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Book Review - In Pursuit Of Civility by Jen Turano

5/16/2026

LESSON TWO: Become headmistress and expect to find yourself
partnering with an attractive inventor to search for treasure.

Annaliese Merriweather has been appointed the temporary headmistress of the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies while her sister is on her honeymoon, but she doesn't feel cut out for the role. Especially after she loses two of her most troublesome students during an outing to a county fair and has to recruit the help of Seth McCormick, an eccentric inventor, to retrieve them.

Soon after, one of those mischievous students disappears again, intent on pursuing a pirate map. Together, Annaliese and Seth set out to find her, accompanied by a menagerie of Annaliese's rescued animal companions. As they stumble from one chaotic situation to the next, sparks fly between Annaliese and Seth. Somehow, they'll need to outwit dangerous individuals also intent on seeking the treasure and bring everyone back in one piece--all while deciphering what their hearts desire.

With witty characters and humorous banter, Jen Turano takes readers on a lively tale of hijinks, humor, treasure hunting, and forced proximity in her latest historical rom-com set in Chicago at a finishing school during the Gilded Age.

ASIN: ‎B0FDB4F2L8

My Review

A missing girl & a menagerie. What can go wrong?

More rollicking good fun from one of my absolute favorite authors! And what fun In Pursuit Of Civility was! Pretty much everything got put aside and I finished the second Merriweather Academy For Young Ladies novel in a single day. I just couldn't put it down! With shenanigans that include a pint-sized thief, a mermaid, a runaway, and an unfortunate incident with an invention gone awry. Well, who could put it down? Especially when those adventures have such fascinating settings as a county fair, a train, and the high seas. Jen Turano had just a little bit of everything in this story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I've read all, as far as I know, of Jen Turano's full-length novels and I have relished every single one of them. Her trademark blend of historical romance, romantic comedy, and suspense always make me laugh out loud and eagerly turn those pages. In Pursuit Of Civility did all of that and managed to surprise me a time or two as well.

Her animal characters are always favorites of mine and I look forward each time I pick up one of her books to discovering these four-legged and winged friends. In this second Merriweather Academy For Young Ladies book, I was pleased to find three furry friends make their appearance once again. Annaliese's attack ferrets are so delightfully vicious that they make me chuckle aloud pretty much every time they pop up on the page.

In Pursuit Of Civility was everything that I expected and hoped it would be. It was funny, poignant a time or two, and was just the entertaining break that I needed. Jen Turano has a real winner with her Merriweather Academy For Young Ladies series, and, I for one, can't wait for book three....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives In Pursuit Of Civility by Jen Turano a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Stronger Than The Storm by Deena Adams (Give.away)

5/13/2026

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A runaway teen. A wife’s devastating secret.
A family’s reckoning.

Since surviving a rocky season in her marriage nineteen years earlier, Beth Holbrook has prayed and worked toward maintaining a solid marital commitment, raising godly children, and leading a thriving parenting ministry. On the cusp of realizing her publication dream and expanding her influence nationwide, her daughter, Leesa, runs away without a word.
Having recently turned eighteen and graduated from high school, Leesa is livid with her parents for not allowing her to attend a beach party, especially when the only guy who has ever shown interest in her will be there. When her best friend suggests they escape their parents’ strict rules and move to Myrtle Beach together, she makes a spontaneous decision to leave town. A mere six weeks later she returns home with shocking news that affects not only her future, but her family’s.
While grappling with a volatile blend of failure and anger, Beth’s identity as a pastor’s wife, mom, and respected parenting coach disintegrates. Amid mounting conflict in her marriage, continued criticism from her mother, and strained relationships with her children, Beth confesses a long-held secret, shattering her already splintered family.

As a hurricane bears down on the Holbrook’s house, the storm raging within the walls threatens to rip apart the fragile stitches holding their family together. When Beth’s solid foundation crumbles, will her family survive intact? Or is her contrition too little, too late?

Genre: Christian Women’s Fiction
Release Date: April 28, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Deena

#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
A really hard season twenty years ago when our nineteen-year-old daughter ran off with a word and returned home pregnant. I’m a firm believer that when we’re vulnerable and share our struggles with others, God can bring good from our mess. My desire for Stronger than the Storm is that the story will encourage those going through tough times and will give them hope.

#2. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
I’ve always gravitated to family drama movies, television shows, and books, especially those based on or inspired by true stories, so writing those types of novels was an easy decision.
As a pastor’s wife, God has given me countless opportunities over the years to talk with women who struggle with marriage problems, deal with rebellious children, or face other painful circumstances, so writing stories that address those tough topics and offer hope in Christ is my passion.

#3. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
Aside from my three point-of-view characters—Beth, Kevin, and Leesa, one of my favorites is Jackson Donohue. He’s Leesa’s childhood friend, who becomes much more to her later in the book. He’s the kind of guy every woman deserves to have by their side.
I also love Beth’s best friend, Teresa, because she’s loosely based on my best friend, also named Teresa, who stood by me through many challenging times. Everyone needs a Teresa in their life.

#4. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
Oh, there are so many things I want readers to grasp through the really difficult situations every Stronger than the Storm character must overcome. But I guess the main takeaway I hope for readers is that the Holbrook family’s faith journey inspires them to cling to the Lord no matter what they’re facing and to know that transparency and vulnerability are a path to healing.

#5. If you could change one thing in your life, past or present, what would it be?
I would’ve surrendered to Christ’s Lordship much sooner and spent more quality time with my children when they were still at home. I have way too many regrets.

More from Deena

Crafting a novel from authentic life experiences is a challenging task, but it’s one I sensed God’s call to undertake. If the Lord can encourage those facing heartbreaking situations through my struggles as the mother of a prodigal twenty years ago, I’m all in.

Growing up, I tried my hardest to please my parents and teachers, but I always felt I didn’t measure up. As a Type A person, I’m sure that mindset was my doing, not theirs.

Fast forward to my season as a young mom, and my insecurities ramped up even more. When I became a Christian in my late twenties, I already had three small children and longed to be the world’s best mother and do everything right. I saw my kids’ mistakes as an indictment of my parenting abilities, leading me to believe myself a failure and to try harder to succeed.

With that attitude, you can imagine how I reacted when our teenage daughter ran away from home and returned pregnant—especially since my husband is the pastor of our church. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.

The emotional upheaval I endured while watching our child make one poor decision after another revealed my many shortcomings. Among the important lessons God taught me was what a shallow person I’d been and how much I wanted others’ respect and for them to find me acceptable—no, exceptional. Sadly, I was at a place in life where other people’s opinions seemed to carry more weight than my children’s feelings, but I was blind to my faults.

As I walked through the deep valley with a prodigal, God, in His great mercy, opened my eyes and showed me the truth about myself.

My journey of healing and restoration with our daughter was the catalyst for my debut novel, Stronger than the Storm. I pray that the challenging themes I address will uplift those going through extreme difficulty and that the embedded truths inspire hope in Jesus.

In my book, the Holbrook’s crisis begins as ours did, with a teen runaway getting pregnant by a guy she barely knew. I incorporated some factual events from our lives and drew many of the characters’ raw emotions from personal history. Although I gave Beth Holbrook, the mother in the story, a few of my personality traits, including the passion to be a supermom and failing miserably, the bulk of this family’s journey is fictional.

My experience as an adult daughter inspired the revelation of a long-kept secret in the latter part of the book. To avoid spoilers, I’ll simply state that nothing prepares anyone for such devastating news.

Yet, amid turmoil and unexpected adversity, God is still on the throne and has a perfect plan for our good and His glory. When we surrender everything to Him, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus through life’s storms, we can gain true peace and cling to the truth that God is stronger than anything we face.

In Stronger than the Storm, the Holbrook family must come to this understanding as well. As you read the book, I trust that this family’s journey, and mine, will provide you with encouragement and hope.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good
of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Deena Adams

As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena Adams understands how important hope is to daily life, which fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true to life stories.
She is a Certified Mental Health Coach, a multi-award-winning author, an active ACFW member, founder of the Marathon online writers group, and a six-year ACFW Virginia board member.
Deena lives with her husband near the coast in beautiful Virginia. When she’s not writing, reading, or serving in her church, you’ll find her hanging out with family and friends, playing board games, and doting on her seven grandchildren.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Deena is giving away the grand prize of
a $50 Amazon gift card and a 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/dYgBP/stronger-than-the-storm-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, May 7 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, May 8 (Author Interview)
Fruitfully Planted, May 8
Guild Master, May 9 (Author Interview)
Inspired by Fiction, May 10
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 11
Fiction Book Lover, May 12 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 13 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, May 14 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 15
Stories By Gina, May 16 (Author Interview)
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 17 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys , May 17
Books, Books, & More Books, May 18 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, May 19
Blogging With Carol, May 20

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Just Read Blog Tour - The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch (Give.away)

4/30/2026

8 Comments

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

"Jessica R. Patch weaves a dark, twisty tapestry that’s both unsettling and unexpectedly hopeful. Masterful." –New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan

She bought this house to save her marriage. Unearthing its secrets might just claim her life.

Gwen McDaniel’s life is broken. But she knows the perfect place to fix it. Cold Harbor, Maine, an idyllic small town with views of Acadia National Park, is where she used to vacation with her parents as a child. Here, she and Steven can start over, renovating their cliff-side fixer-upper while patching up their marriage. Soon, everything will be better.

Except from the moment they arrive, Gwen sees and hears things, and it’s more than just the drafts and shadows that are part of any old house. Steven downplays her fears, warning her not to fixate on problems as she has in the past. But Gwen spent years as a homicide detective, and her instincts don’t lie. Something happened here. Proof comes when she rips up the attic’s carpet to discover a chilling message carved into the wood underneath.

As Gwen delves into the history of the house and the Cold Harbor community, she begins to piece the fragments together. And gradually, a terrifying picture emerges: A missing girl. A house of horrors. And a dark, decades-old nightmare that is more haunting than Gwen ever imagined…

Also Available

My Review

Will the keys to the house unlock evil or hope....

Over the years I've read quite a few of Jessica R. Patch's novels, but, I've become quite partial to her more recent thrillers. They are edgy, psychological, eerie, and will keep you up at night. The Girl Upstairs was no exception....

Like The Other Sister, The Girl Upstairs keeps you on glued to the page and unable to function as a normal human being. There are no ifs, ands, or buts, you simply HAVE to know what happens next! And there are serious twists and turns in this story. I will admit that I did guess one of the major plot threads very early on, but, oh, that did not change the emotional upheaval one iota when it was finally revealed.

Jessica R. Patch has really gotten to stretch her wings with her longer books, in particular these psychological thrillers. They are dark and gritty but are still clean reads with an indirect faith element. I'm a big fan of getting to read the genre – with all of its chills and thrills – without the unwanted content often found in secular fiction. On the reverse side, I also appreciate getting to delve much deeper in the main character's thoughts and emotions minus extended sermons. That balance can be difficult but it is definitely struck in The Girl Upstairs.

Jessica R. Patch has a winner with this chillingly thought provoking book and I can't wait to read more....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

Jessica R. Patch

Jessica R. Patch is a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than thirty novels. Known for her pulse-pounding plots, emotionally charged characters, and signature twists, Jessica’s stories explore themes of justice, resilience, and the unshakable power of hope. Whether weaving inspirational stories of danger edged with romance or crafting chilling thrillers that probe the shadows of the human heart, Jessica delivers fiction that thrills while shining light in the darkest places. She makes her home in Northwest Mississippi, where she enjoys life with her family, a good cup of tea, and dreaming up her next edge-of-your-seat story usually over tacos and queso. You’re invited to join the Patched In community at her website: jessicarpatch.com and receive a FREE short thriller, Nobody Has to Know.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

(2) winners will each receive a signed copy of The Other Sister
and a $10 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 27, 2026 and will last through 11:59
PM EST on May 4, 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 for the print copy. 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 - Perplexity by Chawna Schroeder (Give.away)

4/30/2026

4 Comments

Assemble the clues, dismantle the danger.

Yosarai Patican never wanted to finish her schooling in the Indeli capital, but after several months, she is finally finding her footing . . . until her world is shattered by the unthinkable. Facing loss after loss, she struggles to adjust to a new position and new responsibilities, including the repayment of a massive debt. A debt more easily managed if she can qualify for the elite politico sphere on the upcoming placement exam. Some, however, would do anything to prevent Yosarai from earning one of the coveted positions.

Meanwhile, in the northern realm of Egdon, Crown Prince Xander faces an increasingly hostile Parliament. Not only are they questioning the necessity of the monarchy, but they are also demanding an accounting of some mysterious expenditures by the former king. Unless Xander can unearth a reasonable explanation, his coronation may be more than postponed. It may be cancelled―permanently.

As old rivalries escalate and hidden threats emerge, both Xander and Yosi must choose their paths wisely, before evil eliminates everyone in its way.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: April 7, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Their lives are about to take an unexpected turn....

I fell in love with Chawna Schroeder's fiction when I read her book The Vault Between Spaces. That book is standalone so I was pretty excited to find out that she was writing a series, The Sceptre & The Stylus. Perplexity is book two in the series and it takes up right after book one, Illuminary ended.

I will admit that, for me at least, Perplexity got off to a bit of a slow start. However, then things started really happening, and wow, did they happen! Assassins, betrayal, winter storms, jealousy, secrets, a hunt for the truth, spies... See what I mean? And that doesn't even address all of the amazingly cool Steampunk gadgets from airships to submersibles, automatons to children's toys, and everything in between. Chawna Schroeder's blend of fantasy and Steampunk is so much fun in this second The Sceptre & The Illuminary novel – just as it was in book one.

Another thing that I found fascinating was that it's not often that a YA book will take on the difficult subject of grief beyond a surface level. Through her characters Chawna Schroeder explores this topic in a way that is comprehensible and tugs at the heart of adult and YA readers alike. That being said, Perplexity is still very much an enjoyable and entertaining read.

My one and only complaint is that cliffhanger at the end of this book! How could the author do this to me? Those revelations and unanswered questions will eat at me until the eventual release of the next The Sceptre & The Illuminary book. Until then....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Perplexity by Chawna Schroeder a 4 Bark rating.

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

More from Chawna

Cracking the Cover Code

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” We’ve all heard it. We’ve all said it.

We’ve all done it.

We try not to, but the reality is that a book’s cover does influence us. Things pleasing to the eye attract us. Our interest is piqued by the mysterious. Color palettes and designs offer clues about the type of story within. Whether we’re buying online, browsing a bookstore, or selecting our next read from our shelves, the cover often sways our decision.

Thus, covers are designed to draw the interest of those who would most enjoy the story, and Perplexity is no different. So, is this novel for you? Perhaps taking a closer look at cover’s design will answer the question.

The first thing you might notice about Perplexity’s cover is it colors, especially if you’re familiar with Illuminary, which is book one in this series. Whereas Illuminary was bold and vibrant to reflect its India-inspired culture, Perplexity obviously has a much cooler and muted color palette. This reflects the wintry season of this story, both physically and emotionally. The snowflake motif emphasizes this.

This should tell you immediately that if you’re wishing for an upbeat comedy, this isn’t it. You probably need to find a much different cover (and book) than this one. But if you’re looking for a thoughtful read, dealing with slightly heavier topics, Perplexity might be worth a second look.

