Authors like Hannah Linder and Julia Klassen have a corner stone on historical Christian fiction for a reason. They are both tried and proven authors and I personally have enjoyed many of their books. I love historical Christian fiction as they often feature a love interest and some kind of mystery a little reminiscent of Victoria Holt. Often the books feature a governess or woman who is down on her luck and happens to find work at a manor house with a checkered past and a dashing but brooding hero that the heroine can’t resist falling for.
It’s a troupe that never gets old for me and one that for whatever reason seems to be the dominant troupe in many historical Christian fiction books. When I saw this book was coming out, I was really excited to share with you guys, I have an excerpt as well as a bunch of other info about the book so be sure to keep reading! Sadly I couldn’t fit this one into my review schedule but know that I have enjoyed many of Linder’s books and found them to be well written with interesting female characters and a great romance, I have no reason to suspect this one would be any different. There are others on this tour who reviews the book so I encourage you to make a stop on their blogs to see what they though! All the details and links can be found below!
In some of the reviews I am seeing online for this book, many have been very favorable with four and five star ratings from many, many reviewers! Many are praising the romance and historical setting saying it has a Great Expectations feel to it and I cannot wait to check it out! Anything that hints at a bit of the Gothic always gets me and this one sounds like it might have a bit of that within the story. But see for yourself by reading this little excerpt below!
Summary
They Waited Their Whole Lives for Their Papa to Return
Nan and Heath Duncan, siblings abandoned by their papa and abused by their guardian, have no choice but to survive on the London streets. When a kind gentleman rescues Nan from such a life, the siblings are separated and raised in two vastly different social worlds. Just when both are beginning to flourish and years have healed some of their wounds, their long-awaited papa returns and reunites them–bringing demands with him. Nan is expected to marry a rich suitor she’s never liked, and Heath is expected to forsake his gentle spirit and become the hardened man his father always was.
Dangers unfold, secret love develops, fights ensue, and murder upsets the worlds Heath and Nan have built for themselves. They’ve waited their whole lives for their papa to return, for tomorrow to come–but now that it has, will they be able to see through to the truth and end this whirlwind of a nightmare before it costs one of their lives?
- “The plot is full of intrigue, and it’s anchored by complicated characters whose secrets are slowly, carefully revealed. Readers will be hooked.”— Publisher’s Weekly
- “Filled with intrigue, heartache, love, and a cast of beloved characters…this unique story had me crying and cheering. I can’t wait to read her next book!”— Kimberley Woodhouse, bestselling author of the award-winning Secrets of the Canyon series
- When Tomorrow Came captured my heart from the very beginning…All the characters were so endearing and the story line with mystery and suspense kept me up way too late.”— Dana Michael, Goodreads
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS
AUTHOR BIO
Hannah Linder resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels. She is a double 2021 Selah Award winner, a 2022 Selah Award finalist, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Hannah is a Graphic Design associate degree graduate who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and international bestsellers. She is also a local photographer and a self-portrait photographer. When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments–piano, guitar, and ukulele–songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse.
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS
Excerpt
When Tomorrow Came Excerpt 1
All through dinner, Nan had been quiet. Twirling her spoon about her white soup, casting languid glances about the dinner table, answering questions with just enough smile to keep anyone from prodding.
My, she was always the puzzlement. One minute a timid little dove, the next a swooping heron. Would anyone ever understand such a creature?
When the meal was finished, Gilbert followed the rest of the family into the drawing room.
Nan didn’t join them.
For a while, the evening wore on with as much pleasantness as it ever did. Same satisfying scents, same drone of conversation, same fussing and ridiculousness from Charlotte.
Still, how strange it all felt with one of them missing.
“I say.” Gilbert stood. “What’s the matter with Nan anyway?”
“The matter with her?” His mother shrugged. “Why, I didn’t know anything.” From behind rounded spectacles, Papa’s eyes smiled in amusement. “Do not fret over Nan, my son.”
