Friday, August 22, 2025

"A Spinster for the Viscount" by Jackie Killelea

 

About the Book

Book: A Spinster for the Viscount

Author: Jackie Killelea

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: August 5, 2025

A guarded wallflower. A charming viscount with a past. Can their fragile bond withstand a treasure hunt filled with secrets and a cunning rival’s schemes?

After five failed seasons and one humiliating heartbreak, Jane Talbot has accepted her fate as a spinster. She agrees to attend Lord Sperrin’s country house party to escape society’s scrutiny, but the promise of discovering the legendary jewel of Parcathia adds unexpected intrigue and draws her into the path of the far too charming Henry Lendin, Viscount Harroway.

Henry wears a smiling mask for society while grieving his father and bearing the burden of his duty. As the hunt for the jewel unfolds and he finds himself repeatedly in the company of the overlooked Miss Talbot, her quiet wit and warmth begin to break through his defenses. Could he finally have found a woman who sees beyond his title?

As they unravel clues amidst whispered secrets and lies, a rival emerges with both the jewel and Jane in his sights. With danger looming and love on the line, will Jane and Henry find the courage to claim the greatest treasure of all?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 My Thoughts

I enjoyed reading this book. I found it to be well written and easy to read. I liked Jane's personality and watching her interact with Henry. Trying to solve the clues about the jewel was fun. I look forward to reading more books by Jackie Killelea.

About the Author

Jackie Killelea is a born and raised small-town girl from Connecticut with a degree in English and Creative Writing. She started off her writing journey with poetry, soon shifting into novels and becoming hooked. On days when she’s not busy with her nose in a book, she can be found typing away with a cup of tea at her side.

 

 

 

 

More from Jackie

Hi all! I want to thank you so much for your interest in my book. Since reading it, perhaps you’ve wondered about a few things. Maybe one of those things is if I have a penchant for strawberries. After all, they come up in the novel often enough and are Henry’s favorite fruit. I must confess, dear reader, that they are mine, as well…
My mouth was watering when I was writing the strawberry-picking scene and I simply love the idea of a good strawberry tart. Therefore, I decided to take the basics for one and bend them to my preferences. And Henry’s. I do hope you’ll like them as much as I do! Note: The recipe is OLD FASHIONED. I MEAN IT. BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE ODD TASTE.
*Recipe for Henry’s Strawberry Tarts*
Ingredients
*Crust:*
– 1/2 Pound Butter(Cold)
– 1/2 Cup Ice Water/Cold Water
– 1/2 Tbsp. Salt
– 3 Cups Flour
Before beginning, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. This is important, I tell you! At least, if you like to save time, like me.
In a medium/large bowl, add flour and salt. Stir. Cut cold butter into small cubes, then add to flour mixture, cutting the cubes in with a pastry cutter until fine crumbs form. Once this has occurred, add water one tablespoon at a time, mixing after each tablespoon. After all water is
incorporated, if the mixture is too sticky to roll, add more flour until it can be. If the mixture is too dry and won’t form into a ball, add one teaspoon of white vinegar and knead the dough(only a little). If still too dry, continue to add water by the tablespoon until the dough forms into a ball.
Once the dough is formed into a ball in the bowl and doesn’t stick to your hands when touched, set it out on a floured surface and roll it with a rolling pin to about a quarter of an inch in thickness. From here, it can be cut into circles and each circle can be placed into a mini tart pan. You can crimp the edges, if you’re feeling especially fancy. ðŸ™‚ If you don’t have a tart pan on hand, you can use a cupcake pan and line the bottom half of each reservoir with pastry dough. The edges won’t be as pretty, but it will work in a pinch. Conversely, a full-sized tart pan will do just fine.
It is at this point, once your dough is in its pans, that you can place it in the preheated oven to let it cook for about 10-15 minutes in order to set. Make sure it doesn’t overcook, though. This setting process will prevent the bottom of the pastry from getting soggy from the filling, later
on. Just like with babies, soggy bottoms on pies and tarts are a big downer.
While that’s cooking, it’s time to make the filling.

