Welcome to Friday Reads!
You can enter to win a copy of The Purple Nightgown by A.D. Lawrence, courtesy of the publisher. (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the bottom of this post. (Contest ends April 16, 2021.) Share on X If you’re the chosen winner, I’ll contact you for your information.
The story behind the story…
I’ve been a huge fan of the True Colors series for a while, since I’m kind of a true crime/history nerd. When I heard Barbour was requesting book ideas for the series, I almost had a heart attack. I only had about three hours to come up with a crime, story synopsis, and sample chapter. It was a stressful day, but when I got the news they’d chosen my idea, I couldn’t have been more excited.
Q&A with A.D. Lawrence…
Q: How much research went into your story?
A: I typically write contemporary suspense, so The Purple Nightgown required me to research topics I haven’t looked into before. Simple things like word use in the early 1900s, foods people ate, automobiles for the time period, and what restrooms looked like. I also watched as may documentaries on the Linda Hazzard case as I could find and listened to Starvation Heights by Gregg Olson.
Q: Sounds very interesting! What takeaway message do you hope readers get from your story?
A: I hope that readers of The Purple Nightgown will be encouraged to trust God in every circumstance. If others are anything like me, it’s a comforting thing to feel like you’re in control of life’s circumstances even though that control is often an illusion. But when we reach the end of our efforts, God is more than capable of taking care of us and doing amazing things.
Q: So true! What a great reminder. What writers inspire you?
A: Nancy Mehl, Steven James, James Hannibal, and C.C. Warrens are amazing authors and people. If I could write half as well as they do, I’d feel like a star.
Q: Those are some wonderful authors. What are three books in your TBR pile?
A: Night Fall by Nancy Mehl, The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson, Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti
Q: Great books! I’ve read two of them. What’s something about you that would surprise your readers?
A: I sold vacuum cleaners door-to-door for one day. Yeah, not my favorite job. It’s a whole long story 😉
Q: Hmm… That does sound like an interesting story! Do you have any pets?
A: I have two rescue cats, Oliver and Kassie Elizabeth. They like to get in on my Facebook live videos every chance they get.
I’ll have to check that out! Thanks for stopping by. I’m sure my readers enjoyed getting to know you a bit better.
Excerpt…
Chapter One
May 1911
How’s your headache, Miss Stella?”
Stella Burke glanced up at Jane from her position on the blanketed ground and forced a smile. “A little better.” Her companion didn’t need to know how little. Stella slipped a ribbon between the
pages of her book then let her fingers trace the title. Fasting for the Cure of Disease. While the author’s methods may have been a little unorthodox, Linda Hazzard’s patients were lauding her as a miracle worker.
And Stella desperately needed a miracle.
The sun’s rays reflected off the Pacific Ocean’s rippling water, intensifying the pain behind Stella’s eyes. Swirling starbursts danced at the corners of her vision. Not again. Tears prickled her throat.
“You’re a terrible liar.” Jane’s Scottish brogue lilted the words. She tucked the lap blanket tighter around Stella’s legs with aged hands.
“You’ve got another one starting, don’t you?”
Stella nodded, rubbing her temples.
Dr. Wagner had promised the sea air would cure this pain in her head, but she’d spent the past three months on Rodeo Beach in Northern California and nothing had changed. Gulls hopped along the sand, screeching. Children whooped and hollered. Each shout punctuated
the throbbing. “I need to lie down.”
“That’s probably wise. Let’s get you home.” Jane stowed Stella’s book in the wicker picnic basket at her feet then shook the sand from the blanket. An envelope fell to the ground.
Stella reached for it, but a stiff breeze sent it tumbling across the beach. She scrambled for the letter as it blew toward her automobile and waiting driver, but her blurred vision worked against her. Still, she couldn’t lose that letter.
“I’ve got it.” The driver ran onto the beach, the bill of his cap catching the sunlight.
