Category Archives: historical
The Last Christmas before the TITANIC sailed… through the eyes of several passengers
With the sailing of the Titanic in THE RUNAWAY GIRL upon us, I’ve been wondering what Christmas 1911 was like for my heroine, AVA O’REILLY, and the other Irish emigrants and passengers who would later board the Titanic in April 1912.
I remember a story I read in an Irish newspaper about a letter to Santa written in 1911 by children who hid their wish list in a chimney.
When it was discovered many years later, it was barely touched by time.
As if nothing could douse the hopes and dreams of children adrift on their magical adventure of writing to the man in the North Pole.
Most likely the passengers who booked passage on the Titanic were just as excited about the ship’s upcoming maiden voyage.
It was an unusually cold winter in 1911. What was it like on that Christmas Day?
Did Irish widow Margaret Rice knit extra mittens for her five boys?
I wonder if Father Browne – then a theology student – received his new camera on that Christmas morning?
Imagine the joy in the heart of young Swede Dagmar Bryhl when her handsome fiancé presented her with a lovely watch.
Or the Irish holiday feast of turkey and ham and mince pie enjoyed by Nora Keane when she returned to Limerick to visit her mother.
When they raised their voices in O Holy Night on that Christmas Eve, they had no idea what part they would play on the ship of dreams when they set sail on the Titanic.
Father Browne sailed on the Titanic for two days and got off the ship at Queenstown on April 11, 1912. A wealthy first class couple offered to pay his passage to New York, but his uncle, the Bishop of Cloyne, ordered him off the ship. The future Jesuit priest took the last pictures of the Titanic and her passengers.
Margaret Rice was a steerage passenger. She and her five sons never made it to a lifeboat and perished in the tragedy. A surviving photo of her and her boys was taken before she left and has only recently resurfaced.
Dagmar Bryhl was traveling to visit an uncle in America in second class. She survived, but her brother and fiancé both perished. She was wearing the watch her beloved gave her on a chain around her neck when she boarded the ship.
Nora Keane decided to stay longer in Ireland than planned, but she had trepidations about traveling on Titanic’s maiden voyage. Her brother convinced her to book passage as a second class passenger. She survived the sinking, thanks to a ship’s officer who banged on their door and ordered her and Edwinna Troutt up on top. Nora was shocked when four hundred people showed up at the train station in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to welcome her home.
These are a few Titanic stories from that Christmas of 1911.
As Ava O’Reilly would say, ‘May the hand of an angel be upon your shoulder to guide you in your dreams.’
And Ava? She was working hard in a grand manor house in service with her sister, Mary Dolores, but dreaming of going to America. She has no idea that her love of books and a diamond bracelet will set her on that course in a way she never imagined… and she’d meet a most dashing gentleman lord gambler who steals her heart in THE RUNAWAY GIRL…
You can listen to THE RUNAWAY GIRL on Spotify! All you need is a Free account.
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Two women hold the keys to his heart. Only one will survive that fateful night…
When Ava O’Reilly is wrongly accused of stealing from her employer, she has no option but to flee Ireland. The law is after her, and she has only one chance at escape – the Titanic.
Aboard the ship of dreams, she runs straight into the arms of Captain ‘Buck’ Blackthorn, a dashing gentleman gambler who promises to be her protector. He is intrigued by her Irish beauty and manages to disguise her as the maid of his good friend, the lovely Countess of Marbury. Little does he realise, that the Countess is also in love with him.
As the fateful night approaches, tragedy strikes further when Ava is separated from Buck, and must make a daring choice that will change her life forever…
A sweeping, emotional historical romance set aboard the Titanic, perfect for fans of Gill Paul and Suzanne Goldring.
This is a revised and fully updated edition of a novel previously published as Titanic Rhapsody.
What readers are saying about The Runaway Girl:
‘A fantastic Titanic take woven in with a great portrayal of love, friendship, and even forgiveness. I would have rather seen this as a movie than the Jack and Rose story!!!’
‘Oh how I adored this story… From start to finish I was enchanted with the story and the characters and all the finer details describing the ship, clothes and scenery.”
‘A breathtaking romance that is sure to stay with you long after reading’
‘Perfect for historical fiction and romance fans.’
