Heart’s Journey by Linda Hoover

Thank you, Julie, for scheduling me on your blog.

I’m excited to share about my new book, Heart’s Journey, which begins in 1880. Book two in the Heart’s Desire series begins with newlyweds Julia and Jacob traveling to their new home in Iowa. Julia is leaving Boston high society behind to be a farm wife. She has no experience with homemaking and no real idea of what’s she’s getting into. Before they arrive at the farm, Julia has a confession for Jacob.

Quote: Julia gave Jacob a sheepish look. “There’s something I need to tell you, something I probably should have mentioned before now. I’ve never been in a kitchen.”

Jacob searched for words. He had assumed even rich women knew what to do in a kitchen. Finally, he said, “Are you telling me you’ve never, in your whole life, been in a kitchen?”

“Never. Mama didn’t think it was important.”

A little later, Jacob gave Julia surprising news.

Quote: Julia stared at Jacob, horrified. “Do you mean to tell me I’m going to feed these animals then turn around and eat them?”

“God gave us animals to eat. You’ll get used to the way things are done.”

A shudder rolled over her. She preferred her food to appear on the table without thinking about where it came from.

Julia has many mishaps as she learns her way. Through it all, she and Jacob lean on God for guidance. Life brings ups and downs including a great loss which takes them through a dark period where only complete surrender to God’s plan restores their relationship. They are also blessed to experience humor and joy as well as good friends and neighbors. Their lives are full and rich as they get involved with those around them.

I did a lot of research on farming in Iowa and the many duties of the homemaker. Gardening and preserving was a huge job as well as cleaning the house and cooking and baking with a woodburning cookstove. Laundry would be my most hated task. They even made their own laundry detergent. Here is Julia’s first look at the laundry room.

As Julia continued to explore their new home, she saw a room off the kitchen with three large wooden tubs leaning against the wall. A contraption with two rollers and a hand crank stood propped in a corner, while several crocks with lids lined a wall. A free-standing cupboard stood opposite the tubs along with a big wicker basket and a table with a cloth bag full of wooden pegs. She would need an explanation for these items.

Heart’s Journey will be available soon, but in the meantime, you can preview the first two chapters of the book on my website. Just click the HEART’S JOURNEY PREVIEW tab. While you’re at the site, sign up for my newsletter. You’ll be among the first to know when the book is released, and new subscribers will receive a Kindle copy of Joel & Ella. Click on the novella’s cover on the BOOKS page.

The website link is: http://www.lindahooverbooks.com

All of my books are available in print, Kindle format and Kindle Select.

Linktree has links to all the places I can be found on the web.

http://linktr.ee/lindahooverbooks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda lives in west central Ohio with her husband, daughters, grandson, two cats and a dog. She earned a degree in psychology from Anderson University where she learned the voices in her head were actually characters from stories waiting to be told.

Linda got her start writing columns and a middle grade serial for the South Charleston Spectator. A retired librarian, she now enjoys being a fulltime author in her home office, despite interruptions from family members and pets.

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