Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Jodie Wolfe!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Back, Jodie Wolfe!

I love Jodie's books and can't wait to read this next one. Get to know this interesting author plus a behind-the-scenes peek!

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

Hannah’s Quest is my 11th published book. I’ve actually written a few others that are in my filing cabinet. 😊 If I had to pick a favorite so far… it probably would be Taming Julia, since the heroine was a lot of fun to write.

I love that story! What does your writing space look like?
 

Check out the photo below! I always have a story board so I can easily see my characters while I write. During the writing process, my desk gets fairly messy. When it’s cleared off, it means I’m getting ready to write a new book. 😊

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

With my current Time to Come Home Series, I am trying to include old houses from the town I’m

writing about, as well as area churches, stores, etc. So I often have a bit of research to do before I even start writing a novel in this series.

What was your inspiration for the story?

If you asked me a few years ago if I’d ever write a series focused on prodigals, I would have adamantly said no, since I have no experience in that area. However, things have changed in our lives since then, and it currently is the road my husband and I are walking. I use my writing to help work through various trials we are going through or have gone through.

What draws you to the time period about which you write?

Good question. 😊 I think I love historical because in some ways it was a simpler time of life, although the 19th Century required much more physical work.

What is one thing you wish you could do?

I wished I had a maid to take care of cleaning/organizing the house, while also making meals for me/us.

What was your favorite childhood book and why?

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie series. It helped to develop my love of historical and the desire to write.

What is your next project?

I’m currently working on a historical novella collection called Courting Love that will hopefully be out sometime this fall. Once the final novella is written, I’ll get back to work on my Time to Come Home Series. Book #3 will be Sarah’s Search, due to come out in February 2026.

About Hannah's Quest:

Hannah Moore escapes the overbearing grip of her relatives and forges her own way in Shippensburg, PA, far away from their clutches. Despite Hannah’s sheer determination, she finds life on her own daunting as she loses job after job. Unsure where she fits in, Hannah wonders if she’ll ever be good enough. She feels as if God has forsaken her and questions if she will ever find a place to belong. The last thing she needs is an ignorant shop keeper constantly questioning her abilities and standing in her way. Hannah will take almost any position available so as not to return to the place of her upbringing.

Luke Weiser has one goal in mind—finding a way to save his grandmother and restore her health. Only trouble is, she has other ideas about what is best for her. Gran longs to see Luke’s return to faith in the Lord, but he blames God for his grandmother’s sickness and the tragic events of his childhood. After the death of his mother, followed by his father’s abandonment, Luke refuses to trust his heart to anyone, and certainly not a wife. When Hannah keeps popping up in the hardware shop where he works, Luke is forced to think twice about his convictions.

Can two bruised hearts follow their personal quests and discover healing in the process?

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/44kXFHx

About Jodie:

JODIE WOLFE loves writing historical fiction after years as a homeschooling mom. She enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, knitting, and walking. Jodie creates novels where hope and quirky meet. Visit her at http://www.jodiewolfe.com.

Traveling Tuesday: Flushing, New York

Traveling Tuesday: Flushing, NY

Eye of the Beholder, my contribution to the Apron Strings Tea Tales series that will release in July 2026, is set during the 1939 World’s fair which was located in Flushing Meadows, a neighborhood in the north-central section of Queens, one of New York City’s five boroughs (a district that is an administrative unit). With a current population of over 200,000, the neighborhood is larger than the biggest city in New Hampshire where I live!

The idea for the World’s Fair began four years earlier when George McAneny, executive manager at the New York Times and president of the Regional Plan Association, brought a group together to discuss the possibility of an international exposition. With support from Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, the New York World’s Fair Corporation was formed, and McAneny was named president. After much consideration, the Flushing Meadows site was selected because of its size (1,003 acres), central location, and the city already owned 586 acres nearby.

Straddling the Flushing River, Flushing Meadows was mostly wetlands until the 1910s when it was ushed as a dumping ground for coal ashes with the thought to eventually develop the land into a port. With the onset of World War I, plans for the port ceased, however, dumping continued.

As a result, much work needed to be done to prepare the site for the fair including purchasing the

surrounding land and relocating the occupants, then leveling the ash mounds and diverting the river into underground culverts. Beginning in June 1936, four hundred fifty employees worked three eight-hour shifts to rebuild the landscape and excavate to create Meadow and Willow lakes. The lakes were to serve as repositories for excess storm runoff, and the dirt was used as additional topsoil for the park. In 1937, trees were put in to create a natural landscape around the park and along pedestrian walkways.

Using much of the refuse (ash mounds), the road system surrounding and bisecting the park was also improved in preparation of the anticipated thousands of visitors. You may be familiar with some of the streets: Vany Wyck Expressway, Long Island Expressway, and Grand Central Parkway. However, executives must not have given enough thought to the water system because in November 1939, a water main that supplied the area failed. The pipeline had not been built on piling foundations which cause it to sink into the marsh. Oops! Repairs cost more than $50,000. The public transit system was also upgraded and expanded.

