分类: March 2025

Tethered Hearts March Releases

3/28/2025

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Way Back To Eden by Kurt Mahler (Give.away)

3/25/2025

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A Mystical Journey to Restore the Natural Order as Hope Guides the Way
In the lush wilderness of the Rio Grande Valley, a centuries-old prophecy is about to be fulfilled. The jaguars, once the revered rulers of the animal kingdom, have vanished—until a brave jaguar named Oracle begins a journey to summon the scattered tribes and restore their rightful place.
A captivating quest and an unforgettable journey home.
His quest intersects with young Paco and his extraordinary animal companions—a wise horse named Plod, a storytelling toad called Bog, and a clever raccoon named Patch—as they navigate the mystical landscapes of the Texas-Mexico borderlands and Brazos River bottomlands, a quest that weaves through ancient forests, mysterious towers, and sacred sanctuaries.
Guided by ancient wisdom and the enduring loyalty of his animal friends, Oracle’s epic journey leads him through a world on the brink of upheaval. As greedy developers encroach on the land and threaten the delicate balance of nature, Oracle must navigate a tangled web of human greed, betrayal, and violence to find the missing jaguarundi tribe and unite the warring factions of the animal realm.

The fate of the Valley rests on Oracle recovering lost memories and rediscovering the original harmony between man and beast. From vast Texan ranches to ancient palm forests, from well-ordered zoos to untamed wilderness, The Way Back to Eden weaves together a rich tapestry of cultures, legends, and the immutable power of the natural world.
Blending elements of magical realism, environmental advocacy, and pulse-pounding adventure, this sweeping tale transports readers into a vibrant, unforgettable world where Oracle’s quest is to preserve the ancient balance and the interconnectedness of all living things.
The Way Back to Eden, a deeply satisfying and thought-provoking fantasy epic, is the second installment in the six-volume Jaguar Oracle series. Discover the magic that awaits where ancient wildlife sanctuaries hold secrets, where ghosts and tree house hermits guide lost souls home, and where the path back to Eden might just be hidden in plain sight.
Follow the trail. Find the tree. Change the world.

Genre: Magical Realism
Release date: February 28, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Kurt

1. What was the inspiration for this book?
The idea for The Way Back to Eden and the whole Jaguar Oracle series came from a black-and-white photo and a question.

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

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

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

2. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
Telling parables in Afghanistan caused me to discover how humans, as God’s image bearers, are “wired for stories” by the hand of our Creator. This led to reading George MacDonald’s Christian fantasy in order to experience the same encouragement his writings gave Lewis and Tolkien in their journey of becoming Christian fantasy authors, and it did indeed inspire me. This included books like The Golden Key and At the Back of the North Wind. I also returned to the roots of Christian poetry with an exploration of John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Poetic fiction, when done well, contains prophetic insight for the individual whose heart is open to their Creator. Each one is on a journey from trusting Him as Creator to obeying Him as Savior. Fiction, when submitted to the tradition of the parables that our Lord employed, gives the reader the opportunity to decide whether his heart is hungry or hardened. What is more, the work of fiction is to render an offering of life-giving beauty to the reader, such that, in a way different from lectures and how-to-manuals, he experiences joy-giving sorrow, healing of the heart, course-correction in one’s mindset, and prophetic insight into one’s calling.

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

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

4. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
Courage for their calling. My hope is that the parables, prayers, poetry, proverbs, and prophecies filling this tale will do just that. A silver plow breaking up the soil of our hearts for the seed God plants there.

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

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

More from Kurt

The Way Back to Eden expands the Jaguar Oracle epic into a full-fledged human drama alongside the animal one. Who among the animals do you enjoy? Who among the humans do you identify with? A clue to courage for your calling lies in that intersection.

Brazos Ben is based on a relative who built a three-story treehouse with running water and electricity. Just like we find in the story, he did so on sixty acres of bottomland beside a river, where he let most of his property go wild. It contained an old pecan orchard and an abandoned cabin.

Papá Eli, a member of the old-school “gentleman mafia” of Mexico, is based on the actor Cesar Romero.

Every plant, animal, moon phase, and constellation are the work of much research. I use an astronomy app called Starry Night Enthusiast 8, which I learned of from reading the profound scholarly work called The Great Christ Comet by Colin Nicholl, who used this app as a key aid in his attempt to determine the nature and trajectory of the Star of Bethlehem.

