FEATURED BOOK AND INTERVIEW: A Home of Her Own by Keli Gwyn

A Blossoming Love 

Becky Martin knows that she can't stay at James O'Brien's apple farm forever, but she wishes she could. After her brother framed her for arson, she flees Chicago, traveling cross-country to California and finding work caring for James's ailing mother. Beneath the apple blossoms, it's almost as if she has a real family…but her secret won't stay buried forever. 

James, scarred from an explosion, didn't expect to connect to the pretty young traveler. Could she really love someone damaged like him? He knows she's hiding something. If only she'd trust him. Can she let go of her past and believe in the possibility of a future amid the apple trees?

INTERVIEW: 

How exciting to have Becky Martin, the heroine from A Home of Her Own by Keli Gwyn, a March 2016 release from Love Inspired Historical, pay us a visit.

1. Becky, tell us the most interesting thing about you.

I don’t think I’m all that interesting, but I do have a fondness for words. My most prized possession is my dearly departed mother’s dictionary. I read it all the time and love adding new words to my vocabulary.

2. What do you do for fun?

I spend much of my time caring for James’s ailing mother, but when I get a few minutes to myself, I love to visit James’s apple orchard and learn more about the trees and what goes into caring for them. I enjoy reading, too, and am delighted that he said I could read any of his books.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I dread telling James about my brother and why I ran away from my only living relative. Dillon accused me of starting a fire at the small factory where we both worked back in Chicago, even though he’s the one who set it. When I stood up to him, he said awful things and tried to hurt me, but I escaped before he did too much damage. I don’t know why he dislikes me so much. I’ve tried hard to be a good sister to him, but for some reason he feels a great deal of rancor toward me.

I just learned that fancy word for bitterness or resentfulness when I was reading Mutter’s dictionary this morning, and I wanted to use it right away so I remember it. I used it correctly, didn’t I?

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

I’m terrified Dillon will find me. I didn’t tell him where I was going and took steps to keep my destination from him, but I know my brother. If he wants to find me, he’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.

5. What do you want out of life?

That’s easy. I want a home of my own where I’m safe and loved. Since I will have to keep moving from town to town so Dillon can’t find me, I will never have that, though.

6. What is the most important thing to you?

Education. I had to drop out of school when Mutter’s consumption got so bad. Caring for her was a labor of love, but I had hoped to resume my education one day. That never happened.

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

Dillon says I’m slow. I don’t think I am, but I wish I were smart like James. He’s a college man and sounds so intelligent when he speaks. Don’t tell him I said so, but I love listening to him talk. And looking at him. He’s quite handsome.

8. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it, and why that pet?

When I met James, I was chasing after a stray dog. The poor fellow was a mess, and I felt sorry for him. Spitz—that’s what I call him—followed me to James’s place, but my new employer doesn’t want another animal to care for. I save the table scraps, though, and take them out to Spitz when no one’s around, but I have to send him away after he’s eaten. James is kind, though, so I like to think he’ll change his mind and let Spitz stay.

9. Can you tell us a little interesting tidbit about the time period you live in?

We have a railroad in place now that can take a person all the way across this wonderful country of ours. I rode the train from Chicago to California and loved watching the changing scenery out the window.

How About Them Apples?

Keli Gwyn here talking about apples.

The hero of my March 2016 Love Inspired Historical, A Home Of Her Own, James O'Brien, is an apple grower in Diamond Springs, California, a Gold Rush town not too far from where I live.

The Diamond Springs, California area was a fruit growing region in the 1870s when the story takes place. I had such fun researching the job of apple orchardist. I had no idea how much was involved.

In order to remain true to history, I had to find out which apples were grown here in that day. Thankfully, I was able to locate period books on pomology, the fancy word for fruit growing, that listed the varieties James might have grown.

Choosing which apples James grows was fun. I wanted a nice variety in both the season the apples ripen as well as the colors of the blossoms on the trees.

I settled on five varieties: Baldwin, Esopus Spitzenburg and Rome Beauties with white blossoms, Jonathans with white to light pink blooms and Winesaps with pretty pink flowers.

 Apple varieties have changed over the years. Of those listed, the only one I see in my local grocery store's produce section today is the Rome Beauty.

All of the apples James grows have red skins of various shades. While many people prefer red apples, I'm partial to tart green varieties. My favorite varieties are Pippin and Granny Smith.

Which apple varieties are your favorites?

• • •

About A Home of Her Own

A Blossoming Love 

Becky Martin knows that she can’t stay at James O’Brien’s apple farm forever, but she wishes she could. After her brother framed her for arson, she flees Chicago, traveling cross-country to California and finding work caring for James’s ailing mother. Beneath the apple blossoms, it’s almost as if she has a real family…but her secret won’t stay buried forever.

James, scarred from an explosion, didn’t expect to connect to the pretty young traveler. Could she really love someone damaged like him? He knows she’s hiding something. If only she’d trust him. Can she let go of her past and believe in the possibility of a future amid the apple trees?

Click here to read an excerpt.

Copyright © 2016 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.
® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
or its affiliated companies, used under license.

Celebrating Christmas After a Loss

What do you do when the world around you is busy celebrating, and you have a hard time feeling festive? That can happen when we lose a loved one during the holidays.

My dad, a victim of Alzheimers, developed a fatal infection two years ago and died three days after Christmas. Even though I'm enjoying the season this year, a part of me is experiencing a bit of melancholy as I prepare for the second anniversary of his passing.

Because I'm not alone in suffering some sadness each December, I wanted to touch on this less discussed aspect of the season. Loss is an inescapable part of life, and I believe it makes us stronger. We learn valuable lessons from it--how much others meant to us and how important it is to spend time with our loved ones.

We also learn that we're stronger than we think and that we can endure more than we thought possible. And we learn that the Lord is there for us to lean on. He knows our pain. As the shortest Bible verse says, "Jesus wept." We can, too, knowing He's there upholding us and empathizing with us.

As we move through and past the worst of the grief, we can take those lessons we've learned and put them to good use. We can more fully engage with those around us. We can come alongside those who are hurting as we've hurt. Those of us who are writers can pour the pain we've experienced into our stories.

In my second LIH, A Home of Her Own, coming in March, loss plays a major role. The hero's mother has cancer, as my beloved mother-in-law did. Because I've endured the pain that diagnosis causes, I was able to add realism and depth to the story. Even though I know what's coming, there are two scenes I can't read without weeping.

But have no fear. I also know what awaits a person who slogs through grief. Because of that, I was able to give James and Becky a very happy ending. =)


To those, like me, who have lost someone close to Christmas, I pray the Lord ministers to you as you do your best to do Christmas. May the memories of your loved ones bring you a measure of comfort in the midst of your grief.

On a lighter note, I received an early Christmas present. My author copies of A Home of Her Own have arrived!

 Do you enjoy reading stories that might
make you reach for a tissue a time or two?