Because the organizers knew the fairgrounds would be converted to a park after the event, the landscape architect, Gilmore David Clarke (who designed many of NYC’s parks and public spaces) planned accordingly with 250 acres of lawns, and topiary and deciduous trees. More than one million plants, one million bulbs, 250,000 shrubs, and 10,000 trees were installed. There were also approximately fifty landscaped gardens, as well as fountains and water features.

All in all, about $156 million dollars, a combination of public and private funds, was spent to transform “The Valley of Ashes” into Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

________________

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 the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Her friend 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, blonde 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

Photo credits:

World's Fair Promenade: By FOTO:Fortepan — ID 16945:Adományozó/Donor: Public Domain

Valley of Ashes: By New York (N.Y.). Bureau of EngineeringFairchild Aerial Camera Corporation - NYPL Digital Gallery — Catalog ID (B-number): b13985741, Public Domain.

Flushing Globe: Pixabay/nerastudio

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Elle E. Kay!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Elle E. Kay

I'm pleased to welcome Elle to my blog today. She writes fabulous books! Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and read about her writing journey. She's got a new release too!

Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym? Why or why not?

I write under two pseudonyms. I chose Ellie Mae Kay for my children's fiction because I had already published non-fiction under my real name, and I wanted to create clear separation between genres. I didn't want readers buying Zebras of Hope thinking it was for kids when it's actually about living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. When I wrote my debut Christian fiction in 2015, I applied similar reasoning and became Elle E. Kay. Interestingly, I'm now called Elle or Ellie more often than Ellen (my given name).

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

I have 26 published books, 23 of those are Christian fiction. My favorite is Bodyguard's Fake Bride. The protective hero is a kilt-wearing Scotsman who brings the heroine to a castle in Scotland for his family reunion. I adore everything about this book! Ironically, it doesn't sell as well as my other titles, possibly because readers assume they need to read all the authors in the multi-author series. But it's actually a standalone, though readers can start with The Billionaire's Reluctant Bride for character backstory.

Why do you write in your particular genre?

I write romantic suspense/thrillers because that’s what I most like to read. I like a gripping story that

makes me flip through the pages to find out how the hero and heroine will find their happily-ever-after.

How are your characters like you? Different?

Stella from my debut is probably the most like me, but even in that one book, I made her mother a children’s book author, so that was me sneaking in there. In the second book in that series, Claudia plays piano and sings similar to me. Each heroine has a little piece of me in them, but they also have something about them that I admire in others. For example, Claudia is a marine reservist. Stella has unshakable faith.

Can you share a real-life event that inspired your writing?

My biological father was a police officer who went to prison. Inspired by the Hero took the pain from that experience and turned it into a book. In that same book, the hero’s sister suffers from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (which I also have), so I felt I was able to make her situation feel authentic through my own experiences.

How does/did your job prepare you for being a novelist?

I've worked in several fields, primarily legal, where I served as both paralegal and tech support/network supervisor. The legal experience gave me valuable insight into the system. Though, I've mostly avoided legal thrillers because after living it for years, writing it feels too much like work! The tech background, however, has been invaluable for the digital aspects of a writing career: websites, promotion, all the technical elements many authors struggle with.

How has your book changed since your first draft?

I wrote my latest release, Project Sentinel, a couple of years prior to releasing it. It was initially titled Betrayed Trust and it was a shorter novel because it didn’t include the villain scenes. Adding them increased the tension and suspense. I changed the name to reflect the AI overwatch aspect of the book.

What is your next project?

I'm working on the second book in my Toxic Truth series, Midnight Masquerade. It's up for preorder now and scheduled to release in October. The story follows Dante and Lisa, who were introduced in Midnight Offensive, as they face a personal connection to a human trafficking ring alongside someone selling US intelligence. They must stop the threat before it culminates at the masquerade ball charity event.

About Project Sentinel:

Under the all-seeing eye of Project Sentinel, the truth is a memory away—and a love she forgot is their only hope.

Her memory is gone. But Faith Flanagan is about to learn what she believed about her past was a lie, and the truth could kill her. Two years after the accident that shattered her world, Faith is haunted by unsettling dreams and the growing suspicion that she's not who she thinks she is.

When Elijah Knight, a dangerously attractive operative from a life she can't recall, crashes back into her existence, he brings a chilling warning: her husband was murdered. Faith, he claims, holds explosive files Thad entrusted to her—files that could expose a conspiracy wielding Project Sentinel, a terrifyingly advanced AI surveillance system with the power to predict their every move. Now, they're on the run, pursued by relentless enemies who will kill to keep their secrets buried and the files out of Faith's unremembering hands. As fragments of her past resurface, so does an undeniable, complicated passion for the man sworn to protect her. But in a deadly game of cat and mouse, where betrayal lurks around every corner, can Faith unlock the secrets buried in her mind before they become her undoing? And can a love she doesn't remember be the one thing that outsmarts the machine and the rogue officials controlling it?

