"Fall of Poppies: Stories of Love and the Great War"--Top voices in historical fiction deliver an unforgettable collection of short stories set in the aftermath of World War I

Fall of Poppies: Stories of Love and the Great War

Top voices in historical fiction deliver an unforgettable collection of short stories set in the aftermath of World War I—featuring bestselling authors such as Hazel Gaynor, Jennifer Robson, Beatriz Williams, and Lauren Willig and edited by Heather Webb.

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month...

November 11, 1918. After four long, dark years of fighting, the Great War ends at last, and the world is forever changed. For soldiers, loved ones, and survivors the years ahead stretch with new promise, even as their hearts are marked by all those who have been lost.
As families come back together, lovers reunite, and strangers take solace in each other, everyone has a story to tell.

In this moving anthology, nine authors share stories of love, strength, and renewal as hope takes root in a fall of poppies.

Featuring:

Jessica Brockmole
Hazel Gaynor
Evangeline Holland
Marci Jefferson
Kate Kerrigan
Jennifer Robson
Beatriz Williams
Lauren Willig
Heather Webb

Reviews

Praise for Jennifer Robson’s After the War is Over: “A glorious journey from grief to celebration. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put this novel down. The story is engaging, memorable and beautifully imagined.” (Jeanne Mackin, author of The Beautiful American)

Praise for Hazel Gaynor’s A Memory of Violets: “Gaynor once again brings history to life. With intriguing characters and a deeply absorbing story, her latest is a fascinating examination of one city’s rich history and the often forgotten people who lived in it.” (Booklist)

Praise for Beatriz Williams A Hundred Summers: “[A] fast-paced love story.” (O, The Oprah Magazine)

“You’ll be drawn into this story of obsession and passion.”-- on Heather Webb’s Rodin’s Lover (Cosmopolitan Magazine)

From Marci Jefferson’s moody tale of a courageous young girl seeking to avenge her family’s honor... to Hazel Gaynor’s incandescent confluence of births and deaths...and including tales by Kate Kerrigan, Beatriz Williams, and Lauren Willig, this collection offers an atmospheric homage to one of history’s most emotionally devastating episodes. (Booklist)

“With so many established and beloved names included, this title will be easy to suggest to the existing fan base of a particular writer as well as anyone looking for historical fiction with elements of intrigue and romance.” (Library Journal) 

 

Armistice Day 100 — November 11, 2018

 

November 11, 2018, is Armistice Day 100 (or 101), a century since World War I was ended at a scheduled moment (11 o’clock on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918). For decades in the United States, as elsewhere, Armistice Day was a holiday of peace, of sad remembrance and joyful ending of war, of a commitment to preventing war in the future. The holiday’s name was changed in the United States after the U.S. war on Korea to “Veterans Day,” a largely pro-war holiday on which some U.S. cities forbid Veterans For Peace groups from marching in their parades.

"THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER" By Francis Scott Key 1814

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light...

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


Francis Scott Key





Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet from Frederick, Maryland who is best known for writing a poem which later became the lyrics for the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".

"G.I. Joe & Lillie: Remembering a Life of Love and Loyalty"--Author Joe Bonsall, of the legendary singing group, the Oak Ridge Boys. tells the beautiful and moving account of his parents, Joe and Lillie Bonsall

G.I. Joe & Lillie

by Joesph Bonsall

True account of life, love, war, and finally, peace Includes details and accounts of D-Day Author sings tenor for the world-famous Oak Ridge Boys Poignant slice of Americana.

Author Joe Bonsall is well known for holding up his one-fourth of the Oak Ridge Boys quartet. As an author, Joe can also hit some high notes as he tells this beautiful and moving account of his parents, Joe and Lillie Bonsall. A young man from Philadelphia volunteers for service to escape a harsh home life and winds up charging Utah Beach on D-Day, while a girl from North Carolina runs away from home to join the WAC's. How they meet, fall in love, and make it through life's triumphs and tragedies are told in detail in this moving story, complete with photo section. "If you like war stories, you will love this book. If you like romance, you will love this book, if you love God and enjoy reading about faith, dedication, and real love through times of trial you also will love this book," shares Bonsall.

