Sandra Merville Hart's Blog, page 9

Taste of Fall Pumpkin Cake

by Pegg Thomas

Today’s post is by talented editor, fellow author, and dear friend, Pegg Thomas. She shares her delicious seasonal recipe and tells us about her newest release. Welcome back to Historical Nibbles, Pegg!

This is a special date for me. November 25 was my grandfathers’ birthday. That’s right. Both grandfathers were born on this day 8 years apart. It’s also firearm deer season here in Michigan, and I spent many years on this date in a cabin in the woods near Pinestump Junction with my father’s father. It was a rustic cabin with a hand pump for water, a wood stove to cook on, and a little building out back for… well… you know. So many happy memories of baking cakes in that wood stove with the help of my great aunt and singing “Happy Birthday” when everyone returned to the cabin after a full day hunting in the woods. Memories of family, love, and all the best things of Fall.

But this year, I’m celebrating a different way, with the release of Freedom’s Promise, book three in my Path to Freedom series. With this series, it’s best to read the books in order, but each is its own complete story. Here’s a back cover copy of Freedom’s Promise:

Zachary Brown has a prosperous dairy farm, good friends, and the respect of his neighbors and fellow Quakers in Mount Pleasant, Ohio. But something is lacking.

Someone to share his life with.

Daniel Whiteford lost everything that meant the most to him. It has brought him to a hard truth. He gave away his grandson four years ago to save the reputation of his family and business, but it wasn’t enough.

He wants the boy back.

When a fugitive slave shows up at the farm, Zachary recognizes the need to help others outside of his sheltered community. But there are dangers due to the laws that uphold slave owners’ rights. And then Daniel arrives—with a young slave girl.

A clash is coming to Mount Pleasant.

And as an extra for the release celebration, here is a yummy fall recipe!

Taste of Fall Pumpkin Cake

2 large eggs¾ cup sugar1 cup pumpkin1/3 cup oil2 teas. pumpkin spice1 teas. vanilla1 cup flour (or 1/3 cup whole wheat and 2/3 cups white)1 teas. baking powder½ teas. baking soda½ teas. salt

Mix in order given, bake in greased 9” square pan at 350 for 35 minutes. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Bio:

A lifelong history geek, Pegg Thomas lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with Michael, her husband of *mumble* years. She creates American stories with real history and fictional characters inspired by her ancestors who immigrated here in the early 1600s. When not working or writing, Pegg can be found in her garden, her kitchen, or sitting at one of her antique spinning wheels creating yarn to turn into her signature wool shawls. https://PeggThomas.com

ACFW New Releases November 2024

November 2024 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Contemporary Romance:
Matchmaking the Cowboy by Emily Conrad — What’s a little covert matchmaking between friends? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP]

The Daze Before Christmas by Laurie Germaine — She fled her old life for a new one. Trouble is, she can’t remember why she ran–and now God is prompting her to return. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Wishing for Mistletoe by Robin Lee Hatcher — When the heart pens its own holiday romance, even a skeptic can find magic under the mistletoe. (Contemporary Romance from RobinSong, Inc.)

Faking the Shot by Carolyn Miller — Faking the Shot is a fake-dating Christian romance and the fourth book in the Northwest Ice Christian hockey romance series. It can be read as a standalone, and is perfect for fans of banter-laden romance with hope, heart and humor. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Rediscovering Christmas by Mindy Obenhaus — She feels she’s lost everything… Will love give her hope? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

A Kringle Family Christmas by Miriam Thor — When Bethany Kringle’s brother unexpectedly comes home for Christmas with his friend, Jay, in tow, Bethany shelves her plan to skip the holiday, and instead, with a little help from Jay, makes it a Christmas to remember. (Contemporary Romance from Pelican Book Group)

