Born into the Irish system of land-holding that favors the moneyed class, Anna Sullivan has no dowry and no chance of marrying the man she loves. Poor and heartbroken, she flees Ireland to tend to Uncle Liam’s house in Colorado and take on her deceased aunt’s sewing business.

But when Anna arrives in Georgetown, she discovers a mine disaster at the Singing Silver Mine has killed her uncle. Orphaned and destitute again, she gathers her faith, courage, and ingenuity to establish a life in the community. Only one person stands in her way—the mine’s owner.

A wealthy grief-stricken widower of European nobility, Stefan Maier threw all his energies into making his mark as a silver mining baron in Colorado. Now everyone blames him for the mine disaster that killed nine men. But how does he convince the lovely and opinionated Irish woman of his innocence?

Will Anna’s heart soften towards Stefan? Will Stefan prove himself worthy of Anna’s affections? Each will have to risk everything to attain what they each want most—love.

“Wichelman delivers a story set in the mining world that is rarely explored with such depth of research. Readers will appreciate Wichelman’s attention to detail and story where the hurts of the past meet the tragedy of the present with a heart for community and hope for a better future. Definitely check out this beautiful reflection of God’s love and provision during unexpected and difficult times as soon as possible.” ~ Crystal Caudill, Author of Counterfeit Love

Purchase Links: Amazon

Now for our interview with Anna.

CC: I’m so excited to get to introduce you to my readers, Anna. Would you mind telling them a little bit about yourself?

AS: Good day to you. My name is Anna Katherine O’Sullivan from Ireland. I’m the main character of the story you’re about to hear–a story about finding the faith and courage to persevere despite the most tragic circumstances and discovering God has never been farther from you than a tiny breath away.

CC: So true. So what or who is your biggest problem in life? 

AS: I was born at a time in the nineteenth century when the Irish system of land-holding favored the moneyed class. I had no dowry, no chance of marrying the man I loved. Though he tried to stop me from emigrating to America, his well-to-do parents would never approve of a marriage between us. “They’ll put you out to pasture with the sheep until you get some sense about you,” I told him. Poor and heartbroken, I fled Ireland to tend to Uncle Liam’s house in Georgetown, Colorado and take on my deceased aunt’s sewing business.

CC: It’s so hard when circumstances out of our control force us from the ones we love.

How would you describe your relationship with God?

AS: My journey with God soon became rough once I arrived in Colorado. Faithfully, I attended the church in Ireland and believed God had provided a path forward to earn a living–do better than “butter and egg money,” as Ma hoped for me before she died of cancer. But on the day I arrived in Georgetown, tragedy awaited me. My uncle had died in a mining disaster at the Singing Silver Mine, where he worked. One of the local pastors’ wives, Laurel Thomas, befriended me and tried to comfort me. But I questioned how God could have brought me to Colorado only to leave me once more orphaned and alone in the world without a way of earning a living. It was a poor plan from where I stood on the matter.

CC: It’s sos hard to understand God’s plans, especially when they make no sense to us and feel so painful.

How do you think others view you? Do you feel this is an accurate representation of you?

AS: As you can see, I can have a bit of an attitude–opinionated, some call me–making up my mind before I know all the facts. Ach, it is that Irish temper that sometimes arises to the surface that causes me trouble.

CC: Ha ha! I’m not even Irish and my temper can get me in trouble!

Tell us a bit about the personal journey you through during this story. 

AS: I’d never considered myself without gumption in Ireland. A person in poverty must always corral the resources to get by. Now, I had to dig deep down into my heart and soul and find the faith and courage to create a new life for myself in a strange, new world despite what appeared to be God’s mistake. Over and again, I encountered circumstances that required the mettle to persevere.

CC: And that is such a wearying experience, isn’t it?

What is your greatest skill that helps you through the story?

AS: Finding my initiative once more, I took up my aunt’s sewing business she had left behind for me, and I built upon the reputation she had made. This enterprise, as well as others, served me well as I established a life in the community.

CC: What a blessing to have such great skill with a needle. I can barely hem!

How would you describe the love interest?

AS: Sometimes our preconceptions prevent us from seeing clearly what God’s plan is. I have to admit my first impressions of the handsome Mr. Stefan Maier did not impress me. For one thing, he owned the Singing Silver Mine, and people held him responsible for the mine disaster. Then, when I discovered he hailed from European nobility, I wrote him off as above my class and out of my reach as Seamus had been back in Ireland. Even when Stefan insisted our class differences didn’t matter, it took me some time to cast off old prejudices without lingering regret. But when he sacrificed his life to prove to me and all of Georgetown who caused the disaster that killed nine men, I saw him for the man he truly was, and the veil across my eyes fell.

Thanks for hanging with us today.  Readers, if you’re looking for a a good read over the Christmas break that isn’t Christmas, I definitely suggest picking up this one. If not now, then in the New Year. 

About Donna Wichelman:

Weaving history and faith into stories of intrigue and redemption grew out of Donna’s love of travel, history, and literature as a young adult while attending the United World College of the Atlantic—an international college in Wales, U.K. She enjoys developing plots that show how God’s love abounds even in the profoundly difficult circumstances of our lives. Her stories reflect the hunger in all of us for love, forgiveness, and belonging in a world that often withholds second chances.

Donna received her master’s degree in mass communication/journalism from San Jose State University and became a communications professional before writing full-time. Her short stories and articles have appeared in inspirational publications. She has two indie-published Christian romantic suspense novels in her Waldensian Series—Light Out of Darkness and Undaunted Valor. Her historical romance, A Song of Deliverance, releases on December 3, 2024.

Donna and her husband of forty years participate in ministry at their local church in Colorado. They love spending time with their grandchildren and bike, kayak, and travel whenever possible.

Connect with Donna: Website  |  X  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  GoodReads  |  BookBub

Readers: What books do you know that also feature enemy to lovers books?