Courting Calamity: 4 Historical Stories by Amanda Barratt, Gabrielle Meyer, Jennifer Uhlarik and Kathleen Y’Barbo

About the Book

Heroes Needed for Four Damsels in Distress

Despite determination to be strong and independent, four women of bygone days are in need of a hero.

Lady and the Tramps by Jennifer

Uhlarik, California, 1874
When outlaws steal a deed from Mattie Welling, her dreams for her eight orphan charges from New York City are dashed. Can Wells Fargo detective Jake Hickens be trusted to pick up the pieces?

The Secondhand Bride of Polecat Creek by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Texas, 1890
When Zeke Wyatt returns home to Polecat Creek intent on making good on his promise to marry his childhood sweetheart, he finds she’s run off in his absence, leaving her kid sister to care for her aging parents and the mercantile. Can Zeke finally settle down, or will he leave another sister with a broken heart?

The Bride of Basswood Hill by Gabrielle Meyer

Minnesota, 1900
When wealthy lumber baron, Charles Alexander, unexpectedly finds himself married to an Italian immigrant, Sofia Bellini, he must do all he can to protect her from the society she’s ill-prepared to navigate. But when he falls in love with his pretty bride, he will have to make a difficult choice: will he go through with the annulment they had planned?

Echoes of the Heart by Amanda Barratt

New York City, 1909
Irish immigrant Aileen O’Connor is willing to work to make a life in America. But even the land of opportunity is paved with hardship, as she discovers firsthand the injustices faced by factory workers. When she meets Lorenzo Favero at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, her heart is stirred by the kindness he shows her. When tragedy engulfs the city, will their newfound love survive the flames?

In Courting Calamity, four authors collaborate on a collection of tales. Except for the fourth story, Echoes of the Heart, each of the stories is satisfying and engaging. The stories are short but well-written and can be read quickly. As a result, when a few hours are available, a person can curl up with a cup of coffee or tea and a blanket and read one or more of the novellas.

The stories are set among different cities and timeframes, allowing for diverse and distinct tales. Each deals with an obstacle to be overcome, a woman who needs or appreciates the support of a man and an adversity to face. The main characters have faith in God and rely on Him for guidance.

I enjoyed each of the stories. However, Echoes of the Heart is an exceedingly difficult, horrific book to read. The subject matter is especially important, dealing with workplace and environmental safety. I had an extremely challenging time reading it. Its depiction of a fire at a shirtwaist factory is graphic and horrifying.

The other three stories, Lady and the Tramps, The Secondhand Bride of Polecat Creekand The Bride of Basswood Hill are less melancholy and more enjoyable.

I received this book from NetGalley. However, my review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

*********DISCLAIMER**********

The fourth novella may be triggering for some individuals due to its graphic and horrifying depictions.

*********DISCLAIMER**********

My Heart Belongs in Galveston, Texas: Madeline’s Search by Kathleen Y’Barbo

About the Book

Journey now to Galveston, Texas, of 1880…
Where is Mrs. Smith’s granddaughter?  Who is the mysterious Mrs. Smith?

Pinkerton agent Jonah Cahill is hired by the mysterious widow to find her lost granddaughter, rumored to be living in Galveston, Texas. Though Jonah prefers to travel alone, Mrs. Smith insists that she and her companion accompany him. Madeline Latour, investigative reporter, has been acting as Mrs. Smith’s assistant for several months, and Madeline will not allow anyone—even a Pinkerton agent—to ruin the story of a lifetime. The pair forges an uneasy truce as the investigation grows dangerous.

Is there a bigger story beyond a missing girl to be revealed?

Kathleen Y’Barbo’s My Heart Belongs in Galveston, Texas, piqued my interest for several reasons. The gorgeous blue garment was the first thing I noticed even before reading the title—such a cool, calming color. The second reason was Texas, mentioned in the title. Texas is a state that I have high regard for and miss. I wasn’t born in Texas, but I spent most of my childhood there, and I still miss it.

