Sunday, September 10, 2023

About the Book

Book: The Amish Mother’s Secret

Author: Diane Craver

Genre: Amish Romance

Release Date: December 22, 2022

Sometimes a beautiful miracle comes to you at exactly the wrong time…

Lindsay Prescott is 40 and single when tragedy strikes. Diagnosed with stage 4, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer, her instinct is to right the wrongs in her life. Her unfortunate childhood with an alcoholic, verbally abusive mother drove her to break free in desperation at the age of 17. While working at a hotel along the beach on the East Coast, she met Harris Manning. He took her breath away and she gave herself to him in love.

Harris’ life was already planned out for him by his wealthy parents. Falling for Lindsay had been a dream. However, compelled to wed the woman his parents chose for him, he’d left her to endure a shaky marriage.

Though Harris never knew it, Lindsay found herself pregnant when he left her with no way to care for identical triplets on her own. When the triplets were five months old, she reconnected with an Amish couple—Katie and Roman Yoder—who were unable to have children. The Yoders adopted Amy and Jenna while Lindsay kept Phoebe. She couldn’t bear to give all three babies away. In the years that followed, Katie worked hard to keep her away from her adopted daughters.

When you let go of a miracle, can you ever capture it again?

After Harris learns his ex-wife intercepted Lindsay’s calls years ago to tell him she was pregnant, he rushes to her side, thrilled to discover he’s a father. But life rarely gives fairytale endings. Revealing the truth may prove more devastating than the hurdles that came before…and all that will surely come after for a woman fighting for her life.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Diane Craver is the author of The Amish Mother’s Secret, Book 1 in The Amish Adoption Series and two popular Amish series, Dreams of Plain Daughters and The Bishop’s Daughters. Diane also writes romantic suspense, inspirational contemporary romance, historical Christian fiction and women’s fiction. Her emotional reads receive great reviews. Although she started her career writing non-fiction, she switched to writing fiction. She wanted to keep her sanity in the midst of having a large family. Writing fiction with quirky and memorable characters gave her the escape she needed from her noisy household. Diane met her husband Tom while teaching at an orphanage. They enjoy their life in southwestern Ohio, and have been blessed with six children and several grandchildren. Two adult daughters with Down syndrome live with Tom and Diane. Her family is supportive of her writing career, and her favorite vacation is going to the beach with them. She gives thanks daily to God for her wonderful blessings, including being in remission from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

More from Diane

When I started writing The Amish Mother’s Secret, a friend had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I decided to have my main character, Lindsay, to have the same type of cancer. I used many of the details of his illness for my character’s cancer. Then an unbelievable thing happened to me. I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I never expected to have cancer with none in my family history.

It was hard telling our children I was diagnosed with stage four cancer. It was stage four because it was found in many of my lymph nodes throughout my body. I rewrote the details in my manuscript so that my character reflected the type of lymphoma I had. Also, after the six months of chemo, I started two years of maintenance therapy. My oncologist said doing this therapy treatment during remission could reduce the risk of recurrence and improve the cure rate for me.

While doing my months of chemo treatments, I received thoughtful gifts, devotional books, two prayer blankets and cards with wonderful Bible verses from friends and relatives. Feeling God’s love through them helped me to get through a difficult time in my life. I appreciated all the prayers said for me to recover from cancer. I have been blessed with an awesome support group of readers.

During this stressful time, I heard from agent Lesley Sabga of The Seymour Agency. She wanted to represent me and told me how much she loved my voice. I hadn’t been looking for an agent so it was a wonderful blessing to sign with Lesley. I had planned on The Amish Mother’s Secret to be a standalone novel, but Lesley acquired a three-book contract for me with Vinspire Publishing. I enjoyed writing about the two mothers, Lindsay and Katie, in Book One, The Amish Mother’s Secret. Both mothers were from two different worlds, but their love never wavered for their children. The second book in my Amish Adoption series, An Unexpected Gift, continues the adoption theme and is also available for purchase. Book three will release next year.

MY REVIEW

Keeping secrets seems to come up at some time. We think we are doing the right thing when we hold a secret close to us. In this story a secret has a domino affect on many lives. I can’t begin to imagine what it was like for Lindsay to find herself pregnant with identical triplet girls. Being alone with no way to support them she makes a hard decision. This is a shock when her secret is found out by the daughter she kept. I had many questions I wanted to ask Lindsay. What I did do however was try to put myself in her shoes. With no judgment I understood that she was doing the best she knew by having two of the girls adopted. All these years she had lived with this secret until the day she had to tell the truth.

