A Fresh Story by Laura Frantz—Review

Filled with all the things we love about Laura’s writing: breathtaking prose, heart-pounding romance, and an epic journey, A Bound Heart is a unique story with equally unique settings.

I’ve never read another story like this one. From the beautiful Scottish Island of Lark and Magnus’s upbringing, to the new colonies in America and Jamaica, this story spans the globe, yet keeps two hearts bound as one. I especially loved the characters in this story, both main and secondary. Each one is unique and realistic. From the colorful inhabitants of the Scottish island, smuggling goods to stay alive, to the desperate characters onboard the ship, indentured for their crimes, to those in the slave quarters in both America and Jamaica, fighting to stay alive, and the Gentry in Williamsburg, building a new society, there is so much to love about this story. I enjoyed each and every page and didn’t want the tale to end.

I can’t believe I have to wait another year for Laura’s next novel.

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway ~ Day 9!

On the 9th day of Christmas, my favorite authors gave to me…a chance to win nine books and a $150 Amazon gift card or one-year subscription to Audible!

Join twelve authors (myself included!) as we celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway. 

Today is stop #9 on the blog tour and look at all these amazing books we're giving away.

The prizes are building, and today’s winner will receive my recent release, The Victorian Christmas Brides Collection, with my story A Christmas Promise.

As well as ALL of the following:

An advanced copy of The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel

The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin

Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett

My Heart Belongs in Fort Bliss, Texas by Erica Vetsch

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson

Cold Case Christmas by Jessica R. Patch

Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets by Jill Kemerer

Christmas with the Cowboy + jingle bell necklace by Tina Radcliffe

It’s not too late to enter in the Rafflecopter giveaway below by following some of your favorite authors on social media and signing up for their newsletters. We draw a new winner every day, and on December 12th, we’ll give away a $150 Amazon Gift Card OR a 1-Year Audible Gold Subscription (winner’s choice) in addition to all the other great prizes! You can also get an extra entry every day by tweeting about the giveaway.

Merry Christmas and good luck!

Don’t forget to stop by Sara Ella's blog tomorrow to see what else will be up for grabs this week!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Backcountry Brides - Debra E. Marvin

May is the release month for The Backcountry Brides Novella Collection from Barbour Publishers and we're celebrating! All month long, the authors from the collection will be hosting one another on their blogs to share about different aspects of their stories.

My blog will be devoted to the Secondary Characters from each novella and to celebrate this fun topic, my second guest is Debra E. Marvin, author of A Heart So Tender.

Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter Below for a chance to win a fabulous grand prize!

Before we get to Debra's post, here's a little more about the collection:

Love on Colonial America’s Frontier

Travel into Colonial America where nine women seek love, but they each know a future husband requires the necessary skills to survive in the backcountry. Living in areas exposed to nature’s ferocity, prone to Indian attack, and cut off from regular supplies, can hearts overcome the dangers to find lasting love?

A Heart So Tender, by Debra E. Marvin - Secondary Characters

It’s hard to ignore a secondary character when he’s a bigger-than-life, and ‘real-life’ person. In A Heart So Tender, we meet Sir William Johnson, an important man in Colonial History. He was born in 1815 in County Meath, Ireland, and came as a young man to work for his uncle in what is now New York State. It’s said that his familiarity with mistrust and subjugation—as an Irishman living under English rule—gave him an unusual empathy for all he met. While he was not a religious man, he encouraged all religions to build houses of worship and join in multi-cultural settlements.

Sir William Johnson

Johnson set up a trading post and learned the Mohawk language, and by 1744 was appointed Superintendent of Indian affairs for The Crown. He acquired much land and wealth but it was his ability to enlist Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) warriors against the French that helped him land military honors and government favors. He became known as a military hero during the French and Indian War (The Seven Years War), and negotiated the Treaty of Fort Stanwix and others. After the battle of Montreal, Johnson was given a “title” to 100,000 acres of land in the Mohawk Valley.

Johnson sparing Baron Dieskau's life
after the Battle of Lake George

Johnson married (though not in a legal, or church-sanctioned ceremony) Molly Brant, sister of the Mohawk leader Joseph Brant and had children with her. She was not his first wife, but he remained on good terms with his English wife and children even as his new Mohawk family expanded. Later, he was able to find positions of authority and good marriages for most of his offspring.

