A Flower Inside a Flower ~ Donna Schlachter ~ Giveaway

A Flower Inside a Flower -- with a giveaway!

By Donna Schlachter

Sometimes beauty finds us in the most unexpected places.

This flower was growing on a shrub in a shopping mall parking lot in Scottsdale, Arizona. I saw it as we crossed the hot asphalt, drawn in by the fuchsia color, amazed when I saw the tiny pale pink/white blossom inside the outer coat.

As I snapped several pictures, I wondered that nobody else who passed me even slowed to glance at what I was so interested in. Even my sister tapped her toe impatiently while she waited for me to catch up with her.

Picture by Donna Schlachter *

I thought about these blossoms as we continued our shopping, about the intricacy of their design, and how God must get a kick out of creating such beauty and planting it right in our midst, like a gift wrapped under a Christmas tree, waiting to see if we’ll notice.

For me, this opened my eyes to the wonder of blessings disguised as something else in our lives. In June, I stepped into a small boat and rode up the headwaters of the Amazon River in the jungle of Peru. Me, a girl who doesn’t like small boats or deep water. And at the end of the ten-minute boat ride, I discovered a group of boys at a boarding house hungry for one-on-one attention, starved for the love of God.

In September, I stepped onto a cruise ship and rode the open seas to Alaska. Me, a girl who doesn’t like big boats or deep water, who can get seasick standing on a wharf and looking at the bobbing boats. But I didn’t get even a single stomach-flip the entire seven days.

Alaska cruise ships, Skagway, courtesy pixabay.com

In October, I traveled to Arizona to celebrate my (mumble)-ith birthday with my siblings and spouses. I’d made it to a milestone, one my mother never saw. And I’d done it in relatively good health, with all of my original parts including teeth and hair. We had a great time, relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. And I had the opportunity to see this tiny flower. God blessed me not only with relative longevity, health, and family but also with beauty—a flower inside a flower.

Life isn’t always fun. Or beautiful. Sometimes life is really, really hard. But God is always in control, and He’s always there, waiting for us to acknowledge him. In a boat ride. In not getting seasick. In a flower in a parking lot.

If you’d like to see more about the stories in the collection, check out the following posts from the seven authors:

• Donna Schlachter – hosting Inspiration www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com
• Kathleen Kovach -- hosting Heroes            http://kathleenekovach.blogspot.com/
• Kimberley Woodhouse -- hosting the History   http://kimandkaylawoodhouse.com/blog/
• Debby Lee -- hosting the Villains/Antagonists https://www.facebook.com/booksbydebbylee or follow her newsletter: http://booksbydebbylee.com/contact.html#newsletter
• Marjorie Vawter -- Hosting the Take-Aways  http://marjorievawter.blogspot.com
• Cynthia Hickey -- Hosting the Settings https://www.facebook.com/Cynthia-Hickey-151333448227549/
• Mary Davis -- hosting the Heroines  https://marydavis1.blogspot.com

 About the collection: These seven daring damsels don’t let the norms of their eras hold them back from an adventure.

About Detours of the Heart: (Albuquerque, NM, 1925)

A tour guide who wants to move on, a playboy who’s never had a place to call home—can they overcome their own plans and allow God to make their path straight, or will they take yet another detour?

  

 About Donna:

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters In Crime; facilitates a critique group, and teaches writing classes. Donna ghostwrites, edits, and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research and travels extensively for both. Donna is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm

Giveaway: Leave a comment below with your name and contact information, and we’ll draw from the names and a random winner will receive a free print copy (US only) of MissAdventure Brides Collection. Giveaway runs for one week, ending next Tuesday, December 25, 2018 (MERRY CHRISTMAS!) at Midnight, CST.

*PS: Can anyone identify that lovely flower for Donna?

Making Research Fun ~ Donna Schlachter ~ Giveaway

Please welcome author Donna Schlachter, sharing some fun facts about research. She is also offering a free copy of her book The Physics of Love. See details below.

I’ve seen the way some authors’ eyes nearly roll up into their heads at the word, “research”. After all, that’s just dry, boring stuff. We’re always told to ‘write what we know’. If we have to research a topic, we aren’t writing what we know.