I was very surprised how Phoebe reacted when her mother told her about her other two sisters. This young woman gave her mother grace and knew that she had to support her mother as she was going through Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. What I appreciate is how the author gave us an insight into this illness with a personal account that inspired the story. Going through cancer treatment is difficult and I admire Lindsay and how important it was to her to have her daughter meet her family.

The parents who adopted Amy and Jenna are Amish. This is such a different culture than their sister. They have always been loved by their adopted families and have grown into sweet young women. When they both decide they want to be paramedics, their mother is not pleased. She believes that her daughters should get married and have families. The family does discuss this with understanding and I love how the decision made was respected by everyone.

It does look like everyone is doing well until the past starts to come up for both families. I think about Katie and Roman who adopted the girls and how much joy they brought to them. Will the girls find out that their parents have kept something from them? How will it affect everyone? One family has been on their own and now faces an illness that could shatter a bond. The other family has worked hard and grew up Amish. The girls are ready to branch out on their own. The emotions are felt deeply in this story and does have a few sensitive subjects that may be a trigger for some. The author handles these subjects with grace and delivers a realistic view of how abuse and alcoholism can affect a family.

What you will discover in this moving story is an illustration of forgiveness, reconciliation, grace and faith that continues to bring peace and unconditional love. I appreciate how each character is able to share their own prospective and trust that God will work everything out for good. Thank you to the author for sharing part of her own personal journey through cancer and how it affects many.

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

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 9

Texas Book-aholic, September 10

Mary Hake, September 10

Lighthouse Academy Blog, September 11 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 12

Connie’s History Classroom, September 13

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 14

Splashes of Joy, September 14

Bizwings Book Blog, September 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 16

The Book Club Network, September 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 18

Vicky Sluiter, September 18

For Him and My Family, September 19

Cover Lover Book Review, September 20

JESUS in the EVERYDAY, September 21

Books I’ve Read, September 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Diane is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/27a70/the-amish-mother-s-secret-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, September 8, 2023

About the Book

Book: Glimpses of God: an autumn devotional for women

Authors: Shirley Crowder and Harriet E. Michael

Genre: Devotional (nonfiction)

Release Date: August 13, 2021

Creator God made the world in which we live.

He placed the moon and stars in the sky, the rivers and oceans on the earth. He also created seasons throughout the year. Each season is defined by specific features and attributes that are common.

As Christ-followers we experience spiritual seasons. Though these seasons do not come in order like seasons in nature, each spiritual season we experience is defined by certain features.

This book is focused on autumn—both calendar and spiritual. During our spiritual autumns, we prepare for change and the possibility of difficult days ahead. It also represents abundance and blessings.

This book is part of the four-book Glimpses of God series.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Authors

Shirley Crowder is an award-winning author (Ames Award, Southern Christian Writers Conference awards) and freelance Christian writer living in Birmingham, Alabama. She was born under the shade of a mango tree in Nigeria, West Africa, where her parents served as missionaries.

She is passionate about disciple-making, which is conducted in and through a myriad of ministry opportunities including biblical counseling, teaching Bible studies, writing, and music. She is a speaker and teacher for women’s, biblical counseling, addiction, and writing conferences, retreats, and workshops.

Shirley has contributed to several blogs, and is published as an author, co-author, and contributing author of fourteen books. She has appeared on several The Addiction Connection Podcasts and on Shaped by Faith with Theresa Rowe.

Several of her articles have appeared in “Paper Pulpit” in the Faith section of The Gadsden (Alabama) Times. She also has published articles for David C. Cook, Student Life, and Woman’s Missionary Union publications.

Harriet E. Michael is an award-winning writer winner of two Selah Awards, a Cascade Award, and an Ames Award.

Born in Nigeria, West Africa, as the daughter of missionaries, Harriet is a writer, wife, mother, and grandmother. She holds a BS in nursing from West Virginia University but has discovered her passion for writing. Since her first published article in 2010, she now has hundreds of published articles, short stories, and devotions.

Harriet is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Louisville Christian Writers. She is the author of ten books and hundreds of stories, articles, and devotions. Her work has appeared in publications by Focus on the Family, Lifeway, Standard Publishing, David C. Cook Co., Bethany House, American Life League, Crosswalk.com, Christian Communicator, Judson Press, Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Upper Room, Pentecostal Publishing House, Smyth and Helwys, and more.