*The Filling:*

– 1 1/2 Cups of strawberries, rinsed and dried.
– 1/3 Cup White Granulated Sugar
– 4 Eggs + 1 Yolk
– Unseasoned Breadcrumbs (Optional)

Take your strawberries and remove their tops. Attempt to keep as much of the red fruit as you can. We want as much of the good stuff as we can get. In a medium/large bowl, crush them(a potato masher can come in handy for this part, or even pop them in the blender. We want them super crushed) and set aside. The mixture will be liquidy (yes, I’m aware liquidy is not a
word).
In a separate bowl, whisk your eggs and the extra yolk. Once they’re well-beaten and a light yellow color, add the egg mixture a little at a time to the strawberry liquid, stirring after each addition. It is at this point that you may also add breadcrumbs and stir them in. They’ll make the consistency of the tarts a bit thicker. If you do choose to add them, I recommend adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup. Make sure they’re unseasoned! No one wants Italian-spice-flavored strawberry tarts. I don’t imagine so, anyway.

TAKE OUT YOUR CRUST BEFORE IT BURNS. THOSE TART CRUSTS ARE GETTING TAN IN
THERE. Ok, now that you’ve read that reminder, let’s continue.

You may spoon, ladle, pour, etc., your tart filling into your tarts, now. Make sure only to fill them 3/4 of the way to the top, for you don’t want to spill that goodness over the edge. Once your crust/crusts is/are filled, you can shove them into the oven. They’ll have to cook for twenty minutes. If you have a full-sized tart, it will likely have to cook for more. Examine it for doneness like you would a pumpkin pie; When you wiggle the pan, the middle should only jiggle a very little bit, not like there’s a bunch of liquid beneath. More like a jello wiggle. Not a water balloon. Add more time or take time away, depending on how the filling moves when you wiggle it. ðŸ™‚

Jello Wiggle = Yes
Water Balloon Wiggle = No

Once the tarts are done, take them out and let them cool for a while. The filling needs to set a bit more. Put the pan in the fridge, even, once it’s cool enough, if that’s what you’d like to do. When the tarts are sufficiently cooled(they can still be a little warm), you can remove them from their pans and decorate them with sweetened whipped cream and cut strawberries/fruits. Or leave them plain. Your choice.
They’ll look very cute, regardless of what you cooked them in. A fair warning before you try them, however: This recipe is a very old one that I’ve only changed a little. Therefore, don’t be surprised if the results are not what you’re expecting. This dessert is certainly not like those artificial, too-sweet, abominations we have today. Neither is it like the refined, well-spiced, classic treats we’ve come to love.
Bake at your own risk…And tag me on social media if you decide to make them. I’d love to see what you think! ðŸ™‚

Love to all and happy baking,

Jackie Killelea

Blog Stops

Madi’s Musings, August 19

Pens Pages & Pulses, August 19

She Lives to Read, August 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 21

Texas Book-aholic, August 22

Blossoms and Blessings, August 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 23

Book Looks by Lisa, August 24

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 25

For Him and My Family, August 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 27

Pause for Tales, August 27

Stories By Gina, August 28 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, August 28

Devoted To Hope, August 29

Devoted Steps, August 30

Jodie Wolfe, August 30

Simple Harvest Reads, August 31 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, September 1

Romances of the Cross, September 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jackie 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/00adcf54281


I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

Thursday, August 21, 2025

"The Marriage Masquerade" by Erica Vetsch

 

About the Book

Book: The Marriage Masquerade

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 8, 2025

A disgraced captain and a runaway heiress—hiding from the past and bound by fate—will their marriage masquerade lead to true love?

Noah Kennebrae, disgraced ship captain, has escaped to a remote lighthouse to avoid his grandfather’s schemes and the ghosts that haunt him. Taking a job under an assumed name, he’s determined to start over—until he meets Annie Fairfax. The feisty housekeeper’s warmth and spirit captivate him, and he falls for her despite his best efforts. But he’s keeping secrets that could destroy her trust…and his chance at redemption.

Desperate to escape the calculating grasp of her father, Anastasia “Annie” Michaels flees home to become the unlikely housekeeper on an isolated island. Working incognito at the lighthouse, she finds solace in her newfound independence and unexpected friendship with Nick. However, as their relationship deepens, Annie’s fear of abandonment resurfaces when she learns the truth Nick has been hiding.