If you enjoy gripping romantic suspense packed with secrets, high-stakes conspiracies powered by chilling AI, and a love fighting to be remembered against all odds, you won't want to miss Project Sentinel.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/46rAwEM

Connect with Elle:
Website/Blog: https://ElleEKay.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElleEKay7
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/elleekay7/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/ellekay
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elle-e-kay
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15016833.Elle_E_Kay

___________

Photo Credits:

Author/Book Image: Elle E. Kay

Pencil and Notepad: Pixabay/congerdesign

Surveillance Cameras: Pixabay/Joseph Mucira

Movie Monday: The Story of GI Joe

Movie Monday: The Story of GI Joe

A tribute to the American infantryman in World War II, The Story of GI Joe released eighty years ago last month and is based on the compiled columns of journalist Ernie Pyle. Pyle was best known for his stories about “ordinary soldiers.”

Born August 3, 1900, on a farm in Dana, Indiana, Pyle was an only child who had no interest in following in his parent’s footsteps and running a farm. He opted for, as one source put it, a more adventurous life. Upon his high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War I, but the war ended before he finished his training. He then entered college where he was editor of the school newspaper. Bitten by the journalistic bug, he headed to Washington, DC where he was hired at the Washington Daily News, part of the Scripps-Howard newspaper syndicate for whom he would work his whole career.

He generally penned “human interest type stories,” and when he headed overseas as a war correspondent, he continued in the same vein with his reports from the European and Pacific theaters. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1944 for his accounts of infantry soldiers – often referred to as dogface – from the first-person perspective.

The movie stars the up-and-coming actor, Burgess Meredith, as Pyle, who helped with the casting and

insisted, “For God’s sake, don’t let them make me look like a fool.” Other actors were considered for the part, including Leslie Howard, but director William Wellman wanted a physically smaller man to better portray the middle-aged journalist. It took quite a bit of finagling before Meredith, a captain the army, was given an honorable discharge to star in the movie. It was one of his earliest film credits.

Much of the dialogue and narration came the 1943 publication of collected columns called Here is Your War. Nine war correspondents are listed as technical advisers in the film’s credits. The plot follows the untried infantrymen of C Company, 18th Infantry. Lt. Bill Walker (played by Robert Mitchum) allows Pyle to accompany all the way to the front lines of Tunisia and Italy through rain and mud. They take part in the Battle of Kasserine Pass, a “bloody chaotic defeat,” the eventually advance to Monte Cassino where they are stopped and end up hiding out in caves eating cold rations on Christmas day. Some of the men Pyle gets to know are killed, including the lieutenant, and the film ends on a somber note with a fade to black and Pyle narrating the conclusion: “For those beneath the wooden crosses, there is nothing we can do, except perhaps to pause and murmur, ‘Thanks pal, thanks.’”

Two years later, Pyle was killed by enemy fire during the Battle of Okinawa. At the time of his death, his column was published in 400 daily and 300 weekly newspapers nationwide. President Truman later said, “No man in this war has so well told the story of the American fighting man as American fighting men wanted it told. He deserves the gratitude of all his countrymen.”

The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Mitchum’s only career nomination. In 2009, The Story of GI Joe was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically” significant.

Have you seen this classic?

_____________________

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 the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Her friend 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

Photo credits:

Movie Poster: By Illustrator unknown. "©1945 by the United Artists Corporation" - Public Domain

Still from The Story of GI Joe:  United Artists Corporation - Public Domain

Ernie Pyle: By Milton J. Pike - United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3b08817. Public Domain

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Ruth Wuwong

And-linked Phrases and 

Repetitive Words in Fiction: 

A Guest Post by Ruth Wuwong

It’s hard to believe that after publishing nine fiction books and being named a 2025 Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library, I still struggle with the problematic habit of overusing “and”-linked phrases and repeating words.

My editor has repeatedly pointed out issues with my problematic habit.

• Slow down the pacing: The narrative feels sluggish due to too many and-linked phrases and repetitive words (e.g., “but”, “could”, “know”, “feel”, “think”).
• Weaken the writing: Unnecessary repetition makes the prose less powerful.
• Distract the readers: Redundancies often disrupt immersion, making readers notice the writing itself rather than the story.

Consider the following example: “She was tired, exhausted, and weary.” All three words convey nearly the same idea. The redundancy makes the narrative awkward.

Why do writers fall into this trap? Personally, I use redundant phrases when I want to heighten the

emotional impact. Others might do it to imitate the patterns of spoken language. Whatever the reason, it’s a habit that can be difficult to break.

Here are a few strategies to help eliminate redundancy:

1. Choose the strongest word. For example: “She was exhausted.”
2. Use specific details. Instead of telling, show what tiredness looks like. For example: “She slumped in her chair.”
3. Vary sentence structures: Use different sentence structures to replace “and” lists with imagery or action.
4. Use intentional repetition. Sometimes repetition is effective, but it should be purposeful, not just wordy. For example: “She was tired. So very tired.”
5. Read aloud. Reading the work aloud helps catch problems with awkward repetition or rhythm.
6. Identify words we frequently repeat and remove unnecessary occurrences from each chapter.

