“Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” ― G.K. Chesterton
Showing posts with label By the Vine Press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label By the Vine Press. Show all posts

Monday, July 9, 2018

"Her Place in Time" by Stephenia McGee--Guest Post

 

Her Place in Time Blurb:
 
Can love offer a new future…in the past?

A mysterious gown, unexpected courage, and a love that transcends time. 

Nursing student Lena Lowery faces a grim diagnosis and a dangerous surgery. On the cusp of the life-changing procedure, Lena stays at the Rosswood Plantation Bed and Breakfast for one last weekend with her mother. There in an antique armoire, Lena discovers a Civil War-era gown that holds an unimaginable cure…a trip back in time to when the house served as a hospital.

Confederate Sergeant Caleb Dockery lost his brother, his eye, and nearly his life. Stuck in a makeshift infirmary, he’s counting the days until he can return to duty…and seek revenge. When a stranger appears, he suspects she’s a spy. If he can’t return to duty and find the revenge he craves for his brother’s death, he can serve his country by stopping this traitor. But her nursing skills are saving lives, and her courage and independence stirs his heart. When Lena’s safety is threatened, Caleb must strain the loyalties that bind him or risk losing her forever. 

Caught between a future that holds no promises and a past that could offer new life, Lena must face an extraordinary decision. Should she return to her own time where her days are numbered? Or can she and Caleb find a love that stretches across time?

If you like historical romance with a twist, strong female characters, and heroes that transcend eras, you’ll love this journey through time that tests the limits of love.

*Her Place in Time is set in the house from The Liberator Series, just prior to the start of Leveraging Lincoln. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing Annabelle and Peggy in this new novella.



Guest Post: Blurring fact and fiction

 Stephenia H. McGee, Her Place in Time

 
I really love weaving fiction with reality. I suppose that’s why I am so drawn to historical fiction. I wonder what it would be like in the past, and then try to paint that world by bringing the research to life.
 
One of the best things about research is traveling to the historical locations, and one of my favorites has been Rosswood Plantation.
 

Beautiful, isn’t it? I first happened on Rosswood when looking for a historical plantation to set The Liberator Series. I met with the owners and asked if they would be interested in letting me use the house for my books. Not only did Miss Jean allow me to use the house, but she also told me all about its history as a Civil War hospital and let me see copies of the historical owner’s (Doctor Walter Ross Wade) plantation diaries (which you can also see if you stay at the bed-and-breakfast!)




My mother and I had a wonderful stay, and we were served a mouth-watering breakfast by Rosswood’s very own Peggy (I adored this lovely lady so much, I named one of my characters after her).
Here they are, Mr. Ray Hylander and the talented Ms. Peggy, both real people who appear in Her Place in Time when Lena visits Rosswood in the present.


And here are a few more pictures from our stay.

 
 

I loved the house and the history and knew it would be a great house for the story. After the completion of The Liberator Series, I wanted to take another trip to Rosswood, and had this wild idea. What if by putting on one of the house’s Civil War era gowns, a guest could be transported to the past?

Thus, the idea for Her Place in Time was born!
Here are two Civil War period gowns they found at Rosswood that are believed to have belonged to Maybella Wade, Rosswood’s historic lady.

 

 
Recognize that yellow one? It’s on the cover of Her Place in Time!







As is Rosswood, as well. I really had a lot of fun blurring the lines of fact and fiction in this one. When Lena stays at the bed-and-breakfast, she finds the yellow gown, and when she puts it on…goes back in time to when Rosswood served as a Civil War hospital. She was in for quite a shock, but no more of one than Sargent Caleb Dockery, who is intrigued by the sudden appearance of a rather unconventional lady.


You can get your copy of the novella here: https://amzn.to/2GCRNep

And be sure to sign up for my newsletter. You’ll get updates on new releases, have a chance to enter giveaways, finds some new recipes, and more! And as my thank you, I’ll send you the first book in The Liberator Series for free!

Sign up on my website: www.StepheniaMcGee.com
 
So how about you? Would you think it would be fun to travel back in time? If you could, what time would you visit?
 


 
Bio for Stephenia H. McGee
 
Stephenia H. McGee writes stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South. After earning a degree in Animal and Dairy Sciences, she discovered her heart truly lies with the art of story. She put pen to page and never looked back. Visit her at www.StepheniaMcGee.com for books and updates.