She is also a Christian speaker who loves to talk to women’s groups about prayer or other topics or speak at writers’ conferences on free-lance writing, non-fiction writing, and devotional writing.

More from the Authors

For the winter devo, we used the following (I’ve changed the final few paragraphs.) If you have a pumpkin bread recipe you can add it.

From Africa to America, Life Long Friends

March 14, many years ago …

In the heart of the African jungle in the Niger River delta of eastern Nigeria, the first cry of a newborn baby echoes from a small jungle hospital. The baby is a girl, Harriet Clarice, the third child of medical missionaries, Alice and Keith Edwards.

Harriet and her family stayed in this remote part of Nigeria for a year until the other family returned from furlough. At that time, they went for another year to Oyo, Nigeria to language school and then on to Ogbomoso in central Nigeria, where they stayed the next ten years. Keith practiced medicine at the hospital in Ogbomoso, and Alice worked with him as a nurse.

October 24 of the same year Harriet was born …

Deep in the Yoruba country of southwestern Nigeria, some 260 miles away from Joinkrama, piercing through the tropical night sounds, the first cry of another newborn baby cries out at a guesthouse in Ogbomoso. This baby is also a girl, Shirley Jeanne, the fourth child of missionaries Jeannie and Ray Crowder.

In 1962 the Crowders moved to Ogbomoso. Ray served as administrator of the 96-bed hospital, and Jeannie taught kindergarten and ministered to the Nigerian women with home visits and Bible studies. Harriet’s parents worked at the Ogbomoso hospital with Ray.

Lifelong friends

Harriet ended up living just up the dirt road from Shirley. They played together nearly every day and formed a friendship that remained, even after years and distance separated them.

Harriet and Shirley, and the others in this unique group of individuals, who shared a common childhood in Nigeria in our beloved tropical homeland half a world away from where most of us live now, grew up calling each other’s parents aunt and uncle. Even as adults, we still feel a kinship as though we are family—cousins perhaps.

Some years ago, at a mission reunion, Shirley handed Harriet a book to which she had contributed. That was the first time Harriet knew she was a writer. Shirley had discovered a few years earlier that Harriet was a writer, too.

Several years ago, Shirley suggested that they prayerfully consider writing a devotional book together. Through that experience, they learned that they work well together. Their similar understanding and views on scripture is a good foundation for the different strengths each of us bring when it comes to writing.

Since that first book, we have worked and continue to work together on other projects. Glimpses of God: an autumn devotional for women is the final book in our 4-book devotional series, Glimpses of God. Through our devotionals we pray people will see Glimpses of God all around them. Creator God made the world and the seasons throughout the year. By using the seasons in nature, we help readers see correlations to the spiritual seasons Christ-followers experience and to get “Glimpses of God” in and through everything that happens.

So, we guess it could be said that we are once again “playing” with our childhood friend in spite of several decades having passed since they played together happily beneath the shade of mango trees.

MY REVIEW

If you have not read any of these Devotionals yet, I would highly recommend them. Each one highlights a different season and is perfect to use for everyday use. This one is about Autumn and has wonderful topics that get you excited about the season as well as what scriptures and stories that correlate to the topics.

I love how it is divided into each day and topic for the week. I enjoyed the stories that the authors shared and has a scripture for us to focus on. At the end of each day is a prayer and thought of the day. If you are looking for something that will guide you to either start or close your day with God’s Word , this would be a great tool to use.

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

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 7

Vicky Sluiter, September 8

Texas Book-aholic, September 9

Lily’s Book Reviews, September 10

Christina’s Corner, September 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 11

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 12

Lighthouse-Academy, September 13

Splashes of Joy, September 13

The Book Club Network, September 14

Older & Smarter?, September 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 16

Mary Hake, September 16

For Him and My Family, September 17

Cover Lover Book Review, September 18

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 19

Raining Butterfly Kisses, September 19

Lights in a Dark World, September 20

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Shirley and Harriet are giving away the grand prize package of a print copy of the book and a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/27a6e/glimpses-of-god-an-autumn-devotional-for-women-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

About the Book

Book: Christmas Bells and Wedding Vows – A Marriage of Convenience Anthology

Authors: Jody Hedlund, Lacy Williams, and Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 26, 2023

From bestselling and award winning authors, experience Christmas on the rugged western frontier with three novellas filled with unforgettable adventures, enduring romance, and the timeless message of hope found in the Savior’s birth.

