About the Book
Book: Redeeming Rupert
Author: Susan Pope Sloan
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: February 25, 2025
In the aftermath of the Civil War, a young woman’s fight to save her family’s legacy leads her to an unexpected alliance.
Hannah Whitfield has given up on her own dreams of love and marriage, dedicating herself wholly to her family’s welfare. But when a ruthless carpetbagger threatens to seize Whitfield Hall, Hannah’s last hope lies with the elusive trustee named in her late father’s will. Desperate to secure her brother’s inheritance, she steels herself to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Rupert McNeil, haunted by the loss of his loved ones, has vowed never to marry. Following in his uncle’s footsteps, he becomes the go-to person for those in need. When he inherits his uncle’s farm and the responsibility to help save Whitfield Hall, Rupert finds himself at a crossroads, torn between his own legacy and his duty to others.
As Hannah and Rupert’s paths intertwine, a marriage of convenience seems to be the answer to their problems. But with a scheming relative lurking in the shadows, will their newfound alliance be enough to safeguard both their inheritances? Can love blossom amidst the challenges they face, or will the wounds of the past prove too deep to overcome?
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Born into a family of storytellers, Susan Pope Sloan published her first articles in high school and continued writing sporadically for decades. Retirement provided the time to focus on writing and indulge her avid interest in history. Her Civil War series begins (and ultimately ends) in her home state of Georgia with references to lesser-known events of that period. She and husband Ricky live near Columbus where she participates in Word Weavers, ACFW, and Toastmasters.
More from Susan
With Redeeming Rupert, I bring the series back close to where it started and closer to my hometown. This final book begins in 1866 with all the McNeil brothers picking up their lives after the Civil War. Rupert is the third son of John and Connie McNeil, introduced in previous books as a dependable helper. He is the opposite of older brother Simon, who was the impetuous, adventurous troublemaker in the family. In contrast, Rupert is a quiet, steady rule-follower who never gives his parents cause for concern.
When he inherits his Uncle Henry’s farm, Rupert is ready to settle into the peaceful life of a bachelor…until Hannah Whitfield shows up at his door and upsets all his plans.
For these Southerners, struggling to restore their homes and resume a sense of normalcy after the war, their family legacy is linked to the land. Both Rupert and Hannah consider it their richest inheritance and stand ready to defend it at all costs. But their marriage of convenience tests them in ways they never expected.
Interview with the Author
How do you select the names of your characters?
Character naming is very serious business for me. The names must fit the time period, but I also want them to convey a sense of romanticism and fit the character’s personality. For the reader’s benefit, I also try to find names that are distinct from the other character names, so as much as possible, each name should start with a different letter of the alphabet and sound different when spoken. I refer often to names listed in the U. S. census records but also explore names used in other countries. Sometimes a name that sounds modern to us might have been common long ago. Bible names are almost always a safe choice.
What was your hardest scene to write?
In Redeeming Rupert, several scenes presented a challenge and went through rewriting. Perhaps the most difficult scene was Hannah’s rescue at the end of the book. Rupert was more laid-back than my other action-driven heroes and reluctant to use violence. Though he had to depend on others to help find her, I needed to show his heroic nature and make him instrumental in saving her.
If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
I would pursue writing more diligently instead of trying to do other things. My plan had been to teach, but various life events interfered and kept me from a career in education. Instead, I worked in three very different industries over the course of forty years and only wrote “on the side” for small publications. Those experiences gave me more “fodder” for stories, but I wish I had been more persistent in writing.
What comes first, the plot or characters?
Definitely the characters come first for me. In fact, plotting is a struggle because I’m a “pantser” and tend to move from scene to scene without a clearly defined map for my story. I know what the final goal is, but getting there is an adventure not unlike trying to find my way around a new town without GPS. It’s fun but takes longer to reach my destination.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Besides my lifelong hobbies of music, reading, and crochet, I really enjoy research both online and in person. Currently, I’m working with a local museum to transcribe some letters and documents from the Civil War. Sometimes it’s difficult to decipher the beautiful handwriting from those days, but it’s so awesome to read the thoughts of people who lived 160 years ago.
Blog Stops
Life on Chickadee Lane, March 18
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 19
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 20
Betti Mace, March 21
Stories By Gina, March 22 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, March 22
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 23
Pause for Tales, March 24
An Author’s Take, March 25
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 26
Artistic Nobody, March 27 (Author Interview)
Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 27
For Him and My Family, March 28
Cover Lover Book Review, March 29
Holly’s Book Corner, March 30
Guild Master, March 31 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.