Tell Tale Book Reviews

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Murders In The Marquee by Dana Mentink (Give.away)

10/5/2026

In this witty historical murder mystery set
in a San Francisco hotel, an unlikely trio
of amateur sleuths must uncover a killer
before another guest checks out for good.

In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.
Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.
Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: September 1, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Everything is just ducky at the Marquee. Or is it?

Dana Mentink is one of those mystery/suspense authors that I will automatically pick up as soon as I see the familiar name on the cover. I don't have to read the back cover copy to know that I'll enjoy the story. That was the definitely the case this time around.

Murders In The Marquee intrigued me with the title and I was good and hooked after 'meeting' Saul, Kitty, and Henry – oh, and the ducks, of course. One cannot forget the ducks. I liked the lead characters and enjoyed the dual POVs of Saul and Kitty. They are very different – she is gung ho to throw convention aside in order to investigate and he just wants to stay out of trouble and keep his job.

Part cozy mystery, part historical, the latest from Dana Mentink was an enjoyable read. It has the historical atmosphere with its elegant hotel setting – I loved the location – as well as the cozy-ish mystery vibe that kept me turning the pages curious to find out who-done-it and just exactly what they even did. Was Saul actually witness to a body falling several floors out of the hotel? Just how many Murders In The Marquee were there really?

I had a good time reading Murders In The Marquee and I was excited to find out from the back of the book that there will be a sequel from Dana Mentink. The problem now, of course, is that I must wait for it....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Murders In The Marquee by Dana Mentink a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

More from Dana

Ice cream or pie? Cake or cookies? Beach or mountains? The answer for me is always, “Yes!” I’m a restless soul, I suppose, but I’ve never been able to choose one delight over the other. I’m that way with writing too. I started my career in mystery and sidestepped to suspense. It’d be so much easier to stick with one genre but no. Dana Mentink has to write both, it seems. I attended a Harlequin anniversary celebration in Toronto a couple of years ago and listened to the editors discuss their futures wishes. Tina James mentioned she’d like to see an “Only Murders in the Building” type book or maybe a historical mystery. Whammo! The idea hit me like a train. What about both? An Only Murders in the Building/Downton Abbey type mashup? The series idea was born. Lots of twists and turns? Check. Humor? Check? An unlikely crime solving trio? You bet! I’m truly thrilled to have been allowed to step back into mystery land. I hope you’ll enjoy the results!

Dana Mentink

Dana Mentink is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion for excellence in mystery/suspense. She was honored to receive the Author of the Year award from West Coast Christian Writers. A California native, she’s written over sixty titles for the general and Christian markets in the suspense, lighthearted romance, and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Revell.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of
a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of the book!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/hz50N/murders-in-the-marquee-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 29
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 29
Books Less Travelled , September 30
She Lives To Read, September 30
Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 1
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 1
Texas Book-aholic, October 2
Wishful Endings, October 2
For Him and My Family, October 3
Books You Can Feel Good About, October 3
Lily’s Corner, October 4
Blogging With Carol, October 4
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 5
Leslie’s Library Escape, October 6
Life of Literature , October 6
Connie’s History Classroom, October 7
Mary Hake, October 7
Blossoms and Blessings, October 8
Holly’s Book Corner, October 9
Pause for Tales, October 9
Cover Lover Book Review, October 10
Life on Chickadee Lane, October 11
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 12
Lights in a Dark World, October 12

3 Comments

Just Read Blog Tour - Watched by Jerusha Agen (Give.away)

10/1/2026

8 Comments

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Watched by Jerusha Agen,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

His mind is a steel trap. He didn’t know it could trap him.

Robert Weston became a psychiatrist to heal people’s minds. He can’t lose his. But if the strange occurrences of forgetfulness and confusion continue, he may not be able to hide the truth much longer. When his psychological issues put his life in danger, he must face the reality that the genetic nightmare he fears inheriting has seized him.

Attorney Monty Montgomery doesn’t trust Robert Weston. His expert testimony once ruined her client’s case. She didn’t realize the psychiatrist isn’t only wrong but also completely unreliable. How can she defend him against a malpractice suit for the insurance company that hired her when he’s clearly incompetent?

Robert and Monty have bigger problems than they know. Someone has a mission. A mission that won’t be stopped until somebody ends up dead.

Is everyone a pawn in the lethal game, or is Robert’s failing mind playing tricks on him? Even with the help of the Weston siblings, Robert and Monty may need a mind smarter than theirs—the mind of God—to escape this twisted game alive.

Publisher: SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: September 24, 2026
Genre: Christian romantic suspense

More in This Series

My Review

Is it the mind that betrays or people that do?

When I started Watched, the third book in the Windy City Westons series, I knew I was in for a good story. It IS a Jerusha Agen novel after all. But, I had no idea just how absorbed I was going to get in the psychological games and the overall drama.

Those two elements are very strong in Watched, making it one of the most interesting and riveting psychological reads that I've picked up this year. I was quite impressed with Jerusha Agen's ability to spin Robert's fears of cognitive loss as well as Monty's fear of dealing with yet another unreliable and unstable man. The third Windy City Westons novel really kept me on the edge of my seat trying to guess who might have done what and why they would have done it. Some of my suspicions were spot-on and other events came as rather a surprise.

I will say that I am not usually a fan of a certain event conveniently timed to allow a HEA. But, in this case, the mystery and suspense really carried the story, and I was kept glued to the page from start to finish.

I did miss reading Windy City Westons book one, but I enjoyed book two, and I feel like, though there are some spoilers, you can read each of them at least somewhat independently. I do, however, intend on reading book one as soon as I can get my hands on it.

Watched was an enjoyable read with elements of mystery, suspense, and thriller that really kept me turning those pages. Jerusha Agen has another great series going here, and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Watched by Jerusha Agen a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Jerusha Agen

Jerusha Agen is a Christy Award finalist who imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes romantic suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats, often while reading or watching movies. Find more of Jerusha’s thrilling, redemptive stories at JerushaAgen.com. is a Christy Award finalist who imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes romantic suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats, often while reading or watching movies. Find more of Jerusha’s thrilling, redemptive stories at JerushaAgen.com.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Watched, a $25
Barnes and Noble gift card, and a Watched mug, notebook, and magnet!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 28, 2026 and will last through
11:59 PM EST on October 5, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and
given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - My Heart Is Home by Natasha R. Minier-Robinson (Give.away)

9/26/2026

3 Comments

When the world grew loud, and grief
weighed heavy on her, Natasha’s heart
cried out, and God met her in the quiet.

Born out of a season marked by miscarriage and the ache that lingered after, My Heart Is Home gathers the moments where Natasha began to acknowledge the pain grief brought with it, to name it, to question it, and to face the reflection it revealed, as her heart found somewhere safe to reside.
For the woman grieving quietly.
For the one loving deeply but hurting silently.
For the heart that feels empty yet still longs for comfort and truth.
These reflections offer companionship, softness, and the reminder that God meets us gently in the places we struggle to name.
God has not forgotten you.

Genre: Nonfiction- Memoir
Release Date: May, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Natasha

#1. What was the inspiration behind this book?
The Holy Spirit.

#2. What part of the writing process do you like the least?
I would say the editing process after the manuscript is ready.

#3. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book. The grief I experienced while writing this book was real and in its rawest form. I was living through that season of grief as I wrote and published this book, which made the writing process deeply personal.

#4. Did you have a specific demographic in mind while writing this book?
Yes. This book is written by a woman, told from the perspective of a woman, and written for women. That is not to say men can't read it. I've had men purchase this book. However, the primary target audience is women.

#5. What do you hope your readers will remember after finishing this book?
Suffering and hope can coexist.

More from Natasha

The My Heart Is Home series was written during a season of deep loss, hurt, uncertainty, confusion, and anger. Broken. Wounded. Heart bleeding. End of story, right?

Grief and loss equals the end, right?

No.

God used grief to birth something Natasha never could have imagined.

It was summed up beautifully by Amanda Lentz, the podcast host of Who We Become — Life Beyond Change! During Natasha’s interview with Amanda, she said something Natasha found so profound…

She said, “Grief is not the end of the story… it’s often somehow inexplicably, the beginning of a deeper one.”

As Natasha reflected on this quote weeks later, she realized grief was not the end. It was the beginning.

The My Heart Is Home series was birthed.

Even now, grief seemed like it was the whole story, but it is still unraveling. God has used the miscarriage Natasha went through and turned it into something she never would have imagined… something to help others feel seen, loved, understood, and, most of all, to help them see hope.

Natasha R. Minier-Robinson

Natasha R. Minier-Robinson is a Christian author, poet, and speaker whose writing explores faith, grief, healing, hope, and the beauty that can emerge from broken places. Through honest reflections, poetry, and memoir-style storytelling, she invites readers into conversations about loss, resilience, and finding God’s presence in life’s most difficult seasons. Her work encourages others to embrace their stories, hold onto hope, and discover that even in the midst of pain, they are never alone.

When she is not writing, Natasha enjoys creating spoken word content, encouraging others through
social media and her blog, and sharing messages of faith and perseverance with readers around the
world. She is the author of Words Are Art, Beautiful Disaster, Colorless Love, and My Heart Is Home,
and other works that inspire readers to find hope, healing, and purpose in every season of life.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Natasha is giving away the grand prize of
a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback book!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/B0X3T/my-heart-is-home-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, September 17 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, September 18 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, September 18
Guild Master, September 19 (Author Interview)
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 20
Fiction Book Lover, September 21 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, September 22 (Author Interview)
Lots of Helpers, September 23
Vicky Sluiter, September 24 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, September 25 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 26 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 27
Blossoms and Blessings, September 28 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, September 29 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 29
Books, Books, & More Books, September 30 (Author Interview)

3 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Letters To The Editor by Paul Michael Garrison (Give.away)

9/22/2026

4 Comments

Writing is hard. Editing is murder.

