Blog Tour: Unauthorized

 

About the Book

Book: Unauthorized, a prequel novella

Author: Sherri Wilson Johnson

Genre: Faith-Based Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Daisy Blackwood has always played by the rules. As a meticulous budget analyst in Nashville, she’s built a life of quiet routines and steady work—until one discovery shatters everything. She uncovers evidence of embezzlement at her firm and sets off a chain of events that leaves Daisy framed, frightened, and fighting to clear her name.

With her career—and freedom—on the line, Daisy finds an unexpected ally in Owen Mackenzie, a sharp-witted IT auditor who’s more comfortable behind a screen than in the middle of corporate chaos. As danger closes in, Owen steps out of the shadows to protect her, and a slow-burning connection sparks into something deeper.

Set against the soulful backdrop of Nashville, this heartwarming romantic suspense blends ”wrongfully accused,” “slow burn romance,” and ”protective hero” tropes into a story of courage, trust, and unexpected love.

As Daisy and Owen dig deeper into a dangerous conspiracy, they’ll have to risk everything—including their hearts—to uncover the truth.

* Unauthorized is the prequel novella to book one in Sherri’s The Silas Holcomb Legacy series, coming out in the fall of 2025.

About the Author

Sherri Wilson Johnson writes romantic suspense from her home in Georgia where she lives with her husband, their two dogs and spoiled Bombay cat. Sherri loves spending time with family, vacationing at the beach, reading or working on her current work-in-progress. She dreams of a second home on some beach somewhere some day, where she can plot romantically suspenseful novels around the clock.

 

 

More from Sherri

When I started dreaming up the Silas Holcomb Legacy series, I knew I didn’t want to write about traditional heroes and heroines. You know the type—confident, charismatic, effortlessly brave. Instead, I wanted to explore the quieter, quirkier people we often overlook. The dependable coworker. The quiet thinker in the back of the meeting room. The ones who aren’t flashy or bold or naturally brave. The ones who doubt themselves more than they should. The ones who never imagined they’d find themselves at the center of a high-stakes mystery… or a love story.

That’s the heart of The Silas Holcomb Legacy series, and specifically the vibe you’ll feel in Unauthorized, the prequel novella. Daisy and Owen are the kinds of people who don’t usually get the spotlight—but should.

Daisy is a sharp-minded budget analyst working in the competitive corporate world of Nashville. She’s smart, driven, and meticulous—but doesn’t exactly stand out in a room. (Well, to Owen—the quiet, nerdy guy from IT—she does, but she doesn’t know that!) After the recent death of her estranged grandfather, she’s emotionally raw and not at all ready to play detective. But when she stumbles across an embezzlement scheme and someone tries to frame her for it, she’s forced to step into a role she never imagined: the one who solves the mystery.

And she doesn’t do it alone.

Owen is not your typical romantic lead—he knows more about server logs than small talk. He’s not suave, he’s not smooth, but he’s steady and loyal and brilliant in all the ways that matter. Together, they dig into the company’s secrets, unravel a trail of deception, and prove that you don’t need to be the loudest person in the room to change the story.

This story is about rising to the occasion, even when you don’t feel like the kind of person who’s supposed to save the day. It’s about finding strength when you’d rather hide. About realizing you were never a side character—you were just waiting for your moment to lead.

And yes, it’s about love that grows not from charm or swagger, but from courage and kindness. Daisy and Owen prove that sometimes, the least likely heroes are exactly the ones we need. Their journey is close to my heart, and I hope their story encourages readers to believe in their own quiet kind of brave.

And the most exciting part? This is the first book in a thrilling and mysterious new series that brings an estranged family back together. Will they stay together? Well, you’ll have to stay tuned for the rest of the series to find out!

I can’t wait to show you what’s next.

Sherri

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 21

Stories By Gina, October 22 (Author Interview)

The Mommies Reviews, October 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 23

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, October 24 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool , October 25

Simple Harvest Reads, October 26 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, October 27

Artistic Nobody, October 28 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 29

Guild Master, October 30 (Author Interview)

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, October 31 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, November 1

Fiction Book Lover, November 2 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 3 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, November 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sherri giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d281/unauthorized-celebration-tour-giveaway

An Interview with Sherri

What is your favorite thing about being a writer? – Brainstorming with other writers and meeting readers.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? – The stories are always deeper than I think. There’s always a certain amount of healing that I go through in the process of writing a book, and I often don’t realize it until it’s done.