 

Reviews

It was a wonderful story about your dad (Gl Joe) and mom. It made me want to laugh and cry at the same time! I was flying over Germany during the time your dad was there. The guys on the ground had it rough. It is one of the best stories about hardship and pleasure that I have read!

This wonderful, touching story is about so many things I hold dear, including family, faith, and duty to country. For years, Joe Bonsall has inspired us all with song; now he opens his heart in a totally different way to share a very personal part of his life. What a wonderful gift to us all.

You have so much to be thankful for. ... One is how the combination of Lillie and Joe were the magical genes that made both you and Nancy. ... You both will forever represent the very best of your parents. ... They taught you well and you are the man through which you father lived the rest of his life. ... They both were and are so proud of you . ...And so am I.

This story exemplifies the integrity and character behind the American dream--even when the dream doesn't come true in the way you hoped it would. A great story of enduring faith and true commitment...

Joseph S. Bonsall 




Joe is a 40 plus-yeasr member of the American music group The Oak Ridge Boys, http://www.oakridgboys.com, and for decades you have heard his voice singing power harmony with The BOYS and taking the lead on such hit songs as Elvira, It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometime, Love Song, My Son, Peterbilt Sleigh and so many others. He has also written several poignant songs such as G I Joe and Lillie, Sacrifice… For Me and First Christmas Day… and many more.

Joe is also a successful published author of ten books, and his articles, commentaries, and musings have appeared as bylines in newspapers, online, and in such magazines as Power Source, Country Weekly, the Huffington Post, Country Weekly and Time.

At josephsbonsall.com you can read many of these writings and also learn more about his books such as G.I. Joe and Lillie. From My Perspective, Christmas Miracles and his latest book On The Road With The Oak Ridge Boys published by Harvest House!

You will learn about the Joseph S. and Mary Ann Bonsall Foundation and the amazing work it has done for literacy and animal causes.

Joseph S. Bonsall… Husband to Mary, father of two daughters Jennifer and Sabrina, grandfather (pop pop) to two grandkids Breanne and Luke, Christian, singer, songwriter, poet, author, Phillies fan and banjo player.

Follow Joe on Twitter @joebonsall and @oakridgeboys

Videos at http://youtube.com/joebonsall

Email Joe at josephsbonsall@aol.com

Joe and his beautiful wife, Mary Ann, live in Hendersonville, TN with their seven kitties, Sally Ann, Crocket, Sunny, Mitty, Baybe’, Ted, and Blackie. They also maintain a 350 acre farm on the Tennessee / Kentucky state line with two specially trained Special Ops guard donkeys… Blondie and Truffles.

"ONE MILLION STRONG & GROWING"--author LYNNE MARSHALL has now sold over ONE MILLION BOOKS--read this post to find out why!!!

"The Charity, Montana Series"--author Lynne Marshall offers heartwarming contemporary romance--captivating characters finding love and facing life's struggles and triumphs--stories set in beautiful Montana

https://bookedsolidwithvac.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-charity-montana-series-author-lynne.html

"Delaneys of Sandpiper Beach Series"--warm, touching contemporary romance from author Lynne Marshall

https://bookedsolidwithvac.blogspot.com/2018/08/delaneys-of-sandpiper-beach-series-warm.html 

"THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS CLINIC SERIES"--an inside look at "doctors to the stars" also features compelling contemporary romantic fiction from top authors--like the fabulous Lynne Marshall

https://bookedsolidwithvac.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-hollywood-hills-clinic-series.html

 

Find the true place of your heart when you find "HOME IN HEARTLANDIA"--Author Lynne Marshall's involving and intriguing contemporary romance series---well-crafted, compelling romantic fiction 

https://bookedsolidwithvac.blogspot.com/2016/05/find-true-place-of-your-heart-when-you.html

Author Lynne Marshall's superlative storytelling skills are in full-force in the beautifully poignant contemporary romance, "A Mother for His Adopted Son"--Lynne's warm, personal writing style blends perfectly with her experience in the medical profession 

https://bookedsolidwithvac.blogspot.com/2016/05/author-lynne-marshalls-superlative.html

