Christian Historical Fiction Talk

Debut author Amy Lynn Green joins us to chat about life, writing, and her new novel, Things We Didn't Say.
Headstrong Johanna Berglund, a linguistics student at the University of Minnesota, has very definite plans for her future . . . plans that do not include returning to her hometown and the secrets and heartaches she left behind there. But the US Army wants her to work as a translator at a nearby camp for German POWs.
Johanna arrives to find the once-sleepy town exploding with hostility. Most patriotic citizens want nothing to do with German soldiers laboring in their fields, and they're not afraid to criticize those who work at the camp as well. When Johanna describes the trouble to her friend Peter Ito, a language instructor at a school for military intelligence officers, he encourages her to give the town that rejected her a second chance.
As Johanna interacts with the men of the camp and censors their letters home, she begins to see the prisoners in a more sympathetic light. But advocating for better treatment makes her enemies in the community, especially when charismatic German spokesman Stefan Werner begins to show interest in Johanna and her work. The longer Johanna wages her home-front battle, the more the lines between compassion and treason become blurred--and it's no longer clear whom she can trust.
Purchase a copy of Things We Didn't Say.
Find out more about Amy Lynn Green.
Purchase a copy of Liz Tolsma's book The Refrain Within.
Find out more about author Liz Tolsma.

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The Orchard HouseAward-winning author Heidi Chiavaroli transports readers across time and place in this time-slip novel that will appeal to fans of Little Women.
Two women, one living in present day Massachusetts and another in Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House soon after the Civil War, overcome their own personal demons and search for a place to belong.
2001
Abandoned by her own family, Taylor is determined not to mess up her chance at joining the home of her best friend, Victoria Bennett. But despite attending summer camp at Louisa May Alcott’s historic Orchard House with Victoria and sharing dreams of becoming famous authors, Taylor struggles to fit in. As she enters college and begins dating, it feels like Taylor is finally finding her place and some stability . . . until Victoria’s betrayal changes everything.
1865
While Louisa May Alcott is off traveling the world, Johanna Suhre accepts a job tending Louisa’s aging parents and their home in Concord. Soon after arriving at Orchard House, Johanna meets Nathan Bancroft and, ignoring Louisa’s words of caution, falls in love and accepts Nathan’s proposal. But before long, Johanna experiences her husband’s dark side, and she can’t hide the bruises that appear.
2019
After receiving news of Lorraine Bennett’s cancer diagnosis, Taylor knows she must return home to see her adoptive mother again. Now a successful author, Taylor is determined to spend little time in Concord. Yet she becomes drawn into the story of a woman who lived there centuries before. And through her story, Taylor may just find forgiveness and a place to belong.
Purchase a copy of The Orchard House
Heidi Chiavaroli (pronounced shev-uh-roli...sort of like Chevrolet and ravioli mushed together!) wrote her first story in third grade, titled I'd Cross the Desert for Milk. It wasn't until years later that she revisited writing, using her two small boys’ nap times to pursue what she thought at the time was a foolish dream. Despite a long road to publication, she hasn’t stopped writing since!

Heidi writes women's fiction, combining her love of history and literature to write split time stories. Her debut novel, Freedom's Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Heidi loves exploring places that whisper of historical secrets, especially with her family. She loves running, hiking, baking, and dates with her husband. Her latest dual timeline novel, The Orchard House, is inspired by the lesser-known events in Louisa May Alcott's life. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.
Learn more about Heidi by visiting her website.

