When the Wildflowers Bloom won a Carol Award! What an honor to be listed alongside so many talented authors.
Babies are a gift of God, a fact Marigold Parker knows full well.
Fourteen-year-old Marigold (Mary) Parker spends the summer of ’78 with her cousin and best friend, Sharon, biking the roads of their rural neighborhood in Pleasant Waters, North Louisiana. The girls while away the days at the local pond, listening to the BeeGees and talking about boys. Caring for her emotionally fragile mother is Mary’s only worry, until Sharon’s older half-brother finds Mary alone at the pond one day.
She can’t speak of what happened in the woods. The truth will destroy her family and cost her the relationships she holds most precious.
But secrets have a way of making themselves known, and when Mary finds herself pregnant, she’s forced to grapple with hard decisions. Babies are a gift from God. Mary knows this full well, but she doesn’t know how to deal with a pregnancy, or who to turn to for help.
Trials seem to multiply as Mary struggles to keep faith in the God her parents have taught her to trust.
Richly detailed and evocative, When the Wildflowers Bloom Again captures the emotions and the heart, vividly detailing the struggle of facing impossible choices, the true test of family ties, and of the hope found in new beginnings. Infused with both sorrow and faith, Marigold Parker’s tale is a story you won’t soon forget.
One of my favorite places to be is in a book. They are food for the mind and soul. I love sharing about my favorite reads and books both new and old. Here on the blog you’ll find recommendations, reviews, author spotlights and interviews, along with updates about my writing.
About My Novel Writing
I tend to write about people who are facing tough times. I’ve written about grief, eating disorders, abandonment, and other difficult issues. There isn’t always a romantic element, but when there is the romances are sweet. Endings aren’t sugar coated, but I always strive to leave my readers with a sense of hope. No graphic language, sex, or violence, just plenty of heart tugging emotion and laughing. My fiction has a slight to rich southern flavor, depending on the book.
I was taken with Kendy Pearson’s new historical novel coming out, Fires of Injustice, and wanted to ask her a little about the book, her process, and why she felt led to write about this particular moment in history.
About the Book
“A story of resilience, redemption, and love, FIRES OF INJUSTICE blazes with the courage of those who dared to stand against the darkness.”
She is fighting for the innocent.
He is fighting for a second chance.
Yakira Mitchell has devoted her life to rescuing the forgotten from the clutches of exploitation, and now her dream of opening a mission home for Chinese girls is within reach. But as anti-Chinese sentiments sweep through the West, Yakira finds herself at the center of a storm of hostility and prejudice. She is building a home for the broken, but her own foundation threatens to crumble with new revelations about her past.
Attorney Grant Campbell, the boy who once held Yakira’s heart, returns to San Francisco to atone for his past mistakes and face the secret that drove him away. He is determined to defend Chinese immigrants and to reconcile with his family and Yakira. But old feelings flare—and so do old wounds.
When flames of injustice consume communities, violence rages, and lives hang in the balance. As Yakira fights to protect her girls, she must face the truth of who she really is—and who God has called her to be.
In the ashes of hatred, Yakira and Grant both discover a love stronger than fear and a purpose forged in fire.
What led you to choose this particular time and place in history?
I’m always on the lookout to learn something new, especially as it pertains to history. And I particularly enjoy19th century America. That’s why I love writing about those little-known pockets of history that so often get ignored. The teacher in me wants to know: What did they leave out of the history books?
One day I traveled to Pendleton, Oregon to visit relatives, and someone mentioned visiting the Chinese Underground. That’s the exact moment I learned just how naive I was about an entire chapter of American history that so fascinated me; I needed to learn more about America’s Forgotten War on the West Coast in the 1800s. I had so many questions, and the more I dug, the more questions I had!
I’m so glad you were curious and unearthed the story. It’s a wonderful read.
What was your greatest challenge while writing this book? How did you overcome that challenge?
Much of what my research revealed was ugly and heartbreaking. I had to find a balance as I strove to present this pocket of Chinese-American history in a way that honored both God and the Chinese immigrants of the United States. I had read a general market novel that treated this topic with vulgarity—completely lacking any redemptive message. That was my first challenge.
