Sunday, January 19, 2025

About the Book

Book: Wrapped Up in You (Real American Country Series Book 2)

Author: Jennifer Carr

Genre: Sweet New Adult Contemporary Romance

Release date: October 1, 2024

Nash Montgomery is always up for a good time. But when a senior prank goes too far, his baseball scholarship is put at risk, threatening the future everyone expects him to follow. The consequences earn him community service at a local youth center where he discovers a passion that defies the path he thought had been laid out for him.

Cassidy is a talented musician trapped under the weight of her mother’s ambitious dreams for her. Desperate to carve out her own identity, she struggles to find her voice amidst the noise of others’ expectations.

Their worlds collide in Nashville when both earn a spot on Real American Country, a new reality TV competition for aspiring country stars. As they navigate the pressures of the spotlight, they’ll have to decide if they’re chasing their own dreams—or someone else’s. And along the way, they’ll discover that getting wrapped up in the right person can bring out the best in themselves.

Wrapped Up in You is a heartwarming tale about breaking free from the expectations of others, finding love, and discovering that the best path is the one you create for yourself.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

I’m Jennifer Carr. I’m a wife, homeschooling mom, baker, part-time farmer, social media addict, and an avid reader. I’m a lover of coffee, music, learning, animals, and writing.

have a degree in Psychology, a Master’s in Marriage & Family Counseling, and certifications in Life Coaching, Health and Wellness Coaching, and am a certified Brain Health Professional. I also taught high school AP Psychology for several years.

I’ve always loved writing. Complete transparency alert – I never set out to become an author. I know, that probably sounds unlikely considering, but it’s true. I sat down one day and decided I wanted to write a story because I needed to know how a dream I’d awoken from ended. It snowballed and turned into chapters and eventually into an entire book. When I finished that book, I needed to make sure my characters were OK and thriving so I wrote the second book.

It was at that point I realized that being an author was something I could see myself doing for a really long time. So, I’m still writing and loving every minute of it. When I’m not writing, there’s a good chance I’m reading and drinking coffee!

More from Jennifer

Wrapped Up in You is book two of the Real American Country Series. But don’t worry, it can definitely be read as a standalone! The series follows a reality television country music competition and some of the contestants as they pursue their dreams of becoming country music recording artists. This book follows the story of Nash Montgomery and Cassidy Raye Stanton as they each navigate the pressures of the spotlight. They’ll each have to decide if they’re chasing their own dreams—or someone else’s. And along the way, they’ll discover that getting wrapped up in the right person can bring out the best in themselves.

Wrapped Up in You is a heartwarming tale about breaking free from the expectations of others, finding love, and discovering that the best path is the one you create for yourself.

One of my favorite things about writing this series is coming up with custom playlists for each book. If you love country music or just want to see what all the fuss is about, here’s the playlist that goes along with Wrapped Up in You: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2hXjkRFytj9tPFpitHRdEf?si=d0209225ac1f41e0

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 15

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 16 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, January 17 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 17

For the Love of Literature, January 18 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 19

Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 20 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 21

Blossoms and Blessings, January 22 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 23

Artistic Nobody, January 24 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 25

Stories By Gina, January 26 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, January 26

For Him and My Family, January 27

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 28 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize of a 6-Month Kindle Unlimited Subscription and an eBook copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54131

Saturday, January 18, 2025

About the Book

Book: A Year of Flowers

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: November 18, 2024

In this collection of four heartfelt novellas, three former friends have found success in the floral industry, but happiness–and love–remain elusive.

In An Apology in Bloom, wedding florist Jaime Harper is on a meteoric rise, working for an event company led by a successful and way-too-handsome boss. When a letter arrives from her past mentor with an offer too good to pass up, will she stay or head back to her hometown?

In A Bouquet of Dreams, Claire Murphy has always dreamed of owning a flower shop, and when her employers hint at retirement, she believes her moment has arrived. But first she must confront her past–and the man who caused her to flee her hometown years ago.

In A Field of Beauty, Tessa Anderson has found an acre of farmland to start her flower farm and forget the past. She’s grateful for the help of two men–her boyfriend, Tyler, and a quiet soil specialist named Dawson. But as the farm finally starts to bloom, Tessa will discover something that challenges everything she’s built.