While the animal characters are on a journey to “remember their names”—what Adam spoke when he named them—the human characters are on a quest to get “back to Eden.” High-tech rancher Tripp is leveraging money. The hermit Brazos Ben is letting his land go wild. Papá Eli is creating a glass arboretum where he hopes to retire alongside the jaguar. Chase the zoologist is in touch with the omens of creation.

But the jaguar Oracle is on a deeper journey. He is trapped in a “mangarden” far from the Rio Grande Valley. He will need more than mere strength and skill to escape and return; he will need weakness and suffering. Can he drink the cup? Can he return to the Valley and restore the cats to their leadership (the ocelot, the bobcat, and the lost jaguarundi)? Can he bring the animal kingdom into a “final spring in their twilight days this side of Eden”?

Read and discover. Perhaps it will inspire you to drink the cup heaven has offered you, too. His grace is sufficient. His power rests in our weakness. His blood is enough. This is our way back to Eden.

Kurt Mahler

Kurt writes in the prophetic and poetic tradition, inspired by the wonder of creation and the cultures of the nations. Guiding sources for his works include the Hebrew prophets, the Desert Fathers, Dante, Milton, George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien. Kurt and his wife, Karen, married since 1993, raised five children in Afghanistan and have spent more than twenty years in forty nations as encouragers in the Christian faith. Their travels led to the discovery of the beauty and wisdom of storytelling. Their roots include the Gulf Coast, Rio Grande Valley, and Heart of Texas.
Kurt writes to give readers courage for their faith journeys, as he believes that no disappointment, however profound, should prevent you from completing it.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Kurt is giving away the grand prize of a
$50 Amazon gift card, a high-resolution digital map of the entire six-book
tale, a high-resolution cover, and an audiobook copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54180

Blog Stops

Vicky Sluiter, March 21 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, March 22 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, March 23 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 23
Fiction Book Lover, March 24 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, March 24
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 25 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 26
Blossoms and Blessings, March 27 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, March 28 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, March 29 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, March 30
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, March 31 (Author Interview)
A Reader’s Brain , April 1 (Author Interview)
Blogging with Carol, April 2
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 3 (Author Interview)

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Jesus Can...Give You A Purpose by Christian Writers Collective, LLC - (Give.away)

3/21/2025

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Can Jesus give you purpose?

He most certainly can! You’ll find plenty of proof in the pages of this book. Its 46 testimonies display Jesus’ power to give purpose to people all over the world, whether they were shot and left for dead during a political revolution in Africa or struggling with loneliness and suicidal thoughts in small town America. Jesus Christ brought a unique purpose to every writer featured in this book. And He can do the same for anyone who reads it. We dare you to put Jesus to the test today!

Whether you’re looking for God’s truth yourself or want to share the gospel with family, friends or acquaintances, books from the Jesus Can … series may be the perfect solution.

Give You Purpose is the 3rd volume in this inspirational series published by the Christian Writers Collective, LLC.

Genre: Inspirational, Christian, Self-help
Release date: December 5, 2024

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Stephanie from
Christian Writers Collective, LLC

Question: What part of the writing process do you like the least?
Answer: Proofreading. That’s all I care to say about that topic.

Question: What drew you to take on this topic through nonfiction versus fiction?
Answer: We publish authentic Christian testimonies. While we encourage our writers to craft their testimonies well, there is no room for fiction. As it says in the Bible, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)

Question: Did you have a specific demographic in mind while writing this book?
Answer: No. If you’re old enough to receive Jesus as your savior, you’re old enough to have your testimony in a Jesus Can™ book. In my article for our current book, Book 3, Jesus Can… Give You Purpose, I write about what a blessing it was to pray with my 4 1/2 year-old son as he asked Jesus to be his savior. My son is now 41 years old and he still has a close relationship with the Lord. For legal reasons, a parent or legal guardian has to give up permission to publish the testimony of anyone under 18 years old. I would love to see the testimonies of more teens and 20-somethings in our books.

Question: What do you hope your readers will remember after finishing this book?
Answer: I want our readers to remember that Jesus Can save anybody.