Guarding Her Christmas Secret by Jill Weatherholt — ‘Tis the season for second chances and a special puppy. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Contemporary/Women’s Fiction:
Maddie by Dawn Kinzer — Messages scrawled in a century-old cookbook and the residents of a tourist town in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains add important ingredients to the life recipe an ER travel nurse is searching for. (Contemporary/Women’s Fiction, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:
Pretending to be the Mountain Man’s Wife by Misty M. Beller — In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Courting the Country Preacher by Angela K. Couch, Carolyn Miller, Naomi Musch, Kari Trumbo — Four inexperienced preachers face a myriad of challenges including those who figure a man of the cloth needs a wife. Can they meet the expectations of “helpful” congregants and be true to their hearts? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

An Unexpected Catch by Abbey Downey — Can she count on the pitcher to save her dream, or will his secret destroy their futures? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

Investigation of a Journalist by Danielle Grandinetti — A story of love and second chances when secrets come full circle in this suspenseful conclusion to the Harbored in Crow’s Nest series. (Historical Romance from Hearth Spot Press)

The Library by Edwina Kiernan — How can someone keep the peace when there’s never been any peace to keep? (Historical Romance from Moliant Publishing)

Seeking Simon by Susan Pope Sloan — When a mysterious stranger claims to be her fiancé, the fight to save her land turns into a battle for her heart. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

Abigail’s Pursuit by Jodie Wolfe — With the Civil War raging, Abigail is on the verge of losing everything, and the other seeks forgiveness from the family he can’t find. Can two wounded hearts find their way back home? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Beyond the Horizon by Penny Zeller — She’s desperate to keep her job. He’s desperate for solitude. What is God’s plan in this complicated situation? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Mystery/Crime:
Seven Days Off: A Mylas Grey Mystery by Luana Ehrlich — Private Investigator Mylas Grey can’t take seven days off—not when an ex-con gives him information that could help him locate a missing school counselor. (Historical Romance from Potter’s Word Publishing)

Romantic Suspense:
Bayou Beginnings by Robin Caroll — In a romantic suspense Louisiana mystery that is set amid historical events, two very different people must come together to survive. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

His Last Text by Rebecca Lake — A romantic anniversary dinner. A heartfelt message. Then silence. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Deadly Christmas Inheritance by Jessica R. Patch — This holiday, an unexpected gift could be lethal. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])

Speculative Fiction/Allegory:
Here Lyeth by Johanna Frank — Answers are buried beneath a grave marker. Only it happens to be her own. (Speculative/Allegory, Independently Published)

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

River of Peril by Sandra Merville Hart — A Civil War volunteer nurse is shocked to learn that her Confederate soldier beau came to her ward overnight with a head wound–and doesn’t remember her. (Historical Romance)

A Christmas Gift by Annette M. Irby — A stateside farmer. An international boy-next-door model. And the Christmas reunion that brings them back together. (Contemporary Romance)

Murder by Half by Dony Jay — A troubled detective with a blue-collar background and an Ivy League degree must risk everything to solve the murder of his high-profile attorney friend—and do so before more people die. (Crime/Suspense)

Sea Thrifts & Thistles by Ruth Kyser — After the unexpected deaths of her parents in a plane crash, Heather Conners makes a discovery that turns her world upside down. (Contemporary Romance)

Where Secrets Lie by Rebecca Lake — Some secrets refuse to stay buried… (Romantic Suspense)

The Perfect Getaway by Nancy Lavo — Riley is tired of looking over her shoulder. Can she trust the small-town superhero with her secret, or will the loyalty she admires in him bring danger to her door? (Contemporary Romance)

On the Right Track by Shaen Layle — On The Right Track is the eighth book in the Mysteries of Cobble Hill Farm Series. (Cozy Mystery)

Julia’s Joy by Susan G. Mathis — She came to claim her inheritance, but the mysterious scarred lighthouse keeper makes her question all her plans. (Historical Romance)

Why the Nations Rage by Aidan Meerman — Casey Cole is three hundred years old but expects to be dead in as many seconds. The brutal regime that governs his home crushes all forms of dissent… and he’s about to put his neck out. (Biblical Suspense/Thriller)