My second challenge was to represent multiple cultures in an immersive way. The prologue begins in China, 1865, so that took a good deal of research. (Which I love!) And then there were the Scottish missionaries and a need for a glossary. (Thank you, Laura Frantz, for your influence!) The Chinese immigrants’ culture and mostly Cantonese language took extra assistance and effort to bring forth realism. And last, it was the post-Civil War Wild West of California with bustles, gunslingers, and hangings.
You certainly created an immersive story world in Fires of Injustice.
Could you tell me a little bit about your research process for this book?
Every historical fiction author I know enjoys the research phase. It is so much fun, it is easy to over-research and not know when to stop. I read comparable novels (I only found two for this book), and I even watched a couple of movies and documentaries. I prayerfully read several nonfiction books, plus whatever I could find at the library or on the internet about the subject, always keeping an eye open for something that sparks a story. My research sprouted legs as I discovered personalities and places to research further, as I considered including them in my story. With a pile of color-coded note cards, I sat down to develop my characters and plan a three-part story arc. This was a much more elusive topic to research than the Civil War in West Virginia, the subject of my last series.
Sounds like a good system! I can attest that research is fun, and overwhelming.
Do you have a favorite quote from the book? Why did you pick that one?
“Yakira swallowed hard. Dear Heavenly Father, please. Please let there be just one we can save. Never would she ignore the incessant ache that gnawed at her heart. These were God’s precious children, but evil called them merchandise. Evil called them disposable. She swiped at a tear, and sucked in a quivery breath, determined to be strong.”
I chose this excerpt because it reveals the overarching theme of Fires of Injustice. Yakira yearns for a mission home of own to redeem these precious girls and lead them to Jesus. Her one goal is trounced repeatedly by hostility, danger, lawlessness, and more. Belief in her mission suffers against the obstacles, but in the end, her faith in God’s purposes to save the vulnerable rises stronger than ever.
I got chills reading that quote. Followers can have no greater calling than to save the perishing. Yakira’s story clearly illustrates this.
Kendy Pearson is a veteran high school teacher, music instructor, and eight-time award-winning author. When she discovers a pocket of American history omitted from the schoolbooks, she enjoys digging in and turning that pocket inside out. Her novels lead fictitious characters through real historical events and settings, engaging with period personalities-and she always includes a romantic thread to warm the heart. Every story is a journey through tragedy, secrets, regrets, and God’s undeniable grace. Kendy enjoys public speaking and teaching writing workshops. Her favorite things include ice cream, snowy days, fireplaces, and maple trees. She is the mother of four grown children and lives with her sweet hubby and two amusing miniature dachshunds.
Fires of Injustice releases April 15th. Available for preorder now.
For fans of authentic historical fiction, FIRES OF INJUSTICE is inspired by real, untaught horrors of the Chinese Exclusion era—when towns forcibly erased entire communities by fire, expulsion, and boycotts.
Set just twenty years after the American Civil War, this gripping tale of resilience, romance, and courage reveals another dark chapter of division—and the lightthat defied it.
R. F. Whong is here today talking with me about her upcoming book in the Apron Strings Tea Tales series, a multi-author collection of stories set in the interbellum period, between 1918-1939. Like the previous Apron Strings series, these books feature Mrs. Canfield’s Cookery Book,
Zenith of Tea releases March 30th.
About the Book
In the early 1920s, accomplished martial artist Wang Mijen is haunted by her past and the red birthmark that she believes prompted her family to abandon her at six. She survives by robbing ancient tombs and living in a cave concealed from the soldiers. When she saves Joseph Cheung, a Chinese Christian educated in Canada, from bandits, her insecurities whisper that such a man could never love an “ugly” girl like her.
Growing up in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Joseph experienced anti-Chinese prejudice. Still, he helps Mijen move to Canada to avoid danger. In Vancouver, amidst anti-Asian riots and the looming Chinese Exclusion Act, Joseph helps Mijen open a teahouse. As they work together to rescue young women trafficked into brothels in North America, Joseph’s unwavering faith and fight for equality challenge Mijen’s hardened heart.
From China to Canada, can Mijen and Joseph overcome their challenges, rediscover their identities, and open their hearts to each other?
