Tell Tale Book Reviews

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Making Of A BraveHearted Woman by Dawn Damon (Give.away)

2/9/2026

This time, it’s YOUR time.

Boldly voice a resounding YES to YOU. Embark on a midlife path that leads to a life brimming with BRAVE CONFIDENCE and a BOLD Vision.

In this ultimate guide to living midlife full-out you’ll find the courage to step out of the shadows of self-doubt and insecurity, and seize the unfolding opportunities before you.

So, with determination in your heart, shed your faintheart, and step into the brilliance that awaits. Say YES to your dreams, your growth, and your exceptional potential. Now is your time BraveHeart. The transformational quest to a future filled with fulfillment beyond measure has begun

Genre: Non-Fiction
Release Date: November 8, 2023

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Dawn

#1. What was the inspiration behind this book?
At I found myself single after 28 years of life as a married person, I had to reinvent myself. This journey inspired me to write this book. It was several years in the making before I wrote it. In addition, I saw how many women were facing midlife and beyond and I did not want to age as a shrinking violet, without dreams or purpose.

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
I tend to be a slower writer, but this book went faster for me. I am passionate about this subject. It took about 6 months to write. But the overall process of a book is usually a year or more.

#3. What part of the writing process do you like the least?
Edits! Getting the manuscript back to make changes. That’s not fun for me. Once I send it off I feel a release…and then… it comes back! :p

#4. What people influenced you the most while writing about this topic?
Terri Savelle. She was speaking my language when I read her book, “Dream It. Pin It. Live It.” It explains why living with a vision for your life is God’s plan to invite us into His purpose for our life. We must SEE it in our heart.

#5. Did you have a specific demographic in mind while writing this book?
Yes, women in midlife or beyond, empty nest, changes in life, body and biological changes, and most often ready for a new purpose.

#6. What do you hope your readers will remember after finishing this book?
To employ what I call the “5 Fortitudes.” I use the acronym B.R.A.V.E. to share them so women can remember what each one is: Bold Vision, Real Identity, Able Mindset, Virtuous Speech, Excellent Habits.

More from Dawn

One of my favorite movies as a kid was The Wizard of Oz. It aired on network TV once a year, and watching the movie with my two sisters, popcorn, blankets, (to hide my eyes during the scary flying monkeys scene) and staying up late, was a big deal.

One of my favorite parts is when the cowardly Lion makes his speech about Courage.

“What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage. What makes the Sphinx the 7th Wonder? Courage. What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage”.

Years later, I found myself in a place where like Cowardly Lion, I needed courage. I had to do some brave things in my life, but I was stuck in fear. I asked myself, “What would I do if the drag of fear wasn’t tethered to my soul; if scary stories and whispers of doom were replaced with curiosity and courage?

I would rise.

What would you do?

If fear was vanquished and lying voices silenced, would you catch the wind and rise to new challenges? Would you be curious enough to explore the new beginnings of an authentic life and brave enough to take important steps, even while afraid?

Sometimes we feel more like the cowardly lion. The dawn doesn’t come up like thunder, but, it does always come up! Can you do something today to move you toward living from your heart and not your fear? As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.”

If you’re being called to rise, if in areas of your life you need to become brave and step out of the comfort zone to reclaim the life you’re meant to live, I believe my book will help you take those courageous steps! It’s time to Rise.

Dawn Damon

For over 25 years, Dawn Damon has inspired audiences as a speaker, author, podcaster, and teacher. Her greatest joy is equipping others to reach their goals and God-given purpose—whether in their personal lives or the platform of public ministry. With contagious passion and wisdom, Dawn says, “The purpose of my life is to help others fulfill the purpose of their life!”
Dawn is founder / CEO of The BraveHearted Woman, and BraveHearted YOUniveristy, a growth and development coaching enterprise for women, awakening their God-given vision and equipping them to live an extraordinary life.

Dawn is a Conference Speaker, Podcaster, and Author, 6 award-winning books including “When a Woman
You Love Was Abused, by Kregel Publications and “The Freedom Challenge: 60 Days to Untie the Cords that Bind
You, Redemption Press,” and most recent, Selah Award finalist, and CIPA 1st Place Award, “The Making of a
BraveHearted Woman: Courage, Confidence, and Vision in Midlife.” The Podcast and YouTube Channel,
called “The BraveHearted Woman: Courage, Confidence, and Mindset Mastery,” echoes Dawn’s calling, offering
solo episodes and meaningful interviews, coaching women to live as the vibrant “leading lady” of their life.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Dawn is giving away the grand prize of
a $25 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/dSwy8/the-making-of-a-bravehearted-woman-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, January 28
Simple Harvest Reads, January 29 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, January 30 (Author Interview)
Inspired by Fiction, January 31
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 1
Guild Master, February 2 (Author Interview)
Fiction Book Lover, February 3 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 3
Vicky Sluiter, February 4 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 5
For the Love of Literature, February 6 (Author Interview)
Because I said so – adventures in Parenting , February 7
Cover Lover Book Review, February 8
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 9 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, February 10 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, February 10

4 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Of Dawn And Embers by Gillian Bronte Adams (Give.away)

2/8/2026

4 Comments

He rides a dawnling, a steed of light and glory, destined to restore.
Jakim Ha’Nor will save his people, or so says the prophecy that upended his life and drove his brothers to betray him. Now, he has returned as the dawnrider to fulfill his purpose and reconcile with his brothers—only to find himself embroiled in a war.
Captured in the fallout of a deadly attack, Rafi grapples with the ghosts of the past. His brother is alive but no longer himself, and Rafi will stop at nothing to save him. Farther up the coast, Ceridwen strives to reignite the embers of the rebellion to burn the empire down. When Rafi is sentenced to execution before the imperial court, Ceridwen must rally every spear and steed she can for a blistering strike at the heart of the capital.
But the empire’s schemes are already in motion, and Jakim’s two missions collide when an unexpected encounter with one of his brothers reveals the true threat behind the imperial thirst for ancient secrets. Hidden forces intend to unleash a cataclysmic power, spurring Ceridwen, Rafi, and Jakim to challenge the full, crushing might of the empire for the fate of the world.
Stars weep and ash falls as the tides of battle propel the Fireborn queen, the Sea-Demon prince, and the Dawnrider priest toward a meteoric clash in this thunderous series finale.

Genre: YA Epic Fantasy
Release Date: January 13, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Gillian

#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
Of Dawn and Embers is the third and final book in The Fireborn Epic, which is a fantasy series where warriors are able to bond with elementally powered horses. I’ve spent most of my life riding, and I directed the equestrian program at a youth camp for a number of years, and it was actually while I was working there one summer that I was struck with the idea for a fantasy world with magical breeds of horses: horses who could breathe fire, vanish into the shadows, ride the stormwinds, etc. Having spent so many years teaching beginner riders, I wanted to create a fantasy series that captured the beauty of the real relationship that a horse and rider are able to develop.
In addition to the concept for the storyworld, the inspiration for each of the main characters’ stories sparked in their own unique ways. For Jakim’s story, which becomes a central focus in this third book, I was inspired by a study I was doing on the story of Joseph and his brothers from Genesis. It’s not a retelling—Jakim isn’t Joseph—but that core set up of that brotherly betrayal and how or when reconciliation might happen kickstarted my imagination.

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
Out of the three books in The Fireborn Epic, Of Dawn and Embers definitely took me the longest to write. Anytime you’re bringing a complex story to its conclusion, there are a lot of threads to weave together and tie off, and this book wound up bringing four main storylines together. So, I was drafting this one for a solid two years, and the first draft wound up being about 209,000 words (which is a lot of words!). The push to realize the climax that I’d envisioned was a five month sprint where every spare moment was spent thinking, dreaming, and building out all of the interconnected action sequences and emotional beats. It ends up taking up over 100 pages of the book, and I love the way it all ended coming up together, and I can’t wait for readers to experience it.

#3. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
I grew up on the epic fantasy genre, thanks to my dad, who did The Hobbit and then The Lord of the Rings as a read aloud starting when I was five. Those books helped shape my understanding of story, so I resonate most with those sorts of epic, heroic tales that echo with deep themes and characters you can both relate and aspire to. So when I took up the pen, those were the stories I found myself drawn to try to tell. Stories filled with deeply human characters, both male and female, who have warriors’ hearts and fight through their own strengths and weaknesses against the odds. Stories that recognize both the beauty and brokenness of the world and are built on the hope of coming restoration.

#4. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
The Fireborn Epic weaves together the storylines of three main characters: Ceridwen (an exiled heir and warrior who is haunted by the ashes of her past), Rafi (a reluctant rebel with a secret identity and a witty sense of humor), and Jakim (a freed-slave turned novice-priest who has vowed to return home to reconcile with the brothers who sold him), and each book allows one of their storylines to come to the forefront. So, the first book, Of Fire and Ash, centers most around Ceridwen, the second, Of Sea and Smoke, on Rafi, and this third one lets Jakim’s character growth take center stage.
Trying to pick a favorite is so hard because I love all of them! And this book pulls on all of their character growth from the past two books so I truly love where all of their stories lead them. That said, I will always adore Ceridwen. She is the type of fierce and driven heroine I would have loved to read as a teen.

#5. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
There are a number of underlying themes woven through this book that may hit readers in different ways depending on where they are coming from, and I love that the structure of an epic book that has multiple character journeys allows you to do that. One of those themes is this concept of a hope that’s battle-forged and tested and that you can hold onto even when everything feels like it’s turning to ashes around you. But I also think that Jakim’s story may resonate with some as he finally has the opportunity to face the brothers who wronged him. He has made a vow to forgive them, and he feels like that means acting like everything is totally fine and glossing over the wounds of the past. And it’s only when he’s faced with the impossibility of that, as new and deeper wounds are uncovered and he can’t pretend anymore, that he realizes that forgiveness can only even begin to take place when you’re willing to acknowledge the truth of the hurt that was done. Anytime I’m writing a more difficult or nuanced theme like that for a character, my hope is not that the character serves as an step by step example of what to do. Instead, my hope is that his journey through the complexities of forgiveness might simply inspire readers to ponder what it does mean to forgive and what it might look like to live that out in various situations.

#6. How did you name your characters?
I always spend so much time trying to come up with just the right names for my characters! It usually involves me searching baby name websites and trying possibilities until I find the one with just the right feel and tone for the character’s personality and for the culture they’re from. Interestingly enough, all three of my main characters in this book (and several important side characters too) once had very different names—Ceridwen was originally Gwen, Rafi was Ronan, Jakim’s name started with an S, and Finnian was William—and now, I can’t imagine them being anything but what they are! Trying to picture Finnian as a William probably makes me laugh the most, because it just isn’t him, but then I remember that Tolkien almost went with Bingo for Frodo, so at least I’m in good company.

