Tuesday Tidbits: PAPER MARBLING WITH SHAVING CREAM?

I had a blast! You can too!

While researching for a blog post on the marbled endpapers in old books for Heroes, Heroines, & History (HHHistory.com), I stumbled across a super easy, albeit messy, method to marble paper using shaving cream. Not only is it fun for adults who don’t mind getting a little messy, but fun and easy for children of all ages with great results. I found this was almost impossible to mess up. I saw a YouTube video of a three-year-old doing this, so I figured I could too.

Here is the link to my marbled endpapers post on 6/23/19 on HHHistory.com. In that post, I touched on this marbling technique, but it's mostly about the history and art marbled endpapers in books.

This would make a great outdoor summer activity for kids.

Here is what you need.
Supplies:
~Paper
~Food coloring
~Shaving cream (not the gel kind)
~A stick (or something to pull through the colors to make designs)
~Squeegee (or something else with a flat side to scrape off the shaving cream)
~Container to hold shaving cream big enough to fit your paper (You can put the shaving cream directly on the table or counter but the food coloring may stain. You can put down a plastic table cloth and put the shaving cream directly on it.)

STEP 1: Set out supplies
STEP 2: Shake shaving cream and put about a half of an inch in the bottom of your container and smooth it out with squeegee.
STEP 3: Put several drops of food coloring on the shaving cream, use one color or several different colors.
STEP 4: Swirl the stick back and forth and/or around and around in the shaving cream to streak the food coloring.
STEP 5: When you are happy with the pattern, place a piece of paper over the surface and press it gently into the shaving cream.
STEP 6: Lift out the paper and lay it shaving-cream-side up on plastic and scrape off excess shaving cream with squeegee to reveal the marbling.
STEP 7: Swirl the shaving cream again and make another print. You can add additional colors and swirl and print over and over.

Then I added blue and
swirled and printed.

Then I added green and swirled and printed.
Added yellow and swirled and printed.
And swirled and printed and printed.

The shaving cream stuck
more to the index cards,
than to the regular paper,
so the reveal is more
dramatic.

It started getting a bit muggy, so I added
more shaving cream, swirled, and printed.
Then I added red again, swirled, and printed.

Another dramatic reveal.

Since the shaving cream didn’t really stick to my paper, I had very little to scrape off, but still created beautiful marbling.

I had so much fun that I kept printing and printing and could have kept going.

These were some of the last prints I did.

Here are all the prints I made, and I still had shaving cream.

Here's what my tray of colored shaving cream
looked like when I finally called it quits.

There was still a lot of use I could have gotten out of it by adding more colors and shaving cream and swirling it around.

So much fun! More fun than playing in the mud as a kid.
=0)

NEW!

THIMBLES AND THREADS: 4 Love Stories Are Quilted Into Broken Lives

Love Stitched into Four Women’s Lives
Enjoy four historical romances that celebrate the arts of sewing and quilting. When four women put needle and thread to fabric, will their talents lead to love? #thimblesandthreadscollection
Click HERE to order yours today.
FREE Preview
#thimblesandthreadscollection 

“Bygones” by Mary Davis
Texas, 1884
Drawn to the new orphan boy in town, Tilly Rockford soon became the unfortunate victim of a lot of Orion Dunbar’s mischievous deeds in school. Can Tilly figure out how to truly forgive the one who made her childhood unbearable? Now she doesn’t even know she holds his heart. Can this deviant orphan-train boy turned man make up for the misdeeds of his youth and win Tilly’s heart before another man steals her away?

Other stories in this collection:
“The Bridal Shop” by Grace Hitchcock, “Mending Sarah’s Heart” by Suzanne Norquist, and “Binding Up Wounds” by Liz Tolsma

THE DAUGHTER'S PREDICAMENT (Book 2 in the Quilting Circle series)
Can a patient love win her heart?

As Isabelle Atwood’s romance prospects are turning in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams. While making a quilt for her own hope chest, Isabelle’s half-sister becomes pregnant out of wedlock and Isabelle--always the unfavored daughter--becomes the family sacrifice to save face. Despite gaining the attention of a handsome rancher, her parents are pressuring her to marry a man of their choosing to rescue her sister’s reputation. A third suitor waits silently in the wings, hoping for his own chance at love. Isabelle ends up with three marriage proposals, but this only further confuses her decision.