Can you share a real-life event that inspired your writing? – Yes, my current book is about a family estrangement, and my extended family went through an estrangement for a while.

What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book? – How long will it take me to write it? Who will want to read it? What genre is this going to be? What unusual career can I come up with for my hero or heroine? What is the takeaway? Will this be a series or a standalone?

What was the best money you spent as a writer? – Research trips to the beach for my Jeopardized Reunions series.

How are your characters like you? Different? – My heroines are almost always pretty feisty, like me. They are also usually pretty curious, like me. They are probably braver than I am, because I can’t say that I would walk into a situation where I knew a killer might be waiting for me.

How do you come up with story lines/book topic? – Most of the time, story ideas just pop into my head while I’m doing random everyday tasks. When I came up with the idea for Desolate Escape, book one in my Jeopardized Reunions series, I was sitting on a secluded beach and said to my husband, “I see a dead body down there.” As I pointed down the beach, he asked, “Where?!” I think he was going to call 911. I told him it was in my imagination. For several years, every time we’d go to that same beach, I’d say it again. Then finally, I wrote the story. They do usually just pop in at the most random of times.

Why do you write in your particular genre? – I like to write about love, but I also like to have my hero and heroine running for their lives.

What is one thing you wish you could do? – Retire and write full time!!

What was your favorite childhood book and why? – The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge. I always loved how the little red lighthouse always felt insignificant but then quickly learned that he had a purpose—to keep ships from crashing into the bridge and the rocks on the shore.

Talkshow Thursday: Kathleen Bailey and a Hilltop Reunion

Talkshow Thursday: 

Kathleen Bailey and a Hilltop Reunion

For most of the year, Route 112 is the farm-to-market connection between Lincoln and Conway, New Hampshire. In the autumn it’s transformed, with its mountain vistas striped in red, orange and gold. The locals gladly share their road with “leaf peepers,” the carloads and vanloads and busloads of tourists come to see the miracle known as Fall Foliage. The 32-mile stretch offers jaw-dropping vistas of trees in their autumn glory. The road cuts through the White Mountain National Forest. But it wasn’t always so.

Though the Native Americans traversed the mountains with their own pathways, the connection that became the Kanc didn’t exist before 1959. Its life in the modern era began as two small-town roads, one in Lincoln, NH and the other in Passaconaway, NH (later to become simply “Conway”). In 1937 the two roads were extended and connected, though they weren’t much used except by the locals. That all changed in 1959, when the road was renamed the Kancamagus Highway and opened for thru traffic. It gained immediate popularity as a tourist destination. The dirt road with its hairpin curves wasn’t good for heavier traffic, and it was paved in 1964. It was closed in winter until snow removal was instituted in 1969.

“The Kanc” now receives 750,00 visitors a year. They come for the scenic vistas, especially in fall: the

Hancock Overlook, the Sugar Hill overlook, and others. Buses bring frail seniors and people from across the ocean. The more active can park, picnic and hike on one of the hiking trails. The Kancamagus Pass, the highest point of elevation on the road, is a breathtaking 2,855 feet. And don’t be surprised if you see some wildlife.

The Kancamagus Highway is the gateway to the White Mountains region and the beating heart of my Hilltop books. It’s a catalyst for my Hilltop characters. Jane and Noah have their first serious conversation on one of its rocky outcrops. Paul proposes to his first wife at a scenic overlook on the Kanc. Paul’s first wife, Sarah, dies in a car crash on one of its hairpin curves. And Paul recommits his life to God on its slopes, on a frigid December afternoon.

For my locals, the Kanc is part of their lives. It’s where they do school botany projects, practice photography, and teach their children about nature. It’s the reason Hilltop has never built more than one small playground. They have the Kanc. Its majestic vistas bring them face-to-face with God.

I’m a firm believer in setting serving as its own character – the “red earth of Tara,” the Oregon Trail, New York City. Setting shapes character, and the White Mountains of New Hampshire shape mine. In the shadow of the mountains, they can’t run away from God – or themselves. The Kanc will figure in the third Hilltop book, “Hilltop Wedding,” for at least one of my characters.

And the locals will continue to brake for tourists – and moose.

About Hilltop Reunion

Jillian Despres left Hilltop, and Paul McKee’s love, to follow a dream that had no foundation. Can an

old love become new again, and can it happen in time for Christmas?

