Tell Tale Book Reviews

Just Read Blog Tour - Whiteout by Lynette Eason & Dani Pettrey (Give.away)

3/5/2026

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Whiteout by Dani Pettrey & Lynette Eason,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Brace yourself for double the suspense in these snowbound adventures as an avalanche forces
two couples to face down their enemies in a ski resort shut off from the outside world.

In Buried in Shadows by Dani Pettrey, Cassandra Parker arrives at her best friend's destination wedding, praying her stalker hasn't tracked her to Colorado. Also part of the wedding party is Sheriff Joel Brunswick, the man she stunned by leaving at the altar to hide a dangerous truth. When an avalanche strands their ski group in an abandoned lodge, it becomes chillingly clear that Cassandra's stalker has followed her . . . and he's willing to kill to make her his.

In Snowbound Secrets by Lynette Eason, Dr. Maya Sullivan fully intends to escape her past and finish planning a retreat for military veterans at the ranch she's inherited. Unfortunately, her plans go sideways when an avalanche traps her in a Colorado ski resort. An unexpected reunion with her high school crush forces her to confront past wounds, but she soon realizes someone is targeting her, and their search for a shadowy enemy becomes a matter of life and death.

A gripping romantic suspense novella collection from bestselling authors Lynette Eason and Dani Pettrey featuring second-chance romance, trapped together forced proximity, military and law enforcement heroes, a small-town destination wedding, and snowbound survival at a Colorado ski resort.

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Genre: Romantic Suspense Novella Collection

My Review

An avalanche isn't the only danger out there....

Dani Pettrey is one of my all-time favorite Christian romantic suspense authors and I've also enjoyed quite a few of Lynette Eason's as well. Thus, when I found out the two had teamed up with a pair of novellas, the book shot immediately onto my must-read list.

Whiteout was great! Two manageably sized romantic suspense stories, complete and independent of each other, set against the backdrop of an avalanche at a cold Colorado ski resort. Both stories are delightfully chilling, yes, pun fully intended, and will keep you on the edge of your ski lift chair seat. Dani Pettrey & Lynette Eason really keep you guessing with more twists and turns than a good ski course. While I did figure out some parts, others came as a complete surprise, which I enjoyed.

I really appreciated that both Buried In Shadows and Snowbound Secrets are standalone stories. They may or may not have ties to other books written by Dani Pettrey & Lynette Eason, but I didn't feel like I had missed anything, and I was able to fully immerse myself in the cold snow of the stories.

Whether you love romantic suspense in general or these authors in particular, Whiteout from Dani Pettrey & Lynette Eason is a really good book. The novella size of each story makes them individually readable in a sitting or two, and together, the stories that make up Whiteout are quite enjoyable....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Whiteout by Lynette Eason & Dani Pettrey a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

Dani Pettrey

With over a million copies sold worldwide, Dani Pettrey’s novels have captivated readers who crave adrenaline-laced suspense fused with faith, redemption, and heart. A three-time Christy Award finalist, Dani’s books have also earned Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and HOLT Medallion awards, affirming her place as a beloved voice in inspirational romantic suspense. Known for her authentic characters and plot twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats, Dani writes with a passion for stories that not only thrill but point toward God’s unrelenting grace and love. When she’s not dreaming up danger and devotion, Dani enjoys beach days, espresso-fueled chats, and time with her family. A natural encourager, she also mentors aspiring writers and speaks at events, believing in the power of story to inspire hope and bring people together. Connect with Dani by visiting danipettrey.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

Lynette Eason

Lynette Eason is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Twilight Tactics and Deadly Charade. She has written many thrilling romantic suspense series, including Lake City Heroes, Extreme Measures, Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians. Learn more at LynetteEason.com.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card, snowflake journal and
wintry pen, a winter wonderland candle and arctic white hot chocolate!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 3, 2026 and will last through
11:59 PM EST on March 10, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and
given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Restitching Of Camille DuLaine by Lindsay A. Franklin (Give.away)

3/2/2026

5 Comments

A splintered world, a heart gone cold.
Hope reborn in threads of gold.

After accidentally bridging the storyworlds together, Emlyn DuLaine faces an impossible task: sever the connections without destroying the stories themselves. If she fails, the characters will be trapped in twisted versions of their tales, forced to relive their worst moments forever.
But undoing the bridges is only the beginning. To truly fix what’sbunraveling, Emlyn must uncover the secret flaw buried deep in Rivenlea’sbfoundation, something that’s been wrong since the very start.
And the danger has never been closer to home. The clock is ticking for the injured wyvern who needs Rivenlite air to survive and the story boy Emlyn swore she’d never fall for. Emlyn and her team must rescue Frank and Laramie from chaotic, shifting story spheres before they’re gone for good.
But Frank and Laramie aren’t the only ones lost to the spheres. Camille DuLaine is a prisoner, held as bait by someone who knows exactly how to lure her sister in. After seven years of sleep, Camille wakes to find herself trapped in a storybook and sure of only one thing: Emlyn must stay far, faraway.