Sign up for her newsletter for monthly giveaways and more, and get a FREE novel! Get yours instantly here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/81eo2tc3lm

Social Media connections: 

Sunday, March 11, 2018

"Washed Under the Waves" by Gloria Clover Blog Tour and TWO GIVEAWAYS!



Book Blurb
A hidden island. A prince in disguise…and a lady torn between love and duty.
Lady Tayte Bashan never desired the distinctive black hair that marks her as Undae royalty, but when her family perishes in a devastating tsunami, the burden of leadership falls upon her young shoulders. Even as she prepares her island for the prophesied prince, she fears the duty to marry him is truly meant for another.
Dispatched by the King to an island untouched by the outside world for centuries, Prince Geoffrey Athan D’Ambrose must lead its people to the ultimate truth. But how is he supposed to win the heart of Undae’s princess when the King sends him disguised as a tutor?
Betrayal stirs within Castle Bashan, a threat as deadly as the rising wave. Now Tayte and Athan must brave the maelstrom or watch as the entire island succumbs to treachery’s destructive tide.
 
My Review

“Washed Under the Waves” by Gloria Clover is the first book in the “Children of the King” series.  It is an imaginative story that takes place in a historical-like setting with a beautiful portrayal of the Gospel message!  If you like “Pilgrim’s Progress,” C.S. Lewis or Tolkien, you will enjoy this story! 
 
I don’t normally read speculative or dystopian fiction, but even though this story is set in the future, it reads very much like a historical novel.  I love how it has a medieval like setting, as that is one of my favorite time periods to read about.  Although the author says in the beginning of the book that it is not meant to be strictly allegorical, I definitely can see many aspects of the story that could be allegorical.  Sometimes the story was a little slow moving for me, but overall it’s a great tale!  I love the clear, direct portrayal of the Gospel message.
 
I really like our two main characters (Tayte and Athan) and their slow building romance.  It is neat to see Tayte’s spiritual journey and her enthusiasm after she first meets the King.  I felt convicted at many points during the story to be more like Tayte with my love for Christ and telling others more about Him.  I like when fiction encourages one in their spiritual walk with the Lord and this story does just that!


Content: This author writes more “edgy” Christian fiction.  I would definitely give this book a PG-14 rating.  There is one scene at the end that I was a little uncomfortable with that talks about a married couple and they are obviously having sex (it’s not graphic or anything).  Some examples of the content are: reference to a woman’s “monthly;” references to a woman’s breasts and being endowed; a couple is caught making out; talk of a woman’s virginity; talk of hearing a couple “mating;” talks about a couple being lovers.

Rating:  I give this book 3.5 stars.
 
Genre: Christian fiction; Romance; Fantasy; Historical

I want to thank Gloria Clover and By the Vine Press for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.

 

 
Gloria Clover’s Bio 

 
Gloria Clover, Christ-follower and Truth-seeker, writes romantic fiction with the hope of showing God’s love and our need in both humorous and haunting ways. The Children of the King series is her first endeavor into speculative fiction, a series set in the future when the King sends out his children to reclaim his lost lands.

Gloria’s contemporary romances, published by Barbour Books and Son-Rise Publications, include: The Remaking of Moe McKenna in the Race to the Altar anthology, Brianna’s Pardon, and Tangled Truths. She compiled ten volumes of Penned From the Heart and wrote a short devotional, Who We Are in Christ, A to Z.

She is a member of Emmanuel Christian Church, active in prayer ministry, women’s ministries, American Heritage Girls, and various other projects. She participates in writing/book days at local schools and enjoys giving and receiving from her various writing critique groups. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, participating in the ACFW book club and prayer loops.

Married with child, she writes from her little white box in western PA.

 
Contact Links:
 
To purchase the book click here
 
 TWO GIVEAWAYS: 
 
Tour Giveaway:
Win a KINDLE FIRE, e-book of book 2 of the Children of the King, The Fire Starter, an autographed paperback of Washed Under the Waves, and a $10 Starbucks gift card.

 
 
Blog Giveaway:
 
Special giveaway for one of my readers!  The prize is an autographed paperback copy of Washed Under the Waves.