Now alongside the snowflakes, you might notice a bunch of gears. Those reveal inventions and technology are important to the setting of Perplexity. Gears are also a popular cover motif for books in the steampunk genre. Their subtle use in the design therefore implies a light steampunk element—a world with a Victorian vibe and steam-powered technology.

So are you not a fan of the Victorian era? Do you prefer to read about the real, contemporary world? Perplexity probably shouldn’t be your next read. But if you’re a fan of Jules Verne or fiction that mixes the fantastical with the historical, Perplexity might be your cup of tea.

The third major element of the cover are the odd objects tucked throughout the art work, like a hidden-object picture: An automobile, a pocket watch, a beaded bracelet, an envelope, a carousel horse, a crow, a key. Seven items, which seem completely random and unrelated. Yet they were carefully selected for the cover from a myriad of objects. What does it all mean? Ah, that is the hint of the puzzles the characters must unravel and the mysteries they must solve.

Not a puzzle fan? Hate trying to solve riddles? Then it’s time for you to search elsewhere for a book. But if you love escape rooms, National Treasure, and Amazing Race, your brain might just love unlocking all Perplexity has to offer.

So there. We’ve cracked the code of Perplexity’s cover, a code that tells us of a thoughtful story with a light Victorian/steampunk vibe and puzzles galore. Now it’s time for you decide: Does that sound like a story worth cracking into?

Chawna Schroeder

Chawna Schroeder loves exploring the wonder of God through the intersection of imagination and faith. When she isn’t reading or writing, she may be found practicing piano, reading biblical Greek or Hebrew, preparing for the Bible study she teaches, or working on one of her handwork projects while enjoying a movie.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Chawna is giving away the grand prize of
a $50 Amazon Gift Card and 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/zK7oW/perplexity-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 21
For the Love of Literature, April 22 (Spotlight)
Book Looks by Lisa, April 22
The Bookish Ledger, April 23 (Spotlight)
Simple Harvest Reads, April 24 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 25 (Spotlight)
Artistic Nobody, April 26 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, April 27 (Spotlight)
Guild Master, April 28 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, April 29
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 30
Fiction Book Lover, May 1 (Author Interview)
Wishful Endings, May 1
Stories By Gina, May 2 (Spotlight)
Vicky Sluiter, May 3 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 4

4 Comments

Film Review - He Calls Me Daughter (Give.away)

4/22/2026

5 Comments

Even when earthly fathers fail, God’s love remains constant, personal, and healing. He steps into the gaps left behind and restores what was missing.

He Calls Me Daughter is a deeply personal and emotionally powerful film that explores what it means to carry a father wound and what it takes to heal from it.

Through raw storytelling and spiritual insight, the film reveals how unmet needs from an earthly father can shape identity, relationships, and self-worth. But it also offers a path forward. One rooted in the love of a Heavenly Father who restores, redeems, and redefines what it means to be a daughter.

This is not just a story about pain. It is a story about healing, forgiveness, and identity.

Watch He Calls Me Daughter now on Angel and experience a story of healing, identity, and restoration.

Watch On Angel

Join the Angel Guild to support more stories that
bring hope, healing, and truth to the screen.

My Review

I knew I wanted to watch this film when I first heard about it. Did I have a gaping father wound? No. But I have known, and still know, people who do. I wanted to understand, at least a little bit better. And, boy, were my eyes opened. To be honest, I'm still wrestling with this even though it has been 24 hours since I watched He Calls Me Daughter. Maybe there was more in my own past, both negative and positive, than I wanted to think about

He Calls Me Daughter is one of, if not THE, most moving non-fiction/documentary films that I have ever watched. Seeing and listening to the real stories of women, bound together across age groups and ethnicity and location, by one single and very painful thing. A father wound. But it doesn't stop there, they are also bound together by the Father, sometimes oh so slowly, healing that wound. These are real women, some are famous and some are simply the girl next door, but they are real stories with real pain. They are also full of very real hope.

This wasn't always an easy film to watch. No, it isn't graphic or anything like that. But the topic is a very difficult one. Women especially, view God the Father through the perspective of their biological father as their example. And that's a scary thought. Whether you yourself have a gaping father wound or someone close to you does, He Calls Me Daughter can open the door to that introspection, that discussion, and to a journey of healing.

Every Christian woman, from teenager to great grandma, should take the time needed to watch this film. But, it isn't only women who need to see He Calls Me Daughter. Fathers, or (adult) men hoping to become fathers, also need to understand just how powerful of an impact, for good or ill, that they will have on their daughters. And, from personal experience I can tell you that it isn't just girls who can have that bleeding father wound that affects the rest of their lives....

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

$10 Amazon giftcard

(USA ONLY)

#HeCallsMeDaughterAngelMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Sooner Or Later by Vickie McDonough (Give.away)

4/20/2026

8 Comments

Rebekah’s dreams have become a nightmare.

For years, Rebekah’s mother told her that sooner or later a handsome man would come along and sweep her off her feet. That was before her mother and brother had died and her stepfather arranged for her to marry their repulsive neighbor in exchange liquor and a half-side of beef. She won’t marry the vile older man and flees in the dark of night.
Mason Danfield has no interest in a wife. He’s focused on caring for his motherless niece and nephew. But when Mason finds a young woman stranded on the side of the trail, he can’t leave her behind to possible die on the prairie.
A chance encounter with Jake, the children’s father, ends up with Mason riding in the 1889 Oklahoma land run. He hopes to get land for Jake and the children. Maybe then he can talk Jake into marrying Rebekah, so she can have a home and stay with the children she has come to love. But for some reason, the idea of her and Jale together doesn’t sit well with Mason.

Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: March 31, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Vickie

#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
I live in Oklahoma, and I wanted to write a story that shared some of our unique history. This book’s hero ends up riding in the first Oklahoma land rush. I knew the heroine’s story would be a runaway bride tale. When you read her story, you’ll be cheering for her.

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
About six months. The book is on the shorter side so it didn’t take too long.

#3. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
I grew up watching cowboy shows with my dad and fell in love with horses, cowboys, and the Old West, so when I started writing, it was natural to write about that.

#4. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
I think most people will cheer for the heroine when you read her story. Although the hero has an equally painful background. There are also two cute youngster that will charm you.

#5. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
I want readers to know that we all go through difficult times, but we don’t have to cave-in to our emotions when God it there to help us through.

#6. How did you name your characters?
I usually pick a name I like that I think suits the character. I’ll admit that I have sometimes resorted to searching historical baby name books in search of the perfect name.

#7. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
I was at a writers’ conference when my editor announced that she was buying a three-book series from me, which turned out to be my Oklahoma trilogy. Up to that point, I’d only written novellas, which are about ¼ the length of a novel. Needless to say, I was stunned and thrilled.

#8. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
I was born and raised in Oklahoma. Although I did spend a year in Israel shortly after I was married. We lived and worked on a kibbutz—a communal farm. It was wonderful experience.
My husband, Robert, and I have four grown sons, a daughter-in-law, and a twenty-year-old granddaughter, who is studying forensics in college.

#9. If you could change one thing in your life, past or present, what would it be?
I would have liked to travel more.

#10. What one piece of advice would you like to give readers?
Writing book reviews at online sights is very helpful for authors. You don’t need to summarize the book, instead, write what you liked most about it.

#11. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my favorite verses.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I know that whatever this world throws at me, I will make it through because God is walking with me. The same can be true for you.

Excerpt from the Book

April 2nd, 1889
Indian Territory

Never in her life had Rebekah Bailey done anything so daring, but then she’d never been this desperate before. She peered over her shoulder at the dilapidated house as she tiptoed toward the barn. Good. Still dark.