Editor Nathanael Carver has made a career out of exposing corruption and publishing people’s dirty secrets. From his hate mail, it seems one of his high-profile enemies wants revenge. But the person with murder in mind may be someone closer to home.
Carver enlists the help of Kate Baxter, a police detective with problems of her own: disapproving parents, sexist coworkers, and a smoking habit she can’t seem to kick. The support of her tribe and ample time at the gun range help to keep her sane. As her personal life and the case bleed together, Kate gains insight into Carver’s world, keeping her eye on those closest to him. Kate is on the cusp of progress when Carver, against her advice, drops the case—only to be viciously attacked. Now it’s Kate’s turn to drag everyone’s dirty secrets into the light, but not before at least one body hits the floor.

Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Release Date: November, 2019

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Paul Michael

#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
I always have a reservoir of story ideas in the back of my mind because I’m always telling new stories to myself. As I recall it, the idea for Letters to the Editor started with what I thought would be a pretty good murder plot. (There’s an old maxim about mystery writers staying up nights thinking of new ways to kill people.) The idea stayed in the back of my mind until I decided to tackle writing a novel. I set the story in the publishing world because I was working as a project editor at the time, and I could easily use that background to flesh out the setting. Every workplace has its drama, right?

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
I get asked this question a lot, and it’s not easy to answer. Partially because I don’t keep track of things temporally very well, and partially because I worked on the manuscript off and on for a period of time. It started as a project for a post-grad creative-writing course, but I didn’t finish it immediately after the class. And even after it was finished, I spent many years revising and submitting Letters to the Editor (or letting it sit on a virtual shelf) before it was published by Owl Hollow Press.

#3. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
I love almost all of them, though there are a few that I find it more difficult to relate to. I think that’s a big part of writing fiction, putting yourself in the skin of all your characters to see what the world looks like from their perspective. My detective, Kate Baxter, is dear to my heart, probably because I poured a lot of myself at the time into her. And Mason Lenkov, the graphic designer with stalking tendencies, was an unexpected pleasure to write because he was so different from me (I promise).

#4. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
I didn’t write Letters to the Editor with any particular take-away, spiritual or intellectual, in mind, but I do hope that it will challenge readers to think about the underlying themes as well as entertain them. I’m hesitant to articulate on those themes too much since I think it can be important to let readers come to them on their own. I do love hearing what people do take away from the novel. I heard third-hand about one reader who, days after finishing the book, still found herself thinking about how everything that happened was the result of sin. I loved not only that she made that observation but also that her mind continued to chew on it days later.

#5. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
I was born and raised in the Midwest, which is one reason Letters to the Editor is set there. Most of my family still lives there. Since university, I’ve lived in Upstate South Carolina. I hold degrees in publishing, theater, and creative writing, all of which I use professionally or otherwise. You can see the nod to my theatrical background in the character of Alex in the novel. I still do theater when I have the time and energy, usually with the Greenville Shakespeare Company. Most of us have preformed together for years, and that’s a special experience. I also run a book club with another group of friends that’s been going for more than 15 years.

More from Paul Michael

The Creation of Kate Baxter: Meeting the Detective of Letters to the Editor

How do you come up with your characters?

It’s one of the most frequent questions I (and probably a lot of authors) get at book events. Some authors talk about their characters as creations, while others insist their characters come to them fully formed, gradually revealing themselves to the writer. As with most writing philosophies, I personally tend to fall in the middle.

But I can tell you that Detective Kate Baxter in her trademark trench coat did not spring from my imagination fully formed like Athena from the mind of Zeus. Several thoughtful factors came into play during her creation.

The Mystery Came First
For many novelists, the character comes first, but Letters to the Editor began with the mystery. I imagine that’s common for mystery writers. It was an idea I’d had for some time, just simmering in the back of my brain.
It wasn’t until I signed up for a novel-writing class that I decided to actually flesh the mystery out and put it down on paper. So, if I was going to write a classic mystery, I was going to need a detective.

The Professional Detective
Cozy mysteries can be great fun, but in a series (and they usually end up as series) I find the trope of the amateur detective who constantly stumbles into one mystery after another a bit strained. Requiring a high suspension of disbelief, it works best in comic, here-we-go-again scenarios.

I wanted to create a world that felt more grounded and to leave the window open for my detective to come back (which she did in The Lies People Publish). And that’s one reason Kate serves on the Fulton Springs Police Department.

The Girl Next Door
I recall feeling bombarded at the time by burned-out detectives, whether in literature, film, or television. The investigator whose life is an unholy shambles, who’s nursing a substance abuse problem (usually alcohol), whose family or private life is completely shattered. I kept seeing these broken-down characters, and they just depressed me. I struggled to relate to them in any way. With their addictions and psychological damage, I questioned how legitimately they could function in everyday life, let alone track down murderers and other criminals.

I wanted a more relatable detective, not a beleaguered trainwreck nor a genius human computer of the Sherlockian variety. I wanted someone who, even if you couldn’t relate to her directly, you could imagine her living next door.

When an interviewer referred to Kate as a bit of a hot mess, I must admit I got defensive for a moment. And then I realized that she probably is—the way all of us are in the right light. She struggles with her relationships and goals and with living out her values and beliefs as most thoughtful people do.

When I began the novel, I had a female friend who was a police officer. Kate is not based on her, but I won’t deny that my friend (and her stories) inspired some of Kate’s characteristics, her tribe of friends, and even a few anecdotes that worked their way into the story.

Midwestern Woman of Faith
While I live in the South, I grew up in the Midwest. At the time of writing, I felt I could more accurately capture the Midwestern sensibility than a Southern one, both for Kate’s character and the setting in general. Plus, my publishing background (I was a book editor at the time) was going to inform the novel’s setting, and the Chicago metro area seemed a more likely representative of that world.

My writing instructor called Kate “a church-going detective,” which made me laugh a little. If, in forming Kate, I was reacting against the broken-down detective, I was also reacting against the portrayal of Christians in the arts. There seemed to be two extremes: in Christian fiction, the Pollyannaish Christian who lived a sanitized version of life, and in mainstream literature, religious hypocrites and wackadoos. I realize that may be a tad reductive, but that’s how it felt. Why couldn’t we have something a little more authentic, more fair, more nuanced?

While not necessarily tackling a spiritual journey, I wanted to show Christians in real-world, everyday contexts. I know some readers may find Kate’s faith alienating, but no reader is going to agree or sympathize with every character they read. That’s only natural. But as I researched the genre, I found mainstream novels with detectives with all kinds of worldviews, so why not a mainstream novel with a Christian detective?

Introducing Kate Baxter
These influences formed the initial skeleton of Detective Kate Baxter, but they don’t begin to paint the entire picture of the character she developed into—the insecurities and challenges she faces as a single woman; her love for her friends, her pets, and classic literature; or her belief that the best therapy is found at a gun range. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of Letters to the Editor and meet her yourself.

Paul Michael Garrison

Originally from the Midwest, Paul Michael Garrison has spent roughly half his life in Upstate South Carolina. His published novels include Letters to the Editor and its sequel, The Lies People Publish. He holds degrees in publishing, theater, and creative writing (MFA). He has written for the stage, and his short fiction has appeared in The Windhover, Quantum Fairy Tales, and Heart of Flesh. Paul Michael frequently performs with the Greenville Shakespeare Company. Whether on stage or in writing, he enjoys the art of becoming someone else.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Paul is giving away the grand prize of
a $20 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of the book and its sequel!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/XImFE/letters-to-the-editor-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 10
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 10
Leslie’s Library Escape, September 11
Vicky Sluiter, September 12 (Author Interview)
Book Looks by Lisa, September 13
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 14
Texas Book-aholic, September 15
For the Love of Literature, September 16 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, September 17
Life on Chickadee Lane, September 18
For Him and My Family, September 19
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 20
Lily’s Corner, September 21
Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 22 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, September 22
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 23

4 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Routed To Heaven by Julie Bonn Blank (Give.away)

9/13/2026

4 Comments

What happens when Heaven doesn’t just reveal itself—but sends you back with a mission?

In Routed to Heaven, Julie Bonn Blank shares the moments that changed everything: a sudden medical crisis, clinical death, and a breathtaking encounter with Jesus Himself. Standing in Heaven, overwhelmed by love and beauty beyond words, Julie received a message that would redirect the course of her life: “There is still so much work to be done.”

But this book is far more than one extraordinary near-death or afterlife experience.

Routed to Heaven weaves together over twenty additional powerful testimonies from people who briefly crossed into eternity—children healed after death, abuse survivors guided by the Holy Spirit, one person sent back to earth for a do-over, and believers who stood at Heaven’s gates and returned forever changed. These stories affirm what so many long for in uncertain times: Heaven is real. God is near. And our lives matter more than we realize.
What sets this book apart is its purpose.

Each testimony is paired with Julie’s honest, compassionate reflections that address the real-life obstacles keeping believers from living with eternal focus—fear, grief, trauma, unforgiveness, mental health struggles, waiting on God, spiritual warfare, and more. With wisdom shaped by personal suffering and years of ministry, Julie doesn’t just inspire—she equips.

At the heart of the book is what she calls the Heaven-Minded Mission Manifesto—a practical framework designed to help readers stop sleepwalking through life and begin living with bold Kingdom intention. Through prayer, worship, gratitude, belief, and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, readers are invited to move from survival to activated faith.

With thoughtful Pause & Ponder sections at the end of each chapter, Routed to Heaven becomes more than a book—it becomes a journey of awakening. For those who want to go deeper, the Companion Study Guide expands on these reflections with guided questions, scripture exploration, and practical exercises—making it ideal for personal growth, small groups, or church studies.