Y’barbo’s book is chock-full of suspense, mystery and secrecy, creating a spellbinding, page-turning journey. There’s a Pinkerton agent forced to allow an investigative reporter, the companion to his client, to go with him. Before being able to unravel the mystery for the client, Mrs. Smith, the agent, Jonah Cahill, and the reporter, Madeline LaTour, face multiple challenges.

Bible verses intersperse the story as this intrepid group trusts God for encouragement and protection as they search for the truth.

I’m always enthralled by history, especially that of Texas. There were numerous fascinating elements of the history of Galveston, along with interesting facts Y’Barbo included at the end of the book.

A word of caution, however: some portions of the book’s subject matter could be triggering for victims of crime.

I received this book from NetGalley. However, my review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

The Proposal by Tanya Eavenson

About the Book

Book:  The Proposal

Author: Tanya Eavenson

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 15, 2021

Oklahoma 1891

When the sheriff’s daughter goes into hiding from her father’s killer, her
life isn’t the only thing in danger.

Jessica Thomson is fleeing the man who killed her father. But her
stagecoach is robbed, and when the stranger who rescues her declares she
will be his wife, she does the only thing she knows to do—shove her revolver
in his back. Never would she have expected he wore a star on his chest. Too
bad she vowed never to love another lawman.

As sheriff, Blake McKenny prides himself on protecting his town’s people
from danger, but his efforts didn’t include a headstrong woman bent on
putting herself in harm’s way. When outlaws threaten his town and put
Jessica’s life in danger, Blake’s failure to save his late wife haunts him.

Can Jessica and Blake forgive themselves for the past and protect each
other—even if that costs them their hearts in the process?

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Little did Blake McKenney know Jessica Thomson wasn’t your typical damsel in distress when he tried to rescue her from stagecoach robbers. Neither realizes the journey this will put them on nor the secrets the other holds that will waylay their plans.

Tanya Eavenson’s second book, The Proposal, from The All Roads Lead to Texas Series, is a historical romance novel located in Texas during the 1890s when stagecoach robberies were common.

The budding love story is set in motion with the two unlikely heroes at a loss as to how to overcome all their secrets.

Jessica craves love and acceptance, including safety. However, danger always seems to follow her. She can’t risk another person’s life as she did with her father’s.

The story of Jessica and Blake’s burgeoning romance had just the right amount of pathos and hope based on a deep faith.

I enjoyed reading about early Texas as I spent many of my childhood years in Texas and remember learning of how the stagecoach connected the cities and people.

The Proposal is book 2 in the series, but it works well as a stand-alone.

I received The Proposal from Celebrate Lit and am leaving a voluntary review.

About the Author

Tanya Eavenson is an award-winning Christian romance novelist. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, and reading a good book. You can find her at her website http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/

More from Tanya

Fiction to Reality

Ever had those moments when you’re reading a novel and it’s as if the author wrote the story line, the characters, or included verses just for you? When your world turns from fiction to reality with the flip of a page?

At the beginning of December in 2014, I took a novel from my bookshelf, snuggled on the couch with a blanket, and began to read. The title of the novel is called The Rancher’s Reunion by Tina Radcliffe. The hero in the story is Will, and he has a hereditary disease that caused him to fear, not only his future, but in trusting God. And that’s when God used this story to speak to me.

“I’m scared, Annie.”

“I know, Will. I know.” She blinked back the moisture pricking her eyes.

“No, Annie. I don’t think you do. I’m not just scared. I’m terrified.”

And I understood Will’s fear. Weeks prior to reading this novel, my doctor told me I have cancer. It’s a single word that can change the course of your life, emotionally, physically, but not only yours, others around you. And though I knew God’s presence would be with me no matter what the future held, my desire to write or edit anything had vanished. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to write anymore with my future so uncertain. I wasn’t just scared, but terrified my time with my family would be shortened.

But as I continued to read Will’s story, God’s whispered words, Do not be afraid of things you cannot control, pray, and continue your call to write, took hold and draped around my heart.

I knew at that moment this book was meant to be read at this appointed time. That God was leading me to give Him every single fear, open my laptop, and begin to write again.

