In Pursuit of an Emerald is available NOW for pre-order from Amazon. Here’s a snippet from the second book in this wonderful Civil War era historical romance by Jacqueline Freeman Wheelock.

All ex-slave Violette McMillan ever wanted was to see her troubled daughter Emerald grow up to be a better person than Violette has been, so when Benjamin Catlett, an old acquaintance, asks her to become his bookkeeper in 1869, in a business that is sinking due to southern backlash during the Reconstruction era, she agrees. But when his arrogance surfaces, their goals collide, and Violette wonders if she might be forced to renege at the expense of her daughter’s future education.

Benjamin Catlett is plagued by his past as a free man of color whose African American father was a slaveholder. Renouncing his father’s way of life, he moves to Natchez hoping to quietly atone. But his new hire, Violette McMillan, and her flirtatious teenage daughter, Emerald, test the limits of his good intentions one time too many, offending his straight-laced upbringing and tempting him to fire Violette.

Will the Lord who tugs at the heart of both Benjamin and Violette prevail in solidifying their efforts to tolerate each other and finally affirm the love already blossoming in their hearts?

While you’re waiting on this ebook, download the first book in the series, A Most Precious Gift.

Another book cover has been finished! This has been a fun cover to work on. Aimee is by author and editor, Pam Harris. Pam has published two preteen mystery novels that I had the privilege of creating covers for. Now, I’m proud to say that I created the cover on her historical romance.

Pam sent me some photos she had taken of the log schoolhouse that anchors the setting for her story. I’ll be honest – I’m not always happy when someone sends me photos. Mostly because sometimes the quality is just too low to work with on a book cover. But Pam’s photo was great, except for the big yellow park sign plastered on the front of the school house. LOL! Oh well, that’s what Photoshop if for, right?!!

Have I peaked your interest yet? Here’s a blurb about this book which will release in the next few weeks from Mantle Rock Publishing.

Aimee Winters has made the bravest decision of her life. Left alone and homeless, she has accepted her father’s offer to stay with him in the Arizona territory and teach at the local school. The problem is she has no memory of her father, having been raised by her mother and taught that her father died when she was a baby. Hungry to know the truth of her past, she leaves Memphis behind and journeys alone to the mountainous region where she faces challenges she never could have anticipated. The rugged living conditions and the isolation of the community are almost more than she can bear, but she is determined to prove she can do things “the Arizona way.” It doesn’t help that the handsome rancher, Levi Raines, seems to take a special delight in pointing out her weaknesses. It isn’t long, however, until her heart is woven into the lives of her students, their families, and especially Levi. As their relationship grows, the shadow of their very different backgrounds and goals is ever present. Can they find common ground?

While you’re waiting, check out Pam’s other two books, The Ghosts of Graceland and Music City Mayhem, both available on Amazon.

We live in a politically charged era. I tend to sometimes think that these are the worst times ever to have to live through in terms of politics and government. But I truly know that they aren’t. Our government has endured many difficult times from the Revolutionary War when our nation took it’s first steps, to the battlefields of Shiloh and Gettysburg, to the marches for civil rights, and on we go. Along this nation’s history other battles have risen, the women’s right to vote among them.

I was honored when Sandra Robbins asked me to make a cover for her book, The Right Choice. Some covers are a labor of love and this one stand among those. Here is a teaser.

It’s 1916, and the seventy-five-year struggle for women to gain the right to vote has escalated. Sarah Jordan, a young woman who embraces the cause, is determined to lend her voice to the growing dissent across the country. However, there is a choice to be made. Alex Taylor, the young lawyer she’s in love with, works in a firm that opposes women gaining the vote, and he claims Sarah’s political beliefs threaten his career.

Heartbroken, Sarah turns her back on Alex and begins a journey that will take her from everything she’s ever known to Washington, D.C., to join the pickets at the White House and on to the infamous Occoquan Workhouse as a prisoner. When she becomes a victim of the ‘Night of Terror’, Alex discovers she is near death and rushes to Washington to the save the life of the woman he’s always loved. Together they must make the right choice—one that will affect not only their lives but also those of generations of women yet to be born.

Keep checking back for details about the release of The Right Choice by Sandra Robbins.

Just a quick note announcing the book cover for Under This Same Sky by Cynthia Roemer. Historical fiction is a genre that stretches my skills every time I have to create a cover. Artwork in this theme is overused due to a lack of quality photos. But this one came out beautifully! Look forward to seeing this book on presale ordering next month from Mantle Rock Publishing.

It’s been super busy around our house this past week. I spent two days at home with an HVAC repairman. While two days at home during the week would normally be a good thing, I was not able to get a lot done. If I would go upstairs to our bonus room where my computer is, he would come in with a question about something. I eventually made a loaf of banana bread and sat down in front of Netflix. I did show some restraint. I didn’t eat the whole loaf during the two days…

This week has been better. Savannah is on college spring break and will be home Wednesday with her friend Elle. No telling what we will get into this weekend but I’m sure it will be fun!