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Catherine Castle

~ Romance for the Ages

Catherine Castle

Tag Archives: Pat Jeanne Davis

Catherine’s Comments–When Valleys Bloom Again/ Book Review by Catherine Castle

21 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by Catherine Castle in Book Reviews, books, Catherine's Comments, clean romance, Romance, Sweet romance

≈ 4 Comments

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Book Review of When Valleys Bloom Again, Catherine's Comments, Christian fiction, clean romance, Pat Jeanne Davis, Sweet romance

WHEN VALLEYS BLOOM AGAIN

BY PAT JEANNE DAVIS

Forced to leave her parents and home before WWII breaks out in England, Abby Stapleton is ripped away from family and friends she loves and sent to her aunt’s home in America.

Feeling isolated, angry that God allowed her parents to send her away, and worried about her loved ones facing mortal danger in London, Abby wonders if she’s losing her faith along with her family. Just as she begins to adjust to her new normal in America Pearl Harbor is attacked.  The U.S.A. enters the war and Abby’s world is turned upside down…again.

Author Pat Jeanne Davis paints a great historic picture of WWII, in both England and America. The details of events showed the author had done her research. Battle scenes were intense without being over the top or graphic. I loved the touch of the censored letters from the battlefields. It gave a measure of the frustration family at home must have felt when precious words from their loved ones were blacked out in their correspondence.

The antagonist is very sneaky and evil. He had me on the edge of my seat as he tried to sabotage Abby’s relationships and life. I anxiously awaited his demise, wondering how he was going to get caught.

Although listed on Amazon as Christian fiction, the book was not preachy at all. Given the subject matter of war and worrying for your loved one, the faith element was naturally woven into the story.  I think even non-Christians would enjoy this book

The one thing that bothered me was that I wanted to see the plot thread between Abby and her aunt tied up, but maybe the author has another book planned for that. I’ll wait and see.

All in all this was an enjoyable read, clean of language and sex, and suitable for YA and adult readers. The author has a nice writing style, making the book easy to read. I received a complimentary copy and was under no obligation to leave a review. I just liked the story so much I wanted to tell others about it.

Great job. Pat!

ABOUT CATHERINE

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books The Nun and the Narc and A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.

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A Writer’s Garden–Treasures from the Garden by Pat Jeanne Davis

06 Thursday Aug 2020

Posted by Catherine Castle in A Writer's Garden, garden blog series

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

A Writer's Garden, flowers, garden pictures, historical romance, Pat Jeanne Davis, Sweet romance, When Valleys Bloom Again, writers who garden

 

Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing.

Today’s writer/gardener guest is Pat Jeanne Davis. Pat will be sharing some of her most treasured flowers with us.

Welcome, Pat!

Some of my most treasured early memories growing up in a rural part of Pennsylvania are of my mother lovingly caring for her beautiful flower beds and a large vegetable garden I was expected to help weed. Thanks to her hard work we had desserts and  preserves from fruit on our trees and from strawberries that grew wild in the field and fresh veggies on the table in the summer. From Mom, I acquired a love for the outdoors and for gardening. She most definitely had a green thumb.

 

I’ve lived in Philadelphia for many years close to the lovely and well maintained Gorgas Community Park and in a city with the distinction of hosting the largest annual indoor flower show in the world.

Gorgas Community Park garden

In addition, I’m within a short drive of the renowned Longwood Gardens as well as many other botanical, landscape, and pleasure gardens.

Longwood Gardens

Even though I’m surrounded by parks and gardens I enjoy tending to my own plants and flowers and over the years have experimented with a few new ones.

Several years ago I though I’d try my hand with growing a brugmansia (angel’s trumpets). It took five years before this flowering plant bloomed and only after my horticulturist neighbor suggested I keep it in a very large pot and feed with liquid fertilizer and not the granulated kind I’d been using. My brug shows every sign of providing a spectacular display of yellow flowers that will fill the air with an intoxicating fragrance once more this summer.

 

 

 

 

 

Four years ago my son gave me a calla lily for Mother’s Day. I placed it in the ground in May. Each year since I’ve waited with anticipation for this special lily to produce white blooms but nothing but green leaves ever appeared. Then to my joy and surprise this week there were two white lilies. A lesson for me here—where there is a little bit of life there is still hope.

 

Two autumns ago, I bought a small potted aster—the flower for my birth month—on a trip to Longwood Gardens. I was rewarded with an abundance of asters last autumn that attracted the butterflies.

Some of my gardening endeavors have not worked out this well. Still, successes like these give me reason to believe that the small hydrangea I put in the ground this summer will produce flowers in due time.

