I'm so excited to announce the next book in the A Very Bookish Holiday series.
A Very Bookish Fourth of July!
I will be joining several other authors in this collection of novellas inspired by the Fourth of July and beloved classic books. We need you! We need some readers to help promote this release!
Apply to this exclusive team HERE.
I'm excited to share with you about this new release by Rachel Rossano, one of my favorite indie authors, published on April 21!
Reclaiming Ryda
Book 2 of Once Upon a Duchy
Rydaria lives as a prisoner in a tower library. Captured as a child, her
past is a mystery. Maintaining the literary treasures within her care,
she studies the world through books that give her a glimpse of the
freedom she craves.
A scribe by trade, Crispin has devoted the
last three years of his life seeking the lost heir of Avalene. He
travels to Worthenave’s famed library in hopes of finding the key.
Instead, he discovers a new mystery, a beautiful librarian who is locked
in with her books every night.
As the days pass, Crispin must
choose. Rydaria’s precarious situation is deteriorating. Meanwhile, his
duty demands he leave before the Duke of Worthenave uncovers his quest.
Still, the scribe can’t bring himself to abandon the captive in the
library tower, even if it costs him his mission.
Inspired by Rapunzel and East of the Sun West of the Moon
Find on Goodreads
Purchase on Amazon, B&N, iBooks, and Kobo
About the Author
Find her at:
Giveaway
Ryda
Distantly the noon bells sounded as I lifted the first of the scrolls into place. Hoping that the stranger would leave for his meal, I continued to replace the scrolls until at least a score of minutes had passed. The last one slid home with satisfying ease. Dusting myself off a bit, I descended to the first floor to check if my meal had arrived.
It had.
Only one meal, the standard shavings of meat, a small loaf of bread, a pot of salted butter, and a bit of yellow cheese, lay on a tray at one end of the table. The jug of ale and a wooden cup sat next to the food.
The stranger still lingered. His satchel lay half-empty next to a mess of supplies and logbooks, scratch paper, and empty ink bottles covering the other half of the table. Pens in varying states of decay or disrepair were scattered about as though someone had sought a functional implement in haste and found them all lacking. Then, all of it had been shoved toward the end of the table to make room for the tray and such. The delivery boy had shown his customary lack of concern for anything beyond his task.
“Just push anything that is in the way aside.” The stranger himself stood next to the shelves where I had directed him, bent over the oldest log on the shelves.
“There is plenty of room, thank you,” I replied as I set about breaking the loaf into pieces. “Did you take your meal in the great hall?”
“I am well enough for now, thank you.” He didn’t look up from his perusal of the ledger.
From all I had read, large men seemed to require vast quantities of food. I glanced at the invader. He definitely fit the definition of large, but he didn’t have the manner of a warrior. I had seen many of those from my window perch and at my tower’s gate over the years. Though, I would definitely not consider him flabby or soft either.
As I considered the best descriptors for him, he lifted his gaze from the ledger and met my gaze. One golden-brown eyebrow rose in a silent question.
“You do not have the appearance of a man who skips meals regularly.”
“True, I don’t usually, but this is an exception.” He gestured to the laden shelves around us. “I have no way of knowing I will be allowed in again tomorrow.”
I shrugged. “I suspect you will. Worthenave likes showing off his collection, and admirers cannot fully appreciate it in only a single survey.”
“I prefer not to risk it.” His attention returned to the page.
Breaking my bread into two hunks, I opened up one of the linen napkins on the tray. Spreading it out, I set the bread hunk, half the cheese, and the meat shavings on it. I then folded the linen so that the food wouldn’t fall out.
Delivering the bundle took a bit more bravery, but I forced myself to act before I thought on it over much.
“To hold you until the evening meal,” I explained as I dropped it on the open shelf near his elbow. I returned to the table to focus on my own meal.
For a few moments, I feared he would reject it, or worse, take offense that I had not believed him. Only the sounds of him eating put me at ease enough to devour my own meal efficiently. As I cleared away the remnants, he approached and dropped the crumpled napkin on top of the pile.
