Friday, January 23, 2026

Flames of Faith Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Flames of Faith

Author: Marguerite Martin Gray

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release Date: February, 2025

1870 Switzerland. One year. A mountain of ideas. And a menacing railroad forging the barrier between dreams and reality.

Claire Pennington formulates a bold plan to avoid the pressure of yet another London season. Her parents grant her one year in Switzerland, yet afterward she must return to England and find a suitor. Armed with a notebook and gumption, she determines to make the mountain town of Thun a tourist destination for all classes of society. However, she does not count on an equally determined railroad engineer set on leaving Thun in the dust.

The rugged mountain terrain grants Englishman Lucas Stanley the opportunity to launch his engineering career. The railroad is the answer to modern travel—expedient, efficient, and competitive, yet conquering the section of track from Thun to Interlaken is harder than he originally thought, especially with opposition from a fiery female. Claire confronts him at every turn, using her enthusiasm and people skills to flame local zeal for change and progress in another direction.

Opposing proposals collide as Claire, Lucas, and the citizens of the quaint Swiss town face an avalanche of decisions and compromises sparked by flames of faith—and perhaps love.

Discover romance and faith in 1870 Switzerland through this standalone novel from the Elements of Hope series where fire, air, water, and earth meet elements of the heart.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Marguerite Martin Gray is an award-winning author of a dozen novels and novellas. She enjoys the study of history, especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish online. She currently lives in North Louisiana with her husband and rescue pets. Her two adult children and two grandsons keep her young and up-to-date.

More from Marguerite

I am a tourist at heart and always have been since I was a child growing up in England as a preteen. A castle, a map, a manor house, a museum, a mystery, a myth in any country or state. Flames of Faith was sparked by a recent train ride from Interlaken to Thun, Switzerland where an old turreted castle rose above the lake and village. A perfect setting for a novel. It spurred thoughts of who visited this area as well as how and when since the terrain made it dangerous and tricky to just visit on a whim on a Sunday afternoon.

Have you heard of Thomas Cook (1850s and onward) and his famous travels all over Europe with tourists by horse, carriage, boat, foot, and finally train? He paved the way for the middle-class citizen to see gorgeous venues like Switzerland and the Alps. What an adventure to have been on one of his early tours! A Slow Train to Switzerland by Diccon Bewes cemented what I wanted to express in this novel.

Meet Claire Pennington, my heroine, who encompasses the traits of tourist in all the good senses. She wants everyone to have the opportunity to travel the continent and world as she does. Her bold dream inspires others to possibly regard seeing new sites as a way to refresh and revitalize their own lives.

Hop on board and discover romance and faith in 1870 Switzerland. Be a tourist without leaving your home.

MY REVIEW

I don’t think I have read a story that brings such a vivid picture in my mind like this one. To travel to Switzerland by train gives Claire a chance to see her dream come true. I imagined the beautiful Swiss Alps lightly dusted with snow surrounded by a quaint little town nestled inside.

Claire is ready to take this year her parents have given her to explore the town and perhaps see it become a tourist destination. I love how she is full of life and sees how her ideas burst into reality. It’s not everyday a young woman with her social standings wants everyone to experience all the world has to offer without the worry of finances or standing in the town.

Oh how I loved when Lucas is introduced. He reminds me of a well educated and ambitious person who doesn’t like obstacles to stop his business from growing. He will definitely have his hands full with Claire as they clash in this charming story.

There is much to explore in this faith filled, slow building story where opposites have to work together in order to see God’s plan come to pass. I enjoyed their banter and how they each start to discover a friendship that allows them to open their hearts to something lasting and meaningful. I did take notice of how progress sometimes isn’t always welcomed. I have always liked small towns where you can relax and know that your neighbors are there when you need them.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.