Category: Guest Post

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

1/22/2026

Freedom rings out. Who will hear it?

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

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

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Rachel

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

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

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

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

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

More from Rachel

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

Rachel Keith

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away the grand prize of
a signed paperback copy of the book!!

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

https://gleam.io/DNsrJ/freedom-rings-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

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

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

1/19/2026

5 Comments

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

The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keep a window open. Catch the breeze that binds.

Based on a true story.

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

Click here to get your copy!

Q&A with Johanna

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

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

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

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

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

More from Johanna

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

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

Johanna Frank

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

https://gleam.io/j2Twg/the-voice-i-couldnt-ignore-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

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

5 Comments

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

1/18/2026

5 Comments

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

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

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Tim

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

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

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

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

More from Tim

What is Christian Fiction?

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

But just what is Christian Fiction?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tim Bishop

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

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

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

Blog Stops

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

5 Comments

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

1/12/2026

5 Comments

Pride, Pemberley, and Second Chances

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More from Carolyn

Carolyn Miller

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

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

Blog Stops

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

5 Comments

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

12/29/2025

1 Comment

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

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Distance cannot separate sisters....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More from Kayla

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

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

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

Kayla E. Green

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

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

Blog Stops

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

1 Comment

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

12/28/2025

4 Comments

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with J. Schuyler

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

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

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

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

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

More from J. Schuyler

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

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

J. Schuyler Sprowles

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

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate his tour, J. Schuyler is giving away the grand prize of
a $75 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://gleam.io/8KF5J/the-young-samaritan-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

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

4 Comments

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

12/26/2025

2 Comments

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

Q&A with Kurt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More from Kurt

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

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

That’s why I wrote this epic tale.

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

An epic quest for redemption and self-discovery

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

A long, mysterious absence and the fulfillment of a legacy

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

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

Reclaiming lost wisdom and honoring our connection to nature

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

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

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

Kurt Mahler

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

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

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

Blog Stops

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

2 Comments

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

12/24/2025

1 Comment

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Kim

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

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

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

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

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

More from Kim

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

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

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3edc1/pressed-together-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Devoted Steps, December 11
Pause for Tales, December 11
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 12
Texas Book-aholic, December 13
Stories By Gina, December 14 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 15
Life on Chickadee Lane, December 16
Cover Lover Book Review, December 17
Where Faith and Books Meet, December 17
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 18
For the Love of Literature, December 19 (Author Interview)
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, December 20
For Him and My Family, December 21
Devoted To Hope, December 22
Connie’s History Classroom, December 23
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 24 (Author Interview)

1 Comment

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

12/20/2025

1 Comment

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

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

Genre: Science Fiction
Release Date: November 4, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Crazy conspiracy or terrifying takeover?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More from Daniel

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which is where I come in.

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

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

I’m not in it for the money.

I don’t have any!

I’m in it for my name—for Justice.

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

Daniel Schwabauer

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

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3ede8/maxine-justice-public-offender-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

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

1 Comment

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

12/6/2025

5 Comments

Five sons of an English duke,
all raised in the Rocky Mountains…
A marriage born of duty. A love neither expected.

When Enoch Balfour’s eldest brother tragically dies, the weight of family responsibility falls on his shoulders. Now this Montana rancher must train for his role as the next Duke of Clarence—and marry the mail-order bride his brother sent for. Hardened by loss, Enoch has no intention of opening his heart to a stranger, but duty demands he produce an heir.
Mandie Beaumont is a desperate young widow fleeing the sinister advances of her brother-in-law. After arriving in the Montana Territory to marry a man she’s never met, an accident leaves her robbed of her recent memories—memories that conceal a devastating secret. When she discovers she’s carrying a child conceived through betrayal and violence, Mandie fears rejection and ruin. Yet, in Enoch, she finds an unexpected protector whose fierce gentleness makes her long to trust again.
Though Mandie’s charm and resilience begin to thaw Enoch’s guarded heart, he struggles with his fear of loss. When Mandie’s past resurfaces, Enoch must risk everything to save her. If he fails, Mandie will be torn from him—and the love they’ve begun to embrace could be lost forever.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a royal family saga featuring a mail-order bride, amnesia, a secret baby, and an aristocratic marriage of convenience…all set in the rugged Montana Territory.

