Author - Kishona

Cinnamon Rolls for a Really Good Day

September 24, 2015

Some days I actually manage to get on top of all the craziness of life and check enough things off the to-do list that I feel accomplished and able to relax. Some days my boys are sweet and cooperative, I am focused and ambitious, and we have a really great day.

This was such a day. One Tuesday when Josiah (my middlest) was about 2 years old. I’d managed to straighten the house, vacuum AND mop the floors, and spend time with my littlest guy before he had a good nap. Josiah even managed to wake up on his own from his nap (instead of me having to wake him) so that we could go pick up Elijah from school. Elijah had had a great day at school – he’d taken in a story that he’d “written” and got to “read” it to his class. Plus the weather was nice enough that we even spent a little while at the playground, which my boys always love.

Everyone was having a fabulous day.

So when we got home, I felt like making something special for us. We do a lot of brownies and cookies around here, so I decided to veer a little off our beaten path and make cinnamon rolls.

I have a really easy recipe that my mom found years ago that is delicious. In theory, it shouldn’t take more than two hours from start to finish, with lots of down time while the dough is either rising or baking. My house was fairly clean, my boys were happy, and dinner was already made (leftover Beef, Barley, & Veggie soup). I could do this. No problem.

Mixing up the dry ingredients went well. Adding the water, butter, and egg was simple. Letting it rise the first time was actually so easy that I let it go a little longer than 30 minutes. My boys were happily playing together, and things were good.

: Combine flour, sugar, yeast, & salt.

: Stir in water, butter, & eggs. Combine until smooth.

And then it came time to roll out the dough, and my boys volunteered to get in the way and make a mess while they ignored my directions help. Whatever playing they had been doing since we got home seemed to have amped them up to busy levels too fidgety to be truly helpful with the dough. After getting out unnecessary utensils, rearranging the mail on the counter, getting into the flour one too many times, and someone shoving someone else AGAIN, they were sent upstairs to play so that I could use just a few minutes to spread out the dough, smear butter on it, and top it with cinnamon and sugar before rolling it all up together into a happy little tube of deliciousness. It would take me 10 minutes tops.

Josiah must have known the perfect moment that Mommy’s hands would be covered in melty butter, cinnamon, and sugar and busy wrangling stickier-than-normal dough into a long tube.

That’s when I heard the squeal-meets-laugh from Elijah and his yell of, “Josiah is trying to flush stuffed animals down the potty!”

: After dough has risen, roll dough out on floured surface.

: Spread with butter, then sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mix over it all.

So, I had to leave my cinnamon half-rolls, hurriedly rinse my hands, and sprint to the bathroom to rescue a random toy from a swirly. I was bit too late – when I got there, Elijah was giggling while holding a dripping, soggy Cookie Monster over my just-mopped-this-afternoon floor, and Josiah was standing with his hand on the toilet handle, excitedly waiting to flush it again.

Josiah was “firmly informed” that playing in the toilet is not allowed. After wiping up my bathroom floor with a disinfectant wipe, I “adamantly requested” that my boys take all the other stuffed toys piled in the hallway – How did all these get downstairs? – back upstairs and put them away (there were at least a dozen of them). Elijah was stationed on the couch, punished as an encouraging accomplice. Josiah was relocated to the high chair in the kitchen where I could keep an eye on him while I somewhat discouragedly finished rolling, cutting, and moving cinnamon rolls to the pan.

With a sigh, I put our “treat for having such a good day” into the oven.

By the time the rolls were baked, cooled, and covered in icing (I adapted a recipe for icing from here), all warm, gooey, and cinnamon-y, the boys were behaving better, finishing their dinner, and regaling Daddy with tales all about their day.

They told him about going to the playground, Elijah reading his story at school, Josiah doing puzzles with Mommy that morning.

They left out getting in trouble for fighting, playing in the flour, and flushing Cooking Monster (okay, well, Elijah made sure to mention that, but not his part in it).

They only focused on the better parts of the day.