As a writer, we never stop learning. Every author rewrites, refines, and relearns with each project. Be patient. The quest for clearer, more powerful prose is proof that we care about our readers—and about our art.

About Thunders over Idle Land :

Experience adventure and romance in distant lands, a mesmerizing tale by Whong, named a 2025 Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library.

Two eras, one troubled land, two men bound by parallel existences across centuries. Book 2 in this dual-time odyssey series showcases the enduring resilience of the human spirit. Jason Guan, an assistant director dedicated to environmental conservation in pandemic-stricken Hong Kong, is worried about job-related pressures and petty quarrels threatening his marriage to Debra. Amidst the chaos, they discover an unpublished manuscript by Debra’s late father, a celebrated writer, about a wronged man in nineteenth-century China. While Jason grapples with corruption and lax regulations in wetland preservation, he is thrust into dangerous waters.

In 1834, systemic corruption cripples China and ruins lives. Two weeks before Wang Jun is to marry his beloved fiancée, he is thrown into a maximum-security prison on a remote island without a trial. His only ally? A kung fu master and medical doctor imprisoned because of a riddle linked to the buried treasure of the pirate chief, Cheng Po-Tsai. When greed and exploitation overshadow justice, these men must navigate their respective perils. With a suspenseful connection between the past and present, how do they fight against the insurmountable tides?

Author bio:

Dr. Ruth Wuwong (PhD in biochemistry, MBA in finance) has published 120+ scientific books and papers (under her legal name) and a few Christian fiction books under R. F. Whong. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, a retired pastor. They served together at three churches from 1987 to 2020. Her grown son works in a nearby city. She currently runs a small biotech company (http://www.vidasym.com) and has raised more than twenty million US dollars during the past few years for Vidasym. In addition to her weekly newsletter and the platform (http://www.ruthforchrist.com), she’s active in several writers’ groups, including ACFW, Word Weavers, Facebook, and Goodreads. Through these connections, she plans newsletter/promotion swaps with others and has writers endorse her books, write forewords, and host her on guest blogs.

Follow me on social media:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/love.respect.grace
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42632055.R_F_Whong
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/r-f-whong
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/RWuwong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthwuwong
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ruth.wuwong

To connect with me, please go to http://www.ruthforchrist.com.

Wartime Wednesday: The Potsdam Conference

Wartime Wednesday: 

The Potsdam Conference

Who knew there was so much administration involved in a war? The Potsdam Conference, so named because it took place in the city of Potsdam outside of Berlin, Germany, was held between July 17 and August 2, 1945. The “Big Three:” the leaders of the United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union and their entourages met to with three main agenda items:

• How to handle Germany’s defeat;
• To determine Poland fate;
• To pressure Japan to end the war.

In attendance were US President Harry S. Truman, in place for only three months since President Roosevelt’s death; Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who as one source put it, “was abruptly replaced on July 26 by his successor Clement Attlee after result of the British election were announced.”

Tensions were high and gave a hint of the Cold War to come.

Prior to the conference Truman toured the conquered city of Berlin where he witnessed thousands of

homeless civilians, many of them children, living among the bombed-out ruins. He would later describe the city as a “ghost city” during a radio address.

During the sixteen day forum, details that were encapsulated in the Potsdam Agreement, and included plans to disarm and demilitarized German; divide the country into four Allied occupation zones controlled by the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union; an edict for Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary to expel the ethnic German population within their borders in “an orderly and humane manner;” and the non-negotiable terms for peace with Japan (unconditional surrender). A major part of the discussions involved the heavy postwar reparations demanded by Stalin and agreed to by Roosevelt.

Additionally, the group repealed laws passed by the Nazi regime, removed Nazis from the German education and court systems, and made arrangements for the arrest and trying of Germans who had committed war crimes. Borders were redrawn, and the Council of Foreign Ministers was formed to draft peace treaties with Germany’s former allies.

An intriguing aside is that before the conference Truman received news that the Trinity test of the atomic bomb by the Manhattan Project scientists was successful, and he hoped to use the information as a bargaining chip with Stalin. However, the Soviet leader didn’t seem interested, and Truman would later recall, “He was glad to hear it, and ‘hoped we would make good use of it against the Japanese.’” Unbeknownst to the president the project had at least two Soviet spies within its ranks.

__________________________

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 the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Her friend 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, blonde 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

Photo credits:
Table of Delegates: “Scene of Potsdam Conference,” July 19, 1945, National Archives and Records Administration, Office of Presidential Libraries, Harry S. Truman Library.
Trio: “The new Big Three meet for the first time at the Potsdam Conference,” July 29, 1945, National Archives and Records Administration, Office of Presidential Libraries, Harry S. Truman Library.
Map: Google maps, accessed July 7, 2025

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Mary Hamilton

For What It’s Worth: 

A Guest Post by Mary L. Hamilton

“Worth isn’t always measured in dollars and cents. Sometimes it’s measured in the heart.”

That statement came to me one night just before I fell asleep contemplating a plot for my book Worthless Treasures. I “heard” one of the characters speak it with a Southern accent, and while I didn’t quite know how it fit into the story, I knew it would form the theme, the foundation on which I’d build my novel.

