Thursday, April 30, 2026

HHH May 2026 Book Day!


10 Books You Don't Want to Miss!





HEART'S JOURNEY (Book Two of Heart's Desire)

by Linda Hoover





In 1880, after narrowly escaping an arranged marriage, Julia marries Jacob, the man of her dreams, and they move to Iowa to buy a farm. Upper-class Julia has never been in a kitchen, let alone on a farm. How will she manage? Joys and sorrows find them along the way, including a personal loss for Julia which triggers a disagreement leading to estrangement. Can their faith in God bring forgiveness and reconciliation? 


 

LISSA AND THE SPY

by Camille Elliot




In Regency-era London, Miss Lissa Gardinier enters her second Season seeking a marriage in order to escape her mother's constant criticism. So she represses her cheeky remarks behind a quiet, innocent facade. The enigmatic Lord Jeremy Stoude is dismayed when a chance encounter with Miss Gardinier entangles her in his world of secrets and subterfuge. He cannot afford to be distracted by Lissa’s charming smile and unflappable demeanor. As danger stalks them and true feelings come to light, can Lissa and Jeremy navigate the labyrinth of society’s expectations and their own insecurities to find love?


NO PLAN AT ALL

by Denise M. Colby





Two strangers. One journey. A love neither expected.

Sarah Anne Baker never wanted to be anyone’s burden. But hours after losing the Godmother who raised her, she faces an impossible choice: marry her late fiancé’s brother—or flee. Alexander Sinclair walked away from his noble title in Scotland to live a quiet, hidden life, peddling wares. Until a desperate young woman crosses his path. He can’t turn her away… no matter the cost.



PERFECT

By Kimberly Keagan





After being jilted by his fiancée and denied a promotion, William Walraven must open Denwall Department Stores' first New York emporium before Christmas—or lose his chance at leading the family empire. He can’t afford distractions … until he saves Ivy King from being run over by a beer wagon and finds himself drawn to the determined bookseller whose shop his new store may destroy.

Ivy is fighting to keep her family bookshop alive. Falling for a charming department store heir is the last thing she needs—especially when a mysterious attack on Will’s brother pulls her into a dangerous investigation and into Will’s world. 



SECOND CUPS AND SECOND CHANCES

By Donna Schlachter





Sweet stories of second chances from a God of second chances. The stories in this collection will warm your heart and encourage you to keep on going when all your circumstances say otherwise. No matter where you are or what you're struggling with, these stories will touch you where you're at. Each story stands on its own, but in total, paints a picture of a God who offers second chances, and third chances, and more. Stories include forgiveness, living out your dreams, revising your opinion of others, and finding a forever home. A sweet summer read. 


SHETLAND SUNSET

by Linda Shenton Matchett





Bonded by a cause but an ocean apart, will their love survive a world war? After months in Norway helping his cousins with their fishing business, American Askel Westgard seems trapped when the Germans invade until he has a chance to get back at the Occupiers as part of the Shetlandsgjengen, or Shetland gang, a group of fishermen who transport weapons and equipment from Shetland to Norway under cover of darkness. Unfortunately, the beautiful Norwegian woman he’s just met refuses to join him in safety. Will he ever see her again? 



SONORAN SUNRISE

by Nancy J. Farrier





Description: After her mother’s death, Glorianna Wilton is forced to join her father at his Arizona army post. She wants to see her father, but not at the cost of living away from civilization as she knows it. Lieutenant Conlon Sullivan believes his prayers for a suitable wife have been answered when feisty Glory arrives at the fort despite her attempts to hold him at bay. As Glorianna and Conlon connect in the serenity of the morning sunrise, will a conniving female and a drunken outlaw steal the joy they have gained? 





THE RELUCTANT HEALER OF HALIFAX

by Terrie Todd (releases August 1, 2026)





Three days ago, Pearline Campbell's family was whole and Oliver Hamilton still loved her. But upon returning to Halifax disfigured and shellshocked, Oliver ended their relationship. Then came Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the Halifax harbor was leveled by a tremendous explosion. . .and Pearline fears nothing will ever be whole again. Her parents are dead, her brother is missing, and her sister refuses to speak. Pearline must fortify herself to open her home to needy orphans, including an unidentified baby. Where can she find the strength for each new day as misery grips the city? 
 