If you’ve ever wondered whether Heaven is real…

If you’ve questioned whether your life has greater purpose…

If you’re longing for hope, healing, or renewed fire for God…

This book—and its companion guide—are your invitation.

Heaven is watching. The time is short. And your mission matters.

Genre: NF (Memoir, Devo, Christian Living)
Release Date: February 21, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Julie

#1. What people influenced you the most while writing about this topic?
First, author Pam Farrel. A literary agent put us in touch and she became the first and only author who reached back out after I shared and then took time in her very busy schedule to Zoom so we could tell our stories and pray for each other. She’d also been to Heaven! (here is her book if you want to link: https://amzn.to/4wMBFAD)
And then Randy Kay who started reading my Heaven Blog and invited me to apply to be interviewed on his YouTube channel. He validated so much for me, listened and provided an affinity that only someone else who has been to Heaven can supply. He also had some Words for me from the Lord that stunned me. But God has been up to some wonderful things! I’ve now been on Randy’s show twice, attended his Heaven Encounters conference and part of my testimony is in his new Heaven Encounters book. (link if you want it: https://amzn.to/4gBzISK) Of course, this is all to the glory to the Lord and building His Kingdom.
Links to two interviews with Randy if you want them:
Original: https://youtu.be/nLTBRGMT_HI?si=HpbgEbjVtpXN9UXV
2nd Interview: https://youtu.be/jy8ORIN4Gjk?si=Ggg0PHxz3FbJy3_I
The heaviest influencer for sure for the book was the Holy Spirit!

#2. How has writing about this particular topic changed your own life?
Going to Heaven for a visit and being sent back was of course, completely life changing. But the Lord planned more ahead for me as I wrote. I thought I returned with all of my Heaven memories but that was not the case. As I wrote “Routed to Heaven,” He sent poignantly placed memories specifically for certain chapters.
For instance, I just finished a section on how apologizing for things we didn’t actually do, on behalf of others, can bring healing for a traumatized person. Then I ran to the grocery store and in the middle of the tea aisle, His voice suddenly resonated loudly in my head: “Do you remember when you were in Heaven that I apologized for the pain that you have been through? I expressed regret for your many years of trauma…” It was so sudden and shifting that I spun around to see if anyone else was near (aisle empty of course!) and tears rapidly gathered, choking my throat. I almost ran to the checkout as I texted my husband: Jesus apologized to me!
Later, my Lord also explained why He chose me for some of those trials. But I first needed His acknowledgement, apparently. It changed my entire view of my past trauma and my healing.
After writing “Routed to Heaven,” I thought the memories were complete but that was not the case. He brought back more as I wrote the Companion Study Guide. (short link if you want it: https://amzn.to/4vzkGkc) There has been a lot of spiritual warfare in pinning down time to write the second book and I suspect that there are more memories waiting. The experts do say it takes seven years to process a Near Death or Afterlife experience and I am just now coming up to my two-year Heaven anniversary so we will see what He plans to say!

#3. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
One of the small groups I oversee completed a lesson last evening on shepherding. God is just so timely. In the morning hours of that same day, I needed to remind someone else that as shepherds, we have great responsibility. And boom! The lesson in the evening included Ezekiel chapter 34. The whole chapter speaks to how we are to shepherd others, including protecting, strengthening the weak, healing the sick, binding up the injured and bringing in the strays. It is also an admonishment to leaders who have ruled harshly and not shepherded properly. I thought it was a wonderful reminder of my great responsibility that I take very seriously.
Thanks for having me come by, Jasmine! I appreciate it!

More from Julie

When Julie returned from visiting heaven in August of 2024, she received a list of three things (to apparently start a list of many more lol) and one of those was to gather the stories and write “Routed to Heaven.” She was shocked to discover that while she was exuberant about her heavenly trip and couldn’t wait to share more, many others had experienced visits over the years and became hesitant to talk about their journeys due to misbelief or even put-downs from other people. But the Lord had placed within her heart that not only was it her job to round them up and get them into paper format, but to build a community. And that community had a special role on earth as well as upcoming in Heaven. She began many conversations with, “Hey I went to Heaven and I hear you might have had an experience too.” Even then, sometimes people hesitated. She found cases of “Well, your heart actually stopped and I don’t think mine did so mine was just a vision” or “I barely remember any of mine …” Over time, she was honored to help over twenty people write their stories for their inclusion in “Routed to Heaven.” People now seek her out specifically at times to tell their stories and she also finds people with stories in some interesting places, including funerals and grocery stores. You just never know! But there are many more stories out there and she continues to gather them for book 2, as well as for other purposes.

Julie Bonn Blank

Julie Bonn Blank is the Bestselling Amazon author of Routed to Heaven: How Near-Death Experiences, Afterlife Testimonies And Heavenly Insights Can Help You Live With Intention and a fiction suspense series which highlights healing from human trafficking. She is a sought-after speaker, certified domestic violence advocate, near-death experience survivor, and founder of the advanced, faith-based interactive trauma recovery program Broken Souls Restored—a résumé she never planned on assembling, but the plot kept thickening and life hit “publish” anyway.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Julie is giving away
five books by Julie Bonn Blank and a Starbucks Gift Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/6H1bQ/routed-to-heaven-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, September 4 (Author Interview)
Girls in White Dresses, September 4
Artistic Nobody, September 5 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, September 6 (Author Interview)
Fiction Book Lover, September 7 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 7
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 8
The Bookish Ledger, September 9 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, September 10 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, September 11 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 12
Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 13 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, September 14 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, September 15 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, September 16
Cover Lover Book Review, September 17

4 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Winter's Dawn by Morgan L. Busse (Give.away)

9/4/2026

4 Comments

Fearless. Defender. Shield Maiden.

Brighid returns to the Nordic forces. But she is not alone. Her newfound companion accompanies her, along with Kaeden, the Eldaran Truthsayer. Together, they approach the battlefield, powered by a unique bond forged since their first encounter.

Yet a dark and menacing presence grows within Brighid’s mind. Her connection to death has returned, and this time, there is no oath to numb the terror. Will she be able to fight and protect her people while sensing the reaper of life?

Kaeden’s recent conflict with one of the Shadonae has left scars across both his body and soul. Still, he is determined to finish what he has started and free both the Nordic people and the world of this great evil. To do so, he may have to sacrifice everything to reach the one who has bound the Nordic people to this deadly war.

Kaeden will need Brighid’s help. But when he reveals the truth behind the dreams they have shared, Brighid must make a choice that could change not only her future but the fate of her people: accept the bond between them or let it fade―and lose him along with it.

Release Date: August 11, 2026
Genre: Viking fantasy (adult)

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Her past, his present, all hope for a future...

Wow, what a conclusion to an epic fantasy trilogy... Once I started, I couldn't seem to put Winter's Dawn down. I've been invested from the first book in The Nordic Wars series and I just had to know how it all would play out. Morgan L. Busse did not disappoint, this story was big and the final showdown was both heroic, and, well, epic.

I've been a fan of Morgan L. Busse since reading her Mark Of The Raven trilogy a few years ago and I must say that every book in The Nordic Wars series has more than lived up to its predecessors – Winter's Dawn very much included.

Fantasy is a genre that I rarely read as a kid or teen but have really come to appreciate as an adult reader. It's stories like Winter's Dawn and the rest of The Nordic Wars trilogy that keep me coming back time and again. Morgan L. Busse's worldbuilding skill is both wonderful and fascinating. Multiple cultures and landscapes are fully fleshed out in a way that keeps you completely immersed in the story-world.

The character's, too, have come to feel like friends and I was completely invested in their survival and well-being. Brighid and Kaeden are both likable and in this book, their struggles fear and compassion are surprisingly easy to relate to despite them being in a war zone in a fantasy world.

Anyway, whether you are an older YA or adult reader who loves fantasy with a strong faith element and you enjoy a good fight scene, or several, may I recommend Winter's Dawn and the entire The Nordic Wars series from Morgan L. Busse. It's well-written, entertaining, and enjoyable. And there just might be some rather large and furry surprises in this book....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Winter's Dawn by Morgan L. Busse a 4.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

More from Morgan

What we do today will determine the ending to our story.” -Gurmund, Winter’s Dawn

Legacy. I don’t think many people think about legacy. At least not until they start facing the end of their lives. So, what is legacy? One definition I found is something handed down from one generation to the next. I like this definition because it can be so many things. It can be wisdom, stewardship, an example of a life lived with integrity, leaving the world a better place, peace, and even hope. Perhaps another way to say it is legacy is living with the future of the next generation in mind.

The quote up above is from the last book in my Viking-inspired fantasy series, The Nordic Wars. In Winter’s Dawn, the leaders of the Nordic people are facing two impossible choices, both that will most likely cost their nation everything. Then the end comes. Discouraged, Brighid feels all hope is lost. But Gurmund reminds her that even if they lose everything, and their people cease to be no more, it still mattered how they finished.

They would leave hope and light for the next generation.

This is how I want to live. I once told my husband that I don’t think we will ever know the legacy we leave behind, because it will be spoken about after we are gone. But the choices I make today and the life I live, will determine the ending I leave behind for others to read. I want that ending to be full of hope and light so that when the next generation faces darkness, they will remember they are not alone and those who went before them.