Racing to solve one mind-bending puzzle after the next, Emlyn uncovers a plan seventeen years in the making. She stands at the center of a fractured universe—and she might be too late to save it.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: February 10, 2023

Click here to get your copy!

More from Lindsay

The Fiction-Fixer’s Handbook:
A Guest Post by Emlyn DuLaine, the Newest Member of Novem XVII

I haven’t been a Novemite long, and if you want advice from an absolute expert, you’ll have to ask Captain Doyle or maybe Laramie, if you can manage to push your way past the cloud of ego that surrounds him at all times.

But I’ve been diving into upside-down classics, wrangling rogue characters, bridging broken plots, and saving story spheres long enough to give some helpful pointers on how to keep your wits about you when you, too, traverse the fantastical, fictional universes we all know and love.

Read on for my hard-won wisdom.

Never accept apples from anyone. Ever. Even if they promise it’s organic and locally sourced. Just don’t.
If a book starts whispering, close it immediately. This is not the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Cursed tomes are not to be trifled with.
Stay away from unattended spinning wheels and mirrors that look a little too shiny. Exercise caution around wardrobe-shaped furniture. Odds are high you’re about to be enchanted, imprisoned, or transported. Stay vigilant.
Beware of overly charming men in masks, hoods, and/or capes. It’s 50/50 on whether he’s a tragic hero or a villain with a vendetta. Proceed with caution.
Always check the fine print on magical contracts. If the terms include “firstborn child” or an unspecified “favor” to be later named, run.
Characters who break into song at random intervals are either harmless or extremely dangerous. If they’re just narrating their morning routine, you’re fine. If the music gets ominous, assume the worst.
If you find yourself in the company of a talking animal sidekick, always ask for its backstory. Talking cats may be friend or foe, sometimes both if it starts telling riddles. Grumpy toads are probably cursed nobles. Overdramatic ravens are almost always bad news.
When in doubt, follow the protagonist—but not too closely. The main character has plot armor. You do not.

If you’re hoping for a fairy-tale ending, these tips might get you there. Stay safe, friends. And happy sphere-diving!

Lindsay A. Franklin

Lindsay A. Franklin is the Carol Award–winning author of The Story Peddler, the ECPA best-selling author of Adored, and Managing Editor of Enclave Publishing. She would wear pajama pants all the time if it were socially acceptable. Lindsay lives happily among the rain and evergreens of the Pacific Northwest with her scruffy-looking nerf-herder husband, their three (nearly) grown geeklings, and three demanding thunder pillows (a.k.a. cats).

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

https://gleam.io/iyeVn/the-restitching-of-camille-dulaine-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, February 25
Simple Harvest Reads, February 26 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 27 (Spotlight)
Blogging With Carol, February 27
Artistic Nobody, February 28 (Author Interview)
Inspired by Fiction, March 1
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 2 (Spotlight)
Where Faith and Books Meet, March 3
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 4
Guild Master, March 5 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, March 6 (Spotlight)
Holly’s Book Corner, March 6
For the Love of Literature, March 7 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, March 8
Stories By Gina, March 9 (Spotlight)
Fiction Book Lover, March 10 (Author Interview)

5 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Copper Scroll by Nicholas Teeguarden (Give.away)

2/21/2026

0 Comments

When American grad student and Veteran Joshua Bennett lands in Amman, Jordan, he thinks he’s chasing academic glory. What he finds instead is a centuries-old mystery that’s been waiting for someone reckless or desperate enough to uncover it.
At the center of it all is the Copper Scroll, a cryptic Dead Sea artifact rumored to hold clues to an ancient treasure buried deep in the Judean desert. But Joshua soon learns it’s no ordinary scroll.
Hidden symbols, coded phrases, and whispers of a “shepherd’s path” point to something far more significant and far more dangerous.
As the clues mount, so do the warnings. A silent observer in the library. A cryptic priest with a knowing smile. A message slipped into Joshua’s backpack: The shepherd’s path is not for the faint-hearted.
A cryptic priest and a rabbi jump in to help understand uncovered information. As Mossad agents, Templar knights, and ISIS operatives close in, Joshua and his allies race to unravel the truth. But who seeks to unearth it, and who will kill to keep it buried?