A handsome rancher, a stranger, and an unseen suitor are all waiting for an answer.  Isabelle loves her sister, but will she really allow herself to be manipulated into a marriage without love? Will Isabelle capitulate and marry the man her parents wish her to, or will she rebel and marry the man they don’t approve of? Or will the man leaving her secret love poems sweep her off her feet?
#TheDaughtersPredicament

HEARTBEATS IN TIME – 5 books of Old West

Christian Romance (4 novels and 4 novellas) by 7 bestselling, award-winning authors, including my book, The Widow’s Plight. You'll love these 8 unique stories of love! Get it here: https://amzn.to/2VzRBoI
#HeartbeatsInTimeSet
The Widow’s Plight (Book 1 in the Quilting Circle series) by Mary Davis
A single mother steps out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves?
Finding Love In Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell
Dreams of My Heart by Barbara Scott
Hills of Nevermore by Janalyn Voigt
Heart of a Cowboy Novella Collection--four Old West romances by Susan Page Davis, Miralee Ferrell, Yvonne Lehman, and Vickie McDonough

#ChristianRomance #HistoricalRomance #Romance

MARY DAVIS s a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. Her 2018 titles include; "Holly and Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection (January), Courting Her Amish Heart (March), The Widow’s Plight (July), Courting Her Secret Heart (September), “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection (December), and Courting Her Prodigal Heart (January 2019). Coming in 2019, The Daughter's Predicament (May) and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads (July). She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.

Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-four years and two cats. She has three adult children and two incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at:

Newsletter  Blog   FB  FB Readers Group   Amazon   GoodReads   BookBub

-->

Tuesday Tidbits: FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS

What do Judy Garland, the Beatles, and New York Socialite Florence Foster Jenkins have in common?

 

These are the three most inquired about performances from Carnegie Hall's history.

You have likely heard of Judy Garland, and who hasn't heard of the Beatles? But unless you are a classical singer, you probably haven't heard of Florence Foster Jenkins (a.k.a. Little Miss Foster, Lady Florence, or Madame Jenkins). I had never heard of her until I ran across a DVD of a movie of her famed singing performance at Carnegie Hall in 1944, played by Meryl Streep with Hugh Grant. I laughed so hard when Meryl Streep sang for the first time in this movie. You see, to Florence's own ears, she sang like an angel, hitting every note pitch perfect. To everyone else, she hit every note flat or sharp. Rarely did she achieve the note she was supposed to.

So how could this woman have sung at Carnegie Hall? Let's travel back.

The Early Years

Narcissa Florence Foster was born in Wilkes-Berre Pennsylvania on July 19, 1868. She was an American socialite who dreamed of becoming a famous opera soprano. She began her lifelong passion of public performance at age seven. As a talented pianist, she played for social function and gave a recital at the White House for President Hayes.

When her left hand received severe nerve damage, her dream of being a concert pianist ended. She wanted to study music in Europe after she graduated high school, but her father refused, so she eloped with Frank Thornton Jenkins (sixteen years her senior) in 1885. A year later, she ended the relationship with him when she found out he'd given her syphilis and never spoke to him again. Though no documentation can be found, she claims to have gotten a divorce in 1902.

Since her father had cut her off for wanting to pursue music, she taught piano lessons in Philadelphia to support herself. Around 1900, her father had given her a monthly stipend, and she moved to New York City with her mother. She loved society life and was the "chairman of music" for many New York City social clubs and even started her own social club called the Verdi Club. She gave many private performances—by invitation only—in these clubs, where she wore elaborate costumes of her own design; an angel complete with large wings, a viking woman, clothed in a gown of silver or gold sheen with crown, her Russian peasant costume, and many others.

In 1909, she began a strange cohabitation relationship with St. Clair Bayfield, a British Shakesperean actor. Because of her syphilis, they never had a physical relationship. While she lived in a posh hotel, he lived in a little apartment. Bayfield managed her career.

Florence never sang in public productions, because the public wouldn't be prepared for what they would hear. Bayfield saw to it that the audience was always one who would receive her well. The reviews she did receive were carefully worded and veiled compliments. “…real musical feeling”, “…excellent enunciation”, “…coloratura of technique of high degree with extreme Cs and D”, “…covered remarkable range with facility”. No came right out and said she was good—or bad.

Despite Bayfield's efforts to insulate her singing from public exposure, Florence managed to book herself at a record recording studio and made records to give to her friends and family. One or more of her recordings somehow ended up on the radio. RCA has continued to make these recordings available, even on CD.

On October 25, 1944, at age 76, Florence's dream to sing in Carnegie Hall came true. How could that ever happen you might ask. She booked and paid for the hall herself. Bayfield tried unsuccessfully to talk her out of it. Though the audience held many of her regular spectators, it comprised mostly of the people who weren’t prepared. People couldn’t help but laugh at how terrible she was, though they tried to cover their laughter with cheers and applause. Florence still thought she sang beautifully. Because this was a public performance, Bayfield couldn't control the newspaper reviews. When Florence read them, she was crushed.

Five days later, she suffered a heart attack and died on November 26, 1944,

She said that she only wanted her singing to make other people happy, she succeeded in that.

"Some may say that I couldn't sing, but no one can say that I didn't sing."

-Florence Foster Jenkins

Though Florence Foster Jenkins might not have been able to sing well, I admire her heart and passion for what she loved.

COMING SOON!
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!!!
THIMBLES AND THREADS: 4 Love Stories Are Quilted Into Broken Lives

Love Stitched into Four Women’s Lives
Enjoy four historical romances that celebrate the arts of sewing and quilting. When four women put needle and thread to fabric, will their talents lead to love? #thimblesandthreadscollection
Click HERE to order yours today to lock in the pre-order discounted price.

“Bygones” by Mary Davis
Texas, 1884
Drawn to the new orphan boy in town, Tilly Rockford soon became the unfortunate victim of a lot of Orion Dunbar’s mischievous deeds in school. Can Tilly figure out how to truly forgive the one who made her childhood unbearable? Now she doesn’t even know she holds his heart. Can this deviant orphan-train boy turned man make up for the misdeeds of his youth and win Tilly’s heart before another man steals her away?
Other stories in this collection:
“The Bridal Shop” by Grace Hitchcock, “Mending Sarah’s Heart” by Suzanne Norquist, and “Binding Up Wounds” by Liz Tolsma

NEW!
THE DAUGHTER'S PREDICAMENT (Book 2 in the Quilting Circle series )
Can a patient love win her heart?

As Isabelle Atwood’s romance prospects are turning in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams. While making a quilt for her own hope chest, Isabelle’s half-sister becomes pregnant out of wedlock and Isabelle--always the unfavored daughter--becomes the family sacrifice to save face. Despite gaining the attention of a handsome rancher, her parents are pressuring her to marry a man of their choosing to rescue her sister’s reputation. A third suitor waits silently in the wings, hoping for his own chance at love. Isabelle ends up with three marriage proposals, but this only further confuses her decision.

A handsome rancher, a stranger, and an unseen suitor are all waiting for an answer.  Isabelle loves her sister, but will she really allow herself to be manipulated into a marriage without love? Will Isabelle capitulate and marry the man her parents wish her to, or will she rebel and marry the man they don’t approve of? Or will the man leaving her secret love poems sweep her off her feet?

HEARTBEATS IN TIME – 5 books of Old West Christian Romance (4 novels and 4 novellas) by 7 bestselling, award-winning authors, including my book, The Widow’s Plight. You'll love these 8 unique stories of love! Get it here: https://amzn.to/2VzRBoI
#HeartbeatsInTimeSet
The Widow’s Plight (Book 1 in the Quilting Circle series) by Mary Davis
A single mother steps out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves?
Finding Love In Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell
Dreams of My Heart by Barbara Scott
Hills of Nevermore by Janalyn Voigt
Heart of a Cowboy Novella Collection--four Old West romances by Susan Page Davis, Miralee Ferrell, Yvonne Lehman, and Vickie McDonough

#ChristianRomance #HistoricalRomance #Romance

MARY DAVIS s a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. Her 2018 titles include; "Holly and Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection (January), Courting Her Amish Heart (March), The Widow’s Plight (July), Courting Her Secret Heart (September), “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection (December), and Courting Her Prodigal Heart (January 2019). Coming in 2019, The Daughter's Predicament (May) and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads (July). She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.

Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-four years and two cats. She has three adult children and two incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at:

Newsletter  Blog   FB  FB Readers Group   Amazon   GoodReads   BookBub

Tuesday Tidbits: SAY CHEESE!!!

This is me when I need
to come up with images
for social media posts. 

It’s super easy to find images online that are exactly what I need. The problem is, I can’t legally us them. They belong to someone else. They aren’t mine. To use them without permission would be stealing. I try very hard not to impinge on someone else’s copyright.

So when posting to various social media like Pinterest, FaceBook, and all the others, just because someone else has posted something, doesn’t mean they got permission. So sharing something someone else posted may infringe on someone else’s copyright and could be stealing.

This is why I’ve shied away from Pinterest and sharing what others have posted on the Internet. I don’t want to accidentally infringe on someone’s copyright.

So let’s say I find the perfect image of my heroine and hero I look at while I write. If I decide to create a Pinterest board for my current work in progress, I can’t use that perfect image online. It wouldn’t be right. That image belongs to another. But I can go to a few of the free sites and find images, but I can never find quite what I’m looking for. It’s too hard and takes a lot of time.

When I can, I take pictures with my phone, like the photo at the top of this post. It’s the panel on a little drop-leaf table. I’m not a techie, so transferring and preparing my photos is a little labor intensive. But I manage. But how many posts can I write about my cats before people scream, “ENOUGH!”

How can you say no to this face?

Or perhaps a few dozen pictures of flowers. I took these last year.

Since I write historical romance, I post about historical things. Which means, it’s hard for me to take pictures of everything I want write and post about, and I can’t afford to purchase all those images. I have taken pictures at museums, but unless I”m posting about the museum, they often don’t meet my needs for specific things. So where does that leave me? Draw what I need?

I have a friend who draws her own pictures for her posts. She says she’s no artist, but I can easily tell what her drawings are of. Mine would not be so easily decipherable. If I remember her process correctly, she draws a picture in pencil, scans it, prints it, traces it with a marker, colors it, and scans in the final version to use. She has a system down where she can work efficiently. I would not be able to do that. I would get stuck on step 1: drawing a picture.

“Is that a fancy umbrella or a mountain?”

“Neither. It’s a fairytale princess in her beautiful ball gown!”

When my children were young, they would ask me draw them something so they could color it. When my middle child was probably four-ish, he asked me to draw him a horse to color. I drew a horse, and I do believe it was my best horse to date. I was improving. He looked at it and said it didn’t look like a horse. (He wasn’t being malicious or mean, just stating the obvious.) I told him that was the best Mommy could do. He never asked me to draw him anything ever again. What a relief!

So if I’m limited in the number and kind of photos I can take myself to use, and I can’t use all the great images found on the Internet, and I can’t draw, what’s left for a girl to do?

I’m so grateful for royalty-free sites like Pixabay.com, Pexels.com, and FreeImages.com. I’m sure there are others, but three is enough for me right now or else I might get lost in image searches. Some of these sites ask for you to use a credit link with the image, which I’m happy to do. The artists should get credit. But some of the sites don’t ask you to give an attribution. To all those who make their images available for free through these kinds of sites, THANK YOU!

If you are wondering what images, works, and such you can legally use online, here is a great blog post on copyrights I found helpful. It’s not the final word on the matter, but it’s a concise starting point.
https://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/2015/03/learn-what-you-can-legally-post-share.html

HAPPY POSTING!!!

NEW!
THE DAUGHTER'S PREDICAMENT (Book 2 in the Quilting Circle series )
Can a patient love win her heart?

As Isabelle Atwood’s romance prospects are turning in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams. While making a quilt for her own hope chest, Isabelle’s half-sister becomes pregnant out of wedlock and Isabelle--always the unfavored daughter--becomes the family sacrifice to save face. Despite gaining the attention of a handsome rancher, her parents are pressuring her to marry a man of their choosing to rescue her sister’s reputation. A third suitor waits silently in the wings, hoping for his own chance at love. Isabelle ends up with three marriage proposals, but this only further confuses her decision.

A handsome rancher, a stranger, and an unseen suitor are all waiting for an answer.  Isabelle loves her sister, but will she really allow herself to be manipulated into a marriage without love? Will Isabelle capitulate and marry the man her parents wish her to, or will she rebel and marry the man they don’t approve of? Or will the man leaving her secret love poems sweep her off her feet?

HEARTBEATS IN TIME – 5 books of Old West Christian Romance (4 novels and 4 novellas) by 7 bestselling, award-winning authors, including my book, The Widow’s Plight. You'll love these 8 unique stories of love! Get it here: https://amzn.to/2VzRBoI
#HeartbeatsInTimeSet
The Widow’s Plight (Book 1 in the Quilting Circle series) by Mary Davis
A single mother steps out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves?
Finding Love In Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell
Dreams of My Heart by Barbara Scott
Hills of Nevermore by Janalyn Voigt
Heart of a Cowboy Novella Collection--four Old West romances by Susan Page Davis, Miralee Ferrell, Yvonne Lehman, and Vickie McDonough

RECENT!