The full moon illuminated the rickety A-frame shack that had been her home for as long as she could remember. The breath she’d been holding came out on a ragged sigh. At least she’d managed to get out of the house without Curtis hearing her. But she was far from safe.

Her heartbeat resounded in her ears, and she was certain her closest neighbors, who lived miles away, could hear it. Hugging her ma’s ancient carpetbag against her chest, she quickened her pace.

A sharp creak in the direction of the house jerked Rebekah from her reverie. With a quick tug on the reins, she turned Prince west and kicked his sides. West toward the open plains and Indian Territory. Then northwest toward Denver–and freedom. She prayed it was the last place Curtis would think to look for her.

The chanting of tree frogs gave music to her ride, and an owl hooted somewhere in a nearby tree. She used to love the sounds of the night, but now they only reminded her that she was alone. Hoping to ward off the night chill, she tugged her frayed cloak around her. The world seemed normal, asleep, as it should in the middle of the night. But she felt anything except normal. Her world had fallen apart this evening with Curtis’s declaration. Nothing would ever be same for her. She shivered at the memory. “I’ve made a deal with Giles Wilbur,” Curtis had said, grinning with pride. “Swapped you for a half side of beef and some moonshine. In the morning, you’ll be moving in with him and be his woman.” Thoughts of the filthy, drunken sloth of a man more than twice her age made her blood run cold. How could Curtis expect her to live with Mr. Wilbur without the sanctity of marriage? How could he simply swap her like she were livestock—something to be bartered? Bile churned in her stomach and burned a path to her throat. Tears blurred her vision and streamed down her cheeks.

She’d never felt so alone. Completely alone–as though not a single person in the world cared for her. But the gentle touch of the wind to her cheeks reminded her of the One who never failed. Rebekah turned to her heavenly Father as Prince trotted down the dark road. “Protect me, Lord–and show me the way. And Father . . . oh, Father, give me courage for the ride ahead and strengthen Prince’s old bones–”

The faint sound of approaching hoof beats intruded on Rebekah’s prayer.

Oh, no! Curtis!

She was certain her heart would jump clear out of her chest. The reins nearly slipped from her trembling hands. Fear of what was behind her overpowered the fear of what was ahead.

Taking a deep, determined breath, and with a firm grip on the reins, Rebekah dug her heels into Prince’s side.

“He–yah!!!” she cried softly.

Prince vaulted into a gallop and raced down the road.

Vickie McDonough

Vickie McDonough is the CBA, EPCA and Amazon best-selling author of 54 books and novellas. Vickie grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie’s books have won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, OWFI Best Fiction Novel Award, the Inspirational Readers’ Choice awards. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, making cards, gardening, and traveling.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Vickie 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/mieGk/sooner-or-later-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 7
Texas Book-aholic, April 8
Artistic Nobody, April 9 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, April 9
For Him and My Family, April 10
Happily Managing a Houehold of Boys, April 11
Guild Master, April 12 (Author Interview)
Books You Can Feel Good About, April 13
lakesidelivingsite, April 14
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 15
Fiction Book Lover, April 16 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, April 17 (Guest Review from Donna)
Cover Lover Book Review, April 18
Holly’s Book Corner, April 19
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 20 (Author Interview)
Jodie Wolfe, April 20

8 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Star-Blessed by Angie Dickinson (Give.away)

4/9/2026

2 Comments

Three legendary origins of power.
Two royal bloodlines. One deadly curse.

The kingdom of Stelauris is slowly dying. A season of poison infects the air, earth, and water with increasing deadliness each year, and a deep love of gold and power infects the failing mind of the king. His only daughter and first in line to the throne, Princess Seren, lives in tightly controlled isolation. When she is suddenly thrust into royal society, she struggles to hide the strain of untamed magic awakening in her blood.
Seren’s newly appointed personal guard, Sir Corin, resents the exile of his people. As heir to a long-banished line of succession and the last of the land’s legendary protectors, he holds no loyalty for the current royal family and their history of unhinged cruelty.
As death steals over the kingdom and the schemes at court grow deadlier, the princess and the guard are forced to face their fears, their troubled pasts, and the cost of personal freedom.
The Star-Blessed is a reimagining and reinventing of two fairy tales: “Rumpelstiltskin” and “Cat-Skin” by the Brothers Grimm.

Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Release Date: March 10, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

There are those who only seek to use them....

I absolutely loved Angie Dickinson's book Truth Cursed, so I was beyond excited when I heard about The Star-Blessed a few months ago. Since then I have been on tenterhooks of eager anticipation. When I finally got my hands on it I dived right in. And it was every bit as good as I hoped it would be.

The Star-Blessed captured my attention right from the start. First and foremost, it is a fantasy story with all of the elements that I love about the genre. But, it is also a fairytale retelling, or rather a double fairytale retelling. What I enjoyed so much about this book was the clever way that Angie Dickinson wove those two things together into a tale that is both captivating and richly detailed. From fancy balls and swordplay to magical clothing and spun gold, you get that fairytale essence within a story that is entirely fresh and new.

The worldbuilding is exquisite in The Star-Blessed. The realm has history, it has geography, it has culture, it has religion. And, since this book is a standalone title, those elements are key and must not be skimped on. Angie Dickinson's did not skimp. Her characters are interesting and you can't help but become immersed in their lives as well as the world around them.

Anyway, as I'm sure you can tell, I loved The Star-Blessed just as much as I did Truth Seeker. With two books of this caliber already out, I can't wait to read more from Angie Dickinson myself. Definitely recommend!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Star-Blessed by Angie Dickinson a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

More from Angie

If you’re like me, I suspect you can still remember the soft sounds and smells of the local or school library that you visited in childhood. You can probably remember the thrill of finding a book that you longed to spend time paging through in peace. For me, the greatest thrills came whenever I found a beautifully illustrated fairy tale. Fairy tale collections were always my favorite, and finding illustrated versions by talented artists made my heart sing.

Reading and re-reading fairy tales as a child eventually led to writing my own retelling as an adult. I began with an unusual tale that was very familiar to me via its illustrated retelling: “Cat-Skin” by the Brothers Grimm has been gorgeously retold (and mercifully sanitized) by Charlotte Huck, and illustrated by Anita Lobel. This picture book for children is titled Princess Furball, and is one of my old favorites that never left me. I chose this story and its original source for my retelling, lightening the darker original elements in my own way, but including the story beats, themes, and motifs that were so dear to me. I put my own twist on the tale, which surprisingly (even to me) included a subplot that was a retelling of its own: “Rumpelstiltskin.” I have loved many versions of this familiar story over the years, but my favorite is an illustrated retelling by Paul O. Zelinsky.

I have read this one to my children countless times, and it has always set my mind whirring with the different ways that it could be told again.

For my retelling, I lovingly mined these two stories, “Cat-Skin” and “Rumpelstiltskin,” and worked them together into a foundation for a new fairy tale. The frame holds pieces of the old tales, but it’s wrapped up in something brand new. This is a story of a young woman and a young man whose paths cross and wend down a road marked by destiny, shadowed by grief, and lit by courage. Their story is a new fairy tale, reflected in gold and fortified by the faithful gleam of the stars.

Angie Dickinson

Angie Dickinson is a lifelong lover of magical stories that point to truth, hope, and redemption. She is the author of Truth Cursed, a YA fantasy with Enclave Publishing. Angie especially loves to read and write historically inspired fantasy, mystery, and fairy tales. She enjoys Earl Grey tea, reading too late at night, and spending time with her husband and children at their home in the woods of Michigan.

