Are you a fan of historical fiction? Well, we have your next page-turning read! Bestselling author Laura Frantz is back with a new release, An Uncommon Woman. The book takes us back to the eighteenth-century, where we meet our protagonist, Tessa Swam. Born and bred on the frontier along with her five brothers, she is a force to be reckoned with. When Tessa is taken captive, her hope lies in a commander charged with keeping peace with local tribes.

It’s a romance story full of action that will have you gripped from the very start. To learn more about her latest book, Laura Frantz answered a few questions about the inspiration and research behind An Uncommon Woman. 

To order a copy of Laura Frantz’ ‘An Uncommon Woman’ click here!

Q: Tell us what sparked the idea for your new book, An Uncommon Woman

A: I’ve long been fascinated by Indian captivity narratives and thought it would be interesting to create characters who have been shaped by that life-altering circumstances.

Q: This book is written after the French and Indian War. How did you become interested in this time period? 

A: This time period is a roiling one, rife with conflict and larger-than-life figures who built America. So much of our founding history has been lost or is unknown, yet it contains such amazing material for novels today.

Q: What type of research was required for writing your book? 

A: I read as many Indian captivity stories as I could, both fiction and nonfiction. I delved into the historical records for Jemima Boone, Mary Draper Ingles, and others who survived such events and even thrived in very hostile, heartbreaking situations.

To order a copy of Laura Frantz’ ‘An Uncommon Woman’ click here!

Q: One of the main characters, Clay Tygart, was raised by Lenape Indians. Can you tells us a little about his backstory? 

A: Clay is a conundrum of a frontiersman, born to Pennsylvania Quakers (Friends), captured and raised by Lenape/Delaware Indians, then redeemed and returned to white society. He is at war within himself, taking command of a fort named in his honor as a hero of the French and Indian War, yet desiring peace at all costs on a very embittered, embattled frontier.

Q: What do you hope readers can learn from An Uncommon Woman? 

A: The dedication page of his novel contains words from the ancient hymn Be Thou My Vision. My hope is that no matter what life hands us, we as believers can stand firm and say:

Heart of my own heart, what’er befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Q: What do you love most about writing historical fiction?

A: Preserving history is such a privilege and pleasure. Breathing life into actual events and people through fiction in a day when we’ve lost touch with our roots keeps me researching and writing.

Q: What new projects are you working on?

A: I leap back a century to 1634 with this next novel, set in James Towne, Virginia. And I thought the eighteenth century was conflicted!

To order a copy of Laura Frantz’ ‘An Uncommon Woman’ click here!

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Did you love the first book in Sarah Sundin’s Sunrise at Normandy series? Well, this one is for you! The Sky Above Us is the second in the series and will show readers yet another side to the Paxton family through the eyes of Lt. Adler Paxton.

For those who love a historical fiction novel this one ticks all the boxes. It is incredibly well-researched and will transport readers to World War II and the moments leading up to D-day. The Sky Above Us is a perfect spring read that will have you gripped from start to finish!

Author, Sarah Sundin, kindly sat down to answer some questions about her latest novel, as well as to give us a little insight in to what she is working on next…

The Sky Above Us is now available for purchase, click here for more. 

Q: The Sky Above Us is the second book in the Sunrise at Normandy series. How is this book different from your preceding novel?

A: The first novel in the Sunrise at Normandy series, The Sea Before Us, looked at D-day from the sea through the eyes of US naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton and British “Wren” Second Officer Dorothy Fairfax. In The Sky Above Us, we’ll see the buildup to D-day from the air as Lt. Adler Paxton and his fighter group struggle for air superiority before the invasion – and while Red Cross worker Violet Lindstrom serves the airmen. We’ll see another side of the Paxton family and the tragedies that tore them apart.

Q: You introduce the readers to some new characters in your book. Do you have a favorite character?

A: I have to admit Adler’s best friend, pilot Nick Westin, almost stole the show. He’s very different from any character I’ve ever written, and I like him so much. He lives out the Christian life in a compelling way, patient with Adler when he’s angry and hurting, confronting him when he crosses the line, never judging him for his sin, but gently coaxing him toward the Lord. Plus, he’s funny.

Q: The Sky Above Us has some unexpected twists. What was the inspiration behind your creative plot?