#7. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
This series came about in many ways due to the relationship that I built with my horse, Ariat. He was the inspiration for Ceridwen’s fiery steed, and it is his incredible loyalty and fierce personality (with all his quirks) that readers get to meet on the page. I’d had him for seventeen amazing years, and I was working on the final chapters of this book to meet my deadline when he ended up passing away due to a medical emergency. His loss was unbelievably difficult because he’d been such a big part of my life and creative work, but even while I was grieving that, I was able to write this beautiful ending for Ceridwen and her horse that makes it feel like he gets to live on, in some way, in the imagination of readers. So this book is dedicated to him and the gratitude that I feel for so many wonderful years with such an incredible horse.

#8. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
I’m an outdoors person. I love living with access to nature, and I’m happiest when I’m out hiking, kayaking, riding, etc. But I also love curling up with a good book in a cozy setting. I am 1000% an introvert, but if you get me started nerding out about historical battles, Tolkien, or the intricacies of storytelling, I can engage in conversation for a good long time before I need space to recharge again!

#9. If you could change one thing in your life, past or present, what would it be?
I would live in a cabin in the mountains with access to hiking with my dog and a tiny garden space where I can grow things to chop up and put in soup. That’s my dream life right there! Maybe one day.

#10. What one piece of advice would you like to give readers?
Ooh that’s a tricky one. Throughout this book, there’s a call toward an appreciation of the simple beautiful things. I think we live such big busy lives and there’s a constant stream of distraction flooding from our smartphones, apps, and screens all day long that we can lose sight of those things. So my encouragement would be to identify those simple beautiful things that make your life the most meaningful, that bring you joy and allow you to share that joy with others, and to never take them for granted. For me, this year, that looks like a renewed effort to take time away from my screens and with the people and things that I love the most!

#11 Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
I’ll leave you all with my favorite Bible verse which is Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV);

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the
past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs
up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way
in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

More from Gillian

This is, at its core, a book about hope. I discovered that fact partway through the writing process. Of Dawn and Embers is the cataclysmic finale to an epic fantasy trilogy where warriors bond with elemental warhorses and the action sequences strike with ever-increasing intensity from page one, and I was halfway through drafting it before I realized that beneath the searing visuals, the blistering pace, and the moments that set your heart thundering in your chest, this story sings with hope as a powerful undercurrent.

But you’re the author, you say. How could you not already know that?

Some authors go into each project with a specific theme in mind. They begin fully aware of the deeper meaning of the story they want to tell, and they intentionally structure the sequences of the unfolding plot and character arcs to match. I, on the other hand—while an avid worldbuilder who loves creating layered fantasy stories with multiple characters facing their own paths of growth—often wind up surprised by the overarching themes that also surface through those characters’ individual journeys.

Themes of identity and worth. Of finding the beauty in our broken stories. And, in this case, of hope.

Not the soft and feathery kind, fluttering in your chest. Or the brightly optimistic kind that lends itself to cheerful sayings. But the kind of hope that dares to kneel in the ashes, with blood on its teeth and knuckles, and trust that the sun will rise again. The kind of hope that endures and keeps on enduring. The kind of hope that is as stubborn and resilient as an ember’s deep and fiery glow, waiting to be rekindled with a touch of the morning breeze.

That’s the kind of hope that I find myself clinging to in my own life. Because we live in an age where discouragement can seem rampant, flung in our faces with each news cycle and with every moment spent scrolling on this or that screen.

Even once I uncovered that underlying theme, it wasn’t until I reached the end of the first draft and started working back through that I realized just how deeply it had already been woven into the story. It was there in each breathtaking moment of connection between characters, in the first touch of gold breaking through the cloud-wrack, in the hearty meals shared around a fireside, in the friends who refuse to leave one another to face the darkness alone, and in the loyalty that proves a greater defense than any shield or weapon.

It fairly came singing to me off every page, a reflection on hope at the heart of the book.

On the ache of hope. The seeming foolishness of hope. The defiance of hope. The way hope can feel like fresh air to oxygen-starved lungs, and the way it can cause your chest to ache with the fear of losing it again. The way it holds you up and keeps you standing long after you expected to be on your knees. And the way a lack of hope can leave you grasping for some sense of control, lashing out in desperation to find your own way forward after you put your hope in something that proved incapable of enduring.

In the prologue, one of the main characters, Jakim, compares holding onto hope in the midst of hardship as a candle flame that he has had to grip tightly to shield from the buffeting winds to keep it from going out. And “lately, it had felt like the only way to keep it alive was to grasp it so tightly it singed him.”

If you’ve ever faced the long and aching wait for a hope to be realized, you know what it feels like for hope to sting. Proverbs 13:12 (NIV) talks about how “hope deferred makes the heart sick” but Hebrews 6:19 tells us where we can find that true and lasting hope that exists as “an anchor for our souls”: through the One who stepped into the darkest night in our place and took on our own hopeless state so that He could become our hope.

A hope that endures. That breathes life. That does not falter or fail. That doesn’t slip away. That isn’t in danger of burning out if we grip it too tightly.

A hope that holds onto us.

Later on, Jakim comes to the restorative realization that “Hope was not a candle flame. It was the dawn. Rising again and again after darkest night.”

Rising without any effort of his own. Rising beyond the pain of his circumstances. Rising steadfastly day by day.

And throughout the wild ups and downs of this book, through the aching chill of the dark nights and the resplendent glories of the new dawns, I hope that readers will walk away with that same assurance singing hope into their souls.

Gillian Bronte Adams

Gillian Bronte Adams is a sword-wielding, horse-riding, wander-loving fantasy author, rarely found without a coffee in hand and rumored to pack books before clothes when she hits the road. Working in youth ministry left her with a passion for journeying alongside children and teens. (It also enhanced her love of coffee.) Now, she writes novels that follow outcast characters down broken roads, through epic battles, and onward to adventure. And at the end of a long day of typing, she can be found saddling her wild thing and riding off into the sunset, seeking adventures of her own (and more coffee).

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Gillian is giving away the grand prize of
a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card and 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/yIAxb/of-dawn-and-embers-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, January 27
Simple Harvest Reads, January 28 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, January 29 (Spotlight)
Artistic Nobody, January 30 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, January 31 (Spotlight)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 31
Blossoms and Blessings, February 1 (Spotlight)
Guild Master, February 2 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, February 3 (Spotlight)
Book Holds and Jello Molds, February 3
Fiction Book Lover, February 4 (Author Interview)
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, February 5 (Spotlight)
Texas Book-aholic, February 6
A Reader’s Brain , February 7 (Spotlight)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 8 (Author Interview)
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 9 (Spotlight)

4 Comments

Movie Review - Still Hope (Give.away)

2/4/2026

6 Comments

Get tickets now to see this powerful film in theaters
February 5!

Hope, a teenager from a tight-knit community, finds herself in danger when the person she believes to be a new friend proves unsafe. Taken from all she knows, Hope is forced into sex trafficking and stripped of her identity. After finding freedom from her captors, Hope discovers that survival is only the first step. Inspired by true stories, Hope’s journey is a powerful illustration of the courage it takes to walk the complex path of recovery.

Buy tickets today to see Still Hope
in theaters starting February 5th!

Website

Tickets

A portion of ticket proceeds will go towards organizations that care for victims of trafficking.

My Review

Still Hope....

So much can be packed into a simple 2-word title. A thousand things can be said. I'll be honest, this was a difficult movie to watch. I knew it would be going into it, but, it still broke my heart. It is a story that needs to be told and a difficult truth that we need to stop turning our eyes away from. It is real and it happens every single day in every single state. It can be as simple as a new friend on the internet or a seemingly friendly person on the street. When the movie says, “inspired by true stories,” that is exactly what they mean. And this is a reality that is hard and it is ugly.

This movie was tough to watch. It will rip the blinders off of your eyes and it will hurt. And, if you know someone who has gone through something even remotely similar, it can strike deep. But, the title says it all. Still Hope. Is there still hope after such horrible experiences? Is the main character still Hope? The answer to both can be 'yes'.

As you might have guessed, or seen, the movie is rated PG-13 for a reason. I will say, though, that it was handled in a way that did not shy away from the facts but it was not graphic. It did not come across as exploitative of the young actress, which was something that I personally appreciated. Can older teens watch this film? My answer would be, yes. Parents will know their kids best and whether they can handle it. As for younger kids, this is a good reminder to their parents to teach them about safety, about stranger danger, and to know who your kids' friends are both online and in real life.

Another thing that I loved about this movie is that it doesn't stop with a rescue. Everything isn't all peaches and cream once the immediate physical danger is past. That is when the journey only begins. And that road is long, it's tough, and there will be many setbacks.

Emotionally moving, powerful, and full of hope, this film was also quite well made. I don't really need to say more, other than that the actress who plays Hope is very very good. Her ability to portray strong emotion with her face and body language is gut-wrenchingly real.

In the end I think this is a movie that people need to watch. It is time to step out of our pretty little comfort zones and see the truth – even when it is ugly. It is time to do as Jesus did and help the hurting. It is time to be the stranger in the most unexpected of places – the stranger who sees and then does something about it....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Still Hope a 5 Bark rating.

(Disclosure: Many thanks to Studio 523 for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.)

It's Time For A Giveaway!

1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon giftcard!

(USA ONLY)

Please Note: Full name and email address are required. This information is used to send the winner
their prize and to ensure that the chosen winner has not already won a giveaway in this blog tour.

#StillHopeMIN #StillHope #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - My Maker & Me by Pat Domangue (Give.away)

1/23/2026

4 Comments

A six-week guided Bible study based on Isaiah 64:8, My Maker & Me helps Christian women discover God as their potter and understand His continual presence in their lives.
Through the unique perspective of viewing God and themselves through Scripture and the art of pottery, Christian women will learn how God intimately works to shape them into the beautiful vessels He created them to become, much like a potter shapes clay.
Many Christian women struggle with trusting God because they don’t know Him from the intimate perspective of their potter. My Maker & Me helps women grow in understanding God’s love and care for them especially when they face difficult seasons or walk through fiery trials. As their trust grows, they will also find security, purpose, and meaning even in the most difficult seasons of life. If they are struggling with who they are and discovering their purpose, they will gain a greater sense of their true identity and purpose, setting them up to embrace God’s plan for their life. Women committed to completing this six-week study will experience spiritual growth and personal transformation.

Genre: Christian Living/Bible Study
Release Date: July 22, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Pat

#1. What was the inspiration behind this book?
Watching a pottery demonstration was the spark that started everything. As the potter worked with the clay, he shared how God had revealed Himself through the art and process of pottery making. He talked about His intimate involvement, His shaping process, and the deep sense of value the potter discovered in God’s hands.
I was so moved by both the visual demonstration and the potter’s personal testimony that I knew I wanted to understand God as my Potter. I wanted to see this truth laid out clearly in Scripture. I called the potter, asked to attend his class, and spent time in the university studio learning the pottery process from start to finish.
In that room, watching clay being thrown, centered, shaped, trimmed, and fired, I saw powerful parallels to what Scripture says about God forming us into His beautiful vessels. Once again, God used that picture to transform my own heart. I knew I had to share what I had discovered, experienced, and learned. So - this Bible study was born.

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
I began writing the study in May 2006 and completed the manuscript one year later, in May 2007. Over the years, I taught the study in various churches and women’s groups—the last time being in 2017. After that, I set it aside for a season.
Then, at a writer’s conference in April 2023, I met Terry Whalin, an acquisitions editor for Morgan James Publishing. I shared the concept and history of the study with him, and that conversation opened the door for the publishing process to begin.

#3. What part of the writing process do you like the least?
I genuinely love every part of the writing and teaching process. But after the writing is complete, the part I enjoy the least is pitching the book to publishers. The creative work gives me joy—the pitching feels much more daunting.

#4. What new or interesting things did you learn while researching for this book?
Learning the art of pottery completely reshaped my understanding of God’s work in difficult seasons. For a long time, I assumed that trials, especially in ministry, meant God was displeased with me. If things were hard, I believed something must be wrong.
But in the potter’s studio, I discovered a different truth. Many parts of the process would be incredibly uncomfortable for the clay if it had nerve endings and feelings: being slammed onto the wheel, stretched, pressed, carved, trimmed, and finally placed into an intensely hot fire. Yet every step is guided by the potter’s vision for something beautiful and useful.
I learned that the potter never takes his eyes off the clay. The pressure, the tools, and the fire are never punishment. Instead, they are part of the intentional forming process. That realization helped me see God’s hands shaping me in seasons of hardship just as much as in seasons of peace. God sees the beautiful outcome long before we ever feel it, and He works with purpose at every stage.

#5. What do you hope your readers will remember after finishing this book?
More than anything, I want every woman who completes this study to walk away knowing how deeply loved, intentionally planned, and divinely purposed she is.
I hope she carries with her the truth that God is present in every joyful, ordinary, painful, or broken season, and that He is continually shaping something beautiful in her life. Even in the trials, she is held, she is known, and she is being formed into a vessel for His glory.

More from Pat

My Maker and Me: A Six-Week Bible Study of Becoming God’s Beautiful Vessel

Have you ever watched a potter at work? Strong hands caress and move the clay, shaping it as it spins on the wheel. The potter leans close, eyes focused, applying just the right pressure to bring something beautiful to life.

That’s where my writing journey began — watching my first pottery demonstration and hearing the potter share the treasures he had discovered about God at that wheel. God had revealed Himself through the art and process of pottery, opening the potter’s eyes to see His intimate work in his life and the great value God saw in him.

As I listened, something stirred deep inside me. I wanted to know God like that — intimately, personally, as the Potter who shapes and molds my life. Within days, I was sitting in the potter’s class, craving to experience God in that same way. The potter guided us through every stage of creating pottery — from dry clay, to shaping damp clay on the wheel, to firing and glazing.

Each week, I carried what I learned from class into prayer, asking God to reveal Himself and show me how Scripture mirrors the process. Just as the potter shapes the clay, God shapes us into His beautiful vessels — molding us through seasons of pressure, waiting, and refining.

My Maker and Me was born from the revelation of Isaiah 64:8:

“But now, O Lord, You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.”

Through this study, women will discover the heart of the Master Potter who is intimately at work in their lives—shaping, refining, and transforming them into the vessels He created them to be.

A Season of Waiting and Shaping

One of my favorite sections of the study is Week 4: The Master’s Design. It explores how God uses waiting seasons not as wasted time, but as sacred shaping time. Even in the waiting, God is still working—molding and strengthening us to become His beautiful vessels.

Much like a potter allows the clay to rest before the next stage of forming, God allows us moments of stillness to prepare us for His next move. In those seasons, even when we can’t see or feel His presence, He is working—always with intention and love.

Writing this study wasn’t easy. God allowed me to live many of the lessons He was teaching me. I had my own moments of testing, trial, and surrender. Yet in every challenge, He revealed His faithfulness and assured me of His nearness.

An Invitation to the Journey

My prayer for My Maker and Me is that women everywhere will experience what I did—a deeper awareness of God’s hand at work in their lives. Whether you’re in a season of stretching, refining, or resting, I believe this study will help you see how the Potter is crafting something beautiful in you.

Come join me on this journey of becoming God’s beautiful vessel.

Pat Domangue

A resident of West Monroe, Louisiana, Pat Domangue has spent the past twenty years in women’s ministry inspiring and igniting a passion for Jesus through writing and teaching Bible studies for women. Pat has an advanced certification in Women’s Ministry, a bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a master’s degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity Seminary in Newburgh, Indiana.

She has published four Bible studies for women: Quest for Wholeness: Healing The Broken; Equipped & Empowered:
Preparing Women for Spiritual Battle; DIG: Digging Into God’s Word, a how-to guide for studying the Bible; and her latest, My
Maker and Me: A Six-Week Bible Study of Becoming God’s Beautiful Vessel. Pat has also produced and hosted a Christian women’s
television program and radio shows, and she currently hosts H.E.R. Podcast, bringing healing and encouragement to women in real life.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Pat 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/Ft6nd/my-maker-and-me-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, January 16 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 17
Artistic Nobody, January 18 (Author Interview)
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 19
Guild Master, January 20 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 21
Fiction Book Lover, January 22 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 23 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, January 23
Blossoms and Blessings, January 24 (Author Interview)
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 25
Stories By Gina, January 26 (Author Interview)
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 27 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 28
A Reader’s Brain , January 29 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, January 29

4 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Freedom Rings by Rachel Keith (Give.away)

1/22/2026

2 Comments

Freedom rings out. Who will hear it?

Tina the wolf and her adopted animal siblings narrowly escaped childhood enslavement and lead a quiet, secluded life together. But when they find out the usurping Authorities ravage their world of Neftar to capture more slaves, Tina feels that she and her squad are being called to free their fellow Neftarians.

As they plunge into their abolition quest, however, untold dangers arise—from betrayals, to life-threatening peril, to the discovery of Tina’s forbidden heritage.

Can Tina and her siblings fight for freedom, or will they be put to death for their rebellion… and for Tina’s outlawed bloodline?

Genre: Christian Middle-grade Animal Fantasy
Release Date: June 16, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Rachel

#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
There was a lot of different inspiration that went into Freedom Rings. For the readers, I wanted to create a story world where the characters could feel like ”book friends” to keep them company when they’re lonely. For the story itself, it was inspired by a blend of The Chronicles of Narnia and Sonic the Hedgehog!

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
The very first draft of Freedom Rings was pretty short, and I wrote it when I was twelve. That probably took a few weeks. But two rewrites and a ton of edits later, Freedom Rings is the book it is today—so the overall process took a few years. But normally books do not take me a few years to write! Freedom Rings, and the entire The Squad: Rising series, was a special case, since I originally wrote it all when I was a kid.

#3. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
I hope readers will see from Freedom Rings how valuable the gift of freedom is. But more importantly, I hope they take away the power that God has and how He uses everything—from the largest tragedies to the smallest curveballs—for His glory, His purpose, and our good.

#4. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
One thing that happened when writing Freedom Rings came during the editing process. My editor, a very close friend, pointed out areas of the story that needed more raw emotion. So I went through, added more emotion, consequently gave characters way heavier arcs, put in new chapters dedicated to the characters slogging through their tough times, and then went through the rest of The Squad: Rising series to do the same. After what ended up teetering on an overhaul, I told my editor she had saved the story. She replied, “All I said was make it sadder!” (But trust me, she saved it!)

#5. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
1 Timothy 4:12—Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. (NIV) That’s one of my favorite Bible verses, because not only does it apply to me and my life, but it applies to the characters of Freedom Rings and the entire The Squad: Rising series, and I hope young readers can apply it to their lives, too.

More from Rachel

I’m Rachel Keith, an 18-year-old homeschool graduate from Franklin, Tennessee. I understand how difficult it is for homeschool families to find safe, clean, Christ-centered fiction that also resonates with young readers, and that’s why I wrote The Squad: Rising series. The series focuses on Tina, an anthropomorphic wolf in a vibrant world of anthropomorphic animals. She and her squad of adopted siblings see the oppression their world is facing, and together, they fight to free their world and establish peace. Though they face plenty of perils, they trust that The Most High will guide them. Each book includes fun resources, including an animal species guide and discussion questions! Inspired by Sonic the Hedgehog and The Chronicles of Narnia, this series—beginning with book 1, Freedom Rings—is a fun new trailblazing series for middle grade fantasy, especially for Christians and anthro lovers!

Rachel Keith

Rachel Keith created and finished the world of The Squad at an early age. Inspired to share her faith and glorify God through her passion of writing, she used her extensive knowledge of animals, artistry, graphic design, and fanaticism for a certain video game hedgehog to bring the world of Neftar to life.
When not writing, praying, or geeking out over her video games, Rachel draws custom betta fish portraits, pampers her unusual pets, jams to Christian radio, and reads. And reads. And READS.
Because there’s no such thing as too much of a great story.
Rachel lives in her native land of Nashville, Tennessee, with her menagerie, Bible, and animal encyclopedia.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away the grand prize of
a signed paperback 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/DNsrJ/freedom-rings-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 13
Simple Harvest Reads, January 14 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, January 15 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 15
Fiction Book Lover, January 16 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 17
Vicky Sluiter, January 18 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, January 19
For the Love of Literature, January 20 (Author Interview)
Cover Lover Book Review, January 21
Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 22 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, January 23 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, January 24 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, January 24
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 25 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, January 26

2 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Godchild by S.C. Terlecky (Give.away)

1/21/2026

1 Comment

When fifteen-year-old Ellie Wilder discovers a contraband journal hidden in her attic, her decision to read its contents rather than turning it over to TEAMMATE officials will destroy any chance of living a normal life. The good news? Andy Jacobs, the most popular boy in her school, now realizes she exists. The bad news? She might not exist much longer if TEAMMATE has anything to say about it. Now that she’s awakened from the encompassing lie of the world she lives in, how can she possibly warn others who are content to remain in a blissful Neverland? She’ll need to challenge her own beliefs, embrace her destiny, and put everything on the line or else the dying spark she’s uncovered in this hostile future will be extinguished—along with her life, forever.