‘A mesmerizing romance that is sure to sweep you off your feet and take you away to another place, another time.’
‘A fabulous book you won’t want to miss’
THE RUNAWAY GIRL
US:
Kobo.
Let’s not forget December 7, 1941… a special letter from an Army nurse named Kitty to her sister on that fateful morning
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Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
December 7, 1941
7:30 a.m.
Dear Peggy,
I’m bustin’ with news to tell you, little sister. I only have a few minutes before my shift at the hospital starts, 
so bear with me.
I don’t know where to begin. It all happened so fast. I met Jimmy at the Officers’ Club when I first got here last summer and the handsome Army Air Force lieutenant asked me to dance. The band was playing Moonlight Serenade and before I knew it he had his arms around me, holding me so tight I couldn’t breathe.
Then he kissed me. Oh, it was so romantic. The warm night breeze blowing in off the ocean, the smell of pink hibiscus making me wild with desire, his hand reaching under my long evening gown and sliding up my thigh. Then he picked me up in his arms and carried me down to the beach and we…
7:45 a.
m. Sorry, I got called away by the nurse-in-charge. She was worried about a patient wheezing and coughing. She thought it might be pneumonia. Just a couple of nurses on duty this morning, so she asked me to help her with paperwork.
It’s part of the job, but I’m itchin’ to use my nursing skills… I haven’t had much chance to do since I’ve been here. Still, Pearl is the best duty an Army nurse could wish for. We get a few pilots scraped up after a rough landing or with a bad hangover, but it’s mostly sunny days and balmy nights.
I bet you and Mom were all bundled up when you did this year’s Christmas shopping at Wanam
aker’s. I love walking down Market Street with all the holiday decorations. The soft, white snow landing on top of the pretzel man’s cart. The hot cocoa with Mom’s fresh whipped cream.
I miss you and the family so much, but don’t worry about me, I’m having the best time of my life. I’ve nearly worn out the soles on my new high-heeled pumps dancing every night with Jimmy. Here’s my news, he…
7:55 a.m.
Something’s happening, Peggy, something awful.
Sirens going off, a loud explosion, and everyone’s scrambling. I’ll write more later. I’ve got to get back to my patients. They’re jumping out of bed and yelling for their pants.
We’re under attack . . . oh, God, what’s happening?
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11:30 p.m.
It’s over. For now. A mad, insane day that I shall never forget . . . But my job is just beginning. I wish I could call you on the telephone and hear your voice, tell you that I’m okay, but that’s impossible, so I’ll write everything do
wn as fast as I can. Here’s what happened earlier today on December 7, 1941.
The second wave of the surprise attack lasted until nearly 10 a.m.
I haven’t stopped since then and I’d still be racing from one patient to the next if the nurse-in-charge hadn’t insisted I get some rest. First, I’ll give you detailed account before I grab a few minutes of sleep, then go back on duty. My thoughts are scattered, so bear with me.
By the time you read this, you’ll know the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on a quiet Sunday morning at 7:55 a.m. I was recording a patient’s vitals when a soldier with a broken leg asked me to help him stand up. Sweat beaded on his forehead and he looked real nervous. Said he heard something that didn’t sound right. Planes flying overhead that weren’t ours. I thought he was joking, then I looked out the big, square hospital window—
Oh, my God, Peggy, I don’t know how to describe what I saw. Planes roaring overhead with red suns emblazoned on them. Loud, ear-splitting explosions. Black plumes of smoke swirling into the sky like a death flower.
It was maddening. Fear choked my throat. My body went numb. Hot tears spilled onto my cheeks. I wiped them away with defiance. Nurses don’t cry.
I let go with a long shudder. I don’t know what came over me. Fear, I guess.
Duty came first.
This was what I’d spent years studying for, watching, observing, the sleepless nights working in the emergency room in the big Philadelphia hospital. It all came together for me in that moment. Thank God. Within minutes, the wounded came pouring in. Carried in on anything sturdy enough to hold them. The sound of antiaircraft fire ringing in our ears, bombs exploding outside and shaking the walls.