A: For the action plot, I was inspired by the research I’d done for my first series, Wings of Glory, which featured bomber pilots. I longed to write about a fighter pilot – and about the Red Cross workers who served overseas. This allowed me to highlight the aerial aspect of D-day, which is often overlooked. From a story standpoint, I wanted to explore what it would be like to have committed sins that most would consider unforgivable. How do you live with yourself? How do you seek forgiveness from God and those you hurt? And how do you live with the truth that you might never be reconciled with your loved ones?

Q: Readers and reviewers have often commented on the historical accuracy of your novels. What type of research was required for this book?

A: This book was great fun for me. I was able to return to the research I’d done on the US Eighth Air Force for the Wings of Glory series, but approaching from a new direction. I read the pilot’s manuals for the P-51B Mustang fighter plane and learned how to fly it (on paper anyway – do not put me in the cockpit). I read stories of fighter pilots and the 357th Fighter Group. And it was fascinating to learn about the vital role of the American Red Cross overseas. Did you know they served over 1.6 billion donuts during the war?

Q: As you researched, did you find anything especially intriguing about D-day or World War II?

A: I’m constantly amazed how much there is to learned about World War II! Writing this book, I was struck by the role the Allied air forces played int he success in Normandy. When we watch footage or movies of D-day, there are no enemy aircraft overheard. Indeed, only two German fighter planes managed to get through to the invasion beaches on D-day. We can only imaging the disaster if the Luftwaffe had been able to attack in force. All this was the result of months of attacks on German airfields, aircraft factories, oil refineries – as well as the famous dogfights. On D-day, over eleven thousand aircraft protected the sailors and soldiers below. I enjoyed shining a light on a little-known aspect of this historic day.

Q: What do you hope readers gain from reading The Sky Above Us?

A: I hope readers see themselves in both Adler and Violet – I certainly did. Adler’s motto is “If it hurts, don’t think about it.” And everything hurts, from the loss of his fiancee to the “unforgivable” sins he committed the night she died. In Adler, I saw myself as a sinner who also does not deserve forgiveness – who does? I felt such compassion for him in his pain and joy as he came into the light.

Violet, on the other hand, is the “good” Christian girl who has always longed to be a missionary. She’s appalled by the crude ways of the airmen at the air base and struggles to serve them. Through events in the story, she comes to see the self-righteousness and judgmental ways that lurk inside – and how devastatingly harmful those sins can be. Her story forced me to confront those same attitudes in my heart.

The theme verses for this novel turned out to be Matthew 20:16: “The last shall be first, and the first last.” This played out in many ways in both Adler’s and Violet’s stories – and in mine as well!

Q: What’s next on your writing to-do list?

A: Currently I’m writing The Land Beneath Us, the third book in the Sunrise at Normandy series. This novel features the youngest brother, Private Clay Paxton, who serves as an Army Ranger on the ground on D-day, and Leah Jones, a librarian and an orphan searching for clues about her past. Can he truly forgive the brothers who wronged him? And will D- day – and foreboding dream – tear Clay and Leah apart?

The Sky Above Us is now available for purchase, click here for more. 

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The bestselling author behind Lady Jayne Disappears recently released her latest historical fiction offering, A Rumored Fortune. This fabulous Victorian-era novel has it all – treasure hunts, balls, castles, and most importantly, intrigue.

Joanna Davidson Politano sat down to answer some questions about the inspiration behind her novel. She also gives readers an insight into what books readers might look forward to from Politano in the near future!

A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano is now available for purchase, here! 

Q: What sparked the idea behind A Rumored Fortune?

A: Actually it was two very special people who inspired all the pieces of this novel. The first was a dear family friend who told me about her grandfather who buried his money and died suddenly without telling anyone, even his wife and four kids, where he’d put it. I loved that concept for a novel! The second inspiration was my husband. When we first met, I couldn’t stand him and we were (and still are) complete opposites, yet we turned out to be the perfect fit for each other. It was an unusual romance with an interesting trajectory, and it became the basis of the love story in this novel. I’m especially excited for this novel because of the two very personal sources of inspiration behind the story!

Q: Both Lady Jayne Disappears and A Rumored Fortune are set in Victorian England. What attracts you to this time of history?

A: When a person describes something as “Victorian” you picture delicate scrollwork and ornate decor with soft, vintage hues, all of which I love. I also think of a veil of imposed morality, that hid many interesting secrets, of big old houses, and of deep, colorful Dickens-like characters. When it comes down to it, though, human nature remains the same across all eras. The setting and costumes may change, but deep down you always have the same characters.

