please read disclosures & policies
purchases via affiliate links offset the cost of this website. thank you!
Today’s featured author was an instant favorite of mine from the first novella I read! I appreciate the way she balances heavy moods and lighthearted humor in her stories and if you haven’t read on of her books… we’re going to change that!
About the Author
Carol Award winning writer, Melissa Jagears, is a homeschooling mom who writes Christian Historical Romance into the wee hours of the night.
She’s the author of the Unexpected Brides Series with Bethany House. The prequel ebook novella, Love by the Letter, is her ACFW Carol Award winning novella and free to try.
You can learn more about her, her books, and where she hangs out online on her website.
website | facebook | pinterest | goodreads
Five Favorites
Beth: His devotion definitely brings a little balance to the movie, softens the edges just a tiny bit!
Melissa: Favorite Social Media… Facebook, it doesn’t limit my words and requires no smart technology (I have none) and I love the connections I’ve made there. I don’t think I’ve picked up a real, honest-to-goodness friend through any other social media site.
Beth: Absolutely! Facebook is my virtual home away from home. Of course, I’m pretty cozy here too but sometimes I tend to monologue on the blog 😉 #bloggerprobs
Melissa: Favorite Art Movement… Pre-Raphaelitism! The details, the colors, the romance. I have huge prints of La Belle Dame Sans Merci (Dicksee), Meeting on the Turret Stairs (Burton) and The Accolade (Leighton) in my house and little ones elsewhere.
Beth: You’re obviously MUCH more cultured than I am. I was pretty thrilled when my daughter moved out of the sewing stage and into sketching… no more pins and needles in the carpets!
Beth: It’s been years since I’ve played but I have to agree, that game is a hoot!
Melissa: Favorite Store… Thrift Stores! Especially the really cheap ones!
Beth: YES! Kids grow too fast and I loathe spending money on myself! I do like shopping for books though!
Books
Tell us about your latest release
Melissa: My newest release is the second full-length novel in my Teaville Moral Society series and I think it has the biggest plot twist I’ve written so far. So shhhhhhhh!
Beth: No spoilers here, y’all!!!
Evelyn Wisely has a heart for the orphans of Teaville and works at a local mansion that rescues children out of the town’s red-light district and gives them a place to live. But her desire to help isn’t limited to orphans. The owner of the mansion, Nicholas Lowe, is willing to help her try to get the women working in prostitution out of the district as well–if she can gain the cooperation and support of local businessmen to go against the rest of the community.
David Kingsman has recently arrived in Teaville from Kansas City to help with one of his father’s companies in town. While he plans on staying only long enough to prove his business merit to his father, he’s shown interest in Evelyn’s work and is intrigued enough by her to lend his support to her cause.
They begin with the best of intentions, but soon the complications pile up and Evelyn and David’s dreams look more unattainable every day. When the revelation of a long-held secret creates a seemingly insurmountable rift between them, can they trust God still has a good plan for them despite all that is stacked against them?
review | goodreads | amazon | bookdepository | christianbook
Melissa: I’m editing a novella that comes in between this book and the next book that will be in a collection with Witemeyer, Connealy, and Jennings. And it’s a simultaneous novella, meaning it occurs at the same time as A Love So True. That’s certainly fun and different.
Beth: It’s so exciting to have those sweet little novellas in print and what a great combination of authors!
Deal Alert
Beth: I read this book two and a half years ago and still remember it fondly! Dex and Rachel have a very special place in my reader heart!
Thank you for visiting with us today, Melissa! I have my calendar marked for Teaville book 3 in March!!!
Giveaway
Melissa Jagears has generously offered to send one Faithfully Bookish reader a print copy of A Love So True!
US residents only
complete giveaway rules
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Say hello to Melissa then share one of YOUR favorites in one of her clever categories!
Favorite Romance that isn’t a Romance
Favorite Social Media
Favorite Art Movement
Favorite Board Game
Favorite Store
Faithfully Bookish 
I always so enjoy Melissa’s books and am looking forward to this series continuation……first book in series was hard to put down! I am not a big shopper but do find some good things for my husband at Kohl’s and I appreciate all their coupons and special offers…makes it fun to see how much you can save.
LikeLike
I appreciate a good deal!
LikeLike
My favourite board game would be Carcasonne – Hunters and Gatherers. My daughters and I love thrifting. It especially comes in handy for cosplay and drama costumes. 🙂
LikeLike
Aw, mother-daughter bonding ❤
LikeLike
Melissa, I had no idea that you are a fellow fan of Pre-Raphaelitism! I too have large framed prints of La Belle Dame Sans Merci, Meeting on the Turret Stairs, and The Accolade & Godspeed. I have a entire collection of images that I once used as backgrounds on my computer. I see those beautiful works of art, and stories pop into my head!
LikeLike
Sounds very fancy 🙂
LikeLike
Does poetry count as an art movement? If so, the Victorian poets, Tennyson in particular, would be my favorite. I agree with Melissa about Taboo. It’s a great game. Every time my family plays we end up laughing to tears.
