Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Thomas Sisters by Kathryn Spurgeon

About the Book

Book: The Thomas Sisters

Author: Kathryn Spurgeon

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release date: August 29, 2024

Five tightknit sisters. Five interwoven stories. One book.

Based on the true lives of closely connected sisters.

As the harsh winds of the 1930s Dust Bowl strip the Oklahoma ground of its fertile soil, and the Great Depression becomes imminent, the Thomas sisters struggle to hold onto their families, their faith, and one another. To survive their storms, they must let go of their secrets and grief and trust in the strength of sisterhood. Based on true stories.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Kathryn Spurgeon, an Illumination Award-winning author, publishes inspirational, historical novels based on true events. Her novels include the Promise Series, and the Thomas Sister Series, both set in the 1930s in Oklahoma. She also writes and publishes devotionals, nonfiction, and poetry. A native Oklahoman, as a married teenager, Kathryn spent two years in South Korea where she adopted two babies. She and her husband have six children and eighteen muti-racial grandchildren.

 

 

 

More from Kathryn

Old Fashioned Dark Fruit Cake

1 cup sugar

1 cup shortening

1 egg

1 3/4 cups flour

1 pkg mincemeat

2/3 cup molasses

1 cup cold coffee

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup pecans

1 1/2 cups raisins

Mix sugar, shortening, and egg until fluffy. Add flour, mincemeat, and molasses. Add soda to the cold coffee, then add to mix. Add vanilla, pecans, and raisins. (Instead of raisins, or also, I use candied cherries, candied pineapple and dates cut up.) Cook 300 degrees for two hours in an angel food cake pan. Put a cookie sheet under the pan. Cook on bottom rack.

Aunt Til loved to make fruitcake. The recipe has been in the family for over 120 years.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 1

Vicky Sluiter, February 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 2

Texas Book-aholic, February 3

For Him and My Family, February 3

lakesidelivingsite, February 4

Lots of Helpers, February 5

Pens Pages & Pulses, February 6

Holly’s Book Corner, February 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 7

She Lives To Read, February 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 9

Pause for Tales, February 10

Leslie’s Library Escape, February 10

Cover Lover Book Review, February 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 12

Stories By Gina, February 13 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled , February 13

Batya’s Bits, February 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathryn is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

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

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54147/

My Review

The Thomas Sisters: A Family Drama is a collection of interwoven stories from Kathryn Spurgeon. These stories tell about five sisters which include: Mary Bobbie, Sally Matilda, Susie May, Jennie Rue, and Annie Crump. I loved meeting each one and keeping to know them. I thought they were inspirational and relatable. I could not pick which one of them I would choose as a favorite. I thought this was a great book to read and a great way to spend on the cold, snowy days.

Five stars is what I am giving The Thomas Sisters: A Family Drama. I recommend it for fans of clean historical fiction. As always, I look forward to reading more inspiring tales from author, Kathryn Spurgeon.

I received a paperback copy of Kathryn Spurgeon's The Thomas Sisters: A Family Drama from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: A Promise of Home: A WW2 Family Saga by Kathryn Spurgeon

About the Book

Book: A Promise of Home: A WW2 Family Saga

Author: Kathryn Spurgeon

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: November 21, 2022

What did WW11 look like for those who remained in the U.S? As the war heats up, hundreds of young men from Fremont’s hometown of Shawnee, Oklahoma, enlist, or get drafted. Word filters in about the wounded, the missing in action, and those who have died overseas.

Fremont Pope has not been drafted, but to do his part, he finds a job at an ammunition plant in Colorado Springs. His wife, Sibyl, hopes to teach women at a new church. They’re glad to get away from their cantankerous family, and then their family follows them to Colorado!

When the plant begins to close down, Fremont’s boss offers an amazing promotion back east. Their other choice is to move to New Mexico for mission work. Which will it be? Plunge ahead to a lucrative corporate job or help a small new church grow?

Ultimately, they yearn to go home, but where is home? Are they willing to give up their dreams and begin again?