 

THE QUILTING CIRCLE SERIES Box Set

Historical Romance Series

By Mary Davis






THE WIDOW’S PLIGHT (Book1) – Will a secret clouding a single mother’s past cost Lily her loved ones?

THE DAUGHTER’S PREDICAMENT (Book2) *SELAH & WRMA Finalist* – As Isabelle’s romance prospects turn in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams.

THE DAMSEL’S INTENT (Book3) *SELAH Winner* – Nicole heads down the mountain to fetch herself a husband. Can she learn to be enough of a lady to snag the handsome rancher?

THE DÉBUTANTE’S SECRET (Book4) – Complications arise when a fancy French lady steps off the train and into Deputy Montana’s arms.





THE SCHOOLMARM AND THE MINER

by Denise Farnsworth




Adelaide Duncan's dream of teaching is within reach until her father's gambling forces her to start over. She takes a position in the gold rush town of Dahlonega, where unruly students, rules against teachers courting, and her feelings for a certain widowed father threaten her hard-fought independence.

Wade Coulter walked away from the law after he lost his wife and son. Raising his daughter alone is safer than letting anyone in. But Lotty’s new teacher makes him question everything. Just as he begins to trust again, a dangerous man from Wade’s past threatens both the women he loves.


 






Tuesday, April 28, 2026

LAUNDRY DAY IN THE 1880s by Linda Hoover



 

In the second book of my Heart’s Desire series, Heart’s Promise, Jacob and Julia move to Iowa and buy a farm half a day’s wagon ride from town. Living that distance away required farm families to have a large vegetable garden, fruit trees and the animals needed to sustain them. This was about to be an intense learning experience for socialite, Julia, who confessed on their way west that she’d never been in a kitchen before, and the only thing she knew about gardens was that flowers grew there. They were in Iowa only two weeks before Julia confessed she needed help. Their nearest neighbor’s daughter volunteered to stay with them and teach Julia how to be a farm wife.


One of the most labor-intensive things women in that time period had to do was laundry. Water had to be carried in and poured into kettles to heat on the stove. Once it was hot, it went into large wooden tubs. But before they could wash the clothes, they had to have laundry soap. In Julia’s case, they had to start from scratch. She got out the two biggest pots they had and measured out a gallon of water into each. She poured five pounds of sal soda, or washing soda, into a pot along with one pound of borax. One pound of unslaked lime went into the other pot. Both were brought to a boil then emptied into one of the wooden tubs. Eight more gallons of water went in with the hot mixture. After a few stirs, it was left to sit overnight. That was the base for the detergent.


The next day, they made the soft soap by cutting four bars of soap into slivers and boiling it with two pounds of sal soda and three gallons of water for ten minutes. Next half a pint of the soft soap and half a pint of the base, and four more gallons of water were added. They now had four gallons of detergent to work with. The rest of the base got poured into crocks to use for future batches. Now the white clothes were boiled and the colored clothes were scrubbed against a washboard. A wringer attached the wash tub to the rinse tub. Julia cranked the handle as the clothes were fed one at a time through the wringer to the rinse water. The clothes went through the wringer again before they were hung on the line.


While researching laundry detergent I found that for a number of years now a lot of people want to make their own. The ingredients were pretty similar to each other. The link will take you to the Frugal Village website where you can see a recipe for Duggar’s Laundry Soap.



                                                                                


Inventors made steady improvements, but the things they came up with still required manual labor to make it work. It wasn’t until 1907 that Thor came out with an electric washing machine. Other brands soon followed.



An excerpt from Heart’s Journey

As Julia continued to explore their new home, she saw a room off the kitchen with three large wooden tubs leaning against a wall. A contraption with two rollers and a hand crank stood propped in a corner, while several large crocks with lids lined a wall. A freestanding cupboard stood opposite the tubs along with a large wicker basket and a table with a cloth bag full of wooden pegs. She would need an explanation for these items.