Genre: YA Christian Dystopian
Release Date: December 9, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with S.C.

#1. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
The idea came to me while I was halfway through finishing my second book. The inspiration was so strong that I had to get a few chapters written along with a rough outline. I hit a wall at about a hundred pages and shelved the project for maybe two years. It stayed in the back of my mind the whole time. I had some other goals I was working on with my career and with raising my family at the time—so I took some time off from writing. However, once I got refocused, I hit the ground running again and finished a rough draft within a year. All total, it was probably a five-year process, mostly because I wasn’t in a hurry. I really wanted to get this story right.

#2. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
I really enjoy dystopian novels. The genre seemed to be waning over the last ten years after a strong run with series like THE HUNGER GAMES, DIVERGENT, and THE MAZE RUNNER. I wondered if a new twist could bring a resurgence. Most novels in this category steer clear of any Christian elements. So, I did the opposite. I steered right into those elements and made them front and center. For the longest time I found it difficult to find a good comparison. Looking back, it’s kind of a cross between THE BOOK OF ELI and THE GIVER.

#3. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
I hope they feel an urge to take a step back in our world and look at the whole picture. Evil can infiltrate just about any institution and if we’re not vigilant, we won’t see it. The society that was created had great ambitions to be peaceful and just. And it appeared just so, until you stepped back and realized what was sacrificed in that process. I feel like it could also be a warning for the future. If you completely did away with paper books, how easy would it be to completely change history? Finally, I hope they see the wisdom in the written words of the Bible.

#4. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
I work in the medical field and have two young daughters. I live close to my entire family—like a quarter mile from my parents and it has been a blessing to have them so nearby. My older brother is not far away either and he is my best friend. I live in the township I was born in, so most of my friends are lifelong. Nearly all of my family are or were teachers in public school. I think I’m incredibly lucky for that. My mom was a high school English teacher, so I’m sure you can imagine the support I get for my hobby.

#5. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
I think a lot of people in this world are fighting battles that we know nothing about. I’ve tried to keep this in perspective on a daily basis—especially at work. It’s very easy to write people off after one negative encounter. Oftentimes we don’t know what else, whether inside or outside of work, that’s destroying their day or maybe even their life. So, I’ve been trying to work on giving those people some grace, because I know I need it too sometimes. I believe most people are inherently good, but so many become beaten down by the world.

More from S.C.

The truth may set you free, but are you prepared for the cost?

When I set out to write my third novel, THE GODCHILD, I wanted to create something that would remain on the mind of the reader after the final page. There are a number of excellent young adult books that left a lasting impression on me in my younger years, and my desire was to contribute something truly moving for the next generation.

Drawing from some of my favorite classic YA dystopian fiction novels, there is often one theme in common—they focus on fighting an all-powerful, evil group of people with a smaller group of likeable underdogs who want to preserve some important, physically tangible aspect of living. It may be saving a faction of people from oppression by another faction like in Veronica Roth’s Divergent or Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. The story may highlight a need to break free from a world of total control like in The Giver by Lois Lowry or A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. They may even primarily focus on saving humanity from extinction like in James Dashner’s The Maze Runner. But how many add the spiritual implications of eternity alongside these important physical themes? This is where THE GODCHILD is meant to have a deeper reach into the reader. And when the tale is completely told, the chilling part of this story is that it’s not unbelievable—especially in today’s world.

S.C. Terlecky

S.C. Terlecky lives in Northeast Ohio with his two daughters and herd of cats. He enjoys a multitude of outdoor activities and reading stories each night to his girls. His previous works include American Relic and Canticle of the Spear. He loves strong storytelling, interesting characters, and concepts with lasting impact.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, S.C. is giving away the grand prize of a $100 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/kZzku/the-godchild-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, January 12
Simple Harvest Reads, January 13 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 13
Artistic Nobody, January 14 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, January 15 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 16
Fiction Book Lover, January 17 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, January 18
Vicky Sluiter, January 19 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, January 20 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 21 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, January 22
Blossoms and Blessings, January 23 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, January 24 (Author Interview)
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 25 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 25

1 Comment

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Voice I Couldn't Ignore by Johanna Frank (Give.away)

1/19/2026

6 Comments

Through a vision, God told Hanna he was going to take her child. Seven years later, he did.

The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore

Hanna’s relationship with God is undeniably unusual—of that, she is certain.

Kept secret for three generations, a stranger’s prophecy that a window from heaven would open was aimed squarely at her. But instead, deeply wounded scars shut her off from that promised breeze, sealing away any hope for self-worth and true identity. As the years continue and she navigates motherhood, she’s drawn in and shaken by vivid dreams and visions—some illuminating, others quite alarming.

“Did God just tell me he’s going to take my child?”

When the fiercest storm of Hanna’s life strikes—a brutal whirlwind of unseen daggers—it hurls her skyward only to shatter her fragile house of faith, leaving her to wrestle in a deep pit of relentless grief. She can’t imagine trusting a soul on earth to explain why God moved the way he did in her life. And even if she tried, no one would ever believe her.

“Don’t get comfy down here.” For all her inner warnings, she’s bound in anguish and despair with no visible way out.

So she begins to piece together the God-given dreams and visions, aligning her interpretations of his handiwork in the Holy Land with Scripture. From these fragments, she shapes a parable of her own—an illustration of a new house of faith. This one on a solid foundation with gentle reminders of truth, particularly the one that sets her free: it takes the Trinity to lift a soul.

Keep a window open. Catch the breeze that binds.

Based on a true story.

Genre: Christian Nonfiction / Memoirs/ Christian Death and Grief
Release Date: October 2, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Q&A with Johanna

Q: What was the inspiration behind this book?
A: The inspiration stemmed from a deep loss and its connection to personal lifelong encounters. The story chose me—sharing it was the part for me to play.

Q: How long did it take to finish writing this book?
A: I’d spent over fifteen years wearing my heart and mind on my sleeve, starting and stopping too many times to count. Then one day last year, the words finally came, flowing like a fountain.

Q: What part of the writing process do you like the least?
A: Marketing. Marketing. And marketing.
Though what do I like the best? When a reader reaches out with a touching comment as to how the message in one of my books hit home with them and they thanked me. So I think about that one person in a hundred (or so) when I carry out marketing tasks and hope that I can somehow find them.

Q: What drew you to take on this topic through non-fiction versus fiction?
A: I initially began writing with the thought that it would fall under fiction, though I took comfort in knowing it was truly nonfiction—a way to share my real story. But I soon realized that meeting the expectations of a fiction reader would have meant adding so much that it would have diminished the uniqueness of the truth.

Q: What do you hope your readers will remember after finishing this book?
A: That God still communicates today and in many, many ways he seeks to reach us – we simply have to be keen to watch and listen.

More from Johanna

A creative nonfiction based on a true story; how I rebuilt a house of faith following the death of my daughter.

This story leads the reader through an ancestral prophecy, profound visions and dreams, and a mother’s journey through symbolisms in the Holy Land. It shares how she guided her teenage daughter through a devastating diagnosis while wrestling with God, and reveals her spiritual rebuilding of an unshakable house of faith in the aftermath of loss.

Johanna Frank

Johanna Frank is a Canadian author based in Southern Ontario, where she lives with her husband, and delights in time with her children and grandchildren. Her award-winning A Lifeline Fantasy Series includes The Gatekeeper’s Descendants (Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Medalist), Jophiel’s Secret (Winner of the 2023 General Market Suspense Fiction Award and the Christian Speculative Fiction Award), and Here Lyeth (finalist for The Word Guild’s 2025 Christian Speculative Award). In addition, Johanna has just released a creative memoir, The Voice I Can’t Ignore, a deeply personal work that explores God’s abundant mystery and healing.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Johanna 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/j2Twg/the-voice-i-couldnt-ignore-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 10
Simple Harvest Reads, January 11 (Author Interview)
A Reader’s Brain , January 12 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 12
Artistic Nobody, January 13 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, January 14
Guild Master, January 15 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 16
Fiction Book Lover, January 17 (Author Interview)
Cover Lover Book Review, January 18
Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 19 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 20
Blossoms and Blessings, January 21 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, January 22 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, January 22
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 23 (Author Interview)

6 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Road Unveiled by Tim Bishop (Give.away)

1/18/2026

5 Comments

Two wounded hearts. Long, winding roads.
And second chances neither saw coming.

Lauren Baumgartner pedals toward Yellowstone National Park, anticipating a grand celebration when she reaches the Atlantic Ocean. But when her wedding plans collapse, old wounds resurface—and a haunting secret still holds her heart hostage.
Traveling alone with bear spray and a one-woman tent, she shares the highway with motorcyclists bound for a massive rally, including gang members who eye her as theirs for the taking.
Doug Zimmer, another lone cyclist, is grappling with loss and wondering if anyone will be alongside him when he figures out what’s next. He isn’t the only one drawn to Lauren’s vitality and spirit.
But Lauren may already be in too deep. What she faces on the Golden Prairie Indian Reservation tests her courage—and her faith—more than anything she encountered as a missionary in Uganda.

A woman with a secret and a man healing
from loss pedal the rugged roads of the
American West on a quest for love and
purpose that leads to unexpected horizons.

Genre: FICTION / Christian / Contemporary FICTION / Romance / Action & Adventure
Release Date: November 4, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Tim

#1. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
I like two of the more seasoned characters. They’re available to gently share their wisdom with other characters when the time is right. Brother Jim is a long-time pastor who is transitioning to a parachurch ministry that he and his wife are starting. They want to reach people who are struggling with suicidology, those in recovery, and refugees from war-torn countries. Emma Red Cloud is a Native American woman who returned home after achieving successes off the reservation. She has been tribal leader and has earned the respect of even those residents who push the limits of law and decency. Her motives are pure.

#2. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
Naturally, I want people to enjoy the book, to be on the edge of their seats in the action scenes and reflect on other parts of the story. But more than entertaining them, I want them to step into the shoes of characters who have made mistakes, see them as God sees them, and discover why it’s important to extend grace. It’s easy to fall into the trap of judging people without spending time in their skin. I’m after a deeper dive for readers. I hope I’ve accomplished that.