I had had time to get over my frustrations with curious, active boys who can go quickly from sweet and cooperative darlings to mess-making tornadoes with a tendency to argue and fight with each other. I decided to follow their example and focus on the better parts of the day. When I revisited it, the nice things definitely outweighed the bad, and it was still a pretty good day.

For that we all should celebrate. Thankfully, I’d made just the thing.

Here’s the recipe for those special days when you need a little reward.

Easy recipe for delicious homemade cinnamon rolls.

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Tried It Tuesday: Stitch Fix-Take 4

September 22, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Tried It Tuesday - Stitch Fix, Take 4

It’s been a while since I ordered from Stitch Fix, the online clothing subscription that I first tried out last fall. I had placed my account on hold for the summer because I didn’t really need to add much to my warm weather wardrobe. However, I recently received a referral credit, so I decided to see what they would send me to update my closet for the fall.

In case you aren’t familiar with Stitch Fix, they are a clothing subscription site that offers personalized styling based on information you give them – your style, sizing, likes. Their stylists send you 5 pieces of clothing to try on based on that information and your requests. Each time you receive a box, you are charged a $20 styling fee, but if you keep an item or two or all of them, the $20 goes toward the purchase. You have 3 days to try on the pieces and decide which you want to keep and which you want to return. When you decide, you go to your profile and check-out. Then you drop the stuff you want to return into the provided envelope and mail it back for free (free-ish if you didn’t keep anything). They ask you at check-out what you like or don’t like about each item, so the next box should be even more tailored to you.

This morning I checked my front porch, and there it was: the priority-shipped cardboard box with the Stitch Fix tape sealing it shut. Every shipment feels like Christmas because you just don’t know what to expect, and you get to anticipate great things. I always get so excited to see what they’ve sent.

However, there has always been a bit of the anticlimactic letdown with each shipment as well because while I often like a couple of pieces, I have yet to like all of them. I was kind of hoping that since this was my fourth time around that the box would be full of more likes than dislikes.

The boxes are never a complete disaster, though – the fit is almost always really great – so it’s sadly more of a *sigh* of disappointment that they’ve just missed the mark with either the color, the style, or the comfort, and I just can’t make myself pay (a lot) for what I know I’m not completely happy with.

For this fix, I asked the stylist to send me a little of everything – pants, tops, skirt or dress, and even a necklace, since I could use a little sprucing up in pretty much every area of my fall collection. When I opened today’s box, I found two tops, a cardigan, a sweatshirt, and a pair of jeans. So kind of a little bit of some things.

Item #1: Laila Jayde “Malaga Drape Cardigan”($48) – This is a thin cardigan, but it’s super soft and comfy and fits well. I love when I find a top with sleeves that are long enough! The black/gray color would be easy for me to mix and match with pretty much anything. The downside is that it is hand-wash, and I think this must be a thing with Stitch Fix pieces because nearly everything I’ve ever received from them has been hand-wash only. Not what I need as a busy mom. Also, I just bought a very similar cardigan at Target on my birthday, although it was green and cost a lot less. The cardigan is being considered.

Item #2: Kut From The Kloth “Kate Distressed Boyfriend Jean” ($78) – (In all the pictures) I liked the feel of the denim and most of the fit, but not the rise. I’m not a lower-rise kind of girl, especially when I need to bend down often in playing with my boys. Plus lower-rise will nearly always equal a muffin top. No thanks. I also am not a fan of having holes in my jeans when I buy them. I know it’s a style thing, but I have boys that like to mess with stuff, and that hole will grow by several inches when their little fingers get near it. It’s better to let this one go. (I did leave the jeans on the whole time I was trying on the tops, just to see how they felt. I loved everything about them except the holes and the lower rise. Too bad.)

Item #3: Market & Spruce “Corinna Striped Dolman Top” ($48)– My stylist suggested that I pair this top with the boyfriend jeans “for a day at the park with my boys” with “flats or ankle boots.” Hahaha…oh, sorry. But yeah, that is not an ideal park outfit for keeping up with my active boys. We go to the park to play – all of us – and we do a lot of climbing, running, and there will probably be some dirt (or a lot of it). So, nice try at visualizing my life, but…no. Aside from that humorous advice, the shirt was okay. Gray is not my best color, nor are horizontal stripes my best pattern. The fit was a little large in places, but fit well elsewhere, which was confusing. And since I have a gray and black striped Dolman sweater from a previous box, this feels redundant. Hmmmm.