The mere sight of Henry coaxed a smile. Though he’d grown up on the outside, he was the same thoughtful mischief-maker he’d been when they were children. Memories of the pranks she and Henry used to play on the cook, Mrs. Priory, sprang to mind. How red the old woman had turned when they’d switched the salt for sugar in her pottery bowl on the counter. And the look on Mama’s face when the fish had tasted sweet as taffy. Of course, Stella had to copy the book of
Revelation twice as punishment, and Henry had trouble sitting for a week afterward, but it had been worth it.
Henry jogged toward her, envelope extended. “Here you go, Miss Burke.”
She took the letter from his gloved hand. “It’s Stella. We’ve been through this, Clayton.” She paid him back with the name formality dictated she use.
“That wouldn’t be proper.”
She met his gaze, catching his lopsided smile with what little vision her eyes afforded. He’d maintain an air of propriety as long as Jane was present, but next time he took her for a drive along the coast, he’d drop the pretense. They’d be Henry and Stella again. Friends.
Tingling started in her left thumb and spread through her palm. Why did these headaches bring such odd symptoms? Dr. Wagner called them migraines, but whatever their proper name, relief seemed like a distant dream.
Stella stepped toward the motorcar. The numbness in her toes and the wind tugging her ankle-length skirt made trekking the beach a challenge. Henry offered his arm. She accepted. His wool
jacket provided scratchy comfort beneath her fingers. He opened her door and helped her inside. The concern in his hazel eyes carved a hollow feeling within her. Jane climbed in beside her while Henry walked to the front and cranked the handle. The motor roared to life.
When he slid into the driver’s seat, he glanced over his shoulder and reached into the back seat, a violet between his fingers. “Saw this in front of the motor and thought you might like it.”
Her favorite flower. Warmth spread through her chest, and for a moment the pain above her eyebrow dulled. “Thank you.” She held the delicate blossom to her nose. The scent conjured summer memories of a simpler time. Times when she ran to Father for advice, and her
only worries were remembering the spelling of Mississippi and caring for a litter of abandoned kittens in her bedroom without Mother’s knowledge. She sighed. She didn’t get headaches back then or have to consider marriage to wealthy men. Afternoons were for exploring the
hillsides behind the house with Henry, playing pirates, and hunting for fairies.
When she was a child, all of Stella’s plans for the future had included Henry, but after Papa died five years ago, Uncle Weston warned her against marrying a man without money and a title. Mar-
rying beneath her station was out of the question. Plenty of men with all the attributes her uncle required had requested her hand in marriage without so much as an intelligent conversation beforehand. How could they know they wanted to spend a lifetime with her without knowing the first thing about her? Not even simple things, like her favorite color. Or her favorite flower. No. She’d die an old maid before agreeing to marry some wealthy hobbledehoy who only showed interest to increase his fortune.
Henry drove the automobile onto the main road leading into San Francisco. Stella closed her eyes, propped her elbow on the door, and rested her head in her hand. The tingling traveled up her arm and settled in her left cheek. When she opened her eyes, she caught Henry’s reflection in the windscreen. He flashed her a smile and returned his gaze to the road. Sinking into the leather seat, Stella let her eyelids droop while Jane prattled on about the fraying lace on her hankie.
The automobile screeched to a stop, and she forced her eyes to focus. Henry opened her door and stood at attention as she stepped onto the sidewalk at the entrance of the Burke estate. The swirling lights no longer blocked her vision, but nausea tickled her stomach. If
she didn’t get inside soon—
Henry’s brow furrowed and he took her hand, breaking protocol.
“Let me help you, Stella. You’re pale.”
Jane hurried ahead, giving orders to the butler and requesting one of the maids to “bring a cup of tea to Miss Stella’s room.”
Henry walked Stella to the door then patted her hand. “Get better.” He leaned down. “I despise seeing you like this,” he whispered in her ear. “Maybe we can go on a drive tomorrow.”
Stella nodded, stomach in knots. She allowed Jane to usher her upstairs, help her change into her nightgown, and make a fuss tucking her between the cool sheets. The maid entered, teacup in hand. Stella thanked her and sipped the warm brew.
“I don’t suppose you feel like eating?” Jane tested Stella’s forehead with the back of her hand.