“THE MONTGOMERY BROTHERS”—Author Lynne Marshall offers a double delight—two brothers--Wyoming ranch heirs and dedicated doctors—their lives forever changed by unexpected romance…and fatherhood! 

https://bookedsolidwithvac.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-montgomery-brothersauthor-lynne.html 

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Lynne Marshall's "Mid-Coast Medical Trilogy" is thoughtfully written, and it offers vivid characterizations and wonderfully detailed story lines. Each entry in the series features a romance between two coworkers from the Santa Barbara Mid-Coast Medical Group. The medical offices are housed in a beautiful, cream-colored Victorian mansion converted into a modern, high-efficiency clinic with a welcoming, homey atmosphere. Each member of the medical group has a certain specialty, and they work together to offer optimal medical care for their patients. If only those dreamy doctors made house calls! Lynne Marshall is an involving and descriptive storyteller, and her background as an RN is evident in her extremely knowledgeable handling of the medical dialogue and patient situations. Her personal warmth shines through as she makes each character come alive and pulls you right into their thoughts and experiences. These three romances are definitely "heart with heat", and they are as touching as they are sensual.

In Lynne Marshall's "The Boss and Nurse Albright", the first book in her "Mid-Coast Medical Trilogy", we meet two dedicated medical professionals who both need a healing touch in their lives. Dr. Jason Rogers is the stern and steely family practice GP of the Mid-Coast Medical Group. Suffering from the tragic loss of his wife and daughter, Jason prefers to avoid emotional involvements and keeps others at a distance. When Registered Nurse Practitioner Claire Albright joins the medical group, her sincere smile and her holistic approach to treating patients both begin to stir unwanted feelings in Jason.





"The Heart Doctor and the Baby" by Lynne Marshall introduces us to Rene Munro, a successful obstetrician, who at age thirty-five is single and longing to become a mother. She sees her colleague, Jon Becker, a top-notch cardiologist, as the perfect candidate to father her baby. While working together as members of the Mid-Coast Medical Group, Rene and Jon had formed a friendly, respectful professional relationship that had not included a romantic involvement. Jon had been greatly hurt when his wife of many years had surprised him with a divorce, and he had immersed himself in his work while remaining close to his two teenaged daughters





In  "The Christmas Baby Bump",  Phil Hansen, the acknowledged playboy of the Mid-Coast Medical Group, finally meets his match. A former surfing star who became an esteemed pulmonary specialist, Phil is a gorgeous golden boy. Seemingly carefree and permanently unattached, he enjoys a successful career, the attentions of beautiful women, and an enviable lifestyle in a magnificent home. After he meets his new colleague, Stephanie Bennett, he starts to look at his own life with new eyes.




It's exciting for me as a reader to immediately become so involved in a book that I keep saying to myself: "This would be a great movie!". "Too Close for Comfort", from author Lynne Marshall, kept that reel playing in my head, and I read the book all in one sitting. Lynne is one of my favorite authors. I was hooked on her warm, funny, and touching storytelling from the very first book. Her characters are very real and vividly drawn, and she gives them compelling story lines that are true to life, yet full of unexpected twists and turns. Her romances are sensually sweet, and she writes characters of varying ages--yeah! "Too Close for Comfort" is a rollicking reunion romance that also offers action, suspense, and poignant family drama.




"One for the Road" by Lynne Marshall, is a delightful, involving, entertaining, sexy romance featuring a hero and heroine who are both in their forties. Hallelujah! I am a great fan of Lynne Marshall. Her love stories are infused with emotional warmth and sensual heat, intelligence, humor, and story lines which make you want to reach for her next book. In "One for the Road", we meet D'Anne Palmer, a lady who found herself a widow shortly after she and her husband had made a major lifestyle change and purchased a luxury forty-foot motor coach. They were to live life on the road, going where they wanted, when they wanted. Her husband's sudden death left D'Anne far from home, on her own, and facing some hard decisions. She decides to rent out the motor home and include her services as driver. To her surprise, a handsome country singer and his band take up her offer in order to make their concert dates. 