Genre: Christian Fiction Action/Suspense
Release Date: October 7, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Nicholas

1. Inspiration for this book?
A mix of fascination with the real Copper Scroll, love for Indiana Jones–style adventure, and a desire to honestly wrestle with the tension between faith and proof in a modern, high-stakes story.

2. How long did it take to write?
From first serious draft to final manuscript was several years, including long stretches of research, rewrites, and letting the story “cool” between passes.

3. Why this genre?
Archaeological and historical thrillers let history, theology, and suspense collide in one place, which is exactly where the interests naturally overlap.

4. Favorite character(s)?
Masa tops the list, with Noa close behind; their combination of stubbornness, wit, and genuine wrestling with belief feels closest to real people.

5. What do you hope readers take away?
That God is not afraid of hard questions, and that chasing truth—intellectually and spiritually—will cost something, but is absolutely worth it.

6. How did you name your characters?
Names were chosen to fit culture, family, and spiritual trajectory—biblical roots, regional norms, and a bit of meaning tucked in for anyone who wants to dig.

7. Funny/sad/embarrassing moment with this book...
One of the funniest was my daughter gifting a “Future Bestselling Author” sign before the book was even out, then insisting it stay in the office like a prophetic joke.

8. A little about you...
Married, dad, veteran, lifelong story nerd who splits time between family, church, writing, and occasionally getting lost in the woods or on a back road.

9. If you could change one thing in your life...
On a serious level, it is hard to pick a single change without unravelling lessons learned through heartbreak; on a less serious level, slipping myself the winning lottery numbers once would be interesting.

10. One piece of advice for readers...
Read widely, including outside your favorite genre, and do not be afraid to let a book challenge you instead of only confirming what you already think.

11. Share a thought / Bible verse on your heart...
Acts 9, where God sends Ananias to lay hands on Saul, stays close: Ananias hesitates, God answers his fear, and then still says “Go,” calling Saul a chosen instrument. It is a vivid reminder that God often asks believers to step toward the very people and situations they would rather avoid, trusting that His plans run deeper than their fears.

More from Nicholas

Whenever I think of telling a story, I have Indiana Jones swapping the bag of sand with the golden idol. The spirits swirling around the Nazis and the uncanny escapes from the clutches of death.

I spent my early adult years stomping through biblical lands with the military, experiencing life that seemed to represent many stages of evolution. Seeing the differences in how people value life, faith, and each other.

I experienced the heart-pounding adrenaline of adventure, the edge of life moments, and the strange stillness that follows them. The sights, sounds, and smells of those places stay with you forever.

When I finally retired, I walked to the altar, a different kind of battlefield, and realized that all those years of chasing survival were really leading me to understand purpose.

That moment changed how I responded to almost everything that came after, and it’s what shaped The Copper Scroll.

Like me, Joshua “Masa” Bennett isn’t just searching for an ancient artifact; he’s looking for proof that faith still matters, that truth can survive the centuries, and that even when everything feels lost, redemption can still be found buried beneath the dust.

Writing this book was my way of reconnecting with those memories, with the lands I once marched through, and with the faith that anchored me through it all.

It’s a story of mystery, courage, and belief. The kind of adventure that begins in the desert but ends in the heart.

Nicholas Teeguarden

Nicholas Teeguarden writes faith-fueled thrillers that explore the intersection of history, belief, and discovery. His debut, The Copper Scroll: Masa Chronicles, follows archaeologist Joshua “Masa” Bennett across the Middle East in a race to uncover one of history’s most enigmatic biblical relics. Praised for its vivid realism and clean storytelling, the novel has been honored with a ChristLit Award, a Readers’ Favorite 5-star review, and recognition at the Paris Book Festival. A veteran whose global service inspires his storytelling, Teeguarden aims to create cinematic fiction that uplifts while it thrills. He is currently developing the next installment in The Masa Chronicles alongside The Teeguarden Writing Room, a growing creative community where readers and writers explore faith, art, and story together.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Nicholas is giving away the grand prize of
a $50 Amazon Gift Card, a copy of the book, bookmarks, and stickers!!

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

https://gleam.io/XuOgC/masa-chronicles-the-copper-scroll-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 10
Simple Harvest Reads, February 11 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, February 12 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, February 12
Guild Master, February 13 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, February 14
Fiction Book Lover, February 15 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 16
Vicky Sluiter, February 17 (Author Interview)
Lily’s Corner, February 18
For the Love of Literature, February 19 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 20
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 21 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, February 22 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, February 23 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, February 23

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

2/9/2026

4 Comments

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

6 Comments

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

5 Comments

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

12/29/2025

1 Comment

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

1 Comment

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

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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!