“Thank you.”
Welcome to the Hope Chest Scavenger Hunt! Today, I’m taking part in this fun event and giveaway to celebrate the release of Sarah Holman’s new book Fanny’s Hope Chest.
Here’s how to play:
1. Go to Tangled up in Writing or The Destiny of One and get the full list of items to search for and the blogs taking part.
2. Find the hidden item on each blog.
3. Go to Tangled up in Writing or The Destiny of One and enter the giveaway with your completed list.
4. Tell your friends about the scavenger hunt.
5. Watch to see if your name is drawn on February 16th for 1 of 5 prizes.
Okay, see if you can find the item I’ve hidden:
Did you find it? Don’t forget to enter the giveaway. There will be five winners!
Interested in Fanny’s Hope Chest? Grab it for $0.99 through the 14th. (Price will go up to $2.99 after.)
How old is too old for a hope chest?
When Ellie starts a new job as a home health aide, she doesn't expect to meet a woman in her eighties looking for her hope chest, nor a house as messy as Ellie's own emotional state. But as she cleans up Fanny's house, she begins to wonder if Fanny's hope chest might hold the answers to her questions about disappointed dreams and holding on to hope.
That is, if she can face both the mess and her own heart.
Find it on Amazon.
This year turned out to be an excellent year for reading. According to Goodreads, I read 56 books, which is higher than normal for me. (But that still doesn’t count the books I edited this year.) I also set a goal of reading two pre-1920 classics a month, which I’m very glad to say I accomplished. Of those 56 books, here are the top 15 that will stay with me the longest:
#15
Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
I was actually surprised at how much I liked this play. Knowing the story before I read it, I hadn’t taken it seriously because of how young Romeo and Juliet were. Their youth still bothers me (as do certain characters—ahem, Juliet’s nurse and Mercurio), but the surprising depth in Juliet’s character really captured me. There are many beautiful lines, and, somehow, being a tragedy it entrenches itself more firmly in my mind as I think wistfully of what might have been. (Interesting side note: While I buddy-read this with my mom in April 2020, we experienced a “plague” with lockdowns like the plague that figured significantly in Romeo and Juliet.)
#14
Towers in the Mist
by Elizabeth Goudge
Although this novel may not have been as deeply affecting to me as other Goudge novels I’ve read, it drips with her beautifully characteristic style: rich description and symbolism, well-crafted characters, and a setting vividly brought to life. The genuine historical characters, like Walter Raleigh and Philip Sidney, add zest and a feeling of reality. I truly felt I had visited late sixteenth-century Oxford. Time-traveling is one of my favorite hobbies! Find the book on Goodreads HERE.
#13
A Holy Passion
by Alicia G. Ruggieri
This was a hard book to read. But so good. Ruggieri weaves a heartbreaking story around real events in the lives of David Brainerd and Jerusha Edwards. David Brainerd was a missionary to the Native Americans in the mid-1700s, and when he got sick and stayed with the Edwards family, Jerusha helped care for him. A Holy Passion beautifully depicted the reality of loving and desiring God above everything else, inspiring me to reevaluate my life and actively delight in the Lord. Read my full review HERE.
#12
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens
Dickens is one of my favorite authors. Although Great Expectations may not have reached as high in my affections as two of his other novels (Little Dorrit and Bleak House), it showcases Dickens’s masterful writing, plot weaving, and character creating and explores what it means to be a truly successful human being. Pip, the main character and narrator, takes us on his twisting, turning journey of discovery when he mysteriously inherits a lot of money that promises to make him into a “gentleman” in Victorian society. But there is far more to his journey than he ever imagined. Read my full review HERE.
#11
The Woman in White
by Wilkie Collins
This was a very fun read. A mystery that begins with the identity of a young woman dressed in white becomes more and more layered and suspenseful as the story rolls forward. This Victorian novel contains a bevy of compelling characters, chief among them Walter Hargrave, Marian Halcombe, Laura Fairlie, and Count Fosco, whose lives intertwine in a plot that kept me breathlessly guessing until the very end. Read my full review HERE.
