About the Book

Book: Rumors and Promises

Author: Kathleen Rouser

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: October 10, 2023

She’s an heiress hiding a tumultuous past. He’s a reverend desperate to atone for his failures.

Abandoned by her family, Sophie Biddle has been on the run with a child in tow. At last, she’s found a safe life in Stone Creek, Michigan, teaching piano. But when a kind, yet meddling and handsome, minister walks into her life seeking to help, Sophie is caught off guard and wary. When her secrets threaten to be exposed, will be she able to trust the reverend, and more importantly, God?

After failing his former flock, Reverend Ian McCormick is determined to start anew in Stone Creek, and he’s been working harder than ever to forget his mistakes and prove himself to his new congregation—and to God. But when he meets a young woman seeking acceptance and respect, despite the rumors swirling about her sordid past, Ian finds himself pulled in two directions. If he shows concern for Sophie’s plight, he could risk everything—including his position as pastor of Stone Creek Community Church.

Will the scandals of their pasts bind them together or drive them apart forever?Click here to get your copy!

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.

More from Kathleen

My inspiration for Rumors and Promises came from the story of the Samaritan woman at the well and her encounter with Jesus. At the time, back in 2002, publishers weren’t looking for Biblical fiction. Instead, I felt the Lord put on my heart a story about a young woman who had to pretend her two-year-old daughter was her sister as she left behind dire circumstances at home. That was inspired by a story my mom told me about a girl she grew up who had a son out of wedlock and her parents raised him as her brother.

Since the town minister would have the most to lose if he became acquainted with her, kind-hearted Reverend Ian McCormick became the hero of the story. That’s where the comparison stops since a man with his own past failures can’t compare with our perfect Jesus. But like the woman at the well Sophie Bidershem is marginalized because of the suspicions of other less gracious individuals in the town of Stone Creek and must find her forgiveness from Jesus. And so does Ian, before they can find their happily ever after. My desire is for my readers to relate to their real-life struggles and the hope they find in Christ.

It was fascinating to see how the Lord provided for me as I researched the plight of the unwed mother at the turn of the century. I discovered that the Florence Crittenton Mission home for such mothers existed in Detroit in 1901, so that became part of the story. I even found the name of the superintendent at the time, nurse Mary Hartwell. Isn’t that the perfect name for someone who is working with young women in need?

Stone Creek is a fictional town loosely based on historic Brighton, Michigan where I live. Before 1900 it was called Ore Creek. It’s fun to include little details like the millpond or the Pink Hotel, but for the most part the small town of Stone Creek is a figment of my imagination. I hope you’ll feel as much at home there as I do.

Interview with Kathleen

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Hi Gina, thank you for hosting me on your blog today.

When I was a small child and my mom read to me, I grew to love books. By the time I was four I wanted to be able to write stories—before I could even read.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I think I’m more productive when I use something like the Pomodoro method. Especially when I’m kind of stuck. I know I only have to write for twenty-five minutes and then I get a five-minute break. Then the empty page doesn’t seem so intimidating. I’m not sure if that’s a quirk or not, but it’s my different way of doing things sometimes.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

With Rumors and Promises the story was borne of my desire to write the story of the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well when Biblical fiction wasn’t popular, twenty-one years ago and I wrote the first draft of the story. So I decided to write a fictional story in a different historical era. Sophie is running from her past, when she was the victim of an assault which resulted in her daughter’s birth. My character feels she has no choice but to pretend that little Caira is her sister. And people are suspicious she’s more than that.

Secrets and Wishes and Scandals and Mercies, the second and third books in the Stone Creek Brides series came from my desire to share the stories of a couple of secondary characters in the first book. The themes like starting over, trusting God, and identity in Christ often come from the spiritual struggles in my own life.

Other stories have just been a spark in my mind or have come after prayer. I’m sure the Lord has been instrumental in my ideas.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I’m very involved with our local Community Bible Study as the Children and Youth Director. This year we’re studying Ruth, I & II Samuel, and Ephesians. Being part of it has been very grounding for me over the years.

I also like baking and making jewelry when I have the time. I enjoy walking or bike riding when it’s nice enough to go outside. And I especially like spending time with my hubby, Jack. He and I like to watch whodunnits together and figure out who the culprit is! Or you may find us walking around our town’s mill pond with a latte from a local coffee shop.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

I didn’t realize that Crittenton Hospital once in Detroit and since moved to the suburbs, had actually begun as a Florence Crittenton Mission home. There was a whole story behind how Charles Crittenton, who’d lost his daughter Florence when she was only four had a deep conversion experience afterward. This led to his vision for homes throughout the country taking in “lost and fallen” women, shelters for girls who were bearing children out of wedlock and for prostitutes. Here they would find hope and grace, be retrained in a skill and learn how to become good mothers.

Without giving too much away, Reverend Ian McCormick visits the rather new Florence Crittenton Mission in Detroit. He looks for a model for the creation of an unwed mothers’ home he’d like to build in Stone Creek.

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 23

lakesidelivingsite, October 24

Texas Book-aholic, October 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 27

Artistic Nobody, October 28 (Author Interview)

Mornings at Character cafe, October 28

For Him and My Family, October 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 30

Guild Master, October 31 (Author Interview)

Exploring the Written Word, October 31

Holly’s Book Corner, November 1

Pause for Tales, November 2

Cover Lover Book Review, November 3

Connie’s History Classroom, November 4

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, November 5 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2896c/rumors-and-promises-celebration-tour-giveaway