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 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/0iDN2/the-star-blessed-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, March 31
Devoted Steps, April 1
The Lofty Pages, April 1
Inspired by Fiction, April 2
Because Fiction, April 3 (Author Interview)
Lily’s Corner, April 4
Blogging With Carol, April 5
Artistic Nobody, April 6 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, April 7
Guild Master, April 8 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 9
Simple Harvest Reads, April 10 (Guest Review from Mindy)
Fiction Book Lover, April 11 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 12 (Spotlight)
To Everything There Is A Season, April 12
Vicky Sluiter, April 13 (Author Interview)

2 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Firebreak by Kathy Tyers (Give.away)

4/3/2026

5 Comments

What would you sacrifice to save
your family and your home world?

Lady Firebird Caldwell returns to the world of her birth, Netaia, intending to introduce her young sons to the noble Electors while her husband, Brennen, conducts a military inspection. When mysterious ships in distress suddenly approach the planet, the Electorate sends her to initiate first contact. Forced to work alongside a vengeful childhood enemy, Firebird uses everything within her power—even her passion for music—to negotiate, only to discover their alien technology threatens all the worlds she holds dear.
Facing ruthless betrayal, Firebird undertakes a deadly journey to salvage the mission. Brennen must make daring use of his telepathic powers to save human life in the galactic Whorl, including that of their young sons. But saving the worlds might force Brennen to give the order that would mean Firebird’s death. In a galaxy poised on the edge of ruin, survival may demand the ultimate sacrifice—from them both.

Genre: Science Fiction Space Opera
Release Date: March 10, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Just what do mercy and forgiveness mean....

I've heard of the Firebird series, it's almost legendary if you enjoy Christian sci-fi, but up until now I had never had the chance to read it. Enter Firebreak, the first book in Kathy Tyers' new Firebird Interlude Trilogy that takes place in between some of the original Firebird books. Needless to say, I was pretty excited to get my hands on it.

Firebreak, and the rest of the Firebird Interlude Trilogy, can be read standalone which I was grateful to find. I didn't actually know that this was an 'in between times' series so I was happy to see that in the author's note at the beginning. Kathy Tyers did a great job weaving enough facts from the past that I didn't feel left out, while still telling a perfectly new story.

The book did start off a little slow for me but after some rather exciting events lead to Firebird, I absolutely that name for a sci-fi character, stepping foot onto an alien spacecraft with a surprising hidden motive. Seriously, the first contact team's time on the ship as Brennan and the others face danger from within and without back on the planet Netaia, had me on the edge of my seat. And the final showdown, wow!

After reading Firebreak, I definitely want to read the surrounding Firebird series in addition to the next Firebird Interlude Trilogy book when it releases. Kathy Tyers definitely has a good thing here with great worldbuilding and an interesting story. Can't wait for more....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Firebreak by Kathy Tyers a 4 Bark rating.

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

More from Kathy

Is the Firebird Series “Space Opera”?
Kathy Tyers

You may have come across the term “space opera” and wondered what it meant. Sopranos in space suits?

The term comes to us by way of “horse opera,” those good old-fashioned western movies with horses and bad guys and adventures and sweet-rated romance. With space opera, it’s “head ’em off at the next galaxy” and the sheriff carries a blaster (a blazer in my books) instead of a revolver, but it often has the same flavor. Remember the sci-fi TV series “Firefly”? It acknowledged its western-movie roots with horse chases and train rides. Often, people who dislike most science fiction for its far-futuristic technology find that they enjoy space opera, because its beating heart is the characters who are having the adventure.

I’ve written two kinds of science fiction. My Christy-award winning novel Shivering World is what we call “hard” science fiction. The plot revolves around solving a scientifically plausible problem.

I like to explain the distinction between hard SF, soft SF, and space opera like this: All science fiction has a veneer of scientific credibility. With hard SF, that veneer has to be so thick that a scientist in that field wouldn’t scoff. I once read a compelling hard SF story in which the characters were saved by knowing the melting point of aluminum and whether it would float them across a pool of extraterrestrial lava (plainly, they were too far off Earth to Google it).

Soft SF has a thinner scientific veneer, with more emphasis on well-drawn characters. In space opera, the veneer can be thin indeed. Some people mock the Star Wars movies for showing that explosions in space go “boom” although sound waves are carried by air molecules.

Do Star Wars fans care? No! They’re in it for the adventure, the fight scenes, the fabulous visual effects, John Williams’s music, and the sense of hope that even in dark times, maybe goodness will win out.

Can’t we all use some of that?

In my Firebird space opera series, I keep the science plausible if I can. My telepaths’ ancestors dabbled in genetic manipulation to create those abilities. They exceed lightspeed using a technology that turns every shipboard molecule sideways to normal space (say quasi-orthogonal three times fast). My “magical weapon,” the crystace, contains a crystal whose X and Y axes elongate dramatically when activated by sound at a particular resonant frequency. I explained the crystace just once, at the start of the series, because what really matters in these tales is whether Lady Firebird will survive to have another adventure.

Yet there’s music in my space operas. Firebird plays a small harp, which becomes a plot point in Firebreak. All of my chapter titles have musical subheadings such as allegro con fuoco, like instructions for a performer.

There is also chaste, moral romance and deep love between a pair-bonded husband and wife. My sister accused me of trying to “create the perfect man” in my series hero, Brennen. I won’t call him perfect—no one is—but I think he’d be a catch on any planet. Then there’s Prince Tel, left a widower . . .

If you’ve never enjoyed science fiction, you might try a space opera, maybe even mine. If you already enjoy science fiction, this series could fall within your comfort zone, too.

Kathy Tyers

Kathy Tyers is known for her award-winning Firebird series and two licensed Star Wars Legends novels, including New York Times bestseller The Truce at Bakura. Her messiah-in-space novel, Daystar, which concluded the original Firebird series, won a 2013 Carol Award, and in 2019, Shivering World received the Christy Award in the visionary category. At home in southwest Montana with her husband, William T. Gillin, Kathy focuses on writing, music, and short-season vegetable gardening.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Kathy 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/28yLK/firebreak-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 25
Because Fiction, March 26 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 27 (Spotlight)
Artistic Nobody, March 28 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, March 29
Blossoms and Blessings, March 30 (Spotlight)
Guild Master, March 31 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, March 31
Stories By Gina, April 1 (Spotlight)
Fiction Book Lover, April 2 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, April 2
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 3
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 4 (Spotlight)
Vicky Sluiter, April 5 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, April 6 (Guest Review from Mindy)
Books, Books, & More Books, April 7 (Spotlight)

5 Comments

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

4/1/2026

6 Comments

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

She’s trying to save the boy’s life. What if he’s supposed to save hers?

For tough-as-nails Chicago social worker Ashley Sorenson, it’s nothing new to risk her life for hurting children. Seeing innocent kids suffer every day may have made her a little cynical, but she’ll stop at nothing to rescue children from miserable circumstances.

But Ashley faces a special challenge when Matthew Borden, a sixteen-year-old with Down syndrome, is orphaned. Finding a suitable foster home for the boy becomes the least of her problems when someone starts threatening her and Matthew.
The sudden appearance of a mysterious FBI agent confirms Ashley’s growing suspicions that Matthew is no ordinary teen. The boy she thought no one wanted is wanted by many…dead or alive.

Dodging danger at every turn, Ashley races to find the secrets that could save Matthew’s life. When the truth unearths her own dark past and threatens more than their lives, the God Matthew trusts may be her only hope for rescue.

A gripping and gritty standalone Christian suspense thriller from the bestselling author of the Guardians Unleashed Series.

Publisher: ‎ SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: March 26, 2026
Genre: Christian Suspense Thriller

Also Available

My Review

Can there be a purpose for good....?