Morgan L. Busse

Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the FOLLOWER OF THE WORD series, THE SOUL CHRONICLES, and THE RAVENWOOD SAGA. She is a three-time Christy Award finalist and winner of both the INSPY and the Carol Award for best in Christian speculative fiction. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Morgan is giving away the grand prize of
a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/P2Wse/winters-dawn-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, August 27
To Everything There Is A Season, August 28
Artistic Nobody, August 29 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, August 30 (Author Interview)
Lily’s Corner, August 31
Texas Book-aholic, September 1
Fiction Book Lover, September 2 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, September 3 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 4
Wishful Endings, September 4
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 5 (Spotlight)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 5
For the Love of Literature, September 6 (Author Interview)
Devoted Steps, September 7
Labor Not in Vain, September 8
Simple Harvest Reads, September 9 (Guest Review from Mindy)

4 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Sarah's Search by Jodie Wolfe (Give.away)

8/30/2026

6 Comments

All her life, Sarah McBride has gone along with whatever her guardian dictates. Now on the verge of graduating from the Shippensburg State Normal School, she questions her ability to teach in a classroom when her heart isn’t in the profession. What she wouldn’t give to pursue her heart’s desire of becoming a writer instead of following what’s expected. But how can Sarah defy her guardian’s plans?

Everything has been a hardship for Ezekiel Stouffer ever since his wife died giving birth to their second child. The last thing he needs is the responsibility of monitoring the new schoolteacher while still maintaining his farm. But when their paths entangle, he can’t help but notice the way his children respond to her tender concern. After his loss, Zeke doubts he’ll ever search for love again, but maybe friendship is an option.

Can two searching hearts find the same path?

Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: June 30, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Jodie

1. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
This book took about four months, but I had some breaks in between.

2. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
I absolutely love the genre that I write. It’s also what I read. The genre allows me to convey what God’s love looks like. Not only does He desire for us to have healthy relationships, but reminds us we’ll one day have a ‘happily ever after’ when He calls us home to heaven.

3. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
It’s a toss-up. I really enjoyed creating my heroine, but I also loved young Elijah too (Zeke’s son). He’s a little heart stealer. Elijah so reminds me of my current prodigal when he was a little boy.

4. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
That God never abandons us, even when we face tremendous difficulties, God has a plan.

5. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
I hadn’t planned on writing a book series revolving around the common theme of prodigals coming home… but then God allowed us to experience that in our own lives. We’re still praying for our prodigal to find his way back home to us, but most importantly to God.

More from Jodie

Almost ten years ago, a big Victorian house was for sale. I had the pleasure of touring it and taking photos of the exterior and interior. I knew I would eventually set a story there. Fast forward to spring of this year, and it was finally time to write about the setting in Shippensburg, PA. The house has changed very little through the years, so it’s easy to imagine life in 1878 along Normal Avenue. The house is located at the bottom of the hill where the Cumberland Valley State Normal School started in 1873*. It soon changed its name to Shippensburg State Normal School and eventually Shippensburg University.

Since I have my heroine living in the old house at the start of Sarah’s Search, she also attends the normal school and graduates before she becomes a teacher in Newburg, PA at the Mount Jackson one-room schoolhouse.

It is no longer in Newburg, but is on the grounds at Shippensburg University and set up as it would have looked when used many years ago.

I love when I can envision history coming to life by visiting places like the house, normal school, one-room schoolhouse, as well as the local churches and towns that were around in the time period that I used in my recent book. I had the distinct pleasure of finding three local historians. Two with expertise in the two different towns I wrote about in Sarah’s Search, along with one who was a former archivist at Shippensburg University. What a treasure they’ve been to me.

As you read Sarah’s Search, I hope you’ll enjoy stepping back in time as much as I did while writing it.

*The cornerstone was laid May 31, 1871.

Jodie Wolfe

JODIE WOLFE loves writing historical fiction after years as a homeschooling mom. She enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, knitting, and walking. Jodie creates novels where hope and quirky meet.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Jodie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/FXNuc/sarahs-search-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Pause for Tales, August 20
Simple Harvest Reads, August 21 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, August 22 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, August 23 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 23
Texas Book-aholic, August 24
Fiction Book Lover, August 25 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, August 26 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, August 27 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, August 28 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, August 28
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 29
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 30 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, August 31 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, September 1 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, September 2

6 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Wildflower Bride by Mary Connealy (Give.away)

8/22/2026

7 Comments

From bestselling author Mary Connealy comes a thrilling Western romance about finding belonging in unexpected places—a tale of a fierce woman warrior caught between two worlds, a gentle-hearted rancher, and the faith that brings them together. Perfect for fans of historical romance and unconventional heroines.
Abby has lived with the Flathead tribe since they rescued her as a child, forgetting her white heritage. But when her village is massacred, and she’s saved by kind-hearted rancher Wade Sawyer, she’s forced to confront her past and future. Though drawn to Wade’s gentle strength, she refuses to be bound to the white world that once abandoned her.
Wade Sawyer has spent his life trying to please his tyrannical father while battling his own demons. When he finds Abby—fierce, independent, and unlike any woman he’s known—he sees a chance at real love. But winning the heart of a woman who trusts no man and bridging the gap between two worlds seems impossible.
As they face deadly rustlers, family conflicts, and their own fears, Wade and Abby must learn to trust in God’s plan for their lives. But can Abby let down her defenses and embrace a future with Wade? And can Wade prove that true strength lies in gentleness and faith?

A moving story of finding home, healing from the past, and discovering that love knows no boundaries in the untamed Montana Territory.

Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: August 11, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Sometimes doing the right thing can be so hard....

Wow, I didn't think I could meet a heroine who could give Belle Tanner (Harden!) a run for her money in the toughness department, but, oh, did Abby do just that...

On one hand, I've been really looking forward to reading Wildflower Bride since finishing the last Petticoats And Cowboy novel, but, on the other hand, I wasn't too sure about Wade as a hero. He was so unhinged in Montana Rose that I was skeptical of whether I could come to like him or not. I shouldn't have questioned it. Mary Connealy knows her stuff and she had me in both Wade and Abby's corner right away.

I found Wildflower Bride to be every bit as humorous and entertaining as the previous books in the Petticoats And Cowboys series, but Mary Connealy also takes on the toxic father-son dynamic in a way that felt compassionate but surprisingly real. I think the struggle for adult children to balance honoring difficult parents, particularly if there is a history of any kind of abuse, and setting personal boundaries will really resonate with a lot of readers.

As I've said before, the Petticoats And Cowboys series has been an enjoyable one. I would recommend it, and pretty much any other Mary Connealy series to anyone who loves historical romance with a western/cowboy theme. Don't miss Wildflower Bride or the rest of the series....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Wildflower Bride by Mary Connealy a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

More from Mary

I try to write books I love, and I re-read my own books. I’m a big re-reader and if I find myself uninterested in a book I wrote, I take that as a bad sign.

I happen to LOVE Wildflower Bride as much as any book I’ve ever written.

I wrote for ten years before I got my first book published. On that fateful day when I earned my first contract, I had twenty finished books on my computer. And I didn’t just write them and move on. I’d go back (re-reading even then) and polish them. I took stand alone books and shortened them, lengthened them. Turned them into series, saved all versions in case an editor wanted a series or did NOT want a series.

Each book well, not ALL twenty of them, but a whole bunch, had about nine versions, all saved separately. Love Inspired length, trade fiction length, series, stand alone. I kept them all. But when I felt like I’d really improved one of them, I went back to the other versions and made those same improvements. I did a LOT of writing within those twenty books.

Wildflower Bride was the first book I wrote from scratch after I signed a contract for it. Maybe for this reason, I especially love it. I took everything I knew, everything I learned and put it into this book. I remember staring at that blank page…I had about six books published by this time…and holding my hand flat on the computer screen and praying, God help me to remember everything I’ve learned.

The hero is Wildflower Bride is the villain in Montana Rose. He is wretched. But to me, he was a broken man. My editor, when I told her Wade was the hero, said, “I can’t imagine it, but go for it.”

He is saved at the end of Montana Rose. A young Christian trying to do right in the face of enormous pressure from his powerful, abusive father, in The Husband Tree, and a sad, lonely, but strong man, still growing in his faith at the same time he’s very solid in it, in Wildflower Bride.

I just loved him.

I love the wild beginning of Wildflower Bride, the heroine is an adult woman taken in by an Indian tribe at the age of ten when they find her, alone in a cabin, with her family all dead from a fever. She loves the people who saved her.

Then people start trying to save her from the tribe and she is insulted and wants no part of this new world when her small band of native family is killed in a massacre. Again, she survives.

Abby, she only vaguely remembers her birth name, fits nowhere. And she’s so at home in the wilderness she’s planning to live on her own, somewhere.

Wade falls desperately in love with the strength he finds in her.

These two need each other so badly, but Abby is a hard one to convince she should spend her life with Wade.

Then Abby finds that one of her family, an older brother who didn’t come west with her family, is alive and living nearby.

The way they discover each other, well, I just love it. Wade is starting to look pretty good compared to the grouchy, quick to swing a fist, brother. Still, she begins to remember her big brother, and she remembers loving him. Abby is a confused woman.

Can Abby find her place anywhere in the world? Can Wade find enough backbone to stand up to his father…so far he’d just cut him out of his life. But Pa needs him even if he’s too awful to admit it. Wade’s pa needs God, too.

And those evil men who destroyed her village, haven’t gone away and they want more from Wade and Abby than anyone can imagine. They have to be stopped and Abby and Wade have to find a way to work together to stop them.

Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of over 80 books and novellas. She has over a 1.8 million books in print. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Petticoats & Pistols!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/reBqi/wildflower-bride-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 18
Texas Book-aholic, August 19
Labor Not in Vain, August 20
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, August 21 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, August 21
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 22
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 23
Book Holds and Jello Molds, August 24
Guild Master, August 25 (Author Interview)
Books You Can Feel Good About, August 26
Simple Harvest Reads, August 27 (Guest Review from Donna)
Holly’s Book Corner, August 28
Cover Lover Book Review, August 29
Fiction Book Lover, August 30 (Author Interview)
The Vine and The Branch, August 31
Mary Hake, August 31

7 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Painkillers by Reverand Jacky Connell (Give.away)

8/17/2026

4 Comments

Painkillers are a problem, but not all people in pain turn to drugs for the answers. Some people isolate themselves from others, believing they can avoid more pain if they don’t get close to anyone. Others take the opposite approach, surrounding themselves with unhealthy relationships to try and avoid dealing with the pain and emptiness they feel. It’s also common for people to bury themselves in other things—such as sports, shopping, or other “idols”—keeping busy so they don’t have to think about their pain. People even hide behind a mask of “intellect” to shield themselves.