Can you talk a little about an interesting topic you came across as you did research for Zenith of Tea?
My female protagonist, Mijen, opened a teashop in Vancouver Chinatown and also treated patients using acupuncture. To ensure my description was accurate, I did extensive research on the subject and found some interesting facts.
By 1920, Vancouver’s Chinatown was a bustling, self-sustaining world. If you were a Chinese immigrant at the time, “mainstream” Canadian doctors were often either too expensive, too racist, or too confused by your pulse. Traditional Chinese medicine wasn’t an “alternative” choice back then. It was the lifestyle.
To the average 1920s Vancouverite, Mijen’s needles probably looked more like medieval torture than healthcare. Non-Chinese patients were rare.
Mijen wouldn’t have had a framed license from the Province of B.C. hanging on her teashop wall. Mostly because the government didn’t think her job existed. In 1920, the law was busy regulating “real” doctors. Acupuncture lived in a massive legal gray area. Mijen’s authority didn’t come from a government seal; it came from the fact that her patients didn’t die and actually felt better. In Chinatown, your reputation was your permit.
As long as Mijen stuck to treating her own community, the authorities looked the other way. However, treating a white patient could result in a “practicing medicine without a license” charge.
If Mijen were around today, she’d be shocked to learn it took until 1996 for British Columbia to legalize acupuncture.
So, was acupuncture common? Absolutely. If you had a backache in Chinatown in 1920, you knew exactly where to go.
Was Mijen licensed? No, but she was likely the most trusted person on the block.
I’ll bet she would be surprised it took so long! I always find the history of medicine fascinating.
R. F. Whong is sharing a special recipe with us today from her book.
In Zenith of Tea Mrs. Chao treats her guests with a famous Cantonese dessert known as “sweet mud soup” (more properly called Black Sesame Soup, 芝麻糊, zhī má hú). This humble yet luxurious treat is a beloved comfort food in southern China, particularly in Guangdong, where it’s enjoyed as a warming dessert or a snack. When one of my critique partners admitted they’d never heard of it and asked for the recipe, I was delighted to share it.
The name “sweet mud soup” might sound odd, but it perfectly describes the silky, dark, almost volcanic appearance of the dish. Its flavor, however, is unforgettable: nutty, fragrant, sweet, and soothing. If you’ve never made it yourself, it’s surprisingly simple and can be done at home with just a few basic ingredients.
Black Sesame Soup (Cantonese Sweet “Mud” Soup): Serves 4–6
Ingredients:
● 1 cup black sesame seeds
● 2½ cups water
● 4–6 tablespoons sugar (to taste)
● 2 tablespoons cornstarch
● 2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
● Pinch of salt (optional, for depth)
Instructions:
1. Grind the seeds: Put the black sesame seeds into a spice grinder, coffee bean grinder, or high-speed blender. Grind to a fine powder—almost like flour. The finer the grind, the smoother your soup will be.
2. Prepare the base: In a medium saucepan, combine the black sesame powder and 2½ cups of water. Whisk to combine. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Stir frequently to prevent lumps.
3. Sweeten: Add the sugar (start with 4 tablespoons; you can always add more to taste) and a pinch of salt if desired. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5–8 minutes. The mixture should become darker and aromatic.
4. Thicken: In a small bowl, dissolve 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of water to make a slurry. Pour the slurry into the simmering sesame soup, stir and cook for another 2–3 minutes
until the soup has thickened to a texture similar to thick cream or gravy.
5. Serve: Ladle the hot soup into small bowls. Traditionally, it’s enjoyed steaming hot and eaten
with a spoon. If you wish, garnish with a drizzle of coconut milk.
Notes:
The sugar can be white, rock sugar, or even brown sugar for a deeper caramel taste.
Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated with a splash of water if the soup thickens too much.
This comforting, aromatic soup is perfect for bringing warmth to a rainy evening—just ask Mrs. Chao’s guests in Zenith of Tea!
I want to try it!
Thank you, R. F., for sharing the recipe, and for sharing about your book today.
R. F. Whong has published more than 120 scientific papers and books and has released several works of fiction under different pen names. She was named a 2025 featured author by Minnesota ‘s. Anoka County Library, and her book, Echoes Over Stormy Seas, won several awards.