Caught in a marriage masquerade of their own making, Noah and Annie must navigate secrets, lies, and painful pasts in hopes of a future together.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts 

It was fun to get Noah's story after having met him in The Bartered Bride. It is best to read the books in the order of the series so that you get the full experience of what Noah was running away from. There are food biblical truths in the book and the characters discovered who they were and that they could trust God. I look forward to reading Eli's story next.


About the Author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.

 

 

 

 

More from Erica

I love a hidden identity story! And in the case of The Marriage Masquerade, both the hero AND the heroine are hiding their true identities.

The Marriage Masquerade features Noah, who is running from the guilt of a mistake he feels he made that lost both a Great Lakes ship and several lives. Anastasia Michaels is running away from an arranged marriage.

They both flee to a remote lighthouse on the North Shore of Lake Superior, he as an assistant lighthouse keeper and she as a housekeeper and cook.

The lighthouse in The Marriage Masquerade is based directly upon the Split Rock Lighthouse, one of my favorite places to visit along the North Shore. Situated on a cliff high above the lake, Split Rock is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world.

When I first visited this exquisite place, I fell in love. And when I fall in love with an historical site, I need to know as much of the history of the place as I can. Several of the incidents that occur at the fictional lighthouse in the story come directly from the history of Split Rock.

Filtering liquid mercury, polishing the Fresnel lens, hiding dishes in the oven when the inspector comes, and other happenings in The Marriage Masquerade actually happened in the real lives of the lightkeepers at Split Rock.

Noah and Anastasia’s story is a forced proximity romance, with a dash of hidden identity, redemption, and learning to stand on your own two feet. I hope you’ll enjoy their journey from fearful, guilt-ridden characters to healed through love, confident, and ready to embark on a lifelong journey together.

If you would like to learn more about Split Rock and see glorious photos of this picturesque site, check out: https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock

Blog Stops

Pens Pages & Pulses, August 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 12

She Lives To Read, August 13

Fiction Book Lover, August 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Devoted Steps, August 14

Melissa’s Bookshelf, August 14

Life on Chickadee Lane, August 15

Texas Book-aholic, August 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 17

Devoted To Hope, August 17

For Him and My Family, August 18

Simple Harvest Reads, August 18 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Books You Can Feel Good About, August 19

Inklingsandnotions, August 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 20

Inkwell Inspirations, August 20

Artistic Nobody, August 21 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Blossoms and Blessings, August 21

Little Homeschool on the prairie, August 22

Vicky Sluiter, August 22

An Author’s Take, August 23

Books Less Travelled, August 23

Holly’s Book Corner, August 24

Pause for Tales, August 24

Jeanette’s Thoughts , August 25

Jodie Wolfe, August 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Erica 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/00adcf54276

Thursday, August 14, 2025

"Love's True Measure" by Lori DeJong -- Author Interview

 

About the Book

Book: Love’s True Measure

Author: Lori DeJong

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Shannon Trent has dedicated her life to ministering to teens, even as she hides secrets that haunt her past. Born into privilege, she’s built a simpler life away from the expectations of her influential family. She’s content on her own, believing that to open her heart would mean unearthing her deepest shame. But when her charming neighbor stirs feelings she’s never allowed herself to entertain, his lack of faith provides the perfect excuse to keep her distance.

Hunter Kavanaugh has spent years chasing his dream career. But when his mother’s sudden death leaves him the sole guardian of his teenage sister, his carefully curated world begins to crumble. Struggling with grief, anger at God, and the demands of his job, Hunter is surprised when Shannon’s unwavering faith begins to resonate with him—and her ability to connect with his sister draws him closer.

As Hunter and Shannon navigate their growing bond, unexpected challenges force them to confront their fears and priorities. Both must either choose to trust God’s plan is far greater than their own, or risk losing the love of a lifetime.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview 

Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?
 A hybrid, I guess, but leaning more toward a pantser. I do a huge amount of character
development, and from that my plot tends to take shape. Then I identify the five main
plot points of the book and start writing scenes by the seat of my pants from one plot
point to the next. But knowing my characters inside and out is what makes that work.
Otherwise, I would have no idea where to go because I wouldn’t know how they would
react to certain things, what they want to do with their lives, what their fears are, what
their hopes are. I need to know all of that and so much more in order to have any
direction for the story.

