Rambling Friday:

MY THOUGHTS ON WRITING 

HUNTER'S ROSE

When I first began writing this book,

I was excited and thought I knew 

where I wanted to go with it.

The more I wrote, the less confident I was.

I 

But as I moved further into the story

I felt like I was not creating it as it should be.

I thought I was failing, repeating, overstating.

BUT...

I kept writing.

Kept my writing schedule most days.

And when I finally finished the book,

reread it as I edited

(and edited, and edited more)

I realized I loved the book,

loved Hunter and Rosita's relationship.

It was a nice feeling to know that my fretfulness over

the story not being as thorough or as good as I wanted,

was, actually, wrong. It was quite well done.

I give God all the glory for his help.

As much as I enjoy creating stories,

I know without his constant help and inspiration,

I would have quit a long time ago. 

If you love westerns, historicals, romance and a bit of suspense,

then you should check out this one. 

I think you'll enjoy it! 

ON PREORDER 

this month only!

$.99 Kindle

https://amzn.to/3ReNCen

 Happy Reading! 

Serious Wednesday: This Month: A Contest for Readers

Do You Love to Read? 

Then this contest is for YOU!!

If you've read BOOK ONE of the

Troubles in the West series, 

(Caleb's Destiny),

and you want to win BOOK TWO

Hunter's Rose,

then this one's for you:

To win a copy of 

Hunter's Rose,

Here's what to do:  

1.  Share about this contest,

then post your link here in the comments on where you shared

2.  Tell me why you should win this contest

3.  And why you want to read 

It's easy and fun! 

Follow the directions above

Make sure you do all THREE of the requirements,

AND then later this month,

I will choose ONE person to win

a KINDLE copy of 

Hunter's Rose,

Book Two

of the

Troubles in the West series. 

Have fun! 

Rambling Friday: It's on Preorder!

 Preorder Now! 

$.99 Kindle

Limited Time! 

https://amzn.to/3ReNCen

Serious Wednesday: Hunter's Rose: A Hint about the Book

 Troubles in the West Book 2

Blurb:  

It's the late 1800s and Hunter Carson has married the woman of his dreams and settled on the land he bought in a home that most people couldn't afford. His wife—the beautiful and exotic Mexican Rosita DeSantis, is totally in love with him—but something is wrong. Just days after their marriage, why is she crying and touchy? Has she fallen out of love with him already? Or is there something far more serious going on with her?

Rosita's past is haunting her—both physically and emotionally. She adores her new husband, and she'll do anything to keep him from knowing what happened in Mexico before she fled the country. And not because she doesn't trust him, but she's worried for his life. After all, the Mexican Lord—Carlos De Leon—has a plan and will do anything to accomplish it, and Rosita will do anything to keep him from succeeding.

Carlos De Leon cares nothing for God or any man. 

His only desire is to obtain what he wants and when.

Hunter Carson has never known God or even much about him. But his tender heart can be touched. Will he learn and accept the teaching?

Rosita De Santis Carson, an only child, had a loving family who came to accept God into their lives through the ministry of a missionary. Can she hold onto her beliefs through the trials and tests she'll face when Carlos De Leon insists on forcing her to marry him?  

COMING SOON!

Serious Wednesday: Welcome to Linda Weaver Clarke and her Newest Book!

Isn't this stunningly beautiful? --

Linda Weaver Clarke's newest book,

And she's willing to give one commenter an

e-book copy of it!!

How cool is that?

Don't forget:

For every comment, you'll get one chance to win an e-book copy of this book! 

 

Linda's thoughts: 

Seeking a Better Life: Women of Courage

Some immigrants learned about America and its opportunities from the newspaper while others heard about it from traveling missionaries. Many were seeking relief from political and religious persecution but others were just following their hearts. They didn’t know what the future would bring to them. Frances Davies, my great-grandmother, was one of them.

She left her beloved homeland of Wales to live in America, the land of opportunity. Frances had attended a private school and received an education that set her apart from other young women. She was referred to as a “lady of refinement.”

Her Aunt Susan didn’t want her to leave and begged her to stay in Wales. She said that Frances would inherit her fortune if she stayed but Frances stood firm and unyielding and wanted to join her brothers who had immigrated to America a few years earlier. No matter how hard Aunt Susan tried, she could not influence her niece’s decision.