During the time I’d stopped writing, I was in the middle of two stories, a contemporary romance, and The Rescue, the first story in the All Roads Lead to Texas series. It took some months before I returned to writing, but I had to give my fears to God the only way I could. Like Will and Annie’s story, day by day. Moment by moment.

In my new novel, The Proposal, the second story in the All Roads Lead to Texas series, Jessica Thompson understands fear and must learn how to give it to God. She has her father’s killer on her trail and the only means for escape is to run, but she never counted on the sheriff of Graham, Texas, to get in her way.

Have you ever had a time in your life where fear caught you so unexpectedly that you didn’t know what to do next? Perhaps you didn’t know where to turn? Maybe couldn’t pray?

I’m here to tell you it’s okay. God knows how you feel, good or bad, it doesn’t change His love for you. Just remember, He’s with you, by your side through it all. He will never leave you.

Blog Stops

Rebecca Tews, June 18

Genesis 5020, June 18

Lighthouse Academy, June 19 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

deb’s Book Review, June 20

Labor Not in Vain, June 20

For Him and My Family, June 21

Inklings and notions, June 22

Cats in the Cradle Blog, June 22

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess , June 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 24

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 25

Connie’s History Classroom, June 26

Kayem Reads, June 26

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 27

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 28

Texas Book-aholic, June 29

Mary Hake, June 29

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, June 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tanya is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and eBook 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/10db1/the-proposal-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Indebted Earl by Erica Vetsch

In the third installment of the Serendipity and Secrets Series, Erica Vetsch continues her sweeping saga with The Indebted Earl. (My reviews of the other two in the series:  The Lost Lieutenant and  The Gentleman Spy.)

Vetsch introduces us to a new tale of a vivid and resplendent Regency Era, transporting us to a time of Dukes, Earls and a life, for those of the aristocracy, of relative ease, except. . . when war, duty and commitments significantly interfere.

After Lady Sophia (Sophie) Haverly receives word her fiancé, Major Richardson, died in the Napoleonic war, she decides to continue caring for his mother, Mamie.

Captain Charles Wyvern travels to visit both Sophie and Mamie to fulfill what he feels is a debt he owes to his best friend, Major Rich Richardson. Little does he realize what he is getting into.

I had an easy time caring for the main characters as they all were so relatable, compassionate and truly likable. The characters face innumerable grave and daunting challenges with courage, resilience and determination.

The story is bursting with melodrama of the comedic and tragic type. Vetsch also incorporates Biblical themes, though not in a pressuring way. The Indebted Earl provides the reader with interludes of being transported to a different time and place.

This book was provided courtesy of Kregel Publications through Interviews & Reviews.

Publisher’s Summary

Can Captain Wyvern keep his new marriage of convenience all business–or will it turn into something more?

Captain Charles Wyvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life–especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The best way to honor that hero’s dying wish is for Wyvern to escort the man’s grieving fiancée and mother safely to a new cottage home by the sea. But along the way, he learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: his uncle has died and the captain is now the Earl of Rothwell.

When he and the ladies arrive at his new manor house in Devon, they discover an estate in need of a leader and a gaggle of girls, all wards of the former earl. War the new earl knows; young ladies and properties he does not. Still wishing to provide for the bereaved Lady Sophia Haverly, Charles proposes a marriage of convenience.

Sophie is surprised to find she isn’t opposed to the idea. It will help her care for her betrothed’s elderly mother, and she’s already fallen in love with the wayward girls on the Rothwell estate. This alliance is a chance to repay the captain who has done so much for her care, as well as divert her attention from her grief. When Wyvern returns to his sea commission, she’ll stay behind to oversee his property and wards.

It sounds so simple. Until the stalwart captain is arrested on suspicion of smuggling, and Sophie realizes how much he’s come to mean to her. Now she’ll have to learn to fight, not only for his freedom but also for his love.

Review Coming Tomorrow!!!!

The Gentleman Spy by Erica Vetsch-I Read with Audra Blog Tour

The Gentleman Spy is the second book in the Serendipity & Secrets trilogy by Erica Vetsch (see review of 1^st book, The Lost Lieutenant, where we met Marcus Haverly). Little did he, or we, know that the “spare” would become a Duke.