Jillian Despres never wanted to come back to Hilltop, New Hampshire, at the best of times. She’s put every mile she can between the ragged girl receiving the town’s charity and the polished Boston television anchor she’s become. But when the town authorities call her grandfather on his hoarding, Jill has no choice. She lands in Hilltop in time for the renowned Hilltop Christmas Festival, and in the arms of a man she knew was too good for her.

Police Chief Paul McKee has more reason than most to distrust Jillian, and to wish she’d stayed in Boston. But his vow to preserve and protect his community gives him no wiggle room. Whatever his personal feelings, he must champion the woman’s return to Hilltop, at least until she has her grandfather settled and his house put to rights.

When the ugly past threatens to invade this year’s festival, can Paul and Jill depend on the risen Lord to make things right?

Series notes: “Hilltop Reunion” is the sequel to “Hilltop Christmas,” published in 2023. The books take place in tiny Hilltop, New Hampshire, around a three-day Christmas festival meant to emphasize the birth of Christ. Miracles happen at “Festival” – marriages healed, estranged families reunited, faith born or strengthened. Welcome to Hilltop, the Town That Heals.

About Kathleen Bailey

Kathleen Bailey is a journalist and novelist with 40 years’ experience in the nonfiction, newspaper and inspirational fields. Born in 1951, she was a child in the 50s, a teen in the 60s, a young adult in the 70s and a young mom in the 80s. It’s been a turbulent, colorful time to grow up, and she’s enjoyed every minute of it and written about most of it. She publishes historical Western fiction with Pelican/White Rose Publishing and contemporary Christmas stories with Elk Lake Publishing. She’s also the co-author of four nonfiction local history books with Arcadia Publishing. Visit her at https://kathleendbailey.weebly.com/

Photo Credits: All photos property of Kathleen D. Bailey

Teatime Tuesday: Tea During World War II

 Teatime Tuesday: Tea During WWII

According to several sites, about eighty percent of Americans drink tea, however, that wasn’t always the case. Coffee was most people’s drink of choice, especially during the 1930s through 1950s. Perhaps it had a little something to do with that altercation called the Boston Tea Party 251 years ago!

On the other hand, the British consume copious amounts of tea, so there was great unrest when it was rationed during World War II. However, even in rationing individuals received enough to have about three cups a day. The reason for the rationing was to ensure that troops had enough tea for their morale and comfort. More than a beverage, as one site put it, “tea was a symbol of national unity. Drinking it provided a warm, comforting sense of home in the midst of combat. Additional benefits were the caffeine that helped troops stay awake, and the water-based drink helped them stay hydrated. Perhaps they also drank less alcohol.

Another site claims that Prime Minister Winston Churchill called tea more important than ammunition and a quarter pound of Twinings tea was included in all Red Cross packages (an estimated twenty million) and field rations. The site also reports that annual government purchases in order of weight were bullets, tea, artillery shells, bombs, and explosives.

Tea was considered so important that Minister of Food, Lord Woolton told tea company to “remove

their stocks to less vulnerable positions.” Within days of the commencement of war, 30,000 tons of tea were sent to a variety of safe houses outside of London. The tea auctions ceased, and the Ministry of Food became the owner of all tea stocks. Of the 280 tea wholesales, they were allowed leaf in only three grades: high, medium, and low. After Mincing Lane, the center of London’s tea trade was bombed in May of 1941 destroying about half of the brokers’ offices, the removal of tea was sped up and by 1942, most of the contents of the warehouses had been dispersed to five hundred locations across the country.

Citizens of the Netherlands were recipients of Britian’s precious commodity when the Royal Air Force dropped 75,000 tea bombs into the occupied country. The bombs carried tea from the Dutch East Indies and a message from the British encouraging the Dutch they would rise again.

A tragic incident occurred on June 13, 1944 when the British 22nd Armored Brigade stopped for a tea break in the village of Villers-Bocage near Normandy. The Germans took advantage of the situation and attacked the “tea party.” The British lost fourteen tanks, nine half-tracks, four gun carriers, and two anti-tank guns, and over two hundred men in a mere fifteen minutes. As a result of this, the Centurion tank produced at the end of the war was equipped with the “Boiling Vessel,” a cube-shaped electric boiler that allowed the crew to brew a cup without leaving the safety of the tank.

__________________________

A Lesson in Love

He thinks he’s too old. She thinks she’s too young. Can these teachers learn that love defies all boundaries?

Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after most of the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Then her friend Margery talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming.

Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, raven-haired leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. Can he trust her not to break his heart?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3YHgUb0

Sources: 

https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/tea-blog/keep-calm-carry-on

https://www.carslaketea.co.uk/tea-and-how-important-is-was-during-world-war-two 

https://jenierteas.com/tea-hub/?p=drinking-tea-during-the-blitz-and-world-war-two

https://authorselectric.blogspot.com/2019/02/tea-during-world-war-ii-jan-edwards.html

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1jXL1LhEsTs

https://www.beachesofnormandy.com/didyouknow/Did_you_know_how_tea_influenced_armored_warfare

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss0MHh1I0vc&t=15s

Fiction Friday: The Ephesus Pages

The Ephesus Pages

By MJ Elliott

I am so excited to write this post today. It has been a long time coming but the door for The Ephesus Pages: Mysteries in Ephesus is coming soon, and it’s better than it ever was before. To be honest and real for a moment, a big part of me never thought I’d be able to write and share this story.

As it was, everytime I tried to focus my attention on this second season, nothing went as planned. This weighed pretty heavily upon me. Whether it was struggles with my summer release, The Hope of Inheritance, the chaos of living life with ADHD, writer's block, or even the plot of this season, something was always there to pull me away from it.

That’s the beauty of being a self-publishing author, though. I don’t have a publisher forcing content; I can leave it in God’s hands and trust that those who truly matter… the readers… will be there when the door swings open. The way this season is turning out is something only God could have places in my chaos-driven mind, and I think you are going to find something truly memorable within its pages.

Before diving into the plot, I want to send a huge thank you to Linda Shenton Matchett for highlighting this post for me today! It was here that the world was introduced to part one, A Journey Begins, and it is only fitting that it is here that we introduce part two.

~~~

The Recap from Season One and What’s Next in Ephesus

• In Season One: A Journey Begins, the story began to unfold as John Mark left Barnabus behind in
  
  Cyprus in search of reconciliation with Paul, his former ministry mentor. His journey to Ephesus was a spiritual awakening, and we met figures like Titus, Apollos, and Luke along the way. In Ephesus, Aristarchus was introduced, struggling through his own faith awakening while serving in Paul's growing ministry.
• In Season Two: Mysteries in Ephesus, these two seemingly separate worlds collide in unexpected ways:
• The Conflict: Rumors of a man endowed with miracle-working powers flourish throughout the city and cause strife among believers, leading to mysteries unknown.
• John Mark’s Reconciliation: Continuing his journey from Cyprus, he is motivated to do everything in his power to reconcile with his former mentor Saul, now called Paul.
• Aristarchus’s Mystery of Faith: Diving into the mystery of John Mark, he is mentored by none other than Priscilla and Aquilla who are tasked with helping him find his way through his own struggle with the unknown.
• The Ministry Under Attack: Introducing Timothy, and a young man named Gaius, along with others; John Mark and Paul must find a way to overcome the strange rumors about the false god Artemis, and her priests. All while dealing with the exploits of Sceva and his sons before they have their way.

Darkness is seeking to overcome the light in every direction. Hope seems lost. Fear lurks around every corner, and John Mark has found himself divinely placed amid all of it for such a time as this.

~~~

The Road Ahead

Who are Sceva and his sons and what drives them? How will the believers respond to the chaos brewing everywhere in Ephesus? Will John Mark find the reconciliation he seeks? Will Aristarchus find a way to accept John Mark and overcome his own struggles with faith?

There is still so much of this story to tell before we find ourselves in the midst of the Riots of Ephesus that will conclude this epic story in Season Three. The struggles will be real, but the themes of faith and perseverance will shine through. Mystery looms everywhere and is woven into the very fabric of this season, and I can’t wait for you to read it.

I am aiming for an official release announcement soon, as the final date depends on my editor, and of course my own direction. I'll share that date exclusively with my email subscribers first! Sign up here to be the first to know when Mysteries in Ephesus finds its way into the public eye.