Question: Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
Answer: The circumstances surrounding the publication of Book 3, made it the biggest book we’ve published, so far, and also our most challenging to finish. It was especially challenging for a small group of people that worked extraordinarily hard to get this book into print. This passage in the Book of Mark, Chapter 10, reminds me of these faithful servants of God:

28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.
(Mark 10: 28-29 NIV)

More from Stephanie

Hi, my name is Stephanie Reynolds. I am the founder of the Christian Writers Collective, LLC, which publishes the Jesus Can book series. I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and I’ve lived here most of my life. Like many Baby Boomers and only sisters from a family with three children, I have had the privilege of caring for both of my parents during the last months and/or years of their lives. What an honor it was to be present when my mom received Jesus as her savior just a few months before she passed in 2014. It was the Homegoing of my spiritual mom, Mrs. Naomi Walker, on October 8, 2019, that inspired me to publish Books 1 and 2 of this series on October 8 in 2021 and 2022. That’s because God gave me the courage to share my calling to publish books “to help spread the gospel far and wide,” for the first time at Mrs. Walker’s Homegoing Service. I believe God confirmed His calling by taking Mrs. Walker home to Heaven on October 8, my 61st birthday. I’m excited by the release of Book 3 of our series, Jesus Can . . . Give You Purpose.

It was my privilege to care for my dad during the last five years of his life. He went home to Heaven in February 2024. This book is dedicated to him.

The Jesus Can . . . Give A Helping Hand Fund

For every copy that you purchase, a portion of this book’s net profits for two years will be given to an organization or individual that shares our primary mission: To spread the Gospel far and wide.

Our first honoree for this grant was an easy and obvious choice: Literacy & Evangelism International (LEI), located near Atlanta, GA, and staffed by missionaries Bob & Mary Mulloy.

The selection of LEI was easy because 29 of the 46 articles in this book are testimonies from individuals served by or affiliated with LEI. Bob and Mary’s testimonies are counted among the 29.

Atlanta is the ideal location for LEI because it is the home to the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (ATL), the world’s busiest airport. Many of the people arriving at ATL from over 150 nations choose to make metro Atlanta their new home. As evidenced by the writers in Jesus Can Book 3, Bob & Mary have had the opportunity for 16 years to minister to many individuals, including three writers in Book 3 who are victims of violence in Africa, escapees from the killing fields of Cambodia, and a Haitian woman that was buried alive for three days.

It is our prayer that this grant will help them serve the diverse mission field in Atlanta for many more years, for it’s in Jesus’s name that we pray, Amen.

Stephanie Reynolds

The Christian Writers Collective, LLC founded in 2020 by Stephanie Reynolds of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the CWC is a growing organization with writers worldwide. Our ultimate goal is to feature 100 members/writers in each Jesus Can book and to publish 10-12 books each year, equivalent to the publication pace of the popular Chicken Soup for the Soul® series. We want to reach millions each year with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. We pray that you’ll join this fast-growing moment as a reader, a writer, or by giving Jesus Can books to others. Thanks in advance for your participation!

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Stephanie 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!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54171

Blog Stops

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 12 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 13
Fiction Book Lover, March 14 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, March 15 (Author Interview)
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 15
Simple Harvest Reads, March 16 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, March 17
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 18
For the Love of Literature, March 19 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 20
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 21 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 22
Blossoms and Blessings, March 23 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, March 23
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 24
Artistic Nobody, March 25 (Author Interview)

7 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - CAST 1 Peter 5:7 by Richard Nilsen (Give.away)

3/14/2025

7 Comments

Discover the profound art of casting your cares to God and surrendering your problems to the Creator of the universe. We are thrilled to introduce you to CAST – 1 Peter 5:7, a life-changing new book from author Richard Nilsen.

Based on the popular verse, “Cast all your cares on God for He cares about you,” CAST offers practical and spiritual guidance on how to overcome worry, fear, anxiety and stress in your life.

You will learn how to trust God with your problems, how to find peace in His presence, and how to experience His love and care for you. CAST is more than just a book, it’s a journey of faith, freedom, and personal transformation. Whether you are facing personal, relational, or global challenges, this book will give you an entirely new perspective on how to cast your cares on the One who can handle them all.

Genre: Christian non-fiction
Release date: November 14, 2023

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Richard

#1. What was the inspiration behind this book?
I have gone through multiple bouts of anxiety and depression during my 54 years of living, but God has always pulled me through. I learned how to cast my cares to Him, and like all of my writings, I wanted to help others learn how to do that. It’s life changing.

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
While working a full-time job, I wrote this book ‘on the side’ over the course of three years.

