences and our hopes for the future, but often our plans are upended in unexpected ways. Throughout the upheavals, God is there and is able to direct us to new paths that are better than those we’d imagined. Rose had been embittered by the tragedies of her past, but we see how God can gently mend a broken heart with the master’s touch.

How can readers connect with you?

At my website, www.jenniferdelamere.com, readers can contact me and sign up for my newsletter. I’m also on lots of social media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jenniferdelamere

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdelamere

Twitter - @JenDelamere

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/jendelamere

Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing this novel with us.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Holding-Line-Love-along-Wires/dp/0764234943/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1670435136&sr=1-1

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

HONOR’S REFUGE - Hallee Bridgeman - One Free Book

Bio: Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee finally settled with her husband in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she’s not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.

About the book: Combining her knowledge and experience of military life with a vast amount of research, USA Today bestselling author Hallee Bridgeman has crafted a new action-packed romantic suspense series that looks at the lives, loves, and struggles of three Special Forces A-Team officers. Bridgeman states, “It is my desire to honor those who have served with the characters that I create.” She successfully accomplishes her goal in her new Love and Honor series, which expertly intertwines three captivating stories.

HONOR’S REFUGE - Phil Osbourne of the Special Forces A-Team returned home from the military missing a leg and feeling like half a man, but Melissa Braxton has loved him almost since they met. When things take a dangerous turn at the women’s shelter where Melissa works, Phil must overcome wounds both seen and unseen to find a strength long buried—and save the woman he loves.

Welcome back, Hallee. How do the books in your new Love and Honor series tie together? Each book revolves around one member of a Special Forces A-Team.

What type of research was required to accurately portray the characters in this branch of service? My husband served with the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) for several years and deployed with them to Afghanistan. In our military community, we have several friends who are still in Special Forces units. I was able to ask questions, glean knowledge, and confirm facts with several sources who actually served or are serving in the Special Forces.

What draws you to writing military fiction? I am an Army brat (my father was Special Forces) married to an Army brat (his father was a paratrooper). After the Gulf War, my husband got out of the military but reenlisted on September 12, 2001. He deployed to his second war within a few months of our marriage and has served in the military for almost twenty-five years. In media, it’s hard to find where the military is portrayed correctly. I wanted to write a series of books that didn’t cater to stereotype or trope but gave us a realistic view of the men and women who serve in the armed forces and their culture.

What was the inspiration behind the Love and Honor series? I love the military life and the people in it. I love strong heroes and heroines who are truly self-sacrificing, whose love for their country and families leads them to lay down their lives to protect them.

Is there a character in this series who you particularly relate to? I think out of all the characters, Bill Sanders is my favorite. I’ve always loved the tortured hero with a past that comes with baggage. It was fun to weave a sense of humor and Southern colloquialisms into his speech. My husband is very Southern and clever with his words. I think a lot of him leaked into Bill.

The theme of honor is present in each book in this series. Why did you choose to focus on this particular quality? One of the definitions of honor is “adherence to what is right.” Throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded by soldiers who have served in the US Army Special Forces. In my experience, they exude honor and respect. It was a natural trait to give focus to when I was plotting and planning this series.

Are there any lessons that you hope readers can learn from the Love and Honor series? God is love, but this is a fallen world and there are some pretty scary things going on. God has gifted some people with warrior qualities and special skills, and they’re out there every day praying for the same peace that Jesus promises us in John 16:33: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (ESV).

What are you working on next? My husband is no longer in a Special Forces unit; he is now in a cybersecurity/cyber warfare unit. I’m plotting out a series of books that combines cyber and Special Forces and a global hunt to stop some very dangerous hackers perpetrating a devastating attack. We’re crossing paths with Israel’s Mossad, arms dealers, and deep cover agents. I’m very excited for these books.

How can readers connect with you? Readers can find all of my contact information on my website: https://www.halleebridgeman.com.

Thank you, Hallee, for sharing Honor's Refuge with us.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Honors-Refuge-Honor-Hallee-Bridgeman/dp/080074022X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1670357061&sr=1-1

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

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THE LOST MELODY - Joanna Davidson Politano - One Free Book

Bio: Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, The Love Note, and A Midnight Dance. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone’s story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan.

About the story: After the death of her father, concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant is surprised to learn she is now responsible for an adult ward at Hurstwell Asylum whom she knows nothing about. The woman’s portrait stirs old memories from Vivienne’s childhood dreams. When the asylum claims that the woman was never a patient there, Vivienne resolves to find the woman no matter what.
As she becomes an aid and is soon admitted against her will to Hurstwell, a place forgotten by the outside world, the edges of sanity and madness blur, leaving her unsure of what is real. Music plays for her ears alone, letters full of rose petals are delivered, and secrets beyond the ones she seeks are revealed. Will the woman’s history ever be revealed?

Fan-favorite Joanna Davidson Politano casts a delightful spell with this lyrical look into the nature of women’s independence and artistic expression during the Victorian era—and now.

Welcome back, Joanna. Can you please provide a brief summary of your novel The Lost Melody?

The Lost Melody is about a concert pianist who sees the entire world in terms of music. She sees the people around her, the good and bad circumstances of her life, even the atmosphere of a place, as a song with all its unique traits. She enters Hurstwell Pauper Lunatic Asylum as an aid to find a mysterious ward she never knew about—and who the asylum claims was never a patient there. Because her father has paid for this woman’s keep for many years, and because Vivienne herself recognizes the woman’s portrait, she cannot keep from searching out the truth. She’s seen this woman and heard the haunting lost melody she plays on the piano, yet no one seems to know her or what became of her. She discovers more than she ever imagined she would, pairing her skill in music with a place deeply in need of healing, and we get to see through Vivienne what impact music has on people’s minds and bodies—and what impact light has in darkness.