ABOUT THE WRITER/GARDENER:

Pat enjoys flower gardening, genealogy research and traveling with her British-born husband.  She met Jim, a gardener, and the hero in her  historical inspirational romance, When Valleys Bloom Again. She has published essays, short stories and articles online and in print. When Valleys Bloom Again is her debut WWII inspirational novel. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Visit her at  https://www.patjeannedavis.com

Social Media Links:   Facebook:    Instagram:   Goodreads  

 

 

WHEN VALLEYS BLOOM AGAIN

 By  Pat Jeanne Davis

 

After fleeing impending war in England, nineteen-year-old Abby Stapleton works to correct her stammer and to become a teacher in America, only to discover this conflict has no boundaries and that a rejected suitor is intent on destroying her name, fiancé, and fragile faith.

BUY LINK

 When Valleys Bloom Again can be purchased at Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers–When Valleys Bloom Again by Pat Jeanne Davis

01 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by Catherine Castle in Book excerpts, Christian fiction, clean romance, historical romance, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

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book excerpt from When Valleys Bloom Again, historical romance, Inspirational romance, Pat Jeanne Davis, Wednesday Writers, When Valleys Bloom Again, WWII

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is Pat Jeanne Davis who will be talking about interesting research she found while planning her WWII inspirational romance When Valleys Bloom Again. Welcome, Pat!

 

Thanks, Catherine.

 

I enjoyed doing research for my WWII inspirational romance, When Valleys Bloom Again, more than I actually did writing the story. I had the opportunity to ask questions of veterans in the U.S. and U.K., now in their mid-90’s, who were willing to share their experiences and their photographs. My father-in-law was in the British Eighth Army and was at Dunkirk and on Normandy Beach. I also listened to stories from others who lived during this time. I got to go to distant and unfamiliar places with my British-born husband. I attended events where re-enactors dressed in clothes that would’ve been worn during the 1940’s.

Other times I went to aerodromes and living museums where guides went about their tasks as people would’ve done then. They were always helpful and eager to share what they had learned and to answer questions for the research on my novel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1940’s British policeman (L) & British fireman (R)

I was especially pleased when I uncover an extra special tidbit of information that would enhance my story. On one research trip, I went into the largest purpose-built civilian air raid shelter in England that was extended to accommodate 6,500 people during the Second World War. The Stockport Air Raid Shelter is a network of underground tunnels, a mile long, carved out of the sandstone hills on which the city stands that provided not only protection but a way of life for families. This underground world still intact today as it was during the war years gave me an opportunity to learn about the raw realities of life during the Blitz. I came away with a deep appreciation for those who struggled to survive with only the basic amenities in such depressing and stressful surroundings and further admiration for my husband’s family who lived through those long years of war.

 

When Valleys Bloom Again

Pat Jean Davis

As war approaches in 1939 Abby Stapleton’s safety is under threat. Her father, a British diplomat, insists she go back to America until the danger passes. Abby vows to return to her home in London—but where is home? With her family facing mortal danger so far away and feeling herself isolated, she finds it hard to pray or read the Bible. Did she leave God behind in war-torn London too? Then Abby becomes friendly with Jim, a gardener on her uncle’s estate.

Jim can’t get Abby out of his mind. Did she have a sweetheart in England? Was it foolish to think she’d consider him? He curses his poverty and the disgrace of his father’s desertion and drunkenness haunts him. Can he learn to believe in love for a lifetime and to hope for a happy marriage?

Abby couldn’t know the war would last a long time, nor that she would fall in love with Jim—soon to be drafted by the U.S. Army—or that she’d have to confront Henri, a rejected suitor, determined by his lies to ruin her reputation and destroy her faith in God’s providence. Will she discover the true meaning of home?

 

Excerpt from Chapter 7 – When Valleys Bloom Again

Abby’s first year at Weston Teachers College over and classes out for the summer, she again offered to help out in the greenhouse. She’d overlook Jim’s response to her question on America joining the war and would work alongside him. She found him in the potting area, a large red, white, and blue handkerchief around his neck.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Jim said, grinning. He gestured toward empty ceramic pots on the ground. “I think we’ll tackle those, if that’s all right with you?”

Abby flashed a quick smile. Did he remember his curt reply in April and her hasty departure afterwards? She squatted next to a jumble of ornamental containers.

Jim rummaged through them, then thrust his trowel into a bucket of thumb-sized stones. “About two inches of these should do.” He tipped the stones into one of the pots. “They provide slow drainage so the plant won’t dry out.” He crouched beside her. “Then fill up the container with compost—your ‘muck’—and a little top soil.”