I used to write what I knew. My first novel was about an accountant, which is what I trained for. Except everybody thinks accountants are boring. So I went looking for an exciting accountant, and I found one in a forensics accountant. No, they don’t count dead bodies — forensics accountants uncover hidden assets for estates, divorces, and the IRS.

My character, Carly Turnquist, uncovers dead bodies — or at least, she gets involved in mysteries and murders, has her life threatened a couple of times, finds some missing money and saves her daughter from doom. All in the first book.

The funny thing was, even while I was writing what I knew — accounting — there were things I didn’t know. Like the details about numbered companies. How to distinguish if someone died from a plunge over a cliff or a knock on the head. How to suffocate someone by plugging up a chimney. How the banking system works in a small town.

When I started writing historical suspense, I needed to do a lot more research. So I found some locations, some topics, and some characters that caught my attention, and wove them into a novel. My first historical suspense included a woman running from her husband, a Pinkerton agent who was working for said husband, a bank manager who embezzled from his bank, and a boarding house lady who I envisioned as looking like Miss Marple. The year is 1882, and the location is Indian Rocks in Florida. Since then I’ve written about the Pony Express, and about a rancher woman in 1940’s Colorado, and wagon trains in the 1860’s, and photographers in 1912.

How did I come up with these details?  My dad was a Pinkerton agent at one time. I worked in the banking industry and had some idea how a manager could finagle a naïve woman on the run into doing his dirty work for him by cooking the books. I have a friend who had a condo in Indian Rocks and the idea of a story set there before tourism took hold caught my attention. The boarding house lady? I love Agatha Christie’s work. For ranching in Colorado, I called the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association to answer a question about ear tags. For wagon trains, I visited the setting in Echo Canyon, Utah, and for photographers in 1912, I took the lazy way out—I went directly to the internet.

A recent release is about a woman looking for love, a boy looking for a family, and the man who found both. It’s loosely based on my father’s life, and set in Newfoundland. I spent a lot of time interviewing my sources, checking old census records, looking at old newspapers, and reading source documents such as diaries and store cash books to get the details straight.

Research doesn’t need to be boring, dry, or dusty, if you select a topic you really enjoy. Work together different parts of stories from different regions and see what you come up with. Take some liberties with locations and eras. Craft a character based on someone who really lived during that time but mix up the details with other characters. And even if you’re writing a contemporary story, don’t be afraid to toss in a few details that you don’t know all the ins and outs about. And then do some research.

About Donna:

Donna lives in Denver with her husband Patrick, who is her first-line editor and biggest fan. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She has published a number of books under her own name and her pen name, Leeann Betts. Donna is a ghostwriter and editor of fiction and non-fiction, and judges in a number of writing contests. Donna loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter, and online at: www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com and www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com. Her books are available at Amazon.com in digital and print. 

• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor
• Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter
• Books: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq

About the Giveaway:

Donna is offering a free copy of her book The Physics of Love to one of the readers of this post, either print (U.S. only, please) or eBook. To enter, just leave your name and contact information in the comment section below. Contest runs for one week, ending Tuesday, November 6, at Midnight CST. 

The Pony Express collection ~ Donna Schlachter~ Giveaway

Please welcome author Donna Schlachter as she shares a 'story behind the story' post about a book from her backlist on "Everything Old is New Again" feature.

Take it away, Donna!

The Story Behind the Story of Echoes of the Heart, from The Pony Express Romance Collection

By Donna Schlachter

 If you’ve ever wondered if a writer’s conference is worth the time, effort, and expense, let me assure you: it is!

My involvement in The Pony Express Romance Collection began several years ago at an ACFW Conference, where I met up with my dear friend, Mary Davis. I asked her what she was working on, and she said she was putting together a proposal for a Pony Express novella collection. I said, “I’d love to be part of that” to which she replied she already had the four authors she needed but if anything changed, she’d contact me.

The next month, hubby and I were planning a long weekend away, and I suggested we do some Pony Express research, “just in case”. So we traveled to Julesburg, Colorado and on into Wyoming, following the trail. Along the way, we stopped and talked to folks at visitor information centers, museums, and anywhere that advertised the Pony Express. People still love the romance and allure of the Pony Express, and it seemed as though everybody had a story.

Another month goes by, and Mary emailed to say an author had to drop out because of other commitments and was I still interested. You bet I was! The initial concept was four stories told in chronological order at the same station, Echo Canyon Utah, with some carryover of characters from one story to the next.

And so began my romance with the Pony Express. We went through several iterations of the proposal, and the format changed to nine authors at different stations with no overlap of characters.

If I hadn’t been at that conference, I wouldn’t have known about this opportunity. At other conferences, I’ve made contact with other editors, publishers, and book packagers and been blessed to work with them on various projects. So while classes are important, don’t forget the benefits of networking!

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick, her first-line editor, and biggest fan. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a hybrid publisher who has published a number of books under her pen name and under her own name. Her highlighted release, Echoes of the Heart, in a 9-in-1 novella collection titled "Pony Express Romance Collection" released April 2017. Donna is also a ghostwriter and editor of fiction and non-fiction, and judges in a number of writing contests. Donna loves history and research and travels extensively for both.

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Books: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq

Echoes of the Heart: http://amzn.to/2lBaqcW

Donna is offering a FREE print copy of this book (US only, please,) to one reader of this blog who leaves a commnt below, with  name and contact information.

Giveaway ends Monday, September 24, at Midnight, Central Time.

Thanks, Donna, for sharing this look into one of your older books. God bless!

Feeling Small ~ Donna Schlachter ~ Giveaway

Peg here ... I'm so pleased to once again bring you author Donna Schlachter. Read about her trip to Peru and her reactions to that visit. She's also offering a giveaway. Scroll down for the details.

Feeling Small in a Great Big World

By Donna Schlachter

Machu Picchu Peru - Image courtesy Pixabay.com

I recently went to Peru on a mission trip with my church. As a right-brain thinker—after all, I’m an accountant by training—I had a list of things to accomplish: paint a Sunday school class; install playground equipment; visit a halfway house for recovering addicts; teach English to Spanish-speaking students; visit Machu Picchu and see as much of the country as I could.

My first mission trip, my first visit to South America—all neatly bundled up in a To-Do list.

Nothing went according to plan. Or let me rephrase that—nothing went according to MY plan. No paint or rollers or brushes on hand; walls not finished or dry-walled for the playground area; spent more time than allotted at the halfway house; traffic was really bad; I was really sick; and I couldn’t communicate in Spanish because I only knew about six words.

Failure, right?

Wrong.

When it became apparent that my plan was out the window, I tore up the list and resolved to ‘go with the flow.’ So we only painted one-quarter of the wall for the Sunday school class—I was blessed to spend time with my fellow travelers as we dipped our hands in paint and decorated a sweatshirt. The playground was indoors, not outdoors as I’d envisioned, but we did end up painting the walls in vibrant, happy colors. And all that was required for me to teach English was to read a book with the students and help them with their pronunciation.

All of this became so clear when I stood at the base of Machu Picchu, beside a river, and just waited to hear God in the midst of the roaring water. I gazed up at the gigantic mound of granite facing me, marveling at the rocks as big as cars and buses. I enjoyed the sun on my face and reveled in the lush jungle growth.

And then my eyes were drawn to the ground. Peeking out from between the rocks was this tiny plant struggled for a toe-hold to survive.

I felt so small in the face of a so-big God. All my plans, my ideas, my lists—poof! Gone.

If God could care enough for this tiny bit of greenery that He would ensure it had enough sunlight, enough soil, enough water to survive, surely He cares enough about me—and you—to give us what we need.

What we don’t need are more plans, ideas, and lists. What we do need is more time with God, in His presence, listening for His voice. We need more fellowship with other believers and less time in front of our television. We need more service for His kingdom and less work for our own. We need more quiet and less noise.

When we feel small in a great big world, we need to run to our Father and climb up in His lap, enjoying the feel of His arms around us. And pretty soon, we’ll understand just how important we are to Him.

 About Transformation:

If you've ever wished you could start a devotional at some time throughout the year other than January 1st, then this is the devotional for you!

Each day is numbered, so you can start any day of the year and still walk through the Bible in a year. 

If you like to start out the year on the right foot on January 1st, then this is the devotional for you! However you like to structure your quiet time, today is the absolute best time to start!

About Donna:

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters In Crime; facilitates a critique group, and teaches writing classes. Donna ghostwrites and edits, and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm

About the Giveaway ---

Question for readers: Briefly share a time when God spoke to you about how much He loves you.

A randomly-drawn winner will receive a free eBook copy of Transformation: A yearly devotional.

