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A Writing Upon the Sand
A Writing Upon the Sand is a compelling novel of love and intrigue set against the backdrop of the worst hurricane in U.S. history. Fiction inspired by real historical events.
Artisan Book Reviews Book Excellence Award For Best Christian Historical Romance.
Immerse yourself in this inspirational page-turner from J.M. Kirkley.
Galveston, Texas, 1900: Twenty-year-old Emily Cleburne seizes the offer to become governess, but following her dream places her in the path of a devastating storm.
Emily is desperate to succeed after her father thrusts her from home with no lifeline. With little experience, what she lacks in confidence, she makes up for in grit.
Nathan Chambers, a reporter with a secret, pursues Emily’s affections. Drawn in, Emily agrees to keep what he reveals confidential, thereby threatening her position, and clashing with her integrity. Colin Hensleigh, a young minister, challenges her while proving himself a trusted friend.
Emily's alarm grows as the catastrophic storm bears down on the island. She cannot foresee what will happen and who will survive.
When the storm reduces Emily’s plans to rubble, adversity tests her character and faith in unimaginable ways. Will the teacher stand firm when all else gives way, or will she fail the test?
~Themes of grief, faith, and resilience.
~Includes book club questions.
Artisan Book Reviews Book Excellence Award For Best Christian Historical Romance.
Immerse yourself in this inspirational page-turner from J.M. Kirkley.
Galveston, Texas, 1900: Twenty-year-old Emily Cleburne seizes the offer to become governess, but following her dream places her in the path of a devastating storm.
Emily is desperate to succeed after her father thrusts her from home with no lifeline. With little experience, what she lacks in confidence, she makes up for in grit.
Nathan Chambers, a reporter with a secret, pursues Emily’s affections. Drawn in, Emily agrees to keep what he reveals confidential, thereby threatening her position, and clashing with her integrity. Colin Hensleigh, a young minister, challenges her while proving himself a trusted friend.
Emily's alarm grows as the catastrophic storm bears down on the island. She cannot foresee what will happen and who will survive.
When the storm reduces Emily’s plans to rubble, adversity tests her character and faith in unimaginable ways. Will the teacher stand firm when all else gives way, or will she fail the test?
~Themes of grief, faith, and resilience.
~Includes book club questions.
547 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2023
98 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Kirkley
1 book162 followers J.M. Kirkley is an award winning author of the Christian Historical Romance novel, A Writing Upon the Sand. She received the Artisan Book Reviews Book Excellence Award for this debut novel.
By trade, she’s a storykeeper. She's a faith-based counselor who specializes in grief and trauma recovery. By night, she researches and writes grace-filled Christian historical fiction.
She calls East Texas home. Her favorite pastimes include visiting museums and art festivals, refinishing furniture, touring coastal offices of the National Weather Service with her meteorologist son-in-law, and making memories with family and friends.
Iris Fuller for Artisan Book Reviews shares, “Draped in southern charm, cloaked in mystery and belted in real tragic history, J.M. Kirkley’s, A Writing Upon the Sand is a prize Christian Historical Romance debut.”
Connect with her via her website at https://www.jmkirkley.com, on Facebook as J.M. Kirkley, https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-m-k..., and on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/jmkirkleyau....
By trade, she’s a storykeeper. She's a faith-based counselor who specializes in grief and trauma recovery. By night, she researches and writes grace-filled Christian historical fiction.
She calls East Texas home. Her favorite pastimes include visiting museums and art festivals, refinishing furniture, touring coastal offices of the National Weather Service with her meteorologist son-in-law, and making memories with family and friends.
Iris Fuller for Artisan Book Reviews shares, “Draped in southern charm, cloaked in mystery and belted in real tragic history, J.M. Kirkley’s, A Writing Upon the Sand is a prize Christian Historical Romance debut.”
Connect with her via her website at https://www.jmkirkley.com, on Facebook as J.M. Kirkley, https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-m-k..., and on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/jmkirkleyau....
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 12, 2025
“… the Master Rebuilder of Souls was crafting beauty out of the rubble.”
I grew up in land-locked states for all of my formative educational years (and until just four years ago actually), so I wasn’t taught much hurricane history. But these powerful storms have nevertheless been a large presence in other states and have altered countless landscapes, livelihoods, and family lines that deserve to be remembered. And that’s one reason I love reading historical fiction – because it teaches me about things I may not have studied in school and it honors communities who remain forever impacted by the past. In A Writing Upon the Sand, author J.M. Kirkley follows a young Texas woman in the days leading up to and after one of the deadliest natural disasters in US history, the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900.