Well, that was definitely not what I expected. I've gotten hooked on Jerusha Agen's romantic suspense with her Guardians Unleashed series, so I always jump at the chance to read one of her books.

Special Target is a standalone novel which was a little different – all of her previous books that I've read have been a part of a series – so, seeing Jerusha Agen's take on a story without a follow-up was quite interesting.

Special Target certainly kept me on the edge of my seat with all of the mystery and suspense that I've come to expect from Jerusha Agen. Danger is everywhere for the characters and they have no clue who they can really trust.

The story, however, had a much different emotional feel to it. It's less of a romantic suspense novel and more the story of a woman who has been hurt by the people closest to her and now has a lot of anger, distrust, and even prejudice borne from the pain of her past. There were times that I positively disliked Ashley and her viewpoint. There were times I wanted to ask her how she could be so hurtful to other characters, and yet, the way she was written was raw and real. She's hurting. She questions how a good God could allow and have a purpose in the suffering of this world. She wants the same answers we all do when we are facing pain and darkness.

This book is grittier, the ending was completely unexpected, but it is also a story that sticks with you and makes you consider your own thoughts, viewpoints, and the way we see others around us. Special Target is a different kind of story from Jerusha Agen, but if you like your Christian fiction to be less fluffy and more thought-provoking, check it out....

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

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

Jerusha Agen

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 30, 2026 and will last through
11:59 PM EST on April 6, 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!

6 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy (Give.away)

3/29/2026

6 Comments

From beloved author Mary Connealy comes a
delightful Western adventure brimming with danger, laughter, and unexpected romance—a tale of a
resourceful widow, a rugged cowboy, and the
ready-made family that will steal his heart. Perfect
for fans of Tracie Peterson and Karen Witemeyer.

Sophie Edwards has survived two years in the Texas wilderness with four daughters and her wits. When a stranger falls injured near her hidden cabin during a thunderstorm, she discovers he’s the spitting image of her late husband—because Clay McClellen is her husband’s twin brother, a man who never knew his brother existed.
Clay came to Texas seeking justice for his brother’s murder. What he finds instead is a ready-made family, a rundown ranch, and a fiercely independent woman who doesn’t need rescuing—even when danger comes calling. Sophie may have pulled him from a flooded creek, but Clay is determined to be the protector she deserves, whether she wants one or not.
As vigilantes close in and old enemies resurface, Clay and Sophie must learn to trust each other and God’s plan. But can a mountain man used to solitude embrace life with four talkative daughters? And can Sophie open her guarded heart to love again—especially when the man looks exactly like the husband who broke it?

A heartwarming tale of second chances, faith, and finding love in the untamed West.

Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: March 10, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Sparks and bullets fly when they join forces....

I'm a fan of Mary Connealy from way back and I've enjoyed every one of her series that I've read. Petticoat Ranch is the start of a new series, Petticoats And Cowboys, and I was excited to head back to Texas with her.

Petticoat Ranch had everything that I've come to expect from Mary Connealy including humor and and some good edge-of-your-seat moments. There were also some surprises along the way – particularly the unexpected answers to a woman's prayers – that were interesting and kept me turning those pages.

Sophie and her girls were such a delight to read about, though I must admit that all of their giggling and crying made my imaginative 'ears' almost as tired as they did poor Clay's fictional ones. But, they also had an amusing vicious streak that made me laugh out loud more than once. Clay, however, made me mad. His high-handed ways and bullheadedness drove me crazy. Just as I was hopping mad, about halfway or so through the first Petticoats And Cowboys book, I had a sudden realization. My high emotions over a fictional character was really a testament to just how well Mary Connealy had written him to be. And I was impressed by just how quickly and easily she had gained every bit of my attention.

Petticoat Ranch was a good read. While, I may have been annoyed by a certain character, I still couldn't really put it down since I just HAD to know what would happen next. I do think this was a strong start to the Petticoats And Cowboys series and I am looking forward to reading book two....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy a 4 Bark rating.

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

More from Mary

Petticoat Ranch is my husband’s story.

My husband is a cowboy…or rather he’s a Nebraska cattleman. Our ‘horse’ though we used to have horses, is now a pick-up truck and a four-wheeled rig that can crawl all over rugged land.

My Cowboy grew up in a family of seven sons.

His mom was about the coolest, nicest lady ever born…a living embodiment of ‘Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.’ She could tell stories of chaos and mayhem for HOURS and just laugh. I loved her.

Then I married My Cowboy and we had FOUR DAUGHTERS.

My husband spent his whole life confused.

And example of a usual conversation:

My Cowboy: Why won’t they stop crying!?

Why won’t they stop giggling?

Why won’t they stop TALKING?

Me: Um, cuz they’re girls?

He was constantly befuddled. He loved them (still does) so madly but they did NOT make sense to him.

That’s Petticoat Ranch.

A mountain man comes to find his brother’s wife…his brother died and he’s come to ‘rescue’ them. Except they’re unbelievable tough and competent and, well, maybe they could use a little rescuing, life is tough in Texas for a widow and her four children and, in a weak moment, she agrees to marry this man who looks EXACTLY like her husband. A man she never knew existed.

And there they are. Her and her four tough Texas daughters.

Him who’s pretty much never seen a woman in his life, and certainly not a CHILD.

Now they’re married about twenty-four hours after she found out he existed…and they have to figure out how to get along.

I try really hard to thread that needle where a man is befuddled by a woman…but he’s not stupid. A woman is exasperated by a man…but she’s got a good heart.

I shove them together…and leave them to try and get along. If someone is trying to kill them, or steal their ranch, or whatever horrible outlaw is in the book, that adds to the fun.

I shove them together and then leave them to figure out how to get along.

I love Petticoat Ranch. I’ve done this kind of book many times, the mountain man who’s never been around women. The feisty lady rancher who’s used to being in charge. And never did I find that sweet spot quite as well as I did in Petticoat Ranch.

One of my very favorite books.

Ah, tough, self-sufficient Sophie. She really can use the help and he really does look exactly like her dead husband.

Ah, confused but definitely attracted Clay. He’s trying to take care of her and take charge…and she’s not cooperating.
She was definitely in charge when his brother was alive…he was kinda cranky and inept. Why won’t Clay just let her run things?

All those tough little Texas cowgirl daughters who can’t quite figure out if this is they’re pa, given back to them by God…or if this is some new guy that they are desperate to make love them, when their real pa was so desperate to have sons.

I love that Wild Heart Books is re-releasing Petticoat Ranch.

Thank you Wild Heart for giving it another chance at life.

Mary Connealy

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

https://gleam.io/0Pzml/petticoat-ranch-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 24
Texas Book-aholic, March 25
Holly’s Book Corner, March 25
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 26
Jodie Wolfe, March 27
For Him and My Family, March 27
Devoted To Hope, March 28
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 29
Book Holds and Jello Molds, March 29
Jeanette’s Thoughts , March 30
She Lives To Read, March 31
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 31
Books You Can Feel Good About, April 1
Vicky Sluiter, April 2
Sydney Schmied Books, April 2
Cover Lover Book Review, April 3
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 4
Labor Not in Vain , April 5
Stories By Gina, April 6 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, April 6

6 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Half Agony, Half Hope: Dear Lily Edition by Joy Michelle Austin (Give.away)

3/29/2026

4 Comments

Lily
Days before her wedding, Lily Wentworth’s carefully planned future is shaken by an unexpected turn. Unsure how to move forward, she turns to the one person she has always trusted—her father.

Rick
Determined not to let their darkest years define her, Rick Wentworth offers Lily the journals he wrote during the season he fought to keep her safe and survive one day at a time.

As Lily reads, she begins to uncover not only the truth of what they endured, but also the fierce, steady love that carried her through—and the strength she may need now.