When I read about my great-grandmother’s experiences written by my grandmother, I was impressed with her courage. She was only seventeen when she left for America. That would take a lot of bravery. But that wasn’t all. She faced some thieves, dressed in a cavalry uniform, and chased them off her property. Then she saved a man’s life who had been gored by a bull in his abdomen.

When I decided to put together a series of novellas called “Women of Courage,” I took many of my great grandmother’s experiences and gave them to a fictional character named Serenity, bringing her story to life.

A Lady of Refinement is a historical romance set in 1844. Reading is Serenity’s favorite pastime, where she can go on one adventure after another. She wonders if anyone can measure up to the heroes in her books. But the adventures soon become real after arriving in America.

When Jonathan meets Serenity, an educated and courageous woman from Wales, he becomes intrigued with her and wonders how he can win her heart. Her brother gives him some advice, but Jonathan begins to question his wisdom. Should he trust his friend or is he leading him astray?

Louise Pledge, a reviewer, wrote: “How I enjoy finding a book that will not let me put it down until I'm done!  This was the case with A Lady of Refinement.  Linda Weaver Clarke used a true story of her ancestors as a base, and it rang familiar to me, as my ancestors also migrated to America from England during the same time period. The main character, Serenity, is the refined lady, and it was such a delight when she bested a few arrogant males.  My favorite character, however, was Jonathan, who was very taken with Serenity.  Time will tell if he is successful at capturing her attention.”

After arriving in America, Serenity found that many an adult could not read or write, so she set to work teaching an evening class, especially for adults. Each night she teaches her students how to write their names so they wouldn’t have to put an X for their signature. When Jonathan joins her class, her world takes a new turn, one she didn’t expect. What was her reaction?

Author Gail Pallotta wrote: “At first she sees him as a quiet man, but when she witnesses some of his heroic actions she thinks of Ivanhoe, a character she admires in a book. Even though she’s drawn to Jonathan, she has a rule that won’t allow her to date a student, and she’s sticking to it. Jonathan’s infatuation leads him to try many approaches to get to know Serenity better, even to the extent of following her brother William’s sometimes bad advice.”

How did Jonathan react to William’s bad advice? There are some comical scenes in this story that will make you laugh out loud. Gail went on to say: “I enjoyed this sweet love story, especially Jonathan trying desperately to win over Serenity, while she hesitates to get to know him. Based on true events of the authors’ ancestors, the book takes the reader back to a gentler time when men were more chivalrous and a woman like Serenity more difficult to win over.”

This book is available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Refinement-Women-Courage-ebook/dp/B09PHZK76M

Author Links:

Linda’s Book Blog: https://lindaweaverclarke.wordpress.com

Historical Romance Blog: https://historicalromances.wordpress.com

Audiobook Blog: https://familyfriendlyaudiobooks.wordpress.com

Cozy Mystery Blog: https://cozymysteryseries.wordpress.com

Thanks for stopping by, Readers!

Serious Wednesday: Welcoming Cindy Ervin Huff

A warm welcome to my long-time friend and author Cindy Ervin Huff! She's a talented and award-winning author, and YOU CAN POSSIBLY be chosen as a winner of one of her books (two winners)! What to do? Comment and let Cindy know you're interested, ask a question or just show your support of authors! 

Now on to read some of Cindy's answers to the questions I've asked her! Enjoy!

What started you on your writing journey?

My eighth-grade teacher submitted a short story I wrote to a kid’s magazine contest. I didn’t win, not even honorable mention. But the idea of putting my imaginary thoughts on paper intrigued me. It was years though before it was more than a hobby for me. And once I felt called to write novels that brought people hope, I was on my way.

What distracted you from writing earlier?

Life, more specifically raising my five children and homeschooling them. Then there was my feeling of inadequacy to the task. Took a bit to learn to ignore that distraction.

Is there a story behind Rescuing Her Heart?

Yes, someone near and dear to me suffered through an abusive relationship and I wanted to create a character who was willing to leave her painful past behind to find a new future. I also have another who is near and dear who suffers from PTSD. Having a strong hero who must deal with that and still find peace added to the creation of this romance between two broken people.

What is my strangest habit?

