Jina Bacarr Featured Author
December 1, 2025 by Jina Bacarr in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Featured Author, Featured Author of the Month tagged as Boldwood Books, Featured Author of the Month, historical romance, Jina Bacarr, New relaase, The Stolen Children of War
About Jina Bacarr
I discovered early on that I inherited the gift of the gab from my large Irish family when I penned a story about a princess who ran away to Paris with her pet turtle Lulu. I was twelve.
I grew up listening to their wild, outlandish tales and it was those early years of storytelling that led to my love of history and traveling.
I enjoy writing to classical music with a hot cup of java by my side. I adore dark chocolate truffles, vintage anything, the smell of bread baking and rainy days in museums. I’ve always loved walking through history—from Pompeii to Verdun to Old Paris. The voices of the past speak to me through carriages with cracked leather seats, stiff ivory-colored crinolines, and worn satin slippers. I’ve always wondered what it was like to walk in those slippers when they were new.
You can follow Jina on social media:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Goodreads
Bookbub
Jina also has a column here on the 11th of every month: Jina’s Book Chat.
The Stolen Children of War is emotional historical novel from Jina Bacarr, bestselling author of The Orphans of Berlin—available now.
It is 1943 in Nazi-occupied Paris, and nobody is safe. Nobody, except perhaps one small group of people, who’ve always existed outside the law…
At Le Cirque Casini, the trapeze artists still fly. The strong men still perform amazing feats. The sad-faced clowns still make people laugh, even in a city with a broken heart. The Nazis do not trouble them, as long as they keep the people happy and entertained.
But what the Germans don’t know is that there are circus performers with secrets of their own. And when Lia – a performer known for her bravery on the trapeze – finds herself with nowhere else to go but back to the circus she’d left 18 years ago – she does so with two small orphaned Jewish children in tow, who she’s sworn to protect.
As the circus’s numbers swell with people desperate to hide, and threats come not only from the Nazis but from one who seeks to kill someone amongst them, Lia and the other circus-performers know they must do everything in their power to protect the vulnerable.
But who better—than those who would risk their lives every day for entertainment—to save the lives of others?
A gripping, powerful and captivating novel of World War Two, perfect for fans of Kristen Hannah, Fiona Valpy and Dinah Jefferies.
A Few of Jina’s Other Books
Love’s Perilous Road: A Review
November 15, 2025 by marianne h donley in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Book Reviews tagged as A review, Alina K. Field, anthology, Bluestocking Belles, new release, Regency romance
Love’s Perilous Road
A Bluestocking Belles Collection with Friends
Ebook ISBN 978-1-965509-03-6
Print ISBN 978-1-965509-04-3
ASIN B0DZPKDMXV
Publisher: Bluestocking Belles
October 31, 2025
Regency Romance
I’ve been a fan of the Bluestocking Belles’ anthologies for years, probably since Alina K. Field first joined them. I’ve been a fan of Alina K. Field since she first published Rosalyn’s Ring and it won the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best contest. (It absolutely lived up to its reputation.)
So I was pleased to read and review Love’s Perilous Road, a collection of ten Regency Romances all centered around the mysterious highwayman, Captain Moonlight. All the characters have an encounter with the man, and there are brief journal entries from The Casebook of the Principal Office Robert Pierce who is planning Captain Moonlight’s capture—even if he leaves his ill-gotten gains in the chicken coops of young widows with children to feed.
As with all Bluestocking Belles Collections that I have read, all the stories are well written and very entertaining, which is not always the case with anthologies. I appreciate the care the authors take with their stories, adding in the clues to Captain Moonlight’s true identity.
Having said that, I still had my favorites: Charred Hope by Caroline Warfield in which an honorable man returns a miniature and finds a future. Sir Westcott Steals a Heart by Alina K. Field: Sybil Dunsford disguised herself as a boy to protect her brothers but, of course, Sir Westcott Twisden follows her, and hijinks ensue and they get locked in barn overnight. A Duke in Peril by Meara Platt: Lady Florence Swann rescues a wounded soldier from the side of the road near her home. But he’s more than just a soldier.
I’m looking forward to the Bluestocking Belles next collection.
Buy Buttons
More Books by Alina K. Field
Writers Against Hunger Raised $20,535 . . . so far.
November 14, 2025 by marianne h donley in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley tagged as Feeding America, Lyssa Kay Adams, The Confession of George Mullins, Writers Against Hunger
LONG time friend and one of my favorite writers, Lyssa Kay Adams, has organized Writers Against Hunger, and I am happy to participate.
Stories feed the soul. Food feeds the body.
This fall, writers across the country are coming together to do both.
Writers Against Hunger is a nationwide write-a-thon uniting storytellers, poets, novelists, journalists, and anyone who believes words have power. As SNAP benefits end and food insecurity rises, we’re using our creative energy to help fill plates across America.
From Nov. 1-24, writers will set personal writing goals ( from finishing a chapter to drafting an entire novel) and invite friends, readers, and fellow creators to sponsor their efforts. Every dollar raised goes directly to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.
Together, our words can do more than build worlds. They can build hope.
How it works:
If you’re a reader, fan, friend, family:
We hope you will donate to our team through out the month. You can do a one time donation, or find an author who is accepting pledges. Here is our team page:
https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7574 .
I’m not taking pledges, but would be grateful if you made a donation to MY page. The link is here:
https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/Marianne-Donley.
If you’re writer:
- Join the Write-a-thon.
Sign up to be part of Writers Against Hunger. Whether you’re a published author, a blogger, or journaling for the first time, you’re welcome here. - Set Your Writing Goal.
Commit to writing for a set number of hours or words during the event. Share your goal on social media to inspire others. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #WritersAgainstHunger - Ask for Pledges or Donations.
Invite your friends, family, and followers to pledge a donation for every page, word, or hour you write—or to give a flat donation to Feeding America through our official campaign page. Don’t forget to donate yourself, too! - Write to Feed.
During the event, check in, share your progress, and celebrate every milestone. Every word you write helps put food on someone’s table. - Don’t want to write but still want to contribute? Make a direct donation!
You can join the team or make a donation at this link: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7574
All month I’ll be working on my short story The Confession of George Mullins. I’ll post my I’ll post my update on both the story and the Write-a-thon.
****************
I’m 100% complete on The Confession of George Mullins for the Second week of November. I should finish the story tomorrow . . . well ahead of my deadline of November 30th. Hopefully, I will be able to start on another story before the weekend.
Writers Against Hunger has already raised over $ 20,535 for Feeding America.
0 0 Read moreWriters Against Hunger Has Raised $17,685
November 7, 2025 by marianne h donley in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley tagged as Feeding America, Lyssa Kay Adams, The Confession of George Mullins, Writers Against Hunger
Long time friend and one of my favorite writers, Lyssa Kay Adams, has organized Writers Against Hunger, and I am happy to participate.
Stories feed the soul. Food feeds the body.
This fall, writers across the country are coming together to do both.
Writers Against Hunger is a nationwide write-a-thon uniting storytellers, poets, novelists, journalists, and anyone who believes words have power. As SNAP benefits end and food insecurity rises, we’re using our creative energy to help fill plates across America.
From Nov. 1-24, writers will set personal writing goals ( from finishing a chapter to drafting an entire novel) and invite friends, readers, and fellow creators to sponsor their efforts. Every dollar raised goes directly to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.
Together, our words can do more than build worlds. They can build hope.
How it works:
If you’re a reader, fan, friend, family:
We hope you will donate to our team through out the month. You can do a one time donation, or find an author who is accepting pledges. Here is our team page:
https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7574 .
I’m not taking pledges, but would be grateful if you made a donation to MY page. The link is here:
https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/Marianne-Donley.
If you’re writer:
- Join the Write-a-thon.
Sign up to be part of Writers Against Hunger. Whether you’re a published author, a blogger, or journaling for the first time, you’re welcome here. - Set Your Writing Goal.
Commit to writing for a set number of hours or words during the event. Share your goal on social media to inspire others. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #WritersAgainstHunger - Ask for Pledges.
Invite your friends, family, and followers to pledge a donation for every page, word, or hour you write—or to give a flat donation to Feeding America through our official campaign page. Don’t forget to donate yourself, too! - Write to Feed.
During the event, check in, share your progress, and celebrate every milestone. Every word you write helps put food on someone’s table. - Don’t want to write but still want to contribute? Make a direct donation!
You can join the team or make a donation at this link: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7574
All month I’ll be working on my short story The Confession of George Mullins. I’ll post my update on both the story and the Write-a-thon.
****************
I’m 100% complete on The Confession of George Mullins for the first week of November. Six days remain until my second deadline.
Writers Against Hunger has already raised over $17,685 for Feeding America.
0 0 Read moreWriters Against Hunger
November 2, 2025 by marianne h donley in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley tagged as Feeding America, Lyssa Kay Adams, The Confession of George Mullins, Writers Against Hunger
LONG time friend and one of my favorite writers, Lyssa Kay Adams, has organized Writers Against Hunger, and I am happy to participate.
Stories feed the soul. Food feeds the body.
This fall, writers across the country are coming together to do both.
Writers Against Hunger is a nationwide write-a-thon uniting storytellers, poets, novelists, journalists, and anyone who believes words have power. As SNAP benefits end and food insecurity rises, we’re using our creative energy to help fill plates across America.
From Nov. 1-24, writers will set personal writing goals ( from finishing a chapter to drafting an entire novel) and invite friends, readers, and fellow creators to sponsor their efforts. Every dollar raised goes directly to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.
Together, our words can do more than build worlds. They can build hope.
How it works:
If you’re a reader, fan, friend, family:
We hope you will donate to our team through out the month. You can do a one time donation, or find an author who is accepting pledges. Here is our team page:
https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7574 .
I’m not taking pledges, but would be grateful if you made a donation to MY page. The link is here:
https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/Marianne-Donley.
If you’re writer:
- Join the Write-a-thon.
Sign up to be part of Writers Against Hunger. Whether you’re a published author, a blogger, or journaling for the first time, you’re welcome here. - Set Your Writing Goal.
Commit to writing for a set number of hours or words during the event. Share your goal on social media to inspire others. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #WritersAgainstHunger - Ask for Pledges.
Invite your friends, family, and followers to pledge a donation for every page, word, or hour you write—or to give a flat donation to Feeding America through our official campaign page. Don’t forget to donate yourself, too! - Write to Feed.
During the event, check in, share your progress, and celebrate every milestone. Every word you write helps put food on someone’s table. - Don’t want to write but still want to contribute? Make a direct donation!
You can join the team or make a donation at this link: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7574
All month I’ll be working on my short story The Confession of George Mullins. I’ll post my I’ll post my update on both the story and the Write-a-thon.
****************
I’m 33% complete on The Confession of George Mullins for the first week of November. Five days remain until my first deadline.
Writers Against Hunger has already raised over $12,500 for Feeding America.
0 0 Read moreFeatured Books
CHRISTMAS ON NANTUCKET AND OTHER STORIES
Heartfelt stories with a mix of joy and sadness, love and loss, celebrations of all seasons, and a bit of mystery and magic
More info →
SOLITARY MAN
On a battlefield in Afghanistan, Sgt. Ryder Bronson makes an oath to protect his dying friend’s wife from a rogue cop—and from the passion that will threaten to overwhelm them both.
More info → 