I don’t want to shock you, but you and those at home must know what we’re up against in this war. The pain, the horror. Men missing limbs. Bloodied wounds. Ugly burns with exposed flesh. Others in shock.
We had no electricity, no elevators to transport the wounded to surgery. Not enough nurses. Supplies running out fast. But we did it. We saved as many lives as we could and prayed for those we couldn’t. I went from one patient to the next, never stopping until—
I saw him. My lieutenant. Carrying a wounded soldier on his back, blood splattered all over his uniform. ‘Jimmy, Jimmy!’ I yelled out, trying to get his attention.
‘Kitty . . . ‘
He looked so relieved to see me it made me tear up. I could see in his eyes he wanted to hold me close to him, never let me go. I wanted to feel his warmth, smell his woodsy, masculine scent. Prove to myself he was here, alive.
My patient came first. After I stabilized the wounded man, Jimmy held me in his arms and pulled off my nurse’s cap, and then ran his fingers through my hair.
‘Thank God, you’re okay, Kitty,’ he said, his lips brushing my cheek. He told me we lost several battleships and more than a hundred planes, but that wasn’t going to stop him. He was going to get into the air no matter what he had to do. Drive all over the island until he found a P36 gassed up and ready to go.
He cupped my chin and said, ‘I’ll be seeing you, babe.’
I smiled up at him. ‘I’ll be waiting.’ Then he left. I blew him a kiss. I knew what he was thinking. He had his job and I had mine. Whatever words and soft kisses
we’d exchanged under the swaying palms would have to wait.
We were at war.
And God willing, we’d be together again soon.
Nothing will erase what happened here on this Sunday morning at Pearl Harbor, the sun bright yellow and hot. Then the sky became dark with enemy planes set on destroying us and our way of life.
My heart is so heavy with the pain of what I saw today. The suffering and the dying. It’s my job and the job of every serviceman and woman to stop them before they reach our home shores.
You have a job, too, Peggy. Take care of Mom and Dad, and tell them not to worry about me.
I know everyone will do whatever they can so our fighting men can return home safe.
I can’t wait until I see you all again. When this horrible mess is over, we’ll sit under the old apple tree and eat bonbons and I’ll show you the prettiest engagement 
ring you ever saw.
Yes, that’s my surprise. Jimmy asked me to marry him.
Till then, little sister, pray for me. And our boys fighting what some say will be a long, hard battle.
But we’ll win. We have to.
For the sake of free men and women everywhere.
Love, your big sister,
Kitty
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I hope you enjoyed reliving the events of December 7, 1941 through Kitty’s eyes. She came to me in an instant when I wanted to write a tribute to the brave m en and women at Pearl Harbor and told her story to me. I couldn’t type fast enough…
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SISTERS AT WAR— 2 sisters at war with the Nazis and each other.
- A word of caution: a story about sexual violence against women in Wartime Paris.
What was life like on the home front during WW2? Find out in HER LOST LOVE
Paris was occupied in 1941 — meet French cinema star Sylvie Martone in THE RESISTANCE GIRL and find out how she fought the Nazis.
And meet parfumier Angéline de Cadieux who joined the Resistance in THE LOST GIRL IN PARIS
And brand new THE ORPHANS OF BERLIN — Philly debutante sets out to save the three Jewish Landau Sisters in Berlin from the Nazi regime.
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SISTERS AT WAR
The Beaufort Sisters are at war with the Nazis… and each other
‘A must read for anyone’
‘Hard hitting and heart breaking’
‘An absolutely gripping, powerful story’
THE ORPHANS OF BERLIN
I’ve been holding my breath for this moment… a long road… years in the making in a very personal way that made me cry as I write this.
Meet the Landau Sisters barely surviving in Nazi Germany… and Kay Alexander, the amazing debutante from Philadelphia who will stop at nothing to save them from the Nazis in 1939 Berlin…
And of course, there’s a British pilot hero to die for…
—————
THE LOST GIRL IN PARIS 
‘I will never forget what the Nazi did to me. Never‘
1940, Nazi-occupied Paris. A powerful story of love, tragedy and incredible courage, about one woman whose life is ripped apart by war and risks everything to seek justice. Brand new from the bestselling author of The Resistance Girl.