But what if there were a Painkiller Who didn’t merely cover up your pain but took it completely away? What if there were a relationship that didn’t just stand in for those you have lost but filled the void? What if there were a way to heal from the hurt of broken relationships, the terror of PTSD, the guilt of abortion and other sins, and even the confusion of the LBGTQ lifestyle? Painkillers introduces you to Jesus, the ultimate Painkiller, and His pathway that leads to finding total recovery and freedom from past hurts, pains, and failures.

Genre: Non-Fiction, Christian
Release Date: March 6, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Rev. Jacky

#1. What was the inspiration behind this book?
The inspiration was a sermon series I had preached on the subject of painkillers. When I finished that
series, I immediately knew it could help so many people. I felt it was valuable — that people could sit
down, read the book, and identify their own lives in each chapter. After the sermon series, I thought,
Wow, this really could help a lot of people.

#2. What new or interesting things did you learn while researching for this book?
I learned that there are many relatable examples out there if you open your eyes and look for
them. Learning that they exist — and then developing the discipline to capture them — that was
the new and interesting thing.

#3. What people influenced you the most while writing about this topic?
Our church family. Looking at the diversity there, especially in the ministry of restoration that is
so important to us — recognizing that there are broken people all around us. Because I have a
heart for the broken, those are the people who inspired me.

#4. What do you hope your readers will remember after finishing this book?
They're not alone, they're not hopeless, and there can be healing and restoration in their lives.

#5. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
I'd want to communicate that just because you've messed up, just because you've made bad
choices, just because you're in a situation where you think there's no hope — there is healing
and restoration for you. I'd pray that readers would recognize the danger of running to the wrong
painkillers the world offers, and instead run to the only One who can truly fix their pain. In Him,
they can find abundance, healing, and forgiveness in Jesus.

More from Rev. Jacky

Where do you run when life hurts?

That question is at the heart of my book, Painkillers.

I wrote this book because pain is universal. Every person carries wounds—some visible, some hidden. And when pain comes, we all look for relief. Sometimes we run to distractions. Sometimes to control. Sometimes to success, comfort, or isolation.

The truth is this: wanting the pain to stop is human. But where we run with that pain matters.

Painkillers was written to help people recognize the unhealthy places they turn for relief and to point them toward the only place where real healing can be found—God.

This book isn’t about pretending pain doesn’t exist. It’s about facing it honestly, understanding it deeply, and finding freedom on the other side of it.

Over this blog tour, I’m excited to share more of the heart behind the book, the stories behind the pages, and the hope found in healing.

If you’ve ever been hurt, disappointed, broken, or just tired of carrying the weight—this journey is for you.

Because the question isn’t if we run when life hurts.

The question is: Where do we run?

#PainkillersBook #HealingStartsHere #WhereDoYouRunWhenLifeHurts

Reverend Jacky Connell

Reverend Jacky Connell has served as the Senior Pastor of Eden Westside Baptist Church for over thirty-six years. Rev. Connell is a pastor, teacher, author, motivational speaker, and conference leader. God has placed the desire to serve people and empower leaders in the heart of Bro. Jacky.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Rev. Jacky is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/g2lOJ/painkillers-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Artistic Nobody, August 5 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, August 6 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, August 6
Fiction Book Lover, August 7 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 8
The Bookish Ledger, August 9 (Author Interview)
The Quiet Bookmark, August 10 (Author Interview)
Life on Chickadee Lane, August 11
Vicky Sluiter, August 12 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 13
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 14
Texas Book-aholic, August 15
For the Love of Literature, August 16 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 17 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, August 18 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, August 18

4 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Lethal Design by S.F. Baumgartner (Give.away)

8/11/2026

6 Comments

Some deaths are designed.

The death looks routine — no foul play, no reason to dig. But KC knows this building and what happened here a year ago. And the pattern spreading across the city is no coincidence.

Professionals with no addiction history are dying along eerily similar paths. Someone patient and invisible is engineering these outcomes. As the Orlando Prime task force chases separate leads across the city, the threads begin pointing to the same dark center.

The closer they get, the more dangerous the truth becomes. Some designs were never meant to be uncovered — and the cost of exposing this one may be more than any of them are prepared to pay.

Perfect for fans of Terri Blackstock and Lynette Eason who love fast-paced, clean crime thrillers with the intensity of Criminal Minds and the grit of NCIS.

Follow Kylie “KC” Cassidy and the Orlando Prime task force as they take on the cases no one else can crack, starting with Lethal Design.

Genre: Crime Thriller with Christian elements
Release Date: August 4, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with S.F.

#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
Believe it or not, St. Joseph partly inspired the prologue. The parallel is more in the main character’s actions than in the plot itself, so readers may not immediately notice it. Charlie is initially reluctant and uncertain, but after receiving what feels like a quiet nudge, he accepts the “mission” placed before him. In a way, it mirrors St. Joseph’s story — he intended to quietly walk away from Mary, but after receiving a message from an angel, he chose to trust and embrace the path set before him.

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
This book took about three months to write from start to finish.

#3. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
I’ve always loved crime shows and crime thrillers, so writing suspense and crime fiction felt like a natural fit for me. I enjoy the mystery, the tension, and the fast-paced storytelling that come with the genre.

#4. How did you name your characters?
I’m terrible with names. At one point, my editor pointed out that I’d accidentally used the same name three or four times across different characters.

#5. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
We have four grown children and one grandbaby who keeps life fun and busy. I’m definitely an introvert, and if I could choose, I’d avoid both extreme cold and extreme heat.

More from S.F.

Lethal Design, Book 2 in the KC & Orlando Prime series, shifts the spotlight in a powerful way. While Fatal Invitation centered on Detective Kylie Cassidy, this installment dives deep into the elite Prime Task Force, especially its leader, Commander Frank Travers.

A year ago, Travers lost his wife to a brutal, unsolved murder. The case went cold. The killer vanished. But in Lethal Design, that past refuses to stay buried.

As KC and the Prime team investigate a new wave of suspicious deaths, threads begin to surface, threads that may finally lead Travers to the truth he’s been chasing. And this time, it’s personal.

What makes this story especially layered is how it connects back to the larger conspiracy introduced in Stolen Secrets. Pieces are moving. Secrets are colliding. And everything must align as the story builds toward a confrontation that’s been a long time coming.

Expect high-stakes action, tight investigative work, and emotional tension as justice and revenge blur into something far more dangerous.

Because when Travers comes face-to-face with his wife’s killer… there’s no guarantee he walks away.

And KC may be the only one who can keep him from crossing a line he can’t come back from.

S.F. Baumgartner

S.F. Baumgartner crafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets and Forgotten Secret—Books 1 & 2 of her Mirror Estate series—named Top Picks in the thriller & suspense categories, respectively, at Killer Nashville, and Tangled Secrets—Book 3 of Mirror Estate series—won couple of awards in the Christian Indie Awards and the Incipere Awards. When she’s not plotting her next twist, she’s binge-watching crime TV shows, like NCIS or playing with her cats. Fans of James Patterson’s style, especially those who appreciate short, punchy chapters, will find much to love in her work.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, S.F. is giving away the grand prize of
a $50 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/uhz7K/lethal-design-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 31
The Lofty Pages, July 31
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 1
Vicky Sluiter, August 2 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, August 3
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 4
Texas Book-aholic, August 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 6
For the Love of Literature, August 7 (Author Interview)
Blogging with Carol, August 8
Because I said so, August 9
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 10
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 11 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, August 12
Betti Mace, August 13
Leslie’s Library Escape, August 13

6 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Worlds Collide by Clint Hall (Give.away)

8/8/2026

5 Comments

Five worlds at war. Only one can survive.
Ten thousand years ago, five cosmic beings―a dragon, a phoenix, a serpent, a lion, and a wolf―set their worlds on an inevitable collision course. Each civilization was given one command: destroy the rival worlds, or crash into them and die.
As the planets draw near to each other, the moment of final reckoning is at hand. In a galaxy filled with starfighters and superweapons, magic and manipulation, planet-killing devices and mechanized legions, five heroes must defend their homeworlds against overwhelming odds.
But when prophecy and destiny collide, a far greater power begins to stir―one that challenges everything they’ve been told.
Oaths will be broken. Chains will be shattered. Champions will rise. The fate of the universe hangs in the balance as these heroes discover whether any world deserves to survive.
The War of the Creators has begun.
Perfect for fans of Red Rising, The Expanse, and mythic sci-fi epics, Worlds Collide blends high-stakes interplanetary war with a legendary, fate-driven mystery―where the final battle may not be what it seems.

Genre: Adult Science Fiction
Release Date: July 14, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

The point of impact will soon be at hand....

Sci-fi is still a genre that I haven't read a lot of over the years. But it's fun to run into a new one every so once in awhile that sounds interesting. Worlds Collide is surprisingly different from pretty much any other sci-fi novel that I've read. Instead of the usual evil empire taking over the solar system or the adventures of a starship and its crew, the first book in the Worlds Collide Trilogy focuses on five different characters from five different planets. Planets, that, thanks to an ancient prophecy, are fighting each other tooth and nail to become the only one left standing.

I found Clint Hall's worldbuilding to be very imaginative in this book. Each of the planets is very different as are the races that inhabit them. From, I think, Nordic-inspired culture to essentially robots with artificial intelligence. From a culture that worships their dragon creator with singular devotion to one that despises their snake god. From slaves to royalty. But they all share a common goal, to destroy the other four planets before the prophesied moment of collision.