Half Agony, Half Hope: The Dear Lily Edition is a clean, closed-door story of resilience, family, and the love that shaped two lives.

Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: March 17, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Joy

1. What was the inspiration for this book?
This story grew from a long-held desire to write something emotionally honest yet deeply hopeful — a novel that acknowledges life’s harder places while still pointing readers toward light.
Years ago, I was profoundly moved by Captain Wentworth’s “half agony, half hope” letter in Persuasion. That phrase lingered with me and eventually inspired a poem, which later became the quiet foundation for this story.
Over time, I found myself reflecting on questions of endurance, healing, and what it means to begin again after darkness. From those reflections, Rick and Lily’s journey slowly emerged — a story centered not only on survival, but on restoration.
More than anything, I wanted to create a book readers could enter with confidence: clean, compassionate, and ultimately anchored in hope.

2. What do you hope readers will take away?
My deepest hope is that readers close this book feeling encouraged — reminded that no life is beyond the reach of grace and that even the most fragile beginnings can grow into something strong.
We all encounter seasons that ask more of us than we feel prepared to give. If this story reassures someone that healing is possible, that their story is still unfolding, and that hope is never misplaced, then it has fulfilled its purpose.
Stories have a quiet way of steadying us, and I pray this one does exactly that.

3. Do you have favorite characters?
It is always difficult to choose, but Lily, Rick, Ellie, and Darcy each hold an extra special place in my heart.
Lily represents quiet resilience — the kind of strength that unfolds gently yet endures. Rick embodies steadfast love and the courage it takes to rebuild. Ellie brings warmth and light, while Darcy offers loyalty and the reassuring presence of someone who stands firm when it matters most.

4. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
I am an adopted Asian American and the eldest daughter in my family, experiences that have shaped both my perspective and my storytelling in meaningful ways. Family has always been a place of deep connection for me, and those themes naturally find their way into my work.
My brother serves as an EMT, a role that requires both courage and compassion — qualities I deeply admire and that quietly influenced elements of my fictional world.
More than anything, I am grateful for the people who have grounded my life with love and steadiness. Their presence continually reminds me of the strength found in belonging.

5. Share with us a thought or Bible verse on your heart.
I often return to Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the Lord… “plans to give you hope and a future.”

It is a promise that has steadied me through uncertain seasons, reminding me that God is always at work beyond what we can see.
Lately, I have been especially comforted by the reminder that our lives are not defined by the timelines we once imagined, but by the faithfulness of the One who guides us forward. There is deep peace in trusting that no chapter is wasted — and that hope is never without purpose.

More from Joy

Half Agony, Half Hope was not a story I set out to write lightly.

It was an answer to a call God placed on my heart as a survivor of sexual assault—a call to tell the truth without exploiting it, and to create hope without diminishing the pain. From the beginning, I knew this would be a heavy debut novel. I also knew I wanted it to be clean, faith-centered, and redemptive.

The decision to tell this story through the eyes of a man was intentional. So few novels explore male survivors with compassion and dignity, yet one in six men are sexually assaulted. Their stories are often hidden, misunderstood, or minimized. Rick Wentworth’s journey exists to say plainly: healing is possible, faith is not erased by trauma, and masculinity is not diminished by suffering.

Because of the weight of Rick’s past, much of the abuse in Half Agony, Half Hope is veiled. I wanted readers to feel the truth of what he endured without being retraumatized themselves. Still, after the book released, readers told me they longed for more gentleness—more space to breathe inside the story.

That is how the Dear Lily Edition was born.

Lily was Rick’s hope and grace during the darkest years of his captivity. In the cellar, she was the reminder that love could still exist, that innocence could survive, and that God was not absent—even there. Their bond became the quiet heartbeat of the story: a wounded man learning how to hope again through the steady, healing love of a child.

At its core, Half Agony, Half Hope: Dear Lily Edition is a story of survival and faith—but it is also a story of a father and daughter choosing trust and hope despite hardship, and building a family where brokenness does not get the final word.

Joy Michelle Austin

Joy Michelle Austin is an award-winning novelist writing contemporary fiction. Her debut found an immediate audience among readers drawn to heartfelt stories of healing and second chances, launching the Jane Austen’s Men series. She also wrote The Seaside Sleuths and the Bridal Batter Blunder, a cozy mystery tie-in project for young readers. Joy draws inspiration from real stories of courage, grace, and the quiet heroes found in everyday life, crafting fiction for readers who seek hope, honesty, and heart in contemporary storytelling. She is the recipient of the West Coast Christian Writers Encourager Award and the Walt Disney Legacy Award—an honor given to fewer than 1% of Cast Members worldwide for embodying Disney’s “Dream, Create, Inspire” legacy.

Through her blog, The Joyous Living, she connects with thousands of readers who share her love of culture,
storytelling, and meaningful living. She lives in Southern California with her dog, Captain Hastings.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Joy is giving away the grand prize of
a $20 Amazon Gift Card and a Kindle 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/DEiCR/half-agony-half-hope-dear-lily-edition-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, March 21 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, March 22 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, March 23 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 24
Fiction Book Lover, March 25 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, March 26 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 26
For the Love of Literature, March 27 (Author Interview)
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 28
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 29 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, March 30 (Author Interview)
Fruitfully Planted, March 30
Stories By Gina, March 31 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, April 1
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 2 (Author Interview)
Books, Books, & More Books, April 3 (Author Interview)

4 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Mail-Order Baroness by Misty M. Beller (Give.away)

3/16/2026

10 Comments

Five sons of an English duke,
all raised in the Rocky Mountains…

James Balfour, the charming middle son of an English duke, is determined to prove he’s capable of taking leadership of his family’s Montana ranch as the next deadly winter approaches. With the household stretched to its limits, James crafts a clever plan to hire Rose Prescott—his childhood best friend—and to right an old wrong.
Rose’s remarkable singing voice was meant to be her gift, but in Virginia City, it’s become her curse. Forced by her stepfather to perform nightly shows, she dreams of escape and a life free from his control. When a newspaper ad for a housekeeper offers her a way out, she risks everything and flees, hoping her stepfather can’t find her. She never expected to return to the Balfour ranch, nor to see James again, whose charm now reminds her too much of the men who’ve betrayed her before.
James’s desire to protect Rose is shaken when his old friend treats him like an enemy. Winning her trust becomes his greatest challenge yet. As tensions rise on the ranch, old secrets and new dangers threaten everything James and his family have built.

With enemies closing in, Rose must decide whom she can trust—and whether she’s willing to fight for the freedom and love she’s always longed for.
From a USA Today bestselling author comes a royal family saga featuring a mail-order bride, a second chance romance, and an aristocratic marriage of convenience…all set in the rugged Montana Territory.

Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: February 10, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Their story started with friendship years ago....

I enjoy a good Misty M. Beller story whenever I can get my hands on one and this book was no exception. Mail-Order Baroness is the second book in her new Lords Of The Rockies series and it was both a fun and interesting read.

The blend of historical romance with a touch of suspense kept me engaged and turning those pages. James and Rose are characters that you can't help but like and you quickly become invested in their story. And what a story it is. Threads of the past wind their way through the present and put the future in jeopardy. I found myself completely caught up I whether Rose's stepfather would find her and if James could convince her to stay.

I'm also a fan of the Montana setting with its dramatic landscape and wild weather. That weather plays a big part in several scenes and I must admit that it was a little crazy that, even as I read about winter snow and cold, an early spring snow was falling outside my window.

Anyway, Mail-Order Baroness was a good read and I did enjoy it. Of course, now I have to wait to find out what happens next to the Balfour family and also where Misty M. Beller will take her Lords Of The Rockies as well as her readers....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Mail-Order Baroness by Misty M. Beller a 4 Bark rating.