#3. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
I grew up in a small town in Northern Maine, where community and work ethic thrive and the mercury drops well below zero in the winter. I have two brothers and a sister, and we’re spread far apart east of the Mississippi. I lived in Maine for fifty years before marrying Debbie and relocating to Massachusetts. We now live in Middle Tennessee. God has blessed me with an energetic, fun-loving woman who is dedicated to Jesus. We’ve embarked on three long bicycle trips across the United States and shorter trips in Texas, Vermont, and around Lake Michigan. Debbie still teaches school in between her rigorous exercise routines.

#4. What one piece of advice would you like to give readers?
It is never too late to start something new in life. Debbie and I bicycled across the country after marrying at age 52, a first marriage for both of us. I had left a job of 26 years and a state I lived in most of my life. The reset was exhilarating. I began coaching young people online and continue to help people of any age as a volunteer late at night on weekends. How did God take a finance guy with no kids and make him into a coach to young people? In my mid-sixties, I embarked on a project I never thought I would do: I published my first novel. Always be open to what God may have for you. Listen to the desires He has placed in your heart and find creative ways to satisfy them. You’ll be amazed at what He’ll do.
#11 Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
We’re living in unusual times. I was always amazed at the experiences my mother had living from 1922 to 2012. She saw so much technological change during her lifetime, from doing most of life’s chores by hand to automation and specialization of labor, from no television or radio to the information superhighway, from the automobile’s infancy to a robust air travel industry and air conditioning and computerized gadgetry in every vehicle sold, and even from outhouse to flush toilet. And how many centuries did it take to invent the wheel, the printing press (let alone paper to write on), and the internal combustion engine? Changes in past decades have chipped away at the cohesiveness of families and community. But with more recent advances in technology such as artificial intelligence and speedier bandwidths, God has so much in place to be able to reach people with His Gospel message like never before. Each believer ought to ask themselves: What part in this does God have for me?

More from Tim

What is Christian Fiction?

I categorize my latest novel, The Road Unveiled, as Contemporary Christian Fiction. With the story set in modern times, the contemporary part makes sense.

But just what is Christian Fiction?

Is it a story with characters—and exclusively for readers—who espouse Christian values, believe in God, and exercise faith in Jesus Christ? Is it content fabricated to preach biblical truth? Or is it an entertaining tale so sanitized it won’t offend even the most sensitive of believers, even if it resembles little of what goes on in the world? Maybe it’s all the above. Or a touch of each.

I recently told my wife, Debbie, “I don’t write fantasy.” I wasn’t referring to genre but to placating readers who want only entertainment, escapism, and content that reinforces their beliefs. They’re looking for happily ever after in a world with far too little of it.

I like happy endings too. And I see entertainment as essential in fiction because a novelist must keep readers engaged if he hopes to influence them.

But I want my stories to have redeeming qualities beyond mere entertainment. Rereading my bio recently reminded me of this. It says, “Tim writes to create content that can change people’s lives.” That’s a tall order, but I wouldn’t be publishing books at my stage of life unless I wanted to touch a reader.

In The Road Unveiled, I promise I’ll take you on a journey. And certain parts of it won’t be easy. I want you to feel the pain of my characters’ relational woes so you can rejoice when they grow through them. If I can bring sweat to your brow as we climb steep ascents, you can bask in the magnificent surroundings and feel the rewarding rush when we sail down the other side. And if you feel the chill down your spine when danger looms, you’ll savor the peace at deliverance even more.

I’ll invite you to grapple with challenging cultural issues, too, so you can reconsider them with a fresh perspective. Could the difficulties we navigate with these characters make us all a little more compassionate, more aware of injustices, and more appreciative of everything God created for us? Could the nuance of a Bible passage jump from the pages of this story and smack us in the noggin? Maybe, like my protagonist, we’ll gain a better awareness of the toxic effects of a deep secret.

Strap on your helmets because we’re going for a ride. I don’t guarantee it will be smooth, but I do believe it will be worthwhile. Yes, I hope the story will entertain you. But I also want to leave you with something to think about, something that will stick with you long after you close the book. I sure hope I’ve accomplished that, but you’re the judge!

Tim Bishop

After a thirty-year career in business, Tim Bishop left his corporate treasurer position, married his dream girl, and embarked with her to parts unknown—on bicycles. Ten thousand miles later, the first-time newlyweds have written four books about their cycling adventures. Their devotional, Wheels of Wisdom, won four first-place book awards. Publishers Weekly dubbed it “a road map for life.” Tim’s first novel, The Persistent Road, won the Ames Award in General Fiction. The award acknowledges excellent books that encourage living a courageous and obedient Christian life, especially under challenging circumstances. The audiobook edition of The Persistent Road was selected as a Selah Award finalist.

Tim volunteers as a coach for a ministry that reaches people who are dealing with challenging life issues. He has written
numerous articles for various Christian content providers. A graduate of the University of Maine, a CPA, and a
three-time Maine chess champion, Tim and his wife, Debbie, live in Middle Tennessee.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Tim is giving away the grand prize of
a $75 Amazon Gift Card and the two books in the Bicycle Adventure Series!!

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

https://gleam.io/nJ2bn/the-road-unveiled-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Stories By Gina, January 9 (Author Interview)
lakesidelivingsite, January 10
Simple Harvest Reads, January 11 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, January 12
Artistic Nobody, January 13 (Author Interview)
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 14
Guild Master, January 15 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, January 16
Fiction Book Lover, January 17 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 18 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 18
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, January 19 (Author Interview)
Cover Lover Book Review, January 20
Vicky Sluiter, January 21 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, January 22 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 22

5 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Godchild by S.C. Terlecky (Give.away)

1/16/2026

4 Comments

Genre: YA Christian Dystopian
Release Date: December 9, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

One girl's questions may save the world....

Dystopian fiction is always an interesting genre. The possibilities are endless and the directions that the story might go are numerous. The Godchild is a little bit different from the rest. Yes, it features a teen protagonist, something of a quest, and a 'chosen one' concept. But, it differs from the other, albeit somewhat limited, dystopian fiction that I've read in that it delves into the spiritual effects of a society that has banned all religion and all individual thought.

As I read this story from author S.C. Terlecky, I found myself fascinated by the world of TEAMMATE. It controls every aspect of life and society – from the amount of time you are ALLOWED to go grocery shopping to whether you will be ALLOWED to have children. Through technology and indoctrination every single person and every single thought is controlled. That is, until a teenage heroine decides to start questioning things.... It's almost a little scary how close some of that technology and that kind of control might be.

I will admit that there was at least one major plot point that made me unhappy, but there were other aspects to the story that I quite liked. One thing that I particularly enjoyed were the 'quotes' from the TEAMMATE rules heading each of the chapters in parts I and II. They tied in quite well with the happenings in each chapter as well as explained a lot of the 'why' behind things.

One little thing to note is that, in my personal opinion, while this book is aimed at a YA audience, it would be best read by kids on the older end of that age-range.

Anyway, The Godchild is an interesting story. It's on the grittier side, but not over the top, and S.C. Terlecky will certainly get you to thinking...

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

More from S.C.

S.C. Terlecky

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, S.C. is giving away the grand prize of a $100 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/kZzku/the-godchild-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

4 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Not Exactly Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller (Give.away)

1/12/2026

5 Comments

Pride, Pemberley, and Second Chances

When history-loving Olivia Bennett’s teaching contract isn’t renewed, she is considered her family’s logical choice to care for her ailing grandmother in a tiny English village. While there, she soon finds additional work at nearby Hartbury Hall—one of England’s great houses once used as Pemberley in a filmed production of Pride and Prejudice. The head gardener there, however, proves to be anything but the gentlemanly hero of that famous book. Little does she know that behind Liam Browne’s brusque exterior is both a family tragedy and a legacy that demands truth and honor, creating a crisis that only Liv’s vivacious determination can resolve. Along the way, she may just learn that appearances count for naught. . .and that love can be found in unexpected ways.

Genre: Romance/Contemporary/Christian Fiction
Release Date: December, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Losing her job may have been the best thing....

I'll make my confession right here at the start. I picked up Not Exactly Mr. Darcy for the sake of the title alone. It caught my attention. It intrigued me. And, quite simply, I just had to read it.

I'm actually familiar with Carolyn Miller's historical romance, so it wasn't a stretch for me to try this new contemporary series. I'm quite pleased to report that this modern tale was every bit as good as her historical ones and I enjoyed it very much.

From the charming cover that loosely depicts an adorable scene from the book to the very last page, I was captivated by this lovely Aussie/English story. It's simple, it's sweet, and I couldn't put it down. The characters feel real; they jump to conclusions, they are cranky, and like all of us, they are afraid to step outside of the areas they have designated as safe.

This first Silver Teapot Series novel is one that I really got into. I've never been to either location setting, Australia or England, but I felt transported there and, despite the different nationalities, I could also see bits of myself in both Liv and Liam.

I also want to give props to the author for the added realism of finances being a concern surrounding fundraisers. So many books and movies seem to think that permits, tickets, and food etc. just magically appear and the family farm will be saved by a Christmas market or the like. Reality says that those things cost money and have to be carefully planned out to make ends meet.

After finishing this book, I am now excited to see what other loose Jane Austen interpretations will be next for The Silver Teapot Series. Based on character names, I can already see my personal favorite Jane Austen hero making an appearance. Anyway, Carolyn Miller definitely hit it out of the park with this first book. She also gives those of us single girls a little hope that, though we may not have found him by age 25, there might be a chance for us yet, even if it is not how we expected and he is Not Exactly Mr. Darcy....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Not Exactly Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

More from Carolyn

Carolyn Miller

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational Regency and contemporary romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband, she has pastored a church for ten years and worked as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher.
A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Carolyn is giving away the grand prize of
a print copy of the book and a $25 Amazon eGift card!!

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

https://gleam.io/P3So9/not-exactly-mr-darcy-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 6
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 6
The Sacred Line, January 7
Leslie’s Library Escape, January 8
Vicky Sluiter, January 9
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 9
Texas Book-aholic, January 10
Life on Chickadee Lane, January 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 11
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 12
Tell Tale Book Reviews , January 12
For Him and My Family, January 13
Lyssa Loves Books, January 13
Blossoms and Blessings, January 14
Mornings at Character Cafe, January 14
Holly’s Book Corner, January 15
Mrs. Ryan Moser’s book and movie reviews , January 15
Pause for Tales, January 16
Mary Hake, January 16
Cover Lover Book Review, January 17
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, January 18
To Everything There Is A Season, January 19

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Goodness Of Unicorns by Kayla E. Green (Give.away)

12/29/2025

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One girl determined to heal her sister and another looking for purpose in a nation on the brink of war. And unicorns—with a twist you’ve never seen before.
It’s Rowan Tritonia’s sixteenth Naming Anniversary. Her plans for the day never included a headache that causes her to almost faint on a day meant for celebration. When the world comes back into focus, her brown eyes have changed to magenta. But what scares her more is that everything around her is now black and white coupled with a mysterious ability to see the light and shadows in a person’s soul. Then a local cleric implies that Rowan could have the power of Sight, a gift which has only been seen in the stories of unicorns in the Book of Verimor, an ancient text. Rowan is perplexed. Why would Verimor give her something she never asked for instead of answering her greatest prayer to help her younger sister, Blythe?
News of the girl with Sight quickly travels beyond Rowan’s local village. When the King of Wisteria learns of her gift from a letter, he summons her to the castle. With growing political tensions from neighboring nations, Rowan may be able to provide the aid they desperately need. Linnea, the king’s sister and his primary advisor, prays that Rowan has truly been blessed by a unicorn and can save the nation and its people from encroaching darkness.