As the couple stays in touch with people in their hometown, they learn of numerous war-time tragedies. Their return to Shawnee coincides with soldiers returning home. Based on a true story, footnotes and author’s notes are included.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Kathryn Spurgeon, an inspirational biographical writer. She’s won many awards including an Illumination Book Award. Publishing over a hundred stories, articles, and poems, she’s also published four novels. She grew up on an Oklahoma farm before moving to South Korea, where she adopted two children. She and her husband, Bill, now live in Oklahoma and have six children and fourteen beautiful grandchildren.

 

More from Kathryn

Researching the 1930s and 40s was almost more fun than writing the book!

Some reviewers’ remarks about this series:

“I could have learned a lot more in history class if we would have had stories like these.”

“Wow, reading this was like being there as it was happening. Cannot wait for more books by Ms. Spurgeon.”

Blog Stops

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, August 11 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 11

Texas Book-aholic, August 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 13

She Lives to Read, August 14

Life on Chickadee Lane, August 14

Cover Lover Book Review, August 15

lakesidelivingsite, August 16

Connie’s History Classroom, August 17

Betti Mace, August 18

The Book Club Network, August 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 21

For Him and my Family, August 22

Pause for Tales, August 23

Lights in a Dark World, August 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathryn is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a copy of the book!!

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/27166/a-promise-of-home-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

A Promise of Home: A WW2 Family Saga is the fourth installment from Kathryn Spurgeon’s The Promise series. I have loved the previous three books from this series and this one does not disappoint. Even though it is part of a series, it can still be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed the story of love, faith, and hope. I was intrigued from page one and my attention was held until the very end. I thought it was great.

A Promise of Home: A WW2 Family Saga will be a getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers and fans of historical fiction, especially World War II era, and based on a true story. 

I received a copy of A Promise of Home: A WW2 Family Saga from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Fremont's Promise by Kathryn Spurgeon

About the Book

Book:  Fremont’s Promise

Author: Kathryn Spurgeon

Genre: Historical

Release date: March 16, 2021

Every time Sibyl visits her mother, she’s criticized, shamed, and leaves in tears. The only thing that can calm her is Fremont’s assurance to move them to a place they can share their faith more freely. While her emotions bounce from frustration to despair, she holds on to the belief that God can help her family.

Fremont, a former hobo, promises to find  a better paying job and spirit his wife away from this unstable family. But only God can work that miracle.

If you love family sagas and drama based on true stories, you will love this book. The 1930s and 40s were a time of difficulty but hope carried them through.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kathryn Spurgeon writes FAITH STORIES FROM THE PAST or Christian historical novels with a focus on 1930s America using true events and actual locations. Award winning author, she won Illumination Award, She studied creative writing at the University of Central Oklahoma and has spoken at many women’s conferences around the world. She grew up on a farm in Oklahoma before moving to South Korea and adopting two daughters. Kathryn and her husband, Bill, have six children and thirteen grandchildren.

More from Kathryn

The tumultuous times of the 1930s and 40s are amazingly similar to the difficulties we face today. Read how God guided this prominent family toward greater strength and dependence on him. Based on a true story, this compelling novel is taken from handwritten biographies, personal interviews, and family research.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 9

lakesidelivingsite, August 10

Reviewingbooksplusmore, August 10

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 11

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 12

Connie’s History Classroom, August 13

Lighthouse Academy, August 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 14

Inklings and notions, August 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 16

Texas Book-aholic, August 17

Life of Literature, August 17

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 18

For Him and My Family, August 19

deb’s Book Review, August 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 21

Pause for Tales, August 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathryn is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a copy of the book!!

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/11209/fremont-s-promise-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

Fremont's Promise is the third installment from Kathryn Spurgeon’s The Promise series. I enjoyed the first two books, A Promise to Break and A Promise Child, and this one is by far my favorite of the series. I adored Sibyl right from the start and felt an instant connection to her. I admired her faith and had to find out how it would end for her. I loved it!

Fremont's Promise will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean and inspiring historical fiction based on true events. I will be looking for more by Kathryn Spurgeon in the future. This series should not be missed.

I received a paperback copy of Fremont's Promise from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Blog Tour: A Promise Child by Kathryn Spurgeon

About the Book

Book:  A Promise Child
Author: Kathryn Spurgeon
Genre: Inspirational historic fiction
Release Date: September 10, 2017

She can’t survive the ‘30s alone…

Sibyl Trimble does everything she can to keep her family together. Before falling in love with a handsome, penniless hobo, she lived a life of new cars, speakeasies dances, and fancy cloche hats. 