#10
Deerbrook
by Harriet Martineau
This early Victorian novel (published the first year of Victoria’s reign, 1838) was a fascinating read. Standing as a bridge between early nineteenth-century fiction and what would become a hallmark of Victorian literary style—the multilayered domestic novel—Deerbrook contains many details of daily life within various lifestyles. The characters and their story were also endearing, especially primary characters Edward Hope and Hester and Margaret Ibbotson. Find the book on Goodreads HERE.
#9
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano
Written by Himself
This fascinating and affecting autobiography was published by an incredible African man to help the efforts of the British abolitionists in the eighteenth century. Slave narratives were vital in showing Europeans that Africans were people created in God’s image, too, and should therefore be treated equally. It’s a valuable resource into the horrifying history that we must face and acknowledge in order to move forward in the ongoing struggle for complete racial reconciliation. Find it on Goodreads HERE.
#8
Virgil Wander
by Leif Enger
The newest novel from one of my favorite contemporary authors, Virgil Wander did not disappoint. I love Enger’s rich, unconventional prose, the way he breathes life into every detail and character, and the nostalgic atmosphere of the plot. Set in a dying town in modern-day northern Minnesota, this novel still has a classic feel that sinks deep and makes you appreciate life. Read my full review HERE.
#7
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
If I’ve read a Jane Austen novel during the year, it’s going on my top reads. This was only my second time reading Pride and Prejudice, and honestly I’d forgotten how good it is, not to mention funny, profound, and relatively fast-paced. Austen’s ability to sketch an iconic character with a few quick lines always amazes and delights me.
#6
The Song of the Lark
by Willa Cather
I usually only love a book if I love the main character. This is one exception. Cather’s writing is beautiful as she captures characters’ emotions and interactions or describes the stirring landscapes of the West. The Song of the Lark depicts the journey of a singer, Thea Kronberg, from her humble origins in Colorado through all the heartache and hard work of building an artistic career. It also explores art and the true cost and meaning of success in the pursuit of it. Read my full review HERE.
#5
The Little House Series
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
This year I reread most of this beloved series for the first time since I was a kid. I’d forgotten how charming and absorbing it is. It seems I was always aware of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her books. My mom and I read them while I was homeschooled as the basis of a unit study, and I felt unsure if they’d stand up to my childhood fondness for them. Well, if anything, I love them even more now. Wilder’s descriptions of life in the olden days and the warm family relationships never lose their appeal. The books are even more important to me now because I’m writing a story that is inspired by them.
#4
Anna Karenina
by Leo Tolstoy
I’d been meaning to read this epic novel for years, but it daunted me. I finally took the plunge and thought it was incredible! Leo Tolstoy is the first Russian writer I’ve encountered, and now he’s one of my favorite writers. The stories of the numerous characters in Anna Karenina are deeply moving, from the gradual downfall of Anna to the arduous upward climb of Konstantin Levin, a man Tolstoy patterned after himself. It’s a book to really make you think about your moral choices and goals in life. Read my full review HERE.
#3
The Other Bennet Sister
by Janice Hadlow
This became my favorite Regency novel by a non-Regency author. I’d always felt a little sorry for marginalized Mary, the middle Bennet sister in Pride and Prejudice. Bookish and awkward, she needed to grow. The Other Bennet Sister recounts some of the events in Pride and Prejudice from Mary’s perspective and then goes on to trace her path afterward. It’s a deep coming-of-age story that I could relate to, told in an authentic yet completely readable historical voice that immersed me in the Regency period. Read my full review HERE.
#2
Sir Gibbie
by George MacDonald
This book awed me. I grew up thinking MacDonald’s Scottish novels in their original form were inaccessible ... but that is certainly not the case, especially now with David Jack’s side-by-side translation of the Doric dialect into English. MacDonald’s works are profound and beautiful, his language flowing and poetic, and I’m so glad they are being republished like this. All this novel’s characters are memorable and meaningful, but none more so than Sir Gibbie himself, a mute boy with a heart full of love for mankind. The Christian values encased in his inspiring story weave their way into your heart. Check it out on Goodreads HERE.