It is so easy for humanity to fall into a kill-or-be-killed mentality and the portrayal of that in Worlds Collide was almost a little too truthful for comfort. But, on the other hand, readers also get to see how the single decision of one person can change an entire world.

If sci-fi is your thing, this first book in the Worlds Collide Trilogy was an entertaining read for the most part. Clint Hall has a good start to a unique series that I think will prove to be even more interesting in the next novel....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Worlds Collide by Clint Hall a 3.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

More from Clint

The battle lines we cannot see
By Clint Hall

The enemy seeks to divide us. And while there are wars to be fought, the battle lines often aren’t in the places that we think.

This is not the reason I started writing Worlds Collide. But in the more than ten years that I’ve been working on this trilogy, it has become the reason this story is the thing I most want to say to the world.

I started writing Worlds Collide because of a few ideas that came together at once. I had been reading a book that discussed five types of heroes: the selfless hero, the hero with a code, the charming hero, the cunning hero, and the sympathetic hero. I challenged myself to write a story featuring each type of hero as a way of better learning the archetypes.

Around the same time, I came up with the concept of different worlds being set on a collision course by their respective creators—cosmic beings in the forms of dragon, phoenix, lion, serpent, and wolf—as a “contest of the gods.” This idea came out of nowhere. At the time, I was working on a completely different story (that still has not been published). That evening, I took my wife on a walk, told her the concept, and she said, “This has to be the next thing you write.”

But as I wrote the story, these characters from different worlds started coming together in interesting ways. Each believed that they were doing the things they had to do to survive, to protect their own kind. The distance between them and the rival planets served to create a sense of “otherness” about the people inhabiting those worlds. It was easier to hate them when they were so far removed. And like most (if not all) instances of hate, it was rooted in fear.

The danger of division is a central theme in scripture. In Matthew 12:25 and Mark 3:24-25, Jesus states, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” The Greek word for the devil, diabolos, is derived from a verb that means “to throw apart” or “to scatter,” directly identifying his nature as a divider.

We see this division every day, much of it sparked by what we read online. Humans are designed to be in connection with each other, so the most deceptive way to subvert that innate design is to present the façade of increased connection that is actually voluntary isolation and polarization.

I’m not against the internet and social media, but it must be stated that the technologies that were supposed to bring more people together have achieved the opposite. They constantly present us with groups of people who—at a distance—appear to be dangerously opposed to everything we hold dear.

When we engage with so much of this content, we believe we’re learning more about people. But in truth, we’re only presented with algorithmically curated experiences that are incented to spark fear and outrage, emotions that lead to clicking and engaging. We are told that they are the enemy, that they are to blame, and that they will destroy our way of life. Then we’re told, “click here to read more.”

I wasn’t raised in church; I came to my faith during my teenage years. As a result, and due to a handful of other personal experiences, I’m comfortable in environments where I’m surrounded by people whose beliefs are very different than my own.

But here’s what has surprised me: I never feel like I need to hide my faith in these situations. When I engage such people in conversations from a place of love, respect, and genuine curiosity, they are almost always receptive. We find common ground. How could we not? Regardless of their beliefs, these people are created in the image of God, just like me. Through these interactions, I have created real friendships with people that might have never walked through the doors of my church (but that doesn’t mean I won’t try).

I’m not saying that I’m without my biases. I’m far from perfect. But when I manage to push past my perceived boundaries, I’m often amazed at what I discover on the other side.

As believers, we affirm that every person is made in the image of God. But we must ask ourselves—do our words, our posts, and our attitudes reflect that truth? Or have we, too, begun to see those who are unlike us primarily as enemies?

That tension is at the heart of Worlds Collide. As these characters begin to interact, they discover aspects of each other that they never would have expected. They start asking questions they were never meant to ask, and the answers challenge everything they have ever known.

We may not be on warring planets, but we are constantly being told where the battle lines are in our world, and that anybody on the other side of those lines is our enemy.

And when that happens, will we accept that as the truth? Or will we dare to step across those lines in love, courage, and faith to reach out our hands, as the Savior did for us?

Clint Hall

Clint Hall is an author, speaker, and podcaster who has been writing stories since middle school, where he spent most of his time in English class creating comic books. (Fortunately, his teacher not only allowed it, she bought every issue.)
Known for stories of hope, wonder, and adventure, Clint is the author of Steal Fire from the Gods and Echo Nova. You can find him hosting panels at conventions, online at ClintHall.com, or at The Experience: Conversations with Creatives podcast, available on all major platforms.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Clint is giving away the grand prize of
a $50 Amazon Gift Card and signed hardcover copy of the book!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/vmT2g/worlds-collide-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 29
Books, Books, & More Books, July 30 (Spotlight)
Texas Book-aholic, July 31
Artistic Nobody, August 1 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 1
Simple Harvest Reads, August 2 (Guest Review from Susan)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 3 (Spotlight)
The Lofty Pages, August 4
Guild Master, August 5 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, August 6
Fiction Book Lover, August 7 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, August 8 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 8
Vicky Sluiter, August 9 (Spotlight)
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, August 10
For the Love of Literature, August 11 (Author Interview)

5 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Logan vs. The Pouty Paw Paw by Allen Brokken (Give.away)

8/8/2026

4 Comments

Logan has a lip so pouty his Pa is
sure a bird is going to poop on it.

Shoveling coal as a furnace feeder at the foundry is hot, sweaty work, but Logan is determined to pay off his debt for a broken spyglass—even if his lower lip sticks out the whole time. But when a “Pouty Paw Paw” tree begins growing in the soot of the foundry’s smokestack, the town of Blooming Glen starts catching a bad case of the “pouts”. When Gran’s legendary joyful jam is stolen and replaced with a “darkness jam” that makes everyone hateful, Logan must trade his gloom for the fruit of joy. With his pet raccoon Rascal by his side, Logan is about to prove that a joyful heart is the best weapon against a stinky, pouting plot!

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Allen

#1. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
I started writing the Towers of Light series in what I call Prairie Punk because the 1860’s frontier in the Midwest was something I knew pretty well, and I hadn’t seen fantasy done there. Growing up in southeast Iowa, there was history from that period everywhere, and my Grandfather helped start a thing called the Midwest Old Threshers, which was an annual celebration of historical farming in Iowa. Logan vs. the Pouty Paw Paw is in that same world and characters with a twist that it’s focused on a single character with a Huck Finn / Tom Sawyer kind of feel.

#2. How did you name your characters?
Aiden, Ethan, Logan, and Jesse are all named for my sons and their best friends. Gramps was just kind of a natural name for the character when I first made him up, but the Sewer Boys were a bit of inspiration from the rainy-day scene they show up in. Finally, I had to ask my now-grown-up kids for a name for the bad guy, and they just kind of blurted out Nebuchadnezzar.

#3. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
A year ago, my mom was in the end stages of cancer, and I was staying with her and my stepdad. At the time, I was running a Kickstarter for my picture book, Meow Meow Milks the Cow. And my stepdad supported it to the point that he could influence a future project. I shared the ideas behind Logan vs. the Pouty Paw Paw, and he said he’d like to contribute to that. So, we worked on it over the past year, after my mom passed away, and in many ways it’s a tribute to her.

#4. If you could change one thing in your life, past or present, what would it be?
The only real regret I have is that in 1991 I was at basic and advanced training at Fort Benning, Georgia and I was told I should work with my recruiter to have training extended by 2 weeks to do Airborne school. I didn’t take that opportunity, and to this day have never jumped out of a perfectly good airplane.

#5. What one piece of advice would you like to give readers?
If you feel like you have a book to write, write it. You won’t regret it.

More from Allen

“Logan vs. the Pouty Paw Paw” is a special book in the series “Logan’s search for the Fruits of the Spirit” because it was written with the support of my stepdad, John Beghtol. In the spring of 2025, we were working through the death of my Mom from a long battle with cancer. He found out my kids were running a Kickstarter for one of my picture books, Meow Meow Milks the Cow, and decided to support it. As a supporter, he earned the option to share some creative direction on one of my upcoming projects.

Over the summer of 2025, I was doing some research for my next Logan book, looking for a native Midwestern fruit that would be good for representing sadness, to contrast with the spiritual fruit of joy. I learned that Paw Paws were a rare native fruit that would have been used to make jam in the 1860’s. So, they seemed like a good fit, especially if they were Pouty Paw Paws. It also kind of fit what was going on with us, both of us were sad at the loss of my mom, and many people use the name Paw Paw as another name for a Grandfather. So, it spawned the idea that Gramps from the Towers of Light series could be a key character in this adventure.

I shared an early flight plan for the story with him, and he liked it in principle, but then provided an idea around a mysterious stranger entering the town. I like the idea, but I felt a little stuck because this story takes place after the Towers of Light series, where all the bad guys had been defeated, so who was this mysterious stranger? Eventually, I just wrote a mini story about the stranger to place him in the city, and I was off with a solid story to tell.

The story ended up being a good cross-section of dealing with sadness of different forms, from being upset over chores that feel to hard, to the loss of a loved one. At the same time, I kept the fun and hijinks that only a boy and his pet raccoon can get into. I hope your child enjoys it as much as I did while writing it with my Bonus Dad.