 

Author Lynne Marshall--an involving, wonderfully descriptive storyteller whose personal warmth shines through

Lynne Marshall is a Harlequin, Mills & Boon, and Wild Rose Press, multipublished author of contemporary romantic fiction, and Medical Romance. She believes it's never too late to fall in love, and enjoys writing not only about young romance, but more mature romance as well. Lynne heartily believes in Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Happiness. A late bloomer, Lynne came to fiction writing after her children were nearly grown. Now she battles the empty nest by writing stories that always include a romance, sometimes medicine, a dose of mirth, or both, but always stories from her heart. She is a Southern California native, is happily married for a "long time", she is a dog lover, a cat admirer, a daily walker, and an avid reader. Lynne is a proud member of the Romance Writers of America. http://lynnemarshall.com/.  I hope that you will enjoy my reviews of some favorite stories by a very special storyteller, Lynne Marshall.

"Memories Are Made of This: Dean Martin Through His Daughter's Eyes" by Deana Martin--the child of entertainment royalty is beautiful, gifted, and radiates her own vibrant stage persona

Memories Are Made of This: Dean Martin Through His Daughter's Eyes
by Deana Martin,Taylor Holden, Foreword by Jerry Lewis

I loved being called Deana Martin. Even when I was very small. Dad was such a positive influence on people’s lives that to be so closely associated with him was always a blessing. People can’t help but smile when they think of my father, which has to be the greatest legacy of all. When people hear my name for the first time, they usually ask the same question: “Any relation?” “Yes,” I reply proudly, “he’s my father.” They smile and cry, “Oh, I love your father! I’ve loved him all my life.” Sometimes, just sometimes, they ask me the most important question of all: “Was he a good father?” To their surprise, I shake my head and smile. “No,” I reply. “He wasn’t a good father, but he was a good man.” Where Dad came from, that meant a great deal more.

So begins Deana Martin’s captivating and heartfelt memoir of her father, the son of an Italian immigrant from modest beginnings who worked his way to the top of the Hollywood firmament to become one of the greatest stars of all time.

Charming, debonair, and impeccably attired in a black tuxedo, Dean Martin was coolness incarnate. His music provided the soundtrack of romance, and his image captivated movie and television audiences for more than fifty years. His daughter Deana was among his most devoted fans, but she also knew a side of him that few others ever glimpsed.

In page-turning prose, Deana recalls her early childhood, when she and her siblings were left in the erratic care of Dean’s loving but alcoholic first wife. She chronicles the constantly changing blended family that marked her youth, along with the unexpected moments of silliness and tenderness that this unusual Hollywood family shared. Deana candidly reveals the impact of Dean’s fame and characteristic aloofness on her efforts to forge her own identity, but delights in sharing wonderful, never-before-told stories about her father and his pallies known as the Rat Pack. It may not have been a normal childhood, but Deana’s enchanting account of life as the daughter of one of Hollywood’s sexiest icons will leave you entertained, delighted, and nostalgic for a time gone by.  

"From her heart, Deana Martin has told a frank and honest account of what her life was like with her famous father and family. It has been a wild ride, with lots of ups and downs, written with honesty, love, and understanding." --Regis Philbin

"Dean Martin was the unique star who attained success in all of the entertainment media--movies, TV, recordings, concerts, and radio. His daughter Deana gives us something else that is also unique in this revealing book about growing up as the daughter of a true legend. Here's to you Dean. I've got the booze, you get the ice." --Don Rickles

"I have to say I loved reading what Deana wrote--maybe because she bit the bullet, she was courageous, up-front, tenacious, and so totally forthright. I read it with tremendous pride and love, and I know other readers will feel the same emotions I felt. I love this author for a myriad of reasons, but especially for how she has honored my partner."--from the Foreword by Jerry Lewis

Deana Martin

Deana Martin is an influential American singer, actor, author and the very proud daughter of iconic entertainer, Dean Martin. Visit Deana on the Web at deanamartin.com.