The Lost Daughter’s Irishman by Carolyn Miller — She wants to find a way to live again; he wants to close a deal and move on, until sparks fly and these opposites attract. (Contemporary Romance)

Christmas in Nutfield by Robin Patchen — Come home to Nutfield in these two Christmas novellas, featuring Daniel Nolan, the little boy from Innocent Lies, all grown up, and Caro Neely, from Convenient Lies. (Contemporary Romance)

When Love Overcomes by Denice Perkins — Having everything we want and a plan for our future doesn’t prevent God from abruptly sending our lives in a whole other direction and showing us even greater happiness. (Contemporary Romance)

’Tis the Time, ‘Tis the Season by Chris Posti — Three women in their late fifties learn that change is possible at any age. (General Contemporary)

The Cowboy’s Forgotten Love by Tina Radcliffe — He finally found the love of his life. Now if only he could remember… (Contemporary Romance)

A Country Christmas Collection by Davalynn Spencer — Two Holiday Novellas, each a complete romance with cowboys, a second chance at love, and a feel-good, happily-ever-after! (Contemporary Romance)

Tangled Promises by Lynn U. Watson — Thunderous applause extinguishes her dream and ignites her worst nightmare. (Historical Romance)

Neurifact by Kenneth Dale Watts — A neurological AI tool observes and assesses a unique brainwave phenomenon associated with one F-35C pilot’s impulsive action and arrives at a spiritually based finding. (Military Thriller/Suspense)

To Touch the Earth by Kristy Werner — Love calls her home. But can love last forever? (Contemporary Romance)

Freedom’s Promise by Pegg Thomas

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Path to Freedom, Book 3

Zachary Brown has a good life on his dairy farm in Mount Pleasant, Ohio, but he longs for a wife and family. He finds a sick boy in his barn, a runaway slave escaping the life Zachary once lived, but new laws have increased the danger to anyone aiding them. Zachary doesn’t turn his back on the boy and then another one comes.

Daniel Whiteford heads to the Quaker community called Mount Pleasant in search of the grandson he’d given away to his indentured servant, Gwen, four years before. He didn’t anticipate that Gwen would have married and have another child nor that she and her husband considered the boy their son.

My attention was captured from the beginning. Likable, realistic characters pulled me into their emotional journey and tugged at my heart. Their faith in tough situations inspired me.

I was especially fascinated by how fugitives continued to find Zachary. I don’t want to give any spoilers here, so let’s say I’m inspired by his faith and determination in the midst of danger.  

I enjoyed this poignant story that held many surprising twists. This is the third book in the series and I hope there will be another! I recommend reading them in order.

This book was a page-turner for me.

Recommended for readers of inspirational historical romances.

I was given a copy of the book by the author. A positive review was not required. The opinions expressed are my own.

Amazon

2024 Angel Book Award Winners

The Faith & Fellowship Book Festival announced its 2024 Angel Book Award Winners on Saturday, November 2nd.

Nonfiction

First place – Turn on the Light When Your World Goes Dark by Kristy Jossund

Second place – Uncluttered: Shaping your Heart and Home for What Matters Most by Liana George and Angie Hyche

Third place – Bloom in Your Winter Season by Deborah Malone

Honorable Mention- The Christmas Devotional: Hope & Humor for the Holidays by Michelle Medlock Adams and Andy Clapp

Children’s ages 2-8

First place (tie) – He Meant You to be You by J.J. LeVan, Illustrated by James Newton

and

First place  – Eww! There’s a Bug in My Shoe! By Lisa Hutcheson

Second place – Love Well, my Precious One by Jill Roman Lord, Illustrated by Camila Carrossine

Third place – Angelina, the Traveling Angel by Becky Van Vleet, Illustrated by Courtney Smith

Children’s ages 8-12

First Place – Phooey Kerflooey: Three Kids and a Puppy vs The Squirrel of the Apocalypse by Kristen Joy Wilks

Second Place – Road Trip Rescue, Book 1 in Road Trip Rescue, by Becca Wierwille   

Third Place – Fingerprint Devotions: 40 Devotions to Help You Realize You are a Kid Uniquely Created by God for a Purpose by Sandra Kay Chambers 

Honorable Mention – Preach It, Grace: A Girl’s Testimony of Faith, Book 5 in Dream Pony Riders by Susan Count    

Young Adult

First Place – Offsides by Lori Z. Scott

Second Place – Rise of the Y: The Y Chronicles Book 1 by Angela D. Shelton   

Third Place – The Magi of Miriam: The Boy Who Saved the Kingdom by MK Sweeney      

Historical Fiction

First place – The Girl From the Papers by Jennifer L. Wright

Second place – Pressed Together: A Post-WWII Romance in Rural Ohio, Book 1 in The Together Series by Kim Garee

Third place – Journey of the Shepherd Woman, Part of: Remarkable Women in the Bible by Carlene Havel and Sharon Faucheux

Honorable Mention – Valiant Heart, Book 5 in the Frontier Hearts Saga by Colleen Hall

Mystery/Suspense

First place – Grave Secrets, Book 2 in Pennsylvania Parks  by Elle E. Kay

Second place – Justice Delayed: A Christian Romantic Suspense Novel, Book 1 in The Seeking Justice Series by Sarah Hamaker

Third place – Grave Consequences, Book 3 in Pennsylvania Parks                                                    by Elle E. Kay

Honorable Mention – The Case of Mistaken Identity, Book 2 in A Mac & Sam Mystery by Deborah Sprinkle

Contemporary

First place – Dedicated to the One I Love by Beth K. Vogt                                

Second place – The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton, Book 1 in Treasures of Halstead Manor by Susan L. Tuttle

Third place – Fall Back and Find Me, A Split-Time Sisters in Arms Novel by Sara Hanks

Honorable Mention – Gypsy for God by Yvonne M. Morgan

Speculative

First place – What Legends Become, Book 2 in Legends of Light by Daphne Self

Second place – Phantom’s Blade, Book 4 in The Vindicators by Jake Tyson

Third place – Resurgence of Dawn, Book 5 in Quest of Fire  by Brett Armstrong

Congratulations to all the winners!

Brokenburn: The Journal of Kate Stone 1861-1868

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

The journal was edited by John Q. Anderson.

Kate Stone was twenty in 1861, the year the Civil War started. She lived on a large cotton plantation, Brokenburn, in northeast Louisiana, about 30 miles northwest of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Brokenburn was located in the floodplain of the Mississippi River in what is now Madison Parish. Enslaved people worked on their plantation.

In the beginning of her journal, Kate was involved in many social activities—formal dining, informal “spend the days,” evening parties, riding frolics, and neighbor visits. Early morning hunters with their packs of hounds baying, horns blowing, and horses stamping were familiar sounds.

Then the war grew closer. Her brothers and her uncle enlisted in support of the Confederacy. The war brought lots of heartache and tragedy. Kate looked back on her twenty-year-old self and realized that she had been pampered. That certainly changed.

Knowing this was a journal made the tragic deaths of loved ones difficult to read, yet I was grateful for Kate’s honesty.

I bought this book for research purposes. My Spies of the Civil War Series has three books set in Vicksburg during the war— Streams of Courage, Book 4, River of Peril, Book 5, and Tides of Healing. I read many other books for my research. This book provided many details of daily life in the 1860s. I enjoyed it very much.

Great book for history lovers interested in learning about the Civil War in Mississippi and Louisiana.  

Amazon

Mulligan’s Meatloaf

by Ane Mulligan

Ane Mulligan, welcome to Historical Nibbles! Ane is a talented author and dear friend. I love how her love of books and drama collide in Take My Hand , her new release. I can’t wait to read it! She is sharing a recipe for delicious Mulligan’s Meatloaf with us. Thanks for joining us today, Ane!