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Can they find the peace they so desperately need....

I've enjoyed several of Misty M. Beller's series set in Montana so I was excited to see a new one in that much-loved setting. I'll also admit that the series name, Lords Of The Rockies, sounded quite intriguing as well.

Mail-Order Duchess lived up to expectation. It has the sweet historical romance punctuated with moments of pulse-pounding danger that I've come to expect from this author. It also features Misty M. Beller's almost trademark small cast of characters, it is so much easier for the reader to keep track of precisely who is who and get a chance to know each of them, and there is even a fun cameo appearance of a couple of characters from another book/series.

A little shorter than some of her other titles, Mail-Order Duchess was a good read and I finished it rather quickly. I genuinely liked both Mandie and Enoch right from the start. Each of them has a past and both are harboring intense pain and very understandable fears. By the final pages of this Lords Of The Rockies book they will both have to face their fears and just maybe conquer them together.

Misty M. Beller is off to a good new series start with this book. I did like Mail-Order Duchess and am now quite interested in reading the next title in the Lords Of The Rockies series. If you enjoy a good faith-filled historical romance and a western frontier setting give this book and series a try....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Mail-Order Duchess 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 BEYOND excited to share a brand new series with you! This idea has been percolating in my mind for a couple years now—a mash-up of two of my favorite historical romance genres: Regency England and the rugged American West.

In the Lords of the Rockies series, you’ll meet the five sons of an English duke who were sent to the wilds of the Montana Territory for their protection when they were boys. They’ve grown up there, become ranchers and mountain men in their own right.

It’s Regency meets the Rockies as these aristocratic brothers navigate the challenges of ranch life.

I’m especially excited to introduce you to the first book in the series, Mail-Order Duchess!

Enoch Balfour is one of my all-time favorite heroes…so incredibly swoony. He’s the second son, which means he never thought he would have to return to England and take over his father’s role as the Duke of Clarence. But now his eldest brother has passed in an unexpected riding accident. And Enoch has become the heir intended.

Can you imagine how hard that must have been? Suddenly having to leave the only life you’ve ever known to take up the duties of a title an ocean away?

And then there’s Mandie Beaumont, a young widow hoping for a fresh start in Montana. But when she arrives, an accident steals her recent memories, leaving her with no idea why she left her comfortable life in Savannah to travel across the country and marry a rancher she’s never met. Or maybe her previous life wasn’t so comfortable…

Can you imagine waking up one day to find yourself in a strange place with no recollection of how you got there or what you were running from?

I don’t want to give away too much, but let’s just say Mail-Order Duchess has all the ingredients for a story you won’t be able to put down—a marriage of convenience, hidden secrets, and an unlikely romance blossoming in the face of incredible odds. I’m so excited to share this story with you!

I’ve had such fun crafting the unique premise of an English aristocratic family making their way in the American West. Get ready for more heartfelt Western adventures tinged with Regency flair as the Lords of the Rockies series continues!
I pray you love Mail-Order Duchess!

Blessings!
Misty

Misty M. Beller

Misty M. Beller is a 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://promosimple.com/ps/3e364/mail-order-duchess-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 2
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 2
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 3
Texas Book-aholic, December 3
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 4
Devoted Steps, December 5
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 5
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 6
Simple Harvest Reads, December 6 (Guest Review from Marilyn)
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 7
For Him and My Family, December 7
Books You Can Feel Good About, December 8
Lyssa Loves Books, December 8
lakesidelivingsite, December 9
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 9
Connie’s History Classroom, December 10
Artistic Nobody, December 10 (Guest Review from Donna)
Jeanette’s Thoughts , December 11
Melissa’s Bookshelf, December 11
Holly’s Book Corner, December 12
Mary Hake, December 12
Bizwings Blog, December 13
Cover Lover Book Review, December 13
Life on Chickadee Lane, December 14
Blossoms and Blessings, December 14
Pause for Tales, December 15
Devoted To Hope, December 15

5 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Sons Of Day & Night by Mariposa Aristeo (Give.away)

11/29/2025

4 Comments

Not even death can tell them apart.