To enter, leave a comment below with your name and contact information. Giveaway ends one week from today at Midnight, Friday, August 17, CDT. 

Transforming a Daily Prayer and Devotions Journal Into a Book ~ Donna Schlachter #Giveaway

 Transformation: a chronological walk through the Bible in a year

By Donna Schlachter

Hi, Donna here:
Have you ever noticed that the voice of God often comes in the most unexpected moments asking the most unexpected things of us? This happened to me early in January of 2017 during my daily reading. Without a doubt, He stood beside me and said, “Write this book”.

Now, normally when God tells me to write a book, I don’t have any problem. I mean, I have so many stories floating around inside my head, I don’t think I’ll live long enough to get them all written down.

So, naturally, I asked, “Which book?”

“This book.”

“This isn’t a book.” Like I need to tell God that, or anything for that matter. “It’s just my daily journal.”

“Yes. That book.”

Honestly, that was the last thing I wanted to hear. Like I said, I have plenty of other books to write without God adding a devotional to the list. But I couldn’t escape the instruction.

So this book has been a true transformation for me. The way I read was different; I expected God to show up every day; and I was able to be more real in what I wrote. As I transcribed, I saw days where I was upbeat; days where I was discouraged; days where I was angry. And yet God used every one of those days.

So, here are three things I learned while writing this book:

1. Because it was also my daily reading and quiet time, I had to be honest with my own thoughts, feelings, and understandings, but also be willing to be completely transparent with my reader. In fact, when I transcribed this book into my computer, I only changed about three words, and that’s because I’d written the wrong word in my journal.
2. I waited until almost the end of the year to transcribe the book. Stupid me. I could have started almost immediately. The lesson learned is never put off what God is telling you to do.
3. The process of writing a book kept me on track so I couldn’t skip days or skim the reading. At the end of every reading, I asked God what He wanted me to learn, and what He wanted the reader to learn. As a result, I didn’t use any of the “usual” verses we see in devotionals, and God gave me fresh insight every single day.

 If we let Him loose in our lives, He is faithful to change us—to transform us into His likeness and image.

PLS Bookworks (December 20, 2017)

From the Back cover:

366 devotions that will chronologically walk you through the Bible in a year If you've ever wished you could start a devotional at some time throughout the year other than January 1st, then this is the devotional for you! 

Each day is numbered, so you can start any day of the year and still walk through the Bible in a year. If you like to start out the year on the right foot on January 1st, then this is the devotional for you! However you like to structure your quiet time, today is the absolute best time to start!

Donna Schlachter

About Donna:

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick, her first-line editor and biggest fan. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters In Crime, and Writers on the Rock; facilitates a local critique group, and teaches writing classes and courses. Donna is also a ghostwriter and editor of fiction and non-fiction, and judges in a number of writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is proud to be represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm

Donna is offering a Giveaway of Transformation. 

  

 Answer this question for the opportunity to win a free print (US only) or digital copy of Transformation: How would knowing you were writing a book change the way you journal your quiet time?

Leave a comment below with your contact email address so we can reach you if you're the winner. 

Giveaway ends: One week from today on Tuesday, July 24 at Midnight CDT. Winner will be drawn on Wednesday, July 25. 

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made ~ Donna Schlachter ~ Devotional

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

A Devotion from Donna Schlachter

Image courtesy Pixaay.com

Read: Psalm 139:14 NASB 

“I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.”

It can be very easy to let the things of life get us down. There is not one of us who 
hasn’t had a heartache, a friend who stopped calling, a shortage in our bank account, a call from a doctor that we weren’t expecting.

Living in this world, as Jesus promised us, would bring troubles.

The difference is in our response.

When we choose to see things through God’s eyes, we choose to see the good that comes from the bad. In the Old Testament, Joseph has his whole life ahead of him, and suddenly, it is all gone. And yet he lives through it, choosing to make the best of a bad situation. And in the end, he even tells his brothers that what they intended for bad, God turned to good.

And he was right. His brothers’ selfish response to God’s plan did not change God’s plan. Just as Joseph’s dream had prophesied when he was a child, he would be the saving of his family, and they would serve him.