Music played a large part in my childhood growing up in the church. Fifth Sunday Singing was a tradition, and gospel groups came to bless us regularly. I can’t remember exactly when a teacher at church introduced me to singing and sight reading. There was always music.
I sang in a duo as a young child and in the children’s choir before that. As a teen member of the youth choir, I performed with my group in church, at nursing homes, and the occasional public event.
And I wasn’t the musical one in the family!
How music instruction became such a big part of southern church life never really crossed my mind.
Until I began researching Della’s Song.
My novel is inspired by The Six Swans, and with such a large number of brothers, it seemed making them gospel singers was a good fit. In 1934, such groups were popular and performed at churches, revivals, and on the radio. But Della’s father also taught music as a traveling instructor.
These week-long “music schools” most likely used materials from Stamps-Baxter, possibly paired with books from James D. Vaughan Music Publishing Company. Both of these companies had a focus on providing music instruction to laypeople, allowing them to learn sight-reading using seven-shape notation or “shape notes” (anyone else remember those?) and four-part harmony—soprano, alto, tenor, bass.
Because of the simplicity of the program, entire choirs could be trained, as well as music leaders. Vaughn’s materials were in circulation earlier, and included hymnbooks that were user friendly and instructional, but by 1934 —when my story takes place—Stamps-Baxter’s publications, schools, and quartet programs had grown extensively, particularly because they actively used radio and touring groups to promote both music and teaching.
In the case of Della’s father and older brother, the teaching job complemented the Swan Family Singers gospel performances and radio appearances, the same way the real-life schools operated. Did I use all this background in my book? Nope. It was truly a rabbit hole (or perhaps I should start calling them side quests) but it was fascinating all the same to learn how the idea of accessible instruction transformed and shaped southern gospel and music in church.
Years ago, I taught a group of girls to sing. And as I said above, I’m not the most musically talented in my family. To my life-long regret I never progressed beyond the first pages of the first book for piano. Yet, when it came to helping my group of girls learn about sight reading and singing together, I managed well enough, proving that the influence of the singing schools remained in the church for generations.
Lawyer James Kinney isn’t looking for love, and laundress Sara O’Connor doesn’t want to be found. When their paths cross in a British colony on the brink of rebellion, a marriage of convenience may be their best hope of survival.
Canada, 1837. Widower James Kinney knows his precocious daughter, Evie, needs more than his lessons on law and logic, but Toronto offers few options. Classes with the neighbor children seem ideal until James discovers Evie is secretly spending her time with Sara O’Connor, a kind and mysteriously educated servant. For propriety’s sake, James forbids their friendship. But then Evie falls victim to the illness ravaging the city, and James must call upon Sara’s medical knowledge and her special bond with Evie to save his daughter’s life.
When Sara’s presence in his household threatens scandal, however, James offers an unexpected solution: become his wife, in name only, and help him raise Evie to be a proper young lady.
If Sara can ignore the sparks she feels when they’re together, his logical proposal could keep her secret secure forever. But soon, the forces of rebellion unravel their tidy arrangement. When James is accused of treason, Sara must find the courage to face a past that could save her husband’s life.
My Thoughts
Right from the start, Sarah is an intriguing character. Clearly, she has a hidden past, but she also has a heart of gold. When no one else stood up for Evie, Sarah stood in the gap, at no small risk to her livelihood. Still, it seemed that the unlikely friendship was going to be thwarted due to the strict social divisions and rigid expectations of the time.
The story is set in Toronto in 1837. At the time, the lack of democratic representation, the government in the clutches of the elite, and rife corruption sparked the upper Canada rebellion of 1837. James Kinney and Sarah O’Connor are both heavily influenced by the politics surrounding their lives, whether they want to be or not. The stark differences between Irish town and those of the high rungs of society brought home the unfairness and harshness of the class structure in place.
The kind but mysterious Sarah was quiet, steady, and oddly refined for one in her circumstances, which made her an intriguing woman to James. (And the reader!) If I had to describe Sara in one word, it would be capable. As circumstances drew her into the Kinney household, her calm presence and care made James question who she truly was, and I wondered why she hid her intelligence as well! (Never fear, reader, all is revealed in good time.)