In the wild and lush kingdom of Twinsbane, everyone has a look-alike, and each twin is cursed to die when their double breathes their last. When an ancient plague arises, the kingdom’s only hope is to sever these deadly ties. Yet King Daccias refuses to relinquish the cure, a legendary potion called the Separator.

Waruu, an orphan determined to break these ties, discovers he’s the king’s doppelgänger. He’s certain that if he can switch places, he can save the kingdom. But if anyone learns his true identity, he’ll lose everything—including the people he’s desperately trying to protect.

King Daccias wants nothing more than for his subjects to cease threatening to behead him if he doesn’t hand over the Separator. Intent on catching those opposing him, he finds himself ensnared in his own trap. If he doesn’t break loose, the kingdom will rest in the hands of an insolent boy who knows nothing about the truth behind the events unfolding around him.

To save their kingdom, both Waruu and Daccias must face their greatest enemy—each other.

Genre: YA Fantasy – Retelling of The Prince and the Pauper
Release Date: November 18, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Will they save the kingdom or tear it apart....

Everyone in Twinsbane has a double. When that double dies, so do they. What an interesting concept. And a frightening one. Honestly, it's what first caught my attention about Sons Of Day & Night and what kept me glued to the page.

I'll admit that it took me a little bit to get into the first Chronicles Of Twinsbane novel as it felt like I was dropped into a story that had already started. However, it didn't take me too long to get into the swing of things and I was hooked on the rather interesting story.

One of the things that I liked about this book is that Mariposa Aristeo chose to write a retelling. But it's not any old fairytale retelling, instead it is of the classic Mark Twain book called The Prince And The Pauper. I did read The Prince And The Pauper years ago as a kid in school, and watched the old Wishbone show, so I am at least a little bit familiar with the story. I felt that The Sons Of Day & Night was pretty good as a retelling. The bones of the familiar story are there but Mariposa Aristeo also makes it her own.

Mariposa Aristeo's worldbuilding is pretty good in this first Chronicles Of Twinsbane book. From city to castle to jungle it all comes to life quite vividly. I also thought it was rather fun that versions of the word 'double' are used quite often in the story – which, is rather fitting since the realm is called Twinsbane.

Overall, The Sons Of Day & Night was a pretty good read. It did end on something of a cliffhanger so I am now rather anxious to find out what happens next to Waruu and Daccias in the next Chronicles of Twinsbane book. I'm also curious to discover just how far they are willing to go to save their kingdom....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Sons Of Day & Night by Mariposa Aristeo a 4 Bark rating.

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

More from Mariposa

How could I refuse to write a retelling of The Prince & the Pauper?

(Kudos to all the zillennial girls who get that reference.)

Ever since I watched the Barbie rendition of this classic tale when I was just a little girl, this story has been on my heart. As I grew older, other more adventurous tales influenced me, such as Dreamwork’s How to Train Your Dragon, Jennifer Nielsen’s The False Prince, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, and more recently, Star Wars’ The Bad Batch.

But no matter the story, one aspect stayed the same—finding people just like me in the unlikeliest of places.

Growing up, I had a different childhood than most. I was pretty isolated with little to no friends, and not much extended family. It wasn’t until my twenties that I met the people who would later become my true family. They weren’t blood relations, and we didn’t interact in person until years later (yay for internet friends!). We are different in all the best ways but the same in the ways that matter and weird in the way that makes life interesting.

The Prince & the Pauper is a story about many things. Empathy, compassion, and learning what it’s like to live in another person’s shoes. When I set out to write Sons of Day & Night, I wanted to pay homage to this underrated tale while deepening the bond between the two very different (but also very alike) heroes. It’s not just a story about switched identities, it’s a story about the family we find even when our world is falling apart.

When my mom passed away from cancer in 2022, I felt like my world truly was falling to pieces. Besides losing a parent, I also lost what little I had of a normal family. But my found family came together to be there for me and be the family I never had.