Item #4: 41Hawthorn “Colibri Solid Tab Sleeve Blouse” ($48) – While I like the color, fit, and the style of the shirt, I’m struck again with the maintenance of the piece. Another hand-wash. Plus, it’s a thin polyester, which means I’m pretty much guaranteed to have to iron it every single time I want to wear it. Not decided on whether it’s worth the extra effort. *Sigh*

Item #5: Loveappella “Evie Draw String Funnel Neck Sweatshirt” ($64) – Just the name of this one had me leery, and then I tried it on. It’s a navy blue and white sweater with a drawstring around the base of the funnel neck…because I need a new way for my children to choke me? I really don’t get this one, but maybe that’s just me. On the plus side it was machine washable on delicate, although still a “lay flat to dry” item. The length on the torso and sleeves were a bit short for me, so the style didn’t even have to come into play. Overall, it just felt odd. So, nope. It’s just not me.

So, after waiting all summer to jump back into the Stitch Fix game, I was left a bit ho-hum about this box. Thankfully I do have a referral credit to make it a little easier. If I had loved the whole box, I could get the 25% discount for buying all 5 pieces, plus the credit, and that would make the total about $190. As it is, the credit will make something closer to about $25 for me.

I love the idea of Stitch Fix, trying unique items, and the convenience of the whole thing. They generally send me items that fit well, and I’ve really liked some of the pieces, so it’s been worth doing up to now. However, I’m not sure how many more boxes I want to get that are just okay. I’d like one that was fabulous all the way around.

What do you think of this box for me? What piece(s) should I keep? Help me decide by leaving your vote in comments below.

If you haven’t tried Stitch Fix and would like to, here is my referral link https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/4200121. (Anytime someone signs up through your referral link, like this one, you get a $25 credit when their order ships. It makes continuing to use the service a lot more feasible for me.)

If you have you tried Stitch Fix, what has your experience been?

Great-Grandma’s Rainbow: A Lesson in the Little Things

September 19, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Great-Grandma's Rainbow - A Lesson in the Little Things

When I was a little girl, my family lived about an hour or so from both sets of my grandparents and my two great-grandmothers. This meant that any time we got to visit them, it was exciting and special.

My Great-Grandma Leora lived down the road from my maternal grandparents, in the old farmhouse that my grandpa had grown up in. The farm was across the road from an old schoolhouse and a little white country church (which happens to be the church my great-grandpa & she attended, where my grandparents attend, where my mom grew up & was married, and where Brad & I got married).

Being that I was a little girl, I don’t remember much about my great-grandma. She was always kind to me and always had some kind of treat, but beyond that and what she looked like, I didn’t know her well. I imagine I was too busy at 5- and 6-years old investigating the old toys in her closet to really have an in-depth conversation with her.

My great-grandparents, my grandpa, & his sister in 1935. (I wasn’t around quite yet.)

I do remember, though, that her house fascinated me. It always felt as though you were stepping back into time, with old-fashioned doorknobs, a claw-foot tub, a door that led up steep steps to the attic, that closet full of toys my mother had played with when she was little, and an old-home smell that was part mothballs, part ancient wood, and part good home cooking. (In case you think I’m crazy, that nearly exact same smell can be found inside of the built-in-1856 home at the historical farm near where we live. Every time we visit there, I think of my Great-grandma’s home.)

Her kitchen was especially memorable, not only because of the yummy cookies that came from there, but also because of the rainbow of light that came from her kitchen window. Above my great-grandma’s kitchen sink was a window looking out to the yard, and in the window sill were 4 brightly-colored plastic coasters (I didn’t know they were coasters at the time). When the sun shone in just right, the coasters cast a rainbow of red, yellow, green, and purple onto the floor or wall of the room. I’m not sure if that’s why she had them there or not, but to little-girl-me, it was magical.