Allen Brokken

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age-appropriate way. He’s dedicated 15 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off to college he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Allen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/tMg4L/logan-vs-the-pouty-paw-paw-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 6
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 7 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 8 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, August 9 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, August 10
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 11
Books, Books, & More Books, August 12 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, August 13 (Author Interview)
Fiction Book Lover, August 14 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, August 14
Vicky Sluiter, August 15
Labor Not in Vain , August 16
The Bookish Ledger, August 17 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, August 18 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, August 18
Stories By Gina, August 19 (Author Interview)

4 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy (Give.away)

8/3/2026

9 Comments

From bestselling author Mary Connealy comes a spirited Western romance filled with danger, determination, and unexpected love—a tale of a fierce widow rancher, a hardworking cowboy, and the family that brings them together. Perfect for fans of historical romance and strong heroines.
Belle Tanner has buried three husbands under the “Husband Tree” and managed her Montana ranch alone while raising four daughters. When she needs help with a dangerous cattle drive, she hires Silas Harden—a man who actually knows his way around cattle and horses. Unlike her previous husbands, Silas isn’t afraid of hard work, but Belle’s not about to let another man take charge of her ranch or her heart.
Silas never planned on falling for a widow with four daughters, especially one as independent as Belle. But as they face treacherous mountain passes, wolf attacks, and winter storms together, he discovers that what he thought was just another job might be his chance at a real family—if he can convince Belle to trust in love one more time.
With winter closing in and dangers mounting, Belle and Silas must learn to work together and trust in God’s plan. But can Belle let go of her iron control and let love lead? And can Silas prove he’s different from the husbands who came before?

A heartwarming story of faith, family, and finding love in the rugged Montana Territory.

Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: July 21, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Will there be a 4th husband under the tree...?

I've been looking forward to this book since my first introduction to Belle Tanner. That was a couple of stories back in the Petticoats And Cowboys series from Mary Connealy. I've finally gotten my hands on The Husband Tree, what an intriguing title that is, and I've satisfied my curiosity about Belle, her tough and ready daughters, and the man who just might show them all that not all men are mean no-accounts. But first they have to survive a cattle drive. In Montana. With winter right on their heels....

The Husband Tree proved to be every bit as entertaining as I knew it would be. Belle's daughters in particular, made me laugh with their casual comments about burying husbands under a specific tree on the ranch as well as their determination to protect their mother from yet another worthless husband. Then there is the reader's first introduction to Silas – at the end of a shotgun. But this fifth book in the Petticoats And Cowboys series also packs a bit of punch to it. I found myself doing a lot of thinking while reading Belle and Silas's story. Thinking about how past trauma can color and discolor the present, how it takes deliberate decisions to step out of bitterness and change your entire way of thinking, and how a little patience and gentleness – and communication can go a long way.

I haven't fully decided yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if this turns out to be my favorite book in the series. I mean, it has all of the elements needed for a good western plus some of the best cowhands in skirts that you could hope for. Mary Connealy did a really good job with this one and I am definitely looking forward to book six....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

More from Mary

The Husband Tree remains the book I am asked about the most when I talk to readers.

Or, if I get asked, which is your favorite character…someone inevitably says Belle Tanner.

There’s something about that woman.

The title of the book is based on the tree where she’s buried three worthless husbands. After Anthony died falling off the roof…where he was hiding from work as usual, she’s tossing dirt on his face while vowing to God and her children to never marry again.

She’s taught her girls to work hard at her side, but her main lesson is to teach them to avoid men at all costs. A warning that doesn’t survive, but not for lack of effort on Belle’s part.

She’s the meanest good guy I’ve ever written, the most enduring ‘fiesty lady rancher’. Yet somehow, her REASONS for being mean are so well tuned, that she gets away with being a very hostile-to-men woman.

Not that I haven’t written plenty of feisty lady ranchers…in fact I love the type so much I have to fight putting one as the heroine in every book. But Belle is in a league of her own.

Silas Harden is also NOT interested in a woman. He’s been burned bad TWICE by women. One woman a betrayer, another a sneaking liar who stages a ‘compromising situation’ to force a marriage. He’s lost two ranches because of it. He wants a place of his own and he’s not risking letting a woman ruin things for him. It’s cost him too much.

But, much as she hates to admit she needs a man’s help, Belle’s going to lose her herd if she doesn’t get the cattle to market and there’s no one else to help but the wandering cowpoke, Silas.

Belle and her four daughters, including a diaper-wearing baby, need to punch one thousand head of cattle over the roughest trail in the whole world…not that Belle’s familiar with the whole world, but it’s a brutally hard stretch.

Off they go, both bristling, but soon enough they’re working so hard they’re too TIRED to hate each other.

And then here comes love. A man Belle can’t help but respect. A woman Silas can’t help but trust.

If they all survive this drive…both of them might just take a chance again, on love.

Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of 75 books and novellas. She has over a million and a half books in print. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Petticoats & Pistols!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/GRmzP/the-husband-tree-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 28
Texas Book-aholic, July 29
For Him and My Family, July 30
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 31
Guild Master, August 1 (Author Interview)
Book Holds and Jello Molds, August 1
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 2
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 3
She Lives To Read, August 4
Simple Harvest Reads, August 5 (Guest Review from Donna)
Fiction Book Lover, August 6 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, August 6
Book Looks by Lisa, August 7
Cover Lover Book Review, August 8
Labor Not in Vain, August 9
Holly’s Book Corner, August 10

9 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Quest Of Fire: The Unending Light by Brett Armstrong (Give.away)

7/20/2026

6 Comments

War has consumed the Lowlands in both Jason and Anargen’s eras. Each teen struggles to keep true to the Quest as the armies led by the dark powers of the Lowlands edge closer to victory.

A secret buried in Ordumair can guarantee that evil Monarch Ilyron destroys the Tower of Light Anargen has striven to defend. And Jason’s brother, Dorian, has found an equally powerful weapon in the mysterious land of Jhi. The ancient threat of dragons returning to the Lowlands threatens to plunge the Lowlands into ruin.

Losses that leave both teens grieving deeply and an ever-diminishing list of allies means they must be willing to give everything to rescue their world from the looming desolation. But they must face the truth that it is still far too little to win, unless they can hold on till the King’s Day arrives.

Genre: Christian, High Fantasy
Release Date: December 30, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Brett

#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
Since this is book seven and completed the series it’s really a culmination of all the things that came before. Overall, my chief inspiration comes from the Lord through Scripture and hopefully that shines through in the symbolic elements: the High King, the Spiritsword and armor of the Knights of Light, etc. In terms of other stories that have impacted me there are the Arthurian legends, Shakespeare’s plays, The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Star Wars, and a whole host of other stories I’ve imbibed throughout my life that shape my storytelling and imagination and thereby the Quest of Fire series. I will say one thing that might be an odd pick for a fantasy is All Quiet on the Western Front. Ever since I read it for a college course on modern German history it’s sat quietly within my imagination. The bleakness and inevitability of the First World War it depicts felt like the right fit for the tone and setting of Jason’s story in The Unending Light. There’s a tension there between fatalism and hope and on the surface they can seem similar but produce such different perceptions of events and purpose.

#2. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
I really came to love just about all of the characters in this series and feel a lot of pity and empathy even for those villainous ones who do dark and terrible things. Which I think came through in how the protagonists saw the villains at certain points. I will say that writing Jason’s character has been an unexpected pleasure. When I started the series with The Gathering Dark, I didn’t really know how to feel about this guy running from his past, skeptical of anything good—much less the Great High King of All Realms who is inherently good and just. From the start he was scrappy and though self-interested had a glimmer of care and concern for others (which is how he gets to where he’s at in the opening pages of The Gathering Dark). But seeing him become so much more than a street-wise hustler and watching that unfold to a degree beyond my intents and plans was really rewarding. I think Jason’s story is more accessible to most people so I’m glad he came to life so fully in the story. Especially since Quest of Fire is to a degree a story of how storytelling and the legacy of others being faithful to God’s calling shapes us, Jason represents that and his character arc is a chronicle of that taking place. And seeing the fruits of it in The Unending Light was so good.

#3. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
Hopefully a sense of wonder and resilience within themselves. The real world is a dark place and those seeking to follow Christ in it are constantly bombarded by one volley after another. I hope that in the perseverance of the protagonists in the face of great evil—evil they don’t feel equipped to defeat—readers will find the same perseverance to face the darkness around them and hold fast to Christ and trust that whatever challenges and hardships He may bring us to He will ultimately work out for good even if the fullness of that good isn’t something we’ll see in our lifetimes. And the hope of that unending light on His day, that that will shape how the readers face every day ahead, recalling that there is an indescribable good waiting that our souls long for all our lives. It’s more than we can express and imagine, more than we deserve, and more than we will ever fully discover in all the ages to come.

#4. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
There are so many that it’s difficult to choose one. But one that has been important to me lately and that very much fits with The Unending Light is 2 Chronicles 20:12:

“O our God, will You not execute judgment on them? For we are
powerless against this great horde that is coming against us.
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

In the passage, King Jehoshaphat of Judah is watching as an enormous army of enemies—Ammonites, Moabites, and Meunites—were surrounding Jerusalem. From the perspective we have that would look bleak. There was no way Judah could win the battle conventionally and the lives of so many were at stake. It would have been easy for a king in the Davidic line that was promised to never end to doubt that promise and despair. Likewise, the characters of The Unending Light have a promised hope (which mirrors our own) that the High King will set all aright. That he loves those in his service and will triumph over the evil of the Lowlands. And in the face of the hardships and easy path of hopelessness, King Jehoshaphat and the protagonists of The Unending Light and all of us, I hope, chose to look beyond circumstances and personal limitations to seek the limitless Creator and Savior for guidance and ultimately deliverance. There’s no knowing how long or what form the Lord will answer that prayer, but He is faithful and the hope and promises He gives are real and completely reliable.