Meanwhile, back at home, Blythe, sets out on her own journey. She feels helpless, tied down by the pain that keeps her homebound most of the time. Although she wears a smile to comfort those around her—especially her family—Blythe wonders if her life will ever amount to anything more than fading into the background. Is she truly too broken for any greater purpose, or can Verimor still use her?

Genre: YA Noblebright Fantasy
Release Date: October 21, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Distance cannot separate sisters....

Fantasy has been one of my go-to genres this year and it has been fun to discover fantastical new worlds and stories. The Goodness Of Unicorns is my second book from Kayla E. Green, even though it is the first book in the Tritonia Chronicles series, and I have to say that it was imaginative as well as more intriguing.

Right from the start one can't help but love Rowan and Blythe. These two sisters truly love one another and will risk much for each other. I found the chapters focusing on each sister equally as interesting and I appreciated how Kayla E. Green crafted her story so each of those chapters, no matter the perspective, built upon the previous one.

There is some great worldbuilding right off the bat in The Goodness Of Unicorns and I really loved the birthday traditions in particular. From courting symbols to royalty to the landscape, it was all nicely done. I also found Rowan's gift and all of its nuances to be quite compelling.

As someone who is older than the target audience but still enjoys a good fantasy tale, I am a big fan of the way this first Tritonia Chronicles novel blended faith with that particular genre. This story has a little bit of everything including unicorns, what more could you ask for...?

So, I enjoyed the simple but imaginative introduction to the world of The Tritonia Chronicles. The Goodness Of Unicorns was a fairly quick read for me and since Kayla E. Green left things on a bit of a cliffhanger I am quite looking forward to finding out what happens next....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Goodness Of Unicorns by Kayla E. Green a 4 Bark rating.

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

More from Kayla

Do you enjoy reading book dedications? The Goodness Of Unicorns’ dedication reads:
For my twin sister and first friend, Kari:
My world, and the world at large, is brighter with you in it.
May everyone who reads this find the strength in their own journeys to embrace the beacon of hope God has placed in their hearts for both themselves and those around them.
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15, NIV

It will come as no surprise to those who read the book’s dedication that TGOU is a story about two sisters who are best friends; but, like any relationship, conflict happens. And, sometimes, it arises from the best of intentions.

Sisters, navigating chronic pain, finding purpose and learning that bravery doesn’t always look like charging into battle are all elements you will find in The Goodness of Unicorns. Join sisters Rowan and Blythe in the world of Wisteria where they each have important choices to make for the sake of light, goodness, and one another.

Kayla E. Green

Kayla E. Green is an author and poet who writes to remind others—and herself—that light always prevails over darkness. When she isn’t writing, reading, or spending time with her family, she loves singing loudly and off-key to KLove Radio and pretending she’s a unicorn. Fittingly, her debut novel is The Goodness of Unicorns. Kayla has also written an award-winning YA fantasy novella, Aivan: The One Truth, and an inspirational poetry collection, Metamorphosis. Kayla also has stories, poems, and devotionals featured in various anthologies, and she has several flash fiction stories available through Havok Publishing

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Kayla is giving away the grand prize of
a $50 Amazon gift card, journal, pen, and unicorn themed item!!

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

https://gleam.io/2SyFy/the-goodness-of-unicorns-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, December 20 (Author Interview)
Inspired by Fiction, December 21
Artistic Nobody, December 22 (Author Interview)
CeCe Reads and Sings, December 22
Stories By Gina, December 23 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 23
Fiction Book Lover, December 24 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, December 25 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, December 26
The Lofty Pages, December 27
For the Love of Literature, December 28 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 29
Blossoms and Blessings, December 30 (Author Interview)
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, December 31
Guild Master, January 1
Blogging With Carol, January 2

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Young Samaritan by J. Schuyler Sprowles (Give.away)

12/28/2025

4 Comments

Is survival enough when faith is tested?
“The Young Samaritan” is a gripping coming-of-age story set in a tumultuous time, where faith, identity, and survival intersect on an extraordinary journey.
Joshua, a young Samaritan boy, is forced to flee his home, thrust into a world that is as dangerous as it is unfamiliar.
Along the way, he encounters a mysterious woman who delivers a haunting vision, a wild dog that stays loyally by his side, and a reclusive uncle whose life is shrouded in secrets. Amidst the chaos of his flight, Joshua discovers uncommon love in a forsaken land.
As Joshua’s journey leads him to a band of sojourners—led by a man called Rabbi—he becomes entwined with a group that many believe to be the Messiah’s followers.
Despite their hesitations, Joshua’s determination to stay with them leads him to a transformative path, one that will ultimately take him to the cross and beyond.

Genre: : Faith Based/ Inspirational
Release Date: January 20, 2024

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with J. Schuyler

1. What was the inspiration for this book?
For the longest time I pondered the idea of writing a historical fiction account of Jesus’ journey to the cross. But it wasn’t until I seriously considered the biblical passage found only in the Gospel of Mark where an “unknown young man” tries to intervene in Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane that I had found my protagonist. I knew then that I had a story to tell.

2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
For many months a rough idea of this tale rattled around in my head. Once I finally put pen to paper I would say that I was on this journey for about a year and half before The Young Samaritan was born.

3. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
As a Christian I have always been drawn to the four Gospels of the New Testament. In particular I was attracted to the idea of writing a historical fiction account involving Jesus’ disciples that could deliver them from saintly stained glass figures into ordinary men who walked the same path as Jesus. Most importantly I wanted to sit the reader in a front row seat for this most pivotal time in our history.

4. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
All the characters in this tale clearly spoke to me. What surprised me was how each of them seemed to direct me throughout the course of The Young Samaritan in ways I never anticipated at the outset. However, if I had to pick a favorite, I would go with Cyrus, the long lost uncle of Joshua (the protagonist). Cyrus was a broken man with a heart of gold who loved his nephew more than life itself and would do whatever he could to guide Joshua to a better life.

5. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
I hope that readers will be able to reflect on their own life journeys. They may discover that God has been with them all along. By merely inviting Him into their heart and soul their lives can be transformed.

More from J. Schuyler

The Young Samaritan was inspired by two verses from the New Testament in the Gospel of Mark (14:51 – 52). These brief verses describe an unidentified young man who attempts to intervene in the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is quickly seized by the temple guards but manages to escape their grip, leaving his garment in their hands, as he flees naked into the night. Nothing further about him is ever mentioned in the Bible.

The Young Samaritan is my vision of the backstory for this strange and provocative episode in Jesus’ journey to the cross. The Young Samaritan creates a compelling and transformational epic tale where a fictional literary character (Joshua) collides with biblical history.

J. Schuyler Sprowles

A Chicago native, Schuyler as a teenager always dreamed of becoming a radio and TV talent. His aspirations led him to Hollywood where he trained as a broadcaster. He began his career as a country music DJ and news reporter in the Southwest. Ultimately he became a TV news anchor in Dallas. In time, Schuyler moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a television news correspondent. This eventually led to a decades long high-profile career in crisis management, political consulting and speech writing. Most recently, Schuyler turned to publishing, founding a family-oriented magazine in Southern California.

A lifelong Christian, Schuyler admits to walking away from his faith in the past, only to discover the light of
Jesus piercing the darkness to guide him back where he belongs. Inspired by the Gospels, “The Young
Samaritan” is his debut novel. He currently lives in Pasadena, California with his wife Maureen.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, J. Schuyler is giving away the grand prize of
a $75 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/8KF5J/the-young-samaritan-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, December 18 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 19
Artistic Nobody, December 20 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, December 21
Guild Master, December 22 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, December 22
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 23
Fiction Book Lover, December 24 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, December 25 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, December 26 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 27
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 28 (Author Interview)
Cover Lover Book Review, December 29
The Bookish Pilgrim, December 29
Blossoms and Blessings, December 30 (Author Interview)
Lots of Helpers, December 31

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Search For The Shadow Cat by Kurt Mahler (Give.away)

12/26/2025

2 Comments

Venture into a lush, mystically supercharged natural world where the fate of an entire animal kingdom hangs in the balance in The Search for the Shadow Cat, the captivating third installment of the Jaguar Oracle series.
After a long absence from the Rio Grande Valley, the majestic jaguar named Oracle returns for a perilous quest to restore the three feline tribes—bobcat, ocelot, and long-lost jaguarundi: the “shadow cat.”
With Patch the raccoon, Plod the horse, Bog the toad, and the child named Miracle, Oracle navigates a richly-drawn landscape, pressing through pain and perplexity to rediscover ancient wisdom that will awaken creation, from a jabber of green jays to secretive turtles to trees holding on to treasured knowledge. Along the way, Oracle finds an unexpected ally in a conflicted young entrepreneur, while a hermit holds the key to unlocking the jaguar’s destiny.
Blending magical realism, mythology, and environmental advocacy, this pulse-pounding adventure will captivate readers with its tale of courage, honor, and the power of reclaiming our forgotten roots.

Genre: Magical Realism Fantasy
Release Date: October 26, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Q&A with Kurt

Q: What was the inspiration for this book?
A: The idea for The Search for the Shadow Cat and the whole Jaguar Oracle series came from a black-and-white photo and a question.

The photo, dated January 1946, is of farmers and ranchers displaying what they believed to be the last jaguar in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, which they had hunted down and killed. I saw it in a book called El Valle: The Rio Grande River Delta by Seth Patterson.

A few hours after seeing this photo, during a time of prayer about some troublesome matter I no longer remember, the question dropped into me: “What if a jaguar returned to the Rio Grande Valley?”

In Book 2, The Way Back to Eden, in the chapter called “The Photo,” a main human character sees the photo in that book, and, as a result, is inspired in a dream that night.