Turn-of-the-century Galveston comes alive under Kirkley’s pen, a bustling and wealthy seaport with colorful personalities, intriguing history, and important trade. As the third-person narrative introduces us to Galveston through protagonist Emily Cleburne’s point of view, we get to know them both simultaneously. And just like Galveston’s many positive and negative layers, Emily proves to be a complex character as well. Sometimes snippy and low on patience, she doesn’t always exercise the best judgment and there were several times when I became quite exasperated with her. But even then, it’s her humanity that gives her dimension and makes her relatable, and I came to really like Emily just as much for her flaws as for her strengths. Several key supporting characters are just as vibrantly-drawn and well-rounded (and not so simple to put in a clear-cut box), including a British pastor who is a friend of the family and a rakish reporter who is the son of one of Galveston’s seediest businessmen.
The point of A Writing Upon the Sand isn’t which one of those men Emily will end up with or how they’ll fall in love, however. It’s not even about the hurricane, though that certainly plays a major role in the last 40% of the book and in how Emily’s various internal conflicts come to a head in its aftermath. From the beginning of this book to the end, the author is instead weaving a story that points to two important truths: 1) that in order to survive the storms of life, we must be anchored to the Rock, and 2) that the One who never wastes a single thing we go through can create beauty from ashes if we just trust Him to do so. And these are not themes that are presented tritely. Rather, through Emily, the author acknowledges that sometimes our trials don’t end the way we hope, that sometimes we don’t get all – or even some – of the answers we want. But even then, in the midst of the darkness and in hindsight, there will still be ‘a trail of goodness and mercy’ that we can trace if we look for God’s hand at work.
Bottom Line: A Writing Upon the Sand by J.M. Kirkley is a heartfelt debut that merges compelling history, multi-dimensional characters, honest faith, and sweet romance. The setting may be a thriving Galveston, Texas, on the cusp of a devastating storm, but the emotional layers and age-old questions explored are just as relatable to modern day readers as they are to Emily by the story’s end. I enjoyed spending time with this book’s various characters, and I appreciated that none of them were one-dimensional or easy to define at first glance. I also loved the way the narrative is structured, with the main threads of the 1900 timeline sandwiched between a clever opening and a satisfying closing set in 1926 (the resolution being what I was pulling for all along but wasn’t sure it would end up that way). It’s definitely a story that will linger in my mind and heart, and one I recommend be on everyone’s TBR list as well!
(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I read via Kindle Unlimited.)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
I grew up in land-locked states for all of my formative educational years (and until just four years ago actually), so I wasn’t taught much hurricane history. But these powerful storms have nevertheless been a large presence in other states and have altered countless landscapes, livelihoods, and family lines that deserve to be remembered. And that’s one reason I love reading historical fiction – because it teaches me about things I may not have studied in school and it honors communities who remain forever impacted by the past. In A Writing Upon the Sand, author J.M. Kirkley follows a young Texas woman in the days leading up to and after one of the deadliest natural disasters in US history, the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900.
Turn-of-the-century Galveston comes alive under Kirkley’s pen, a bustling and wealthy seaport with colorful personalities, intriguing history, and important trade. As the third-person narrative introduces us to Galveston through protagonist Emily Cleburne’s point of view, we get to know them both simultaneously. And just like Galveston’s many positive and negative layers, Emily proves to be a complex character as well. Sometimes snippy and low on patience, she doesn’t always exercise the best judgment and there were several times when I became quite exasperated with her. But even then, it’s her humanity that gives her dimension and makes her relatable, and I came to really like Emily just as much for her flaws as for her strengths. Several key supporting characters are just as vibrantly-drawn and well-rounded (and not so simple to put in a clear-cut box), including a British pastor who is a friend of the family and a rakish reporter who is the son of one of Galveston’s seediest businessmen.
The point of A Writing Upon the Sand isn’t which one of those men Emily will end up with or how they’ll fall in love, however. It’s not even about the hurricane, though that certainly plays a major role in the last 40% of the book and in how Emily’s various internal conflicts come to a head in its aftermath. From the beginning of this book to the end, the author is instead weaving a story that points to two important truths: 1) that in order to survive the storms of life, we must be anchored to the Rock, and 2) that the One who never wastes a single thing we go through can create beauty from ashes if we just trust Him to do so. And these are not themes that are presented tritely. Rather, through Emily, the author acknowledges that sometimes our trials don’t end the way we hope, that sometimes we don’t get all – or even some – of the answers we want. But even then, in the midst of the darkness and in hindsight, there will still be ‘a trail of goodness and mercy’ that we can trace if we look for God’s hand at work.
Bottom Line: A Writing Upon the Sand by J.M. Kirkley is a heartfelt debut that merges compelling history, multi-dimensional characters, honest faith, and sweet romance. The setting may be a thriving Galveston, Texas, on the cusp of a devastating storm, but the emotional layers and age-old questions explored are just as relatable to modern day readers as they are to Emily by the story’s end. I enjoyed spending time with this book’s various characters, and I appreciated that none of them were one-dimensional or easy to define at first glance. I also loved the way the narrative is structured, with the main threads of the 1900 timeline sandwiched between a clever opening and a satisfying closing set in 1926 (the resolution being what I was pulling for all along but wasn’t sure it would end up that way). It’s definitely a story that will linger in my mind and heart, and one I recommend be on everyone’s TBR list as well!