More from Brett

Quest of Fire is a story told across seven books that took twenty years of dreaming and drafting. A story about the High King, who is a reflection of the King of Kings and the great story He has composed in which we are all taking part. Our God is described as “a consuming fire”*, a fire that also refines us and is shaping us into His likeness. My hope with the Quest of Fire series is that after reading it that fire has caught and blazes in the reader’s heart and gives them the courage to stand firm. Because Quest of Fire is filled with moments in which a vast, terrible darkness seems certain to crush a small group bravely bearing up that light, and they must choose to stand firm no matter the cost. The final entry in the series, The Unending Light, picks up that theme and sees it to its harrowing end with epic battles fought across a world built with rich, immersive detail. Heart warming and rending moments take place that just as much as the dramatic and sweeping conflicts force the protagonists to face the dark and choose whether they will remain in the light and see the Quest of Fire to the end or turn back and flee like so many others around them. So my hope is that others will read and join in the Quest of Fire, because even though it is fraught and hope is fragile, there is one truth that both the protagonists of The Unending Light and we need cling to: “the darkness has not overcome the Light.”** This story, like the great story, is about Him.

* Hebrews 12:29
** John 1:5

Brett Armstrong

Brett Armstrong has been exploring other worlds as a writer since age nine. Years later, he still writes, but now invites others along on his excursions. He’s shown readers haunting, deep historical fiction (Destitutio Quod Remissio), scary-real dystopian sci-fi (Tomorrow’s Edge series), and dark, sweeping epic fantasy (Quest of Fire saga). Every story is a journey of discovery and an attempt to be a brush in the Master Artist’s hand. Through dark, despair, light, joy, and everything in between, the end is always meant to leave his fellow literary explorers with wonder and hope. Always busy with a new story, he also enjoys drawing, gardening, and spending time with his wife and son.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Brett is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, an
eBook copy of The Unending Light, exclusive digital map poster, and series theme music!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/EgmVf/quest-of-fire-the-unending-light-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Stories By Gina, July 9 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, July 10 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, July 11 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, July 12
Fiction Book Lover, July 13 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, July 14 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, July 15
Vicky Sluiter, July 16 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 17 (Spotlight)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 17
For the Love of Literature, July 18 (Author Interview)
Lily’s Corner, July 19
Tell Tale Book Reviews, July 20 (Author Interview)
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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Freed By The Frontier by Sherry Shindelar, Denise Farnsworth, Susan F. Craft (Give.away)

7/16/2026

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Three remarkable women find themselves caught between two worlds on the American frontier. A captive of the Comanche must choose between escaping to white society or her growing feelings for a rising war chief in 1850s Texas. A Georgia judge’s daughter flees an unwanted betrothal during the War of 1812, only to be captured by Creek warriors but protected by a mysterious brave. And in 1754, an English lady traveling the Great Wagon Road to become a music teacher discovers her carefully planned future may not survive her attraction to a protective frontiersman.
From quaint civilized towns to treacherous mountain passes and wilderness villages, three couples navigate cultural divisions, overcome past wounds, and face deadly dangers to discover that love knows no boundaries. But as war clouds gather and ancient tribal alliances shift, will their newfound relationships survive the coming storm? Or will the clash of worlds tear them apart?
Three unforgettable romances prove that God’s greatest blessings often come disguised as our greatest challenges, and that true love can bridge any divide.

Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: June 30, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Take a trip to the frontier past....

Denise (Weimer) Farnsworth and Susan F. Craft are two names that I've come to trust when reading historical fiction – especially Colonial, Revolutionary, and War of 1812 eras. I was pretty excited to see that they had teamed up with a new-to-me author, Sherry Shindelar, to bring three frontier novellas onto a single book, Freed By The Frontier.

All three stories are set in different, but fascinating, time periods that span a century of United States history. As a history buff from early childhood, I loved the variety in settings as well as the attention to historical detail. OK, there was a mention of grams before they were invented but only a nitpicker like me would notice it. I do like the timing of this release as it is perfect for the semiquincentennial of the United States this year – though it can and should be read any year, during any time of the year.

The novellas in Freed By The Frontier are nice, short, bite-sized tales that you can read each in a sitting. They are entertaining, interesting, and they make you wonder how you might react in such a situation. Would you be tough? Fall apart? I also appreciate getting to learn some more regional type history as well through the eyes of these lead fictional characters.

Freed By The Frontier was a good read. I enjoyed each one of the novellas and, once I got to know them, I liked Maggie and Dancing Eagle, Keturah and Wildcat, and Elizabeth and James. Each of the authors brought their own style of storytelling but the stories from Sherry Shindelar, Denise Farnsworth, and Susan F. Craft are also surprisingly cohesive. They are a group of talented authors that I will definitely continue reading together or individually...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Freed By The Frontier by Sherry Shindelar, Denise Farnsworth, and Susan F. Craft a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

More from the Authors

Imagine a time when the U.S. not far from the coast was unsettled wilderness. Where brave settlers faced the challenges of isolation and nature as they established a toehold of civilization. Where multiple nations clashed in battle as they vied for control of land and waterways.

This setting seeded with inherent danger and wild beauty calls to those of us who write frontier historical romances from the 1700s and 1800s. Three of us from Wild Heart Books—Sherry Shindelar, Denise Farnsworth, and Susan Craft—came together to pen a trio of novellas, Freed by the Frontier. Each of our stories connects to one of our previous series, but each novella can be read independently. We invite you to journey with us back to rugged mountains, wagon roads, and frontier settlements.

Wichita Path Sacrifice by Sherry Shindelar
The frontier has always captured my imagination. It is a place of hope and hardship, new beginnings and trials, dreams and risk, and in my stories, a place where love is forged. My novella is the prequel to Texas Forsaken, Book One in my Lone Star Redemption series. Wichita Path Sacrifice tells the love story of captive Maggie Logan (Eyes-Like-Sky) and Dancing Eagle, a renowned Comanche warrior. The story is set in Comancheria in the 1850’s when the Comanches ruled the southern Plains and settlers entered the Texas frontier at their own risk. Years ago, the real-life story of Cynthia Ann Parker broke my heart. Cynthia was captured by Comanches at age nine, and lived with them for twenty-four years, married, and had children. When she was eventually recaptured by cavalry and Texas Rangers, she wanted nothing to do with the settlers’ world. Her heart belonged to the Comanche and her husband and children who were lost to her. Cynthia’s story had a sad ending that haunted me. I wanted to write a captive story with a happier ending, and that desire led to Texas Forsaken. The prequel, Wichita Path Sacrifice, inspired by the real-life stories of Cynthia Ann Parker and her cousin Rachel Plummer, is an enemy-to-lovers story of love blossoming in the midst of trials, when it seems all hope is gone. It’s a story of choices between paths. Love requires sacrifice. Eyes-Like-Sky and Dancing Eagle must decide how much they’re willing to let go of and risk if they are to claim the dreams of their heart.

Ofuskee Trail Surrender by Denise Farnsworth
Keturah Caldwell disappeared from A Counterfeit Betrothal, the first book of my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier series. Pledged to wed the hero of that novel, the daughter of a Georgia judge was abducted by thieves and sold to a war party of Creek braves. One of them, known as Wildcat, quietly protects her on the journey to his village in present-day Alabama. Keturah soon learns she has more in common with the adopted son of the micco than she would ever have guessed. When his cruel stepbrother turns his sights on Keturah and her younger sister, Keturah is forced to trust Wildcat in a marriage of convenience, though she vows to convince him to help them escape. They grow from enemies to lovers amid the War of 1812, as she learns that sometimes, greater blessings can come from abiding than from escaping.

Keturah also meets another captive, Susannah Moore, heroine of A Contrary Betrothal (formerly released as Bent Tree Bride), coming August 18 of this year.

Wagon Road Serenade by Susan F. Craft
An enemies-to-lovers historical romance, this novella is set in1754 on the Great Wagon Road spanning from Philadelphia, PA, to Augusta, GA. I wrote this novella as a complement to my three-novel Great Wagon Road series.

Elizabeth Stanton, her reputation marred from an injustice in London, seeks a second chance as a music teacher for a women’s academy in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She joins a wagon train, but scarred from her past, she vows never to rely on a man again. James Morgan, a widowed trapper, hears a vile rumor about Elizabeth and regrets agreeing to drive one of the academy’s wagons. To Elizabeth, James is another charming scoundrel. To James, Elizabeth is a tainted woman to be avoided. Both resist a growing attraction. James admires her willingness to help others. Her soft soprano voice fills the nights with a melancholy sweetness. Had he received false information and misjudged? Elizabeth tries to remain indifferent, but when he saves her and an orphan girl after Indians kidnap them, her heart softens.

Will his gentle treatment erase her misgivings? Can she trust him? Will their hearts reject discord and blend into a serenade of love?

Sherry Shindelar

Originally from Tennessee, Sherry loves to take her readers into the past. A romantic at heart, she is an avid student of the Civil War and the Old West. When she is not busy writing, she is an English professor working to pass on her love of writing to her students. Sherry is an award-winning writer: 2025 Maggie winner, 2023 Genesis finalist, Maggie finalist, and Crown finalist. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband of forty-one years. She has three grown children and three grandchildren. Connect with Sherry at sherryshindelar.com.

North Georgia native Denise Farnsworth, formerly Denise Weimer, has authored over twenty traditionally published novels and novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

Denise Farnsworth

Susan F. Craft

Nationally acclaimed writer of inspirational historical romance, Susan F. Craft retired after a 45-year career in communications. A widow who was married 48 years to her high school sweetheart, she has two adult children, one granddaughter, and a granddog. A history nerd, she enjoys painting, singing, and sitting on her porch watching chipmunks dine from her bird feeder. She recently learned how to play the ukulele. Soli Deo Gloria.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate their tour, the Wild Heart Authors are giving
away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://gleam.io/7zZDM/freed-by-the-frontier-celebration-tour-giveaway

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“O our God, will You not execute judgment on them? For we are
powerless against this great horde that is coming against us.
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's Time For A Giveaway!