About the Book
Book Title: Scandals and Mercies
Author Name: Kathleen Rouser
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: April 23, 2024
He’s a reporter determined to uncover the truth, but the secrets he finds could crush her family—and their second chance at love.
Taken from her family’s farm to be raised by her wealthy aunt and uncle, Nora Armstrong has accepted that not only will she never realize her dream of becoming a teacher, she’d also rather be a spinster than submit to her cruel aunt’s society selection of a suitable husband. The one man who caught her eye betrayed her best friend. And she’s got enough on her hands, hiding her sister’s shameful secret from her aunt.
When the local home for unwed mothers burns down, the arson investigation brings big-city reporter James Cooper back to Stone Creek—and back into Nora’s life. James also has a meddling aunt who raises more questions than she answers about his past. Not to mention, he can’t figure out why Nora constantly rebuffs him. When his reporting casts aspersions on the local church and lays the blame for the fire and a series of robberies at the wrong feet, he risks losing his new position at the paper.
As they seek to unravel the town’s mystery, rescue endangered mothers and children, and navigate their own family secrets forced to light, James and Nora increasingly turn to each other for help. But can they overcome James’s lack of faith and the disapproval of Nora’s guardians to find a second chance at love?
Book Excerpt
His stomach churned at the sickening sound of creaking wood and crashing glass. Though time flew, every purposeful movement seemed to take longer than needed until everything had calmed down. Still, billows of smoke rose as if to remind them the fire had won over a good portion of the house.
A group of young women huddled together; their faces etched with horror. “Where will we go?” A dark-haired girl on the front lawn spoke, half moaning. Some of them wept.
James wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve and left the line. Urgency called for him to obtain the details from Reverend McCormick.
“Reverend!” He waved to the taller man who was placing a coat around his wife’s shoulders.
“What is it, Cooper?” The usually calm minister snapped at James.
As James strode nearer, McCormick held Sophie close. His eyes filled with sorrow as he studied the home’s vulnerable occupants.
“What about these poor girls? They need someplace safe to stay.” Sophie McCormick’s voice caught on a sob.
“The Lord has got us this far, dear. I’m sure some local farms and townspeople will take them in temporarily while we…rebuild.”
Missed Any Excerpts, Go Here
Excerpt One: https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2024/05/scandals-and-mercies.html
Excerpt Two: https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/2024/05/23/scandals-and-mercies-epic-book-launch/
Excerpt Three: https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/2024/05/celebrate-lit-presents-scandals-and_20.html
Excerpt Four: https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/05/epic-book-launch-scandals-and-mercies.html
Excerpt Six: http://www.simpleharvestreads.com/posts/scandals-and-mercies-epic-book-launch/
Excerpt Seven: https://www.fictionbooklover.com/posts/scandals-and-mercies-epic-book-launch/
About the Author
Kathleen Rouser is a multi-published, award-winning author of historical and contemporary Christian romance. She is a longtime member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers. She resides in southeast Michigan, a location which she often uses in her novels, with her hero and husband of forty-some years and two sweet cats who found a home in their empty nest.