(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I read via Kindle Unlimited.)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
September 21, 2023
4.5 Stars Wow what a story.....not always an easy read but a really good one. I really wanted the characters to be okay as I really grew to care about them lots.
December 30, 2025
Though I'm not usually one for historical fiction, I was always fascinated with the history of the Galveston hurricane and was immediately drawn in.
At times it felt more like a 4-4.5 star read due to grammatical errors and the use of the word "moisten", but the story wipes the slate clean. I think I may need to pick up more historical fictions now after this.
At times it felt more like a 4-4.5 star read due to grammatical errors and the use of the word "moisten", but the story wipes the slate clean. I think I may need to pick up more historical fictions now after this.
November 17, 2023
I LOVED the book!!!! I hope there will be more novels to come because I would love to read anything Jill writes. I loved being transported into a little slice of what life was like in early 1900. The author transported me into early 1900 Galveston with her world building and I could see it all so clearly in my mind.
I also really enjoyed the story- I was invested in Emily’s story and felt like it was filled with profound nuggets of wisdom that will stay with me for a long, long time. I felt like I was on a journey navigating life and hard things with Emily and it really made think what I would do in the different situations she was in. Very heartbreaking at times reading about the devastation of the storm, and I have such a new appreciation for modern technology, meteorologists, and storm system warnings that keep us safe when the unthinkable happens!
This was a fun and inspiring read that made me so hopeful that even in the darkest of times, it's not the final page in our story. I would highly recommend to anyone!!!
I also really enjoyed the story- I was invested in Emily’s story and felt like it was filled with profound nuggets of wisdom that will stay with me for a long, long time. I felt like I was on a journey navigating life and hard things with Emily and it really made think what I would do in the different situations she was in. Very heartbreaking at times reading about the devastation of the storm, and I have such a new appreciation for modern technology, meteorologists, and storm system warnings that keep us safe when the unthinkable happens!
This was a fun and inspiring read that made me so hopeful that even in the darkest of times, it's not the final page in our story. I would highly recommend to anyone!!!
February 26, 2024
Stars: 3.25/5
Read: February 2024
Format: Kindle e-Book
Challenge Prompt: CNL’s #2 of 50 — “by an author not tried before”
Book #16 of 2024: This is the author’s debut book. I was not familiar with this huge hurricane so this book appealed to me.
I found the early part of the book quite good. However, I felt like at least 100 or more less pages could have told the story just as well. It took until past the halfway point before the storm and then there wasn’t a lot of time spent on it in my opinion.
The book did pick up for the last third of the book. Depicting the aftermath, the smells, the mess left behind, the efforts of volunteers, etc was very interesting. It helped me to picture what happened and be educated by it.
I have to admit that I found the FMC a little hard to like. She was snippy, impatient, and rather naive for someone who had been through the things she had been through. The appeal of Nathan really baffled me, especially toward the end.
I particularly liked when the book switched back to the present day and then the following Epilogue.
Read: February 2024
Format: Kindle e-Book
Challenge Prompt: CNL’s #2 of 50 — “by an author not tried before”
Book #16 of 2024: This is the author’s debut book. I was not familiar with this huge hurricane so this book appealed to me.
I found the early part of the book quite good. However, I felt like at least 100 or more less pages could have told the story just as well. It took until past the halfway point before the storm and then there wasn’t a lot of time spent on it in my opinion.
The book did pick up for the last third of the book. Depicting the aftermath, the smells, the mess left behind, the efforts of volunteers, etc was very interesting. It helped me to picture what happened and be educated by it.
I have to admit that I found the FMC a little hard to like. She was snippy, impatient, and rather naive for someone who had been through the things she had been through. The appeal of Nathan really baffled me, especially toward the end.
I particularly liked when the book switched back to the present day and then the following Epilogue.
December 21, 2023
In 1900, Emily Cleburne leaves her parents to become a governess to her cousins in Galveston, Texas. Not long after Emily begins to thrive in her new role and life, one of the deadliest hurricanes hits the town. Now, Emily, her family, and loving friends are faced with devastation and catastrophe all around.
This was a very emotionally charged novel. There were many cheerful and uplifting moments, but ones wrought with grief and despair as well. Throughout the story, faith and hope in God is a very prevalent theme, and a good reminder that in times of sorrow, even when all hope seems lost, God is still faithful. I was captivated by Emily’s desire to do what’s right and cling to God even when she’s gone through so much heartache.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I appreciate how well the author researched this historic event, even weaving actual people into this story.
This was a very emotionally charged novel. There were many cheerful and uplifting moments, but ones wrought with grief and despair as well. Throughout the story, faith and hope in God is a very prevalent theme, and a good reminder that in times of sorrow, even when all hope seems lost, God is still faithful. I was captivated by Emily’s desire to do what’s right and cling to God even when she’s gone through so much heartache.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I appreciate how well the author researched this historic event, even weaving actual people into this story.