In A Future in Blossom, Jaime, Claire, and Tessa return to their hometown, finally ready to face each other and their beloved mentor, flower shop owner Rose Reid. As they unite to pull off an extraordinary wedding, amid the flurry of preparations they just may find their way to forgiveness.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a Carol and Selah winner, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of more than forty books. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances, Amish romance, and women’s fiction. She and her husband live in a small town in California, where everyone knows everyone else, knows what they are doing and why. Most friends act a little nervous around Suzanne because they usually wind up in one of her novels. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young.

More from Suzanne

A Year of Flowers: Friendships in Full Bloom

If you’ve ever tended to a garden, you know that flowers and friendships have a lot in common—they both need a bit of love, attention, and sometimes, a good pruning. That’s the heart of my novella collection called A Year of Flowers, stories of three teenage girls who bonded over bouquets and blossomed into best friends under the guidance of Rose, the wise and wonderful flower shop owner.

But life, much like a garden, doesn’t always go according to plan. On one sweltering August day, something dreadful happens in the flower shop, and the girls, who once shared everything, suddenly vanish from each other’s lives.

Seven years later, we find out where each girl, now a young woman, has gone. Their love for flowers is still in full bloom. Jaime’s taken her talent to the big city, working as a floral artist for a high-end event agency in NYC. She’s turning heads with her extravagant designs, but something’s missing—maybe it’s the simple joy she once found in that small-town flower shop.

Claire has run off to Savannah, Georgia, where she’s knee-deep in blooms, working in a flower shop with dreams of running the place one day. She’s got her eye on the prize, but she’s also discovering that you can’t outrun the past, no matter how far you go.

Then there’s Tessa, who’s found solace in the soil of Asheville, NC, where she’s started a flower farm. It’s a peaceful life, but even in the quiet of the mountains, memories of that summer day haunt her like the mist that rolls over the hills.

As each story unfolds, we see that, like flowers, friendships need TLC. They can wilt easily without care and attention. And sometimes, a good pruning is necessary, to help it grow stronger.

In the final novella, the three young women are drawn back to where it all began—the flower shop, and to Rose. It’s time to dig up the past, clear out the weeds, and see if their friendship can bloom again. After all, just because a garden has been neglected doesn’t mean it can’t be revived with a little care and attention.

So, if you’re a fan of flowers, friendships, or happy endings, get a copy of A Year of Flowers. It’s a reminder that with the right care, both flowers and friendships can flourish, no matter how long they’ve been left untended.

MY FLOWERS

A collection of stories where flowers are featured. Each story is filled with faith, friendship and happy endings. The author does a great job of giving us relatable characters we want to cheer for. I loved learning about flowers and how delicate they are. The descriptions were so vivid I could see the beauty of the bouquets that were created. Get ready for a great time with friends who support each other. Healing the heart happens in the most unexpected ways in this faith filled collection of stories.

An Apology in Bloom

Jamie works very hard trying to please customers with her designs. One particular customer is very picky but Jamie pulls off an exceptional bouquet that brings a nice compliment for Jamie. With all her skills Jamie thinks it is time to enter the Blooms to Bouquet competition.

Jamie’s boss Liam is found rocking out to a gospel song when she arrives at the shop. She had no idea that he liked Christian music. It is a perfect opportunity for Jamie to be reminded that she still has not found a church to go to since moving to New York City. I loved when Liam told Jamie, “Faith brings new life.” Hmm. Is Jamie looking at Liam in a different light now?

What a mess Jamie gets into when her bouquet becomes a finalist. The problem is the bouquet is for a very prestigious wedding. The mother of the bride is furious because the picture of the bouquet is all over Instagram. Will Liam forgive Jamie for this huge mistake? Is the wedding ruined? Stay tuned to see where Jamie goes after the fiasco she thinks she made.

A Bouquet of Dreams

Claire finds herself at a boring conference on her twenty-fifth birthday. What a way to celebrate her birthday. Her boss thinks she needs to have better customer service skills. Perhaps being direct and expanding on her knowledge of flowers all the time isn’t quite what customers want to hear.

It was interesting to learn Claire’s background. Being a military brat she traveled a lot as a child. When her mom left, she lived alone with her dad going from place to place. Her dad goes overseas but Claire has had enough of moving. Staying with her grandparents was a great decision. Her life makes another sudden change when she suffers a loss.