It may not seem strange to others, but it has sometimes embarrassed my kids. I can’t resist talking to strangers in line or in a waiting room. I really enjoyed visiting with a lady in the restroom of Cracker Barrel somewhere in the south. Southerners don’t find my need to start a conversation with a total stranger weird at all. Some of those chance encounters give me some interesting info. While standing in the tomato sauce aisle at a large grocery store where a masked gentleman and I struck up a conversation regarding the many uses of pasta sauce.

Why do I like writing historical romance?

There are things one can share in a historical scene that resonates with a reader. Because my characters are imperfect and struggle with their own self-worth, it makes them real to the reader. Some of their struggles are very painful and relatable to modern readers. Ecclesiastes says there is nothing new under the sun. And that is so true.

Special scripture.

He makes all things beautiful in his time. Ecclesiastes 3:11. I have seen God take me through some yucky stuff and bring me to a beautiful place. Had I not gone through that trial, I’d have not reached the wonderful conclusion Jesus had for me. I continue to go down hard paths and see my children do the same. My prayer is for all of us to trust that God truly makes all things beautiful in His time.

Bio:

Cindy Ervin Huff is a multi-published writer. She’s been featured in many periodicals over the last thirty years. Her historical romance Secrets & Charades won the Editor Choice, Maxwell Award and Serious Writer Medal. Her contemporary romance, New Duet released in 2018 placed second in the 2019 Serious Writer Awards and a finalist in the 2019 Selah Awards. Cindy is a member of ACFW, Mentor for Word Weavers. founding member of the Aurora, Illinois, chapter of Word Weavers and Christian Writer’s Guild alumni. She loves to encourage new writers on their journey. Cindy and her husband make their home in Aurora, Illinois.

Visit Cindy at:

Website: www.cindyervinhuff.com

Facebook at www.facebook.com/cindyehuff,

Author Facebook: www.facebook.com/cindyhuff11

twitter @CindyErvinHuff

instagram  @CindyErvinHuff

Book Blurb for Rescuing Her Heart:

As her husband’s evil deeds haunt a mail-order bride from the grave, can she learn to trust again and open her heart to true love? 

On visitation rounds as a lay preacher, the last thing rancher Jed Holt expects is to be shot at from the barn next to a burned-down homestead. But the soot-covered woman hiding inside needs protecting, and Jed is the man to do it whether she likes it or not. Delilah James’s nightmares began when she came to Kansas as a mail-order bride. Her husband was nothing like his letters. Now that he is dead, she can’t shake his abuse from her heart. Trusting men tops her never-again list and taking a job on the Holt ranch as a housekeeper is a means to save money and bring her parents west. But her attraction to the compassionate former chaplain both angers and confuses her. 

Jed has his own nightmares from a POW camp and understands Delilah better than she knows. Can two broken people form a forever bond?

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Rescuing-Heart-Cindy-Ervin-Huff-ebook/dp/B092SR6B5Y/

Cindy is giving away two Kindle copies of Rescuing Her Heart to two lucky commenters. 

Thank you for visiting, Cindy!

Serious Wednesday: Contemplating Writing When You Don't Know Where to Go.

 I visited Gail Sattler's Blog this past week and shared how hard it was for me to plot the book. 

Here's the link if you'd like to check it out:

https://www.gailkittleson.com/the-spies-of-world-war-ii/#comment-532758

Books one and two came as if it was nothing...just there. 

But book three? 

A bit harder. 

I had to work at it. 

I had to revise, rethink, rewrite before I could get it where I wanted it to go. 

I knew who the two main protagonists were...pretty much.

But the secondary characters?

They were difficult, hiding from me as if they were keeping their personalities, their reason for even being in the book hidden. I had to WORK at finding their information.

But as I always encourage beginning writers to do...

Never, never, never give up.

Keep writing even you feel what you've written is horrible.

Even when you feel you're mentally dead.

Even when you want to.

Keep writing.

Keep winning.

And the results will be there.

Like this:

Happy writing! 

Serious Wednesdays: A New Book! and a GIVEAWAY!

Mr. Michael, Destiny Rose McCulloch, and Hunter have a mysterious history. Why were three fathers, all business partners, murdered under suspicious circumstances while on their quest to find gold?

Hunter is determined to protect his boss and the precocious young lady who he suspects holds a key answer to his questions.

Mr. Michael wants only to be left alone to attend to his property, but what can he do when Destiny refuses to leave and captures the heart of every one of his employees?

