When the Sky Burned
I’M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF LIZ’S RECENT BOOK! Reply in the comments below to enter the giveaway . . . Most people have heard of the Chicago fire of October 8, 1871. But two other devastating fires occurred that same day—one in Peshtigo, Wisconsin and another in Holland, Michigan. The Great Chicago Fire burned over...
Courting the Country Preacher
I’M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF NAOMI’S BOOKS. SEE BELOW . . . Comment below for a chance to win an ebook or paperback of your choice. I’m so grateful to my endorsers and their kind words about The Broken Weathervane (September 2, 2025). In thanks, I will be featuring each of them and their books on the blog over the few...
The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass
I'M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass! USA only. I’ve never been to Montana. I had a grandfather in Billings when I was little, but he came to see us, not vice versa. My husband, Tim, had to drive through Montana last summer, from west to east, and described the eastern part as similar to being on the...
The Broken Weathervane
I’M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF MY NEW NOVEL! SEE BELOW. Today is my book birthday! Please indulge me–-just a bit. Comment below for a chance to win a paperback of The Broken Weathervane. I’m so grateful to my endorsers and their kind words about this story. In thanks, I will be featuring each of them and their books on...
The Daughter of Rome
When each of my children were baptized, I bought them the picture book, The Tale of the Three Trees, a folktale retold by Angela Hunt. This beautiful story captures what I wanted my children to know and understand about their future role in God’s kingdom, to know they can be used of God in any situation. I inscribed each...
No Leaves in Autumn
Terri Wangard’s World War I and World War II fiction employ a variety of settings besides Germany, including the home front of Wisconsin, her home state. No Neutral Ground was set in Sweden. Seashells in My Pocket takes place in Brazil, while her most recent tale, No Leaves in Autumn, is set in Iceland. The latter...
The Prince & the Prodigal
The Bible story of Joseph was always a favorite of mine as a kid. It’s also one I enjoyed telling my kids. In fact, we had the tradition of attending the show Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat any time it came to town, usually through community theater. The best performance was a professional version in...
The Wings of Poppy Pendleton
The Wings of Poppy Pendleton by Melanie Dobson introduced me to the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River between New York and Ontario. I’d never been there in person or in fiction. Since this is a dual timeline story, I received a double portion of the immersive experience—in 1907 and 1992. In January 2023, I...
Show Me Betrayal
Living in a Victorian home in a small town made me particularly interested in reading Ellen E. Withers’ novel Show Me Betrayal—a dual timeline mystery set in a Victorian home in a small town. However, mine is in Wisconsin while hers is in Mexico, Missouri. And my house isn’t as spooky. Usually. It was built in 1883 and I...
When the Stars Fought
The story of God’s prophet Elisha healing Naaman, a great warrior and enemy of God, was one of my Bible favorite stories as a kid. I was always intrigued by the young Israelite girl who was the catalyst in this story. When Naaman was struck by leprosy, she’s the one who told him about Elisha. Author Alicia Van...
New Star
If you’re anything like me, your knowledge of the Three Wise Men of the Nativity is limited to children dressing up like them at Christmas pageants. But author Lana Christian’s debut novel, New Star, has opened my eyes to answers of questions I had never asked before. Primarily, what happened in these men’s lives...
Unbetrothed & Ruthless
When my girls were young, we read many fantasy kingdom tales, including these: Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix, a novel spinoff of Cinderella Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, another spinoff of Cinderella The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, Books of Bayern series, a novel based on the folktale by the same name The...
A Song of Deliverance
In October 2023, my husband Tim and I took a train ride on the Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango, Colorado to Silverton, an old mining town. The train maneuvered through steep mountains, rocky gorges, and winding rivers. In town, charming nineteenth century buildings and streets nestled in between mountains. It...
Rescuing Rose & Seeking Simon
On this blog, I’ve introduced numerous World War II novels, but not one single Civil War story. In trying to recall any Civil War titles I’ve read, only Gone With the Wind comes to mind. And that was decades ago! Of my 109 posts since November 2021, the novel set closest to the Civil War is Kelly Goshorn’s A Love Restored...
Across the Crying Sands & a Giveaway!
<<< I'M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY! YOU COULD WIN ONE OF JANE'S BOOKS! SEE BELOW >>> New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick is known for taking true stories about real people and writing about their lives as historical fiction—but only after tons or research and getting all the facts straights. Her...
Joshua’s Prayer & a Giveaway!
I'M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF OLIVIA’S BOOKS—SEE BELOW. Olivia Rae has created two novel series that plunge readers into medieval life with all its drama and adventure. In contrast, she has written a poignant contemporary romance about a widower, a women's shelter director, and a disabled boy, titled Joshua's Prayer. I’m...
The Secret to Happiness
I'M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF SUZANNE’S BOOKS—SEE BELOW. Versatility is a word that describes Suzanne Woods Fisher. Her 40+ books range from contemporary romance to Amish to historical fiction, as well as children’s and non-fiction. I’m particularly grateful to Suzanne for endorsing my novel, A Hundred Magical Reasons,...
Once Upon a Wardrobe
I'M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF PATTI’S BOOKS—SEE BELOW. There’s something magical about Patti Callahan Henry’s novels, at least the ones I’ve read. A common thread runs through them: books, literature, fairy tales—the stories that shape us. I’m particularly grateful to Patti for endorsing my novel, A Hundred Magical Reasons,...
The Rhythm of Fractured Grace
I'M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF AMANDA’S BOOK—SEE BELOW. Novelist Amanda Wen has been a guest on this blog twice for two books in her Sedgewick County Chronicles series. Today I’m sharing book three: The Rhythm of Fractured Grace. I’m particularly grateful to Amanda for endorsing my novel, A Hundred Magical Reasons, published...
All We Thought We Knew
I'M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF MICHELLE’S NEWEST BOOK—SEE BELOW. Novelist Michelle Shocklee has been a guest on this blog several times and I’m thrilled to host her again. Besides featuring Michelle’s most recent release (Oct 1, 2024), I want to share her other writing endeavors. I’m particularly grateful to her for...
Trailer for A Hundred Magical Reasons, a novel
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