December 19, 2023
A historical fiction set during a hurricane that took place in 1900, in Galveston Texas, this is a book that I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of Christian historical fiction. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. What I enjoyed most about this novel is that it had a climatic end. I'll definitely be reading other books written by this author.
August 29, 2025
“May your character be not a writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the rock.”
Based on the real disastrous hurricane of 1900 in Galveston, Texas, the author brings the events to life in the story of twenty year old Emily Cleburn. Emily has agreed to become a governess for her cousins to enable her aunt to care for her ailing uncle.
Ms. Kirkley did an admirable job chronicling the devastation that befell the people of Galveston during the worst hurricane in U. S. history. Amidst the tragedy, the author spins a tale of a young girl helping family but also being pursued by two men: the local clergyman, Colin Hensleigh and Nathan Chambers a neighbor. Nathan is a newspaperman who seeks to expose corruption in town having to do with Chinese immigrants.
Lots of complexities to this story with the addition of emotional upheaval that follows a tragic event. The book follows the spiritual struggles that Emily grappled with along her faith journey. When Emily questioned why God was silent, she was pointed to where God has already revealed himself: Holy Scripture. “Maybe God wanted her to desire knowing Him more than having answers.”
An exceptional story that gave spiritual insight with a backdrop of a historically significant event.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*
Based on the real disastrous hurricane of 1900 in Galveston, Texas, the author brings the events to life in the story of twenty year old Emily Cleburn. Emily has agreed to become a governess for her cousins to enable her aunt to care for her ailing uncle.
Ms. Kirkley did an admirable job chronicling the devastation that befell the people of Galveston during the worst hurricane in U. S. history. Amidst the tragedy, the author spins a tale of a young girl helping family but also being pursued by two men: the local clergyman, Colin Hensleigh and Nathan Chambers a neighbor. Nathan is a newspaperman who seeks to expose corruption in town having to do with Chinese immigrants.
Lots of complexities to this story with the addition of emotional upheaval that follows a tragic event. The book follows the spiritual struggles that Emily grappled with along her faith journey. When Emily questioned why God was silent, she was pointed to where God has already revealed himself: Holy Scripture. “Maybe God wanted her to desire knowing Him more than having answers.”
An exceptional story that gave spiritual insight with a backdrop of a historically significant event.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*
May 14, 2025
Thought provoking, keeps you guessing til the very end with lots of room for personal introspection throughout. Highly recommend!
Definitely allows for increasing compassion while encouraging you to desire a closer, more truthful and intimate relationship with your Savior and Creator God. I read LOTS and rarely take time to leave reviews. But take the time to enjoy this story!!
Definitely allows for increasing compassion while encouraging you to desire a closer, more truthful and intimate relationship with your Savior and Creator God. I read LOTS and rarely take time to leave reviews. But take the time to enjoy this story!!
May 4, 2025
go see the waves
This is the first book I have read by this author. This is an amazing book. So rich in characters and a faith of love so deep. A heart felt book that drew me in. I just had to know what happened.
This is the first book I have read by this author. This is an amazing book. So rich in characters and a faith of love so deep. A heart felt book that drew me in. I just had to know what happened.
March 4, 2024
I loved this book. Having grown up near Galveston I have looked for years for a historical fiction book about the 1900 hurricane where I could learn more of the history of that time. I have only found a few and when looking at them they were very depressing and they were just about the storm. The story in this book is about Galveston and there is a storyline separate and apart from the hurricane, and the hurricane isn't the end of the story. The book includes what happened after the storm and how the people started to recover the island and how they found a way to go on living their lives. The characters go on living and they start over and they grieve those they lost, but they grow and become stronger because of the storm. I did reach a point where I knew the hurricane was coming and I know the history so I knew that the next section of the book was going to be hard to get through. I had to actually set the book aside and I kind of dreaded going back to it. I waited a couple of days until I could find a block of time where I knew I could get through the hardest part without interruption. I was glad when that section was over because it really was such a traumatic storm, but I was surprised to find that I still had a large section of book left to read...the hurricane was over but the story wasn't. It was such a relief to get to follow the characters to find out more about how they recovered and what was done for the island in the days following the storm and how they grew through the experience. I loved it and I so appreciate how the author ended the story with hope and healing.
July 10, 2024
The story and characters captured my interest and the deeper I got into the book, I found I could hardly put it down. I did not realize when I started reading the book it was based on history and once discovering that, on my own research, I was overwhelmed at the description and depth the author captured the tragedy and how it impacted each character in the book. Emily's struggle with guilt, her desire to help others, her honesty about wandering so far from God, only to discover through all the challenges and heartache, fear and pain, that He was the answer all along was inspiring. The author's insight into the heart of so many different types of people and the way they were all so accurately portrayed was amazing. She is a gifted author who invests heavily in painstaking research to authentically present a historical tragedy, and take the reader through it personally. I loved this book and look forward to reading more by this author.