#3. Did you have a specific demographic in mind while writing this book?
My target audience is the Christian who is struggling in life and having a difficult time ‘casting their cares’ to the Lord. Or, they simply have never been instructed how to do this successfully. God cares for us and wants us to cast all our cares to Him.

#4. What do you hope your readers will remember after finishing this book?
I want the reader to know how to cares their cares to Jesus, and most importantly, that this skill will be second nature to them.

#5. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
Although I wrote an entire book about one verse, CAST – 1 Peter 5:7, my favorite verse and one that I repeat often to myself is Romans 15:13,

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing that by the power
of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope.”

More from Richard

If you had told me I would write a 168-page book based on one verse in the Holy Bible, I would have said you were crazy. God works in mysterious ways, and I believe He inspired me to write this book, a project that took three years to complete, in order to help others who are struggling.

During the process of battling earth-crushing anxiety and depression, I learned how to cast my cares to the Lord and leave them with Him. The result: He would take care of all my cares and handle my problems for me. What I discovered is that casting your cares is a skill that one has to learn. It is not something that you just do without any practice and without the correct foundation. Learning to cast your cares on God can be a struggle at first, but it is a pathway to a God-fearing and eternal mindset. Once you learn the art of casting your cares to the Creator of the universe, your life will never the same.

I have always felt compelled to help others, and writing has always been for me the best way to convey my thoughts. When my college sweetheart and wife of 4 ½ years died in a tragic accident, I wrote the free grief guide “The Road to Recovery” specifically for the victims of the September 11th tragedy. I later converted that work into an e-book for distribution online and through Amazon. CAST – 1 Peter 5:7 is another book based a difficult time in my life and how God pulled me through.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I promise that discovering how to cast your cares to our Lord is a skill you will not regret learning! Join me on this adventure.

Richard Nilsen

Richard Nilsen is the author of several self-help books in the Christian market, including “The Road to Recovery,” “Sleep Great for Life,” and now “CAST – 1 Peter 5:7.” He lives in Tarpon Springs, Florida with his wife of 25 years and three beautiful daughters.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Richard 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!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54176

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 5
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 6
Vicky Sluiter, March 7 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, March 7
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 8
Fiction Book Lover, March 9 (Author Interview)
Abba‘s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 10
She Lives To Read, March 11
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 12
For the Love of Literature, March 13 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 14 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, March 15 (Guest Review from Marilyn)
Blossoms and Blessings, March 16 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, March 16
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 17
Artistic Nobody, March 18 (Author Interview)

7 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Truth Cursed by Angie Dickinson (Give.away)

3/13/2025

4 Comments

Speaking the truth can be a dangerous thing.

Cressida Hoth is alone in the world. Orphaned and unwanted, she is inflicted with a peculiar curse by her mischievous aunts and banished to a finishing school in the secluded kingdom of Dernmont. Students train in every accomplishment suitable for young ladies: music, dancing, etiquette…and strangely, poison-making, fencing, and lock- picking.

The school is a front for a rebel spy ring, and when her training is complete, Cressida is selected to join a mission to infiltrate the kingdom’s royal court. She has been thrown unceremoniously into a world of ball gowns and espionage, but she is still under a curse, and it threatens to expose them all.

Defending her teammates and her secret, Cressida discovers that the kingdom’s buried history and the truth behind her curse run far deeper than she imagined.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Release date: February 18, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Will her curse be her downfall...or save her?

I picked up Truth Cursed partly because I've really enjoyed the publisher's books in the past, but, even more because the title was just so intriguing. I can tell you that from the outset the story more than lived up to my expectations. Honestly, I wish more books of this quality had been available when I was teenager.

Even as an adult reader Angie Dickinson had me captivated from the start. Her worldbuilding skills are stellar and you immediately feel like you are right there with Cressida as she navigates school, a royal court, world changing secrets, oh, and that pesky little curse she has had for much of her life.

Truth Cursed kept me up into the wee hours of the morning as I just had to know what would happen next. The blend of fantasy and suspense – with the slightest touch of romance – was simply perfect. And the way Angie Dickinson chose to spin to origins of the curse instead of relying on the old standbys was both original and interesting. Cressida herself is such a fun character with strengths and flaws that I couldn't help but like her.