Claire has big dreams in the flower business but her dad doesn’t share her enthusiasm. No one seems to understand that flowers ‘is in the business of happiness.” Meeting MaryBeth and her husband is an answer to prayer for Claire. They take her in and let her work in their flower shop. I did see that Claire did begin to complain a bit when she was so sure MaryBeth would retire. Is Claire expecting to be given the flower shop?

This story has a great lesson on forgiveness and giving second chances. Claire faces her past at the conference and sees how much she has judged someone unfairly. Will Claire return to her hometown?

A Field Of Beauty

Tessa is ready to open her own flower farm. What an intriguing idea. Now all she has to do is get started. After buying Mountain Farm she is ready to go. Can she convince Dawson to analyze the soil? It doesn’t sound very promising as Dawson lets her know that it will need a lot of work to get the soil in good condition.

I can’t believe that Tessa was talked into giving Dawson base plus a fifty-fifty cut. This is going to get very interesting . Her boyfriend is not happy that she cancels their date in order to stay and help Dawson out. As they work together, they see tiny little seeds start to grow. It gets them both hopeful that they will be successful in their long term plan.

Oh my . I am shocked at what happens at a dinner that Tessa attends with her boyfriend. He is running for office and I didn’t like him much. He is a bit arrogant and doesn’t really respect Tessa at times. Things did go from bad to disaster as Tessa’s farm is in danger of being taken away from her. Dawson tells Tessa, “you can’t fix what you don’t face.” Such a good story of turning your life back to God. God will forgive your of your mistakes. The hardest part is to forgive ourselves.

A Future in Bloom

This story brings four characters back together. I loved seeing how the women all came back to face their past. Rose is definitely the reason the group has returned to reunite. Past pain and harsh words need to be healed. The wedding planned to be hosted in the greenhouse sounded so exciting. I loved seeing how the friends began to work together again. But lingering in the background was the past that they all needed to talk about. The ending is bittersweet but oh how I loved how the author brings this story full circle.

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

Blog Stops

Vicky Sluiter, January 11

lakesidelivingsite, January 11

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 12

Book Looks by Lisa, January 12

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 13

Simple Harvest Reads, January 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

She Lives to Read, January 14

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 15

For Him and My Family, January 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 16

By the Book, January 17

Wishful Endings, January 17

Texas Book-aholic, January 18

Pause for Tales, January 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 19

Cover Lover Book Review, January 20

Lighthouse Academy, January 20

The Avid Reader, January 21

Stories By Gina, January 22 (Author Interview)

Jeanette’s Thoughts , January 23

Blossoms and Blessings, January 23

Batya’s Bits, January 24

Holly’s Book Corner, January 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54129

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

About the Book

Book: The Stranger

Author: Joy Margetts

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: November 22, 2024

What do you do when your life’s work lies in ashes at your feet? When your heart and body are broken and your faith shattered?

Disillusioned, grief-stricken and feeling abandoned by the God he once trusted, Brother Silas runs. He sets out on a lonely journey, not knowing where the path will take him, determined to distance himself from his painful past.

But Silas cannot escape the Love that will not let him go. Through the unexpected kindness of strangers, and a series of inexplicable events, Silas’ heart begins to heal. Then an unlikely reunion puts him back on the path to rediscovering who he really is.

Will Silas find where he truly belongs or will he remain a stranger forever?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Joy combines a life- long love of history and a deep passion for the Word of God to write stories, inspired by her own faith journey. She lives on the beautiful North Wales coast, amidst abbey ruins and ancient pilgrim paths.

More from Joy

I live in a most beautiful area of the UK, on the coast of Wales, surrounded by a stunning landscape of mountains, forests and sea. This is an area that is not only stunning in its natural beauty but also rich with history; castles, abbeys, old churches, and ancient pilgrimage routes. These things inspire my writing, which is why my books are set in medieval Wales, and feature abbeys, monks, knights and maidens. No dragons though! And no murders!