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

More from Misty

Hello Reader Friends!

I’m so excited to be back with you in the Lords of the Rockies world—where Regency roots and Montana grit collide in the best kind of way.

When I first dreamed up this series, I couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen if five sons of an English duke were raised far from ballrooms and titled expectations…out in the wide-open wilderness instead. No polished drawing rooms. No London Season. Just rugged mountains, hard work, and the kind of faith that’s tested (and strengthened) when survival itself requires perseverance.

And now I’m thrilled to share the newest installment with you…

Welcome to Mail-Order Baroness!

One of my favorite things about writing romance is getting to explore the truth that God is always in the business of redemption—of taking what’s been broken and offering something new. That’s one reason I especially love the second-chance romance trope.

There’s just something so moving about two people who have already been hurt—by life, by circumstances, sometimes even by each other—and yet are given an unexpected opportunity to try again. Not because everything is suddenly easy, but because they’re different now. Wiser. Humbled. More aware of what truly matters.

In Mail-Order Baroness, you’ll find a love story rooted in that kind of hope—the kind that doesn’t ignore the past, but doesn’t let the past have the final word either.

If you enjoy stories with:

old wounds that still ache
hard-earned forgiveness
trust rebuilt one choice at a time
and the gentle reminder that God can restore what feels beyond saving

…then I think this one will tug at your heart.

At its core, this book is about a fresh start that doesn’t come from pretending yesterday didn’t happen—but from bravely stepping forward anyway, learning to hope again, and discovering that the Lord can write something beautiful even after disappointment.

I pray you love Mail-Order Baroness! J
Blessings!
Misty

Misty M. Beller

Misty M. Beller is an ECPA and USA Today bestselling author with over 1 million books sold. She writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy. Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Misty 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/F0qYE/mail-order-baroness-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Sydney Schmied Books, March 14
Madi’s Musings, March 14
Pause for Tales, March 14
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 15
Holly’s Book Corner, March 15
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 16
Simple Harvest Reads, March 16 (Guest Review from Marilyn)
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 17
Texas Book-aholic, March 17
Slyvan Musings, March 18
Devoted To Hope, March 18
Melissa’s Bookshelf, March 18
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 19
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 19
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 20
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 20
She Lives To Read, March 21
For Him and My Family, March 21
Life on Chickadee Lane, March 22
Book Looks by Lisa, March 22
Cover Lover Book Review, March 22
lakesidelivingsite, March 23
Lyssa Loves Books, March 23
Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 24
Fruitfully Planted, March 24
Books You Can Feel Good About, March 25
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 25
Connie’s History Classroom, March 26
Artistic Nobody, March 26 (Guest Review from Donna)
Blossoms and Blessings, March 27
Mary Hake, March 27

10 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Raging Waters by Dana Mentink (Give.away)

3/9/2026

10 Comments

As the dam crumbles and water sweeps
across the terrain, their battle for
justice and survival is just beginning.

When Mackenzie Bardine’s brother Aaron was murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, she started a true crime podcast dedicated to exposing “Bullseye,” the drug kingpin responsible. But her protective heart has never let go of the blame she places on herself and Aaron’s best friend, Gideon Landry. On the run to the wilds of Washington to chase a recent lead, she meets none other than Gideon himself.
While conducting a wilderness survival class in remote Washington, Gideon never expected to cross paths with Mackenzie, and he’s certainly not interested in helping her after he’s already declined to participate in her vigilante podcasting. He carries a mountain of guilt about Aaron’s fatal choices, but not for the reasons Mackenzie suspects.
As killers begin to circle Mackenzie like sharks, it’s clear to Gideon she’s in over her head, and in light of his troubled past with her brother, he can’t bring himself to ignore her perilous situation. Then a flood threatens the town, turning their investigation into a race to escape the raging waters and the wrath of a powerful kingpin who wants to sink them both.

A gripping, clean romantic suspense featuring enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, and high-stakes investigations set in small-town Washington, sweeping readers away on a turbulent wave of thrills and chills. Perfect for fans of forced proximity, wilderness survival, protective heroes, and justice-driven heroines.

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Release Date: March 3, 2026

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Will high water or bullets find them first....

It was a series based on natural disasters that hooked me on Dana Mentink's brand of romantic suspense, and, things have come full circle as I have been reading her latest series called Elements Of Danger. Raging Waters is book 2 in the series and it certainly keeps up with its predecessor, Fire Mountain, in the edge of your seat danger department.

And Raging Waters is certainly edge of your seat. Between the murderous bad guys and killer weather there isn't a moment to spare in this second Elements Of Danger novel. Of the 2 lead characters I was surprised to find that I had a clear favorite. Gideon is capable, loyal, and he is willing to risk his life to save his best friend's sister. Mackenzie is tenacious, reckless, and she will risk more than her own life in order to bring down her brother's killer.

I'll admit that it was kind of weird for me while reading this book because it was only a very few short months ago when we had a big flood event (and wind storms) where I live. The buckets of rain, concern about dam failure, and seeing the raw power of raging streams and high water was very familiar. Thank heavens there was no kingpin trying to kill anyone!

The elements really are the star of this book, and series, and after reading about volcanoes and floods I am more than curious to see where Dana Mentink might go next. At any rate, this was an interesting story with all of the suspense I've come to expect from the author....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Raging Waters by Dana Mentink a 3.5 Bark rating.

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

More from Dana

I’m afraid of deep water. There. I’ve said it. I live in California, famous for beaches sand and surf. If that’s not enough, there are swimming pools aplenty. I should be enjoying the surfing, boating, kayaking, sailing culture, but I’d much rather sit on a deck somewhere and watch others partake. So what’s a gal like me doing writing an adventure that takes place as a dam rupture overwhelms a town? I love to write that type of wilderness story, where stakes are high and the help is scarce. Similar to the previous book, Fire Mountain, the characters will have to dig deep of their strength and faith to survive. And you and I can enjoy it from the safety of our decks! Are you ready? Grab your book and your cuppa and let’s go!

Dana Mentink

Dana Mentink is a New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the author of over fifty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Poisoned Pen Press.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

https://gleam.io/OQ5p4/raging-waters-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 3
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 3
The Avid Reader, March 3
The Sacred Line, March 4
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 4
She Lives To Read, March 5
Texas Book-aholic, March 5
Leslie’s Library Escape, March 6
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 6
Lily’s Corner, March 7
Pause for Tales, March 7
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 7
Devoted To Hope, March 8
For Him and My Family, March 8
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 9
Melissa’s Bookshelf, March 9
EmpowerMoms, March 10
Blogging With Carol, March 10
Just Your Average reviews, March 10
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 11
Simple Harvest Reads, March 11 (Guest Review from Donna)
Lyssa Loves Books, March 12
Blossoms and Blessings, March 12
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, March 12
Cover Lover Book Review, March 13
Labor Not in Vain, March 13
Betti Mace, March 14
Bigreadersite, March 14
Life on Chickadee Lane, March 15
Lights in a Dark World, March 15
Holly’s Book Corner, March 15
Stories By Gina, March 16 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, March 16

10 Comments

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

3/5/2026

11 Comments

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!

11 Comments

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)

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And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good​of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.Romans 8:28 (NLT)

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Even when earthly fathers fail, God’s love remains constant, personal, and healing. He steps into the gaps left behind and restores what was missing.

Watch He Calls Me Daughter now on Angel and experience a story of healing, identity, and restoration.

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For I know the plans I have for you,” declaresthe Lord, “plans to prosper you and not toharm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ​

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares​the Lord… “plans to give you hope and a future.”

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And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good
of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28 (NLT)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the Lord… “plans to give you hope and a future.”