We don’t share the same genetics, but they are every bit as much my brothers and sisters. As Stitch once said, “This is my family. I found it all on my own.”

Fast forward a few years, and I now live within 60 miles of my found family and see them almost every week. It’s funny to think how a few internet strangers became such a huge part of my life, but sometimes God sends us family in the places we least expect it.

And my hope is that Sons of Day & Night will remind you that there’s always someone out there just like you.

Mariposa Aristeo

Mariposa Aristeo is a writer of fantastical adventures filled with heart, humor, hope, and sometimes dinosaurs. But, most importantly, she’s a creative who seeks to glorify God on every page of her life. Besides writing snarky characters who sass everybody, Mariposa loves bringing stories to life in full color as an illustrator. She also enjoys inspiring other creatives as the Public Relations Director at Story Embers and the Social Media Manager at the Young Writer’s Workshop.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3dc7e/sons-of-day

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, November 20
Inspired by Fiction, November 21
The Lofty Pages, November 22
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 23 (Spotlight)
Wishful Endings, November 24
CeCe Reads and Sings, November 24
History, Hope & Happily Ever After, November 25 (Author Interview)
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, November 26
Guild Master, November 27 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, November 28
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 29
Simple Harvest Reads, November 30 (Author Interview)
The Mommies Reviews, November 30
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 1
Labor Not in Vain, December 2
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, December 3 (Author Interview)

4 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Sermons From A Soapbox by Ladonna Shanks (Give.away)

11/25/2025

3 Comments

“What is God like?
Does He even exist, other than as a figment of the imagination?
Or is He real, a part of daily life and our world?
In Sermons from a Soapbox, Ladonna Shanks shares her personal spiritual journey of more than seventy-five years. “I cannot write what I have not experienced,” serves as the base of her easy-to-read, anecdotal essays. The short “sermons” challenge the reader to think, question, search, and consider living where God is . . . in the spiritual, long-term, instead of humankind’s physical, short-term.

Genre: Devotional, based on personal experience;
Memoir; Adult Nonfiction; “Life Lesson Essays”
Release Date: April 8, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Ladonna

#1. What was the inspiration behind this book?
The inspiration behind this book is a lovely woman in Ohio. She read my first book, contacted me and asked how many books I had sold. I told her I honestly had no idea, that God’s charge was “for the sake of one.” Her response: “I am that one.” She asked if I was going to write another one. I hadn’t considered it, but she encouraged me to. She was my inspiration and motivation. In fact, I dedicated the book to her. She matters that much to me and the completion of “Sermons from a Soapbox.”

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
This book was a long, slow, arduous project. I think it took around four years. In the middle of it my partner’s terminally ill condition meant I was a caregiver. I learned a person cannot do two demanding things well at the same time. He became my priority. When he passed, I was then dealing with grief. As I said—long, slow, arduous project.

#3. What drew you to take on this topic through non-fiction versus fiction?
I cannot write what I have not experienced. Nonfiction is the only way I can write about God and my relationship with Him. My personal easy-to-read anecdotes are honest, open, and transparent.

#4. What do you hope your readers will remember after finishing this book?
I hope the reader is encouraged to seek God for themselves. I hope they see God in a way they’ve never seen Him before and they are compelled to seek an eternal life and relationship with their Creator instead of living only in the physical. My prayer is that eyes are opened to see and ears to hear.

#5. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
Nothing is more important than the things of the Kingdom of God.

More from Ladonna

The desire and passion to share God’s quest for friendship with humankind has driven me to write of my personal experiences with Him. “I cannot write what I have not experienced” is my mantra.

The easy-to-read anecdotal essays make up both of my books: Tidbits and Pearls, A Book of Essays on Living Everyday Life with God and my newly published Sermons from a Soapbox, Messages of Hope and Encouragement. (My editor calls them “Life’s Lessons Essays.)

I never preach, but I share my life. My desire is to challenge the reader to consider life in the long-term, eternal instead of the short-term, physical. I want them to think.

I am open, honest, and transparent as I present my weaknesses, failures, and inadequacies in contrast to God’s faithfulness, care, and love.