What is your favorite part about writing?
 Apart from actually writing the story, it’s the character development I do for each book.
I take weeks and study up on Enneagram types, birth order, love language, and
personality tests to determine how my characters react to the world around them. I
know their goals, their hopes, their fears, their upbringing. I know their favorite color,
favorite food, what kind of car they drive, where they live, what kind of clothes they
wear, their hobbies, their careers. I know their faith story and whether they’re walking
with the Lord or in a crisis of faith. I live with these “people” day in and day out for
awhile before I ever start telling their story. And it’s a blast.

What is your least favorite part about writing?
 Probably all the business stuff that goes with it. I’m not great at social media, and I
struggle with what to put in a newsletter that I think would interest folks. Marketing is
not my strong suit, especially when I’d rather be writing. But as much as we would
rather consider ourselves creatives putting our stories out into the world, the reality is it
is still a business. Even as Christian writers. I’m not under the impression I’ll ever get rich
as an author. Precious few actually do. But if I don’t market my books, the message God
gave me to tell through that story won’t end up in the hands of someone who really
needs to see it. Someone who needs to know the redemptive love of God, that they can
put their hope and their future in His hands. That they can truly know peace in the midst
of turmoil. That’s why it’s important to do it, even though it’s not exactly in my
wheelhouse.

What is your writing space like?
 Depends on the day. Even the hour. I usually write in a chair or on the couch in our
family room, or sitting up against pillows on the bed. But in our new house, we actually
have a room I’m making into my writing area. It has a little desk, bookcases, and also a
day bed. So, I’ll write sometimes in the family room, then move to my writing room and
either work at my desk or sitting amidst all the cushions on the day bed. I also love to
write other places other than home. Coffee shops or the library. That’s actually very
productive for me to get away from the house to write.

When did you become a writer?
 I’d been interested in pursuing it for a long time before I started writing on my own back
in the late 1990’s. After completing several manuscripts, I decided to join a national
writers’ organization in 2002, and that’s when I realized that writing is a craft that has to
be honed and practiced. I committed myself to learning all I could and went to
conferences, took writing classes, and read more craft books than I can remember.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, my family went through a
season of hardship starting in 2009, and I didn’t write for about eleven years, finally
coming back to it in 2020. I wish I hadn’t lost that decade, but it’s been such a joy
rediscovering my love for writing over the last five years. So, I guess the answer to that
question would be I became a writer pursuing publication in 2002, and I became a
published writer in 2023.

About the Author

Lori DeJong (pronounced DeeYung) is an award-winning contemporary Christian romance author who enjoys penning stories full of grace and the redemptive power of God’s love that inspire others to hope regardless of circumstance, find joy in the moment, and grow in their faith.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Lori arrived in Texas in 2005 and dug those roots right in. She currently resides in beautiful Georgetown, north of Austin, with her husband of thirty-plus years. Other than their two fur-babies, their nest is empty, as their daughter graduated from college and settled in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area with her husband, and the sweetest grand-dog ever.

Lori loves to write about love and romance and all that fun stuff, with a firm foundation of faith. Clean but sassy, sparkly, and even goose-bumpy romance, with God in the middle and characters seeking and learning and changing, couldn’t be more heartwarming or spine-tingly.

Lori’s debut novel, “Love’s True Calling”, Book One of her True Calling Series, was the 2020 winner of the Scrivenings Press Novel Starts Contest, winner of the 2022 ACFW Genesis Award for Romance, 2023 Scrivenings Press Contemporary Book of the Year, and a doubl-finalist in the 2024 Selah Awards. “Love’s True Home” was released in 2024 and is a 2025 Selah Awards finalist.

More from Lori

As soon as Shannon Trent showed up in chapter one of my debut novel, Love’s True Calling, I knew she had a story. That there was something underneath all that joy and spunk that haunted her. That she felt she had to hide.

Although born to a life of privilege, she doesn’t want her name to be the measure of her worth. Determined to live a simpler life, she dials in to her faith, only wanting to be and do whatever God says she should be and do.

Hunter Kavanaugh, on the other hand, has overcome the instability of his teenage years to forge his own path. He’s made something of himself by his own grit and determination, and he measures his worth in terms of his success and the things it provides him.