As Nazis patrol the streets of the French capital, Tiena is alone, desperate and on the run. After defending herself against the force of an officer, she must find a new identity in order to survive.
An accidental meeting with members of the Resistance gives her a lifeline, as she is offered the chance to reinvent herself as perfumer Angéline De Cadieux.
However Angéline will never forget what happened to her, and will do everything she can to seek revenge. But vengeance can be a dangerous game, and Angeline can only hide her true identity for so long before her past catches up with her, with some devastating consequences…
Paris, 2003. When the opportunity arises for aspiring journalist Emma Keane to interview world renowned perfumer Madame De Cadieux about her life during World War Two, she is determined to take it. There are secrets from her own family history that she hopes Angéline may be able to help unlock.
But nothing can prepare Emma for Angéline’s story, and one thing is for certain – it will change her own life forever…
UK https://amzn.to/3j7eU6S
US https://amzn.to/3aD9Jae
CA https://amzn.to/3IbaVRZ
AU https://amzn.to/3xtrF1A
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HER LOST LOVE:
Enjoy a trip back to Posey Creek, PA during WW 2 on the home front as Kate Arden prepares for the holidays… until her world comes crashing down when her fiancé ships overseas in ‘Her Lost Love’.
Available at e-tailers everywhere… print and audio book, too.
Find out more in HER LOST LOVE E-book links:
US Amazon https://amzn.to/2pcz2eN
UK Amazon https://amzn.to/31rF4pZ
Follow me on BookBub for new releases and promo deals!
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jina-bacarr
Time travel back to Christmas 1943 on the home front with my holiday Women’s Fiction novel HER LOST LOVE
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On a cold December day in 1955, Kate Arden got on a train to go home for Christmas. This is the story of what happened when she got off that train. In 1943. In 1943 Kate Arden was engaged to the man she loved, Jeffrey Rushbrooke. She was devastated and heartbroken when he was called up for wartime duty and later killed on a secret mission in France.
But what if Kate could change that? What if she could warn him and save his life before Christmas? Or will fate have a bigger surprise in store for her?
Her Lost Love is a sweeping, heartbreakingly romantic novel – it’s one woman’s chance to follow a different path and mend her broken heart…
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HER LOST LOVE
Thank you for stopping by! If you like WW 2 romance, check out my holiday novella that takes place in Italy on the road to Rome on Christmas Eve during the cold winter of 1943: “A Soldier’s Italian Christmas.”
December 1943 Italy
He is a US Army captain, a battle-weary soldier who has lost his faith.
She is a nun, her life dedicated to God.
Together they are going to commit an act the civilized world will not tolerate.
They are about to fall in love.
Winner in the Novella Category in the I Heart Indie contest A Soldier’s Italian Christmas is available on Kindle ~Jina
Also, my Civil War medical drama: LOVE ME FOREVER is available on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited
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If you love Civil War romance and time travel and TWO hunky military heroes, check out my Kindle Scout winner: LOVE ME FOREVER
She wore gray.
He wore blue.
But their love defied the boundaries of war. And time.
===========================
My latest World War 2 story:
Two women. One heartbreaking secret.
Paris, 1943.
Sylvie Martone is the star of French cinema and adored by fans. But as Nazi officers swarm the streets of Paris, she is spotted arm in arm with an SS officer, and her fellow Parisians begin to turn against her.
However Sylvie has a secret – one she must protect with her life.
Paris, 2020.
Juliana Chastain doesn’t know anything about her family history. While her mother was alive, she remained very secretive about her past.
So when Juliana discovers a photograph of a glamorous French actress from World War Two amongst her mother’s possessions, she is in shock to find herself looking at her grandmother – especially as she is arm in arm with a Nazi officer….
Desperate for answers, Juliana is determined to trace the journey of her grandmother. Surely there is more to the photograph than meets the eye?
But as she delves into Sylvie’s past, nothing can prepare Juliana for the tales of secrets, betrayal and sacrifice which she will uncover.
BONUS:
Listen to THE RESISTANCE GIRL and my Titanic love story THE RUNAWAY GIRL on Spotify!
Green Libraries Week and how I made it my own with a memory of my childhood
It’s #GreenLibrariesWeek and I’ve reposted my fellow Boldwood Books authors out and about in the UK.