Being well-respected among the native people made him an important asset to the British Government. After continued trouble along the frontier, Pontiac’s Rebellion to the west, and an incident called The Massacre at Devil’s Hole, Johnson invited chiefs and warriors from every tribe to come to a great gathering of nations at Fort Niagara in the summer of 1764. Many treaties were signed and he managed to win land along the Niagara River from the Seneca who’d been behind the massacre.

Unfortunately, subsequent military leaders had much less empathy for the native people and, because of the Haudenosaunee’s history of friendship with the British, they were burned out of their villages across the region, and sent away during the War of Independence.

The movie The Broken Chain tells the story of Mohawk Leader (and William Johnson’s brother-in-law, Joseph Brant). Actor Pierce Brosnan plays the role of Sir William Johnson, a fascinating character! I enjoy placing “real-life” historical people in my stories, and I hope you enjoy all of the novellas in The Backcountry Brides collection.

Debra E. Marvin tries not to run too far from real life but the imagination born out of being an only child has a powerful draw. Besides, the voices in her head tend to agree with all the sensible things she says. She'd like to live a wee bit closer to her grandchildren, but is thankful that God is in control, that He chooses to bless us despite ourselves and that He has a sense of humor.

Other than writing light-hearted romances and gritty gothics, she has rather normal obsessions such as fabric, peanut butter, vacations, British dramas, and whatever mystery series she's currently stuck on.

Click to purchase Backcountry Brides.

Visit Debra on Twitter or her Author Facebook Page.  

Your Turn: What movies do you enjoy that are based on real events or people? Some that come to mind for me are Apollo 13, Lincoln, Saving Mr. Banks, Amistad, and Amazing Grace, just to name a few.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Backcountry Brides -- Secondary Characters

May is the release month for The Backcountry Brides Novella Collection from Barbour Publishers and we're celebrating! All month long, the authors from the collection will be hosting one another on their blogs to share about different aspects of their stories.

My blog will be devoted to the Secondary Characters from each novella and to kick off this fun topic, my first guest is Shannon McNear, author of The Counterfeit Tory.

Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter Below for a chance to win a fabulous grand prize!

Before we get to Shannon's post, here's a little more about the collection:

Love on Colonial America’s Frontier

Travel into Colonial America where nine women seek love, but they each know a future husband requires the necessary skills to survive in the backcountry. Living in areas exposed to nature’s ferocity, prone to Indian attack, and cut off from regular supplies, can hearts overcome the dangers to find lasting love?

The Counterfeit Tory by Shannon McNear – Backcountry Brides

The main secondary characters in The Counterfeit Tory fall clearly into two categories, heroic and villainous. Among the latter are Lizzy’s father, Charles Cunningham, and her brothers, Robert and Richard (Robbie and Dickie), fictional uncle and cousins of the infamous Bloody Bill Cunningham. Ideally a writer should strive to create almost-villains who are more than cardboard cut-outs, to give redeeming qualities even to men guilty of neglect and abuse. I tried with Lizzy’s father and utterly failed. The brothers I painted with a little more sympathy. All three are quite steeped in pride and self-interest, and the father may qualify as a true narcissist. When they fade from the scene near the end of the story, there’s little to miss.

The heroic Zacharias Elliot, on the other hand, may someday demand his own story. Elliot serves as Jed Wheeler’s contact with the Continental forces while he’s undercover with Cunningham’s company, and readers of my first novella, Defending Truth, may recognize him as the older brother of Micah Elliot, who had turned coat long before the Battle of Kings Mountain and figured so heavily in Micah’s reluctance to return home while questioning his own loyalties. (The son of “good loyalists” choosing to go rebel was no light matter at the time.) It was fun to pull in a briefly mentioned character from one story and give him actual screen time in another.

Other secondary characters—the townfolk, for instance, and Jed’s fellow company members—are more ambiguous in their honor. Many loyalists served as they did because their sense of justice or religious duty demanded it; so it was with those on the patriot side. Many loyalists chose to extend mercy when the occasion demanded it, while many patriots exacted vengeance nearly as chilling as that of William Cunningham himself. I hope I’ve captured a little of history’s complexities in these brief portraits, but it’s probably more than a little ironic that the more prominent secondary characters are less evenly shaded.

Click to purchase Backcountry Brides 

And the prequel, The Highwayman, which is now available as a standalone.