Duke Haverly doesn’t have time for, nor does he want, to get married, and it definitely doesn’t fit into his plans. His mother and his boss have other ideas.

One typically male attribute of Haverly’s adds humor to the plot and elicits many words of caution from friends. He compartmentalizes every area of his life-work, God, family, etc.

Lady Charlotte Tiptree is an outspoken, unsophisticated, underappreciated and underestimated young woman destined for spinsterhood.

Lady Charlotte’s biggest failing is not being able to control her ire when an injustice is done, a problem in a time when women were supposed to be “fluffy-headed blondes with no voice.”

Imagine the pandemonium when these two happen to cross paths.

I love that Marcus and Charlotte both love books. They both also have a servant’s  heart, aptly illustrated by their thoughts, feelings and actions.

I would caution readers that there are some tough circumstances in this story and along with them there are scenes of extreme brutality. Also, many social and historical issues presented in the novel are just as relevant in today’s world.

The Gentleman Spy contains humor, mystery, intrigue and romance-a wonderful combination, tough situations, notwithstanding.

I received The Gentleman Spy from I Read with Audra Blog Tours and NetGalley. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

#GentlemanSpy  #IReadwithAudra #NetGalley

He only wanted a duchess for a day–but she’s determined to make it a marriage for life

When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she’s meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life–as a secret agent for the Crown.

But his bride has other ideas. She’s determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society–the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she’d remain in the background as he ordered.

Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

https://promosimple.com/ps/10029/the-gentleman-spy

A Nurse for Jacob by Caryl McAdoo on Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Book: A Nurse for Jacob

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 2, 2020

Physician heal thyself
While physical wounds heal with time, a special balm is needed to heal those sick of soul. In the Civil War aftermath, two such people’s paths cross. Recent graduate of the Harrow School of Nursing first class in May 1868, Lydia Andrews arrives at the Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, hired on Clara Barton’s endorsement. There she meets Doctor Jacob Johnston, and both soon learn that love is the salve to soothe wounded souls.

Click here to get your copy!

A Nurse for Jacob, Caryl McAdoo’s newest book, introduces us to Lydia Andrews and Jacob Johnston. Lydia is a new nurse assigned to Dr. Jacob’s hospital. Even though Lydia had extensive training at the Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, to include training under Clara Barton, imagine her surprise when she is called into performing a doctor’s job within minutes of arriving at her new placement and getting a promotion as well!

A Nurse for Jacob drops you into the adventure quickly and keeps up the pace throughout. Set in the post-Civil War era, the book’s plot is very realistic. I enjoyed the narrative. There were many scenarios I didn’t expect but added to the richness of the story.

McAdoo presents a variety of challenges that need to be overcome, including depression, addiction to morphine, alcohol abuse and an old girlfriend who doesn’t seem to want to let go. The time frame was unique, too, in that it was post-Civil War and not during the war. I appreciated the nuggets of history scattered throughout the book, showing attention to detail and thorough research.

I felt some of the storylines were wrapped up too neatly. However, I realize there are many space constraints when writing a novella, but as always, McAdoo provides a compelling, appealing and engaging romance.

I received A Nurse for Jacob from Celebrate Lit. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

About the Author

Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—over fifty published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and nineteen grandsugars with Ron, her high-school-sweetheart-husband of over fifty years, she lives in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl

From the get-go, the idea about writing a story with a nurse heroine intrigued me; I haven’t had one before. My niece is a nurse and I have several friends and readers who serve. I believe nursing is a divine calling and admire the many who choose to be a medical servant.

The connection in the multi-author Nursing the Heart Collection is that the first class of nurses recently graduated from the Harrows’s School of Nursing are placed across the country through the friends and acquaintances of Clara Barton, who teaches at the school.

So I joined the project and started my research of medical practices in the post-Civil War years. It was a time where many medical breakthroughs occurred, and older instruments were greatly improved. I so enjoyed learning how healthcare practices have changed.

