About the Book
Book: The Missing Songbird
Author: Kathleen J. Robison
Genre: Christian Historical Mystery
Release date: May 7, 2024
Lina, after growing up in austere post-WWII Wales, only has one dream—to one day find love and sing on the stage in London. But when her father, her only champion, suddenly dies, that dream seems as far away as London itself.
When charming Captain Everette and his side-show come to town and offer a path to fame, it’s like all her dreams are suddenly coming true. It seems she’s willing to leave behind not only her hometown, but even the one man she’d always imagined marrying for this one shot.
But the path Lina has chosen turns rocky and treacherous, as everyone she meets seems to have their own plans for the beautiful, diminutive singer. Things turn awry when she finds herself suddenly imprisoned for a murder she didn’t commit. With no one to turn to and everything hanging in the balance, how will Lina trust God and His will for her life?
With an equally beautiful writing voice, Kathleen J. Robison draws in her readers with suspense, mystery, and romance.
Click here to get your copy!
" The Missing Songbird " by Kathleen J.Robinson is part of a series but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. It has a mystery and a small love triangle. It also has a character being saved. It does have a happy ever after but it also is sad when the mystery is solved. This is a story about accepting others as God created them.
I received a complementary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.
About the Author
Kathleen is an Okinawan-American. Born in Okinawa, raised in California, Florida, Mississippi, and Singapore. Her travels lend themselves to the settings in her books, and her large family provides fun fodder for her characters. She and her Pastor husband have eight adult children. Seven are married, blessing them with sixteen grandchildren, and more on the way! Her ethnically diverse family of 33 plus personalities presents many opportunities to write about God’s amazing love amid trials, tragedies, and blessings. He is the one true inspiration and hope for us all.
More from Kathleen
More from Kathleen:
The Missing Songbird is so dear to my heart. But do you want to know a secret? I never really wanted to write this book! Yet, God has a way of turning our “never” into always. I made the decision to write it because I felt God’s leading, and “always” is how I feel about The Missing Songbird now. I’ll always love that I was invited to join Celebrate Lit’s Ever After Mystery Collection, Fairy Tale retellings set in the 1940s. Of all the books I’ve written so far, it’s my favorite, and my husband’s too. I hope it will become yours.
Initially, my plan was to retell the children’s story, The Steadfast Tin Soldier. It was a tale that had always held a special place in my heart. I can still recall the bittersweet emotions it stirred within me as a child. I even have a faint memory of a black-and-white movie adaptation. So, I envisioned a unique twist, setting the story in Okinawa during World War II, with an Okinawan girl and a soldier. It was a concept that excited me, and I was eager to bring it to life.
My mother was a trained Okinawan folk dancer, so I thought it would be perfect. But another author had chosen that fairy tale, and after much deliberation and research, I chose Thumbelina. I came to find out that not many had even heard of the story. However, in Thumbelina, the numerous difficulties faced by a thumb-sized little creature provided me with lots of ideas, so my story was born.
The Missing Songbird revolves around Lina, a charming, talented little person who lives in the rural outskirts of a Welsh town. According to the Little People of America, adults under five feet ten inches tall may have a condition of dwarfism that includes both proportionate and disproportionate body types. My mother was only four feet, ten inches, and I’m four feet, eleven inches, so I can somewhat relate! It happens that Lina is proportionate, and her first love interest is not a little person, but of average height. Later on, you’ll meet Richard, the conflict in a love-triangle, who has disproportionate dwarfism.
I loved developing a beautiful love story between individuals who face many trials living as little people, especially so back in 1947. Although the story is not about Lina and Richard’s body types, it’s because of this that I found a way to share God’s redemptive themes of trust, love, and acceptance through difficulties in facing prejudice, bitterness, and pride.
I don’t remember why I chose to set the story in Wales, but perhaps a fairy tale’s lyrical prose tends to lend itself to ancient places. My husband’s grandmother was born and raised in Dowlais, Wales, and we visited her relatives back in the 70s. In my memories, I still envision the old coal mining town in black and white. It wasn’t till we toured the green, lush countryside that the beauty of the land transformed to living color. I felt like I stepped back in time.
Although I only met my husband’s grandmother here in the US after we married, her imposing figure made quite an impression both in person and through the many stories my husband shared with me. He was raised by a single-working mom, so his grandmother was prominent in his life. Food, customs, idioms, and her sing-song accent still fill my mind and make me smile.
As you delve into Lina and Richard’s love story, set in the enchanting world of Wales in 1949, I hope you’ll feel God’s presence weaving through their lives. I trust that, in some small way, The Missing Songbird will touch your heart, leading you to experience God’s love and His remarkable works in your own life. Thank you for embarking on this journey with me.
Blog Stops
Inspired by fiction, July 12
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 13
Stories By Gina, July 14 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, July 14
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 15
Connie’s History Classroom, July 16
Vicky Sluiter, July 17 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 18
Betti Mace, July 19
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, July 20 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 20
Simple Harvest Reads, July 21 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Holly’s Book Corner, July 22
Through the Fire Blogs, July 23 (Author Interview)
Inspired by fiction , July 24
Denise L. Barela, July 25 (Author Interview)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and 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/2cd02/the-missing-songbird-celebration-tour-giveaway
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Lori DeJong is a contemporary Christian romance author who enjoys penning stories full of grace and the redemptive power of God’s love that inspire others to hope regardless of circumstance, find joy in the moment, and grow in their faith. She resides in Georgetown, Texas, with her husband and two fur-babies and is the mother of one grown daughter. Lori’s debut novel, “Love’s True Calling”, is the 2022 winner of the ACFW Genesis Award for Romance, a double finalist in the 2024 Selah Awards, and was released in June 2023. “Love’s True Home” is the second book in the True Calling Series and releases on June 25, 2024.
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