About the Author:

 

After more than two decades in the South, Shannon McNear now makes her home on the windy northern plains with her husband, four of their eight children, two German Shepherds, four cats, several chickens, and a noisy flock of guinea fowl. She serves in worship and youth ministry, and has been writing novel-length fiction since age 15. Her first novella, Defending Truth, from A Pioneer Christmas Collection, was a 2014 RITA® nominee. When not sewing, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the Dakota prairies.


shannonmcnear.com

Facebook

Pinterest 

Goodreads

Twitter 

Colonial Quills

Question for you: What kind of secondary characters do you enjoy in a story? The villain? The comic relief? The overbearing friend? The confidante? Is there a secondary character from a story that stands out to you?
 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!

On the third day of Christmas, my favorite authors gave to me...

Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway! Here's how it works:

Each day, a new prize will be added to the bundle, and a new winner will be selected, until the twelfth day when the final winner receives all the prizes plus a Kindle Fire HD 8! Be sure to check back every day to see what has been added to the giveaway and enter again.

Today's winner will receive:

A copy of my brand new release, The Gift of Twins, as well as...

The Rancher’s Mistletoe Bride by Jill Kemerer

AND Christmas Captive, by Liz Johnson.

Tomorrow's winner will receive all of these books, as well as another prize from Liz Johnson, so be sure to stop by her blog! 

Don't forget to enter in the Rafflecopter giveaway below by following some of your favorite authors on social media and signing up for their newsletters. And remember, we draw a new winner every day. On December 12th, we’ll give away a Kindle Fire HD 8.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your Turn: What are your favorite ways to enjoy the Christmas season? Do you enjoy watching movies, baking cookies, sending out cards, decorating the Christmas tree, or all of the above?

My Boys

It's fun to use real people as inspiration for the characters in my novels. My upcoming Christmas novel with Love Inspired Historical has a set of fraternal twins. I used my own twins as templates, from their eye and hair color, to their personalities. I tried to imagine how they might react if they were placed in the same situations as the twins in my story. By using real people as inspiration for fictional characters, I hope to bring the story to life in a way that resonates with my readers.

The character of Zebulun Trask is inspired by my older twin. He's sweet, silly, and compassionate. 

The character of Levi Trask is inspired by my second twin. He's curious, smart, and likes to be in control at all times.

The story is titled: The Gift of Twins. It releases with LIH in December, 2017.

A Moonbow Night, by Laura Frantz

There are some books that read like a fast food meal, quick and easy, with little thought. Some read like a decadent dessert, rich, filling, and sweet. Others are like a snack to be read in little bits, as time allows or when you're bored. Some are like a family meal, creating good memories, lots of laughter, and heartfelt moments. Still, there are others, like A Moonbow Night, that read like a six course meal which should be savored, unhurried, purposeful, and satisfying to the very end.

I just closed the pages of A Moonbow Night and my heart is full of Kentucke, Boones, Indians, settlers, friends gained, friends lost, breathless kisses, enduring love, betwixt and betimes, and a beguiling moonbow. What a stunning tale Laura Frantz has spun. With each scene, each character, each backstory crumb, the gossamer threads are woven together to make a tapestry so intricate and so beautiful, it's truly a work of art.

Laura's passion for Kentucky is breathed into the very essence of her characters and storyworld. My own desire to see Kentucky has increased tenfold, though I feel as if I've been there and it has become a part of me. She has taken my preconceived ideas of Kentucky and turned them inside out, teaching me about the history that shaped the state and country and the men and women who sacrificed everything to settle the land.

The story is full of historical references, well-researched details, and breathtaking prose. Several times I stopped just to enjoy a sentence or capture a feeling. The romance grows gently as it changes the hero and heroine, drawing them out of their brokenness and into a place of healing. Some scenes are so powerful, they will leave your heart beating a little harder and make you eager for the next.

I loved reading this story and experiencing a piece of history I knew little about. When I came to the end, I was sad to say goodbye, but thankful I had been invited on the journey.

Thank you to Laura for another adventure, another unforgettable hero, and another timeless love story tucked inside my heart.

About the Story:

After fleeing Virginia, Temperance Tucker and her family established an inn along the Shawnee River. It's a welcome way station for settlers and frontiersmen traveling through the wild Cumberland region of Kentucke--men like Sion Morgan, a Virginia surveyor who arrives at the inn with his crew looking for an experienced guide. When his guide appears, Sion balks. He certainly didn't expect a woman. But it is not long before he must admit that Tempe's skill in the wilderness rivals his own. Still, the tenuous tie they are forming is put to the test as they encounter danger after danger and must rely on each other.

With her signature sweeping style and ability to bring the distant past to vivid life, Laura Frantz beckons readers to join her in a land of Indian ambushes, conflicting loyalties, and a tentative love that meanders like a cool mountain stream.

