Blog Archives
Happy Mother’s Day and a big smile for my mom when I was 6 years old
I want to wish all the lovely mothers a wonderful day filled with love, joy, and smiles from your children. For a smile is a magic elixir that makes every day Mother’s Day.
And yes, that’s me with my mom – I was six years old. And did you see that smile on my face?
Magic.
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’
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sisters-at-war-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.
The Princess and the Magic Shamrock for #stpatricksday2024
The Princess and the Magic Shamrock for #stpatricksday2024
A princess who wants a job… and a prince.
So she runs away from the stuffy old castle and…
Check out my #stpatricksday dramatic video podcast!
For #InternationalWomensDay a special sisterhood I will never forget
I write about sisterhood during World War 2 in Paris (Sisters At War), but last weekend I found my own sisterhood at the UC Irvine Homecoming when I spent the day with women alumnae from my graduating class I’d never known when I attended the university.
Marianne, Kathy, and Nancy.
I’m shy by nature and these 3 alumnae picked me up like a lost kitten and showed me such kindess and friendship, I’m tearing up now at the lovely memory.
Thank you, ladies! You made the day special for me and I salute you on #internationalwomensday!
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’
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sisters-at-war-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.
Jina’s Time Machine for World Book Day and Read Your Way
For #WorldBookDay2024 I got into my time machine and found this photo of me ‘reading my way’ in the Italian Alps… I had no idea then my experience in Italy would inspire Sisters At War
2 sisters at war with the Nazis and each other
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’
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sisters-at-war-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.
How I lost my car at the UCI Homecoming Festival and my 1960s Memorabilia
I was so pleased when A Letter to the Editor I wrote was published in The New York Times.
I finally had the courage to speak out about sexual violence against women… against me.
My experiences inspired Sisters At War
#1 Best Seller in War Fiction US
#227 Amazon Kindle US
#25 Amazon Kindle Canada
#244 Amazon Kindle UK
#191 Amazon Kindle Australia
now 99 cents/99p
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’
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sisters-at-war-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’ hit #1 in War Fiction Amazon Kindle and thank you New York Times
I was so pleased when A Letter to the Editor I wrote was published in The New York Times.
I finally had the courage to speak out about sexual violence against women… against me.
My experiences inspired Sisters At War
#1 Best Seller in War Fiction US
#227 Amazon Kindle US
#25 Amazon Kindle Canada
#244 Amazon Kindle UK
#191 Amazon Kindle Australia
now 99 cents/99p
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’
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sisters-at-war-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.
I’m blown away to see SISTERS AT WAR hit #14 on the Amazon Australia Top 100 Best Sellers in Kindle Store and #1 Historical Fiction
UPDATED: SISTERS AT WAR hit #14 in Amazon Australia Top 100 Best Sellers in Kindle Store
#1 #historicalfiction
Story about 2 sisters and how sexual violence during wartime in Occupied Paris changes their lives AU https://amzn.asia/d/6fDfTJ9 Thank you!
I’m blown away to see SISTERS AT WAR is
#21
on the Amazon Australia Best Sellers in Kindle Store
A story about 2 sisters and how sexual violence during wartime changes their lives
AU https://amzn.asia/d/6fDfTJ9
Thank you to all my readers in Australia. You’re amazing!!
#womensfiction #historicalfiction #bestseller #Paris #worldwar2
SISTERS AT WAR is a Kindle Australia Goldbox pick
I’m excited to announce SISTERS AT WAR is a Kindle Australia Goldbox pick January 21 2024 in Literature and Fiction! A story about 2 sisters and how sexual violence during wartime (Occupied Paris WW2) changes their lives
This is Book One — I’m writing the sequel SISTERS OF THE RESISTANCE now… there was so much ground to cover with the Beaufort Sisters and the untold story of women becoming victims of rape and sexual assault during wartime, not just the physical pain, but the mental and shame women go through anytime sexual assault happens, there wasn’t room in one book to cover the whole story.
Thank you for listening…
Jina
AU https://amzn.asia/d/6fDfTJ9
Bold Book Club #womensfiction #historicalfiction
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’
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sisters-at-war-2
‘Sisters At War’ and writing the sequel ‘Sisters of the Resistance’ can be maddening… or why I bought a bunch of Starbucks coffee on sale
‘Sisters At War’ and writing the sequel ‘Sisters of the Resistance’ can be maddening… or why I bought a bunch of Starbucks coffee on sale
The Beaufort Sisters are at war with the Nazis… and each other
LINK below to read my latest Slice of Orange post:
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’
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sisters-at-war-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.
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.
————-
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.
Once upon a story... 