The Bartered Bride

You may know that back in my Calvary days, I majored in Secondary Education. And since I couldn't decide on a subject, I picked my own: History with a "writing emphasis." My friend, Erica Vetsch (also a Calvary alum) is a girl after my own heart. She's the kind of girl who sees stories in tombstones and and obscure historical trivia. :) Her debut novel, The Bartered Bride, has just been released, and I'm honored to host her on my blog today! 

Here's a little about her book:

Jonathan Kennebrae is furious when his grandfather informs him that his future has been decided. He will marry Melissa Brooke or lose his inheritance. Jonathan has invested years of his life in Kennebrae Shipping, but heaven help him if Grandfather decides to take it all away for this.

Melissa too is devastated when her parents make their announcement. As little more than a bargaining chip in her father's business maneuvers, she feels her secure world slipping away.

Engaged to marry a man she has never met--someone "considerably older" than herself? What have her parents done?

Can Jonathan and Melissa find a way out of this loveless marriage, or must they find a way forward together?

I thoroughly enjoyed Erica's characters (and I loved her ending, well done, Erica!), so I asked her if I could interview one for today's post. :) She agreed, so please let me introduce you to the heroine of The Bartered Bride, Melissa Brooke:

1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be the bargaining chip in the middle of a business proposition! 

I am the only child of Lawrence and Almina Brooke. My father controls much of the grain storage capacity of Duluth Harbor and many miles of railroad in the upper midwest. He's quite influential in both the city and the region. My mother is a patron of many charities and belongs to many of the social clubs of the city. As their daughter, there are certain expectations regarding my future. Although it is not uncommon in these times for parents to play a dominant role in choosing their daughter's suitors, particularly when you are of the socio-economic status of my parents, I had hoped to at least be consulted, perhaps presented with a list of acceptable callers, and then allowed to get to know them. From that group of acceptable young men, I had hoped to fall in love, to find someone well suited to me. And I had hoped to delay this process of choosing a husband until I felt the time was right, until I'd accomplished a few of my goals. When my parents bypassed me altogether in the equation, I felt betrayed. I wondered if God was aware of my situation, and just how marrying a stranger could possibly fit in with His promise to have a plan and a purpose for my life.  

 
 2. Your parents arranged your engagement to Jonathan Kennebrae. What was your first impression of him? What did you notice about him as you grew to know him? 

My first impressions of Jonathan were a bit muddled, as there was a bit of a mix-up about who he was. As I got to know him, I realized how organized and focused he is, how much he cares about his family and the family business, and how, under that all-business front he puts up at times beats a tender heart that feels deeply and loves very much.

 3. I know you are too modest to boast, but I hear you are a lovely musician. What do you play, and what kind of music do you prefer? Do you have any other secret talents we should know about?

Thank you. I love to escape into the beauty of music. I play classical music, though I much prefer the music of the Early Romantic period over the Baroque styles. Beethovan and Schubert, Chopin and Schumann. I've never really been a fan of Bach. His music is so heavy and dark. It evokes sadness and solemnity when I prefer lighter, more hopeful music. 
 
Secret talent? Through my work with immigrant women, I've become adept at pounding out rollicking Scandinavian songs, though my mother would be mortified to hear such tunes rolling out of our Steinway.

 4. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? 

I wish I would think to pray first instead of worrying. I wish my first instinct was to run to the Lord instead of waiting until my back is to the wall.
 
And I'd like to be a better linguist. I speak English and French, and a very poor conglomeration of Scandinavian languages. Of Russian and German I know nothing, and more and more immigrants are coming to America from those countries.

5. What are you most afraid of? 

I have an almost paralyzing fear of mice. Oh, and heights. I get dizzy on a step ladder.

 6. You and Jonathan have been through so much together. What have these experiences taught you about yourself and about God? 

Our experiences have taught us that God is sovereign even when, or especially when, our plans are falling apart. We've also learned quite a bit about being open with one another and trusting each other's motives, no matter what.

7. If you were a color, which would you be?

Pink. Such a soft and pretty color, soothing, cheerful. Jonathan often sends me pink roses.

Thanks, Melissa! ;)

You can learn more about Erica and her book on her blog-- www.onthewritepath.blogspot.com.
You can purchase The Bartered Bride here, or leave a comment for your chance to win an autographed copy from Erica! (be sure you leave you email addy so I can contact you if you win!)

Have you read...

