Linda Brooks Davis

Let’s Chat! Mending Lily

Welcome to Readers! And Lily!

Lily The Mending of Lillian Cathleen Linda Brooks DavisLily, my latest heroine, stars in my soon-to-be-released novel, The Mending of Lillian Cathleen, Book 2 in The Women of Rock Creek series. (The working title, Where Healing Waters Flow, faded into the woodwork when The Mending of Lillian Cathleen showed up.) Watch for a fresh, new cover for The Calling of Ella McFarland, an equally lovely cover for The Mending of Lillian Cathleen, and news about the series in weeks to come. Here’s a smorgasbord of tidbits from this story that touched my heart.

Setting

Lily Great War The Mending of Lillian Cathleen friends Linda Brooks Davis1914: The Great War has just broken out in Europe.

Needham, Oklahoma—an imaginary town with real-life characteristics

Fort Worth, Texas—otherwise known as Cowtown (or Where the West Begins)—known for its stockyards and infamous Hell’s Half Acre with its illicit business transactions conducted in saloons and brothels.

Characters

Lily The Mending of Lillian Cathleen friends Linda Brooks Davis shantyOur heroine Lily appeared as an abused thirteen-year-old girl in The Calling of Ella McFarland. She grew up in a shanty on a horseshoe of land created by two hairpin curves in Rock Creek. Thickets and brambles obscured the property from the curious stares of Needham’s townsfolk. Lily’s father Walter conducted his unholy business and took out his drunken rage on his daughter and wife Ruby on the five-acre piece of sod. Rock Creek has come to be known as the dividing line between prosperity and poverty and our heroine, as “the girl from the other side of Rock Creek.”

Now twenty-two and setting out as a woman in her own right, Lily faces life-altering choices that force her to evaluate her values, faith, and aspirations. She’s swept into Fort Worth’s underworld of saloons and brothels where she confronts evil and uncovers mysteries about her past.

The men who love—and hate—Lily

Lily The Mending of Lillian Cathleen friends enemies Linda Brooks DavisLily doesn’t understand why her father Walter has never loved her. She can’t remember a time when she wrapped her arms around his neck. Or crawled onto his lap. She never heard “Well done” or “I’m proud of you.” Certainly, never “I love you.”

Why? She can only guess. (However, answers are coming.)

But Cade McFarland—her friend Ella’s twin brother—has loved Lily since they were children. A prince in Lily’s eyes, Cade is big and brawny and voices his opinions in as big and burly a voice—with everyone but Lily. He handles her like a fragile lamb. He tends a flock of sheep and looks at Lily with such love and tenderness that she finds herself looking away—for reasons she keeps to herself.

The women who love and hate Lily

Lily The Mending of Lillian Cathleen friendsElla McFarland Evans loves Lily and always has—since the first time she caught sight of her in a McFarland cotton patch. Lily drew Ella like a moth to a flame, and Ella’s wings scorched a few years ago. But their friendship endured, deepened, and strengthened. That friendship plays a part in our heroine’s journey of discovery and healing.

Adelaide Fitzgerald, a wealthy heiress whose grand property—Broadview—borders Rock Creek and McFarland property—dreams of an opera career in Italy. She postponed her dream nine years ago when Lily needed her, but she believes her time has come at last.

Maggie Gallagher, Addie’s former wet-nurse and lifelong housekeeper, serves as a mother figure to Addie and Lily both. She emigrated from Ireland and brought her Irish bromides with her. Maggie is a rock of faith and good sense in a household in need of both.

But Sabina Gallagher, Maggie’s daughter, despises Lily. Is there no limit to her spite? Perhaps … and perhaps not.

Why?

The characters’ motivations vary as surely as the characters themselves. The players and the forces that drive them develop over time and through unique experiences that sculpt the characters into who they are in 1914.

Watch for the release of The Mending of Lillian Cathleen in the next few months to learn more about Lillian Cathleen, her loved ones, and her fascinating discoveries that send her world spiraling.

~ ~ ~

Dear Lord, I thank you for the power of words and story. Yours is the greatest story ever told, but You’ve given us stories, as well. I pray You’ll bless each word authors write for You and that You’ll multiply their power for good in the lives of readers everywhere.
~ For Jesus’ sake

10 thoughts on “Let’s Chat! Mending Lily

  1. Linda, The Mending of Lillian Cathleen is going to be a wonderful story to read. Thank you for sharing. With Lily’s abuse history, I want to see how she has blossom into a lovely lady. I know God has given you inspiration plus all the hours of research you’ve done. God’s continued inspiration, blessings and guidance with your writing. Hugs

  2. Oh my goodness, Linda! Even your reminder of the story of the first book… Even your synopsys is so intriguing. You have been so richly blessed with a way with words. Your talent is absolutely amazing gift. Don’t send me a gift card. I’m so excited I can hardly wait to read your new book. Love you!

  3. Thank you, Linda, for sharing about your upcoming book, The Mending of Lillian Cathleen! You’ve painted a vivid picture to whet your readers appetite 🙂 You can tell you have put alot of work and research into this story. The love story between Cade McFarland and Lily sounds so sweet!

    1. You’ve hit the proverbial nail on the head, Alison. I have poured myself into this story. Better said, it captured me! I’m looking forward to sharing it with readers. But I need to be patient. P.S. And you’re right—the love story between Cade and Lily gives me chills. 🙂

  4. I love the old farmhouse. It looks like a painting (or something my Dad would like to paint). You stories sound very interesting.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *