Audra Jennings

  An interview with Melanie Dobson, Author of Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor Every family has secrets they’d prefer to stay hidden, but where is the line between protecting the ones you love and simple self-preservation? The theme of Melanie Dobson’s sweeping new novel, Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor (Howard Books/May 5, 2015/ ISBN: 9781476746142/$14.99) is how the choices of a few can impact generations. Q: In your latest book, Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, we meet 19-year-old Maggie — innocent in many ways — but she finds herself in an unwed pregnancy during a time period when that was socially unacceptable. What does that situation mean for her and her family? Maggie lost her biological parents during World War II, and her beloved younger brother died in an orphanage after the war. Heartbroken and scared, Maggie was raised by foster parents near Bristol, England. In the 1950s, British mothers often told their children that a midwife or a stork brought each new baby, ...

Uncover a plethora of secrets and a mystery that tie two families together in  Melanie Dobson’s  new book,  Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor .  Years ago, the body of Oliver Croft, heir of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor, was found drowned in the River Coln. Authorities searched for answers, but no one was ever held responsible for Oliver’s death. {MORE ABOUT  SHADOWS OF LADENBROOKE MANOR } (Howard, June 2015) When Heather Toulson returns to her parents’ cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a sixty-year-old murder. Libby, a free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Olive...

Coming to terms with your family’s secrets Award-winning author pens epic multi-generational story about the cost of living authentically Every family has secrets they’d prefer to stay hidden, but where is the line between protecting the ones you love and simple self-preservation? The theme of Melanie Dobson’s sweeping new novel, Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor (Howard Books/May 5, 2015/ISBN: 9781476746142/$14.99) is how the choices of a few can impact generations. In Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor we meet young Libby Doyle, a free spirit who spends much of her time dancing with the butterflies in Ladenbrooke’s gardens. Even though she struggles socially, Libby is enchanted by the beauty of the butterflies. Libby has captivated the heart of Oliver Croft, the young heir of Ladenbrooke Manor. When Oliver’s body is found drowned in the River Coln, authorities search for answers but find none. Soon after, Libby vanishes, and her parents, Walter and Maggie Doyle, wonder wh...

Melanie Dobson 's latest release, The Courier of Caswell Hall ,  is a riveting story you won't want to miss.   The newest offering in the American Tapestries™ series, it follows an unlikely spy who discovers freedom and love in the midst of the American Revolution. Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of the book!   Five winners will receive: The Courier of Caswell Hall by Melanie Dobson Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 5th. All winners will be announced October 7th at the Litfuse blog . Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the  Litfuse blog on the 7th to see if you won one of the books! {MORE ABOUT  THE COURIER OF CASWELL HALL } An unlikely spy discovers freedom and love in the midst of the American Revolution. As the British and Continental armies wage war in 1781, the daughter of a wealthy Virginia plantation owner feels conflict raging in her own hea...

An interview with Melanie Dobson, Author of Where the Trail Ends     Many events in our country’s history have shaped us into the nation we are today—countless stories of brave men and women giving up the lives they knew in hopes of making better ones for their families. Sometimes they lost everything they owned to build this nation, but in the midst of their losses, many of them discovered faith and love. Life was especially difficult along the Oregon Trail, as depicted in Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press/October 2012/ISBN: 978-1-60936-686-5/$12.99) , one of two debut releases in Summerside Press’ new American Tapestries™ line of historical romance novels. Melanie Dobson’s writing has allowed her to travel to and explore many locales around the country, but she was excited that Where the Trail Ends allowed her to stick closer to home. “Our family moved to Oregon six years ago, and I’ve been intrigued by the unique history of this state ev...

I remember always wanting to play "Oregon Trail" on my aunt's computer when I went to her house. She had one of the first home computers that I knew of anyone having. It was a Commodore 64. That's where my education of the Oregon Trail came from. Here's a fun way of learning more! Trials on the Trail Melanie Dobson’s latest release takes readers on an unforgettable journey of trials and triumph. Many events in our country’s history have shaped us into the nation we are today—countless stories of brave men and women giving up the lives they knew in hopes of making better ones for their families. Sometimes they lost everything they owned to build this nation, but in the midst of their losses, many of them discovered faith and love. Life was especially difficult along the Oregon Trail, as depicted in Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press/October 2012/ISBN: 978-1-60936-686-5/$12.99), one of two debut releases in Summerside Press’...

Mesmerized by Her Majesty A hundred years later, we are still captivated by the history and stories of romance aboard the Titanic This year marks the hundredth Anniversary of the Titanic ’s maiden and only voyage, yet the passing of time has done little to diminish our fascination with the “queen of the ocean” or our love of stories set upon the ill-fated ship. This fall Summerside Press’ new American Tapestries™ line of historical romance novels will set sail with the release of Queen of the Waves (Summerside Press/October 2012/ISBN: 978-1-60936-685-8/$12.99), a story of love and destiny by Janice Thompson . Queen of the Waves tells the story of two families on opposite sides of the Atlantic that are shaken by the rise and fall of the Titanic , “queen of the ocean.” To help her daughter escape an arranged marriage, Jacqueline Abingdon’s mother secretly purchases a ticket for Jacquie on the much-anticipated maiden voyage of the Titanic . But unbeknownst even to her mo...