Claiming the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund

Serena Taylor is hiding in Colorado’s high country to keep her son safe, and she knows the best way to protect him is by marrying again and giving him a father. Weston Oakley needs a wife by Christmas to placate his meddling family, but after being spurned one too many times in love, he’s reluctant to give his heart away again. When they agree on a marriage of convenience, both of them get much more than they bargained for.

Doctor’s Snowflake Bride by Lacy Williams
Minnie steps off the train ready to become a mail-order bride, but she finds the well-dressed man waiting for her isn’t her intended husband. The protective oath Jed took when he became a doctor doesn’t cover stranded women, but he can’t leave the beautiful stranger alone in a building blizzard two days before Christmas. When circumstances force them into close proximity, Jed and Minnie find that their growing feelings aren’t convenient at all.

Marrying the Mountain Man’s Best Friend by Misty M. Beller

Two Stones, a Salish warrior accustomed to navigating between tribes and miners, unexpectedly finds himself summoned to the side of a dying friend in Virginia City. Sworn to honor the miner’s last wish, Two Stones agrees to marry his daughter, Heidi, but plans to take her to live with his parents. He’ll provide all her needs, make sure she’s safe, and visit her on occasion when his path leads him that direction. As they set out on the journey, their path is fraught with challenges that defy Two Stones’ plans and reveal a surprising depth to Heidi’s character. As they near the end of their trail and join the Christmas festivities at the Coulter Ranch, Two Stones begins to realize this inconvenient marriage might really be a Christmas gift he’ll always treasure.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Authors

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle.

USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams is devoted to bringing her readers heartwarming love stories about cowboys and the women that tame them.

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

More from Misty

When Friends Join Forces…Magic Happens!

For me, joining with my good friends Jody Hedlund and Lacy Williams resulted in Christmas magic!

Ever since I was young, Christmas stories have held a special place in my heart. The charm and warmth they exude, coupled with the enchantment of the holiday season, are a captivating combination I find irresistible. Can you relate?

I’ve also long been a HUGE fan of Jody Hedlund and Lacy Williams. I’ve read so many of their books over and over!

Joining them for this Christmas novella collection has been a dream come true for so many reasons. And not only are these three marriage of convenience stories set on the Rocky Mountain frontier (my favorite place!), each of these novellas is an exciting extension of the current series we’re each writing.

Jody’s novella is the finale to her Colorado Cowgirls series. We meet both the hero and heroine of this Christmas story back in book 4. You don’t have to have read Jody’s series to fall in love with them here though!

Lacy’s novella tells the story of a character from a new mail order bride series she has coming soon. This prelude is a fantastic taste that will have you swooning as you eagerly await the rest of the books!

My own contribution features Two Stones, the Coulter family’s best friend from the Brothers of Sapphire Mountain Ranch series. I love having the chance to tell his story, even though he’s not ‘officially’ one of the brothers. 

If you’ve read any of these series—or if you just love Christmas books like I do!—you’ll definitely want to read the novellas in Christmas Bells and Wedding Vows. It’s our collective holiday gift to you, the readers—intertwining familiar settings and characters with the joy and love that the festive season brings. We hope these tales bring you the same warmth and joy we’ve felt while penning them.

Blessings!

Misty

MY REVIEW

What a great collection of stories about marriage of convenience. Each story is beautifully written and has wonderful characters.

Claiming The Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund

I could tell this story was going to be filled with a journey that will take us into 1878 . It is December and our heroine named Serena is out in the bitter cold with her son Tate. She used to have a home with her husband but now that he has passed away she needs to find a safe place for her and her son. It is no wonder she left the home she thought would be a great place to raise children. At the mention that her father-in-law wants to raise her child, she bolted out of there as fast as she could. Now she is on her own and needs to find a husband.

Weston needs to get married and fast. After all he told his family he would be by Christmas. When he helps Serena and her little boy out, he starts thinking maybe they could help each other out. I loved that Weston was a true gentleman and explained that getting married was to benefit both their situations. Weston takes to Tate very well and that probably helped Serena to say yes to getting married. There is a little secret Serena is keeping that could be dangerous for everyone.