I think you’ll enjoy all that to as an integral part of this historical romance. This Texas author hopes readers will love my two medical servants, Lydia Andrews and the older Doctor Jacob Johnston, and I’m always “Praying my story gives God glory!”

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 11

Splashes of Joy, August 11

Texas Book-aholic, August 12

Inklings and notions, August 13

For Him and My Family, August 14

Captive Dreams Window, August 14

Betti Mace, August 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 16

Older & Smarter?, August 17

deb’s Book Review, August 18

Artistic Nobody, August 19 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 20

Pause for Tales, August 20

Connie’s History Classroom, August 21

KarenSueHadley, August 22

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 23

Simple Harvest Reads, August 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

 

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the grand prize of a $25 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/febe/a-nurse-for-jacob-celebration-tour-giveaway-copy

The Chisholm Trail Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo

TEXAS! The stars…big and bright! Oh, my. Be still my heart. Kathleen Y’Barbo writes about Texas in a way that makes me feel like I am back in my adopted home state.

The Chisholm Trail Bride introduces us to the main characters, who are all in their early teen years. There is Eliza Gentry, daughter of a prosperous cattleman; Wyatt Creed, son of a retired Texas Ranger, who is also an alcoholic; and Ben “Benjy” Barnhart, son of a Texas judge. The narrative begins as they are about to set out on the Chisholm Trail to deliver cattle to buyers in Kansas.

The trail ride brings joy and deep heartbreak along the way, and this ride becomes the three’s last trail ride. Ben, unlike Eliza and Wyatt, creates his own problems due to his selfish and wantonly cruel ways.

Years later, we find Eliza living in Louisiana with her mother. Life has not been the same for her since the trail ride, and it looks like it never will be.

Y’Barbo writes a mesmerizing and captivating tale, melding mystery, murder and kidnapping, along with love and forgiveness. Her portrayal of the trail leaves you wishing you were under the stars, too, etching the story in your memory. She draws such wonderful pictures of Texas, Louisiana and all the happenings between the two states that I was often left breathless. (I also never guessed the ending, which is something that almost never happens to me. It is stunning and surprising!)

The Author’s Note at the end is a do not miss portion of the novel, as there is a plethora of fascinating information about the Chisholm Trail.

I received this book from NetGalley. However, I was under no obligation to write a review.

#NetGalley #The ChisholmTrailBride #KathleenY’Barbo

Publisher’s Summary

A Series for Lovers of History, Adventure, Romance, and Ancestry

Barbour Publishing offers a series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.
 

Stubborn Hearts Clash on a Cattle Drive

Eliza Gentry’s pursuit of marriage to the son of her family’s sworn enemy has cost her greatly. Furious at his daughter’s choices, her father sends her off with the cattle drive heading toward Fort Worth and the Barnhart ranch, but under the watchful eye of Wyatt Creed, a Pinkerton man he has hired to see to her safety. With danger at every turn—not the least of which to his heart—can Wyatt Creed keep his focus with Eliza Gentry around? Is the Chisholm Trail a place for falling in love or a place to die at the hands of cattle thieves?

Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Chisholm Trail Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo.

More in the Daughters of the Mayflower series:
The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1620 Atlantic Ocean (February 2018)
The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1725 New Orleans (April 2018)
The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep – set 1760 during the French and Indian War (June 2018)
The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1774 Philadelphia (August 2018)
The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear – set 1794 on the Wilderness Road (October 2018)
The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall – set 1814 Baltimore (December 2018)
The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo – set 1836 Texas (February 2019)
The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1849 San Francisco (April 2019)
The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse – set 1860 Utah (July 2019)
The Rebel Bride by Shannon McNear – set 1863 Tennessee (December 2019)
The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietze – set 1888 Nebraska (February 2020)

#NetGalley

The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch

I always look forward to Erica Vetsch’s novels. I, unfortunately, have not had time to read novels like I have wanted to. I’m so glad I took the time to read The Lost Lieutenant!

Vetsch has done a great job in her research, not only into the Regency period but also the feelings and emotions of the people who lived them.