Destiny almost forgets her quest when she falls in love with Mr. Michael's ranch and all the people there. And then Mr. Michael is much too alluring to ignore. The preacher man back east where she took her schooling tried to claim her heart, but the longer she stays the less she can remember him. She only came west to find a little boy she knew years ago. A little boy all grown up by now...unless, of course, he's dead.

Three children, connected through tragedy and separated by time, are fated to reunite and re-right some powerful wrongs.

https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Giveaway Opportunity! 

I will giveaway one kindle book to one person.

Conditions:

* You must post a response on this blog post

* You must be a follower of this post

* You must follow me on my author page on Amazon (see above link)

I will announce the winner next Wednesday, June 10, 2020.

Author Jodie Wolfe Visits!

Welcome to Jodie, author of Historical Romance books. Let's start off today by getting a glimpse into her book with this excerpt from TAMING JULIA:

Matrimony News, February 6, 1875 edition

Minister bachelor aged 27, height 5 feet 10 inches seeks 

genteel, honest and first-rate homemaker with a desire to serve God. 

Must be willing to marry by proxy and arrive in Burrton Springs, Kansas by May 1.

~*~

Burrton Springs, Kansas, Saturday, May 1, 1875

Dear Lord, please don’t let that creature be my new wife. 

Drew Montgomery swiped the sweat trickling a path down his neck and shoved the new hat back on his head. He squinted, taking in the lone passenger stepping from the stagecoach. At least, he thought it was a woman. He shielded his eyes from the sun, taking in the britches.

Britches? A gun belt strapped to a slim waist. 

He gulped. 

A rifle rested on her shoulder, and she wore a Stetson situated low on her brow. The figure shifted sideways, and Drew groaned, fearing his proxy mail-order bride had arrived by the look of all the curves. He squared his shoulders and crossed the street.

"Are you Montgomery?" Her coffee-brown gaze seared through him.

He snapped his gaping mouth shut and nodded. "Y-yes."

"Name’s Jules Walker." She shoved her hand into his and shook it so hard his teeth clattered. "I reckon, Jules Montgomery since we’re hitched." She waved a slip of paper in his face. "Got the paper here to prove it. So are you my husband or not?"

Drew caught a whiff of dirt. He coughed and cleared his throat.

She peered at him as if he were a chicken with one leg.

"I’m Drew." He managed to choke the words out. "Isn’t your name Julia?"

She scrunched her face, pushed her Stetson from her head, and allowed it to dangle from the string around her neck. Her brown hair scattered in disarray, slipping from a shoulder-length braid. "I can’t remember the last time I’ve been called Julia. Like I said, name’s Jules."

"But..." Drew let the word hang between them. No matter. "Where’re your things?"

"Got my knapsack and that there." She pointed to the top of the stagecoach. 

He expected to see a trunk, but a saddle rested there instead. What kind of woman brought a saddle into a marriage? What kind of woman showed up dressed like a man? 

No. No. 

Something was terribly wrong.

 Back Cover Blurb for Taming Julia:

In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery's sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation's ultimatum that he marry or leave forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy.

Jules Walker strides into Drew's life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle--more cowboy than bride. After years on the trail, she's not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.

Purchase Links for Taming Julia:

Amazon

Barnesandnoble.com/

NOW, let's talk to Jodie a bit about her writing!

Welcome, Jodie. What distracts you the easiest from writing?

Social media and research bunny trails. It's so easy to get caught up and spend way more time online than I wanted.


What kind of books do you enjoy reading? (Book recommendations very welcome!)

Historical romance, especially anything by Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Jen Turano, and Regina Jennings.


Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote? Why?

Most definitely my heroine, Jules. She is full of quirks and has limited experience when it comes to being a wife which gave me lots of room to create fun situations for her to find herself in.


What is your favorite season of the year?

Winter! I love the cold and snow. Every winter you'll find me and my husband praying for snow.


Are there things you put off doing because you dread them?

Cleaning the house. Still waiting for it to clean itself. Hasn't happened yet. :)


What's your favorite meal with family and friends? (and feel free to share a recipe with us!)

Steak, baked sweet potato, and salad shared with my best friend, my husband.


Are there spiritual themes you like to write about?

Each of my books addresses the hope that can only be found in Christ.