 


Buy Heart's Journey            


About the Author

Linda, a retired librarian, lives in west central Ohio with her husband and grandson. An avid reader and writer since childhood, she began her publishing career writing columns and a middle-grade serial for the South Charleston Spectator. She writes Fun, Faith-Filled Historical Romance. Her desire is to entertain, but more importantly, to encourage readers with God’s faithfulness.

You’re invited to visit her website. Browse the pages to learn more about her and her books. Stay in touch when you sign up for her newsletter. You’ll receive a free novella as a thank you.

https://lindahooverbooks.com



Famous Horses in History – Cincinnati with giveaway by Donna Schlachter




From Civil War Monitor site -- Cincinnati with Grant

This soldier didn’t wear a uniform. He didn’t give commands. And yet, in some of the most defining moments of the American Civil War, he carried a man who did.

His name was Cincinnati—a powerful, steady thoroughbred whose quiet strength helped shape the course of history. And friend, when you lean in close to his story, you begin to see something deeper than war… you see faithfulness in motion.

Cincinnati came into the life of Ulysses S. Grant as a gift during the war, not long after the Battle of Chattanooga. From the beginning, Grant recognized that this wasn’t just any horse—he came from a remarkable lineage. His sire was Lexington, one of the fastest thoroughbreds in the nation, and that strength and elegance showed in this colt.
Grant astride Cincinnati -- Wikipedia

In fact, he would later call Cincinnati “the finest horse that he had ever seen.”

And that’s saying something from a man who knew horses like few others.

What made Cincinnati remarkable wasn’t just his strength—it was his spirit.

He was calm under pressure, even-tempered in the chaos of battle, yet responsive and alive when the moment called for courage. Through the Overland Campaign and the last confrontations with Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Cincinnati carried Grant faithfully. And perhaps most notably, he was the horse beneath Grant as he rode to Appomattox Court House to accept Lee’s surrender—one of the most pivotal moments in American history.

Even President Abraham Lincoln rode Cincinnati during a visit near the war’s end—a rare honor, as Grant seldom allowed others to ride him.

When the war ended, Cincinnati didn’t fade into obscurity. Grant valued him so deeply that he refused an offer of $10,000 for the horse—a staggering sum at the time. Instead, Cincinnati remained with him, even living in the White House stables during Grant’s presidency.

Nearly every statue and artistic rendering of Grant shows him seated atop Cincinnati.
That’s not accidental—that’s legacy.
Grant astride Cincinnati -- mural at Grant's Tomb

Cincinnati lived out his final years in quiet retirement and died in 1878 on a farm in Maryland.

Cincinnati’s life whispers a truth we still need today: Faithfulness positions us for purpose. And sometimes, the greatest impact you’ll ever make…is simply carrying well what God has placed beneath you.

Enter to win:
Leave a comment, and I will randomly draw one winner’s name to receive a free print book of Hollow Hearts, book 2 in the Hearts of the Pony Express series. Cleverly disguise your email so the ‘bots don’t find you, but I can. For example, donna AT livebytheword DOT com


About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.


Connect online:
www.DonnaSchlachter.com

Newsletter: https://www.thepurposefullwriter.com/newslettersignup

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donna-Schlachter/author/B01180A2EE

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-schlachter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14116621.Donna_Schlachter

The Purpose-Full Writer: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651

Need a writing coach? Or want to write your family or personal story? www.ThePurposeFullWriter.com


Resources:

https://www.civilwarmonitor.com/grants-war-horse-cincinnati/

https://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/ulysses-s-grants-cincinnati/#google_vignette

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsemanship_of_Ulysses_S._Grant

https://www.gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com/famous-civil-war-horses/






Leave a comment, and I will randomly draw one winner’s name to receive a free print book of Hollow Hearts, book 2 in the Hearts of the Pony Express series. Cleverly disguise your email so the ‘bots don’t find you, but I can. For example, donna AT livebytheword DOT com



A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.



www.DonnaSchlachter.com

Newsletter: https://www.thepurposefullwriter.com/newslettersignup

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donna-Schlachter/author/B01180A2EE

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-schlachter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14116621.Donna_Schlachter