What inspired the story of a woman searching for a mysteriously missing patient? I had a dream once—that’s how so many story ideas start—that I woke up in some prison cell for speaking out about God. It was terrifying and emboldening, and I felt I had a mission, even within these odd circumstances. In the morning, I wrote out the details of what I’d experienced, then I started asking “what if?” I made it a story idea, and thought about why someone might find themselves trapped in an asylum. I tossed out the overdone ideas and thought of more. What put her there? What happens next? Then what? And since this came from a dream, I thought it would be a fun twist to have the mysterious character the heroine searches for be from a dream too. A pianist who played a distinctive song in the middle of the night, and only the heroine heard it. I had no idea where I was going with the idea, but it was an interesting place to start!

The Lost Melody is set in the Victorian era. What drew you to this time period? Of all the books I’ve read, some of my favorites were written during the Victorian era. I feel at home in that slice of history, and I just love the nuances and climate of the time. Things were vastly different then, especially for the poor and for women, but humanity remains the same. There are so many insights into our life here and now through the lens of Victorian England.

Your character spends a great deal of time at an asylum. What type of research was required to accurately portray this time period and the location? I read a lot of nonfiction material concerning asylums, including myth-busting statistics and evidence. I also read journalist Nelly Bly’s account of her time in a “mad house,” as she called it, and everything she experienced. Her story took place in New York, so I mostly used her impressions and thoughts rather than the historical details that wouldn’t have necessarily matched British asylums, but it was incredibly helpful in setting the tone in my head.

What I found most helpful were the journals written by various asylum inmates, mostly men, in Victorian England. Those accounts were raw and heartbreaking, especially when I recognized everyday conditions in the patients described in the pages. There were also records of items patients left behind as well as early photographs of their faces, and that added a human element to my research. I couldn’t set these stories aside. I couldn’t forget about the people and their lives. And through all this research, I found a great deal of hope and beauty.

Your main character, Vivienne, is a concert pianist. What compelled you to write about a musically talented character? When God invited me into a very dark-sounding premise, this asylum setting, I wanted to contrast it with something intensely beautiful. One of the most beautiful things I could think of within that time period was music—especially piano music. Whenever I write, or even when I’m homeschooling my small children, piano music permeates the atmosphere and somehow grounds us all. It’s calming but also full of life, and that’s exactly what I wanted to put into this story that could otherwise be quite dreary. The music ended up becoming a huge component of the story, and adding so much light and hope and fascinating historical elements that I can’t wait to share with readers. The music portion of my research and my preparation was a real delight to my music-loving heart.

There is an element of psychological suspense in The Lost Melody. Do you find it challenging to add in this type of suspense? Very much so! I always start out knowing the ending of my stories—but then discover I’m wrong at some point in the drafting stage. I add twists and change outcomes all the time, and it feels like I’m uncovering more layers than I even include in the finished novel. So as I’m writing these stories, even the simple plot twists, they really mess with my brain. All the possibilities, the what-ifs, the impossible scenarios, the dots that suddenly connect . . . they just dance around in my head, twisting this way and that until suddenly all the pieces are in place and there’s an entire story laid out.

Honestly, I never think the story will work itself out, or that a resolution will be possible, until it happens and it’s there. A writing friend once told me that our brain hates an unfinished story, and that’s how this one especially went for me—I couldn’t get it out of my head until I’d untangled every last twist and saw everything clearly. Then, of course, there’s the matter of going back through the whole thing and making sure all the details add up and actually point to the right conclusion!

Do you identify with Vivienne in any way?

Absolutely. I’ve played piano for as long as I can remember, and the way music gets under her skin—in a good way—is somewhat from my own life. I’m not a performer, but I absolutely love to play and listen to music. Beyond that, I felt her spiritual struggle heavily. The idea of having a strong purpose in life, then being derailed, finding yourself trapped in circumstances that were nowhere near what you’d planned . . . and realizing the interruption was as important as the previous mission you were on. Perhaps more so. I’ve been in some long seasons I didn’t understand, didn’t like, and after crying out to God with all my questions and probably more than a few complaints, I realized each time what freedom I still had within the prison of those circumstances.

What do you hope the reader takes away from The Lost Melody? A sense of freedom within the constraints of circumstances. At some point we all find ourselves mired in a place we don’t want to be, trapped by someone else’s choices or by unforeseen events. We fight it, complain about it, then something happens and we settle into the season and maybe even realize this interruption was the point all along. That our purpose and mission are found right in the midst of the place we never wanted to be. Or at the very least, that we can have a great deal of freedom within that difficulty. What freedom is available to God’s people, especially within their heart, no matter what’s going on around them.

What do you love about writing historical fiction? I love the characters! I always start with them. Then I look at what’s going on in the world around them and how that might shape who they are, their motivations, their heart questions. Humanity remains largely the same over time, broken but beautiful, but there’s something irresistible about stepping out of your own world and visiting another, spending time with the people there and seeing humans from their perspective—then seeing the similarities to ourselves in modern culture.

Where can our audience go to connect with you? My newsletter is where I share everything first, and you can connect with that on my website: jdpstories.com. I’m also on Facebook and Instagram as Joanna Davidson Politano. I also create Pinterest boards to help readers visualize my stories.

Thank you, Joanna, for sharing your novel on my blog. I have a lot of readers who love historical novels.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Melody-Joanna-Davidson-Politano/dp/0800736915/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1669912756&sr=1-1

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 2 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com