Makes me ‘green’ with envy since my Boldwood Books aren’t available in US libraries.
Alas, I made my own library here at home, including a very old (overdue?) green library book from my childhood and the cutest, porcelain little girl who could be the heroine in my #newrelease #SistersAtWar when she was little.
I couldn’t believe the resemblance between the two. What do you think?
Sisters At War:
Bold Book Club
#historicalfiction #womensfiction
The Sisters At War journey continues…
My blog tour for #SistersAtWar has come to an end!
I have so enjoyed reading all your fab reviews, your thoughts, your concerns.
The story of the Beaufort Sisters is so intense that one book isn’t enough to tell it all, so I’m working on SISTERS OF THE RESISTANCE book 2
Who are the Beaufort Sisters?
They’re beautiful
They’re smart
They’re dangerous
They’re at war with the Nazis… and each other.
Sisters At War buy link: https://t.co/bYrynTvs80
Why I cried into my cup of java all afternoon… and yes, it has to do with my ‘it pubs in two hours’ new release SISTERS AT WAR
What time is it? Time to begin the countdown!
My new Paris WW2 novel Sisters At War pubs in a few hours.
So what does a writer do while waiting?
Read the early reviews… and pray!
Oh, my…
I cried in my coffee cup all afternoon because they’re so amazing!!
5 & 4 stars reviews
Thank you so much to everyone who came along on my journey to tell a story not often discussed: wartime sexual violence. I’m very grateful to each of you.
My blog tour starts Monday, Sep 25th — link coming up!!
Buy link for SISTERS AT WAR: https://t.co/bYrynTvs80
At last: Sisters At War pubs Monday Sept 25th
Out on Monday!
Waiting in the wings for pub day…
Butterflies dancing in my stomach… nerves
Because the subject matter in my story comes from a real place in my life. Sexual assault. What will readers say? Will they come along on the journey?
Should I have kept my secret like I have for such a long time?
I don’t know…
Hence the butterflies.
Come back with me to Paris WW2. Sisters At War is the next book in a series of books I’ve written about that era. I so hope you enjoy it!
#NetGalley reviews:
‘A must read for anyone’
‘Hard hitting and heart breaking’
‘An absolutely gripping, powerful story’
Pre-order: https://t.co/bYrynTvs80
Where is your favorite place to read? Mine is…
… on a park bench in PARIS.
I shall always remember my student days shopping for books in Paris then reading them on a park bench. Quiet moments when I reflected on where my life was going. I loved Paris and its perfume that lingered from the past.
I got a whiff of that perfume and I never looked back…
For #BuyABookDay I’m proud to present my WW2 & Titanic novels to you.
Thank you to my readers for your amazing reviews & support
Bold Book Club
#SistersAtWar pre-order
It’s my first 5 star review for Sisters at War and it’s lovely
I’m still glowing over this 5* review on #NetGalley for #SistersAtWar
I feel like a kid with an orange cream popsicle on a hot day!
(#boldwoodbooks orange, of course).
Jen C says, ‘Wow what a book! From the very first page I was totally hooked… An absolutely gripping, powerful story that I won’t forget anytime soon.’
If you’re a book blogger/reviewer and you’d like to request an ARC, go to NetGalley: http://netgal.ly/gSCTrL
Pre-order: https://t.co/bYrynTvs80
A Soldier’s Letter to his Sweetheart during WW2 for #WorldLetterWritingDay
You’ll feel every word this soldier wrote to his sweetheart on Dec 25 1943 before shipping overseas to fight in Italy
This is the #letter that inspired ‘Her Lost Love’
US https://lnkd.in/gnDxRZy
UK https://lnkd.in/g_uxs8w
#loveletter BoldwoodBooks
My Paris WW2 story #SistersAtWar is on #NetGalley
Now on #NetGalley
#SistersAtWar
The Beaufort Sisters are at war with the Nazis… and each other
US https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/300594
UK https://www.netgalley.co.uk/catalog/book/300594
The hardest book I’ve ever written…
Bold Book Club
PS if you like the cover please give it a ‘thumbs up’
Thank you!
Once upon a story... 