The story is fun to read as these two characters dance around their feelings. Serena is so worried that she will be rejected by Weston that she apologizes for everything. I wanted to tell her to get a grip and let those feelings known. Christmas is a whirlwind of family and a start to a relationship that can stand the test of time. Be prepared for a little scrimmage in the story between a man desperate to kidnap his grandson and the man who will risk everything to protect the ones he loves.

Doctor’s Snowflake Bride by Lacy Williams

I loved this story from the beginning pages. A young woman named Minnie travels to a small town in snow to meet her soon to be husband. Standing there she realizes that she may be stood up. When a tall man appears she thinks he has finally come. What happens next can only be God’s plan. I loved how Minnie helps the doctor when a disaster happens.

Jed is relieved to see the woman standing there on the steps. Finally his nurse has arrived and maybe he can get some much needed help. Instead of a nurse, he finds Minnie. The way they meet is an answer to prayer when a building collapses.I loved how they both worked together to save people who had been trapped. My question is where is the nurse and Minnie’s husband to be?

Sometimes the path we take is not the one Hod has planned for us. Jed wants Minnie to stay to help with the injured and assures her that Mr. Black won’t be coming for her anytime soon due to the snow. Minnie needs a place to stay so it only made sense to help the doctor out. Jed has other problems beside finding a nurse. His relationship with his son is so strained they barely talk. With such a demanding job, Jed is hardly there to bond with his son. Their bitterness is starting to show and I thought that at any minute someone would say something they would regret.

Minnie may just be what the doctor ordered in this emotional story of forgiveness and finding love. Will Jed choose her or let her walk out and go off to marry Mr. Black? I held my breath as the author delivers an emotional ending. A great reminder in the story is that God loves each of us unconditionally.

Marrying The Mountain Man’s Best Friend by Misty M. Belle

Two Stones is an honorable man and comes to see his dear friend who is gravely ill. What Two Stones hears his friend whisper to him is surprising but he promises the man his dying wish. Now he must convince Heidi to go with him and marry him.

Heidi is beside herself as she knows her father has passed away. What was he thinking asking this stranger to marry her? She is defiant and refuses to marry this man. Heidi believes that she can take care of herself. Little does she know that Two Stones will honor his friend’s wish and take her as his bride. His word is everything to him. Now he has to convince this stubborn woman to be his bride.

This story takes us on a journey through treacherous snow as they travel to their destination. I like that Two Stones is kind and respectful to Heidi. He is not afraid to show his faith and assures her that he will honor her at all times. He wants her to feel comfortable around his people and make the village her home. What a beautiful story of sacrifice and honor that illustrates how someone doesn’t go make on their promise. A love story that shows how God puts two people together and prepares their hearts as husband and wife. Honor, trust and unconditional love is illustrated beautifully in this story.

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

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 6

Alena Mentink, September 6

Texas Book-aholic, September 7

Mary Hake, September 7

By the Book, September 8

She Lives To Read, September 8

Vicky Sluiter, September 9

Melissa’s Bookshelf, September 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 10

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 11

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 12

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 13 (Author Interview)

Connie’s History Classroom, September 14

Blossoms and Blessings, September 15

Britt Reads Fiction, September 15

For Him and My Family, September 16

Labor Not in Vain, September 16

Holly’s Book Corner, September 17

Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 17

Books You Can Feel Good About, September 18

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, September 18

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Misty, Jody, and Lacy are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/28138/christmas-bells-and-wedding-vows-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

About the Book

Book: A Counterfeit Betrothal

Author: Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: September 6, 2023

A frontier scout, a healing widow, and a desperate fight for peace.

At the farthest Georgia outpost this side of hostile Creek Territory in 1813, Jared Lockridge serves his country as a scout to redeem his father’s botched heritage. If he can help secure peace against Indians allied to the British, he can bring his betrothed to the home he’s building and open his cabinetry shop. Then he comes across a burning cabin and a traumatized woman just widowed by a fatal shot.