About the Author:

Award-winning author Laura Frantz is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century, and writes her manuscripts in longhand first. Her stories often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Frantz lives and writes in a log cabin in the heart of Kentucky.

On the Fourth Day of Christmas...

🎜🎜On the fourth day of Christmas, my favorite author gave to me...

A copy of A Family Arrangement...that has a tree...on the cover...🎜🎜

I'm definitely not a singer, or a lyricist. Thankfully you don't have to listen to us sing to enter this amazing Christmas giveaway! Join me and nine other authors as we celebrate Christmas with the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway! We're giving away 78 prizes to 12 winners--and one of them could be you!

Here’s how it works:

We’ll randomly select a winner every day for the first twelve days of December. Each day the prize builds with another book or book-related goody.

On the first day of Christmas your authors gave to you...

Hazardous Holiday, by Liz Johnson

On the second day of Christmas, your authors gave to you...

An audiobook of Watercolor Dreams by Sherry Kyle

On the third day of Christmas, your authors gave to you...

Concealed Identity, by Jessica R. Patch

On the fourth day of Christmas, your authors gave to you...

A Family Arrangement, by Gabrielle Meyer

Abram Cooper has ten months to turn rough Minnesota country into a vibrant town, or his sister-in-law will take his three sons back to Iowa with his blessing. Until then, Charlotte Lee has agreed to keep house and help raise his children as part of their bargain. But can the single father fulfill Charlotte's requirements in time to make sure that she and his boys don't leave—and take his heart with them?

Charlotte is convinced that the wilderness is no place to raise her nephews. But as she watches the community slowly develop, she sees that Abram just might be able to make it blossom. With three little matchmakers bringing her and Abram together, Little Falls could become not just a flourishing town, but the perfect home for their patchwork family.

🎄🎄🎄🎄

Enter the Rafflecopter below by following some of your favorite authors on social media and signing up for their newsletters. Every entry carries over–so the sooner you enter, the more chances you have to win. So check back every day until the 12th of December to try and win one of the many awesome prizes.

On Monday, December 5th be sure to visit Author Erica Vetsch to see what she'll add to the prize for the fifth day of Christmas!

My questions for you: Do you have your Christmas tree up? Is it real or artificial? Do you have any fun traditions focusing on your tree?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Several Ways to Win!

Today is a big day for me! I have two new books releasing in December. A Family Arrangement from Love Inspired Historical, and Seven Brides for Seven Texans from Barbour.

There are so many promotions going on, I can hardly keep them all straight! I've teamed up with several authors to bring you multiple ways to win my books, as well as dozens of others. We're also giving away a loaded Kindle Fire, jewelry, clothing, calendars, food and so much more! And it's just in time for Christmas! All these things would make wonderful gifts for you or your loved ones.

Here are all the ways to win! 

Release Party happening on Thursday, December 1st from 3-5:30 pm EST.

Goodreads Giveaway

Giveaway on Coffee Cups & Camisoles 

Loaded Kindle Fire from the Authors of Seven Brides for Seven Texans

12 Days, 12 Giveaways, 12 Winners!

Colonial Quills Facebook Party Friday, December 2, 6-8:30 pm EST

Love Inspired Christmas Party Tuesday, December 6, 4-9:00 pm EST

If you're local, I will be at Good Book & Gift in Little Falls on

Saturday, December 3rd from 10 am - 2 pm signing books! I'll

also be at Bethany Book & Gift in Baxter/Brainerd signing books

on Saturday, December 17th.

I'd love to hear from you! Have you started Christmas shopping yet? Have you finished? Do you enjoy receiving books for Christmas? Do you give books as gifts?

Winner of Book Club Giveaway Package!

Thank you to everyone who participated in my book club giveaway! It was fun to connect with new readers and to see some of my old favorites, as well.

I have a winner! Rafflecopter chose Melissa Henderson as the winner of the package! Congratulations, Melissa. I'll send everything out to you soon.

For those who didn't win, don't fret! There will be other ways to win copies of A Family Arrangement as the release date draws near.

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to be informed of upcoming releases, as well as giveaways, behind the scenes information and so much more.

Book Club Package Giveaway

Do you belong to a book club?

Are you looking for a great book to read with friends?