About Jodie:

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), and COMPEL Training. She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She's a contributor and co-founder of Stitches Thru Time blog. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

Visit Jodie at these sites:

Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JodieAWolfe

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/JodieAWolfe

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jodie-Wolfe/e/B01EAWOHXO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1



Thanks for joining us today, Jodie

Readers, do check out Jodie's books. I'm sure you'll love them if historical romance is your reading love! 

Story Sparks and Six Authors: Featuring Amber Schamel Today!

Welcome to the Story Sparks multi-Author Blog Tour. Between May 21-26, 2018, where readers get a chance to enter and win ebooks from six different authors. Today, Amber Schamel is the featured author. A lucky winner will win a copy of her 2018 Christian Indie Award winner, Solve by Christmas, PLUS she has a cover reveal to share. Amber will be talking about

Read on to discover what sparks Amber’s creativity and to enter the rafflecopter to win her inspirational mystery with a Sherlock flare.

“Too many books, not enough time” 

is a two-fold saying for me. 

On one hand, there are so many good books to read, and on the other hand, there are so many ideas to write. For me, ideas come from everywhere. They can come from passing a mailbox, walking by an abandoned building, overhearing a conversation in the grocery store, daydreaming, reading the Scripture, or from history reading. Other times the idea is just dropped into my mind like a Valentine from God.

Usually, though, the best ideas come from a combination of the above. With Solve by Christmas, the recent winner of the Christian Indie Award, I had a vague idea of a story. I wanted something with a tight timeframe that would create urgency. I’ve always loved detective stories, and those go perfectly with tight timeframes, so I started with that. From there, I wasn’t sure where to go…Then I thought, ‘what if Christmas was the deadline, and a Sherlock-ish detective had to stop some tragic event BY CHRISTMAS?’

From there, I didn’t really know where to go. Until the next piece dropped into my mind and stuck like a burr to a wool sock. What if the case the detective had to solve, wasn’t a case like he was thinking at all? What if he had to come up with a “case” for a loved one to continue living?

The Lord had given me an issue to address, and I knew it would be a hard one to pull off.

From there, I hit the history books. Researching the time period and location, I found all kinds of great information that added to the story depth. Such as the labor and Union wars in Denver during the 1910’s, which added great opportunities for tension and villains. Then the infanthood of detective work added to my character’s difficulty and need to prove himself. Researching organized crime and the development of the major detective agencies formed the backstory that drives Detective Jasper Hollock, even though it isn’t seen on stage in the book.

When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life-threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?

So, for Solve by Christmas, I guess you could say that it was a series of sparks that resulted in that story. Kinda like one of those fireworks that has multiple explosions.

History is one of my favorite places to look for inspiration, and I always hit the books when I come to writer’s block, even during a story. I love it so much, that I’m actually getting ready to release my very first non-fiction work, 12 Sisters Who Changed History. And today I’m revealing the cover! Would ya’ll like to see it?

I was researching Jane Austen and some other great heroines of history when the idea for Sisters Who Changed History came to me. Being the second born of twelve children, siblings are often on my mind. All the time we are taught of famous individuals and the impact that they had, but what about those that were sisters and how they influenced the world? A blog series was born, which then developed into a book of its own. The book will be releasing July 17^th!

Thanks for joining us today. Here’s the link to the Rafflecopter Giveaway.

Let me know what you think of the cover, and the oddest places that you have found inspiration in your life!

About the author:

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest". She lives in Colorado and spends half her time volunteering in the Ozarks. Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Buy Link for Solve by Christmas

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CJD6QR?ref_=pe_2427780_160035660

ENTER to WIN BOOKS!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/831a42731/?

Story Sparks and Six Authors: Featuring Carole Brown Today!!

Welcome to the Story Sparks multi-Author Blog Tour. 

Between May 21-26, 2018 readers get a chance to enter and win ebooks from six different authors. 

Today I'm the featured author. 

A lucky winner will get her choice of a Kindle copy of With Music in Their Hearts or A Flute in the Willows.

Today I'll be talking about these books: The Spies of WWII. Read on to discover what sparks my creativity and to enter the rafflecopter to win one of my heartwarming books. 

Spies, Flutes and Red-heads 

by Carole Brown

Spies:

Developing my WWII Spies series came from two things:

• Listening to my mother talk about her life during WWII and seeing the pictures she had
• A short story about a “supposed” civilian spy during WWII from an elderly man. Rumors had it that HE was that spy, but he neither confirmed nor denied it.T

Because my interest in WWII was sparked through these two avenues, I found it easy to fall in love with the research for the books. 