There was honestly nothing to dislike about Truth Cursed. It's a standalone novel so you don't have to wait ages for the next installment and Angie Dickinson has all of the loose ends nicely wrapped up by the end. I truly enjoyed every bit of Truth Cursed and and I will be looking for more from Angie Dickinson in the future. I think she may quickly become one of those authors that I will read as soon as I see their name on the cover. She might already even be there....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Truth Cursed by Angie Dickinson a 5 Bark rating.

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

More from Angie

A few years ago, while I was pregnant with my third child and feeling an itch to write a story, a question popped into my mind. Could I write a relatable main character who is cursed with a peculiar impediment that affects every relationship and interaction? What would that look like and how challenging would it be? This was the beginning of my journey toward creating and learning to know and love Cressida, the main character of Truth Cursed.
This book became an ode to so many of my favorite things: girlhood friendships, mystery, fantasy, ballgowns, hidden weaponry (poisons! blades!!), court intrigue, an epic castle setting, sweet romance, and coming-of-age character growth that is anything but graceful. In many ways this story is old fashioned for this fast-moving publishing world, embracing an amalgam of the story types that I grew up reading and wishing to read.
As I wrote, I discovered my reader, and she was younger me. So I wrote for her, for my own future teens, and for every reader who loves to fall into a cozy, wholesome, and intriguing story. I’ve attempted to present my reader with a mirror and true hope as they unravel the mystery and adventure of Truth Cursed. I will forever be thankful to my Creator for the opportunity to share Cressida’s story.

Angie Dickinson

Angie Dickinson is a lifelong lover of magical stories that point to truth, hope, and redemption. She received a B.A. in English Literature and is now a fantasy writer, living in the woods of Michigan with her husband and four children. Angie is saved by grace alone and is in awe of her Savior’s unrestrained love. She is blessed by her big, boisterous family and is fond of Earl Grey tea, reading too late at night, and taking every opportunity to share her passion for fantasy and fairy tales.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Angie 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!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54166

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 4
cecereadsandsings, March 4
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, March 5
Allyson Jamison, March 5
Texas Book-aholic, March 6
By the Book, March 7
Lily’s Corner, March 8
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 9
The Lofty Pages, March 10
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 11
Inspired by Fiction, March 12
Hannahbandanarama, March 12
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 13
Faery Tales Are Real, March 13
Holly’s Book Corner, March 14
Blogging With Carol, March 15
For Him and My Family, March 16
Labor Not in Vain, March 17

4 Comments

Cover Reveal - Caligo by J.J. Fischer

3/13/2025

0 Comments

Cover Reveal!

I'm excited to join in the cover reveal for Caligo by @jjfischerauthor releasing on May 15, 2025! This is the sequel novel to the award-winning post-apocalyptic fantasy series, The Nightingale Trilogy, and completes the story of the series’ most beloved character. It is best enjoyed after reading the trilogy but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. Caligo will be releasing in ebook, paperback, and special edition hardback formats.

Note: There might be some spoilers for The Nightingale Trilogy below.

The Nightingale Trilogy’s most beloved character finally gets his own book in this stand-alone sequel novel to the original series which is best enjoyed after finishing Memoria but can be read as a stand-alone novel. Caligo is a gender-swapped transformation of Beauty and the Beast where both hero and heroine are beautiful and beastly in different ways. This sequel is set in a land of monsters (not Caldera) and features enemies-to-lovers romance, a miniature chicken sidekick (who may be prophetic), a Pegasus, a Flynn Rider type hero, and a Mother Gothel like antagonist (with a twist).

Pre-order your copy

Hardback

Paperback

Goodreads

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Jake Rogers' Planet by Philip Wilder (Give.away)

3/10/2025

7 Comments

Jake is about to embark on a perilous
adventure through an alien wilderness
filled with hidden wonders and hazards.

While backpacking with his father, Jake Rogers discovers a mysterious portal and accidentally plunges headfirst into an alien world. Stranded on this bizarre planet, he must evade predators, adapt to the strange elements, and navigate the ever-changing landscape to return home. However, as Jake stumbles upon technologically advanced alien ruins, a chilling question arises: Are the aliens still alive?

Even on this terrifying journey, God reminds Jake of the profound verse: “Do not fear, for I am with you.”