Which character's journey—John Mark's reconciliation or Aristarchus's investigation—are you most excited to follow in this new season? Let me know in the comments! 👇

~~~

Author Bio

Matthew (also known by his pen names M.J. Elliott and E.M. James) is an award-winning, dedicated writer with a deep passion for sharing the word of Christ. He is married and the proud father of three wonderful children who continually inspire his faith and creativity. Through his writing, Matthew seeks to minister with love, equip others with encouragement, and help readers encounter God in real and meaningful ways.

Photo Credits:

Author photo and Book Cover: MJ Elliott

Road: Pixabay/Simon

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Laura DeNooyer

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Back, Laura DeNooyer!

I'm pleased to welcome Laura DeNooyer back to my blog. Her latest release sounds so intriguing, and I can't wait to read it. Grab a "cuppa" and read one to learn more about Laura and A Hundred Magical Reasons (even the title is intriguing!)

#1) What was your inspiration for the story?

My dad shared a family story about his father and uncle who were in business together with a younger brother who struggled quite a bit. The two older brothers did everything in their power to help him succeed in his own businesses and later let him work at theirs. I loved the way they cared for him despite all the difficulties they encountered.

This was the spark of the 1950s timeline in my novel. However, it’s just the spark. It’s not a story about my family, and the characters took on lives of their own.

In the 2015 timeline inspiration, I needed two people at cross purposes with each other—both seeking the same information for different reasons.

#2) How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)?

Characters are often the starting point for planning a story, but I needed my characters to function in a certain capacity from the get-go. So Greg (in the 2015 timeline) had no choice but to be an English professor who was writing a biography about a literary icon.

I knew Leslie’s family tree, but had to figure out her backstory and how her life would overlap Greg’s at the university. So I gave her an education background (previously a high school teacher), but I made her a grants officer at the college so she would have to work directly with Greg from time to time.

In the 1950s timeline, I settled on a grocery store for the family business because it fit the characters and what I needed to happen in the story.

#3) How are your characters like you? Different?

My 2015 protagonist Leslie was the easiest because she and I have both been teachers, love literature,

and have wrestled with depression. Even so, she’s very different than I am, but we had enough in common that I could relate to her.

Both Fritz and Eddie Buckwalter were a challenge for me. In the 1950s timeline, I wrote in Fritz’s larger-than-life personality and voice. Other than our common interest in storytelling through writing novels, we are nothing alike. He’s a businessman, for one thing, and an extrovert who loves being the center of attention.

#4)What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?

Two things I had to research were mental illness treatments in the 1950s and the current small campus university setting. Several women in my neighborhood book club are college professors so I enjoyed tapping into their knowledge and experience regarding college protocols, grant proposals, and faculty/staff dynamics.

I enjoyed learning more about 1950s grocery store trends, including common food brands back then. During that time, Swift & Company packaged peanut butter in reusable glass tumblers that featured The Wizard of Oz characters. Nowadays they are still collectors’ items. Being an avid Wizard of Oz fan, I had to include these glass peanut butter jars at the Buckwalter Brothers Grocery.

#5) What questions do you ask yourself when preparing to write a new book?

1) Do I have a passion for telling this story? This is the crucial question, because it must sustain my interest for the long haul—through all the ups and downs of feedback and revision.
2) Why does this story matter to me and why should it matter to potential readers? What unique slant or perspective can I offer?

#6) What draws you to the time period about which you write?

I have a lot of nostalgia about the 1950s—maybe because my parents were in their 20s then and I was born at the tail end of that decade, in 1958. I love the old Danny Thomas TV reruns (originally called Make Room for Daddy) that ran from 1953-1964. Other favorites are I Love Lucy, Leave It To Beaver, and The Red Skelton Show.

I grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show (it started in 1960). I think that’s where my love of small towns comes from. Everything I wrote is set in a small town.

#7) Why do you write in your particular genre?

I don’t necessarily choose the genre; I feel like it chooses me. I just write the story I feel led to share. So far, I’ve published three historical fiction novels—depending on how you categorize dual timeline stories that have both contemporary and historical threads. But other stories in the works include contemporary as well as Biblical fiction.

#8) What is your advice to fledgling writers?

If you have a passion for writing stories, then stick to it, no matter what! You need your passion to overcome the obstacles, criticism, rejection, and fears. Surround yourself with knowledgeable people on the same road. Join a quality writers group that will give you honest feedback with tact. You need to be challenged and pushed, but always with encouragement and kindness.

************
Connect with Laura:

My website & book page: https://lauradenooyer-author.com/the-broken-weathervane/