Ladonna Shanks

Ladonna Shanks was born and raised in Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley. During her several decades of life, she has been an entrepreneur, a small business owner, and, most recently, a writer. Her first book, Tidbits and Pearls, A Book of Essays on Living Everyday Life with God was published in 2019. Ladonna’s family, including five grandgirls, and her commitment to God serve as her priorities.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Ladonna is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card,
copy of my book, and a set of 6 blank note cards created by myself using floral photos!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d5a0/sermons-from-a-soapbox-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 13
Simple Harvest Reads, November 14 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, November 15
Artistic Nobody, November 16 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, November 17 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 17
The Sacred Line, November 18
Lots of Helpers, November 19
Fiction Book Lover, November 20 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 21
Vicky Sluiter, November 22 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 23
For the Love of Literature, November 24 (Author Interview)
Because I said So, November 24
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 25 (Author Interview)
Girls in White Dresses, November 26

3 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Glass Across The Sea by Sara Ella (Giveaway)

11/3/2025

2 Comments

Light always finds a way to break free . . .

Noelle Perrault has felt drawn to the tales her glassmaker father told of the four Firefly artisans since she was a child. But when her mother falls under a curse, Noelle suspects the stories are more than mere fables. Their last hope is for her father to embark on a desperate journey to another realm, where he must seek a miracle. Alone but not defenseless, Noelle is forced to navigate battles that rise against her beloved home, while her dearest friend, the prince, vows to help her father.
Dante Marin is a prince prepared to bear the crown. But the king offers an ultimatum: find the fabled Firefly Vestiges, believed to hold the Lamplighter’s ancient power, or forfeit the crown. Only then will Dante be considered worthy of his birthright and given the freedom to choose his bride. But how does one hunt down a legend?
Connected by the past, but forced apart in the present, Noelle and Dante must discover the truth about the Firefly and Vestiges before they lose all hope—and each other—for good. But breaking a curse comes at a great sacrifice—one neither of them predicted. With a mysterious foe rising to power, will they survive, let alone succeed? Or will darkness shroud their future, shattering the light they’ve striven to restore?

Genre: YA Cinderella Retelling (Fantasy)
Release Date: October 21, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

They'll both do anything for those they love....

I fell for Sara Ella's vivid storytelling with her Wonderland duology so you can imagine my excitement when I found out that she was starting off a brand new series, Realms Of Allumeria, with a Cinderella retelling – I also love fairytale retelling, by the way...

And Glass Across The Sea is just any old retelling of the much loved fairytale. The bones of the story we are all so familiar with are most definitely still there but Sara Ella takes them and reweaves them into a tale entirely her own.

And this is a very vibrantly told story indeed. The Realms Of Allumeria come alive in a way that is simple but easy to visualize each scene. The are plenty of twists and turns and even a few surprises along the way for both Noelle and Dante – and by turn, readers. They are a charming young couple and you can't help but like them both as you get to know them better.

I've read quite a few Cinderella retellings and one thing that I really appreciated about Glass Across The Sea is that the heroine's name is not just another variation of the name Ella.

I will confess that I did like The Curious Realities duology – with its darker vibe – a bit more. However, Glass Across The Sea was one of the more unique and interesting Cinderella retellings and it was definitely a good read. This was a great start to the Realms Of Allumeria and I find myself looking forward to reading the next book in this new series from fantasy author Sara Ella....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Glass Across The Sea by Sara Ella a 4 Bark rating.

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

More from Sara

Whenever I start writing a new story, I always comb the internet for the perfect images to represent my characters. Sometimes it’s an actress or actor who fits the character description. Other times, I’ll find some artwork or a painting that fits the picture I have in my mind.

But when it came to finding the right image to represent Noelle Perrault, the protagonist of Glass Across the Sea, I could not for the life of me find what I was looking for. Partly because the heroine is heavily based on my oldest daughter, who shares the same name. No image online was good enough to represent a character and novel dedicated to her.

And then I found this painting titled “Cinderella’s New Day” by artist Heather Edwards back in 2023.