LikeLike
😀
LikeLike
I have enjoyed this book and the first one. I’m now waiting for that 3rd book.
I guess you could say I really enjoy FB because I stay on it so much. Thanks for the giveaway. If I win this book I will either give it to a friend or my daughters because I have one.
LikeLike
Great idea! I love to give books!
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing Melissa!
Favorite social media, definitely Facebook also.
As for a favorite store, Kohl’s is the best!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Hey! Looking forward to reading this series! My favorite store is, hands-down, Half-Price Books!
Elly -Indiana-
LikeLike
Sounds like my kind of store!
LikeLike
Hey Melissa and Beth! Thank you for the fun interview!
My favorite board game is Sequence.
LikeLike
Hi Caryl! You’d have to teach me 🙂
LikeLike
My fav social media is Facebook , I’m on some great groups of Christian fiction. I love thrift shops, too. My son just found a Thomas Miller carriage mantle clock at Red Racks for about $30 and it’s worth about $ 1300.00. I have found Chico and Coldwater Creek , Christopher and Banks for $5 each! I love garage sales , too! Would love to read your book!
LikeLike
You are a serious bargain hunter! I am impressed!
LikeLike
I love thrift shops, too, especially the ones that sell mostly clothing and home decor.
Dianna
LikeLike
Yay for bargains!
LikeLike
I don’t think I’ve ever read one of your books but I can’t think of a better way to get started learning about an author!! Thanks for the chance to win this book.
LikeLike
YAY!
LikeLike
Hi, Melissa! Thanks for offering this giveaway.
My favorite store is Target. So many fun things in one store!
LikeLike
I used to shop at Target but they closed the store in our area.
LikeLike
Hi, Melissa! My favorite social media is facebook too. I have learned about so many new authors and their books. Thanks for this giveaway. I enjoyed reading your interview. I’m looking forward to reading your books!
LikeLike
Happy reading, Donna!
LikeLike
Hey Melissa! I can’t wait to read your new book! My favorite social media outlet is Instagram! My Instagram name is @lotsofbookstoread
LikeLike
Hey, Melissa! You’re a new author to me so I can’t to read your books! Two of my favorite family board games are Apples to Apples and Monopoly.
LikeLike
YAY! ????
LikeLike
JoyofReading, aren’t the great. I had to curb myself on the big prints, alas Godspeed is only a small one. ???? It’s just the best art movement ever.
LikeLike
Cathy, Kohl’s is a good one. It once was the only place that had monster feet slippers. Saved me with the 5 year old that year. ????
LikeLike
Arletta, thrifting is great for all kinds of fun hobbies. I used to get 80s prom dresses and size them down for dress up for the toddler, much more wear out of them than anything you can get in the kids’ dress up aisle new in box.
LikeLike
TheStoryEnthusiast, there are some great Victorian poets. Not sure I could pick a fav from that era, maybe EB Browning or Matthew Arnold??? So hard to decide.
LikeLike
Paula, I think my best thrift store find was a Henckel Knife for $1 ($60 retail). My husband is always bragging on me for finding that one. Oh, and a $150 art print from the Louvre for 24 cents…no wait, that was a garage sale. ????
LikeLike
Judith, hope you get your hands on some. Free one’s always there of course. ????
LikeLike
Chanel, I have yet to play Apples to Apples, I think I’m maybe the only one. Need to fix that some day.
LikeLike
Emilee, I have no smart gadget for Instagram, maybe one day I’ll get out of the cave and join in, but likely not until some new social media becomes popular! I sneak peeks at people’s feeds occasionally though!
LikeLike
Hey Melissa, I think Facebook is my favorite social media as well. I love Instagram though too because I love photos and it has helped me connect with people I never would have connected with on Facebook.
LikeLike
What a fun author spotlight, Beth and Melissa! Facebook is my favorite social media. I’ve “met” so many amazing people. Thrift stores are so much fun, because you never know what you’ll find. We have one in my town called Somebody’s Attic, and the prices are great.
LikeLike
Hello Melissa! One of my favorite boardgames is Monopoly! 😀
LikeLike
Hi Melissa, you are a new author to me. “A Love So True” sounds like an awesome read and I’m looking forward to reading the book. “Hearts Entwined” also sounds like a great read.
LikeLike
Hello to Melissa, I loved A Heart Most True! I think a game I have always loved is Yahtzee or triple Yahtzee. We grew up playing it. My kids enjoy Life though, so we play that a lot. They prefer the newer version though.
LikeLike
A Heart Most Certain. Ugh, forgive me for mixing up the two titles!
LikeLike
Melissa is a new author to me. Thanks for the interview and my favorite board game is Scrabble.
LikeLike
Oh this book looks so good!! I have to agree that FB is my favorite social media outlet since I have zero technology skill and I love the friendships that I’ve made!!
LikeLike
I am looking forward to reading this book. I really enjoy Melissa’s books. I love to play scrabble and my favorite social media outlet is facebook. I love the friendships I have made and learning about new books from my favorite authors.
LikeLike
I’ve heard great things about this book. Looking forward to reading it.
LikeLike