Diana Seaton has a cruel father. He obviously never wanted a daughter, and never lost an opportunity in digs, slights and other ways of letting Diana know his feelings. I could really empathize with Diana. Even though my father wasn’t quite as cruel as Diana’s, my father was sometimes cruel. He, too, wanted a boy and was extremely disappointed when his first child, me, was a girl (hence my name!).

Evan Eldridge was a war hero, much to his dismay. The Prince Regent promoted him to the ranks of nobility, leaving Evan upset and disgruntled. I could also understand Evan’s feelings. I would rather be a regular everyday person than one in a position of “privilege”.

Vetsch pulls you into the roller coaster named The Lost Lieutenant and does not let go until the end of the story. She paints vivid word pictures, putting you right in the scene. Her characters run the gamut from kind, charismatic and loving to cruel, hedonistic and evil, which creates a thoroughly captivating novel.

I received this book from NetGalley. However, I was under no obligation to write a review.

Publisher’s Summary

He’s doing what he can to save the Prince Regent’s life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?

Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero–he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn’t think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.

Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn’t have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there’s something he can’t quite remember. It’s important, dangerous–and if he doesn’t recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone’s very life.

Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith.

Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano on Tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Title: Flights of Fancy

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Gilded Age

Release date: January 1, 2019

Publisher: Bethany House

Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high society world she’s always known and finds herself to be an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.

Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely on his own merits. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he’s unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.

Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when mysterious incidents on the farm and the truth of Isadora’s secret threaten those they love, they’ll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after.

Click here to order your copy!

Can I just say, I LOVE Jen Turano’s books? I have always enjoyed historical and humorous fiction. When you mix those two together…well, you get a Jen Turano book!

Flights of Fancy is Turano’s newest book, the first in her American Heiresses series. True to her typical style, there are lots of laugh out loud moments garnered from the situation Isadora “Izzie” Delafield, American heiress, finds herself in. However, not everything is “hunky-dory” in her life.

Fleeing from a precarious situation involving a dastardly Duke her mother wants her to marry, Izzie finds herself at the Glory Manor. Glory Manor is home to a menagerie of animals and people, including cows and chickens that prefer the indoors and four adorable orphans.

Between the “normal” goings on at Glory Manor, there are undercurrents of menace, too. As the characters begin to learn more about each other, they also learn more about themselves and their purpose in life.

Flights of Fancy doesn’t have as much of the Gilded Age as most of Turano’s books have; nonetheless, it is still very enjoyable. She has a way of interweaving valuable life lessons and Biblical insights into her stories that leave you thinking about your own life.

I received the book from NetGalley and Celebrate Lit through Bethany House Publishers. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

About the Author

One of the Funniest Voices in Inspirational Romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today Best-Selling Author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publisher Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. When she’s not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO.

Guest post from Jen

Q & A With Jen Turano

“Flights of Fancy” is the first book in the American Heiress Series. What inspired you to write this series?

The inspiration for this entire series started off with a What If? All of my proposals for new series start off that way, and this time it was – What if Consuelo Vanderbilt had balked when her mother insisted she marry the Duke of Marlborough – and then that led to – What if she’d run away until her mother came to her senses? Just like that, an entire series was born – a bit of a different take on American heiresses because in all three books, my heiresses might decide to go a tad…rogue. We start off with Miss Isadora Delafield – who does run off to avoid marriage to a duke, then we get to meet Miss Poppy Garrison, who is an unexpected heiress but who can’t quite seem to get a handle on the expected social decorum of the day, and then the final book revolves around Miss Beatrix Waterbury – who gets banished to Chicago after she annoys her mother one too many times, and once there, well, gets up to a bit of mischief.

How do you come up with the names of your characters?

I find most of my names as I research the New York Four-Hundred, although I normally take a first name here, a last name there so I’m not stepping on any toes by writing about an actual historical figure – except for some of the main figures in New York society back then, such as Mr. Ward McAllister – who was the social arbiter of the day, or Mrs. William Astor, who was the queen of that society. What I don’t do is simply make up names, no matter how outrageous they may appear. And, no matter how I may love a certain name, if the character decides it doesn’t suit them, that’s it, it’s out and I’m back to the drawing board.