Then the Great Depression hits Oklahoma. The wind blows topsoil away, hundreds of jobless men hang around town, and the economy falls apart. Even Fremont, her strong, stable husband, grows discouraged and considers leaving as they struggle to put food on the table.

When disaster strikes again, will Sibyl and Fremont move on to California or try to survive in Oklahoma? Neither option sounds promising.



Click here to get your copy  

About the Author

Kathryn Spurgeon, an award-winning author and recipient of a 2018 Illumination Book Award, has published over a hundred stories, articles, and poems. She grew up on an Oklahoma farm before moving to South Korea, where she adopted two children. She and her husband, Bill, hold weekly studies in their home for international college students. They have six children and twelve grandchildren.  

More from Kathryn

Researching and writing about the 1930s has been a blast, and although it was the economically worst decade of the last century, faith, love, and life went on. It has been fun to glimpse into that historical time and find amazing and uplifting stories. Sibyl Trimble, my grandmother and the ever up-and-down, emotional but brilliant lady, did her best to create a great family environment. Seeking God, she also studied, taught, and shared about Christ in the midst of heartaches. Based on a true story, I hope this tale will inspire, uplift, and bring a touch of nostalgia to your day. The strength and courage Sibyl revealed can encourage us all and I am honored to share her tale with you.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, January 16

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, January 16

For Him and My Family, January 17

Reflections From My Bookshelves, January 18

Inklings and notions, January 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 19

A Reader's Brain, January 20

Christian Bookaholic, January 21

Betti Mace, January 22

For The Love of Books, January 22

Life of Literature, January 23

deb's Book Review, January 23

Older & Smarter?, January 24

For the Love of Literature, January 25

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, January 26

Bigreadersite, January 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 28

Emily Yager, January 28

Pause for Tales, January 29

Review: 

A Promise Child is an inspiring story. It is the second installment from Kathryn Spurgeon’s series, The Promise. I read the first book, A Promise to Break, and loved it. This one does not disappoint. I adored Sibyl from the start. I felt like I had a connection to her. It was interesting to find out that this story was based on true events. I admired Sibyl’s strength, courage and bravery. She had to learn how to cope through some difficult times in her life. Such an inspiration. 

I am giving A Promise Child five plus stars. I would love for this series to have a third addition to it. I love how Kathryn Spurgeon uses her talent to bring faith filled and wonderful stories to life. I can not wait to find out where her imagination will take her readers to next. She has earned herself a new fan here. 

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: A Promise to Break by Kathryn Spurgeon

 About the Book

Book: A Promise to Break
Author: Kathryn Spurgeon
Genre: Christian Historical
Release Date: July 11, 2016

SIBYL TRIMBLE, the daughter of a wealthy banking family during the Great Depression in Shawnee, Oklahoma, promises her father to be part of a political movement to change the world. By 1932, the timing to fulfill that promise seems right. Her life consists of fashionable clothes, cruising in a Model T, and dancing every weekend at the local speakeasy.

FREMONT POPE is a handsome, blue-eyed, down-on-his-luck hobo, and Sibyl’s life turns

upside down when she meets him. Her love for him and his Christian family opens her eyes to a different way of life than she has ever known.

Based on a true story, this historical novel follows Sibyl through some difficult choices. She must dig deep within herself to find strength to face her father and determine which, if any, of her past beliefs can be salvaged. What is more important, love or duty?

Click here to get your copy.  