And that was it! “So This is Love” from Disney’s animated classic began playing in my head, and I knew I’d found the image I would keep in my mind for the duration of writing my Cinderella retelling.

This depiction is soft and sweet and felt personal in a way a photo of an actress didn’t. I also felt this painting captured the character and personality of my heroine in a way that would keep me going, even on my most difficult writing days.

Fast forward to 2024. I was behind on my book deadline and life’s interruptions kept getting in the way of my writing. I felt depleted and almost asked my publisher to cancel my contract. But then I attended an event where this same artist had her work on display, and there it was. The real-life, in-person canvas of this very same painting.

That moment felt like God was reminding me He had called me to write this book in the first place. That He had a plan for it and wanted me to keep going. This very painting is the reason I added this line to Glass Across the Sea:

“Art, in her view, was never a laughing matter. A piece might evoke hope in one while it produced sorrow in the heart of another. It was the same for music. For dance.”

And then came 2025. A year of grief and loss in many ways for our family. Once again, everything was getting in the way of this story ever making it to print. And, once again, I considered maybe it was not meant to be published after all. Through many tears and long nights, I revised, pushing to meet deadlines. I questioned if it was worth it. I questioned my own strength and writing abilities, only to be reminded that it is only through God’s grace and Christ’s strength I can do anything at all.

I came across this painting in person again this year at that same event. And, just as it had done in the past, this painting reminded me there was a “new day” just around the corner. My best friend, Nadine Brandes (she knows me so well), surprised me with a signed and personalized canvas print that day. The timing could not have been more perfect.

This painting is more than just a reminder to “have courage and be kind.” It’s a testament to God’s goodness and faithfulness, even amidst darkness and pain. My prayer for Glass Across the Sea is that it blesses readers in the same way this painting has blessed me. Wherever you find yourself today, I hope you keep going and trust the Lord to give you what you need in the moment you need it. In my experience, He often reveals Himself in the unexpected corners and small moments I least suspect.

Sara Ella

Once upon a time, Sara Ella brought dreams to life as a Disney cast member, wishing for the day she’d find her prince and live in a castle of her own. Now she spends her days homeschooling her three Jedi in training, braving the Arizona summers, and reminding her superhero husband that it’s almost Christmas (even if it’s only January). Sara is the award-winning author of The Wonderland Trials, Coral, and the Unblemished trilogy. She is old enough for fairy tales and believes happily ever after is never far away.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour Sara is giving away the grand prize of a signed hardcover of
Glass Across the Sea with Painted Edges designed by @hilltop_art, Glass Across
the Sea themed candle from @lamplighterliterary, and a $25 Disney Gift Card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d286/glass-across-the-sea-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, October 25
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 25
Inspired by Fiction, October 26
Wishful Endings, October 27
The Lofty Pages, October 27
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 28
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 29 (Spotlight)
Devoted Steps, October 29
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 30
For Him and My Family, October 31
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, November 1
Blogging With Carol, November 1
Inklings and Notions, November 2
The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate, November 2
Book Butterfly in Dreamland, November 3
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 3
Labor Not in Vain, November 4
CeCe Reads and Sings, November 4
Holly’s Book Corner, November 5
To Everything There Is A Season, November 6
Min Reads and Reviews, November 7

2 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - The Hidden Legacy by June Foster (Give.away)

11/3/2025

6 Comments

Austin Ford has inherited the weight of his family’s legacy, overseeing the sprawling Ford Ranch as his father steps back and his siblings forge their own paths. But when his beloved horse, Jack, falls gravely ill, Austin calls upon the new veterinarian in town, igniting a chain of events that will change everything.

Dr. Willow Lawson, a skilled veterinarian, is stunned when she first lays eyes on Austin Ford. The young, handsome rancher is the spitting image of her deceased husband, a shock that causes her to faint right in the horse barn. Determined to overcome the haunting memories, Willow throws herself into her work, even as her heart begins to stir for the charismatic rancher.

As Austin grapples with the strange, unexplained holes appearing on the North Pasture, he is drawn into a deeper mystery. Night flights over the ranch reveal flashing lights in the darkness, suggesting the holes are no mere animal burrows.