This little girl (little Kishona) clearly loved colorful things.

I remember visiting her with my mother when Great-grandma was sick, and I wasn’t much older than 7 or 8 when she passed away. When my grandpa and his sister were sorting through Great-grandma’s estate, they allowed each of their children and grandchildren to walk through the house and pick out things that they would like to have to remember her. When it was my turn, the very first things I chose were the coasters from her kitchen window. They were probably worth very little in monetary terms (looking at them now, they weren’t even as old I was, and they were just a promotional item for an event at Lazarus, so they were likely free). Even my mother seemed amused when I asked for them.

To me, though, they were special.

Now that I’m a mom, remembering the wonder I found in something so simple makes me pause, ponder, and consider the world through my children’s eyes.

It’s amazing what children notice, remember, and prize. Something that we grown-ups might see as insignificant or worthless can be a fabulous treasure in a child’s eyes. My boys get excited over lots of things, such as rocks in the driveway, random feathers on the ground, lightning bugs in the yard, and getting stickers from the cashier at the grocery store. Aside from the lightning bugs (I love to watch lightning bugs!), those are things I can quite easily overlook in my busy “mom” world. But they spark joy, curiosity, and delight in my boys.

God created a beautiful world for us to enjoy, and I think there are plenty of times that we get so busy and distracted that we fail to appreciate it. We dismiss this or take them for granted because it seems common or ordinary or invaluable.

But children, with their innocence and inquisitiveness, never fail to take it all. Even though there may be times that I’d rather they didn’t notice every leaf, spider web, and bird in their path, (especially when we’re in a hurry, and I’m trying to get them into the car), I don’t want to do anything to discourage or dampen that fascination for them. I want them to hold on to that for as long as they can. It’s part of the sweetness of childhood – seeing the beauty and wonder in the common or simple things.

It also reminds me of the verse in Romans, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” (Roman 1:20). My boys are noticing God’s “invisible attributes” in the world around them.

I want to encourage my boys to always appreciate the little things in the world, and I don’t want to be too busy myself to notice the tiny miracles around us.

My great-grandma’s coasters are a great reminder for me. Those little plastic discs now rest in the window sill above my kitchen sink, throwing glowing reds, purples, yellows, and greens across the floor and onto the wall to enchant and delight my children as well as myself. (Typing this I can see the colors shining through onto my living room wall, and they still make me smile). They are a little more worn than when I first got them, but they are still beautiful when the light hits them.

Once upon a time, I was the one easily seeing the value in the ordinary, and now every time I see a rainbow in my kitchen window, I get to remember how important that is.

Tried It Tuesday: My Favorite FREE App for Kids

September 15, 2015

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Life in Lape Haven: Tried It Tuesday - My Favorite Free App for Kids - The Bible App for Kids

Each night in Lape Haven finds my husband and me guiding our little boys through their bedtime routine. Some nights it’s sweet and easy, and some nights it’s a struggle because “I DID brush my teeth” and “I want you to hold me” or “I’m too tired.” (That’s the boys, not Brad and me…usually)

However, no matter how delightful or frustrating the getting-ready-for-bed goes, we always finish the night with Bible reading. We generally have a bedtime story before our Bible time, but we have found that when the boys are not behaving during the getting-ready time, losing their bedtime book can be a rather effective punishment. However, we never take away Bible time.

Since our guys are little, we have various kids’ Bibles and books that we pick from for our nighttime reading, but our absolute favorite way to study the Bible with the boys is doing “Bible Guy” on Mommy’s phone or Daddy’s tablet.

The actual name for the app is The Bible App for Kids, but around here it is affectionately known as “Bible Guy” because when we first started using it, Josiah was just starting to talk. One day he wanted to play on my phone and kept asking for “guy.” It took a second, but I finally realized that he was referencing the icon for The Bible App for Kids, which is a cute cartoon Jesus. I asked him, “Do you want to play the Bible?”

His reply, “Bible guy.”

And there you have it.

