Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Saving Mrs. Roosevelt by Candace Sue Patterson

Book: Saving Mrs. Roosevelt

Author: Candice Sue Patterson

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical/Adventure

Release date: December, 2021

Shirley Davenport is as much a patriot as her four brothers. She, too, wants to aid her country in the war efforts, but opportunities for women are limited. When her best friend Joan informs her that the Coast Guard has opened a new branch for single women, they both enlist in the SPARs, ready to help protect the home front.

Training is rigorous, and Shirley is disappointed that she and Joan are sent to separate training camps. At the end of basic training, Captain Webber commends her efforts and commissions her home to Maine under the ruse of a dishonorable discharge to help uncover a plot against the First Lady.

Shirley soon discovers nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust? Why do the people she loves want to harm the First Lady? With the help of Captain Webber, it’s a race against time to save Mrs. Roosevelt and remain alive.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Historical Christian Fiction is a favorite genre of mine. Saving Mrs. Roosevelt by Candace Sue Patterson is part of the Heroines of WWII series. Candace Sue Patterson is a new to me author so that also sparked my interest in reading this book. 

Shirley Davenport really wants to help the country and be able to enroll in the service. Although, during WWII opportunities for Women weren't as open as for the men. Shirley's best friend, Joan, tells Shirley the Coast Guard has a new division for single women. Shirley and Joan join SPARS. Training is not as easy as Shirley hoped and then she is separated from her friend Joan and is disappointed. Her first assignment after Basic Training is to help protect the First Lady, Mrs. Roosevelt. This assignment is an undercover assignment and she cannot let anyone know, not even family and best friends. Captain Webber is the only one who knows where she is at and is working along side Shirley. Through the time spent together, they discover they have a liking for each other. Will Shirley and Captain Webber be able to uncover who is trying to harm First Lady Mrs. Roosevelt and save the First Lady? Will there be a romance brewing for Captain Webber and Shirley? What becomes of Joan, the best friend? 

WOW, this book is action packed and fast paced. I really enjoyed the book, it was pretty accurate for WWII time period. I LOVE how Shirley was determined to serve her country during War time when it was not all that common for women to be at War. The author does a GREAT job at telling the story and I felt like I was in the midst of WWII. Shirley really has to rely on God during the times where she is not knowing who to trust in life. I look forward to reading more from this series! GREAT BOOK!! 

Candice Sue Patterson studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature and is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, splitting wood, or decorating cakes, she’s working on a new story. Candice writes Modern Vintage Romance—where the past and present collide with faith. Her debut novel How to Charm a Beekeeper’s Heart was a 2012 ACFW First Impressions finalist and made INSPYs Longlist for 2016.

 

More from Candice

The idea for Saving Mrs. Roosevelt literally came overnight. I had just finished writing a contemporary romance set in Maine, centered around a harbor town where lobstering is prevalent. My agent called me and told me about the Heroines of WWII series and asked if I’d be interested in writing a WWII novel. If so, I needed to come up with a story and proposal fast because spots were limited and filling quickly. My mind was so consumed with research of the lobster industry that I felt I couldn’t clear my brain fast enough to come up with another story on such short notice. That’s when I started wondering how I could take the knowledge I already had and make it work for a WWII novel. I googled Maine during WWII, came across an article that mentioned the SPARs, and the idea for Saving Mrs. Roosevelt was born.

I don’t want to give too much away, but the Nancy Drew deep inside me figured out a unique way to merge lobstering with espionage.

Though the plot is purely fiction, there are some characters and events that are historically accurate that were fun to include as well. I love Maine, but I’m Hoosier born and raised, and in my SPAR research, I discovered that Dorothy C. Stratton–the woman the Coast Guard asked to direct the SPARs–was the Dean of Women at Purdue University in Indiana. She was a woman of true character, grace, and strength. I knew right away she needed a cameo in my story.

Within twenty-four hours of receiving my agent’s call, I had plotted the entire story and sent a proposal. Weeks went by, and as fall ushered in its beautiful colors, my husband surprised me with a trip to Monhegan Island, Maine. We walked the trails, ate amazing seafood, and took in the gorgeous view. While on the island, my agent called again, this time to let me know that Barbour had contracted Saving Mrs. Roosevelt. What a special moment it was to be standing on the very shoreline where the book is set when I received the good news.

Since the book is set in Maine where the heroine works on a lobster boat with her father, I wanted to share my favorite recipe for Maine blueberry pie.

 

Maine Blueberry Pie

Ingredients:

2 Pie crusts

1 quart of fresh Maine blueberries

1 ½ tbsp lemon juice

Freshly grated nutmeg

¼ c light brown sugar

¼ c white sugar

¼ c flour

2 tbsp tapioca for thickening (if the berries are juicy)

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place the berries into a large bowl, add lemon juice, and toss. Add the remaining ingredients and toss until the berries are well coated with the flour and sugars mixture. Line the pie plate with one crust. Put the berries into the pie plate and top with a solid or lattice-top crust. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the berries are bubbly and the crust is golden brown.

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A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 20 (Spotlight)

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Locks, Hooks and Books, December 22

Through the Fire Blogs, December 22

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Spoken from the Heart, December 23

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Splashes of Joy, December 25

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To celebrate her tour, Candace is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon 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/14f18/saving-mrs-roosevelt-celebration-tour-giveaway

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Saving Mrs. Roosevelt by Candace Sue Patterson

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