The Purpose-Full Writer: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651

Need a writing coach? Or want to write your family or personal story? www.ThePurposeFullWriter.com













Resources:

https://www.civilwarmonitor.com/grants-war-horse-cincinnati/

https://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/ulysses-s-grants-cincinnati/#google_vignette

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsemanship_of_Ulysses_S._Grant

https://www.gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com/famous-civil-war-horses/



Monday, April 27, 2026

Getting Around in the 19th Century

by Kimberly Keagan 

Before automobiles filled city streets and trolleys buzzed through town squares, the sound of carriage wheels and the gentle clip-clop of horses signaled the approach of both the fashionable and the practical. In the 1800s, carriages weren’t just transportation. They were a reflection of status, lifestyle, and region. Whether one was heading to church, calling on a neighbor, making deliveries, or arriving at a formal event, the chosen carriage spoke volumes. 


Carriages of Refinement and Leisure 

The Barouche

Elegant and spacious, the barouche was ideal for formal occasions and typically drawn by two horses. With two double seats facing each other and a collapsible hood, it was often used by families of means for church outings, weddings, and seasonal drives.

(Photo credits: www.thecarriagefoundation.org.uk, www.horseyhooves.com, www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/hampton)
 
The Brougham
 
A four-wheeled, enclosed carriage designed by Lord Brougham, this practical vehicle offered privacy and protection from the weather. Drawn by a single horse, it became a favorite among city dwellers needing reliable personal transportation.

(Photo credits: www.johnnybrunt.com, www.gailthornton.co.uk, www.pinterest.com)
 
The Landau
 

With its dual folding hoods and ample seating, the landau was often reserved for formal events. Drawn by four horses, it balanced luxury and visibility, making it a popular choice for parades, weddings, and state occasions.

(Photo credits: www.thecarriagefoundation.org, www.horsedrawnoccasions.co.uk, www.pinterest.com)
 
The Phaeton
 
A phaeton is a form of sporty open carriage popular in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. This lightweight, open carriage was often used for leisure rides in the country. Drawn by one or two horses, it was known for its speed and stylish appearance. It could be driven by either men or women and suggested a measure of independence and confidence.

(Photo credits: www.thecarriagefoundation.org, www.pinterest.com)
 
The Victoria
 

Named after Queen Victoria, this fashionable open carriage featured a low body, a forward-facing seat for passengers, and a raised driver’s seat. Ideal for pleasant drives in good weather, it was a common sight in parks and boulevards. The folding top offered shade while still allowing visibility.

(Photo credits: www.pinterest.com, www.thecarriagefoundation.org, www.newheritagefarm.com)

Carriages for Hire: The Urban Workhorses

The Cabriolet
 

Originating in France and later popularized in London and New York, the cabriolet was a light, two-wheeled vehicle with a folding hood and room for two passengers. It led to the term "cab" and was used widely for hire. Driven by a cabman and often accompanied by a small servant known as a "tiger" who stood on a platform in the back of the cab, the cabriolet was a stylish choice for well-off bachelors.

(Photo credits: www.pinterest.com, www.shannondonnelly.com, www.thecarriagefoundation.org)

The Hansom Cab 


Widely used in American and European cities, the hansom cab was a two-wheeled, covered carriage with the driver seated high in the rear. It replaced the cabriolet as the hired carriage of choice as it was safer and could carry more than one passenger. It offered quick, affordable transportation and was especially popular in bustling urban centers.

(Photo credits: www.vintage.es, www.horseyhooves.com)

The Omnibus


The omnibus carriage, also known as a horse-drawn omnibus, was a large, enclosed vehicle used for passenger transport in the 19th century before motor vehicles became common. It typically featured benches for passengers facing each other and was a popular means of public transportation in cities like Paris and London.

(Photo credits: www.flickr.com, www.pinterest.com)

Whether drawn by a single horse or a matched team of four, carriages in the 19th century reflected the values and necessities of their time. From the grand avenues of the city to the dusty roads of the frontier, these horse-drawn vehicles shaped how people connected, celebrated, and simply got around. Their graceful lines and rhythmic motion remain symbols of a bygone era—and the inspiration behind more than one romantic tale.