The Bible App for Kids is from YouVersion (makers of The Bible App, which is a great regular Bible app to have on your phone or tablet), produced in partnership with OneHope, and is a FREE app of interactive Bible stories, with new stories added regularly. Each story is age-appropriately told without sacrificing the truth of the Word and features narration, touch-activated animations, questions throughout the stories, and special activities and challenges to help children enjoy and remember them.

One of the things I love is that fact that they don’t just tell your cookie-cutter “for kids” Bible stories. While they do include Creation, Noah’s Ark, David & Goliath, Daniel & the Lion’s Den, and Jesus’s birth and death, they cover the whole Bible. Some of the Old Testament stories include Adam & Eve’s first sin, Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son, the plagues in Egypt and Passover, Samson’s disobedience, Elijah’s challenge on Mt. Carmel (my Elijah LOVES that story), and Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. From the New Testament, they have stories about Jesus’s baptism (which sparked the conversation with Elijah that led to his baptism this year); Jesus being tempted in the desert; several of the parables that Jesus told; miracles that He did (including delivering the demoniac); His death, resurrection, and ascension; the coming of the Holy Spirit, Paul’s conversion and travels; and a glimpse into Revelations about Heaven. There is even a story that ties the whole Bible together, showing children God’s plan of salvation for them. And, as I said, they are updating and adding new stories frequently.

The characters and animation are adorable, and my kids love to see what part of the pictures “does something.” The creators of this app clearly love children and have a great imagination and a good sense of humor. My boys are engaged in each story, which means they will remember the truths they are learning. While their site says the app is for children 2-8 years old, my littlest guy loved it when he was even younger, and so do my hubby and I (and we’re slightly older).

This app is also available in many different languages, which I think is awesome. This means that children around the world are learning God’s Word through this app. In fact, one of our missions for the children at our church’s Vacation Bible School this year was raising money to help get this app translated into yet another language. (If you’d like to support OneHope, you can check out their ministry here.)

I should mention that there are NO in-app purchases, and it is not easy for your child to accidentally download something else. Just to rate the app, I had to hold down on the “Rate This App” button for 3 seconds before it would open up an outside link. As a mom who has found random apps on her phone from my child clicking on a button while he’s playing, I appreciate the child-proofing they’ve done with the app while still making it easy for my kids to navigate through it.

The only issue we’ve had with the app is that it used to crash at random times. However, they seemed to have fixed that issue lately, as they’ve brought out updates and new stories.

The Bible App for Kids is easily our favorite FREE app for kids, but I would pay for it in a heartbeat. When something as simple as a phone app can get your child excited about the Bible, spark important conversations about their relationship with God, and help them see His love for the whole world, I’d say it’s worth it.

*Logos and The Bible App for Kids pictures are copyrighted by OneHope and YouVersion. *

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And the WINNER is…

September 14, 2015

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Thank you to everyone who entered my first-ever giveaway here on Life in Lape Haven! It was a lot of fun to host, and I enjoyed all the interaction with new and old friends. 🙂

Rafflecopter has done its job and selected a random winner, so congratulations to Jennifer H! She will be receiving a copy of The Lost Heiress by Roseanna M. White.

Thanks, again, for making this a fun giveaway! If you didn’t win this one, there are a few other contests for The Lost Heiress still going on all over the web, including a fabulous one from Roseanna herself. They end soon, so be sure to follow the links below today.

Enjoy & good luck!

Roseanna’s giveaway is awesome! You can win a prize pack that includes a copy of The Lost Heiress PLUS a necklace inspired by Brook’s (it’s so pretty and unique), chocolate, coffee, music, and more! The contest is open through tomorrow, September 15, so hurry over!

(After you’ve entered the giveaway, go ahead and snoop around Roseanna’s blog and learn more about her. She always has challenging, encouraging, and fun posts.)

Bethany House Publishers is hosting a wonderful giveaway celebrating the release of not only The Lost Heiress, but also Kristi Ann Hunter’s A Noble Masquerade (I haven’t read it yet, but I did enjoy her novella, A Lady of Esteem, which is currently free for Kindle.) This contest features two prize packages, one for each book, and both are full of great items. You just need to jump over there to check it all out. According to their page, there are only 7 days left to enter.