When these two literally run into each other outside their building, his grumpy disposition, and obvious high-powered job, leave Shannon unimpressed. No matter how handsome he might be, she has no intention of getting to know this neighbor any better.

But God …

When these two meet up again, a friendship blossoms. Her heart threatens to take her somewhere she’s never been before, but his unbelief gives her the perfect reason to keep her emotional distance.

When God gave me this story concept, I was a little intimidated. Would I be able to convey the heart of a good man who didn’t have faith? Would I be able to flesh out a woman who had an abundance of faith yet still harbored shame from her past?

But as I started writing this story, I fell in love with these two and their journey to discover the true measure of their worth … and the true measure of love.

Blog Stops

Stories By Gina, August 2 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, August 3 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, August 4

Artistic Nobody, August 5 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 6

Guild Master, August 7 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 8

Fiction Book Lover, August 9 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, August 10

Vicky Sluiter, August 11 (Author Interview)

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, August 11

Texas Book-aholic, August 12

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 12

For the Love of Literature, August 13 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 14 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, August 15 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lori is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed 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/00adcf54274


"Just a Piece of Stone" by Mary Ann Hake -- Author Interview

 

About the Book

Book: Just a Piece of Stone

Author: Mary Ann Hake

Genre: Middle Grade Historical Adventure Novel

Release Date: April 29, 2025

A Special Stone—A Family Legacy

Suspense and a Hint of the Supernatural

Travel backward in time as the Goldberg family experiences moments of history—including the Holocaust, meeting Leonardo Da Vinci, castles, knights, battles, and thefts. They also face kidnapping, explore caves, flee as refugees, and live under various conquerors. Just a Piece of Stone begins in the United States and moves to Europe and Asia, with each chapter sharing a story about a different boy in a different time period. From grandfather to grandson for thousands of years, Just a Piece of Stone travels the world. Join the adventure!

 

Click here to get your copy!

 Author Interview

Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?
I am more of a pantser or discovery writer. I have the beginning and the ending in mind when I
write a story and some things that will be included. But I am not a detailed outliner before I
begin. I find inspiration as I write. The thrill of words flowing on the page to express what my
mind has conceived amazes me. The creative process takes on a life of its own, it seems.

What is your favorite part about writing?
I love the imagining and creative process. It’s like partnering with God to bring something new
into existence. This thrills the soul and lifts the spirit. In addition, although not my favorite, I like
to see the polishing of a manuscript pay off and turn rough writing into something that flows
well and expresses the message of the heart. This is also a beautiful thing.
Do you have a way to keep track of your story ideas?
I wish I were more organized. I have things written on scraps of paper and in notebooks, and
ideas for future projects stashed in folders and also some saved on the computer. I need to go
through them all and decide what I may still pursue.

When did you become a writer?
I longed to write as soon as I learned to put words into sentences on paper. My mother read to us
often when I was little, and I think this contributed to my love of storytelling. In grade school, I
enjoyed writing assignments, and sometimes I got to read a story to the class. In high school,
English teachers encouraged my writing. But I was too shy and not confident to send my work in
for publication. The few things I did submit were rejected, further undermining my confidence. I
got married young and became a mom and focused on raising my girls. When we homeschooled,
I thought I would have more time for my own writing, which I had mostly set aside. I gradually
began to have pieces published in periodicals and then in compilation books, then work for hire
writing curricula and other things. Now I have award-winning picture books about a blind girl,
and my first published novel, Just a Piece of Stone, released April 29 as a #1 new release in
multiple categories.

Where do you get your ideas for your books?
Ideas come from anywhere, really. Sometimes something just pops into my mind, maybe a fun
concept or a question, such as, What would happen if . . . ? Some ideas come from dreams, like
one award-winning short story I wrote. Others come from life, whether personal experiences,
observations, or things we notice others say and do. If you’re open to receiving them, ideas are
endless.

Do bits of yourself/friends show up in your characters?
Yes, I don’t think we can help but put some of ourselves and those familiar to us into our
characters. Much is universal, but some quirks or expressions or incidents might be used in a
book. A Young Adult novel I’m working on has a teen’s faith journey loosely patterned after my
own experience of coming to the Lord and later becoming a Conservative Mennonite. I think we
are gifted in life with material to incorporate in our stories but should do so in a positive way, not
to the detriment of anyone who might see themselves in what we write.

