Here’s the cover my my Love Inspired Historical, the final book, Her Healing Ways, in my “Gabriel Sisters” series about three Quaker sisters. The tag line for the series is “In the wake of the Civil War, three women combat injustice and find true love.”

I’ve always been fascinated by the Quakers, people who actually lived out their faith in their everyday life. I also admired that they spear-headed the crusades to end slavery and grant women equal rights with men. So I was happy when my editor greeted this series with enthusiasm.

A female physician with an adopted black daughter? The townsfolk of Idaho Bend will never accept Dr. Mercy Gabriel—even when faced with a deadly cholera epidemic. But all Mercy needs is one man willing to listen…and to trust.

Four years of war command turned Lon Mackey into a footloose gambler who can’t abide attachments. Yet he can’t help getting riled by the threats Mercy keeps receiving. Her trailblazing courage could reignite his faith and humanity. And his loyalty could make her dream—for the first time—of a family of her own….

And here’s my family, a candid photo of my dh and daughter (whose birthday is on Pearl Harbor Day).

I also have a son who was born in December. His birthday is on the 16th. So every 9 days in December starting with my daughter’s birthday, we celebrated a birthday: daughter’s, son’s and then Jesus’s! I really enjoyed my “Christmas babies.” When I sat up late in the night feeding them, I turned on the Christmas tree lights and music.

Do any of you have a December birthday in your family or maybe your have one? Did that create problems or special joys? PS-Don’t forget the first Free Read of LaBelle Christiane is tomorrow!