Nearly everyone has had meatloaf, but it has an interesting history, which has changed since the 1700s, when German immigrants brought meatloaf to the United States. It was first served as a breakfast food in New England. The first recorded recipe for modern American meatloaf dates back to the late 1870s. The recipe called for chopping up whatever meat was on hand, adding salt, pepper, onion, egg, and milk-soaked bread. 

I have a series of books (The Georgia Magnolias series) placed in the Great Depression. I researched foods and found meatloaf became a household staple in the 1930s, when families were struggling to stretch their food. People combined ground meat with seasonings and stale breadcrumbs to create a flavorful and filling meal. Meatloaf became more creative and personalized in the 1950s and 60s, with recipes including sherry-barbecued, mushroom-stuffed, and spicy peach loaves.

This is our favorite meatloaf recipe. We don’t measure when we cook; we simply use what feels right, then later adjust by taste.

Meatloaf:

1¼ -1½ lbs Ground beef, 65-70% lean. If you go higher, the meatloaf isn’t as juicy, and you can pour off the excess fat.

3 eggs

Italian bread crumbs

3 med onions, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1 yellow pepper, diced

Garlic powder

Dried parsley

Onion powder (yes, even if you add onions, it rounds out the flavors)

Salt & pepper

Red onion sauce:

1 med onion, diced

1C (or more) Ketchup

Garlic powder

butter

Instructions:

Sauté 2 onions and the peppers in butter. Mix in a large bowl; the ground beef, sauté mixture, bread crumbs, garlic powder, dried parsley, onion powder, and salt and pepper. Put in loaf pans or use parchment and form a loaf in that. We prefer this because the excess grease leaks out. Be sure if you use parchment to put it on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 for an hour.

When the meatloaf is done, set it aside and sauté the onion in butter with garlic powder. Add the ketchup and cook until hot and thick. Serve over slices of meatloaf.

Take My Hand

Dreams and futures are at stake.

Small town community theatre changed Marleigh Evans from a shy, timid girl into a confident young woman. Now she wants to pass that gift along to others and dreams of owning her own theatre. After years of searching, she’s found the perfect place in Sugar Springs to see her dreams realized … and transform her community.

Chef Gabe Sadler has grown irritated at his father’s business practices. His dream is to own a farm-to-table restaurant and enough land for a small urban farm. After years of searching, he’s found the perfect place in Sugar Springs to see his dreams realized, and he’s not used to anyone standing in his way.

Which one will win? And at what cost?

Amazon

About Ane

Ane Mulligan embraces life from a director’s chair—in community theatre and at her desk creating novels. Entranced with story by age three, at five, she saw PETER PAN onstage and was struck with a fever from which she never recovered—stage fever. One day, her passions collided, and an award-winning, bestselling novelist emerged. She believes chocolate and coffee are two of the four major food groups and lives in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband and a rascally Rottweiler. You can find Ane on her website.

The Spies of the Civil War Series

“History will never know how indebted it is to folks like you in ending the war.” ~ River of Peril

People spied on their government, their soldiers, and their neighbors during the Civil War. Union spies in the South lived dangerously. Everyday citizens, including enslaved and free black spies, became heroes to speed the war’s end.

Secret messages were sewn into hems, vests, and coats. Cyphered messages were hidden in bodices, hoop skirts, trees, hats, styled hair, books, custard dishes, hollowed-out eggs, and even in vaults with a dead body. Raised/lowered shades and clothes hanging on a line might also be clues for spies.

Some spies were already actors. Others disguised themselves to deliver secrets and to protect their identity. There were female spies who disguised themselves as men. If they could manage to remain anonymous, it saved them from their neighbors’ retaliation during and after the war. This was especially true in the South because the North emerged as victorious.

Many spies were caught during the Civil War and often imprisoned for days or weeks, up to a year. Confederate spies could sign an Oath of Allegiance to the United States to be released from Union prisons. Both sides executed spies.