Genre: Christian YA Science Fiction
Release date: February, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Philip

#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
During my time as a missionary in the Middle East, I often wrestled with loneliness. I missed my family, my home, and my friends. I felt so far away from them and had the nagging fear in the back of my mind that God would call me to the Middle East for the rest of my life.
After a few months of praying over this fear, I was spending the day alone with God and decided to watch The Martian. While watching it, I realized that being stranded on another planet would terrify me. It brought all these deep fears to the surface. Then, God showed me that even if I was this guy stranded on another planet. Even if I would likely never see another person and would spend the rest of my life alone. Even then, God would still call me not to fear. Beyond this, I wouldn’t need to fear. God knows everything I need and want. He knows my future. Certainly, He knows what was best for me. I can trust Him more than I can myself. So if He leads me down a path that terrifies me, I can know deep down that He's doing something good even if I can't see it.
This realization hit me hard, and immediately got me thinking about how I could capture this profound truth in a story.

#2. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
Jake is probably my favorite character I’ve ever written. He doesn’t have any flashy skills or abilities like characters I’ve written in other stories, but he has a subtle and deep strength that grows more and more evident as the story continues. Who he is feels so deep and rich. He’s relatable, which gets fun as he faces out-of-this-world scenarios. He’s also hilarious, and I love how he views his crazy situation through the lens of a video game. There are so many funny lines that I wish I could share if they didn’t contain spoilers.

#3. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
My hope and prayer is that readers will learn through this book that they do not need to fear because God is good. Sometimes He asks us to do hard things and make sacrifices, but giving up anything in this world in exchange for a closer relationship with him is always worth it. I also hope readers will walk away from this book equipped and inspired to take any wild steps of faith God is laying on their hearts.

#4. How did you name your characters?
Normally I try to pick cool names, but in naming Jake I wanted the most normal and modern teen boy name I could think of. I did this because I want readers to relate with him and feel that they are flung into this world with him. I didn’t want a crazy name because there’s something powerful about a normal person facing a bizarre world. I wanted readers to think, “If Jake can learn to trust God and not fear on that planet, then I can trust God here with this decision.”

#5. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
I don’t often cry, but I cried writing the end of the book. When I read it to my wife we both had to stop numerous times to shed some tears. We weren’t certain if they were happy or sad tears, neither of us could explain why we were crying. It felt like a flood of emotions for Jake had to flow out of us before we could continue.

#6. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
People often want to know about me because I’m “the author”, but let me tell you about my wife. Our society overvalues success and accomplishments but doesn’t give enough credit to those who simply want to help others. That’s my wife, and she’s incredible. The way she cares for our little boy every day. The way she loves our neighbors, gives generously, and goes out of her way to serve others is incredible. Anyone can write a book, but not everyone can genuinely love others the way she does. I hope to be more like her one day.

More from Philip

Fear is a dangerous enemy.

At the age of 22, I felt God calling me to become a missionary in the Middle East—not for a week or a month, but a year (that eventually became two). Having never traveled outside the US or moved away from my home city of Denver, I was overwhelmed by fear. I’d be moving to a foreign land where I didn’t know a single person and doing work that wasn’t widely accepted there. I spent many sleepless nights wrestling with God’s gentle prompting.

Fear is inevitable in a Christian’s walk, but its power diminishes as we learn to lean into God and trust Him with the unknown. No matter where a believer is on their faith journey, God always guides us to step outside our comfort zones.

The inspiration for this novel came in 2016 while I was living in the Middle East. While watching The Martian, I realized that even if I were stranded on Mars, millions of miles from humanity, God would still call me to trust Him and not fear. That realization was life-changing: no matter what we face, God assures us nothing is worth fearing if we walk in joyful obedience.

Moving to the Middle East was terrifying and far from easy, but God was always present when I needed Him. In following God to take this step, I realized another beautiful truth: God knows what we need, love, and desire more than we do.

My firm belief is that God has wired each of us to love and enjoy different things because He wants to lead us down a unique path, where He desires to see the deepest parts of our hearts come alive. Walking this path is hard and full of fear. It requires letting go of dreams and trusting God will fulfill the right desires at the right time.

This is the journey Jake faces in Jake Rogers’ Planet. The fears he wrestles with are the same ones I had to navigate to declutter my mind and follow God.

I hope this book will help believers overcome their own fears and follow God. My prayer is that everyone reading this novel will be inspired by Jake’s story to take wild steps of faith to follow God on the wondrous adventure he has in store for them.