So, what value would you place on a vintage Raggedy Ann doll whose arm has fallen off? One of her legs is hanging on by a thread, and she’s missing half of her faded orange hair. I doubt many of us would give her a second look. But in the novel, great worth is bestowed on her by a little girl living on borrowed time because of a genetic heart defect.

At four years old, Paisley is waiting for a heart transplant. She has an amusing habit of undressing all her dolls. She finds Raggedy Ann in a house her mother is helping clean out. Her mother, Lyndee Rae, takes the doll home intending to reattach the arm and leg. But when she tries to return the doll, Paisley has become so attached to her that she throws a royal tantrum. Let’s find out why by tapping into a conversation between her mother and Di whose late mother owned the doll and wanted it passed on to someone who would treasure it as she had.

Lyndee Rae slid into the car’s seat and waited until they were on their way. “Remember how she undresses all her dolls? When she found this one in the basket of toys, the first thing she did was take the clothes off.”

Di chuckled, imagining the scene.

Lyndee Rae continued. “When she did, she noticed the embroidered heart on the doll’s chest. Several of the threads are frayed and torn apart. She showed it to me and said—” her voice caught “—she said, ‘She needs a new heart just like me.’”

Di’s breath stalled. Tingles spread down her back. “Oh, my.”

“I would’ve fixed the threads while I had it, but she wouldn’t let me. She barely let go of it long enough for me to fix the arm and the leg. I thought I’d have to do it while she slept. But she especially wanted the heart to stay the same. ‘Just like me,’ she said.”

Paisley gives Di her first lesson on finding worth where there is no apparent value. But there are more lessons to come when you read Worthless Treasures. Hint: Discussion questions included at the back make this short novel a great choice for book clubs.

About Worthless Treasures

Professional organizer Diamond Lange helps clients declutter their homes and let go of what no longer serves them. But when her mother, Eva, suddenly passes away, Diamond is left with a house overflowing with junk and a promise she regrets making.

Although Diamond considers everything in her mother's house trash, Eva left behind a specific list of five seemingly worthless objects—a piano, a rag doll, a ceramic vase, a vintage necklace, and a star painting. Eva requested these items be passed on to others who will cherish them as much as she did.

At a time when Diamond questions her own self-worth, she sees little value in the items on the list. Who in the world would accept--much less treasure--a piano that will always be out of tune, a doll that’s lost half its hair, or any of the other worthless items on Eva’s list? But to assuage her guilt, and Eva's perceived disappointment in her, Diamond determines to honor her mother’s last wishes, commencing an emotional journey through dusty memories and buried regrets.

The unexpected arrival of an old flame, the threat of her childhood home being demolished, and a child’s urgent health problem force Diamond to consider what truly matters.

Purchase Links: 
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4497KMT
Other retailers: https://books2read.com/u/b5GggO

About Mary L. Hamilton

Award-winning Texas author Mary L. Hamilton writes contemporary novels rippled with faith. She finds inspiration for her stories in everyday life and includes characters who wrestle with various aspects of faith. When not writing, Mary enjoys reading, knitting, and quiet evenings at home with her husband. They have three grown children and three amazing grandsons.

Website: https://maryhamiltonbooks.com/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/maryhamiltonbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryhamiltonbooks/

Photo credits: All courtesy of Mary L. Hamilton

Release Day: A Lesson in Love

Release Day: 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 the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Her friend 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

Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian Fiction

 

July 2025 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Amish Romance:

Caleb’s Choice by Z Peabody -- Caleb Jacobson, rancher, farmer, and a first-generation veterinarian, has always loved to care for animals. When he was given his choice to either stay in the small community and become a full-time farmer or have his “way about,” Caleb chooses the university, and in doing so, experiences a whole other world outside of his small community. Wanting to start his own practice in his hometown, he returns to the very small community that now shuns him and to the father who hates him. It’s true—sometimes you should never return home. When a college friend asks a favor, that he hire a new head cook, Caleb immediately agrees. But when Caleb walks out of his barn to meet the new employee, he quickly regrets the decision to hire the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on. (Amish Romance from Z Peabody Publishing LLC)

Contemporary Romance:

Rendersella by Amy R Anguish -- Ella dreams of her artwork on display in the famous Prince Gallery, but working for her stepmother leaves her eking out sporadic minutes to draw or paint. When her stepsister steals her drawing and claims it as her own, Ella fears she’s lost her chance. Chaz Prince wants more responsibility at his family’s gallery, but first he must prove he can handle it. Chaz talks his dad into a contest to bring in some new artists, sure this will be exactly what the gallery needs. When he stumbles across Ella’s piece, he not only wants the artwork, but wishes to know the artist too. At the gala to celebrate the contest winners, Ella is determined to let them know the artwork is hers, but time is against her. And where did her shoe end up? (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)