December 6, 2023
I received an ARC of this book. This review represents my honest opinion.
Colin crouched down and began scrolling letters in the sand. “A beloved professor once said ‘May your character be not a writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the the rock.’He went on to say, ‘May your whole life be so settled, fixed, and established that all the blasts of hell and all the storms of earth shall never be able to remove you.’”
A Writing upon the Sand follows Emily as she leaves her family’s farm and travels to Galveston to be a governess to her young cousins. The year is 1900, the same year the Great Galveston Hurricane, considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in American history, is destined to come ashore. As Emily adjusts from farm girl to city girl, she finds herself pulled between two opposing forces: Colin Hensleigh, a devout minister from England, and Nathan Chambers, a charming reporter harboring secrets. Emily finds her character tested, both by her relationships with her new friends and by the impending storm.
Two things made me pick up this book: first, the sample left me wanting more (always a great sign!); second, the story is about Texas and Texas weather. I am a native Texan myself, and like many Texans, I find Texas weather and history fascinating. These factors drew me back even after considering other debut novels to peruse. Imagine my surprise - and delight - to not only find the book enjoyable but to be so entirely engrossed with reading that I completely lost track of time and read well past midnight even though I needed to get up early for work the next day. Not many books have that kind of effect on me.
The narrative voice is intimate and friendly, taking a limited third-person perspective. We see the world through Emily’s eyes, only gaining knowledge as she gains it. This allows Emily’s curiosity to fuel the reader’s curiosity as she seeks to find answers to her questions and navigate the fast-paced world of the Golden Age of Galveston. Pre-hurricane Galveston is represented well as the “southern Wall Street” that it was, full of color, vitality, and action. Central to the story is the love triangle between the three characters, and it plays out the classic Betty and Veronica trope (arguably the most used and flexible of romance tropes). I had concerns that this would play out predictably, but because the characters interact in the real world with real impending doom, it feels believable. Enough secondary characters round out the cast to provide a playful pointillism of personalities. A few were so well drawn that I wondered if they were based on real people (I think we all have a Miss Pickering in our lives somewhere!).
With a story like this, there are a few cons. The only ones I can think of are that the book probably needs another proofread (I caught at least one typo), and at times I wished the book were more descriptive. It’s dialogue-heavy. Now, the dialogue is fantastic - especially if you’re like me and you like assigning voices to characters - but I prefer more balance between dialogue and description. Fortunately, the narrative is fluid, and I can't think of a place where my suspension of disbelief was challenged.
One interesting thing I noted was that the book, though featuring the Great Hurricane, actually falls into a man vs. self-conflict rather than man vs. nature. The real conflict lies in Emily’s internal processing; she has to decide between two pathways based on morality and ethics, and the die is not truly set until after she passes through the hurricane. The storm becomes a catalyst for her true nature to rise to the surface - and that of her friends. I suspect the author has a good grasp on how trials reveal us as we truly are. She does not seek to question why suffering is bound up in the fabric of human existence, but her story does illustrate why suffering adds meaning to life - and that fact alone makes this book worth your time. Four stars.
Colin crouched down and began scrolling letters in the sand. “A beloved professor once said ‘May your character be not a writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the the rock.’He went on to say, ‘May your whole life be so settled, fixed, and established that all the blasts of hell and all the storms of earth shall never be able to remove you.’”
A Writing upon the Sand follows Emily as she leaves her family’s farm and travels to Galveston to be a governess to her young cousins. The year is 1900, the same year the Great Galveston Hurricane, considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in American history, is destined to come ashore. As Emily adjusts from farm girl to city girl, she finds herself pulled between two opposing forces: Colin Hensleigh, a devout minister from England, and Nathan Chambers, a charming reporter harboring secrets. Emily finds her character tested, both by her relationships with her new friends and by the impending storm.
Two things made me pick up this book: first, the sample left me wanting more (always a great sign!); second, the story is about Texas and Texas weather. I am a native Texan myself, and like many Texans, I find Texas weather and history fascinating. These factors drew me back even after considering other debut novels to peruse. Imagine my surprise - and delight - to not only find the book enjoyable but to be so entirely engrossed with reading that I completely lost track of time and read well past midnight even though I needed to get up early for work the next day. Not many books have that kind of effect on me.
The narrative voice is intimate and friendly, taking a limited third-person perspective. We see the world through Emily’s eyes, only gaining knowledge as she gains it. This allows Emily’s curiosity to fuel the reader’s curiosity as she seeks to find answers to her questions and navigate the fast-paced world of the Golden Age of Galveston. Pre-hurricane Galveston is represented well as the “southern Wall Street” that it was, full of color, vitality, and action. Central to the story is the love triangle between the three characters, and it plays out the classic Betty and Veronica trope (arguably the most used and flexible of romance tropes). I had concerns that this would play out predictably, but because the characters interact in the real world with real impending doom, it feels believable. Enough secondary characters round out the cast to provide a playful pointillism of personalities. A few were so well drawn that I wondered if they were based on real people (I think we all have a Miss Pickering in our lives somewhere!).