“Why not?”
“She must be forgiven her solemn mood. After all, she was forced to entertain Lord Humphries—and before noon, I daresay.”
“Dreadful indeed.” Gilbert chuckled, started across the room—
“Where are you going?”
“I shall be back. A little nonsense from me shall bring her back into better spirits.” He left the drawing room, departed the house through a servant exit, and jogged along the perimeter of the stone-walled courtyard.
He didn’t have to guess where she’d be. He went straight to the massive English walnut tree whose heavy green branches proffered shade to the courtyard grounds.
Amid the foliage and three feet up, two blue slippers dangled back and forth. Right he’d been. Not that his prognostics were any great feat. After all, hadn’t they climbed this tree a hundred times? Didn’t she always come here when something was amiss?
“Gil, is that you?” Surprised, exasperated.
He stepped to his left until he gained a view of her face. “A bit old to be playing up there, aren’t you?”
“I shall do as I please.”
“You always do.”
A sigh, but no rebuttal. No more fight than that? This was a rare disposition, for sure. The dragon must have breathed great fire today.
He shrugged off his tailcoat, unknotted his cravat, and reached for the lowest branch.
“What are you doing?”
“If you can play, so can I.”
“Gil, stop it this instant. I shall not have you invading me.”
“From what I remember, this was my fortress.”
“What?”
“Ah, yes.” The higher he climbed, the more familiar all the branches became to him. “Yours was over in the stable loft, if my memory serves me. I believe you called it the Castle of Gypsies. Remember when you wished to become one?”
“Yes. And you were a stalwart pirate with but one eye.”
“A very good one, at that.”
“I should hope, with as many times as you abducted me.”
“Oh come. Did I not always set you free again?” By this time, he had reached the branch they so often occupied in younger years—and her eyes finally cast upon him with a growing touch of warmth.
As if from habit, they fell into silence, a silence too comfortable to need disturbance.
Land stretched out before them, covered in dusk and treetops, with the sky a deepening shade of pink and blue. It seemed, if he looked close enough and listened hard enough, he could still see the pirate ship in the sea of trees, could still hear the jangling gypsies with the song of the wind.
“Gil, I’m afraid.”
The words struck a dissonant tune. He took in her profile—the somber features, the glowing eyes, the hesitant lips. “Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is it Lord Hump—”
“No.” Defense cut him off. “No, it is not him.”
“Then what?”
Silence. Her sigh came and went, then she swayed her slippers back and forth
again. “Did you know Papa has found a cottage?”
“Then he will stay?”
“Yes. They both will.”
“You are happy?”
“Oh yes. Never more happy, Gil.”
“Then why—”
“I don’t know.” She faced him, imploring, until he grasped her hand on impulse. Her heartbeat thrummed against his fingers. “I don’t know, only that I fear something terrible might go wrong.”
“Why should it?”
“It shouldn’t.”
“Then why worry?”
She tugged her hand free. Emptiness swelled through him at the loss of the
touch. Strange, that.
“You’re right, of course,” she said. “I shouldn’t worry. I won’t worry. Not on
account of a mere strange feeling.”
“You must know that feelings are not to be trusted. We can no more lay store
in them than we can become pirates or gypsies.”
A breeze swept through, rustled a hundred leaves, and played and danced with
the auburn tendrils of Nan’s hair. Her whisper came like music. “You are ever saying just what I need. I always feel the better for it. Do you promise to always console me?”
“Forever, if you wish it.” Something passed between them. He didn’t know what. But it ran in her eyes and stirred at his heart—this promise of forever—with a ring that was true, honest, and right.
She belonged to him, his little Nan.
Always would.
Though as she swept a lock of hair behind her ear, and her sigh escaped, and a
smile chased away the last crease of worry from her smooth brow . . .
He looked away with a new sensation working through him. She was not so little anymore.
Chapter 12, pages 118-120
From When Tomorrow Came © 2023, Hannah Linder, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
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