Q: Kurt, What drew you to write in your particular genre?
A: Although I am constantly reading other genres—in particular world history, American history, and Eastern Orthodoxy— I especially read the works of C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, and J.R.R. Tolkien. They picked up the prophetic tradition of the ancient Faith and clothed it with fresh, imaginative, poetic tales from the worlds familiar to them. I have attempted to pick up that tradition too.

Why? Because they understood that sometimes we need an encounter and not an explanation. Poetic fiction, when done well, contains prophetic insight for the individual whose heart is open to their Creator. Each one is on a journey from trusting Him as Creator to obeying Him as Healer and Rescuer.

Along with Dante and Milton, they knew that fiction, when submitted to the tradition of the parables that our Lord and the Hebrew prophets employed, gives the reader the opportunity to decide whether their heart is hungry or hardened. What is more, the best fruit of fiction is to render an offering of life-giving beauty and timeless truths that potentially produce joy-giving sorrow, healing of the heart, and course-correction in one’s mindset, which are essential steps in one’s personal transformation.

Although I cannot recommend these authors for every single one of their theological conclusions, I can wholeheartedly recommend the gift they each have of communicating the inexorable love and fiery holiness of our God and King, a glory that animates stories, gives them a prophetic voice, and awakens us to the life we are called to live. The joy-giving sorrow, healing of the heart, and spirit of repentance their tales impart is a retelling of the gospel par excellence.

Telling parables in Afghanistan caused me to discover how humans, as God’s image bearers, are “wired for stories” by the hand of our Creator. This led to reading George MacDonald’s fiction tales in order to experience the same encouragement his writings gave Lewis and Tolkien in their journey of becoming authors of mythopoetry. This included books like The Golden Key and At the Back of the North Wind. I also studied and explored John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Dante’s Divine Comedy.

I am also highly influenced by Lewis’ Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold, his last novel. He said it was the best thing he had ever written by far. The tale draws us into a vividly pictured ancient, pagan world and a conflicted soul we can identify with. As we read her journal entries and memoirs, we follow her lifelong wrestling with the gods over a great sorrow, a raging heart, and a deep longing to be loved. Her discovery of Self-giving Love behind the veil of her world takes her breath away. It might strike you at our core too.

Q: Do you have a favorite character in this book?
A: Patch the raccoon. He is the first friend Oracle the jaguar makes when he arrives in South Texas. He is cautious and unpretentious, but he is also clever and inspired to acts self-giving love for the band of new friends he and the jaguar become the core of. In the audiobook version, Nashville actor Zach Lazar Hoffman renders his voice after his favorite actor, Tom Hanks.

I expect that many readers will identify with Patch’s longing for close friends and a supreme purpose that pairs with his struggle to be courageous.

Q: Kurt, What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read your books?
A: My hope is that readers will find courage for their calling. (“Calling” = Who the Creator thought of when He said, “Let there be you.”)

My hope is that the parables, prayers, poetry, proverbs, and prophecies filling this tale will be a silver plow preparing the soil of our hearts for the golden seed heaven plants there. Success is when readers experience what is best described in the Greek words of the early Christians:

Metanoia: a new mindset or renewing of the mind directly causing practical changes in habits, behavior, and lifestyle. In a word: repentance.
Charmolypi: the joy-making sorrow that softens the soil of the heart for friendship with our heavenly Father, obedience to His Son, and participation in the Holy Spirit.
Therapeia: healing from the inside out, both in turning-point moments and over time.
Propheteia: personal insight for one’s life and the world in which they live, leading to courage for one’s calling.

Of course, as with any author, I desire that millions of people read my books, provided they experience what I have described above.

Q: Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
A: ‘Calling’ is not for clergy alone. It means living as your original self, the one God thought of when He said, “Let there be you.” Or, in the words of the animals in the story, calling means to “remember your name.” For them, this is the poem, parable, prayer, proverb, or prophecy Adam spoke when he named the first of their kind. In our case, it is the word our Lord has spoken. Our destinies are found in the things our Creator has already told us. That is where we will most likely find courage for our calling.

Calling is something deeper than your job description. It is someone you can be within the present limitations of life, whether you’re a paraplegic, on parole, or a single parent with two jobs. It is something constant. Something that remains. Something no person or circumstance can remove from you. But you have to drink the cup, and there is no turning back once you do.

More from Kurt

How do you begin again? How do you take the first step alone?

Sometimes we don’t need a how-to manual to answer these questions. We need an encounter. We need a story.

That’s why I wrote this epic tale.

Saturated with poetry, proverbs, parables, and prayers, this book is in the tradition of the Christian poets and the Hebrew prophets. It is an immersion in a mystically supercharged natural world alongside a very real human drama.
Why? Because poetic storytelling, when done well, gives prophetic insight for the decisions we face. Then we can begin again. Then we can take the first step alone. Then we can do the thing that is in our heart to do. The thing the Creator placed there. Your calling: the original self He had in mind before the Fall when He said, “Let there be you.”
That’s what this story is about.

An epic quest for redemption and self-discovery

Venture into a lush, mystically supercharged natural world where the fate of an entire animal kingdom hangs in the balance in The Search for the Shadow Cat, the captivating third installment of the Jaguar Oracle series.

A long, mysterious absence and the fulfillment of a legacy

The majestic jaguar named Oracle has returned to the Rio Grande Valley to pick up the trail left by the last guardian of this endangered realm, Kahoo the Grave. Awakening a dormant legend, Oracle embarks on a perilous quest to restore the three feline tribes—bobcat, ocelot, and long-lost jaguarundi: the “shadow cat”—to their rightful place as stewards of the animal kingdom.

With Patch the raccoon, Plod the horse, Bog the toad, and the child named Miracle, the jaguar navigates a richly-drawn landscape where created things have a voice. Oracle must press through pain and wrestle perplexity to rediscover the wisdom of the Days of First Things and restore the fragmented animal realm. As he does, creation awakens, from a jabber of green jays to secretive turtles to trees holding on to ancient knowledge.

Reclaiming lost wisdom and honoring our connection to nature

But Oracle is not alone in his quest. He finds an unexpected ally in Tripp Menefee, the ambitious and conflicted young entrepreneur who runs the Eden’s Bend preserve and high-tech ranch, where a rhino, zebras, and other exotic beasts dwell alongside native ones.

Tripp and Oracle forge an invisible partnership as both seek to restore the animal kingdom while Tripp grapples with his own motivations—and the growing affection he has for the woman confronting him on the toll his development plans are taking on the delicate ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the hermit Brazos Ben, who had once nursed Oracle back to health, holds the key to unlocking the jaguar’s past and the secrets of the Lonely Tree at the heart of this landscape. As Ben is forced to confront his own painful history, he must decide whether to help Oracle complete his legacy or remain trapped in the shadows of the past.

Kurt Mahler

Kurt helps those who built someone else’s dream finally build their own.
As a speaker, advisor, and award-winning poet, he draws from twenty years of lived experience in forty nations. He is a sought-after voice on five continents, advising expats in places as challenging as Cuba, Persia, and North Korea. He has published multiple books , hundreds of articles, and well-respected poetry. Kurt and his wife Karen have been married since 1993 and raised their family in Afghanistan, where they founded a community development agency. They are Americans living in the Emirates with ties to the Gulf Coast, the Rio Grande Valley, Central Texas, Louisiana, and New England.

He writes in the poetic tradition, inspired by the wonder of creation, the mysteries of the Ancient Faith, and the drama
of the nations. Guiding sources for his work include the Hebrew prophets, the Desert Fathers, Dante, Milton, George
MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien. Why? Because thought leaders go back to the beginning to find the way forward.
The key to the future begins with a memory. Our calling comes from the
original self the Creator had in mind when He said, “Let there be you.”

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Kurt is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card;
a high-resolution digital map of the entire series, a high-resolution cover, and the
audiobook version featuring Nashville actor Zach Lazar Hoffman when it is released!!

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

https://gleam.io/JLkld/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, December 17 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, December 18 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, December 19 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, December 20
Fiction Book Lover, December 21 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, December 22
Vicky Sluiter, December 23 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 24
For the Love of Literature, December 25 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 26 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, December 27 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 27
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 28
Stories By Gina, December 29 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, December 29
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 30 (Author Interview)

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Pressed Together by KIm Garee (Give.away)

12/24/2025

1 Comment

World War II is over at last, and the pier amusement park at Buckeye Lake, the “Playground of Ohio,” is lit up, loud, and ready to welcome a summer of better days. The energy of dance hall and roller coaster, though, is disorienting for Sgt. Drew Mathison, weary from battle and trying to track down the one man who can testify in his brother’s murder trial.
He’s not in the mood to celebrate when he simply cannot find that witness. Especially when he suspects Emily Graham, publisher of the Buckeye Lake Beacon, is hiding him. Doesn’t she understand the danger the fugitive has brought to Buckeye Lake?
Determined to save her childhood friend, the beautiful and quirky young woman manages to frustrate not just Drew but her family and community as she tries to fix a whole host of problems by herself.
As Drew and Emily square off amidst secrets and a dangerous game of hide-and-seek, falling in love might be the only way to save the summer … and another life.

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Release Date: May 1, 2024

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Kim

#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
My first job out of college was at a weekly newspaper in Buckeye Lake, where the local historical society was building its museum that summer. The publisher put me on that story, which would end up being so layered. I learned that this little man-made lake surrounded by cornfields in central Ohio had gone from a feeder for the Ohio-Erie canal system to being a hopping vacation destination in the early to mid-1900s, complete with a huge amusement park and lavish hotels, Big Band concerts at the ballrooms, a roller coaster over the water, dance-skate marathons - you name it. Anyway, as part of my job at the newspaper, I was constantly interacting with older people who had grown up there at the park. I got to hear all the stories. I got to watch them pull old bumper cars out of the bottom of the lakebed; they’d slipped into the water when the pier had caught fire. My imagination just took it all from there. I suddenly knew the characters of the Together series like I knew my best friends. I was accidentally doing all the research I needed to do to write historical fiction from this moment in history. It was romantic, it was exciting, it was compelling, and God took years to just refine those stories before I put them out there into the world.

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
This part is really funny. I wrote the first book, Pressed Together, while I was still working at the newspaper twenty years ago. At least, the first time I wrote it. When I did, I had so much fun writing the story, and then I stuffed it into a desk drawer and went about my life. I had kids. A few years later, I took the manuscript out of the drawer, reread it, still couldn’t get those characters out of my head, and decided to rewrite it completely. Not edit it. No. Rewrite it from page one, starting from scratch. I knew I could do better. So, I did. I wrote that manuscript again, once again did nothing with it because I was busy transitioning to the world of education and teaching other people to write, and I tucked the finished work away again. In total, I think I rewrote Pressed Together maybe four times before it got published last year. Then, I had six months to write book two and another six months to write book three, which actually went really well. It turns out, I can write a book pretty quickly, and I figured out what my process is more in the second two books. Now I’m addicted to it. But I still think my weird process of starting over again and again with the first book in the series taught me a lot about writing a book. I wouldn’t change anything.