Q: Lady Jayne Disappears has received rave reviews. Why do you think readers are resonating so well with your novels?

A: I think it’s resonating because Lady Jayne is a book lover’s book. With themes of storytelling, classic literature, and a writer heroine, it speaks to the heart of many avid readers, as it did to mine when I wrote it. The heroine reached in and grabbed my heart and I couldn’t help but love this kindred-spirit writer, and her story is all about books, from her best moments to her worst.

Q: What type of research was required for writing your book?

A: The research actually helped me shape my story in many ways. I had a loose plot in my head when I began researching, and as I looked into the house I chose for my setting, I found several interesting secrets that overlapped perfectly with my story and were included in the novel. The most fascinating part for me, though, was researching vineyards. The deeper i dug into it, the more amazing spiritual implications I found. I spent a lot of truly sacred time pouring over Victorian-era farming manuals and diagrams, piecing together the deeper meanings of many vineyard-related verses in Scripture. Many of those aspects came out in the book as the heroine struggled to understand God and His pruning of her.

Q: Who is your favorite character in A Rumored Fortune?

A: I enjoyed many of the characters, including the heroine whose art is not contained by canvases, but my favorite character is the hero, Donegan Vance. He’s so blunt and practical, but so deeply kind and loyal – all of which is in stark contrast to most other characters in this story. The reason he’s so dear to me is that he’s patterned after my own husband, and the love story in this novel is our relationship dynamic. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to flesh out the start of our romance and see with new appreciation the hero of my real-life love story.

Q: What is one of the main points you hope readers gain from your book?

A: I’m hoping readers gain a new, hopeful perspective on difficult circumstances in their lives, and they’ll get a glimpse, as my heroine did, of God’s sovereignty and deep, deep love for us. The story takes place in a vineyard, which lent itself to to wonderful spiritual implications and depth. My desire is that readers will learn about vineyards and then read the passages in Scripture concerning vines with fresh eyes and a heart bursting with the reality of God’s love for them.

Q: What are you working on next?

A: I won’t say too much about my next project, because I haven’t even finished writing the first draft so it’s likely to change! My work in progress features a rag vendor from Spitalfields who is handed the opportunity of a lifetime by a seemingly random stranger in an alley, along the lines of a Cinderella story. The opportunity takes many strange turns throughout the book, and the heroine’s love story, which is unusual and very fun to write, only complicates everything. The theme deals with insecurity as the heroine is taught how to have the confidence she’s always wanted.

A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano is now available for purchase, click here!

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The Road Home by Beverly Lewis

Releases April 3rd 2018

Bestselling Amish author, Beverly Lewis returns this April with her latest release – The Road Home. Sent from Michigan to Pennsylvania following the tragic death of her Amish parents, Lena Rose Schwartz grieves her loss and the separation from her nine siblings. Beside the fact that Lena has never been so far from home, she hasn’t met the family she will now be living with. But worse than that is having to live apart from her close-knit brothers and sisters. How will they manage without her to care for them–especially six-year-old Chris? And will her new beau, Hans Bontrager, continue to court her despite the many miles between them?

Honeysuckle Dreams by Denise Hunter

Releases May 1st 2018

Here’s a read for all you contemporary fiction lovers out there! After Brady Collins’ ex-wife dies, he receives devastating news—his nine-month-old son Sam isn’t his son at all. And Sam’s wealthy maternal grandparents want custody of the child. Brady knows he’s in for the fight of his life. But regardless of what any blood test says, Sam is his son, and Brady will go to any lengths to keep him. Brady’s attorney tips him off that one major life change would virtually assure him of winning guardianship of baby Sam at the final hearing: an impending marriage. And his friend Hope is willing to step in as the loving and devoted fiance. As Brady and Hope make sacrifices to help each other in their times of need, they risk uncovering a truth neither of them expects to find.