A Family on His Doorstep by Alena Auguste -- Unwed, unemployed and pregnant, Rebecca Young is in desperate need of a job. But finding work seems impossible. So when her late ex-boyfriend’s cousin Walker Greystone offers her room and board, and help getting a part-time job at the library he’s renovating in Eden, Texas, she eagerly accepts. But as they work together on a project that could change both of their lives, their feelings for one another deepen. Can Rebecca and Walk (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

If I Fall for You by Myra Johnson -- She’s a grieving widow. He’s a rancher with too much on his shoulders. Neither expected to fall in love—until God weaves their broken stories together. But when the past resurfaces, will they choose healing or walk away? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Meet Me on Blueberry Hill by Lisa Jordan -- On an island where everyone knows everyone, Asher Quinn is a mystery Sadie Hudson never meant to solve. Once a hopeful songwriter, Sadie's dreams faded after her sister's tragic death five years ago. Now jobless and adrift, she returns to Jonathon Island to care for her beloved grandma, Henrietta. Just as she begins to find solace in the island's charm, a fallen tree damages her grandmother's home, forcing Sadie to accept help from the gruff yet intriguing neighbor, Asher Quinn. Though he seems kind, Sadie can't shake the feeling that he's hiding something. Asher has his own demons, seeking solitude on the island to escape a past that haunts him-especially when he discovers he's responsible for Sadie's sister's death. As they navigate their shared pain, can these two wounded souls find the courage to be honest and embrace love, or will their pasts keep them apart? (Contemporary Romance from Sunrise Publishing)

Plays By the Book by Carolyn Miller -- Britta Johnson knows she’s ordinary, and she’s totally okay with that. She’s secure in God, in her purposes on the planet, and romance is something she finds between the pages of a book. She doesn’t need that in real life. So when a hockey player asks for advice on how to woo his long-distance girlfriend, she knows her heart is safe. Until it’s not. Mitchell Reilly might be feared on the ice-rink, but even he’s intimidated by this little ninja librarian who can whip teenagers into line with a single look. She knows her books too, and seems the perfect candidate to help him find some romantic fictional heroes he can impress his girlfriend with. Until she’s not. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Cozy Mystery:

Down in the Dumpster by Susan Page Davis and Page M Davis -- You never know what you’ll find in a Dumpster. If Cassie had known the misadventures she’d get into on her stopgap job, she would have kept checking the help-wanted ads. With her crabby dispatcher hounding her, she collects the rubbish from a senior citizens’ complex in her garbage truck. When she empties the dumpster, a witness sees a body fall into her compactor. How will she explain this to Mac? And just as important, can rubbish and romance mix? (Cozy Mystery from Scrivenings Press)

Historical Romance:

An Uncharted Dream by Abbey Downey -- Leonora Thornton always envisioned following in her father's footsteps-exploring the world and chasing adventure. But after his tragic death, she can't get past the debilitating fear...until she meets an explorer who promises to take her on his expedition to the very place where her father died. Marcus Turner knows a con man when he sees one, and after years of hiding his family's shameful financial situation, he won't let anyone he cares about be swindled again. Especially not Leonora, his longtime best friend and the woman he secretly loves. Joining the expedition, Marcus embarks on a mission to protect Leonora from the swindler, no matter the cost. When betrayal leaves them stranded far from their destination, Leonora and Marcus must determine if they can rely on God-or each other. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

The Neighbor and the Gifts by Danielle Grandinetti -- When Manitowish Waters librarian Olivia “Ollie” Larson finds a package on the library steps, she expects the children’s books she ordered, not a taxidermied partridge. By the fourth gift from her unknown and unwelcome True Love, disappearing to her grandfather’s isolated cabin in the Northwoods is the only way she can escape him. Deputy Titus Wilburn is happy to escort the lovely librarian to her grandfather’s house on his way to the neighboring Yarwood cabin. After all, he’s been smitten with her since they attended school together, and she needs his protection. However, the plan fails when Ollie’s uninvited suitor discovers her new location. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Uncharted Joy by Keely Brooke Keith -- Daydreaming of running a restaurant sparks joy in Anna Cotter’s solemn heart while she works in her mother’s bakery with her two sisters. Her dream seems impossible until she inherits a charming cottage in the heart of Good Springs. Determined to make her restaurant a blessing to the village, Anna faces challenges from the elder council and a group of rebels who gather at her tables. New-in-town schoolteacher Caleb McIntosh spends his evenings researching the outsiders who have come to the Land in recent years. He uses the village’s new restaurant to work on his manuscript and is struck to the core by the proprietor’s confidence, beauty, and uncrackable demeanor. Anna can handle demanding customers and the council’s edicts, but when the village’s new know-it-all schoolteacher spreads his papers across her corner table every day, her resolve is tested. Yet, as Caleb introduces her to new ideas about the world, faith, and love, her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble. (Historical Romance from Edenbrooke Press)

A Lesson in Love by Linda Shenton Matchett -- 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? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)