...Till We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis? I read it in high school, loved it and I'm getting ready to read it again.  I think it's my favorite C.S. Lewis novel, and that's saying a lot. Wanna read it with me?

 "It was when I was happiest that I longed most. It was on happy days when we were up there on the hills, the three of us, with the wind and the sunshine … where you couldn't see Glome or the palace. Do you remember? The colour and the smell, and looking at the Grey Mountain in the distance? And because it was so beautiful, it set me longing, always longing. Somewhere else there must be more of it. Everything seemed to be saying, Psyche come! But I couldn't (not yet) come and I didn't know where I was to come to. It almost hurt me. I felt like a bird in a cage when the other birds of its kind are flying home.

The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing — to reach the Mountain, to find the place where all the beauty came from — my country, the place where I ought to have been born. Do you think it all meant nothing, all the longing? The longing for home? For indeed it now feels not like going, but like going back."

Return To Love

For my first official post on Grace for a Traveller, I have the honor of interviewing the vivacious main character of my friend Betsy St. Amant's newest release Return To Love. Before I introduce Gracie, let me tell you a little about the story:

“I’m Not The Man I Used To Be!” If only Gracie Broussard could believe that! Years ago, Carter Alexander broke her heart and betrayed her. Now, just when she needs him most, he’s back—asking her to believe he’s changed. But this time, it’s not just Gracie who’ll be hurt if he disappears. A penguin keeper, Gracie urgently needs to find a new home for her beloved birds. Carter is the only one who can help. He promises that she can trust him, that he’s not the rebel he once was. And that he needs Gracie as much as her birds do.

My take: Excellent storytelling! Betsy gives us characters to care about, a setting as cool as New Orleans jazz, and an ending you'll want to read over again. :) (I especially like Lori's character, and the dust bunny named George that Gracie finds in her room. It reminds me of something, but I can't think of what...) As always, Betsy writes with humor and heart! 

L: Gracie, thank you so much for stopping by my new blog. I loved Betsy's book and you are one of the main reasons. I think everybody should rush out and read your story. But I do have a few questions. First of all, (tell the truth!) do you ever just want to tuck one of your penguins under your jacket and take him home with you?

G: Whoops! You caught me, Lori! Haha. I have had such thoughts a time or two. But then Huey or Gumbo splashes me and I remember how messy a penguin in a townhouse would be...

L: True. Which of your penguins is most like you, and why?

G: I think Huey. We both have our feisty moments for sure!! Just ask Carter. Haha!

L: What is your most embarrassing moment? (I had to ask!)

G: My most embarrassing moment? Hmmm. Or let's see, maybe rephrase to most embarrassing moment I am willing to admit in a blog interview...ha! That was probably back in college. I had stayed up too late studying and my brain was just glazed over. I dozed off in the campus library and apparently snored so loud that I drew a crowd. The next day a video of the incident was on youtube!!

L: Nice! Gotta love youtube. I heard you knew Carter way back when. What was he like as a boy?

G: Carter as a boy? Well he never really grew up at all so are we talking age or maturity level? Ha! Okay, that was a dig, couldn't resist. Carter was a sweetheart. Then he realized he was good on a guitar and had a voice like melted, drizzled chocolate over a warm homemade brownie...wait, where was I? Oh yes. He was a good kid but he had his moments in highschool. Ohhhh he had his moments. But before adolescence, he was the kid who brought his mom flowers and didn't think it was girlie to bake cookies with me. We had more than one cookie dough fight, believe me! And ignore him when he says he won...never happened.

L: LOL Melted chocolate, hmm? Since we're talking about Carter... what is your favorite kind of music? 

G: I love classical music. Sinatra, especially. Its so romantic and relaxing after a hard day at work.

L: Favorite Bible verse? 

G: Oh I have several! I suppose it comes down to what I am going through at the time but one verse that always encourages me is hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. It helps me remember how big God is and how I might not understand things now, but I don't always have to.

L: Guilty pleasure: a beignet, freshly powdered, or a mocha with extra whip? 

G: Definitely a beignet! I moved to New Orleans for my job, supposedly, but it was really for the beignets. Ssshhhh. Hehe.

Thanks for having me, Lori!

L: Anytime Gracie. And Betsy, if you're reading this, you can feel free to stop by any time too.

The rest of you, please go get a copy of Gracie and Carter's story. (All of my KC friends: I know for a fact they have copies available at the Antioch Rd. Wal-Mart!) Everybody else, there's always Amazon!