Christian Historical Fiction Talk is listener supported. When you buy things through this site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Wedded to War by Jocelyn GreenIt's April 1861, and a small group of women, including Charlotte Waverly, decide to do something about it, and end up changing the course of the war, despite criticism, ridicule and social ostracism.
An Irish immigrant named Ruby O'Flannery, who turns to the unthinkable in the face of starvation, holds the secret that will unlock the door to Charlotte's future. But will the rich and poor confide in each other in time?
Colors of Truth by Tamara AlexanderTennessee, 1866
Catriona leaves behind her Irish homeland with nothing except the cash her brother sent.
Wade Cunningham is a former Federal soldier who works for the Secret Service and is trying to uncover counterfeiting rings in the postwar South.
When Wade meets Catriona, he is immediately intrigued by her —but what he doesn't anticipate is that the cash in Catriona's possession is some of the most convincing counterfeit money he's ever seen. Soon the object of Wade's affection is also the suspect in a major crime—one he's expected to prosecute.There is a Season by Andrea BoeshaarCarrie Ann Bell Collier will do anything to keep Peyton, her wounded husband, alive. She meets a nurse who promises miracles if she is permitted to administer her secret medicine.
However, Peyton's memory of the past year seems to have been erased by his injuries. When this news reaches Carrie, she writes to him and describes their loving relationship.
But a scheming nurse intercepts Carrie’s letters, and Peyton remains unaware of his marriage. Only flashes fill his mind.
Will Peyton remember their love?
Red Sky over America by Tamara Lynn KraftIn 1857, America, the daughter of a slave owner, is an abolitionist and a student at Oberlin College. America goes home to Kentucky during school break to confront her father about freeing his slaves.
America's classmate, William, goes to Kentucky to preach abolition to churches that condone slavery. America and William find themselves in the center of the approaching storm sweeping the nation and may not make it home to Ohio or live through the struggle.
Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin
The daughter of a wealthy slave-holding family, Caroline Fletcher is raised to believe slavery is God-ordained and acceptable. But on awakening to its cruelty and injustice, her eyes are opened to the men and women who have cared for her. At the same time, her father and her fiance are fighting for the Confederacy.
Where does Caroline's loyalty lie? Emboldened by her passion to make a difference and her growing faith, will she risk everything she holds dear?
No Man's Daughter by Kathleen MaherWhen his elderly neighbor passes after the war, Benjamin Sharpe inquires to purchase the land. What he doesn’t expect to find is a beautiful and stubborn squatter has taken residence. Will her claim on the property prove harder to drive out than her claim on his heart?

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The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda CoxPresent Day. After tragedy plunges her into grief and unresolved anger, Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home determined to finally follow her long-denied dream of running Old Depot Grocery alongside her mother and grandmother. But when she arrives, her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that the store is closing. Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a pact to save the store, but Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons--but she'll certainly never reveal the real one.
1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she's pregnant with her deceased fiancé's baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve the family reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.
This dual-timeline story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of a mother-daughter dynamic, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth.
Get your copy of The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox.Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda Cox spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read.

A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 15 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee. She’s addicted to both.)
Visit Amanda Cox's website.

Christian Historical Fiction Talk is listener supported. When you buy things through this site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
This week, Jennifer Deibel stops by to chat with us about her newest release. There is a fabulous story behind the story you don't want to miss out on, and Jennifer shares with us a little bit about the Gaelic language.
The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer DeibelIn 1920, Annabeth De Lacy's father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family--descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring.
Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family's jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the "lies" the Claddagh Ring promises.
Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the "other side" isn't quite as barbaric and uncultured as they'd been led to believe--and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner's fire.
Travel to the Emerald Isle for another poignant and romantic story from the enchanted pen of Jennifer Deibel.
Get your copy of The Lady of Galway Manor.Jennifer Deibel is a wife and mom just walking this road of life like everyone else. She's your typical American mom, working, raising kids, and loving her hubby...she's just been blessed to do some of it in Vienna, Austria, and the west of Ireland. However, after a decade of life overseas, they have settled back in America–in sunny Arizona!

She currently teaches middle school English, and when she's not working on school things, she's spending time with her incredible family–her husband Seth and their 3 awesome kids–and writing.
Her debut novel, A Dance in Donegal, released from Revell in 2021. You can read more about that here. And you can also get a copy of it here.

She writes stories that explore home through the lens of faith, family, and culture–with the beauty and depth of Ireland coloring much of it.

She is honored to be a monthly contributor at The Better Mom and have posts shared at (in)courage, Djibouti Jones, Tricia Goyer, Unveiled Wife, Intentional by Grace, and more.

She loves chatting with you, so please connect with her on Instagram, Facebook,and

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