With a story like this, there are a few cons. The only ones I can think of are that the book probably needs another proofread (I caught at least one typo), and at times I wished the book were more descriptive. It’s dialogue-heavy. Now, the dialogue is fantastic - especially if you’re like me and you like assigning voices to characters - but I prefer more balance between dialogue and description. Fortunately, the narrative is fluid, and I can't think of a place where my suspension of disbelief was challenged.
One interesting thing I noted was that the book, though featuring the Great Hurricane, actually falls into a man vs. self-conflict rather than man vs. nature. The real conflict lies in Emily’s internal processing; she has to decide between two pathways based on morality and ethics, and the die is not truly set until after she passes through the hurricane. The storm becomes a catalyst for her true nature to rise to the surface - and that of her friends. I suspect the author has a good grasp on how trials reveal us as we truly are. She does not seek to question why suffering is bound up in the fabric of human existence, but her story does illustrate why suffering adds meaning to life - and that fact alone makes this book worth your time. Four stars.
December 9, 2025
This review contains affiliate links
I received A Writing Upon the Sand compliments of the author in exchange for my honest review.
A Writing Upon the Sand is the debut title by author J.M. Kirkley. This book is a work of historical Christian fiction, and I really enjoyed it! The story begins with the main character, Emily Cleburne, leaving her parents to live with her aunt and uncle and be a caregiver for her cousins in Galveston, Texas.
While in Galveston, Emily meets two men, Nathan and Colin. Her heart is drawn to both for different reasons, and as the story progresses, each man's true character is revealed. The story takes place just before, during, and after the 1900 Galveston hurricane. The book does an excellent job of combining fact and fiction through its inclusion of facts about Galveston and the 1900 hurricane.
I enjoyed how the characters were written, and although Emily is fictional, she seemed very believable to me. I don't generally read much Christian fiction because the stories and characters seem too perfect and unrealistic, but Emily's thoughts were very relatable. Overall, this is a compelling story of hope amid hardship. I love the deep truths it includes about God, which Christian fiction often seems to miss, and I couldn't put this book down! I even felt a little sad upon finishing it. I eagerly anticipate reading more by Kirkley in the future!
I received A Writing Upon the Sand compliments of the author in exchange for my honest review.
A Writing Upon the Sand is the debut title by author J.M. Kirkley. This book is a work of historical Christian fiction, and I really enjoyed it! The story begins with the main character, Emily Cleburne, leaving her parents to live with her aunt and uncle and be a caregiver for her cousins in Galveston, Texas.
While in Galveston, Emily meets two men, Nathan and Colin. Her heart is drawn to both for different reasons, and as the story progresses, each man's true character is revealed. The story takes place just before, during, and after the 1900 Galveston hurricane. The book does an excellent job of combining fact and fiction through its inclusion of facts about Galveston and the 1900 hurricane.
I enjoyed how the characters were written, and although Emily is fictional, she seemed very believable to me. I don't generally read much Christian fiction because the stories and characters seem too perfect and unrealistic, but Emily's thoughts were very relatable. Overall, this is a compelling story of hope amid hardship. I love the deep truths it includes about God, which Christian fiction often seems to miss, and I couldn't put this book down! I even felt a little sad upon finishing it. I eagerly anticipate reading more by Kirkley in the future!
October 31, 2023
Fascinating topic, terrific main character, compelling story and I loved the blending of fact and imagination.
I knew I would enjoy this novel by J M Kirkley. I visited Galveston, Texas years ago, and I vividly remember viewing a presentation about the hurricane of 1900. This historical novel was not only suspenseful, but presented a romance the way I like to see it portrayed. A romance not built on appearances or feelings, but character. Emily faced a traumatic transition in her life that might have stopped another young girl. I appreciated the growth of character as she responded to difficult changes in her life.
Our family personally experienced a number of frightening Hurricanes in the early 2000s. We had the advantage of hearing reports from the hurricane hunter aircraft days before a storm arrived. We knew how strong each storm was expected to be and approximately how close it would pass by us. But reading about people who were unprepared and suffered dramatic results was heartbreaking. The author’s details about the sounds and lingering smells were spot on. I felt the rising tension as the storm progressed.
The author also brought to light some of the destructive effects of sin and sad consequences of life resulting from sin.
The spiritual aspects and insight on how to overcome the emotions of guilt and loss were well done.
I enjoyed the author’s historical notes. Her research added greatly to the blending of history and imagination. Thank you for an impactful story. I am looking forward to reading more from J.M. Kirkley.