Philip Wilder

Philip Wilder has been writing since the age of seven. He’s authored two nonfiction books, is a ACFW Genesis Contest finalist, and is currently a Realm Makers Aurora Contest double finalist. He’s spent two years as an undercover missionary in the Middle East, gone sky-diving, and traveled to 35 countries. Philip works with the Great Commission Alliance to train and equip believers around the world. He’s passionate about using fiction to inspire believers to live adventurous lives of faith.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, Philip is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card,
plus a signed hardcover copy of the book, a bookmark, and a vinyl sticker!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54168

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 7
Simple Harvest Reads, March 8 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, March 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 10 (Author Interview)
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 11
Blossoms and Blessings, March 12 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, March 13
Artistic Nobody, March 14 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 15
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 16 (Spotlight)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 16
Stories By Gina, March 17 (Author Interview)
cecereadsandsings, March 17
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 18
Guild Master, March 19 (Author Interview)
Little Homeschool on the Prairie , March 20

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Epic Book Launch - Our Trustworthy God by Sarah K. Howley

3/9/2025

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Our Trustworthy God: How Much God Loves You, Joyfully Engages with You, and Trusts You

Have you ever felt like in life’s most challenging moments, trusting God can be a struggle—even impossible? What if you knew that God not only invites you to trust him but is trustworthy himself and trusts you in return? Our Trustworthy God warmly welcomes you into a deeper understanding of the mutual relationship he longs to have with you, one built on love, trust, and active engagement.

With your guide, Sarah K. Howley—founder of InspiritEncourage, author, and speaker—you will walk through those difficult moments when trust feels scary, discovering how God’s faithfulness shines brightest in your darkest times. Through rich, Scripture-based insights, Sarah unpacks why God is always trustworthy and how his boundless love continually works for your good.

Through this study, you’ll find:

A deeper awareness of God’s active love and trust in your everyday life
Confidence in God's unwavering faithfulness, even when challenges arise
Practical steps to strengthen your relationship with God, built on mutual trust
Encouragement to openly confront doubts and questions about your faith
Guidance on how to live as a trustworthy person, reflecting God's faithfulness in your life

Our Trustworthy God explores the incredible truth that God trusts you, reminding you that your relationship with him is neither one-sided nor blind but vibrant and deeply mutual. You’ll be invited to reflect on what it truly means to live in faithful connection with your loving God despite the pains of life and evils of the world.

Approachable yet deeply rooted in Scripture, this study is perfect for individuals or groups seeking to strengthen their faith and experience the joy of walking in a two-way relationship with the God who loves and trusts you.

Genre: Bible Study
Release Date: March 28, 2025

Excerpt from Our Trustworthy God

Introduction

“Relationship with God.” This phrase appears rather simple. “Relationship” is something we grow up with—family relationships, then schoolmate relationships and those with authority, like teachers. And at some point, we asked Jesus into our hearts to have a relationship with him too.

From that baby-step of acknowledging him as Lord of the universe and of our individual lives, we have the opportunity to grow in intimacy. We have read his Word, we fellowship with others, we pray regularly. We have sought him and created relationship with him.

But in those dark and unwanted circumstances that beset us—grief, loss, upset, disappointment—I struggled to “see” or “feel” that relationship with God who I knew was supposed to be there for me. It is during these difficult times that we hear the phrase, “just trust him! He’s got this.” But that’s not helpful. Trust isn’t exactly an on-command kind of reflex. In these moments, I am more inclined to ask where God is than to understand how exactly to trust my unseen God.

When I started a new business and had no qualifications for doing so, I didn’t know how to rely on God for his guidance. When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I didn’t know how to accept it was happening and that God was working good things.

Sarah K. Howley

Sarah K. Howley is the founder of InspiritEncourage and author of several Bible studies. She is a certified counselor by the Chiesa Apostolica in Italia and holds a master’s degree in education. Sarah often travels the world, usually with espresso in hand. Follow her at inspiritencourage.com to keep in touch.