Some years ago now my life was forever changed when I became unexpectedly ill, from what was later diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue. Months of being able to do very little turned into years. Years where I lost much including my job and career, experiences with my children which I will never get back, and my role in ministry. Through this time I questioned all that I had known of God. I had followed Jesus all my life but when things got really tough it felt like He had abandoned me. I didn’t know if I could trust Him any more, if He really cared, if all that I had once believed was actually true. Over time God pursued me, revealing His love for me in unexpected ways, using others to display Himself, helping me to rediscover my faith and choose to trust Him again.

In writing my books I wanted to tell my own story, but through the fictional lives of characters living centuries ago. The Healing, my first novel, told my story of healing and redemption, and no-one was more surprised than I when the book was published. But God had given me a gift to write and He wasn’t finished with one book. The Stranger is actually my fourth novel and the most personal in many ways. The central character has to navigate what it feels like to question his faith in the face of devastating disappointment. I think this is something that many Christians can equate with. The story follows him as he tries to turn his back on his God, and discovers that God does not give up the pursuit of those He loves. It is my story. God pursued me and would not let me go. He is the lover of my soul and has proved faithful. I want my books to carry hope, and to glorify Him.

I love the Word of God. It has been my place of comfort and strength through tough times. My books are littered with scriptural truth, and I make no apologies for that. It is the truth, and believing in the truth, that sets us free.

MY REVIEW

Silas is broken when everything is destroyed by fire. He tells the others to get what they can and leave with him. Silas wonders where God is and feels alone. Is this the end for Silas? Has he given up on God? I couldn’t wait to see where his journey would take him. He no longer has fight in him. It reminded me of how we sometimes want to give up and walk away. We can’t run away from our problem. Silas will experience more than he expected as he encounters people along the way.

I loved the scriptures the author uses throughout the book. Silas seems weary about his faith, but there is hope as he begins to receive shelter and a fresh start. When he encounters Lord Abbot the harshness of his failure is spoken with contempt. Did Silas become prideful which caused him to fail his mission? Pride can bring down the strongest of us and the consequences can be hard. Now Silas must deal with his decisions.

As Silas meets different people on his journey, each one pours into his life. They each have a purpose and it was interesting to see what he would learn next. The Stranger is gifted with passages from the Bible as well as lessons of faith and trust. I was intrigued by how Silas started soaking in God’s love for him. He had thought he had lost his faith, but really it was always with him. What he needed was an awakening of God’s power and mercy.

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

Blog Stops

Girls in White Dresses, January 10

Vicky Sluiter, January 11 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 12

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 13 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, January 14 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, January 15 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 16

Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 17 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 18

Blossoms and Blessings, January 19 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 20

Artistic Nobody, January 21 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, January 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, January 22

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 23 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Joy is giving away the grand prize of a $35 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54128

Monday, January 13, 2025

About the Book

Book: Honeymoon’s Over

Author: Carol McClain

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Release date: September 27, 2023

Honeymoon’s Over

For better or worse.

Easy vows for newlyweds Chantel and Charlie. Having been widowed, they knew the worst of love was years away. Furthermore, at fifty, they wouldn’t live long enough for the bad to blossom.

Then they came home from their honeymoon.

Chantel’s pregnant daughter Sissy, living with them during her husband’s deployment, must remain on bed rest. Histrionic and bored, she’s a … challenge.

Chantel’s vegetarian son Graham moves in for a few weeks to help with his sister, but something doesn’t seem right. He never got along with his military-loving, meat-eating sibling. He didn’t have ulterior motives for coming to help, did he?

Charlie’s married daughter, Margo, could certainly enumerate the issues these adult children her father’s new wife had. On top of everything, how could her father have chosen that woman?

Then there’s Charlie’s father—lost in old-age absentmindedness. Certainly, he was only forgetful.

Thank heavens for jobs they love that get them out of the house. Except …

Should they have vowed for worse or better?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Carol McClain is the award-winning author of five novels dealing with real people facing real problems. She is a consummate encourager, and no matter what your faith might look like, you will find compassion, humor and wisdom in her complexly layered, but ultimately readable work.

Aside from writing, she’s a skilled glass artist who has just made a foray into creating high-end jewelry. She’s also an avid hiker. She teaches Bible studies and mentors teens.

She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and too many animals to mention.

More from Carol

Disclaimer #1: Beware.

If we get to know each other, the humor of your life is liable to become fodder for my work. (Of course, with permission. Occasionally!) But don’t worry. I don’t write suspense, so you’ll never be in danger.