Abby scooted to one side. Still he was good at his job. “How much of each?”

“I’m sorry, I forgot this is still new to you.” Jim moved in closer. “Half-and-half, see? Put tall daisies in the back, red impatiens in the center, and lastly along the outer edges of each container, the trailing begonias, petunias, and nasturtium so they cascade down the sides.” Suiting action to words, Jim completed one arrangement and set it beside her. “Use this as your guide, leaving two to three inches between each plant.” He smiled. “If you have a question, I’ll be nearby.”

As she toiled, Abby sensed Jim’s eyes on her and tried to catch him at it. But whenever she’d glance over, he’d look down at his hands and whistle, making a game out of it and beating her every time. Then Jim set down his trowel and strolled over, giving her one of those captivating smiles. “Off for the summer, are you?”

Abby nodded, focusing on the flowers in her hands. Please don’t come any nearer.

He removed his hat and twirled it in his hands like the first day she saw him. “Is college all you expected it to be?”

Abby’s wall of indifference collapsed, and she gazed up into those intense blue eyes below his dark eyebrows. “I’m looking forward to going back.” Her throat tightened. “Still, sometimes I feel se-se-selfish. There’s so much I could be doing at home for the war effort.”

Jim rocked back. “Selfish?” His brow furrowed. “When you complete your training, you’ll be teaching kids who’ll be future citizens.”

Abby—without breaking the lock of his eyes—flinched, taken aback by his response.

“My squirt sister with the big mouth says she wants to quit high school.” Jim hunched beside her, lowering his voice. “And the older one who had great dreams didn’t finish school.” He looked into the distance. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t go on like that.”

Surprised by his revelation, her cheeks grew warm.

“I’ll probably be one of the first call-ups if we enter this war.” He stood and swatted his hat against his thigh. “But until and if that happens my duty lies at home.”

In a flash of self-reproach, she understood. She’d misjudged him. His mother and sisters needed him, and he doesn’t want to leave them. And what had he said about his job, and how grateful he was to have it?

Jim slapped his palms together to dislodge the dirt. “It’s none of my business, but you might think about teaching on the estate during summer.” He plunged his hands into a watering can. “I know some of your uncle’s staff have youngsters who could use help with their schooling.”

How clever he is. “That would never have occurred to me.”

Jim bent to pick up a toppled container. “I must go. It’s trout season,” he said, as if to explain the urgency of his mission.

Abby’s stomach dropped as he strode off between the long rows of tables. She wished he’d stay longer. When he headed back in her direction, her pulse quickened.

“You’re doing fine here.” He grinned. “If you like, when I get back I’ll take you to see the new bonsai collection.”

She let out a breath. “Let me know when you return.” What was it about the young gardener that stirred her senses?

Abby craned her neck to keep him in view as he strode off. He opened the door to his truck and glanced back. Their eyes met.

Did you like what you read? If so, you can find When Valleys Bloom Again at these locations:

 Amazon  Barnes & Noble  ChristianBooks.com

About the Author:

 

PAT JEANNE DAVIS has a keen interest in 20th Century United States and British history, particularly the period of World War II. Her longtime interest in that era goes back to the real-life stories she heard about family members who served during the war. When Valleys Bloom Again is a debut inspirational romance set in WWII. She enjoys flower gardening, genealogy research and traveling with her British-born husband. She writes from her home n Philadelphia, Pa. Pat has published essays, short stories and articles online and in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

READ this Q&A with Pat in the March 2020 Issue of Family Fiction Magazine

SOCIAL MEDIA; Website: https://www.patjeannedavis.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.j.davis.7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patjeannedavis/

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers–When Valleys Bloom Again by Pat Jeanne Davis

24 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by Catherine Castle in Christian fiction, Romance, Wednesday Writers

≈ Comments Off on Wednesday Writers–When Valleys Bloom Again by Pat Jeanne Davis

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Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers, excerpt from When Valleys Bloom Again, Pat Jeanne Davis, penicillin, When Valleys Bloom Again, WWII romance

Today Wednesday Writers welcomes author Pat Jeanne Davis to the blog. Pat will be sharing some research info that deepened her inspirational historical romance When Valleys Bloom Again. She also has an excerpt from the book for your reading pleasure. Welcome, Pat.

Thanks, Catherine.

While conducting research on penicillin for my novel, I came across fascinating information that added an element of depth to the story. I discovered a connection between my hero’s hometown and the production of this life-saving medicine.

