Christy Martenson

Author of the Halstad House series and Love, Mary Elisabeth

Halstad House

A rambling white house. An unopened letter. A young woman in need of a miracle.

Halstad House offers more than lodgings and a good meal to boarders. In the aftermath of World War I, the boarding house gives Grace Halstad a way to drown her heartache in never-ending work. Seeds of bitterness have grown in her heart, but as much as she tries to shut Him out, the Lord is not giving up on her.

Torn between the past and the future, in the wake of shattered dreams, can Grace risk opening her heart again?

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In a style reminiscent of Janette Oke’s books, Halstad House relates one family’s struggles and God’s faithfulness. The careful character development and vivid word pictures quickly drew me in and had me laughing, crying and cheering. I really hope there’s a sequel.

Karen Cleghorn, retired medical editor and avid reader

Christy Martenson
2019-10-18T15:24:19-07:00

Karen Cleghorn, retired medical editor and avid reader

The careful character development and vivid word pictures quickly drew me in and had me laughing, crying and cheering.
Christy Martenson has woven a tale rife with laughter and loveable characters. But Halstad House also brings tears to my eyes every time I read it.

Poignant. Sweet. Positively delightful. Halstad House is one of those books that invites you into the story and makes you feel like you're friends with the characters. Whether you're laughing at Allie's latest capers or empathizing with Grace's journey toward restoration, Halstad House is sure to touch your heart.

Gretchen Louise, blogger and avid reader

Christy Martenson
2019-11-20T22:10:39-07:00

Gretchen Louise, blogger and avid reader

Christy Martenson has woven a tale rife with laughter and loveable characters. But Halstad House also brings tears to my eyes every time I read it.
Reading Halstad House was like developing a friendship; each chapter unveiled the personalities and entertaining quirks of Grace, Allie, Esther, and Ethan a little more. Watching Grace wrestle with challenges brought this book alive in a realistic way. Here’s hoping that there’s a sequel out there, because I’d love to deepen my friendships with these characters.

Jennifer Church, teacher, missionary, and voracious reader

Christy Martenson
2019-10-03T11:27:31-07:00

Jennifer Church, teacher, missionary, and voracious reader

Reading Halstad House was like developing a friendship; each chapter unveiled the personalities and entertaining quirks.
An enjoyable, easy-to-read book, yet it deals with thought-provoking challenges. I loved seeing the characters grow in their faith and the encouragement it gave to my own. I enjoyed this sweet, uplifting story.

Celeste Engell, avid reader

Christy Martenson
2019-10-21T20:59:20-07:00

Celeste Engell, avid reader

I loved seeing the characters grow in their faith and the encouragement it gave to my own.
If you enjoy Janette Oke--central female protagonist, inspirational fiction, gentle love stories--you will really connect with Christy Martenson's second novel, Halstad House!

Emily C. Gardner, bookstagrammer

Christy Martenson
2019-11-01T11:56:47-07:00

Emily C. Gardner, bookstagrammer

If you enjoy Janette Oke--central female protagonist, inspirational fiction, gentle love stories--you will really connect with Halstad House!
Halstad House is a comfortable read that you don’t really want to end. The characters draw you into their own stories and make you root for the desired outcome. Some important take-aways: finding love doesn’t guarantee a sorrow-free life, true love is best achieved with a solid foundation of friendship, and love is most meaningful when expressed in both word and deed.

Sara L.

Christy Martenson
2019-10-18T11:13:40-07:00

Sara L.

The characters draw you into their own stories and make you root for the desired outcome.
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It’s the 1920s in Washington and the Great War has left Grace Halstad struggling to piece together the brokenness of her shattered dreams. Halstad House follows Grace as she works tirelessly to create a home for her spirited daughter Allie while running a boarding house on her own. Not only must she face off against ornery “biddies,” a slimy cousin, and a cantankerous rooster, Grace has to conquer demons of her own in order to maintain hope. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you enjoy Janette Oke – central female protagonist, inspirational fiction, gentle love stories – you will really connect with @christymartenson second novel! Thanks for letting me read it early, Christy! #halstadhouse

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I’ve been making a lot of visits to a place called Halstad House lately. I’d peek in through lace curtains fluttering at the windows to see gleaming wooden floors and a cookstove fresh with blacking. The kitchen smelled of apples and cinnamon. Steaming cups of tea sat on the table between Grace and her sister Esther who were laughing at some shared secret. I could almost taste the scrumptious-looking cinnamon rolls as Grace pulled them from the oven. Then the scene would change, and I’d watch Allie play with the cat named Geoffrey Chaucer and the dog named Uffda. Oh, the time she had with the ornery rooster named Fred (or Stew Meat, depending on who you ask)! Laughter followed everywhere Allie went. But it was Grace that touched my heart the most. Her insecurities. Her struggles. I saw myself in Grace. And as I immersed myself in her story, I learned right along with her. My friend Christy Martenson’s historical Christian fiction novel releases today. I think it’s time for another visit to Halstad House…

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