I knew I would enjoy this novel by J M Kirkley. I visited Galveston, Texas years ago, and I vividly remember viewing a presentation about the hurricane of 1900. This historical novel was not only suspenseful, but presented a romance the way I like to see it portrayed. A romance not built on appearances or feelings, but character. Emily faced a traumatic transition in her life that might have stopped another young girl. I appreciated the growth of character as she responded to difficult changes in her life.
Our family personally experienced a number of frightening Hurricanes in the early 2000s. We had the advantage of hearing reports from the hurricane hunter aircraft days before a storm arrived. We knew how strong each storm was expected to be and approximately how close it would pass by us. But reading about people who were unprepared and suffered dramatic results was heartbreaking. The author’s details about the sounds and lingering smells were spot on. I felt the rising tension as the storm progressed.
The author also brought to light some of the destructive effects of sin and sad consequences of life resulting from sin.
The spiritual aspects and insight on how to overcome the emotions of guilt and loss were well done.
I enjoyed the author’s historical notes. Her research added greatly to the blending of history and imagination. Thank you for an impactful story. I am looking forward to reading more from J.M. Kirkley.
October 20, 2023
“Only fools and those desperate for peace returned to the place that spawned their nightmares.” I felt that I had experienced the horror that engulfed Galveston and “spawned…nightmares” along with everyone else populating this book. I’m not a get-it-read kind of reader, I wallow in books, but this one wouldn’t let me wallow, these people, my friends, were in real trouble, minutes mattered, and I had to read their lives through to the end of the book in record time—at least that’s how it seemed. The summer was hot, I could smell the salt air and cool breeze at water’s edge as I read the book on my own warm beach of a couch. I’m not a romance book fan, nor typically a historical fiction fan (and this is both) but the history called me, looking for something different and also having spent many happy days at Galveston’s shoreline. I gave it a chance. Reading cover to cover, including historical notes and discussion questions helped me ease out of the world that I’d stepped into through the pages of this book, drawn in by the characters’ own hands almost. I needed that slow release from the book—my favorite kind of book—one that keeps you lingering among its leaves. I was surprised by it and gladly so! Let this book surprise you. You might surprise yourself.
March 4, 2024
Story about the great Galveston flood
Such a poignant story, the story drew me in, Emily's leaving home gladly due to a bitter mother and controlling father,she jumps at the chance to be a governess to her younger cousins who live on Galveston island in 1900; There are 2 men Colin and Nathan Who seemed drawn to Emily. She seeks to know god's will And thrives in teaching her younger cousins and volunteering At the community orphanage , the place where She is when The flooding starts. Nathan has decided to pursue a career in journalism to expose his wicked father who runs brothels and gambling places. The title of the book a writing upon the sand Comes from Charles spurgeon who said may your character not be like writing upon the sand but an inscription upon the rock so the waves will not wash it away. The symbolism Becomes important to Emily When she decides to leave her grief By writing in the sand
Such a poignant story, the story drew me in, Emily's leaving home gladly due to a bitter mother and controlling father,she jumps at the chance to be a governess to her younger cousins who live on Galveston island in 1900; There are 2 men Colin and Nathan Who seemed drawn to Emily. She seeks to know god's will And thrives in teaching her younger cousins and volunteering At the community orphanage , the place where She is when The flooding starts. Nathan has decided to pursue a career in journalism to expose his wicked father who runs brothels and gambling places. The title of the book a writing upon the sand Comes from Charles spurgeon who said may your character not be like writing upon the sand but an inscription upon the rock so the waves will not wash it away. The symbolism Becomes important to Emily When she decides to leave her grief By writing in the sand
January 4, 2025
“Only fools and those desperate for peace returned to the place that spawned their nightmares.“
Reading till 1:45 am. Had to relieve the tension caused in the story, A Writing Upon the Sand, by J.M. Kirkley. Set in Galveston, Texas, 1900 and 1925.
Several tense themes. Severe flood (hard to read in current locale after experiencing a bit of Helene’s wrath in Oct.).
Romantic tension and integrity of character. Personal guilt. Will governess Emily find the answers she seeks in God, or will she be left with questions and guilt for a lifetime? 5 stars for relatability of inner and outer conflict, history, and emotions evoked.
If you enjoy the Barbour Books Series, A Day to Remember that showcases little-known national natural disasters, I highly recommend A Writing Upon the Sand.
Reading till 1:45 am. Had to relieve the tension caused in the story, A Writing Upon the Sand, by J.M. Kirkley. Set in Galveston, Texas, 1900 and 1925.
Several tense themes. Severe flood (hard to read in current locale after experiencing a bit of Helene’s wrath in Oct.).
Romantic tension and integrity of character. Personal guilt. Will governess Emily find the answers she seeks in God, or will she be left with questions and guilt for a lifetime? 5 stars for relatability of inner and outer conflict, history, and emotions evoked.
If you enjoy the Barbour Books Series, A Day to Remember that showcases little-known national natural disasters, I highly recommend A Writing Upon the Sand.