#3. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
There are aspects of me in each of my three central female characters in the Together series. Emily, in book 1 (Pressed Together) has trouble resting and asking others for help. Rosie, in book 2 (Packed Together), just feels such joy in making things, which is something I relate to because I’m also a visual artist. I studied both art and writing in college. Then there’s Dottie in book 3 (Patched Together), who is petrified of falling into unhealthy patterns like she’s seen in the lives of couples around her. All of that was easy to write because it was from the heart, and each of these three main characters are my favorite in different ways. Kind of like you feel about your own real-life kids, maybe?
But even though Rosie is probably the least like me in terms of personality, she’s the one whose story I had to get pretty vulnerable with. Rosie grew up in a strange situation for the WW2 era: raised by her grandparents after her mother did the unthinkable and walked away from motherhood. Rosie craved a traditional family, one that looked like everyone else’s family: perfect. That’s what she thought, from the outside looking in - that everyone else’s family was perfect, and she’d have to work hard at crafting her own version of that. When I was growing up, I labored under that same delusion. The one that says everyone else has this perfect, traditional family situation, and I was the only one with divorced parents and tensions within step families. Though I’ve enjoyed crafting family on my own terms as an adult, it was really important for me to start to recognize that “perfect” is an illusion. I had to dig deep into some of those old insecurities for Rosie’s character, so I just hope she “leaves” her novel with the assurance that God can redeem all of it.

#4. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
All of the characters exist in the world of each of the novels: they’re just each spotlighted as the main character in her own book. I was about to send Pressed Together to the publisher for editing when the Ohio Historical Museum hosted a weekend event called The Best Years, in which the little village connected to the museum was converted into a post-WW2 American village filled with reenactors … returning soldiers, women who owned shops, journalists, kids, musicians, etc. My mom and I both love history, and I figured since the spotlight year - 1946 - was the exact year my novel was set, we could go make a day of it. We were having a fine time there when, all of the sudden, I saw one of my main characters on the boardwalk! I can’t describe it any other way. Rosie Graham, Emily Graham’s artist sister and the main character of book 2, Packed Together, was actually standing right outside a shop … except she was a real life person looking exactly like Rosie looked in my head. It was so profound, I just came to a sudden stop. My mom was like, “What’s wrong?” And I was like, “It’s Rosie.” “Who?!” “It’s Rosie Graham. That woman looks exactly like Rosie Graham. From my book.” Anyway, imagine my further surprise when Mikayla, the reenactor who looks like Rosie, turned out to live right by Buckeye Lake! We ended up getting together for dinner and chatting one night, and it was so fun. I wrote a blog about it on my website if you want to check it out - complete with photos of Mikayla/Rosie.

#5. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
The most profound part of publishing this series of books over the past year has been getting to meet up with book clubs. I wasn’t expecting that at all, but once the invitations started coming, they kept coming, and I’ve met some of the most amazing women I’ve ever known in their living rooms and at restaurants and such. In fact, they’ve inspired other stories for me. Jesus tells us that the Father gives good gifts, and I think that’s my takeaway when it comes to finally making the move to publish. Not copies sold or platform, necessarily, but those unexpected connections with other people. That was the good gift I was never even looking for. I think when we pray about our purpose and we pray for our readers, God says, “Oh, wait until you see what I’m going to do with this.”

More from Kim

Pressed Together, winner of a 2024 Angel Book Award for historical fiction, was inspired years ago when I was a newspaper reporter in Buckeye Lake. Historically, the lake was an “end of the line” stop for a railroad that featured a large amusement park, dance halls, and skating rinks. It was a favorite spot for the biggest of the Big Bands. A fire wiped most of the park out decades ago, but when I watched a crane pull old bumper cars out of the bottom of the lake, I knew the characters of this book series. I spent many happy hours in the historical society’s archives to accurately celebrate the post-war era in a small U.S. town that was also the “playground of Ohio.”

The Together Series represents the mystery, romance, and even humor of an era, even as it explores relatable faith challenges. Get ready to settle in with hilarious crowd draws, a flooded bait shop, a choking blue heron, and, of course, a hidden murder witness!

Kim Garee is the award-winning author of The Together series, including Pressed Together (May 2024),
Packed Together (December 2024), and Patched Together (September 2025). Set in Buckeye Lake, Ohio,
just after World War II, these romances unfold at the height of the lake’s famous amusement park. Kim has
worked as a journalist and college writing instructor. She loves her current work as a Library Innovation
Teacher. She and her husband have three recently grown children and live in central Ohio.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Kim 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://promosimple.com/ps/3edc1/pressed-together-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

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Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 18
For the Love of Literature, December 19 (Author Interview)
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, December 20
For Him and My Family, December 21
Devoted To Hope, December 22
Connie’s History Classroom, December 23
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 24 (Author Interview)

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Maxine Justice: Public Offender by Daniel Schwabauer (Give.away)

12/20/2025

1 Comment

The case she didn’t need. The client she
didn’t want. The trial she couldn’t win.

Fresh off her single-handed defense against alien adversaries in a galactic courtroom, Maxine Justice discovers that saving the Earth is not enough to earn a hero’s welcome back home. Once again broke and now looking for revenge, her return to night court as a public defender takes an immediate detour when she’s tasked with defending a Therapod murder suspect.
The case drags her into the quirky theories of her new client, Father Gilbert Barthes, and the corrupt underbelly of corporate robotics. As her defense takes on global significance, Maxine lands squarely in the crosshairs of new enemies determined to conceal their plans for acquiring the planet. Worse, her probably guilty client may be the only one who can expose what’s really happening.
Stripped of all credibility and most of her friends, can Maxine find some way to save humanity when the world is bent on self-destruction? Or will Earth finally succumb to the most unlikely deception?

Genre: Science Fiction
Release Date: November 4, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Crazy conspiracy or terrifying takeover?

This was one of those cases where the cover caught my eye before anything else. After I read the blurb I was entirely intrigued. A story that is both futuristic/sc-fi and a courtroom drama? I've been trying to branch out a little in my reading habits so definitely count me in.

Maxine Justice: Public Offender turned out to be every bit as interesting as anticipated. The mix of futuristic technology and the familiar – think robots that are all but human alongside everyday cars, cellphones and intergalactic travel. I must admit that I found it as fascinating as I did Maxine's fight to save her client and, in turn, the world.

Daniel Schwabauer paints a vivid world in this story and delves into some unexpected territory surrounding the origin of faith – is it a choice or merely programming – and as the use of AI grows, a question that the world will be asking at some point – can created artificial intelligence become more than its programming?

Don't get me wrong, Maxine Justice: Public Offender is an entertaining, slightly edgy, story that made for a fun read. I really came to like Maxine, she can be a bit mercenary and is definitely out for revenge, but she also fights hard for her clients and tries to protect those closest to her even as she holds them at arm's length.

Since I haven't read the first Maxine Justice book, I was glad to find that this second one was its own story. Daniel Schwabauer did a great job building onto the first story while providing enough resolution to the continued story arc in book 2. And, much to my interest, there is the foundation for and promise of at least one more Maxine Justice tale....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Maxine Justice: Public Offender by Daniel Schwabauer a 4 Bark rating.

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

More from Daniel

I tend to get three questions from people who only know me from the Night Court Channel or watching my defense of planet Earth on the global broadcast that made me famous. To the first, no, I haven’t seen a penny of the money I’m owed because the feds froze ALL of my bank accounts, even my personal savings. Second, traveling in a space-egg with a pastoroid was not as terrifying as it sounds—except that I had no way to escape Counselor Singh’s dad jokes. And third, no, even though my cat is still missing, I do not want one of your kittens, thank you very much.

Maxine Justice, LLC is your only source for first-hand legal advice pertaining to extraterrestrial medical malpractice, predatory off-world time-sharing contracts, and “surprise implants” experiences at the Coliseum.

We’re also the only law firm committed to exposing what’s really happening in the world of artificial humans.

Ever wondered how Counselor Singh could be targeted on the steps of the UN building during a heavily-covered press conference, yet six months later law enforcement still claims they have no idea who the shooter was? Doesn’t it seem odd that they turned the forensic evidence over to Singh’s manufacturer instead of using a neutral third party?

If I were an artificial person, I’d be screaming these questions from the rooftop. Yet we haven’t heard a peep from that community since it happened.

That’s not some wild conspiracy. That’s fear.

Which is where I come in.

If you’re a TheraPod concerned about your future in a world spiraling out of control— if you’re a pastoroid, a rabbot, a podre, an e-mam, a surgicon EZ Doc, or any other model of artificial person and you face a legal dilemma involving your own termination and/or the fate of biological humans, give me a call.

If you’re a regular human and you’ve been railroaded by York City’s legal system, targeted by ruthless corporate bullies, or victimized by inhuman—and I do mean not-at-all-human—business practices, talk to me.

I’m not in it for the money.

I don’t have any!

I’m in it for my name—for Justice.

And I promise you this: I won’t smile until you do.

Daniel Schwabauer

Daniel Schwabauer, ThD, teaches English at MidAmerica Nazarene University and writes award-winning fantasy and science fiction novels. His professional work includes textbooks, stage plays, radio scripts, short stories, newspaper columns, comic books, scripting for the PBS animated series Auto-B-Good, and theology. He earned an MA in creative writing under science fiction legend James Gunn and completed his doctoral work in semiotic theology with Leonard Sweet. He lives in Olathe, Kansas, with his wife and dogs.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Daniel 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://promosimple.com/ps/3ede8/maxine-justice-public-offender-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, December 13 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 14 (Spotlight)
Artistic Nobody, December 15 (Author Interview)
Wishful Endings, December 15
Blossoms and Blessings, December 16 (Spotlight)
Texas Book-aholic, December 17
Fiction Book Lover, December 18 (Author Interview)
A Reader’s Brain, December 19 (Spotlight)
Blogging With Carol, December 19
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 20
For the Love of Literature, December 21 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 22
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 23 (Spotlight)
Stories By Gina, December 24 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, December 25 (Spotlight)
Books Less Travelled, December 26 (Spotlight)

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“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the
past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs
up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way
in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Get tickets now to see this powerful film in theaters
February 5!

Buy tickets today to see Still Hope
in theaters starting February 5th!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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