About the Author

Mary Ann Hake has published hundreds of stories, articles, poems, puzzles, devotions, curricula, and more (for both children and adults) in periodicals and books plus hundreds of book reviews online. Just a Piece of Stone is her first published novel. The first two picture books in her series about a blind girl, The Smells of the Seasons, received the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award and were featured on the Arkansas PBS summer literacy program, Rise and Shine. She has worked in a bookstore and as a librarian and enjoyed reading to children at story times and conducting summer reading programs. She has also taught writing to children and at writers’ conferences. She continues to work as a freelance editor along with her writing. She and her husband live in beautiful Oregon.

 

More from Mary

About eight years ago I had an idea: What would happen if a boy found a stone during the time of Moses during the Israelites wandering in the desert and the stone was handed down from generation to generation? I’m not going to say exactly where the rock came from because that’s part of the suspense in the book as readers try to figure out its origin, which is revealed in the final chapter.

So I looked up the approximate date of the Israelites in the Wilderness after leaving Egypt and then figured out how many generations there might be to the present day and the ages of the boys and the grandfathers in each chapter. I decided the stone would be handed down from grandfather to grandson and they would be blessed with long lives so there wouldn’t be too many chapters in the book. It was like putting a puzzle together. I originally planned fifty chapters then realized in the midst of writing that this would be too long for the age group, so I changed to thirty-five, with Old Testament ancestors summarized in the chapter prior to the finale.

I also chose to start the story in the present day with a boy getting a mysterious stone in the mail then go backward in time all the way to the days of Moses. I came up with a list of character names, gleaned from the Bible and historical info, and looked at timelines to choose dates of interesting historical events and places for the chapters’ settings.

This took years researching time periods and culture, and I learned so much. I read, watched videos, and listened to an oral history by a Holocaust survivor, whose facts I used in the chapter set in Nazi Germany. I saved dozens of pages of notes and pictures. Since the original character who found the stone was a Hebrew, I kept the family Jewish throughout the novel. So, in addition to intriguing historical tidbits and accurate locations for Jewish settlements and refugee situations, I incorporated Jewish culture and customs. I also gave the characters appropriate occupations for the settings. A glossary at the back provides pronunciations and definitions of unfamiliar words.

From chapter 2 on each chapter features the boyhood of the grandfather from the previous chapter as we move continue to move backward through time. In the Kindle version, you can click to go to any chapter you wish. Each chapter offers a separate short story within the entire family saga about the prized stone. Throughout the historical tale, we witness God’s protection and care for His followers. I also tried to model people of diverse backgrounds getting along, except, of course, for the authentic historical incidents and battles included.

Last summer when we visited Oregon’s Painted Hills, I met three generations of a Jewish family on vacation. The son is a rabbi and a mohel from New York. I told them about my story and enjoyed visiting with them. He told me the stone should be sapphire, so I changed its color to blue.

A publisher expressed interest early on, but never followed through. An agent said my writing was beautiful but declined representation. The unpublished manuscript was a finalist in the Cascade Writers Contest in 2020. Children who read the chapters one by one begged for more and for the book to be published. Eventually, Elk Lake Publishing offered me a contract then came rewriting and polishing amid many family crises. It takes much time to write, rewrite, and prepare a book for publication. I love the cover Elk Lake created for Just a Piece of Stone.

The tale is great for homeschoolers and as a teachers’ resource, which could be a launch for students’ history projects. I am working on puzzles and activities to accompany the novel and will make these available on my website and to newsletter subscribers. I am also available for online visits with classes or to teach writing to children.

Blog Stops

Inspired by Fiction, August 13

Blossoms and Blessings, August 14 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, August 14 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

By the Book, August 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 16

Artistic Nobody, August 17 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 18

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 19

Texas Book-aholic, August 20

Leslie’s Library Escape, August 21

Guild Master, August 22 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, August 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 23

An Author’s Take, August 24

For Him and My Family, August 25

Fiction Book Lover, August 26 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a 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/00adcf54277