Savanna at the Engrafted Word is also offering a copy of The Lost Heiress to one lucky reader. You can read her interview with Roseanna and enter for your chance to win.

And of course, if you don’t win one of those, you can purchase your copy at tons of sites and stores, including Christianbook.com, where it is currently on sale! 🙂

The Lost Heiress – Interview with Roseanna White & GIVEAWAY

September 10, 2015

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This post contains affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you, I may receive a small commission when you use the links.

After a hectic day of being “Mom,” some days (okay, most days) I just need a nice bedtime story to read myself to sleep, to help my mind calm down instead of going through the to-do list for tomorrow. This means I’m always on the lookout for great new authors to read, especially those writing Christian historical fiction. A few years ago, I saw a post from a friend about Roseanna White’s book, Ring of Secrets, so I checked it out and immediately fell in love with her characters, her stories, and her faith in God, which shines through every book beautifully. I have been reading her books ever since.

When she started sharing glimpses and teasers of her next book, The Lost Heiress, on her blog and pinning character ideas on Pinterest, it seemed as though September 2015 couldn’t get here quickly enough (although I was pretty excited that the book’s release was during my birthday month). When she asked for advanced reader volunteers, I was thrilled to be counted among them.

I watched my mailbox for an entire week, awkwardly meeting our mailman at the gate daily (I probably should have told him that I was expecting mail…), awaiting the moment I’d find The Lost Heiress in an envelope addressed to me.

But not only did I get a chance to read this amazing story before its official release (and it’s sooo good!!!), I also had the wonderful opportunity to talk with Roseanna herself (via Messenger, thus all the smiley emoticons!) about the story and the story behind the story! (Feeling kind of important here!)

*Ahem…time to break out those journalism skills from my years at the newspaper…*

Before I even get into the plot, characters, or events of the book, I have to say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the history of this particular book. For those who don’t know, can you tell us where (and when) The Lost Heiress was “born”?

Roseanna: I’d love to! When I was 12, I fell in love with English-set historical romances thanks to Lori Wick’s The Hawk and the Jewel. I decided the first week of 7th grade that I was going to write a novel set in England of the 1860s–and that I was going to finish it! It took me a year and a half, but I did. I wrote a full-length novel about a girl named Brook who was raised as a princess, but who through the connections of her best friend Justin–heir to an English duke–discovered that she was actually English and had to go home, only to discover that the same mystery that resulted in tragedy for her parents was set to come after her as well. Twenty years later, almost everything about that story has changed except the two main characters’ first names and that kernel of the premise. 🙂

: Roseanna’s first cover for her original story.

: A later cover for her story.

You shared your early cover designs for this book online, and they made me so happy. I was also an aspiring preteen novelist (not a good one), and I also drew character sketches for my stories (I still have them, but they are so packed away that I couldn’t find them to share for everyone’s amusement today). It’s so fun to know that I wasn’t the only one who did that. 🙂

I had about 4 or 5 stories (none finished) that I can recall off-hand. How many other early “Roseanna Higson” novels were there? Have any or will any others be resurrected for us to enjoy?

Roseanna: Oh my… well, I did plan out this series back then, so The Reluctant Duchess is also a revision of my 13-year-old idea of a sequel. 🙂 And my first published novel, A Stray Drop of Blood, was begun when I was 15. It started its life as a short story, then I wrote the novel during college. I had one other completed novel by the time I graduated high school, but 8 finished manuscripts when I graduated college. And yes, I always drew covers for my early stories! Often many versions, over the years…

That last cover is actually pretty good. Mine always looked more like the first one! Haha. Okay, continuing…

Being a wife and mother of two very active boys, I know how busy life can be just keeping on top of home and family things, so how do you even find time to write a blog, let alone turn out beautifully researched books full of delightful, developed characters, and do all the other jobs you do, too (editing, designing, speaking)?