The thought of food swelled the churning inside her. Excerpts from the pages of Linda Hazzard’s book sprang to mind. Hazzard believed fasting cured every ailment from toothaches to tuberculosis. Maybe her methods could put an end to these migraine headaches for
good.
“No supper tonight, thank you.” Stella chewed the inside of her cheek. “And please tell Cook I won’t be eating tomorrow.”
Jane clucked her tongue. “Are you sure that’s wise? You must eat something or you’ll waste away. You could stand a little fattening up as it is.”
Stella pulled the coverlet to her chin with a sigh. “Dr. Hazzard recommends fasting in her book. It’s good for the body, Jane. You should do it with me. Didn’t you say your rheumatism has been
festering?”
“That it has.” Jane kneaded her lower back with a wrinkled hand. “But I like a good pot roast enough to endure it.”
Stella cringed at the thought of pot roast and pulled the pillow over her splitting head.
Jane stepped out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.
The pain reached a crescendo, and Stella bit back a sob. The day was only half done, and she was already in bed. Earlier than yesterday.
If something didn’t change, life would pass her by, and she wouldn’t be living. Just existing. The sea air hadn’t helped, and she couldn’t live like this a day longer. So many people who had followed Linda Hazzard’s fasting plan found healing. Could fasting be the answer to her prayers?
Besides, even if Dr. Hazzard’s methods didn’t help, her recommendations couldn’t do any harm.
My review…
I’ve read all the book in the True Colors series, and this was one of my favorites. Perhaps it’s because I can relate to the misery one feels when dealing with migraines … however, I haven’t gone to the lengths mentioned in this story. I could still relate to Stella’s desires to go to extreme lengths rid herself of her headache misery.
There is a romance angle, but it’s secondary to the main crime story, and I appreciated that. I enjoyed the author’s note at the end which shared what parts of the story were factual, as well as the outcome for the doctor and facility. There is a faith element, but it’s not preachy or overwhelming.
This is the author’s debut book, and it shows that she has a promising future!
One of my favorite quotes: “She wasn’t alone. Not really. God, in all His vastness and unbounded love, saw her.”
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
About the author…
A.D. Lawrence makes her home in Northeastern Nebraska. She has been passionate about writing and true crime for years, and her two obsessions melded into the goal of authorship. She is an active member of the ACFW, writes a true crime blog, won the 2019 Crown Award and was a 2019 First Impressions finalist and a 2020 Genesis finalist. Her first book will be released through Barbour in March of 2021 as part of the True Colors series.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/a.d.lawrence.7
https://www.facebook.com/adlawrencefiction
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.d.lawrence_author/
Rules for giveaway can be found here.
I love books about true crime or real life stories. It just fascinates me.
I agree! Good luck, Beth.
I love historical mysteries so I might enjoy this.
I think you will, Michelle. Good luck!
True crime stories fascinate me. I’ve always wanted to understand more about how people think and their motives for what they do.
Good points, Danielle! Definitely interesting to have a bit of insight into the human mind. Good luck!
Thank you, Leslie! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you, Danielle. You, too!
I enjoy historical fiction that includes real historical events in the story. The Purple Gown sounds fascinating.
I think you’ll really enjoy it. Good luck, Roxanne!
I always find the stories behind true crimes fascinating and it’s fun to learn facts that weren’t widely known at first.
Yes! So fascinating. And these books also tell what’s fact and what’s fiction, which I enjoy. Good luck, Megan!
I just think that the true crimes series is extremely interesting. I usually find out about a crime spree that I had no idea existed.
I agree, Perrianne. There were a few that I’d never heard about prior to these books. Good luck!
Love reading this series! It is the best series I have ever read with multiple authors. Each story has been a delight to read and I have discovered some brand new authors that I cannot wait to read more of their books. Speaking of books, does anyone know when Ms. Lawrence will be publishing her next book?
I’m not sure about her next book. Do you follow her on social media? I’m sure she’ll post updates when possible. Good luck, Adriann!
I love books with true crime, and this one sounds likely to capture my interest. I also love books set in different time periods, because of the details about daily life somewhere and sometime distant from here and now. Cannot wait to read this one!
I enjoy them, as well. I think you’ll like this one. Good luck, Candice!