Amidst this growing unease, Austin and Willow’s budding relationship is tested when her clinic is vandalized, leaving her devastated and out of work. The attacks seem to be more than random acts of violence, especially when Austin’s father recounts tales of buried gold hidden on the ranch by their ancestor, Great Grandfather Jeremiah, during the Great Depression.

With prowlers encroaching on his land and his desire to protect Willow intensifying, Austin must navigate the treacherous waters of old family secrets and new-found love. Together, can Austin and Willow unravel the mystery threatening their lives and find solace in each other’s arms? Or will the shadows of the past and present prove too formidable to overcome?

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: October 7, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with June

1. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
Yes, Austin Ford who is the youngest son in the Ford Family. The three older siblings have moved on to different ventures in their lives, and Austin is left to take the responsibility of the ranch on his own. He’s well mannered and loves his family, but at the same time, his goals for the ranch go in a different direction than his father’s. When Austin first meets the heroine in the story, she screams and then faints. He can’t imagine what she might have against him as he’s never met her before in his life.

2. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
In the story, the heroine is a veterinarian. Her clinic is ransacked one night with warning signs that she needs to leave town. In the midst of the sad situation Austin sticks by Willow’s side as they attempt to find the identity of the person who tried to destroy her business.

3. If you could change one thing in your life, past or present, what would it be?
I would like to have become a Christian at a younger age. I was blessed to find the Lord in my mid-thirties, yet before that time I had plenty of opportunities to make bad choices. I had no guidance from the Lord and His Word. Though I can’t change the past, the Lord can use all things for His glory, even life before Him.

4. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
Never say you are too old to do something for the Lord. I began writing at age 65 and am still writing today.

5. What was the inspiration for this book?
Actually, the entire series was inspired by my father’s sheep ranch in western Texas. Though I left there as a child when my mother divorced my father, I still have memories of ranch life: the barns, the pastures, the sheep pens, the ranch houses, and the ranch hands.

More from June

If you love fields of Texas bluebonnets, rolling hills dotted with woolly sheep, and good-looking cowboys, you won’t want to miss The Hidden Heritage.

Veterinarian Willow Lawson never expected to faint the first time she laid eyes on Austin Ford—the ruggedly handsome owner of the Ford Ranch. But their unexpected meeting is only the beginning.

When strange holes appear in the Back Pasture, Willow and Austin join forces to uncover who—or what—is behind the digging. As danger closes in and their lives are threatened, a bond forms between them, stronger than either expected.
But just as love begins to bloom, a shocking revelation from the past threatens to tear them apart. What secret lies buried at the Ford Ranch—and can love survive its unearthing?

June Foster

An award-winning author, June Foster is a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. June began writing Christian romance in 2010 as she and her husband traveled the US in their RV. Her adventures provide a rich source of information for her novels. She brags about visiting a location before it becomes the setting in her next book.
To date, June has written over thirty contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels and novellas. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who encounter real-life difficulties yet live victorious lives. She’s published with Winged Publications.
June is active in her church and her ladies’ fellowship group. She enjoys writing devotionals as well as fiction. She frequently attends writers’ conferences such as Blue Lake Writers’ Conference and Florida Christian Writers Conference.

Her novel, The Inn at Cranberry Cove, won the 2021 Selah award for Romantic Suspense. It is available on Amazon in paperback,
hardback, and eBook format. In 2023, June won the Ames Award for her book Christmas at Cranberry Cove, book three in the same series.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, June 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://promosimple.com/ps/3d284/the-hidden-legacy-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 23
Stories By Gina, October 24 (Author Interview)
Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, October 25
Patti Wolf, October 25
Texas Book-aholic, October 26
Guild Master, October 27 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 28
For Him and My Family, October 29
Fiction Book Lover, October 30 (Author Interview)
She Lives To Read, October 31
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 1
Bizwings Blog, November 2
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 3 (Author Interview)
The Mommies Reviews, November 3
Cover Lover Book Review, November 4
Pause for Tales, November 5

