Guest Post (and a Giveaway!): Kathleen Denly & Harmony on the Horizon

Please join me in welcoming Kathleen Denly to the blog today to share about her main characters in Harmony on the Horizon, which releases today!

HARMONY ON THE HORIZON by Kathleen Denly
SERIES: Chaparral Hearts #3
GENRE: Inspirational Historical Romance
PUBLISHER: Wild Heart Books
RELEASE DATE: January 4, 2022
PAGES: 409

Her calling to change the world may be his downfall.

On the heels of the Great Rebellion, Margaret Foster, an abolitionist northerner, takes a teaching position in 1865 San Diego—a town dominated by Southern sympathizers. At thirty-seven years of age, Margaret has accepted spinsterhood and embraced her role as teacher. So, when Everett Thompson, the handsomest member of the School Board, reveals his interest in her, it’s a dream come true. Until her passionate ideals drive a wedge between them.

After two decades of hard work, Everett Thompson is on the verge of having everything he’s dreamed of. Even the beautiful new teacher has agreed to his courtship. Then two investments go south and a blackmailer threatens everything Everett has and dreams of.

As Everett scrambles to shore up the crumbling pieces of his life, Margaret unwittingly sets off a scandal that divides the small community and threatens her position as teacher. With the blackmailer still whispering threats, Everett must decide if he’s willing to risk everything for the woman still keeping him at arm’s length.

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Meet Margaret & Everett From Harmony on the Horizon

by Kathleen Denly, author of Harmony on the Horizon

Today I’m here to introduce you to two of my favorite characters: Margaret Foster and Everett Thompson. They’re the hero and heroine in Harmony on the Horizon, the third novel in my Chaparral Hearts series.

Margaret Foster was born in Massachusetts in 1828. She and her brother, Nash, were very close up until his death in the Civil War. By the start of Harmony on the Horizon, Margaret is thirty-seven years old and has given up on marriage and motherhood. Instead, her heart belongs to her students.

I asked Margaret what advice she would give someone wanting to move to California. Here’s what she had to say:

California is a very large state with an incredible range of climates. In the north, there are beautiful wooded mountains and rocky shorelines, while in San Diego there are rolling chaparral hillsides and long, winding canyons. Also, San Francisco is a bustling, progressive city as western settlements go. They even have horse cars in the heart of the city. But don’t expect such modern amenities if you travel south. San Diego is still a quaint little port town and it took me a while to adjust after I first arrived. 

Everett Thompson was born in 1818 and has worked hard to rise from the orphaned son of a millworker to the influential businessman he is today. He is a passionate visionary who believes he knows what the world needs and how to get there. No child will suffer the sort of childhood he endured if he has anything to say about it.

I asked Everett what he wanted people to remember about him after he’d passed on. Here’s what he said:

I hope people will remember me as a man who worked hard, spoke the truth, and did right by those around him. Most importantly, I hope they’ll know that, though I wasn’t perfect and they may not have always agreed with my methods, I gave everything I had to leave this world, and San Diego in particular, a better place. 

Thank you for spending this time with me. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know these characters.

Kathleen Denly writes historical romance to entertain, encourage, and inspire readers toward a better understanding of our amazing God and how He sees us. Award winning author of the Chaparral Hearts series, she also shares history tidbits, thoughts on writing, books reviews and more at KathleenDenly.com. 

Kathleen lives in sunny California with her loving husband, four young children, and two cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

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Kathleen Denly is offering a Harmony on the Horizon prize bundle to one of my readers! Prize includes:

• 1 Harmony on the Horizon Tote Bag
• 1 Aromatherapy Pendant
• 1 Lavender Sachet
• 1 ebook copy of either Waltz in the Wilderness or Sing in the Sunlight – winner’s choice
• 1 Chaparral Hearts Pen
• 1 Sing in the Sunlight Bookmark

(US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

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What about you? What makes you want to read Harmony on the Horizon by Kathleen Denly? Which character are you most looking forward to meeting on the pages?