Researching spies was an eye-opening experience. Not only danger is involved, but there are tons of reasons why men—and women—serve in such a capacity. The rewards are vast—money, esteem, the parties and socializing, exotic countries—if all goes as hoped and the spy escapes detection. Caught—prison and death can be the result.

Music:

And since dangers and sacrifices abound in WWII stories—some of which I brought out in these books, I also wanted to create a sense of fun, warmth and love to lighten the suspense. One way I managed to create the feeling was to bring music into the story as a subplot.

The idea to include music in these books was sparked because of my own love of music. The decision as to what or how it was brought into each book was also a fairly easy decision. Music has so many benefits besides lightening up suspense books.

• Encouragement
• Mood enhancers
• Spiritual uplifter
• Healthy

and so much more.

One tidbit before I move on to the sisters. I love most instruments, but the flute was not one of them—until I heard one played by an expert. That changed my ideas about flutes, and from then on, and the idea was sparked! The flute was the perfect instrument to include in athletic Josie's life.

The Red-headed Sisters:

I'd already planned to feature three red-haired sisters in their own books. It was fun to create their personalities and who the heroes would be. Fortunately, while I wrote book one, the heroes for the other two books appeared and were good matches for sisters two and three.

I've always loved red hair. It's so vibrant, rich in color and alluring. Studying and researching the subject I realized how many different shades of red there are and helped spark the choice of shades for each sister to match their personalities. 

All in all, the first two books have been a delight to write, and I'm looking forward to the writing the third book soon.

Let me share brief thoughts how the spies, music and sisters all worked together to make this series heartwarming and suspenseful.

With Music in Their Hearts

With my interest piqued and imagination soaring, I settled on the plot for book one where the hero—handsome, smart, a minister and godly—is rejected to serve overseas but recruited to serve as a civilian spy. Sparks of jealousy and love fly between him and the heroine as they battle suspicions that one or the other is not on the up and up.

Emma Jaine Rayner, by her own claims, is a non-professional pianist, who entertains and gives an extra doze of homeyness to the boarding house residents with the nightly musical fests. Her active imagination while playing, increases her longing for a man to love—and Tyrell Walker, the civilian spy, increases the pressure by wooing her with his trained voice.

A Flute in the Willows

In Book Two, the heroine and hero are both rebels in their own way. She has two loves—her skating and Jerry, her husband, an overseas U.S. spy. But when he returns home looking like a skeleton trying to return to life, she’s scared. What happened in Germany to change a man so much? When his wife's life is threatened, Jerry realizes he can’t stand by and do nothing. Jerry has to risk all for the very soul and life of himself—Josie. These two damaged, rebellious people learn the hard way that leaning on God instead of their ownselves and abilities is the only true way to love and happiness.

Josephine Rayner Patterson, the second sister, is quite different from her older sister. She's athletic and training for the Olympics once it's resumed after the war. But returning to her flute after a drastic alteration in her life, it's the balm that heals her troubled heart. In spite of resisting, Jerry Patterson through her music and enduring love, finds his heart strangely drawn to what he's never experienced before.

Sing Until You Die (coming)

The third book in this series has a tentative publishing date of 2019. The youngest sister of the WWII Spies sister overhears a private conversation while singing to the military troops and realizes it's vital information to the well being of the United States. When she’s almost discovered, Claire barely escapes. Surrounded by zealous people she can’t and won’t trust, Claire has no options but to trust the one person she most disdains, the one person she ran from: quiet, plugging-along Wills but rumored to be the best spy serving on U.S. soil. In the midst of danger, Wills has the chance of a lifetime: to show the love of his life, his love for her. Will she learn that God is her strength and wisdom and that no matter how well she can sing, how far she travels, how many men she meets, only Wills can fill the void in her heart?

Claire Roseanne Rayner is the princess of the family, the petted and beloved daughter of the Rayner Family who sings like a bird and is determined to fly away like one too. She loves God but staying away from the boy-turned-man she grew up with is never far from her mind. William (Wills) Mason has never wavered in his love for Claire Rayner. In spite of having no talent in either singing or playing, he's fully behind Claire's musical ambitions. And loving her just might bring him to the point of facing death.

Question for readers:

What is your favorite musical instrument? 

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Bio:

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

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Stitches in Time: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/