Love doesn’t always arrive in the way we expect, except in fiction. I was still nervous when the world seemed against this pair, not quite sure how it would all work out. They both have past tragedies and bruised hearts, along with admirable character traits that made me hope they would find love.
Heartbreak
Redemption
Faith
Political Intrigue (but not overwhelming)
Villains We Love to Hate
Sweet Romance
Great Side Characters
This might be your next perfect read if you like: second chances and personal redemption, love that grows from kindness and service, stories that affirm the dignity and worth of every person regardless of social standing, healing from grief and loss, faith tested and strengthened through hardship.
My latest project is a multi-author collaboration, an offshoot of my first collab, Apron Strings. This one follows a similar pattern, and uses the familiar cookbook, Mrs. Canfield’s Cookery Book, as a unifying link. But this time all the stories are set in the interbellum period (between WWI and WWII) which meant I had research to do for Della’s Song.
I did not set out intending to include pie vents in this story, but when I was trying to get a feel for the setting, I stumbled across them and the idea of pie vents stuck, because looking at images of kitchens of the time led to vintage 1930s kitchen decor, which led to pie vent collections. Next thing I knew, they were in my story world’s kitchen and became a motif. You see how that works, don’t you?
These cute little gadgets caught my interest. Not only are pie vents attractive, they are useful. Pie vents are also called pie chimneys or pie funnels. These hollow ceramic devices, when placed in a pie before baking, release steam, so that the filling of the dish stays where it belongs and not on the bottom of the stove. Besides keeping the filling from bubbling over, a pie vent is meant to prevent the crust from collapsing or becoming soggy, a particular challenge for the 1930s cook, as the stoves were not always consistent. Bakers needed all the tricks they could come up with under these challenging circumstances.
In case you want to look these up on ebay, companies like Carleton Ware and Shawnee Pottery produced dozens of ceramic pie vent designs, including blackbirds, roosters, rabbits, and even elephants. The most popular shape seems to have been a blackbird, likely inspired by the nursery rhyme “Sing a Song of Sixpence.”
Perhaps I made a subconscious connection there, because as it turned out, a BLUEBIRD pie vent became the catalyst for my character making up a song to sing to her little brother. He was playing with the different pie vents, lining them up, and she picked up the bluebird.
“At first, she only hummed, watching Max tap the bluebird on its open beak, and waited for him to acknowledge her. When he gave a barely audible “mm hmm,” she began to sing, low and quiet, snatching words from the air and creating a song on the fly.
There was a bluebird in a tree,
He sang a song made just for me.
It was so sweet it broke my heart,
For the first time all morning, Max smiled, and his shoulders relaxed from their near-permanent hunched position.
In a whisper, Della sang.
About a true love …”
Later in the story, I just had to provide a visual of the pie bird in action.
“She assessed today’s completed strawberry pies lined up on the counter. Two they’d made together, most of the work done by her aunt, and her one solo attempt, a sad pie bleeding red in the center, creating a pool around the ceramic blackbird pie vent. The poor bird looked like it had been murdered and was gasping for a last breath, mired in a pool of its own blood.”
I had fun integrating these period pie vents into Della’s Song and learning about the 1930s. Stay tuned for more trips down the research rabbit hole with me!
Della’s Song is available for preorder. Release Date is May 19th.
Promise Me Tomorrow won a book award! I so appreciative of the SCWC organizers and of my readers. This story that wouldn’t quit is near and dear to my heart, and I couldn’t be prouder that it has touched lives. The topic of grief and cancer isn’t an easy one, but it is important.
Nina is on the autism spectrum and her mother has terminal cancer. With the help of her family and friends she muddles through and finds an imperfect peace.
