Hallie Reads: emeline series | excerpts + giveaway

about the books

A promise made to her dying father; a struggle that tests her faith; a journey that pushes her resilience and resourcefulness to their limits.

Emeline, a thirteen-year-old Missouri orphan, must set off on a quest across frontier America to fulfil her father’s last to find her grandfather in Boston.

Crossing this dangerous and unforgiving land alone, she must face challenges without losing her faith, rising to every test ahead if she’s to survive and find a home at the end of her adventure.

Will Emeline’s journey bring her the family she longs for?

Readers of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Louisa May Alcott will delight in this fast-paced adventure.

publisher: march 1, 2024

release date: chickadee words, llc

goodreads | amazon | barnes & noble | bookbub | bookshop

When the world around you is falling apart, you must find strength within yourself.

Three years after her father’s death, Emeline has settled into life in Indianapolis.

Then an urgent visit to her childhood farm in Missouri changes everything. Her manager dies, the economy is in recession, and the caretakers are moving back to Wisconsin. Emeline is suddenly responsible for the farm… and she’s out of her depth.

With the help of her closest allies, Emeline sets out to turn the farm around until disaster strikes and she must start again. Emeline faces her biggest challenge finding the courage to have confidence in herself.

Can Emeline’s faith and resourcefulness bring her the joy and security she’s worked so hard to find?

This coming-of-age tale is a must-read for lovers of historical fiction.

publisher: march 1, 2024

release date: chickadee words, llc

goodreads | amazon | barnes & noble | bookbub | bookshop

excerpt from a journey

Just as I thought of a song, Dakota neighed and stomped the ground with his front hooves. “What is it, Dakota?” I thought maybe he was startled by an animal or something. I stood up, found Pa’s gun, and ran to him.

Two men were standing by Dakota, smiling. “Hey there, little girl. Nice horse you have here,” the taller one said.

Holding the gun out in front of me, I cocked it making an audible click. “Get away from my horse and leave us alone.”

“Aww. Why so unfriendly? We don’t mean no harm. We saw you come in here and just wanted to pay a friendly visit,” the shorter one said.

“I don’t believe you.” I stood with my gun steady. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you don’t leave.” I noticed they both had guns too. I shot a warning shot at the feet of the shorter one and cocked the gun again.

Startled, Dakota reared up and neighed.

The tall man used Dakota as a shield and walked toward me, while the other man hid behind a thick tree trunk.

“I’m warning you,” I said.

But he cowered down behind Dakota. I had no clear shot.

He jumped from under Dakota’s head and knocked the gun out of my hand. His big, rough hands circled around my neck, choking me. I couldn’t breathe!

excerpt from finding strength

“Your friend, Jonathan,” I said to myself. Ruth. The shop. The economy. If only I still worked in the trim shop, I might grow closer to Jonathan: closer than a friend or a sister. But fiddlesticks! I’m here. And Ruth’s there. Exasperating, that’s what it was. I stuffed the letter back in my pocket and slammed the privy door behind me.

Upon my return, Andrew sat at the table, pushing a shock of dark, wavy brown hair through his fingers and out of his face. “Let’s see now, Emeline. Tell me their names again.”

I sat and regarded his mustached face and, for the first time, realized how intense his dark brown eyes were, like the black-brown stain of walnuts. “Yes, Andrew.” I repeated their names, spelling each one. “Tentatively date it July 1, 1893.”

He wrote these details down and said, “What kind of arrangement did you have in mind?”

I sat up straight in the chair and leaned toward him. “A partnership. I would be the actual owner, for now, and initially, we would share the work and the profits from the enterprise. Eventually, they could run it without me.”

“You? Run a business? How old are you, Emeline?”

“Sixteen, but I’ll be seventeen next month. I can manage details and I’m very organized. The Coopers have already taught me so much.”

about the author

Of the many jobs she’s held in the past, including thirty-five years of designing and constructing stained glass windows part-time, teaching was one of the most enjoyable for Kathy J. Perry because investing in kids is so important. To this end, she continues to encourage good character with clean, moral stories kids and teens love to read. Good books make such an impact. Writing is hard work, but there’s nothing like a good story to run off with your imagination. When things are flowing, it’s like a vacation. Sometimes the best ideas come in the middle of the night. When not writing, you’ll find her painting with watercolor, doing school visits, writing a blog, interviewing other writers, designing websites, working as an administrative assistant part-time, and renovating houses. Is this retirement? Apparently so! She loves every minute of it with her husband of 43 years.

Connect with Kathy by visiting kathyjperry.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

giveaway

(1) winner will receive signed print copies of A Journey and Finding Strength, companion journal, bookmarks, and a $25 Amazon gift card plus a code for free audiobooks for both titles!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 1, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 8, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

tour schedule

justread publicity tours