The MISSADVENTURE BRIDES Collection

Love Is One of Life’s Greatest Adventures 
Seven daring damsels don’t let the norms of their eras hold them back. Along the way these women attract the attention of men who admire their bravery and determination, but will they let love grow out of the adventures?

Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure, a 1904 road-trip
Zola Calkin sets out on an adventure to be the first woman to drive across the country. Will the journalist tasked to report her presumed failure sabotage her efforts? Or will he steal her heart?

COURTING HER PRODIGAL HEART

Mother-to-Be’s Amish Homecoming... Pregnant and alone, Dori Bontrager is sure her Amish kin won’t welcome her—or the child she’s carrying—into the community. And she’s determined that her return won’t be permanent. As soon as she finds work, she’ll leave again. But with her childhood friend Eli Hochstetler insisting she and her baby belong here, will Dori’s path lead back to the Englisher world…or into Eli’s arms?

THE WIDOW'S PLIGHT ~ A sweet historical romance that will tug at your heart. This is book 1 in the Quilting Circle series.
Washington State, 1893
     When Lily Lexington Bremmer arrives in Kamola with her young son, she’s reluctant to join the social center of her new community, the quilting circle, but the friendly ladies pull her in. She begins piecing a sunshine and shadows quilt because it mirrors her life. She has a secret that lurks in the shadows and hopes it doesn’t come out into the light. Dark places in her past are best forgotten, but her new life is full of sunshine. Will her secrets cast shadows on her bright future?
     Widower Edric Hammond and his father are doing their best to raise his two young daughters. He meets Lily and her son when they arrive in  town and helps her find a job and a place to live. Lily resists Edric’s charms at first but finds herself falling in love with this kind, gentle man and his two darling daughters. Lily has stolen his heart with her first warm smile, but he’s cautious about bringing another woman into his girls’ lives due to the harshness of their own mother.
     Can Edric forgive Lily her past to take hold of a promising chance at love?
THE WIDOW'S PLIGHT is now available in ebook and paperback.

#ChristianRomance #HistoricalRomance #Romance

MARY DAVIS s a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. Her 2018 titles include; "Holly and Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection (January), Courting Her Amish Heart (March), The Widow’s Plight (July), Courting Her Secret Heart (September), “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection (December), and Courting Her Prodigal Heart (January 2019). Coming in 2019, The Daughter's Predicament (May) and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads (July). She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.

Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-four years and two cats. She has three adult children and two incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at:

Newsletter  Blog   FB  FB Readers Group   Amazon   GoodReads   BookBub

ThrowBACKLIST Thursday: HER HONORABLE ENEMY

5.0 out of 5 stars! A page turner and perfect book!
Wow! I couldn’t put this one down! I wish they’d make a movie out if it. Soooo good!
Customer Review by ThanktheLordforbooks (Verified Purchase) September 22, 2018

Wow! What a glowing review. Thank you, ThanktheLordforbooks, for this review! That was very sweet of you. I alway feel honored when a reader takes the time to leave a review for one of my books.

HER HONORABLE ENEMY is book 1 in my Island Hearts series set on the San Juan Islands in Washington State. 

FOR CHARLES YOUNG, ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR
   The British soldier scorns the trappings of society life—including a society wife. So a posting in the remote San Juan Islands is perfect for him. But when an American girl crosses enemy lines, she turns his structured world upside down.
   As smart as she is fetching, Rachel Thompson’s only experience with romance is the books she devours. But her father is determined that his spirited daughter make a suitable match. And a British officer could never be suitable. Can this real-life Romeo and Juliet triumph over the odds…or will their romance trigger the unthinkable—war?

When I visited the San Juan Islands with my mom and sisters and learned about the Pig War, I knew I had to set a story during this time in Washington State history. 

I call the twelve-year Pig War the War That Wasn’t, because the two sides were friendly and the only casualty was the Berkshire Boar. You can read more about how the British and Americans almost went to war over a dead pig in my post HERE.

I love learning about quirky bits of history and love it more when I can incorporate them into a story. Things like this make history so much fun.

You can find HER HONORABLE ENEMY on Amazon HERE. 