Blog Stops

Excerpt One: https://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews/epic-book-launch-our-trustworthy-god-by-sarah-k-howley
Excerpt Two: https://nannie3.blogspot.com/2025/02/our-trustworthy-god.html
Excerpt Three: https://lightsinadarkworld.wordpress.com/2025/02/25/our-trustworthy-god-epic-book-launch/
Excerpt Four: https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/2025/02/celebrate-lit-presents-our-trustworthy.html
Excerpt Five: https://allofakindmom.wordpress.com/2025/03/09/new-book-our-trustworthy-god/
Excerpt Six: https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/our-trustworthy-god-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Seven: https://penspagesandpulses.wordpress.com/2025/03/08/book-spotlight-our-trustworthy-god-by-sarah-howley/

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Unraveling Of Emlyn DuLaine (Give.away)

3/4/2025

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A shattered heart, a fate foretold.
The world undone by tales of old.

Emlyn DuLaine just wants to know what happened to her sister, Camille, seven years ago on the fateful day she vanished—literally. Emlyn witnessed Camille unravel and disappear, but no one believes her. Since they think she’s crazy, the least the cops could do is solve Camille’s case. Is a little closure too much to ask?
But Emlyn’s life is upended when she is pulled through a portal into the fantasyland of her childhood imaginings—a magical library holding the storyworlds of every story ever published. And trouble is brewing in the land of Rivenlea. Rogue characters threaten their plot lines, and broken classics are beginning to crumble, but Emlyn only wants to find Camille.
As she searches for her sister, Emlyn begins to learn the reality of Rivenlea and her own origins. A nefarious plot is afoot, and the line between fact and fiction is becoming hopelessly blurred. The truth threatens the storyworlds, Rivenlea, and Earth—the fabric of creation, itself.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Release date: February 4, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Absolutely wonderful start to a new fantasy series....

I fell in love with Lindsay A. Franklin's writing a few years ago with her Weaver Trilogy so when I saw her name on The Unraveling Of Emlyn Dulaine I didn't even bother to read the blurb before setting about getting my hands on the first Rivenlea Sphere book.

The Unraveling Of Emlyn DuLaine more than lived up to my expectations. Lindsay A. Franklin is at her best with the introduction to her new Rivenlea Sphere series. The worldbuilding is exquisite with the perfect blend of familiar and fantastical. The titular character is just the right sort of heroine for a novel that will appeal to both YA and adult fans. Emlyn is smart but makes mistakes, she is fearful but will do anything to find her missing sister. She is a true contradiction just like we all are.

One of the things that I loved best about The Unraveling Of Emlyn DuLaine, aside of the vividly painted world of The Rivenlea Sphere, is the emotion packed within the story. Lindsay A. Franklin really gets to the heart of the fears and insecurities of a girl who has been seriously traumatized by witnessing the disappearance of her sister and the subsequent disbelief of the people around her. I was completely drawn into her story and 100% emotionally invested as I read.

I found the book to be impossible to put down and when I turned the last page I felt a little lost without the characters and setting. I am an adult reader but that made no difference to my sheer enjoyment of the tale. The only bad thing about it is that now I have wait what currently feels like forever to read the second book and find out what happens next to Emlyn and the others....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Unraveling Of Emlyn DuLaine by Lindsay A. Franklin a 5 Bark rating.

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

More from Lindsay

“It’s always been broken.”

Those were the words God put on my heart when I cried out to him in 2020 as I tried to plot The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine. My cry and the fact that I was plotting a novel were not exactly connected at first–though outlining does usually result in some weeping and gnashing of teeth for me. But I released my last novel in 2020 and happened to be working on my new series, The Rivenlea Sphere, when the world was suddenly thrown into chaos.

Being creative in the midst of a global pandemic and significant social unrest is not easy. In fact, I found it impossible. I stared at my unfinished outline, asking myself and God, “Why is everything so messed up? Why is this world so broken?” I know the theological answer to that question, but sometimes, the soul aches. Sometimes, it feels like the whole world is falling apart in a way it never has before.

When God reminded me that this world has, since the fall of man, always been broken, he also reminded me that he’s always been in the business of rescuing us, giving us hope, and pointing us toward a better future–one that is complete and holy. One that is fully redeemed.

Over the next two years, an underlying brokenness that begs for solution wove itself into my storyworld. The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine is intentionally whimsical and fun, filled with references to beloved classics and packed with wry humor. There’s a magical library, a sassy dragon, a fish-out-of-water protagonist determined to dodge every YA trope being thrown her way. But underneath it all is the idea that this world isn’t what it was originally designed to be–and there is hope on the horizon.

Lindsay A. Franklin

Lindsay A. Franklin is the Carol Award–winning author of The Story Peddler, 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).