A Lesson in Love Tour & Giveaway
About the Book
Book: A Lesson in Love
Author: Linda Shenton Matchett
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: July 8, 2025
He thinks he’s too old. She thinks she’s too young. Can these teachers learn that love defies all boundaries?
Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after most of the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Then her friend Margery talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming.
Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, raven-haired leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. Can he trust her not to break his heart?
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.
More from Linda
The Women’s Land Army was originally formed in 1917, during The Great War to help Britain with its food production. After the men returned home, the group was disbanded. Once again at war in 1939, the WLA was reestablished, and over the course of the conflict, more than 200,000 women served all over the United Kingdom. Many came from cities and towns and knew very little about working on a farm. Most had to be taught how to drive, milk cows, collect eggs, sow, and reap the harvest in addition to the many other tasks associated with farms.
Among the largest crops to be produced were potatoes. They were cheap, and several varieties matured quickly providing food to citizens, troops, and refugees. Rationing was a necessary part of wartime life to ensure everyone had enough to eat. The government issued pamphlets and cookbooks with easy-to-follow recipes made with readily available food (tinned and fresh).
Lord Woolton Pie, a vegetarian potpie named after the Minister of Food, is one of those recipes. By all reports it was not well-received, however, I’ve made it on several occasions and find it quite tasty.
Pie
1lb cauliflower
1lb rutabaga (I use parsnips)
1lb carrots
1lb potatoes
Bunch of spring onions chopped
2 teaspoons of Marmite (yeast extract – or you can use a stock cube)
Tablespoon of rolled oats
Salt and pepper to taste once cooked.
Parsley (fresh or dried)
Pastry
8oz wholemeal/wholewheat flour
4oz mashed potato
3oz margarine or lard
2 tsp of baking powder
couple large pinches of salt
Dash of water if needed.
Procedure
- Chop up the vegetables into chunks with those that take longest to cook into smaller pieces.
- Place in pot and bring to simmer with just enough water to reach 3/4 of the way up the veg in the pot.
- Add in Marmite and rolled oats, salt and pepper and cook until tender and most of the water has been absorbed.
- Place mixture in deep pie dish and sprinkle with fresh parsley (or add dry parsley to mixture and mix in)
- Make the pastry by mixing the flour with the baking powder and salt and then rubbing in the margarine.
- Mix the mashed potato in to form a dough and knead (add a little water to the mixture if too dry)
- Roll out to form pie crust and place on top and decorate then brush with milk.
- Place in oven at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or so until top is form and browned.
Photo credits:
Newspaper recipe: Bromley & District Times, February 1941
Lord Woolton Pie: By autumnroseuk – Woolton pie, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46161211
MY REVIEW
Join the author in this story that takes readers to a time where war surrounded people. I really enjoy how the author does an excellent job in research of this time period. Readers will feel like they have traveled back in time. I have never heard of Women’s Land Army before. Getting in the trenches women worked hard to make sure food was available especially with a war going on.
I instantly liked Isobel because she is a determined young woman. The phrase “giving up” is not in her vocabulary. With her friend Margery they travel to Yorkshire to begin their journey. I laughed at how excited Margery was to drive a tractor. I can just imagine the look on Isobel’s face as her friend talked about the trials they were about to face.
Gavin is getting a manor ready to be used for boarding young boys as they get settled into a new place they will call school and home. There is a lot to get done before the boys arrive but he isn’t looking forward to the task at hand. Little does he know that he will be in over his head at times with the boys.
I loved the antics going on and the typical jealousy that prevailed. Boys fighting and girls bickering leads to lots of light hearted learning lessons. In the midst of everything we see a sweet relationship develop. It is a nice and slow friendship that could perhaps become something more.
This story is filled with faith that illustrates how we need to lean on God during trying times. The characters face challenges and I really enjoyed learning new ways for plants to grow to produce food that would help keep people fed. A nice story that is easy to read and shows how working together brings peace.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 4
She Lives to Read, November 5
Simple Harvest Reads, November 6 (Author Interview)
Patti Wolf – Scribbling Spiritual Sand, November 6
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 7
Texas Book-aholic, November 8
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 9
Guild Master, November 10 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 11
For Him and My Family, November 12
Pause for Tales, November 13
Mary Hake, November 14
Fiction Book Lover, November 15 (Author Interview)
The Mommies Reviews, November 15
Life on Chickadee Lane, November 16
Leslie’s Library Escape, November 17
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Visa Gift Card & copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/3d001/a-lesson-in-love-celebration-tour-giveaway
As WWII expands across Europe, members of the Circle of Hope are drawn deeper into the struggle to survive in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Cindy Kay Stewart, a retired high school social studies and special education teacher, writes stories of hope, steeped in love, and anchored in faith. Passionate about revealing God’s handiwork in history, Cindy loves to research until she uncovers hidden gems to share with her readers. She resides in North Georgia with her college sweetheart. Her daughter, son-in-law, and four adorable grandchildren live nearby.
Nine-year-old Dana Foster will follow her older brother, Luke, wherever he goes. From climbing on ledges, jumping in a fish pond, and causing general mischief, Luke is fearless. But when tragedy strikes the Foster family, everything that Dana has ever known is suddenly turned upside down. When the storms of life come, will the Foster family stand firm in their faith? Or will they shatter under the pressure? Suddenly, a blue boat that Dana and Luke received from their uncle leads Dana on a journey of faith, hope, and love that she will not soon forget.
Connie Kallback grew up on the plains of Cheyenne, Wyoming, attended the University of Wyoming, and graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle. She transitioned from English teacher to publishing in New Jersey with CCMI/McGraw-Hill, Prentice Hall, and CPP, Inc, in positions from writer to acquisitions and managing editor. Her early writing, penned while teaching, appeared in magazines, newspapers and literary journals. No longer wearing the hats of Mary Poppins or Sherlock Holmes, necessities of raising six children in two separate families, she writes in South Carolina where she lives with her husband.