#1
Why Care about Israel?
by Sandra Teplinsky
From the back cover: “No one can read the Bible and deny that God has specific plans for the Jewish nation. From the moment he created Israel, he loved her and set a plan in motion that is yet to be fulfilled. What is that plan? What does it mean for Arab peoples? How are Christians to respond?”
This book helped me reaffirm my commitment to care about Israel, pray for her, and support her now more than ever in these stormy times when the tide of world opinion is more against her, and God, than ever. A must-read for every Christian. Find it on Goodreads HERE. (The updated version is HERE.)
What were your favorite reads of 2020?
I was interviewed by M. L. Little, author of The Book of Secrets, on her blog this week! The interview is mainly about my oldest published books, Family Reunion and England Adventure, books 1 and 2 in the Six Cousins series.
Click here to go to her blog and read the interview. M. L. Little writes reviews for Kid Lit Exchange and often works with kids while somewhat maintaining her sanity. Her house backs up to the edge of the woods, where she sometimes hears the cry of what might be a nullian. The Book of Secrets, installment #1 in the Seventh Realm series, is her first novel.
Today I'd like to tell you about a lovely short story by a new author:
Ella has narrowly escaped a fatal marriage once, but she plans to never
be caught in that web again. It’s been easy to evade the young men of
her church so far, but Joe is different.
Can Ella keep avoiding
the ever-persistent Joe, especially when she knows her own heart is
pulled toward him? Can she trust Joe and, more importantly, can she
trust God? Is she willing to face her fears or will she continue to run,
breaking more hearts than one?
Available on Amazon HERE.
About the Author
Hannah Foster was born and raised in North Carolina where she was
homeschooled with her eight siblings. She attended college in Minnesota
where she got her bachelor’s degree in literature, learned to survive
temperatures of below zero, and became Mrs. Foster. From a young age,
Hannah has loved reading. Throughout her teen years, she also enjoyed
journaling and blogging, but it wasn’t till her mid-twenties that she
discovered her love for penning her own stories. Hannah’s desire is that
the words she writes would bring hope and light in a dark world.
Besides reading and writing, she also enjoys baking, watercolor
painting, and all things vintage.
You can read Hannah’s blog at hannahfosterwrites.wordpress.com.
My review:
I really enjoyed copyediting this short story! The romance was sweet and God-centered, and the message was valuable for anyone in any situation: trusting God and not allowing fear to keep you from following His good plans for you. It's a quick, satisfying read that will fill your heart with warmth.
Her enemies rejoice in her weakness.
But when the Queen remembers,
They tremble in fear.
When a King loves,
His country rejoices with him.
But when that love is broken.
The land is broken, too.
Can Water and Fire join again?
Can Love and Memory be restored?
They spent years in Rizkaland. They ruled the land, forged friendships, built families, and made it their home. But then it was time to return to Earth, and their former lives just don’t fit anymore. Clara and Andrew struggle to reevaluate their priorities when hundreds of miles separate them. Reuben and Petra are lost as they seek a balance between their old friendship and their Rizkan marriage. And Ashna and Noraeto never planned to return, so what live is there for them on Earth?
When the unthinkable happens and a new enemy arises, they’re all thrown back into Rizkaland, into a young prince’s rise to power and struggle to build alliances for his kingdom. But they no longer belong in their other world, either.
Are good memories too much to bear?
Release Date: April 19, 2021
Black Friday Sale
For Black Friday and in honor of this cover reveal, Kendra is offering book one, Water Princess, Fire Prince, as a FREE ebook on Amazon, and book 2, Lady Dragon, Tela Du, is just 99 cents! And, furthermore, she is offering Broken, which is part 1 of Love and Memory, for free as well as an early read! This sale is part of Perry Kirkpatrick’s Black Friday Sale, so do go check out all of the other books on offer for 99 cents or less!
On that note, my books (Kelsey's) are also part of this massive Black Friday through Cyber Monday sale on ebooks! Check out the huge selection at https://sale.perrykirkpatrick.com/.