My newsletter—Sign up for monthly updates and receive 7 free recipes: a-taste-of-oz-cookbook-sampler.com

Book Trailer: https://video214.com/play/pR4occLhUBoqtt4REgsf0g/s/dark

Purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHDTSPH6

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238864888-the-broken-weathervane

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-broken-weathervane-by-laura-denooyer

***************

About Laura:

Laura DeNooyer thrives on creativity and encouraging it in others. A Calvin College graduate, she is a teacher, wife, parent of four adult children, and an award-winning author of heart-warming historical and contemporary fiction. Her novels are perfect for fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Erin Bartels, or Amanda Cox. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her reading, walking, drinking tea with friends, or taking a road trip.

About The Broken Weathervane

Two co-workers seek the same information. One wants to publish it; the other has good reasons to keep it hidden.

As Leslie Wickersham, Raymond University grants officer, seeks information to unravel a family mystery, English professor Gregory Stafford seeks an elusive interview with one more Buckwalter relative for his upcoming author biography. While Greg and Leslie guard coveted details from each other, her goals are further complicated by letters of blackmail threatening to reveal all she has worked hard to hide.

In this dual timeline novel alternating between 2015 and the 1950s, loyalty is tested and secrets abound when family honor collides with truth. Leslie grapples with the trade-off: How far will a person go to help a loved one thrive?

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Book Club Fiction, Dual Timeline Fiction, Historical Fiction

Movie Monday: Love Letters

Movie Monday: Love Letters

Released on October 26, 1945, Love Letters, is based on Christopher Massie’s novel, Pity My Simplicity. Ayn Rand wrote the screenplay, and the film was directed by William Dieterle, a German-born actor and director who fled to the U.S. in 1930. The movie is the second of four that featured Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten in the lead roles.

Jennifer Jones had a career that spanned nearly fifty years and included five Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, for Love Letters. Joseph Cotten was a radio, stage, film, and television actor, doing exceptionally well on Broadway. He became one of Hollywood’s leading actors during the 1940s. According to Wikipedia, “film critics and media outlets have cited him as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.

In the film, Cotten plays Alan Quinton, a soldier stationed in Italy during WWII, who writes letters on

behalf of his friend Roger Morland. As times passes, he realizes Roger’s girlfriend, Victoria, has fallen in love with the letters and informs Roger who subsequently goes to training then to see Victoria while on leave. They marry, but shortly thereafter, Alan is injured, and Roger is killed. Alan is discharged but struggles to settle back to civilian life and his fiancée. He gets drunk at a party and shares the story of his letter writing, only to discover that Roger had been murdered and Victoria (in attendance at the party and who now has amnesia and a new last name of Singleton) was tried for the murder.

In a flashback, the incident is shown in which Roger and Victoria argue about the letters which Roger has forgotten were written on his behalf. He becomes violent and strikes Victoria. Beatrice, Victoria’s adoptive mother, grabs and knife and stabs Roger while Victor tries to save the letters he threw into the fireplace. Alan and Victoria continue to see each other and eventually fall in love. At the last minute, she recalls her true identity and realizes Alan is the one who wrote the letters.

The plot is somewhat convoluted, and as one source put it, “Ayn Rand’s script may stretch credibility,” but Jones and Cotten put on excellent performances. Strong direction and magnificent cinematography add depth. Have you seen this classic?

_____________

The American World War II Home Front in 29 Objects:

Unlike Europe the American mainland escaped physical devastation during World War II as it was not subjected to full-scale invasions. However, that didn’t mean the United States wasn’t impacted by the war. The ramifications of large economic, cultural, and societal changes forced Americans to reconsider entrenched beliefs and traditions.

Artifacts collected from across the nation tell the stories of the American people whose lives were shaped by this second “war to end all wars,” World War II.

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/47pLxR

Photo Credits:
Movie Poster: Fair use, Paramount Pictures
Movie Still: Paramount Pictures
Movie Still: Paramount Pictures

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Letters_(1945_film)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037885/
https://loveletterstooldhollywood.blogspot.com/2018/09/love-letters-1945-turmoil-tragedy-and.html
https://heartofnoir.com/film/love-letters-1945/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Love-Letters

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Barbara Britton!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Back,Barbara M. Britton!

I'm thrilled to be hosting Barbara Britton again as she is one of my favorite authors. It's hard for me to pick my favorite. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and get to know this talented author.

What was your inspiration for the story?

I’ve made a career of writing about little-known Bible stories, so when my husband preached on a Philistine friend of King David’s, I should have been all ears. It took me a year to finally write about Ittai the Gittite. Ittai is an exiled Philistine commander with hundreds of men. How they marched across Israel to King David’s palace in Jerusalem without starting a war is a mystery.