For reasons already discussed, history doesn’t record most of Mississippi’s spies. Two Mississippi spies, Robbie Woodruff and Philip Henson, didn’t slip into obscurity.

Robbie Woodruff was a courageous farm girl who fetched Confederate messages from town and hid them in a hollow stump for couriers. Philip Henson, one of the Union army’s greatest spies living in the South, was captured and imprisoned for several months.

Key characters are spies for the Union in River of Peril, Book 5 in my Spies of the Civil War Series. The spies in my Vicksburg portion of the series (Books 4 – 6) are fictional. The stories show the type of challenges faced by historical spies.

My research for this novel began with a trip to Vicksburg, Mississippi. I was greatly inspired by the battlefield, the museums, and the people in the historic city. That inspiration—and a whole lot of research!—led to the writing of Streams of Courage, Book 4, River of Peril, Book 5, and Tides of Healing, Book 6.   

Avenue of Betrayal, Book 1,is set in the Union capital of Washington City (Washington DC) in 1861, where a surprising number of Confederate sympathizers and spies lived. Boulevard of Confusion and Byway to Danger are set in Richmond, the Confederate capital in 1862. Actual historical spies touch the lives of our fictional family. The heroines in Books 1 – 3 are two sisters and their cousins. Another set of characters begin with Book 4, and three friends are the heroines in Books 4 -6.

Through both real and fictional characters, this series highlights activities spies were involved in and some of the motives behind their decisions.

I invite you to read the whole Spies of the Civil War Series!

More about River of Peril, Sandra’s newest release:

Amnesia stole his memory, and now he’s fighting for the wrong side.

Orphaned and alone at sixteen, Felicity has found solace in serving others as a volunteer nurse. When she discovers her Confederate soldier beau, Luke Shea, among the wounded in her ward, her worst nightmares come true. Luke’s shrapnel wound has stolen his memory, leaving him with no recollection of their love or his past. As Felicity struggles with the loss of the man she once knew, she turns her attention to the service of her broken country. But the more she learns about the brutal war, the more she realizes she can no longer stay silent. She becomes a Union spy, plunging herself into danger.

When Luke Shea awakes in a hospital with no memory of the last five years, he’s shocked to learn he’s been fighting against the Union he once so strongly supported. And when he learns of his past courtship with his nurse, Felicity, he struggles to understand the man he was and what happened in those missing years. Determined to atone for his Confederate past, Luke also joins the Union cause as a spy.

As danger lurks at every turn, only a Divine hand can not only protect their lives, but give them a second chance for love and the future they both crave.

Available on Amazon,  Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, andBooks2Read.

Vicksburg: A People at War by Peter F. Walker

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Vicksburg: A People at War 1860-1865

This nonfiction book reports on events that took place in Vicksburg, Mississippi, during the Civil War (1861-1865).

Walker arranged the book in mostly chronological order, which makes it an easy read. The accounts are well-written and easily grabbed my attention.

Filled with interesting details about important leaders and events, this book also includes quotes from newspapers articles that show thoughts and attitudes of the times. It is a treasure trove of information in that it takes readers back in time with its inclusion of descriptions of businesses and streets, and quotes from many of the folks who lived in Vicksburg. I highlighted many paragraphs as I read it.

In fact, I bought this book for research purposes. My Spies of the Civil War Series has three books set in Vicksburg during the war— Streams of Courage, Book 4, River of Peril, Book 5, and Tides of Healing. I read many other books for my research and this was one I enjoyed very much.

Great book for anyone interested in learning about the Civil War in Vicksburg, Civil War research, and history lovers.

 Amazon

The Legacy of Captain William Dodge: Civil War Hero and Lighthouse Keeper

By Susan G Mathis

Welcome back to friend and fellow author, Susan G. Mathis! She’s sharing a bit of background for her newest release, Julia’s Joy.