Unending Hope by Cindy Kay Stewart -- April 1940. Nazi Germany carries out a devastating invasion, trapping Americans David Jensen and Natalie Thompson in Norway. Determined to use their medical skills to aid the Norwegians, David and Natalie embark on a harrowing journey to treat the injured and evade the Nazis. Natalie, a dedicated Red Cross worker, values deep relationships. Fearful of settling for a shallow marriage, she broke off her engagement to David several years before. But she never stopped loving him and spending time working together in Norway plays havoc with her heart. David, a charismatic and confident doctor with the Red Cross, desires to advance his career and rekindle his relationship with Natalie. Even though she once rejected him, he believes she is the only woman for him. But years of keeping others at arms’ length guarantees that winning Natalie back will be the biggest challenge he’s ever faced. (Historical Romance from Hope Springs Press)

Hannah’s Quest by Jodie Wolfe -- Hannah Moore escapes the overbearing grip of her relatives and forges her own way in Shippensburg, PA, far away from their clutches. Despite Hannah’s sheer determination, she finds life on her own daunting as she loses job after job. Unsure where she fits in, Hannah wonders if she’ll ever be good enough. She feels as if God has forsaken her and questions if she will ever find a place to belong. The last thing she needs is an ignorant shop keeper constantly questioning her abilities and standing in her way. Hannah will take almost any position available so as not to return to the place of her upbringing. Luke Weiser has one goal in mind—finding a way to save his grandmother and restore her health. Only trouble is, she has other ideas about what is best for her. Gran longs to see Luke’s return to faith in the Lord, but he blames God for his grandmother’s sickness and the tragic events of his childhood. After the death of his mother, followed by his father’s abandonment, Luke refuses to trust his heart to anyone, and certainly not a wife. When Hannah keeps popping up in the hardware shop where he works, Luke is forced to think twice about his convictions. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Western Romance:

A Secret Heart by Wendy Klopfenstein -- The last thing middle brother Ed McGraw wants is to be tangled up in a scheme to find a mail-order bride for his black-sheep brother. But that’s right where Ed finds himself…writing love letters and not signing his own name. Intrigued by the woman who writes back. Rebekah Edwards keeps her dreams to herself and finds contentment working for the local newspaper running matrimonial advertisements. Until the day a new ad appears—one written by the very rancher Rebekah has pined for her entire life. But just as she strikes up a correspondence, Rebekah finds herself drawn inexplicably to Ed McGraw—the wrong McGraw brother for her. What will happen when she finds out the author’s true identity? (Western Romance from Sunrise Publishing)

Crime Suspense:

Five Alive by Luana Ehrlich -- Silas faces the most challenging case of his career at Discreet Corporate Security Services. He has seven days to rescue five oil workers kidnapped in a remote area of Saudi Arabia, and the future of the mission is in the hands of someone who betrayed him in the past. Can he trust her? (Crime Suspense, Independently Published)

Romantic Suspense:

Perilous Tides by Elizabeth Goddard -- Three years after her mother's suspicious death, forensic artist Jo Cattrel is in hiding, working at a storm-watching lodge along the Washington coast. When her father sends her a disturbing and cryptic message, Jo leaves the safety of the lodge to find him. But during the ferry crossing, Jo witnesses a murder--and becomes a target. More surprising to Jo than being in danger is the identity of the person who steps in to protect her--none other than her ex, former Green Beret Cole Mercer. Now a private investigator, Cole has been looking into her mother's death. If he can just uncover the truth, maybe Jo can end her self-imposed captivity and the two of them can pick up the pieces and build a future together. As Cole and Jo search for answers, the past rushes in like a dangerous tide before the truth can be revealed. (Romantic Suspense from Revell)

Alaskan Police Protector by Megan Short -- When a minivan slides off the road into an icy lake, Officer Samuel Miller narrowly rescues a woman and child from certain death. Only, Rachel Harding insists the crash is no accident—it’s eerily similar to how her sister and brother-in-law recently died. As the unexplained attacks escalate, Samuel is determined to protect Rachel and her orphaned niece at all costs. But when they make a shocking discovery, their investigation becomes even more dangerous, and survival may be impossible. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])

Burning Truth by Kelly Underwood -- Dani Barlow, disgraced journalist, has been given one last chance to redeem herself—follow a tip about a secret militia compound in the Alaskan wilderness and get the scoop that will put her back on top. But when her investigation takes a dangerous turn, she finds herself running for her life. Dani's only hope is the rugged hotshot firefighter who comes to her rescue. As danger closes in, she'll have to trust this mountain man with her life... He'd risk everything to protect his home… Grizz has one goal: fight fires and protect the Alaskan forests he calls home. But when a reckless, albeit beautiful, reporter trespasses on his territory, he finds himself in the middle of a terrorist plot bent on destroying everything he’s got left to care for. It seems he’ll have to do the very thing he swore he’d never do again: trust. (Romantic Suspense from Sunrise Publishing)

Supernatural Suspense:

Maranatha the Victory Battle by Blossom Turner -- What if the greatest battle you’ll ever fight is the one you cannot see? Mara has faced the unthinkable—abuse, betrayal, and loss—but nothing can prepare her for the final battle ahead. As demons scheme in the shadows and angels stand guard, she must confront her deepest fears. With her marriage hanging by a thread, an abandoned child thrust into her arms, and a relentless enemy determined to destroy all she holds dear, Mara must decide: will she trust in God’s sovereignty, or will fear consume her? (Supernatural Suspense, Independently Published)

Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:

Timebender by Demi Griffin -- A girl born in the Age of Augury but raised in the Age of Mythic, Everwyn grew up in the tranquil seclusion of Everlasting’s Ruins without fully understanding her identity. Time was irrelevant. Growing up in a secure and predictable environment, she enjoyed a warm family life that allowed her to mature peacefully. To her, her parents were just that - parents. Everwyn had no idea about her true lineage as the daughter of the Realm Caster and Librarian. Building an unexpected friendship with a tracker, Everwyn's limited world broadened. At the tender age of twelve epochs, she discovers she is a girl without a homeland, evading Time. Her once simple life took a complicated turn as destiny revealed itself. Betrayed and facing shattered dreams, Everwyn embarks on a winding path that leads her to unexpected places. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)

  Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Cassia’s Calling by Rachel Blanchard -- King Peter seems like a man who cannot be changed. With her otherworldly ability shadowed by uncontrollable hurt, how will Cassia answer her heart’s call? (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy)

Love’s True Measure by Lori DeJong -- As Hunter and Shannon navigate their growing bond, unexpected challenges force them to confront their fears and priorities. Both must either choose to trust God’s plan is far greater than their own, or risk losing the love of a lifetime. (Contemporary Romance)

Revealed Courage: A Journey Forged Through Fire by Eve M Harrell -- The ruthlessness of the new world order is unlike anything he has ever seen. Can he protect his family from an apocalypse he has no control over? Will they have the courage to stand when the forging begins? (Young Adult)

Mothers of a Nation by Carlene Havel and Sharon Faucheux-- Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah reveal their hearts as each tells her own story of joy and sorrow. Never realizing the historical significance of their roles, these four ordinary women became the mothers of a nation. (Historical Biblical)

The Puzzle Within by Gina Holder -- They must confront their own failures and unravel the secrets hidden within themselves to rescue Bridgette … and survive a madman's twisted game. Because one thing becomes clear: Enigma’s real target is much bigger — and far more personal. (Romantic Suspense)

The Garden down the Beach: A Novelette by Annette M Irby -- Online followers, and Gramps, want to see Kamber and Shiloh spend time together, but each is focused on building their careers. Is there room for a relationship in all their planning? (Contemporary Romance)

Project Sentinel by Elle E. Kay -- With lethal agents on her trail, Faith must unlock buried memories, rescue her kidnapped son and outwit Project Sentinel’s surveillance before the conspiracy that murdered her husband silences her for good. (Romantic Suspense)

Golden Horizon by Darlene Panzera -- When a jealous miner blackmails Maggie and uses dynamite to trap Ben inside a collapsed river cave, Maggie is faced with an impossible choice. As the town rallies for a rescue, both Maggie and Ben must decide—what is truly more valuable, gold or love? (Historical Romance)

The Final Word by Laura Thomas -- When aspiring author, Sophie Brooks, trades the vibrancy of Paris for the tranquility of the English countryside, she doesn’t expect her fairy tale romance to turn into a fight for her life as she’s pursued by the relentless darkness of her past. (Romantic Suspense)

Talkshow Thursday: A Guest Post by Donna Schlachter

Cooking Up Trouble – 

Kitchen Utensils of the 1830s

By Donna Schlachter

In the process of writing Cooking Up Trouble, I researched about kitchen utensils through history, and specifically items used for baking and cooking around 1834. Honestly, when I thought of kitchen utensils, I envisioned iron frying pans, wooden spoons, spatulas to flip eggs and flapjacks, and ladles for spooning soups, stews, and gravies. Did you know that waffle irons were the in thing by 1834? Not me. I thought that was relatively recent.

And, the potato peeler—which I rarely use anymore—was considered a time-saver worth its weight in—well, in potatoes.

As for the story itself, the first documented baking contest in the United States was held less than sixty years ago, although there were plenty of county fair competitions prior to that. However, in my story, I invented the on-site baking contest at the local county fair.

In my story, a cooking contest features. It seems to me that cooking or baking contests would be the

ultimate marketplace for a man to find a wife—although I never actually found any stories about that happy ending. Perhaps for the contestants, there was already enough pressure to win that they didn’t want to let down their guard and fall in love.

Do not worry, though, as this story has a happy ending…

_________________

About “Cooking Up Trouble”

An unsuitable match to satisfy a debt. Can Holly find another solution?

An unsuitable calling--a man in the kitchen. Practically unheard of. Can Adam find the strength to step into his purpose in life?

Or will they both resist God and make their own way?

Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Up-Trouble-Contest-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CGKFS338
Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGM7Q2GM

About Donna:

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story. Learn more at https://www.donnaschlachter.com/the-purpose-full-writer-coaching-programs Check out her coaching group on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651

Website: http://www.DonnaSchlachter.com
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