Send Down The Rain by Charles Martin

Releases May 8th 2018

Send Down the Rain introduces us to Allie, a woman still recovering from the loss of her family’s beloved waterfront restaurant when she loses her second husband to a terrifying highway accident. Devastated and losing hope, she shudders to contemplate the future—until a cherished person from her past returns. Joseph has been adrift for many years, wounded in both body and spirit –  just as he resolves to abandon his search for peace and live alone at a remote cabin in the Carolina mountains, he discovers a mother and her two small children lost in the forest. He instinctively steps in to help them get back to their home in Florida – returning to his own hometown in the process. Here he witnesses the accident which launches a bittersweet reunion with his childhood sweetheart, Allie. Will a secret from the past destroy their second chance?

The Weaver’s Daughter by Sarah E. Ladd

Releases April 10th 2018

Loyalty has been at the heart of the Dearborne family for as long as Kate can remember, but as misguided actions are brought to light, she learns how deep her father’s pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed. Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war to take to the helm of the family business.  He embraces his grandfather’s plans to modernize the family’s wool mill, ignoring the grumblings from local weavers. Henry and Kate have each been warned about the other, but they soon realize they must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, their village, and their souls—even if it means risking their hearts in the process.

To The Moon and Back by Karen Kinsgbury

Releases May 29th 2018

From Karen Kingsbury comes a brand-new love story in the Baxter Family collection about two people who lost their parents in the same national tragedy – the Oklahoma City bombing. Brady and Jenna shared a deep connection and single day together at the memorial – but after that Brady never saw Jenna again. Every year, he leaves a note for her at the memorial, hoping he might find her again. A chance meeting means Ashley Baxter Blake meets Brady who makes it her mission to bring the two together. But will it work? And will her family understand?

A Breath of Hope by Lauraine Snelling

Releases April 3, 2018

Nilda Carlson has been trying to save enough money to go to America for months, so when a letter from Einar and Gerd Strand arrives, offering to pay her ticket, she jumps at the chance. Her younger brother Ivar accompanies her, and they can’t wait to join their brother Rune and his family in the northern forests of Minnesota. Their relatives Signe and Rune welcome them warmly, as does Gerd Strand, but their uncle Einar doesn’t seem to like anyone. Nilda soon finds work helping a young widow with her children, and is introduced to their schoolteacher. Now her world is beginning to grow…but Nilda still wonders what happened to make Einar so unhappy. When a tragedy lays the truth bare, the Carlsons and Strands will have to come together like never before and become a true family.

No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert

Releases April 3rd 2018

The latest book from Katie Ganshert challenges perceptions of discrimination and prejudice with the story of three very different women. When an impoverished school district loses its accreditation and the affluent community of Crystal Ridge has to open their school doors – the lives of three women converge. Camille Gray is the wife of an executive, mother of three, long-standing PTA chairwoman and champion fundraiser. Jen Covington is a career nurse whose painful journey to motherhood resulted in adoption. 22-year-old Anaya Jones is the first woman in her family to graduate college and a new teacher at Crystal Ridge’s top elementary school. This story explores the implicit biases impacting American society, and asks the ultimate question: What does it mean to be human? And, why are we so quick to put labels on each other?

Pelican Point by Irene Hannon

Releases April 3rd 2018

How important can one old lighthouse be? Ex-Army surgeon Major Ben Garrison thinks it’s an eyesore, a burden he’s inherited and can’t wait to trade off. But Marci Weber, editor of the Hope Harbor Herald, holds a very different view. Sparks fly as the two go head to head over the fate of the lighthouse. But when they start to cooperate, a different kind of fire ignites. And as they work together, might Hope Harbor heal the hearts of these two romance-wary souls?

The Accidental Guardian by Mary Connealy

Releases April 3rd 2018

Trace Riley is the self-appointed watchdog for a wilderness trail, having been the lone survivor of an attack years before. Deborah Harkness now saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace offers the only shelter for miles around and agrees to take them in until she can safely continue. Working to survive the winter and finally bring justice to the trail, Trace and Deborah find themselves drawn together–yet every day approaches the moment she’ll leave forever.

The Kremlin Conspiracy by Joel C. Rosenberg

Now Available

With an American president distracted by growing tensions in North Korea and Iran, an ominous new threat is emerging in Moscow. A czar is rising in the Kremlin, a Russian president feverishly consolidating power, silencing his opposition, and plotting a brazen and lightning-fast military strike that could rupture the NATO alliance and bring Washington and Moscow to the brink of nuclear war. But in his blind spot is the former U.S. Secret Service agent, Marcus Ryker, trained to protect but ready to kill to save his country.

For more great Christian fiction reads, click here!

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