In the annals of maritime history, few figures shine as brightly as Captain William Dodge, the first keeper of the Sister Island Lighthouse in the Thousand Islands, NY. This man was not just a guardian of the St. Lawrence River and his ships but also a hero of the Civil War and a remarkable man.

Before stepping into the role of lighthouse keeper, Dodge was a captain—a hero forged in the crucible of the Civil War. He fought with the New York volunteers, but not without his share of scars. His left foot was badly wounded in battle, so he limped the rest of his life.

But he wasn’t just a hero and a keeper of the light. He was a craftsman too. Before the lighthouse, he was a man of many trades—a cabinetmaker, a tax collector, a census enumerator. A life woven with diverse endeavors, each one contributing to the rich testimony of his existence.

In 1870, following his appointment as the first keeper of Sister Island Lighthouse, he served faithfully and cheerfully. For twenty-three years, he tended to this tower, the keeper of both the light and its stories. As he worked, he prepared his son to take his place as the second lightkeeper. Known as a stalwart guardian of the river, guiding ships through stormy nights, he taught his son well.

Through the story of Captain William Dodge, we discover a man who not only illuminated the paths of ships but also shaped the lives of those around him. His legacy endures, a beacon of resilience and craftsmanship, woven into the very fabric of Sister Island and the hearts of those who remember him.

About Julia’s Joy :

She came to claim her inheritance, but the mysterious scarred lighthouse keeper makes her question all her plans.

When Julia Collins reluctantly sets foot on Sister Island, compelled by her wealthy grandmother’s will, she is intent on claiming her inheritance and moving on. But when she experiences the peaceful, faith-filled island life, and connects with the handsome lightkeeper, William, Julia finds herself confronting her open wounds from her parents’ deaths.

William Dodge, lightkeeper of Sister Island, harbors a heart hardened by a past betrayal. Between that and his chronic pleurisy, he wants nothing to do with love. But when Julia arrives on the island bursting with vitality and unconventional notions, William’s world is turned upside down. As she chips away at the walls William has built for himself, he finds his reluctance waning.

But just as love begins to blossom between them, Julia is faced with a tempting proposal from a prominent Brockville family. Will she succumb to societal expectations or choose the richness of her island life and the love of the steadfast lightkeeper?

About Susan:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has thirteen in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Peyton’s Promise, Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment, A Summer at Thousand Island House, Libby’s Lighthouse, and Julia’s Joy, the second in her three-book lighthouse series. Her book awards include three Illumination Book Awards, four American Fiction Awards, three Indie Excellence Book Awards, five Literary Titan Book Awards, two Golden Scroll Awards, and a Selah Award. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Northern Virginia and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

Where can people find you online?

Susan’s website: https://www.susangmathis.com/fiction-books

Buy links: Amazon | Barnes&Nobles | Wild Heart Books

Julia’s Joy book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq7XLUohjrA

Rocky Mountain Rendezvous by Misty M. Beller

Sisters of the Rockies Series, Book One

It’s 1837 and women didn’t travel West alone because it wasn’t safe. Juniper and her three sisters are surprised when the wagon train guide that they’d traveled with to the Green River Valley (future Wyoming) releases them into a large encampment of men without food. Some of the men hadn’t seen a woman for a long time and the sisters are in danger. Their dying father’s request had sent them there to find Peigan Blackfoot woman but how were they to find her?

Riley Turner cringes to see the Collins sisters come West without an escort and worries for their safety. He steps in to join their search for Steps Right, not knowing the real danger was to his heart, for he falls in love with Juniper, who makes it clear they’d return to Virginia as soon as their mission was accomplished.

I love when an author weaves a story where I learn a bit of history as a natural part of the story! The characters were believable and lovable and I was soon enmeshed in their mission. The hero and heroine really tugged at my heart and the author did a great job with secondary characters we’ll see in later books.

Surprising turns, challenges, and dangers kept me turning page. This well-written story makes me want to read the next book in the series!

Definitely recommend! I will look for more books by this author.

-Sandra Merville Hart

 Christianbook.com