6 Comments

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Knights In Manhattan by Kay DiBianca (Give.away)

10/21/2025

1 Comment

When spunky ten-year-old Reen and her shy nine-year-old cousin Joanie visit Reen’s Great-aunt Miriam Ritchie in Manhattan, they land right in the middle of a new mystery. Following a clue Reen discovered on the airplane enroute to New York, Reen and Joanie track the Central Park Jewel Thieves through some of New York’s most famous landmarks. They even manage to keep the ever-vigilant Mrs. Toussaint in the dark about their investigation.
But the thieves are smart and communicate only in code. Can Reen and Joanie decode the clues and identify the plans for the next robbery? But even if they do, can they convince the police that they’ve solved a mystery that New York’s finest couldn’t crack? Everything seems to be going wrong until a strange turn of events puts the girls right in the middle of the final heist.
Hamsters, a dumbwaiter, and a seven-year-old genius named Miles all contribute to this funny, action-packed romp through the streets and buildings of Manhattan.

Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Release Date: September, 2025

Click here to get your copy!

Interview with Kay

#1. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
It only took a few months to write the book. I had the idea for the first chapter and knew how I wanted to take the story forward, so it was relatively easy. My middle grade books are shorter than my other novels. This book is about 30,000 words.

#2. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
The two main characters, Reen and Joanie, were secondary characters in my mystery novel Time After Tyme, which was published in 2022. The girls were so popular that readers encouraged me to give them their own middle grade series, so here it is!

#3. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
I love the Reen and Joanie characters, and Reen’s Great Aunt Miriam Ritchie was a lot of fun to write. But I guess my favorite is Mrs. Toussaint. She’s been Reen’s nanny ever since Reen was a baby, and she comes across as harsh because she wears orthopedic shoes, a schoolmarm hairdo, and she’s strict with the girls. But her underlying love of the children shines through. It’ll be interesting to see how the relationship between Mrs. Toussaint and the girls develops.

#4. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
I hope readers will take away a sense of the joy of problem-solving and finding the truth that is a theme throughout all my books. I also hope they’ll enjoy taking a virtual tour of some of the famous landmarks in Manhattan.

#5. How did you name your characters?
I like my characters to carry the names of people who have been positive influences on my life. Reen is named for my Great Aunt Irene. Joan was my cousin and best childhood friend. Mrs. Toussaint is named for the street another favorite aunt lived on, and Great Aunt Miriam is named for another favorite aunt.

More from Kay

My third mystery novel, Time After Tyme, featured two young secondary characters, Reen and Joanie, who were so popular, I was encouraged to give them their own series. I had been thinking of doing a middle grade novel for a while, so I began to put together thoughts for a Reen & Joanie Detective Agency series.

At about that same time, my husband and I made several trips to Manhattan for health reasons. (Everything is fine now.) During those trips, we used our spare time to explore the museums and famous places in the city, and that became the setting for Knights in Manhattan.

While writing the book, I had great fun seeing the city through the eyes of the two youngsters as they chased criminals in and around some of New York’s most famous landmarks. This is the second book in the Reen & Joanie Detective Agency series, and I’m excited to see where the girls will travel in the upcoming books.

Kay DiBianca

Kay DiBianca is a former software developer and IT manager who retired to a life of mystery. She’s the award-winning author of six mystery novels. Her books have been honored with numerous awards including an Illumination Award, Eric Hoffer Awards, a Reader Views Award, a Readers’ Favorite Award, and a Memphis Libraries Richard Wright Literary Award. An avid runner, Kay can often be found at a local track, on her treadmill, or at a park near her home. Kay and her husband, Frank, live, run, and write in Memphis, TN.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Kay is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift
card and a copy of both books in the Reen & Joanie Detective Agency series!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d27c/knights-in-manhattan-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 9
Simple Harvest Reads, October 10 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 11
Artistic Nobody, October 12 (Author Interview)
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 13
Guild Master, October 14 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, October 15
Fiction Book Lover, October 16 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, October 17
Books Less Travelled, October 18 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 19
For the Love of Literature, October 20 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, October 20
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 21 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, October 22 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, October 22

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