How do you picture your character? Do you use Pinterest, magazines, movies?

Odd as this may seem, I don’t use pictures for my characters. They start off in my mind as a blurry figure, and then, they develop from there – I like to keep my descriptions of them somewhat vague on the pages so that the reader can imagine them exactly the way they’d like them to be.

What are some of your favorite resources for historical research?

I’ve been building up a research library over the past few years and now have over 200 books dedicated to the Gilded Age. My favorites are – “A Season of Splendor” by Greg King, “Society as I Have Found It” by Ward McAllister, “The Gilded Age in New York – 1870-1910” by Esther Crain, and “ ‘King Lehr’ and the Gilded Age” by Elizabeth Drexel Lehr.

The setting for “Flights of Fancy” is a bit of a departure for you since it’s set in and outside of Pittsburgh. Any reason for that?

My mom was born in Pittsburgh, and unfortunately, her father, a prominent attorney back in the day, died when she was only four. I thought it would be cool to set a story in Pittsburgh, which would then allow me to really dive into some research. And get this – while I was doing that research, I found this obscure journal called “Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. In that journal was a bit about my great-grandfather, Fred, his wife, Susie, my grandfather, and his brother and sister, but I’d never heard about this brother, who apparently died quite young. One of the most fabulous research tidbits I’ve uncovered to date.

What are you working on now?

I’ve just recently turned in the content edits for the second book in this series, “Diamond in the Rough,” and I’ve also turned in a novella about the Harvey Girls that will be coming out in a novella collection in Fall, 2019. With those out of the way, I’m now starting the third and final book in the American Heiress series, Miss Beatrix Waterbury’s story, but I’m having a bit of a struggle with the hero at the moment – he was supposed to be Edward, but he doesn’t want to be an Edward – I think he wants to be Norman – but, time will tell on that one – don’t hold me to the name – it’ll depend on if he changes his mind or not – pesky characters.

You seem to enjoy adding animals in many of your stories. Will we find any animals in “Flights of Fancy?”

Since Miss Isadora Delafield ends up on a farm, I do believe you will find a few animals, such as an adorable cow by the name of Buttercup, a few goats that seem to have a great liking for laundry, and…there might be some chickens.

Thanks for stopping by today, everyone! Always enjoy visiting with all of you – in fact, that’s the best part of my job!

All the best,

~ Jen ~

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, January 10

Among the Reads, January 10

Through the Fire, January 10

To Everything A Season, January 10

Reflections From My Bookshelves, January 11

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 11

Blogging With Carol, January 11

Southern Gal loves to Read, January 11

Back Porch Reads, January 12

KarenSueHadley, January 12

Godly Book Reviews, January 12

Daysong Refections, January 12

Livin Lit, January 13

The Christian Fiction Girl, January 13

The Becca Files, January 13

Texas Book-aholic, January 13

Rebekah’s Quill, January 14

Blossoms and Blessings, January 14

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, January 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 14

All-of-a-kind Mom, January 15

Just the Write Escape, January 15

Stories By Gina, January 15

God’s Little Bookworm, January 16

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, January 16

Splashes of Joy, January 16

Janices book reviews, January 16

Happily Managing A Household of Boys, January 17

Mary Hake, January 17

Maureen’s Musings, January 17

Bibliophile Reviews, January 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 18

Baker Kella, January 18

Simple Harvest Reads, January 18 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 19

Captive Dreams Window, January 19

Robin is Bookish, January 19

Carpe Diem, January 19

Have A Wonderful Day, January 20

Life with the Tribe, January 20

Inklings and Notions, January 20

Rachel’s Back Talk, January 21

Inspiration Clothesline, January 21

amandainpa, January 21

A Baker’s Perspective, January 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 22

Pause for Tales, January 22

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, January 22

Raining Butterfly Kisses, January 23

Live Love Read, January 23

A Rup Life, January 23

Bigreadersite, January 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jen is giving away a grand prize of a trunk filled with all of Jen’s full-length novels released to date!!

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/d8d1/flights-of-fancy-celebration-tour-giveaway