Keeping Secrets
Children of the Light Series Book 1
by Donna Hechler Porter
Genre: Historical Romance
A woman with a past, a man determined to uncover the truth, and a secret that could tear them apart forever.
A Grieving Husband: Amon Cayle needs a seamstress. He has spent the last year rebuilding his life after the
tragic death of his wife in a kitchen fire, the same fire that nearly took the life of his eldest son as well. The
business of grieving their loss, as well as the work of his tobacco plantation, has caused him to neglect the
simplest of tasks. His family now needs clothes and despite his dislike for Mary McKechnie, and their shared past,
he offers her the job.
A Desperate Mother: Mary McKechnie needs a job. Her brother has threatened to take her daughters and place
them into indentured service if she can’t provide for them. He hasn’t made it any easier by insisting she work only
for fellow Friends. When Amon Cayle offers her a job, she has little choice but to accept.
A Devastating Secret: The last time Amon spoke with Mary, after she walked away from him into the arms of
another man over twenty years ago, she assured him she was not keeping secrets. He didn’t believe her then,
and he doesn’t believe her now. While she is working for him, he is determined to find answers. She is just as
determined to not give them.
Will Mary be able to save Amon from the past? Or will his love threaten to destroy them both?
Keeping Secrets is the first book in the Children of the Light Series. The Society of Friends (Quakers) and 1750s
colonial Virginia, on the cusp of the French and Indian War, provide the backdrop for this sweeping historical
about families trying to live their faith in a new land. Fans of series books will enjoy this series of faith, love, and
redemption.
**On Sale for only .99 cents!! **
Breaking Promises
Children of the Light Series Book 2
A woman dedicated to peace, and man destined for war, and a journey that will change them forever.
A Haunted Young Woman
Annie McKechnie is desperate to go to the backcountry to her twin sister, Katie McKechnie Sawyer. She is
convinced doing so is the only way to end the dreams that haunt her nights and follow her days. The one man
who can help her find peace is David Cayle, and she hates him for it.
A Devoted Son
David Cayle, back from a tour of duty with the Virginia militia, is determined to mend the breach he created his
with father. Taking the man into the backcountry to rescue his wayward sister, however, was not what he had in
mind. Annie’s insistence on going makes matters worse, until it becomes obvious that leaving her behind is more
dangerous than taking her along. Or is it?
A Harrowing Journey
A young nation fights for its destiny, and the backcountry is no place for the faint of heart. Only the stoutest souls
and strongest minds endure.
But can David keep his promises? And what secrets is Annie still keeping?
Breaking Promises is the second book in the Children of the Light Series. The Society of Friends (Quakers) and
1750s colonial Virginia, on the cusp of the French and Indian War, provide the backdrop for this sweeping
historical about families trying to live their faith in a new land. Fans of series books will enjoy this series of faith,
love, and redemption.
Binding Fire
Children of Light Series Book 3
A woman without hope, a man determined to save his family, and a past that could forever change their future.
An Estranged Husband
David Cayle wants nothing to do with his wife. He may have broken promises, but she kept secrets. Important
ones. His only hope to mend his shattered self is to start over in the backcountry far away from her and Cayle
Farms. But walking away from her is not as easy as he thought, for she is not done with her secrets, and this one
will change his life forever.
A Frightened Mother
Annie Cayle faces an unknown future. Despite her last days at Cayle Farms and the danger she left behind, she is
desperate to return home. When David Cayle arrives unexpectedly in Richmond, she asks him to change his
plans for the sake of her unborn child. But home is not safe, and neither is David Cayle.
A Child that Binds
With their friendship torn apart, and their marriage shattered beyond repair, David and Annie must forge a new
destiny for the sake of their child. But when old enemies exact revenge they are forced to confront past secrets
and broken promises.
But can David face his deepest fears to save his wife? Or, in the end, will the past destroy them both?
Binding Fire is the third book in the Children of the Light Series. The Society of Friends (Quakers) and 1750s
colonial Virginia, on the cusp of the French and Indian War, provide the backdrop for this sweeping historical
about families trying to live their faith in a new land. Fans of series books will enjoy this series of faith, love, and
redemption.
Donna Hechler Porter graduated from Texas A & M University with a B.S. in Education. After many years of
teaching, she now homeschools her twin sons and is active in her local homeschool group. Her first foray into
fiction, her "Children of the Light Trilogy," has already won numerous awards. She is a member of Romance
Writer's of America, as well as the subchapters Hearts Through History and Northwest Houston's Lonestar
Chapter. In addition to fiction, she has published five genealogy books and a short biography on her struggles with
hypothyroidism titled "Will Someone Please Shoot the Cuckoo?" She is currently working on her fourth novel. You
can visit her at her website/blog at donnahechlerporterbooks.wordpress.com.