I sat next to him. “I’m not. I’m not okay.” Cody slumped, hung his head, but nodded. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be okay. You might as well understand that right now.” “I get it.” “Do you?” He shifted, the boards creaking underneath his weight. “I’m trying.” “That’s all anyone can do, I guess.” I bent down and picked a sprig of rosemary growing wild beside the steps and crushed it, releasing the aroma. “I’m afraid, Cody. I’m trying not to be.”“
That’s good,” Cody said. “Because one of us needs to be. Not be, I mean.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Not be scared, I mean.” “Are you saying you’re scared?” He blew out a long breath. “No kidding, Nina. You are pretty scary.” I tried to scowl through my laugh and slapped at him, but he caught my hand and held fast, pulling me to him. I hoped he’d never let go.
I can’t believe Della’s Song is finally finished with only a few weeks until pub day!
A tragic loss, a silenced song, and a scattered family … one North Louisiana tea room offers an unlikely reunion.
In the wake of a devastating train accident, Della Swan’s world is shattered. Her father and brother are forever changed, and the Swan Family Singers have no choice but to depend on the charity of formidable Aunt Leticia, proprietor of the Hotel Fairwood.
Of Della’s six brothers, only two remain with her at the hotel: Quiet Max, the youngest, and Frank, the pianist who lost his arm—and his heart for music. The rest are sent away to school or work. Aunt Leticia believes the children must learn to make their way in the world, effectively banishing them.
During Father’s recovery, the repercussions of his head injury make one thing clear. Life as the Swans knew it, traveling the south and sharing gospel music, may never return. Yet Della clings to the belief that God isn’t finished with her family or their calling and sets a plan in motion to bring them together again.
When she develops an unexpected bond with Clayton Miller, the hotel’s reserved, long-time employee, his steady presence reminds her there is often more to people—and situations—than meets the eye.
The Swan Family Gospel Singers are separated by tragedy, Della’s brothers scattered to the wind. With needle and thread, faith, and a song, she finds a way to stitch them together again.
Della’s Song is a stand-alone novel in the Apron Strings Tea Tales multi-author series, and a 1930s historical with romance inspired by “The Six Swans.”
Della’s Song is now available for preorder.
There’s still time to join the launch team or request an advanced reader copy.
Her family’s survival matters more than anything…even her own heart.
As the 1930 drought burns crops burn to a crisp in tiny Eden, Arkansas, Bryony Linwood relies on forced optimism and dogged determination to disguise a heart as dry and despairing as the scorched earth.
Reclusive Michael Heath barely survived the Great War, and twelve years later all he wants is to forget. His one passion is botanical illustration, where nature’s beauty offers blessed escape from a troubled past and his wealthy father’s continual disparagement.
When Bryony accepts employment at the Heath mansion, it’s just a job at first…until she discovers Michael Heath and his beautiful illustrations. Their friendship soon blossoms into healing for wounded souls and a love that can’t be denied.
My Thoughts
Bryony is the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for. Times are tough for the Linwood family, and Byrony does what it takes to find a solution. She didn’t plan on falling in love with Micheal Heath, and the two don’t have much of a chance, with Byrony from a share cropper family and Micheal the son of the owner of Heath Mansion, a man who would never approve of such a match.
Micheal is a sensitive character, idealistic and artistic, and much about him resonated with me, especially when he came to a realization about himself. While there is virtue in loving others, which he does by being faithful, gentle, and kind, but there is also the need to love oneself, a challenge for those who tend to show their care by service.
The story is multilayered, giving a look into the life of all the players involved in the life of the mansion from the lady of the house to the kitchen maid and also tells the story about the tenant farmers who have fallen on hard times and how desperate their situations were.
Many delicate touches make the story highly interesting. Michael’s mother displays symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s, which they wouldn’t have called Alzheimer’s in that time in history, and I found myself worried about this sweet and kind lady.
The book even has a character we love to hate, but eventually he comes to redemption.
A story about giving, but self-sacrifice, but also a story about not giving so much of yourself that you give up your own dreams.
Vancouver, Canada, 1927. The Roaring Twenties are anything but extravagant for seventeen-year-old Clara Wilson. With her family struggling to make ends meet and under the threat of eviction, she applies for a job at the soon-to-be-opened Hotel Hamilton. But with her impulsive, adventure-seeking sister quick on her heels, she may find herself battling more than she anticipated.
Feeling the intense burden of responsibility and doing her best to navigate the opulent hotel’s rigorous training program, her hopes for survival crumble when she encounters rivalry from an out-of-place socialite. And as both women strive to win the coveted position, Clara fears she could be losing the only way to keep her family afloat.
My Thoughts
I do love my period fiction, and found that Welcome to the Hamilton delivers a warm, character-driven story and an exquisite setting. The descriptions of the hotel propelled me right into the setting, the cage elevator, fine furnishings, flocked wallpaper—even the unwieldy vacuum!
Clara Wilson is a sweet girl of seventeen, who takes on burdens she’d do better to share, yet she only does this out of loyalty and to protect those she loves. My heart ached for her as she tried to “make do” as long as she could and then things only kept getting worse. The light at the end of the tunnel seemed to appear in the form of a possible job and the new grand hotel opening nearby.
Who knew how coveted a position of maid was? In 1927, working at such a prestigious hotel was an avenue toward independence for women, and competition was fierce.
The process that Clara and the other applicants went through was quite fraught with tension as she did her best to earn a chance to prove her worth and save her family from destitution. Not all of the other young ladies were friends. From the minute Jane Morgan appeared, I sensed trouble was afoot, and I was correct. Spoiler: Jane’s underhanded and entitled behavior pushes the normally agreeable and unassuming Clara to the edge, testing her fortitude and patience. Things get (a lot) tense.
Clara’s deep sense of responsibility and her complicated but loving bond with Louisa, plus her desire to protect the people she loves give the story heart and had me wanting happiness for her so much. She’s a strong, relatable heroine, easy to root for. The kindnesses she shows to all, including a hungry boy at her own expense when she was in need, showcased her generous spirit. She could have easily become too gentle and passive, but is saved from it by her relatable flaws. I really liked this character. Clara is the girl you want in your corner and the one you’d scold for not letting you know when she was struggling. Her older sister, Lousia, is the perfect foil. While they have a strong bond, they had room to grow, and watching the two of them become closer (and more mature) satisfied this reader.
The story uses everyday challenges to explore unfair treatment, social class differences, workplace politics, and moral choices, yet remains a gentle and uplifting read. The values of endurance, growth, and finding dignity in honest work are threaded through.
A lot to love in this historical fiction centered on strong women, family bonds, and personal growth. This novel is the first in the Hotel Hamilton series.
I listened to the audiobook and found it fairly well done. The volume was a hair inconsistent, but not enough for me to stop listening.
Revealed Truth follows teenaged Maddie Ruth Bennett as she struggles with fear and anxiety after her father is called on for a secret government mission involving national danger. In the midst of uncertainty, Maddie embarks on her journey of faith, learning to trust God and find courage—with the support of those around her. A story of spiritual growth, highlighting themes of faith over fear, strong family bonds, and coming of age during crisis. Most of the book is told from Maddie’s perspective, though at times her father has a POV.
What a multi-layered and rich novel! The story touched on many topics yet still feels natural and organic.
Maddie is a seeker.
I loved how the characters at church don’t have all the answers, but are trying their best. Maddie experiences two completely different types of Christian churches and worship styles, Gram’s was old-fashioned and traditional, and another more contemporary megachurch. The author demonstrated that both of these types of worship are legitimate, and the message that God has a place for everyone touched my heart.
And the regional flavor! Wonderful.
Maddie has her Grammy to depend on, and Gram is a fun character to read, a strong woman of faith from Tennessee, full of common sense, and always pointing towards Jesus. “Finer than frog hair” may be one of my new sayings! Grammy’s faith and her simple way of conveying biblical truths to Maddie as the teen is struggling to work out things was so spot-on and full of gentle wisdom.
The common issue of anxiety is examined from both the teenage daughter’s experience and her father’s. The things I’ve mentioned already were certainly enough to keep me glued to the pages, but, additionally, the mystery related to her dad’s job had me searching for clues. All of these elements (plus a few more) work together seamlessly in this novel.
so much to love about this book! My favorite thing in this novel was how authentic and organic it felt, while at the same time not shying away from hard topics and delving into spiritual truths.
Deals with serious issues of a parent’s alcoholism and drug overdose. Attempted suicide.
Note: Written from a certain theological standpoint on end times, though this is not a main focus of the book.
Donna Jo Stone 