Background:

My brother married a widow when they were in their fifties.

He was a meatatarian. “Vegetables have rights,” he’d declare as he reached for a second round of bacon. He’d then heap on fried potatoes. The tubers were his nod to vegetables.

His wife was gluten intolerant and a health food lover of all foods green.

When he moved in with his wife, so did his vegan son who lived on gluten (and very few veggies). Gluten found its way onto her countertops, her refrigerator shelves, and dishes he didn’t wash.

Her son lived with her as well and came arrayed with the eccentricities my nephew lacked. The two sons made a complete, chaotic pair.

Add to them a diabetic mother who was starting dementia and my bet was on the fact this marriage was doomed.

Fortunately, I’m not prophetic. They remained happily married—despite my brother’s eating predilection. However, their situation made me laugh and became the fodder for Honeymoon’s Over.

Disclaimer #2: no HIPPA rules or privacy issues or personal matter have been disclosed. Names have been changed to protect the guilty (just don’t read the dedication, then the name change is mute.)

Disclaimer #3: If you’re expecting a sad, tearjerker, you’ll be disappointed. Oh, you will cry—tears of laughter. You’ll chortle throughout Honeymoon.

MY REVIEW

What a fun book to read. The title says it all in this story that features several standout characters. Having just been married, Chantel and Charlie have visions of a quiet life with everyday filled with laughter, peace and joy. Well maybe they didn’t both think that but oh boy are they in for an adventure they will never forget.

Chantel is a take charge kind of person who likes things in order. When her pregnant daughter comes to stay with them chaos breaks out with schedules changing and Chantel trying to juggle too much. I loved how she goes from being in control to almost giving up.

Charlie seems to be levelheaded and excited about being married. With his dad grieving to adult children barging in on what was supposed to be the beginning of a new season, he has his hands full. Trying to maintain a somewhat normal adjustment to married life seems like the honeymoon never really had a chance.

The characters are relatable and show how life can sometimes become overwhelming. Each day is a challenge with grown children invading their honeymoon phase. I laughed so hard reading this book while seeing myself in the characters. Chantel worrying about her pregnant daughter was very understanding. I’m one of those mothers who will worry about my children no matter how old they get. Charlie must help his dad adjust to life after a loss.

I really like how the author shows that life has its ups and downs. The good news is we don’t have to face it alone. I liked that the author illustrates a second chance at love with older adults. There are a few topics like dementia that many can relate to. In the end faith, love and patience resonates throughout the book.

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

Blog Stops

Girls in White Dresses, January 8

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 9

Stories By Gina, January 10 (Author Interview)

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 11 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 11

Artistic Nobody, January 12 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 13

Guild Master, January 14 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Acdemy, January 15

A Reader’s Brain, January 16 (Author Interview)

Back Porch Reads, January 17 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, January 17

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, January 18 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 19

Fiction Book Lover, January 20 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, January 21 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carol is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54126

Saturday, January 11, 2025

About the Book

Book: What I Left for You (Echoes of the Past Book Three)

Author: Liz Tolsma

Genre: Christian Fiction / Romance / Historical Fiction

Release date: December 1, 2024

A Family’s Ties Were Broken in Poland of 1939

1939
Helena Kostyszak is an oddity—an educated female ethnic minority lecturing at a university in Krakow at the outbreak of WWII. When the Germans close the university and force Jews into the ghetto, she spirits out a friend’s infant daughter and flees to her small village in the southern hills. Helena does everything in her power to protect her family, but it may not be enough. It will take all of her strength and God’s intervention for both of them to survive the war and the ethnic cleansing to come.

2023
Recently unengaged social worker McKenna Muir is dealt an awful blow when a two-year-old she’s been working with is murdered. It’s all too much to take, so her friend suggests she dive into her family’s past like she’s always wanted. Putting distance between herself and her problems might help her heal, so she and her friend head on Sabbatical to Poland. But what McKenna discovers about her family shocks everyone, including one long-lost family member.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping.

More from Liz

I stared at my computer screen in front of me. For years, I had been searching for my great-grandmother, Anna. I got no good information. Census records in the US weren’t helpful. Some listed her birthplace as Czechoslovakia, while others had it as Austria. I had heard before that she might have been born in Czechoslovakia before, but never Austria. There were no records that I had come across that listed the city or town where she was born.