About the Author

A Christian writer, Biblical counselor, teacher and speaker who offers insight, the author loves connecting to people individually and through retreats and conferences. Kathryn’s mission is to teach that the passion of godly love knows no boundaries. Whether with prisoners, international students or those needing assistance, her platform strategy is the concept of personal, intimate encounters with Jesus. Her historical novel, “Up Town,” shows the importance of spiritual encounters with Jesus—small encounters that lead to a more mature spiritual life. Kathryn’s Biblical counseling and teaching background lends itself to this message. She lived in South Korea for two years in her early twenties, spent time in an orphanage and adopted two Korean babies. A single mom for 18 years, she went from welfare to owner and CEO of a multimillion dollar corporation, Integrity Healthy Care. Her company took care of the medical needs of over 4,000 prisoners and during that time she counseled over 200 women. Kathryn and her husband, Bill, hold Bible studies for international students attending the University of Central Oklahoma. They have had many different students live in their home and try to help students in all areas of their lives. Kathryn is on the Mission Team at her home church, Henderson Hills Baptist Church, in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she has been a member for over 13 years. While attending her prior church, Country Estates Baptist Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma, she was on the Finance and Long Range Planning Committees, and taught DivorceCare and Financial classes. She is a Crown Money Map coach. Bill and Kathryn have six children and nine grandchildren at the last count, including some adopted. Their family is internationally diverse. God’s love is enormous and includes all of us. 

More from Kathryn

Nostalgic book Have you ever wished to go back in time and question a relative who is no longer around? Ask what motivated her, discuss her greatest heartaches and how she overcame them, analyze her spiritual journey? My grandmother’s life was full of upheavals and I wish I could have spent more time with her and studied her thought-processes. My mother did spend more time with her. With a clear mind of that time, Mom (and many others) enthusiastically shared memories and discussed the lessons the once wealthy Sibyl Trimble may have gathered in life. What a trip it has been! Autobiographies. Publications. Notes in attic boxes containing information about secret love affairs and heart-breaking losses told with spiritual honesty. The more information I uncovered, the more I wanted to get to know Sibyl Trimble, the person. I wanted to know how God worked in her life. I wanted to write her story. The nostalgic era of the 1930s came alive to me as I travelled to places of lively, boogie-woogie music, old handwritten documents, and tombstones. The amazing, booming town of Shawnee, Oklahoma, was the perfect setting for a Great Depression tale. Some people moved to California during that time. Others stayed in Shawnee. In contrast to “The Grapes of Wrath,” this book relates the experiences of some who remained during one of the worst times in U.S. history. They stayed and thrived. This book is not a recount of simple facts but examines the essence of a brilliant woman who traversed through life, maneuvering the hardships along with the blessings. I uncovered anecdotes, read newspaper articles, and confirmed family lore that had been passed down through generations. Many readers agree Sibyl could have been their grandmother, their heritage, and after reading this book series, they will know Sibyl almost as well as I do. This story is an intimate look at a searching individual during the wistful days of a long-gone era. I expect, after you read “A Promise to Break,” you’ll agree that Sibyl Trimble’s story needed to be told.

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 1

To Everything There Is A Season, October 1

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 2

Reflections From My Bookshelves, October 2

Through the Fire Blogs, October 3

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess , October 3

Connie’s History Classroom , October 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 4

Betti Mace, October 4

Older & Smarter?, October 5

Blogging With Carol , October 5

Hallie Reads, October 6

Life of Literature, October 6

Genesis 5020, October 7

A Baker’s Perspective, October 7

Rebekah Jones, Author, October 7

Moments, October 8

Emily Yager, October 8

For the Love of Literature, October 9

Maureen’s Musings, October 9

She Lives to Read, October 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 10

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, October 10

Pause for Tales , October 11

Connect in Fiction, October 11

Reader’s Cozy Corner,October 11

Texas Book-aholic, October 12

Bigreadersite, October 12

Inklings and notions, October 13

janicesbookreviews, October 13

Bloggin’ ’bout Books, October 13

A Reader’s Brain, October 14

Batya’s Bits, October 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathryn is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon card and a copy of the book!!

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/ed93/a-promise-to-break-celebration-tour-giveaway


Review

A Promise to Break is the first installment from Kathryn Spurgeon’s series, The Promise. It is, also, my first book I have read by this author. It definitely will not be the last.

A Promise to Break is a wonderful read. I enjoyed Sibyl’s story. I admired her courage and strength. I loved how the author vividly described the historical details. I felt like I was right there among the characters living during the time. It was fun being transported back in time to see what it was like during the 1930s depression era Oklahoma.

I am giving A Promise to Break a well deserved five plus stars. I look forward to where Miss Spurgeon’s imagination will take the reader to in her next installment of The Promise series, A Promise Child. I highly recommend for readers to read this clean historical.

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.