In the partial scene below from When Valleys Bloom Again, our soldier, Jim Wright, awakens in strange surroundings with only a hazy memory of what happened to him. Gradually, it becomes apparent he has sustained a serious injury to his leg when he and his comrades came under heavy shell fire as they sheltered from German artillery. Jim, having scraped through that ordeal, now lies in a field hospital.

Jim and other allied soldiers who stormed the Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944, struggled through enemy lines. Thousands died instantly or were severely injured. The prospects of recovery and rehabilitation were greatly enhanced with the use of penicillin.

The history of penicillin ranges from its discovery in 1928 by the Scot, Alexander Fleming, and its subsequent development in the 1930’s by British scientists Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain to a laboratory in Pennsylvania’s Chester County, “the mushroom capital of the world,” where it so happens our hero Jim lived and worked prior to his enlistment in the US Army.

Granville Raymond Rettew, a Pennsylvania chemist and mycologist (expert in fungi), followed with interest the research carried out in Britain during the early 1940’s. The barrier to date was the difficulty of stabilizing the drug and producing it in sufficiently large quantities. Through his experiments Rettew demonstrated the antibiotic properties of ‘spawn’ extracted from the mushroom. Later, in collaboration with the American pharmaceutical industry he pioneered a method for the production of penicillin on a massive scale.

By D-Day millions of doses of the drug were made available for the treatment of Allied forces, saving many from infection, crippling injury, and death.

 

When Valleys Bloom Again

By Pat Jeanne Davis

As war approaches in 1939 Abby Stapleton’s safety is under threat. Her father, a British diplomat, insists she go back to America until the danger passes. Abby vows to return to her home in London—but where is home? With her family facing mortal danger so far away and feeling herself isolated, she finds it hard to pray or read the Bible. Did she leave God behind in war-torn London too? Abby becomes friendly with Jim, a gardener on her uncle’s estate.

 Jim can’t get Abby out of his mind. Did she have a sweetheart in England? Was it foolish to think she’d consider him? He curses his poverty and the disgrace of his father’s desertion and drunkenness haunts him. Can he learn to believe in love for a lifetime and to hope for a happy marriage?

 Abby couldn’t know the war would last a long time, nor that she would fall in love with Jim—soon to be drafted by the U.S. Army—or that she’d have to confront Henri, a rejected suitor, determined by his lies to ruin her reputation and destroy her faith in God’s providence. Will she discover the true meaning of home and find happiness with Jim?

Excerpt from When Valleys Bloom Again

July 4, 1944

An evacuation hospital in France

 Dreamlike, Jim hovered between upper and nether space. He lay there, disconnected from time, place and self, and forced his eyes open. Daylight filtered through the canvas sides of a tent, stabbing his eyeballs. He tried to sit up, his head hurt and his lower body ached to beat the band.

Boxes of various sizes stamped with a bright red cross and heaped in untidy fashion, lined one corner of the room. A tall, white metal cupboard, piled high with bandages, stood in the opposite corner. He fell back on the cot, catching the familiar sound of truck motors revving in the distance, their gearboxes clanking, and muffled voices barking instructions. Where was everyone?

His only memory was of taking shelter in a forester’s hut during a battle. Two men from his platoon were hunkered down with him, waiting for the barrage to cease. On the hill overlooking their position, they’d encountered a German battery in a grove of trees. He could still hear the thud … thud … thud, as shells sought their range, and feel the pressure waves that engorged the tiny space in which he was crouched, compressing his chest, driving out his breath with a double gut punch. The nauseating, blood-taste sensation as myriad sharp, heavy blows beat about his back and shoulders. And the searing pain in his legs, as though they were being sliced into a thousand pieces. He remembered screaming, his motions slowing, then nothing.

Again, he tried to sit up and do an examination of himself, prodding the thick bandage on his left arm. He touched his heavily wrapped head and groped around his upper body. His clumsy investigation served only to increase his anxiety. He dare not look down at his legs, afraid of what he might—or might not—find. What would the pain be like when the anesthetic wore off?

Want to read more? You can find When Valleys Bloom Again at Amazon

 

About the Author:

PAT JEANNE DAVIS lives in Philadelphia, Pa with her British-born husband, John. They have two grown sons. She enjoys flower gardening, genealogy research and traveling with her husband. Pat has published essays, short stories and articles online and in print. She has a keen interest in mid-twentieth-century American and British history, particularly the period of World War II. Pat’s father-in-law served in the British Eighth Army during the war. When Valleys Bloom Again is her debut historical romance set in that era. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and the Historical Novel Society. Pat loves to hear from her readers. Subscribe to her newsletter here http://www.patjeannedavis.com/

Connect with Pat on her Website:  Facebook: Goodreads:

 

 

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