Most of us are not faced with our siblings kidnaping us and throwing us in a pit. Although it might feel like that, when they won’t talk to us or they tell lies about us. Most of us are not thrown in prison for doing the right thing, but we still manage to build our own prisons out of bricks made up of offenses, hurts, and fears.

And even if we are in a pit or a prison, we can still choose to make the best of it. Joseph did. Paul and Silas did, when they were thrown into prison. They sang and praised, and the doors flew open. And someone met Jesus that same night, and his family with him.

We don’t know when our next trial will be the saving moment for someone else. We don’t know when our example of climbing out of the pit will be what another needs to climb out of their own pit. And we don’t know when we escape from our prison who we might take along with us.

God has made each of us for a specific plan. He didn’t make any mistakes – you are who you are supposed to be. He didn’t make any bad choices for you – and He won’t let you perish. You are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image, for His plan, for His purpose.

And that your soul knows very well. Now tell your heart and your mind, and let the wonder of the Creator of the Universe permeate your very being. Allow Him to do with Him what He wills.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I’m sorry that I’ve sometimes let my circumstances get me down. Show me what You think of me, remind me that I am a part of Your plan. And help me to show others Your presence every day. Amen.

About Donna:

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick, her first-line editor and biggest fan. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a hybrid author who has published a number of books. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters In Crime, and Writers on the Rock; facilitates a local critique group, and teaches writing classes and courses. Donna is also a ghostwriter and editor of fiction and non-fiction, and judges in a number of writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is proud to be represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm

  

The Physics of Love redux with Donna Schlachter ~ Giveaway ~ Bonus

Please welcome author Donna Schlachter as she shares a book from her back-list for the Everything Old is New Again feature here on Whispers in Purple. She is also offering a free copy of this book to one of this blog's readers. See below for details.

Title: The Physics of Love

Published by: PLS Bookworks

September 2016

A woman looking for love, a boy looking for family, and the man who found both.

Set in 1930’s and 1940’s Newfoundland, this story is as rugged as the island setting. Years of struggling to survive in a harsh environment have created a unique group of people, isolated by the miles of ocean surrounding them who long to connect with each other. Laura, motherless since she was 12, has sought her father’s love and attention ever since; however, his heart is buried with his dead wife. He has nothing to give. Richard, the son born of a backseat liaison sure to anger her father, stands between the life Laura thinks she wants and the life she will be relegated to in the small town of Carbonear. So she does the unthinkable—she leaves him. Richard grows up thinking Laura is his sister, only to learn when he is a teenager that she is his mother, that his father is really his grandfather, and that the woman he calls Mom isn’t even related to him by blood. But instead of destroying him, Richard sets out on a journey to prove he is wanted and he is part of a family that would love him if they really knew him. In the process, he finds everything—and more—that he longs for.

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick, her first-line editor and biggest fan. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters In Crime; facilitates a local critique group, and teaches writing classes and courses. Donna is also a ghostwriter and editor of fiction and non-fiction, and judges in a number of writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is proud to be represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.com Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DonnaSchlachter

Books: Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ci5Xqq and Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2gZATjm

About the Giveaway:

Donna is offering a free copy of The Physics of Love, your choice of eBook, or print (US Only). To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment below with your name and contact information, so we can reach you if you're the winner. Giveaway ends one week from today on April 16, at Midnight CDT. 

Thanks for entering, and good luck! 

  

A Train Ride to Heartbreak ~ Donna Schlachter ~ Behind the Story

A Train Ride to Heartbreak: The Story Behind the Story

by Donna Schlachter

The idea for this story came from a love of a movie and a friend with a great story to share.

The movie was “The Fugitive”, both the original series pilot and the more recent remake. I loved the idea of a train ride leading to a second chance.

My friend had recently taken a train ride from Denver to San Francisco, and she shared several delightful stories. I wondered if a train ride might be like a cruise in that it would provide an insulated environment where the travelers might do something they’d never done before. If so, this was perfect fodder for a romance, much like the old TV show, “The Love Boat”.

And then I saw “Murder on the Orient Express”, and as a lover of anything Agatha Christie, decided to incorporate a few of the details in my story.

The result? A chance meeting, two characters with integrity, and a way for God to reach both of them.

1895, Train to California

John Stewart needs a wife. Mary Johannson needs a home. On her way west, Mary falls in love with another. Now both must choose between commitment and true love.