Ittai arrives as prince Absalom is plotting his father’s downfall. King David appears weary and weak when the rumors of rebellion reach him. Ittai is the perfect friend to King David and Ittai’s faith in God is surprising and breathtaking. I knew I had to craft a story with this little-known Bible hero.

King David has become popular due to the Amazon Prime series House of David.

I hadn’t seen the series until a friend raved about the episodes. My husband and I watched the first season. Streaming services like drama and tension, and I found a few times where the powers that be took liberties with the Bible. For example, Goliath was a tall man at around nine feet tall, but he was not the size of King Kong. Amazon makes Goliath taller than what we read in the Bible.

The series hasn’t arrived at the end of David’s reign, so I will be curious to see if Ittai the Gittite is in the cast. I have noticed a few Bible studies about David have been updated in 2025.

How does your job prepare you for being a novelist?

Teaching chapel lessons about Bible stories has helped me immensely in finding storylines. I discovered

new-to-me Bible heroes and heroines. I found wonderful young women who asked Moses to inherit their deceased father’s land (The daughters of Zelophehad) and daughters who helped Nehemiah rebuild Jerusalem’s wall (Daughters of Shallum). I don’t teach as often anymore since I am writing, but I find time to return to school and Sunday school to teach children about the Bible. I love when children and adults learn something new about the Bible or Jesus.

What are common traps for aspiring authors?

The traditional publishing business is slow. I received my first contract in 2015, and the novel wasn’t released until the end of 2016. Many people would ask me when my book was coming out because they believed the process took a few months--not years. Make sure to do the proper editing and revising to launch the best book possible.

After a book is released, there are months of promotion. My advice to authors is “It’s not a launch day, but a launch year.” Sometimes authors are tired of their stories after all the editing, reading, promoting, and speaking about the same characters and story. We still must market the book and engage with readers.

Enjoy the journey of launching a new book. Celebrate the success with family and friends because publishing is a stressful business.

Indie-publishing goes much faster than the traditional route because the author is the publisher and they can set timelines and release dates.

Why do you write in your genre of Biblical Fiction?

My love of discovering new Bible stories and learning more about God keeps me writing in Bible Times. You would think that in Christian Fiction that Bible stories would be a huge genre, but that’s not the case. Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Historical Romance rule the day. Fantasy and Science Fiction are on the rise. Biblical Fiction is becoming popular with the release of The Chosen.

Early on in my writing career, selling Bible stories was difficult. I’m thankful that the genre is receiving more love and readership.

What was the best money you spent as a writer?

Becoming a member of professional writing organizations and getting involved in the organizations was crucial to my career. I met fellow writers who became my friends, critique partners, readers, reviewers, and my cheering section. Professional organizations offer opportunities for learning the craft of writing and the business side of publishing. These organizations shine a light on your books and have leadership opportunities to further your knowledge of the industry. Networking is a key benefit of writing groups. Christian groups offer prayer support and encouragement in your faith walk. Christian groups also acknowledge our talent is given by the Creator.

What does your writing space look like?

My computer desk is cluttered with free notepads that come in the mail. I have story ideas and task lists strewn over the top of my desk. My cat sleeps in the corner and she is a cutie. When I feel stressed, I glance at Ginger.

What is your next project?

I am thrilled to be launching a Biblical Fiction Bible Study/Devotional on January 6, 2026. I write about stories from the Gospel of Mark showing how amazing Jesus is. I visited the Sea of Galilee in March of 2023 and was inspired by the ruins and history. Jesus walked and lived where I had the privilege to visit. “Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee” was one of the most rewarding, yet challenging, projects to write.

About Defending David:

When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six-hundred warriors.

Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman's niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land.

Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir's betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son?

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092DVQ659

About Barbara:

Barbara M. Britton is a multi-published author of Christian Fiction. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. You can also travel to Whispering Creek, Tennessee with her sweet romance duology. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website: http://www.barbarambritton.com

Follow Barbara on BookBub and be notified of her upcoming release: “Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee.” Arrives on January 6, 2026.

BookBub Link: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/barbara-m-britton
X: https://x.com/BarbaraMBritton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063699481102

Photo credits:

Author Photo and book image: Barbara Britton

Bible: Pixabay/Petra Riddell

Group of people: Pixabay/StartUpStockPhotos