Roseanna: My canned answer is “I neglect the housekeeping.” Which is true, LOL. But I’ve been writing so long that it was always a steady part of my day, and I quickly learned how to make sure I had writing time, even with small children. My mainstay is getting up early. I’m a morning person, so those quiet early-morning hours are my favorite. And while my youngest also likes to get up early, he knows that he’s not allowed out of bed until 6, and he has to entertain himself until 7:30. 🙂 I homeschool, so we have a nice schedule of the normal day. I write early, do design and editing work after the first part of school, and use evenings to play catch-up with whatever projects are most pressing. But still, without my annual writing retreat that lets me write half a book (almost) in 5 days, some of those deadlines would be very tricky!

It’s always nice to have a reason to NOT do housework!!! 🙂

I have to mention the cover because it is gorgeous! The colors, the model, her dress, her hair. Perfection. Any chance we’ll get a YouTube tutorial on how to fix our hair like the cover model’s? (When we had my son’s turn-of-the-century “Newsie” party, I tried to do an intricate Edwardian hairstyle, but nope. I know why they all needed a lady’s maid.)

Roseanna: Oh, that would be fun! Given that I didn’t do this design, I’m not sure what they might have over at Bethany House, but I’ll see if they ever do that sort of thing!

Oh, yea!!!! 🙂

: Such a gorgeous cover!

: Back cover of The Lost Heiress

: I could have used a lady’s maid to do my hair for my son’s “Newsie” birthday party.

Ok, so on to the revived story of Brook. There are so many great characters in this book: Brook is spunky, smart, and adventurous; Justin and Brice – swoon; Deirdre, who, even when she’s making horrible choices, you’re rooting for her; and Whitby. I loved him. A lot. (I now also want a magnificent black horse, but my hubby is allergic.) Who is your favorite character? And which ones were the most fun to write?

Roseanna: Oh, HARD question! Brook and Justin and Brice have all been there since the original story, so obviously I love them all. Deirdre’s a rewrite of a maid named Liddy from my original–I’d downplayed her in the previous version I pitched to editors, but then upped her role quite a lot in this version, which I loved being able to do! But I think it’s Whitby. He’s a new addition to this latest iteration of the book that I pitched to Bethany House, and now I can’t conceive of how I thought I had a story without him. I mean SERIOUSLY. He made the story in so many ways, and that family aspect I got to put in with Brook being reunited with her father, who had never stopped looking for her…it makes my heart happy. 🙂

Awww. Definitely glad they all got to be a part of the story.

My hubby, who is not a reader, listened as I read him the first chapter (and then later read more of the book on his own), and he enjoyed the story. In his words, “It’s really cool. I could see it being a really good movie.” I think he thought “romantic” and “historical” somehow did not equal “cool.” What?!? (Thanks for proving him wrong.) But following his train of thought, any plans to make this or any of your books into a movie some day? (Due to my stalking, um…I mean, “following” your Pinterest board for this series, you should know that I have been totally imagining Robert Downey, Jr., as Whitby and yes, I think he should play him.)

Roseanna: He totally should. If he would come work for a few bucks and a lot of goodwill… 😉 Actually, my hubby would love-love-love to get into film-making and turn this into a movie. For now, we’re planning on doing a live-action book trailer (like a movie trailer, but for the book) to test out his new toy–I mean, camera. A local historical house is excited to help us out with the interior shots. 🙂 Thus far no Robert Downey Jr. has come out of the woodwork to volunteer to play Whitby…

Another yea!!! A book trailer and maybe a movie!!!

There are plenty of twists and turns to this tale, and if I can ask without giving anything away, what was your inspiration for Brook’s necklace?

Roseanna: I had a necklace when I first came up with this story that I thought was super fun. It was a leather band with 8 wooden beads on it. As I was playing with it one day, I thought, “This looks like it could be old. Maybe I can put it in the story…have it be from her mother.” And so it became a plot point. When I was rewriting the story this final main time, I decided to make it more accurate to the times and situations, so instead of leather and beads, I decided on a gold and pearl necklace. The style is Victorian but was still popular in the Edwardian era. And to make it extra fun, I designed the necklace as I envisioned it and made a couple to give away (and one to keep…you know, for the actress playing Brook in that someday-movie LOL).