October 1895

Mary Johannson has scars on her body that can’t compare with the scars on her heart. She is alone in the world, with no family, no prospects, and no home.

John Stewart is at his wit’s end. His wife of three years died in childbirth, leaving him with a toddler and an infant, both girls. Theirs was the love of fairy tales, and while he has no illusions about finding another like her, his children need a mother.

Though separated by thousands of miles, they commit to a mail-order marriage. But on their journey to Heartbreak, they meet another and realize the life they’d planned would be a lie. Can they find their way back from the precipice and into the love of God and each other, or are they destined to keep their word and deny their heart?

Buy link: http://amzn.to/2Cur1I4

Excerpt:

Groverton, Pennsylvania

September 1895

Chapter 1

Mary Johannson plunged reddened hands into the dishwater and scrubbed at a crusty spot on the chipped china plate.

In the yard, the vicar, shoulders slumped from the cares of his congregation, held a small child in his arms while two toddlers clutched his pants leg. And Matron Dominus, the imposing head of the Meadowvale Orphan’s Home, towered over the small group huddled before her.

Mary checked the plate. Satisfied it would pass muster, she dipped it into the rinse bucket and set the piece into the dish rack to air dry. Next she set a burnt oatmeal pot into the water to soak while she dried her hands on her apron and surveyed the scene outside.

The vicar nodded and turned to walk the gravel path he’d traversed just minutes before, the wee ones in tow as he hoisted the child to his other hip for the mile-long trip back. No doubt he was waiting for space to open in the orphanage.

Her space.

Mary would turn eighteen in two months. And despite her desire to escape the confines of the orphanage, she wasn’t excited about making her own way in the world. The last girl who aged out—as the other orphans called the act of turning eighteen—now worked at the saloon.

And everybody knew what kind of girls worked there.

Mary swiped at the scarred worktable set in the middle of the kitchen floor, her washrag sweeping crumbs into her hand. She still needed to finish the dishes and report to Matron

Dominus for her next order for the day.

By the time she returned to the sink, the vicar and his charges were out of sight.

But Matron Dominus stood outside the tiny window staring in at her.

Checking up on her, no doubt. Making certain she wasn’t lollygagging. An activity all of the residents indulged in. According to Matron.

Mary hurried through the rest of the washing up. She swept the floor, put a pot of beans on to soak for supper, and shooed the cat out from under the stove. After checking the dampers to make certain the range wouldn’t needlessly heat the kitchen—another of Matron’s accusations—she hung her apron on a nail beside the back door.

Stepping out into the fresh air, Mary drew a deep breath and leaned against the clapboard siding.

Perhaps she could work at the seamstress shop. She was a fair hand with a needle and thread. Or maybe the general store.

“Mary Johannson.”

The screech like a rooster with its tail caught in a gate startled her, and she straightened. But in her haste, she overbalanced and stepped forward to catch herself, hooking her toe in the hem of her dress, which she’d just let down last week to a more respectable length.

The sound of rending cloth filled her ears as the ground slammed toward her. She got her hands out in front of her just in time to prevent mashing her nose into the soil. The toes of Matron Dominus’s boots filled her vision.

Mary pushed herself to her feet, wincing at an ache in her lower back not there a moment before. Tears blurred her vision when she checked her dress—she had a three-inch rip just above the hem.

“Are you lollygagging about? Sunbathing? Do you think you’re on the Riviera?”

Despite her imposing height and girth, the matron’s voice—particularly when she was irked—resembled the irksome peacock Mary had once seen in the zoo in Philadelphia. Why God would create such a beautiful bird with such a nasty voice was beyond her.

But if what Matron said was true, He’d created Mary, too, only to have her burned by the flames that killed the rest of her family. Angry red scars ran from her forearms to halfway up her neck, and a collar of white tissue, the result of an inept doctor sewing her back together again, ringed her neck and inched toward her ears.

No, if God really loved her, He wouldn’t have allowed that to happen.

About Donna:

Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick, her first-line editor and biggest fan. She writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts. She is a hybrid author who has published a number of books under her pen name and under her own name. She is a member of American Christian FictionWriters and Sisters In Crime; facilitates a local critique group, and teaches writing classes and courses. Donna is also a ghostwriter and editor of fiction and non-fiction, and judges in a number of writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is proud to be represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.

Where to find Donna: 

www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com

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