Until that one day. While searching for my great-grandmother, I ran across a passport application recorded in Warsaw, Poland, for an Anna with the same last name, though spelled differently. Her birthday was listed as 1903, which matched the birth year I knew for my great-grandmother’s niece. As I read through the application, my heart was pounding. This Anna was born in the United States but went to Dubne, Poland, with her family in 1906. It was now 1923, and she wanted to return to the US, and she would be living with…

I started to cry when I saw who her sponsor was. My great-grandfather. The name and address were correct. There could be no doubt about it. It had taken me years, but I finally made the jump to Europe and discovered that my great-grandmother was not born in Czechoslovakia but in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is now Poland.

Of course, good little researcher that I am, I had to find out all I could about Dubne, the town they were from. That’s when I first came across the term Lemko. What on earth was that?

Lemkos are a Slavic people that settled in the Carpathian Mountains of Southern Poland, Northern Slovakia, and Western Ukraine. They are also known as Lemko Rusyns, Rusyns (especially those born in Slovakia, like my great-grandfather), and Carptho-Rusyns. The mountains kept the world at bay, and they developed their own language, customs, and form of Christianity. For the most part, they were very poor, many of them eking out a living from the rocky ground.

They lived in “black houses,” called that because the poorest people couldn’t afford to have a chimney built. The smoke from the cooking and heating fires stayed inside the house and covered the walls with black tar. If you look at the cemetery records from Dubne, you would be old if you lived into your fifties. Conditions were brutal.

The most the average Lemko could afford was one sheep or one pig. Since this was their most prized possession, they couldn’t take the chance of a wild animal or a neighbor taking it away, so it lived in the house with them.

With all of them. Up to eleven people would live in a two-room house. When I mentioned that in What I Left for You, my editor questioned if I had made a mistake. No, I didn’t. I have no idea how they fit all those people in there, but they did. As I was tracking one branch of our family tree, I kept coming up with people living in house 43. Over and over and over. They stuffed that house full. Grandparents, parents, and children all lived together. They may not have had much, but that forged the Lemkos into strong and resilient people.

I’m proud to be Lemko-Rusyn, and I’m thrilled to share this story with you. I infused Helena, the historical heroine, with as much of the Lemko spunk and spirit as I could. Last October, my daughter and I had the privilege to travel to Poland and Slovakia and see the Lemko homeland for ourselves. It helped me to write a better, richer story because I now understand where they came from and who they were. Enjoy Helena’s story and her journey during WWII and beyond. I hope you come to understand and appreciate the Lemko people as much as I have.

MY REVIEW

This book has been an emotional rollercoaster for me. I absolutely love a dual timeline story. I have read many books about the war that took so many lives where the focus was mainly on Jewish people. What a nice surprise to see this book’s journey with Polish heritage. As I read the dual timeline I witnessed the cruelty that these people suffered.

We travel back in time to 1939 where we meet Helena. What an exceptional character she is. Her bravery to save a friend’s baby is nothing short of heroic. I loved how she kept her promise to her friend whose wish was for Helena to raise the baby as her own. Being unmarried she wasn’t sure how she would explain the baby but God always has a way even when we aren’t quite sure what to do.

Being introduced to the term Lemko intrigued me. I have never heard this term but the author does an amazing job of giving us historical facts which definitely helped the story become realistic. During this time period they were very poor but their strength to survive was evident. After finishing this book I did do a little research of my own to understand these people more.

As we move forward to 2023 we get acquainted with McKenna. Her job as a social worker is demanding and emotionally stressful. When she needs a break she along with a friend journey to Poland to research McKenna’s family. Oh my was this fun to read. I felt like I was beside her each step as new information about ancestors came to light.

What McKenna uncovers bridges the gap between past and present. McKenna was at times not sure she could uncover everything about her past ancestors but it was fun to see how much research was needed . I think at times she may not have been fully invested because of the tragedy she left behind due to her job.

There are several other characters in the book that add to this wonderful story. I have decided not to mention them because I want readers to discover them. They are important to the storyline and even show how God protected them in danger. The tragic events were described in a way that illustrated how survival came at a cost.

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

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