Next month, book 2 in the Island Hearts series, ROMANCING THE SCHOOLTEACHER.

NEW!
THE DAUGHTER'S PREDICAMENT (Book 2 in the Quilting Circle series )
Can a patient love win her heart?

As Isabelle Atwood’s romance prospects are turning in her favor, a family scandal derails her dreams. While making a quilt for her own hope chest, Isabelle’s half-sister becomes pregnant out of wedlock and Isabelle--always the unfavored daughter--becomes the family sacrifice to save face. Despite gaining the attention of a handsome rancher, her parents are pressuring her to marry a man of their choosing to rescue her sister’s reputation. A third suitor waits silently in the wings, hoping for his own chance at love. Isabelle ends up with three marriage proposals, but this only further confuses her decision.

A handsome rancher, a stranger, and an unseen suitor are all waiting for an answer.  Isabelle loves her sister, but will she really allow herself to be manipulated into a marriage without love? Will Isabelle capitulate and marry the man her parents wish her to, or will she rebel and marry the man they don’t approve of? Or will the man leaving her secret love poems sweep her off her feet?

HEARTBEATS IN TIME – 5 books of Old West Christian Romance (4 novels and 4 novellas) by 7 bestselling, award-winning authors, including my book, The Widow’s Plight. You'll love these 8 unique stories of love! Get it here: https://amzn.to/2VzRBoI
#HeartbeatsInTimeSet
The Widow’s Plight (Book 1 in the Quilting Circle series) by Mary Davis
A single mother steps out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves?
Finding Love In Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell
Dreams of My Heart by Barbara Scott
Hills of Nevermore by Janalyn Voigt
Heart of a Cowboy Novella Collection--four Old West romances by Susan Page Davis, Miralee Ferrell, Yvonne Lehman, and Vickie McDonough

RECENT!

The MISSADVENTURE BRIDES Collection

Love Is One of Life’s Greatest Adventures 
Seven daring damsels don’t let the norms of their eras hold them back. Along the way these women attract the attention of men who admire their bravery and determination, but will they let love grow out of the adventures?

Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure, a 1904 road-trip
Zola Calkin sets out on an adventure to be the first woman to drive across the country. Will the journalist tasked to report her presumed failure sabotage her efforts? Or will he steal her heart?

COURTING HER PRODIGAL HEART

Mother-to-Be’s Amish Homecoming... Pregnant and alone, Dori Bontrager is sure her Amish kin won’t welcome her—or the child she’s carrying—into the community. And she’s determined that her return won’t be permanent. As soon as she finds work, she’ll leave again. But with her childhood friend Eli Hochstetler insisting she and her baby belong here, will Dori’s path lead back to the Englisher world…or into Eli’s arms?

THE WIDOW'S PLIGHT ~ A sweet historical romance that will tug at your heart. This is book 1 in the Quilting Circle series.
Washington State, 1893
     When Lily Lexington Bremmer arrives in Kamola with her young son, she’s reluctant to join the social center of her new community, the quilting circle, but the friendly ladies pull her in. She begins piecing a sunshine and shadows quilt because it mirrors her life. She has a secret that lurks in the shadows and hopes it doesn’t come out into the light. Dark places in her past are best forgotten, but her new life is full of sunshine. Will her secrets cast shadows on her bright future?
     Widower Edric Hammond and his father are doing their best to raise his two young daughters. He meets Lily and her son when they arrive in  town and helps her find a job and a place to live. Lily resists Edric’s charms at first but finds herself falling in love with this kind, gentle man and his two darling daughters. Lily has stolen his heart with her first warm smile, but he’s cautious about bringing another woman into his girls’ lives due to the harshness of their own mother.
     Can Edric forgive Lily her past to take hold of a promising chance at love?
THE WIDOW'S PLIGHT is now available in ebook and paperback.

#ChristianRomance #HistoricalRomance #Romance

MARY DAVIS s a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. Her 2018 titles include; "Holly and Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection (January), Courting Her Amish Heart (March), The Widow’s Plight (July), Courting Her Secret Heart (September), “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in The MISSAdventure Brides Collection (December), and Courting Her Prodigal Heart (January 2019). Coming in 2019, The Daughter's Predicament (May) and "Bygones" in Thimbles and Threads (July). She is a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.

Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-four years and two cats. She has three adult children and two incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at:

Newsletter  Blog   FB  FB Readers Group   Amazon   GoodReads   BookBub