October 28, 2023
Just had a 9 hour plane ride, and I didn't sleep or watch a movie -- read your book the whole time! Loved every line! So well written -- many times I would stop and think, "What beautiful phrasing -- I never would have thought to write it that way." I usually don't dogear books because I'm a staunch "protect the book" person, but I had to dogear pg 122 and Colin's conversation with Emily that is core to the whole novel. And Colin again on pg 276 "... for the time to answer questions had passed." Had to read this several times with tears streaming. Such wisdom. Thank you, Jill. I'm so thankful you persisted and blessed us with this beautiful work.
June 4, 2024
Wow!
This book was so good. I couldn't put it down. After the storm and Emily left to go work at the orphange, the story picks up years later and it starts talking about her husband. I was thinking wait, what happened to Nick and Colin. Who is her husband, what happened to Chai Lin? The turn of events at end of the story was so good
This book was so good. I couldn't put it down. After the storm and Emily left to go work at the orphange, the story picks up years later and it starts talking about her husband. I was thinking wait, what happened to Nick and Colin. Who is her husband, what happened to Chai Lin? The turn of events at end of the story was so good
February 8, 2024
This is such a great book! The characters are believable, the imagery is realistic, and it’s a page turner. The chapters end leaving me wanting more!
November 29, 2025
Poignant read, with plenty of heartbreak and joy. I love that history is a part of this, even though the story is fiction.
November 9, 2025
An Excellent Book
“A Writing Upon the Sand” is a beautifully written historical novel inspired by the 1900 Galveston storm. The author’s twenty years of research bring authenticity and depth to a story of faith, loss, and resilience. As the characters struggle to rebuild their lives and reconcile their faith after tragedy, a tender love story weaves through the narrative, adding heart and hope. Moving and heartfelt, this novel is a touching tribute to the strength of the human spirit.
“A Writing Upon the Sand” is a beautifully written historical novel inspired by the 1900 Galveston storm. The author’s twenty years of research bring authenticity and depth to a story of faith, loss, and resilience. As the characters struggle to rebuild their lives and reconcile their faith after tragedy, a tender love story weaves through the narrative, adding heart and hope. Moving and heartfelt, this novel is a touching tribute to the strength of the human spirit.
October 1, 2024
A Writing upon the Sand by J. M. Kirkley is a historical Christian novel set in Texas at the turn of the century. With the teasing intensity of a slow-coming tide, the story pulls readers into currents of romance intrigue, and mystery that keep pages turning well into the midnight hour.
Kirkley does a superb job salting her narrative with spiritual themes that inspire self-reflection. Anyone who has struggled to find their footing on the delicate road of tragedy or dealt with the relentless pressure of life's unanswered questions cannot help but empathize with several of the character's dilemmas.
With beautifully placed detail, Kirkley immerses her readers in a tale that pulls you back in time through imagined sights tastes, and smells. You can’t help but feel the tug of angst when the bid for Emily’s heart endangers the hope of romance as emotional confusion gets tangled in too many secrets.
One of my favorite quotes from the book: “Like all things counterfeit, attraction proved a heady assault. It twisted me inside out, wringing the very life from all objectivity….Beware of the lure of counterfeit treasure, for it can rob you of what is most priceless.” That subtle theme is intricately woven into Emily’s journey in this book. You won’t be disappointed with A Writing Upon the Sand.
Kirkley does a superb job salting her narrative with spiritual themes that inspire self-reflection. Anyone who has struggled to find their footing on the delicate road of tragedy or dealt with the relentless pressure of life's unanswered questions cannot help but empathize with several of the character's dilemmas.
With beautifully placed detail, Kirkley immerses her readers in a tale that pulls you back in time through imagined sights tastes, and smells. You can’t help but feel the tug of angst when the bid for Emily’s heart endangers the hope of romance as emotional confusion gets tangled in too many secrets.
One of my favorite quotes from the book: “Like all things counterfeit, attraction proved a heady assault. It twisted me inside out, wringing the very life from all objectivity….Beware of the lure of counterfeit treasure, for it can rob you of what is most priceless.” That subtle theme is intricately woven into Emily’s journey in this book. You won’t be disappointed with A Writing Upon the Sand.
December 31, 2024
This is the first book by author J.M. Kirkley I’ve read, and I had some trepidation because even though a romance, it’s a “disaster book,” however there is a very satisfying happily ever after. Knowing the hurricane is coming adds suspense to the story, but the author does an excellent job of not having the event totally overshadow rest of the plot. The main characters are well-written, and there are two men that play an important role in Emily’s life, so the twists and turns kept me guessing as to which would end up winning her hand at the end. Descriptions of the hurricane’s aftermath are realistic, but not gruesome or gratuitous. There is sadness because of the losses experienced in the hurricane, but messages of hope remind the reader of God’s sovereignty and mercy.
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