Freed from a cruel marriage, Esther Andrews agrees to winter at the Lockridge homestead to help Jared’s pregnant sister-in-law. Lame in one foot, Esther has always known she is secondhand goods, but the gentle carpenter-turned-scout draws her heart with as much skill as he creates furniture from wood. His family’s love offers hope even as violence erupts along the frontier—and Jared’s investigation into local incidents brings danger to their doorstep. Yet how could Esther ever hope a loyal man like Jared would choose her over a fine lady?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

North Georgia native Denise Weimer has authored over a dozen traditionally published novels and a number of novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

More from Denise

Romance on the Colonial Georgia Frontier

Near my home north of Atlanta, we have plenty of history, which is great for a lifelong history buff like me. But apart from some Colonial-era settlement in Savannah and Augusta, most of it (at least, the recorded part) doesn’t trace back much before the Civil War. Many town and river names hint of the native people and earlier times.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that a War of 1812 fort existed in what is currently Gwinnett County—then Jackson County—less than forty miles northeast of current downtown Atlanta. That evidence of this fort was plowed up in someone’s back yard in 2009 made it even more intriguing. And the fact that I grew up in Jackson County and later briefly lived and worked in Gwinnett (as a historical interpreter, of all things) made my connection to Fort Daniel a close one. The location is now an archeological site with a small museum maintained by the Fort Daniel Foundation.

Most folks, even those who live around here, aren’t aware that the Creek War (or Red Stick War) fought in modern-day Alabama was part of the War of 1812. Or that the Cherokees fought alongside the Americans against the Creeks, allied to the British. The military side of that story is explored in my earlier novel, Bent Tree Bride. But when I learned about Fort Daniel, a home front romance, A Counterfeit Betrothal, book one in my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier Series, was born.

1813

At the farthest Georgia outpost this side of hostile Creek Territory, Jared Lockridge serves his country as a scout to redeem his father’s botched heritage. If he can help secure the peace against Indians allied to the British, he can bring his betrothed to the home he’s building and open his cabinetry shop. Then he comes across a burning cabin and a traumatized woman just widowed by a fatal shot.

Esther seems to have everything against her—a physical handicap, an abusive past, and then being stranded on the frontier without money, friends, or relatives. Not to mention, the assailant who killed her husband still appears to be stalking her. Her only skill? The herbal remedies learned from a Cherokee woman. The harshest winter in Georgia history closes in, threatening to extinguish all hope. Yet through the example of the loving Lockridge family who take Esther in, she finds her identity and strength in God’s love…and eventually, the love of a good man.

In writing this story, I drew on real history and folklore as related in History of Gwinnett County Georgia 1818-1943 Vol. I by J.C. Flanigan and The Early History of Jackson County Georgia: The Writings of the Late G.J.N. Wilson. The panther attack Esther and Tabitha Lockridge face during the hard winter is based on an 1830s account of a Missouri settler. And the Wog? This strange creature of legend is not only mentioned in the History of Jackson County, but I grew up hearing tales about it as late as the 1980s.

A Counterfeit Betrothal is a story of how healing and redemption can happen among the harshest circumstances. But it’s not just a survival tale. Its sweet romance and loyal friendship will take you back to bayberry candles and syllabub at Christmas, the scratch of a fiddle at a spring log rolling, and the laughter of loved ones gathered around a crackling fire. I hope you enjoy the journey!

MY REVIEW

I love a story with a character who reminds me of beauty from ashes. Esther is lonely and doesn’t have much self esteem. When she is rescued from a fire by Jared her life changes. The back story on Esther is emotional. She has been mistreated by her now dead husband. The scars she has runs deep and she is afraid to get close to anyone. I could feel her meekness and anxiety as she is taken in by people who are very giving.

Jared is a rugged man who is hard hardworking, honest and faithful. He is someone women would love to be courted by. I love how he helps Esther and brings her home to his family without any hesitation. He is very gifted in cabinetmaking and hopes to one day open his own shop.

This time period shows how hard it was to make a living and the author highlights the story with historical facts that make readers feel as if they are there experiencing everything along with the characters. I was fascinated by all the herbs they used to treat illnesses or used for cooking. The candle making process sounded very fun and creative.

Oh how thankful I was that Jared shared Jesus with Esther. She has been lied to, made to feel shameful and unloved. I cried as she tried to understand how God could save such a person as she. I began to hum “ Amazing Grace” as I continued the story. Her heart was so broken yet she yearned to be accepted and loved. All she wants is to be free from her past and it was now within her reach. God always has a plan and it was by no accident that Jared was the one to rescue her from the fire that day. Can she find a way to forgive herself?

The story does have a little danger in it that illustrated how strong Esther had become. Her journey is not without a look at who she once was. I loved how the author used this character to show how God’s unconditional love can save a person who thought she was worthless. A beautiful reminder for all of us is to never give up hope and know that “we are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Esther and Jared’s story is one that I won’t forget.

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