My newest novel, A Family Arrangement, releases in December with Harlequin's Love Inspired Historical and I'd love to share the story with your book club.*

Here's what the package will include:

• Up to 10 free copies of A Family Arrangement
• $50 Visa gift card for your favorite book club treats
• Discussion questions
• Behind the scenes look at the history that inspired the story
• And a chance to chat with me in person or via Skype during the meeting

Here's how to enter:

1. Sign up for my newsletter (in the box on the right)
2. Fill out the Rafflecopter below

That's it! To increase your chances to win, have each book club member enter the drawing.

*If you don't have a book club, but you'd like to get some of your friends together to read and discuss A Family Arrangement, that's fine, too! Just let me know in the comments.

I'll pick a winner on Tuesday, November 1st and announce it on my blog.

About the Book:

Makeshift Family 

Abram Cooper has ten months to turn rough Minnesota country into a vibrant town, or his sister-in-law will take his three sons back to Iowa with his blessing. Until then, Charlotte Lee has agreed to keep house and help raise his children as part of their bargain. But can the single father fulfill Charlotte's requirements in time to make sure that she and his boys don't leave—and take his heart with them?

Charlotte is convinced that the wilderness is no place to raise her nephews. But as she watches the community slowly develop, she sees that Abram just might be able to make it blossom. With three little matchmakers bringing her and Abram together, Little Falls could become not just a flourishing town, but the perfect home for their patchwork family.

About the Author:

 

Gabrielle Meyer lives in central Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing fictional stories inspired by real people and events. 

Other books by Gabrielle

The Most Eligible Bachelor Romance Collection

The Convenient Bride Collection

A Mother in the Making

 

Coming Soon

Seven Brides for Seven Texans Romance Collection

Of Rags and Riches Romance Collection

 

*US Citizens only, please.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Newton & Polly, by Jody Hedlund

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Jody Hedlund's writing. Here are my reviews for Unending Devotion, A Noble Groom, Rebellious Heart, and Captured by Love.

I love Jody's storytelling ability. Her words are effortless to read, the love story flows naturally, and the conflict is so intricately woven into the story, it feels authentic and realistic. To date, my favorite of Hedlund's stories are the ones inspired by real couples from history, with Rebellious Heart at the forefront (the story was inspired by John and Abigail Adams).

This week I picked up Newton & Polly, A Novel of Amazing Grace. The story is inspired by the true love story of John Newton & Polly Catlett. I made the mistake of "just peeking inside" when the book arrived at my house. I'm on a tight deadline and had told myself I couldn't read it until my story is written, but Newton & Polly grabbed my attention and I couldn't stop reading. Literally, last night at about 10 p.m. I told myself I'd just read a couple chapters before bed. I became so engrossed in the book, I stayed up until 3 a.m. to finish it! I was shocked when I rolled over and looked at the clock.

Despite the fact that I only had four hours of sleep last night, I'm not disappointed that I stayed up to finish the story. There were several things I loved about Newton & Polly. First, it's inspired by a true story--and it's an incredible one at that. I knew a little about John Newton, but I had no idea how deep his tale of redemption went. The ending is so worth the wait. God's amazing grace met John Newton and the world was never the same. He went on to write the most powerful hymn of all time, which also happens to be my personal favorite. Second, the attention to detail in Jody's book was masterful, without being cumbersome. I felt everything these characters felt. I lived through all the toils they endured. It was almost exhausting, but in a heart-pounding kind of way. Third, the emotional depth to this story is remarkable. Not only because it's John & Polly Newton's story, but because Jody does a superb job of bringing it to life and helping us understand how John could continue to make the decisions he made--and see how truly powerful his redemption was.

This is an excellent book. I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves romance, history, and the story of God's unending love.

About the Book:

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found…

Now remembered as the author of the world’s most famous hymn, in the mid-eighteenth century as England and France stand on the brink of war, John Newton is a young sailor wandering aimlessly through life. His only duty is to report to his ship and avoid disgracing his father—until the night he hears Polly Catlett’s enchanting voice, caroling. He’s immediately smitten and determined to win her affection.

An intense connection quickly forms between the two, but John’s reckless spirit and disregard for the Christian life are concerns for the responsible, devout Polly. When an ill-fated stop at a tavern leaves John imprisoned and bound, Polly must choose to either stand by his side or walk out of his life forever. Will she forfeit her future for the man she loves?

Step back through the pages of history, to uncover the true love story behind a song that continues to stir the hearts and ignite the faith of millions around the globe.



About the Author:

Winner of 2016 Christian Book Award for fiction and Christy Award for historical romance, best-selling author Jody Hedlund writes inspirational historical romances for both youth and adults.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.