Writer, editor, designer, mom, and JEWELRY maker! 🙂 It’s so pretty – You did very well.

If you could convince Monsieur Bisset (The family’s French chef du cuisine in The Lost Heiress) to whip you up something to drink, what would it be? (I’m a tea girl all the way, so a nice pot of Earl Grey would be just fine with me.)

Roseanna: I would definitely choose coffee. I do enjoy tea but not quite as much as I coffee. 🙂 Though I’m not sure I’d like the espresso of 1910…those machines are reported to have left a burnt taste, though it still caught on and became hugely popular. And while Brook takes it black, I’m a sugar-and-cream kind of girl. Or flavored creamer, as the case may be. 😉

Mmm…burnt coffee. Haha. I think I’ll stick with my tea (with a nice drizzle of honey and a splash of milk or cream.) 🙂

Aside from the nicely crafted mystery and romance, what do you want readers to remember most from Brook’s story?

Roseanna: Hmm…I think the underlying theme that emerged for me is that we can’t live in fear. Not of judgment, not of being rejected, not of loss. Loving–be it our family or romance–is worth the risk of loss. And though grief might bring us to our knees, that’s where we find the Lord.

I really loved that part – “But it brought me to my knees—and the Lord was there, through it all, supporting me. The Lord was there, shaping me…”And you answered perfectly to lead into my next question!

Faith in God is always an integral part of each story you write, and I am so pleased that you go beyond just having someone come to the Lord at the end of the book or merely mentioning their church attendance, and do it without being straight-up “preachy.” You write Him with a reality that only comes from personal experience. I know that God has used your words to challenge and encourage me, so how has He used your writing to grow you spiritually?

Roseanna: I have learned so much about faith through my writing! And I have (literally) dozens of unpublished manuscripts that helped in that too. Each time I write a story, I pray that God will show me a new Truth about Him, and what it means to serve Him. And without fail, He does. Writing about situations I certainly haven’t faced forces me to see the world through eyes other than my own. And when I do that, I see God in a whole new light. I just pray I can be a mirror to reflect that Light!

Now that I’ve finished this book, I need to know what happens next in this series. What is the second “Ladies of the Manor” book, The Reluctant Duchess, about?

Roseanna: Brice, now in possession of a rare treasure, heads to the Highlands on holiday. The year before at their lodge, his father had died, so he’s now the Duke of Nottingham, and plotting how to put an end once and for all to all the intrigue surrounding this treasure. But instead of relaxation, he finds a noblewoman in duress. Rowena, heiress to a Highland earl, is desperate to escape Loch Morar and its ghosts–living and dead. A whirlwind wedding makes her a duchess and provides a means of escape…but the more she gets to know her new husband the more she wonders what dangers Brice has invited into his life–and the less sure she is that she has a place in it.

So happy that Brice is our leading man for the second book! I’m sure his “uncanniness” will come in handy on this new adventure!

And how long do I have to wait for it to come out?

Roseanna: April 2016.

I think I can be patient…maybe. Haha! 🙂

It was so much fun to interview Roseanna (Thank you, Roseanna!). Below is a little bit more about her with links to her website and blog. You can also “follow” her on Facebook and Pinterest. 🙂

ABOUT ROSEANNA WHITE:

Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two small children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of 10 historical novels and novellas, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to make their way into her novels…to offset her real life, which is blessedly boring. She makes her home in the breathtaking mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com and at Writing Roseanna.

Okay, now for my first ever giveaway!

Life in Lape Haven is proud to offer one happy reader a copy of The Lost Heiress for their very own! You are going to love it! And yes, you’re welcome. 🙂
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for entering! This contest is open to residents of the U.S. only and runs from Thursday, September 10 (12:00 a.m.) through Sunday, September 13, 2015, at 11:59pm EST (I know, specific.). The winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of the contest ending. Winner has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. 🙂

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

The Reluctant Duchess: Interview with Roseanna White

A Lady Unrivaled Review

A Review of Roseanna White’s Giver of Wonders