GUEST POST
Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about
yourself and how you became an
author?
I always wanted to write books. I
mean – ALWAYS. Like in first grade always. I dabbled at it off and
on for years, and in fifth grade wrote a book on notebook paper
called “The Tweedles.” It was a knock-off of “The Borrowers.”
(I think my mom still has it somewhere.) When I got into researching
my family tree when I was about nineteen, the stories exploded into
my head. They just never really left even as I went to college,
taught school, and later married and had the twins. Then, I reached
my 45th birthday, and I knew it was “now
or never.” So I started reading how to plot and create characters.
I started taking online classes through groups like RWA. And here I
am today!
What is something unique/quirky about
you?
I absolutely despise the song
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
I know! Who doesn’t like that
song?
Me.
Of course, “The Wizard of Oz” is
on my least favorite movie. So there’s that, too.
Tell us something really interesting
that's happened to you!
This is going to sound odd, but I
think the most interesting thing that has ever happened to me is
having identical twins.
What are some of your pet peeves?
Junk laying around the house –
especially in the living areas. I mean – there’s a trash can in
each room. People get up from chairs. Why can they not take their
trash / food / dirty plates with them?
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born in Baytown, just east of
Houston. I grew up there, went to and graduated from Baytown schools.
If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how
would you spend your last day?
That is quite a poignant question
considering my husband passed away this past May. It was sudden and
totally unexpected. If I knew that was going to happen to me? I would
spend every last breath with my family, especially my boys.
Who is your hero and why?
My parents. My mom has always been
my biggest champion and supporter. She taught me I could do anything
I wanted if I was willing to work hard enough to make it happen. My
Dad has had some tough health challenges the past few years – a hip
replacement, a triple bypass, prostate cancer – but he keeps up
with his lunch buddies, teaches some driver’s ed, and plays lots of
poker, and he turned 82 this past December! He has taught me to keep
on moving no matter what, and to take each moment you are given. Oh,
and did I mention – they have been married 58 years!
What kind of world ruler would you be?
A tired one. LOL.
I would want to know every person
under my rule. I would want to teach them a skill so they could make
their own way. I would want to encourage them in whatever dreams or
endeavors they had. I would want to know them all by name and on and
on.
Yep, I’d be one tired princess.
What are you passionate about these
days?
My writing.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
A long walk unwinds me, as does a
soak in the tub and a good book. Sometimes I will meet a friend for
lunch or go thrift shopping. Sometimes, just being in the house alone
and with my work-in-progress is relaxing.
But the best thing I do is find my
big tom kitty (he weighs 15 pounds) and we curl up on my king size
bed. He crawls on my chest and I pet him. We usually fall asleep that
way at night. Something about digging my hands into his fur and
rubbing slowly this way and that settles me down, and I can feel the
stress slipping away. At least for a time.
How to find time to write as a parent?
When the boys were little, it was
hard. I wrote a lot in the evening or early morning before they woke
up. They are older now, but one has been ill the past few years. This
past Thanksgiving and Christmas we were at Cleveland Clinic for
surgery. He is on the mend, but I will be getting a job soon. It is
going to be a challenge to find time to write then. I will have to
let you know how that goes!
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Stubborn, Melancholic, Bossy,
Old-fashioned, Hyper-sensitive
When did you first consider yourself a
writer?
This is going to sound strange, but
it was when I commissioned new covers for my first four books. I
don’t know why that stands out as marking me as a writer. Perhaps
it was because the covers were so magical, and it was hard to believe
my name was even on the front.
Do you have a favorite movie?
One favorite movie? Not really. But
the top three favorites are – The Last of the Mohicans, The Lion,
the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and The Princess Bride.
Which of your novels can you imagine
made into a movie?
Really, any of them – but I think
“The Rood” would be fantastic translated onto the big screen. The
plot is fast-paced and different with the hero being a Scotsman and
the heroine being a French Acadian. The setting of the French and
Indian War is not done nearly often enough. Thomas and Elizabeth
traveled through real places on their way to the Indian towns, and it
would be awesome for people to get a flavor for the wildness and
beauty that was America before it became filled with towns and
cities.
Large mug, 2 candy bars, and a $25 Starbucks gift card
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