Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Midnight Blue by Suzie Waltner

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Midnight Blue by Suzie Waltner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

 

Title: Midnight Blue 

Series: Love in Color #1 

Author: Suzie Waltner 

Publisher: Anaiah Press Publishing 

Release Date: September 6, 2022 

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance 

A series of heartbreaking setbacks behind her, Scarlett Sykes is now focused on creating the best life possible for her daughter. One where innocence and joy is not colored by rejection or loss. While finances are tight and Scarlett’s job isn’t ideal for a single mother, her child will always know she’s loved. Especially since Harmony’s father wanted nothing to do with them. 

As lead singer and the face of a successful country band, Jake Turnquist’s closest friends depend on him, but life in the spotlight is quickly losing its appeal. At a party celebrating another accomplishment, he’s stunned to discover Scarlett assisting the caterer. Almost ten years have passed, but he’s never forgotten his first love. 

In the hours after a surprise revelation, Jake scrambles to orchestrate a way to spend time with Scarlett and Harmony—the family he’s always wanted but never knew he had. He once gave her up to pursue his music. What will he have to surrender to win her back?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

 

Guest Post from Author Suzie Waltner

 

Weaving Faith with Romance

With faith being an every-day part of many of my characters’ lives, weaving it into the storyline came naturally in Midnight Blue. And for those who have strayed away from faith or don’t intentionally practice it (like Jake), they were raised in it, so the progression back to it is natural.

I feel like faith and romance connect well because they have a few things in common, starting with the heart. Both faith and romance don’t always look worth it on paper or in our heads. With romance, a person gives up some of their independence and has to learn to compromise in some situations. And faith? Faith can be downright scary because you commit to handing control over to God. Often, both require unlocking those places in our hearts we don’t want to examine, but to grow in relationship (with that other person or with the Lord), it’s pain we have to experience.

There’s also a bit of an unknown factor in both. With romance, you’re questioning whether the other person feels the same about you as you do them, plus there’s this underlying thrum of excitement and hope that everything will work out. When someone takes their first step of faith, they’re not sure of what’s next for them, but oh, what joy we find in continuing that journey, even when we’re in a valley and have to hold on to hope.

And finally, there’s the Happily Ever After. In romance, I read for the “I love you” moment and what comes after—the engagement, the wedding, a glimpse into the couple’s married life. The story ends there and even though I know real life will still have plenty of bumps, bruises, and hardships, I remember these fictional couples in their happiest moments because that’s where I left them at the end of the story. With faith… Oh, what joy heaven will bring to. The new heaven and new earth are the only happily ever after that promises no tears, no pain, and no suffering that will never end.

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About the Author

Suzie Waltner is a lover of fiction and is first and foremost a reader. When she’s not at work or reading or writing, you can find her cheering on the Nashville Predators (hockey) or dancing an hour away in Zumba class. Until her second year of college, her life plan was to become a veterinarian. A fainting spell while watching a surgery performed on a sheep changed that plan. Now she works in the corporate world during the day while creating stories in her free time. Suzie resides in a suburb of Nashville, TN and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers as well as Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers. She currently serves as the president of the Middle Tennessee ACFW chapter.

Connect with Suzie by visiting suziewaltner.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a Everything But the Book Cozy Reading Basket: sherpa throw, I'd Rather Be Reading mug, I Read Past My Bedtime socks, 12 oz orange spice candle, portable power bank, book cozy, and some reading snacks plus a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 16, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 23, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: The Reunion by Natasha D. Frazier

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Reunion by Natasha D. Frazier, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Reunion 

Series: Langston Sisters #1 

Author: Natasha D. Frazier 

Publisher: Encouraging Works 

Release Date: October 25, 2022 

Genre: Christian romantic suspense 

Divorced. 

 Dragged through the mud by entertainment media outlets. 

Determined to rise above her past. 

Crystal Langston's plan was perfect: go to her 20th college class reunion to prove her divorce from her abusive ex-husband, NFL player, Dante Green, didn't break her. Her life was thriving outside of his shadow. Though it's been over a year since their divorce, Dante makes a huge announcement during their reunion mixer. His latest stunt results in his death. 

And Crystal is the number one suspect! 

Marcel Singleton recently launched his political campaign for Houston's District Attorney. Now that his childhood friend is no longer tied to Dante, he attends their class reunion with one goal in mind: to finally tell Crystal how he feels about her. What he didn't expect was that he'd be representing her in a murder case against her ex-husband. 

Crystal's life is going up in flames -- fast! 

Will Marcel's feelings for Crystal cloud his judgment? How will his involvement with a murder suspect affect his campaign? 

And if Crystal is innocent, will the real murderer come for her next?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound

Also Available

Guest Post from Author Natasha D. Frazier

I love writing romance stories, especially second-chance romances! I’d been toying with the idea of writing romantic suspense for a couple of years before I got started. It’s one of those things where I was already working on a series, so it had to wait. I wanted to try romantic suspense because it is a step outside of my comfort zone and I wanted to stretch myself as a writer.

One of the most challenging things about writing romantic suspense is balancing romantic tension along with the suspense in such a way that one is not overshadowing the other. It is a delicate line because we want the reader to feel and believe the characters falling in love despite what’s happening, but also experience the danger the characters are in.

In The Reunion, I think writing the romantic tension was easier because Crystal and Marcel had a past—they’ve known each other since grade school and have had unexplored feelings for each other for at least twenty years. There was no way they could hide their emotions when Marcel assigns himself the duty of protecting Crystal and clearing her name. This detail keeps the characters on the pages together and gives room for their relationship to bloom—allowing them to recognize what’s been between them all this time. And I love it!

Writing the suspense plot was different for me, but I had quite a bit of fun doing so. My twentieth high school reunion festivities were held in October 2022. The idea for The Reunion stemmed from random thoughts I had about my own high school class reunion.

What if something crazy happened?

As I explored that thought, The Reunion was born, except in our story, it is a college reunion. I think most of us are familiar with what happens at reunions. There is lots of catching up, reminiscing, etc. But what if things don’t go according to plan? And for Crystal, she only showed up because she wanted to prove to everyone that she was doing well outside of her ex-husband’s shadow. However, it didn’t work out in her favor, and as a result, several terrible things happened we could continue to explore while she and Marcel grew closer.

And (un)fortunately, while Crystal’s situation has been solved, it isn’t the end of the Langston sisters’ troubles. Ava’s story, The Wrong Seat, is coming April 6, 2023, and she finds herself in need of protection.

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About the Author

Natasha D. Frazier fell in love with love around the age of twelve because of artists like Babyface, Boys II Men, Whitney Houston, and New Edition. Around sixteen when her mother purchased a romance novel and left it lying around the house untouched, Natasha read it and a spark for the written word had been ignited.

Natasha believes that writing is one of her purposes and contributions to the world. She feels accomplished when she can get a few words written and like blah when life gets in the way. Her hope is that at the end of every novel, readers will feel like they’ve been wrapped in a cozy blanket with a mug of their favorite coffee/tea/warm drink. When she isn’t reading or writing, she is likely watching movies with her family. Natasha resides in Richmond, TX with her husband, Eddie Frazier, Jr. and their three children, Eden, Ethan, and Emilyn. Her greatest joy and commitment is to her family who she hopes to inspire above all else. One of her many mottos in life is: Faith removes limitations. Natasha and her family attend Parkway Fellowship in Richmond, TX, where she volunteers as a small group leader for elementary students. Natasha is also a member of the Houston Area Alumni Chapter of Jackson State University and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Connect with Natasha by visiting natashafrazier.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of McCall Family Series and a $10 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 10, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 17, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Where Is God in This? by Landra Young Hughes and Holly Crawshaw

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Where Is God in This? by Landra Young Hughes and Holly Crawshaw, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Where Is God in This? 

Authors: Landra Young Hughes and Holly Crawshaw 

Publisher: Baker Books 

Release Date: October 18, 2022 

Genre: Christian Living

Life is unfair. Bad things happen to good people. Not all dreams come true. We lose people. We fail people. And when we encounter the inevitable struggles of life, we may be tempted to ask God Why me? as we try to reconcile our pain with God's promises. But a far more helpful and life-enriching question for us to ask God is What are you trying to teach me in this?

Tackling ten common struggles, such as isolation, fear, rejection, failure, insecurity, temptation, and more, Landra Young Hughes shows you how to have peace even when life doesn't make sense. Speaking with great empathy born from her own losses and years in ministry, Hughes doesn't suggest you "get over" your hard times. Instead, she helps you recognize that, while you will always live in a broken world this side of heaven, your pain has much to teach you about God and yourself. With her empathetic help, you'll discover how to grow through grief and thrive despite adversity.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Baker Bookhouse | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

 

GUEST POST

On January 18, 2021, my precious sister, LeeBeth Young, died.

LeeBeth was sick. She had been sick for a long time, but not the kind of sick that means Get Well Soon balloons and all-you-can-eat ice cream. LeeBeth was an alcoholic—a binge-drinker. Now, if you’re not familiar with the disease of addiction, I’m sure it’s impossible to wrap your head around the idea that someone can’t stop doing the thing that makes them sicker. But that’s the nature of the mental insanity that seizes those of us with this particular thorn.

I say “us”, because as an anorexic/bulimic in recovery, I have a level of empathy for LeeBeth. By God’s miraculous grace, I walk in healing from my addition. And by the same miraculous grace, LeeBeth is in heaven with our Father, walking out her healing with a restored mind and body.

Yes, there’s glorious and life-giving hope of heaven. But here on earth, it still hurts. And it’s that hurt—among others—I want to start a meaningful conversation around. Not just so readers can find healing . . . but so they can also find clarity, reconciling a good God with the bad things that happen to us.

One of the most common arguments against Christianity is, “If God is good, why do bad things happen?” Where Is God in This? unpacks that question through Scripture, research, and my personal experience of losing my sister LeeBeth tragically.

In order to thoroughly respond to the question, “If God is good, why do bad things happen?”, Where Is God in This? studies these common struggles:

Grief

Loneliness

Loss of control (spoiler alert – we never had control in the first place!)

Self-isolation

Not getting what we want

Burn out

Sin and failure

Fear

Disappointment

Temptation

By looking at what God says around these and other seasons of challenge and sorrow, I hope for readers to be able to point out God’s goodness and His purpose during our times of greatest need.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Landra Young Hughes is the daughter of prominent pastor Ed Young Jr. and Lisa Young of Fellowship Church. Because of her upbringing, Landra has developed a passion for seeing people maximize their God-given potential and embrace their God-defined self-worth. She and her husband, Brad, live in Dallas, Texas, where they serve on staff at Fellowship Church and raise their three children. Landra is coauthor with Holly Crawshaw of A Different Kind of Love Story.

Connect with Landra by visiting landrahughes.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Holly Crawshaw is a writer and editor who believes everyone has a meaningful story to tell. Holly is passionate about partnering with authors to leverage their experiences to further God's kingdom and help God's people. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her three daughters.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(10) winners will receive a paperback copy of the book and a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 7, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 14, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Deadly Conclusion by Kathy Harris

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Deadly Conclusion by Kathy Harris, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: Deadly Conclusion 

Series: Deadly Secrets #3 

Author: Kathy Harris 

Publisher: Iron Stream Fiction 

Release Date: November 2, 2022 

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

A Fast-Paced Suspense Book You Can’t Put Down

In the thrilling conclusion of the “Deadly Secrets” series, search and rescue dog trainer Keely Lambert breaks in Titan, a new shepherd, during a rescue mission to find little Conner Wells. Aided by childhood friend, Beau Gardner of the TBI, who is also Conner’s uncle, Keely finds the boy deep inside Metropolitan Nashville’s Beaman Park. 

But Conner is not all that Keely finds. On the way back to the welcome center, she notices something sticking out of the dirt—the military dog tags of her father who disappeared more than two decades before. 

The discovery sets Keely on a hunt to unearth her father’s killer, only to be thwarted by multiple setbacks—the murder of Beau’s father, the kidnapping of her mother, and her kennel being set on fire in the middle of the night. After Keely is kidnapped, Beau leads a manhunt to find her before the outcome reaches a "deadly conclusion."

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook

 

GUEST POST FROM AUTHOR KATHY HARRIS

The Incredible Working Canine
by Kathy Harris

I’ve had a love for working dogs since growing up with German Shepherds. None of our family dogs were working dogs, but the beauty and intelligence of the breed set my life on a path to learning more about them and their potential.

The human-canine connection goes back thousands of years. Dogs have not only been our best companions, but they have also worked beside us. Anyone who has watched the Westminster Dog Show may have noticed the classes or categories of dogs, from sporting and non-sporting breeds to hound, terrier, and toy, to herding and working.

Typically, working breeds are used for guarding, herding, drafting, and search and rescue. Military Working Dogs are an important subcategory of working dogs—and are also important to the plot of my new romantic suspense, Deadly Conclusion.

History records canines going into battle with us as early as the seventh century. Dogs of all breeds, as well as mixed breeds, have been used by the United States military since the Revolutionary War. About 1,600 military working dogs currently help keep our country safe.

Search and rescue dogs are highly trained to find missing persons, whether alive or deceased, in every environment imaginable, from urban to wilderness to underwater. And, because of their heightened sense of smell, which is thousands of times better than humans, a specially trained dog can detect a survivor buried in a pile of rubble or a bank of snow.

Of course, search and rescue dogs are not always German shepherds. According to FEMA, the most common breeds in the field are Labrador, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Malinois, and Border Collie. As of November 2021, there were 301 canine search and rescue teams certified by FEMA for locating survivors, as well as 95 canine search teams certified by FEMA to locate human remains.

The opening scenes of my new novel, Deadly Conclusion, were partially inspired by the real-life rescue of a twelve-year-old Boy Scout in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. After three days of a massive search party trying to find him—and when the boy’s chances of survival were diminishing, a Shiloh Shepherd dog by the name of Gandalf and his handler, Misha Marshall, who were on their first official SAR run—just like Titan in my story—found the twelve-year-old boy safe. Gandalf and Misha were immediately thrust into the public limelight. But the story, ultimately, became personal for me when I learned that my Shiloh Shepherd, Glocken, was a close relative to Gandalf.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Kathy Harris is an author by way of a "divine detour" into the Nashville entertainment business where she works as a marketing director. For several years she freelanced entertainer biographies and wrote news stories and columns for various music publications.

Connect with Kathy by visiting kathyharrisbooks.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

 

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $35 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of Deadly Conclusion.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 1, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 8, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Guest Post: The Danger with Diamonds by Traci Hunter Abramson & Sian Ann Bessey

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Danger with Diamonds by Traci Hunter Abramson & Sian Ann Bessey, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: The Danger with Diamonds 

Series: Falcon Point Suspense #1 

Authors: Traci Hunter Abramson & Sian Ann Bessey 

Publisher: Covenant Communications 

Release Date: October 10, 2022 

Genre: Clean & Wholesome Romantic Suspense

Some secrets are worth keeping. Others are not.

When Lars Hendriks arranges to meet Marit Jansen in Vienna, he is hoping their friendship will blossom into romance. What he doesn’t expect is a surprise visit from his cousin Cole or the loose diamonds he brings with him.

As a CIA operative, Cole Bridger is used to uncertainty, but when his work takes him back to Vienna, he looks forward to reconnecting with Isabelle Roberts, the fellow agent he dated briefly before duty took him away from Austria. Unfortunately, his silence over the last few months has created a chasm that he can’t cross without help. He barely takes a step toward repairing the damaged relationship when a brazen jewel heist seemingly links Cole, Lars, Marit, and Isabelle to the crime. The group is drawn into a deadly mystery, and once again, the treasures of Falcon Point are threatened. It doesn’t take long for them to realize they have stumbled upon something far bigger and more dangerous than a simple robbery. And someone on the inside knows it.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

GUEST POST WITH AUTHOR SIAN ANN BESSEY

If you were to ask any two co-authors how writing a book together worked, each pair would probably give you a different answer. When Traci and I wrote Heirs of Falcon Point with Paige Edwards and A. L. Sowards, we learned that our writing styles are remarkably compatible. We also enjoy a close friendship. Those two things made all the difference as we took on the task of writing this new book together.

We live on opposite sides of the country, so plotting for this book involved many Zoom calls. In general, we took it in turns to write the scenes, but occasionally the order shifted as we discussed which character’s POV was best suited for a particular scene. We each created two main characters and wrote from their points of view. The author who created the character had final say on the character’s actions and speech, no matter who wrote the scene. Interestingly, we hardly ever needed to make any of those types of changes because we both understood each other’s characters well enough to know how they would act and what they would say.

Neither of us creates detailed, overarching story plots when we write, so our plotting was done in 6-10 scene increments. Traci rarely knows who her bad guy is before she’s three-quarters of the way through writing her books, but after some friendly persuasion on my part, she discovered him a little earlier than usual in this novel. By the time we reached the latter part of the story, our focus turned to making sure we pulled all the threads in the story together to create a satisfying conclusion.

As far as the location for this book goes, we both enjoy traveling, and felt that Vienna was the perfect place to set this story. The fact that we’ve both visited the city made it easier to describe the specific locations mentioned in the book, along with the food and the Austrian culture. Admittedly, neither of us has actually attended a ball at Schonbrunn Palace, but we loved doing it vicariously through our characters, and hope our readers will enjoy the experience too.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

 

Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas for suspense novels as well as the skills needed to survive her children's teenage years. She has gone on to write a number of bestselling suspense novels that have consistently been nominated as Whitney Award finalists. She considers shoes an optional accessory which became evident when she won her first three Whitney Awards in 2013 (Code Word), 2014 (Deep Cover), and 2016 (Failsafe). Safe House won Whitney Awards for both the mystery/suspense category as well as 2017 Adult Novel of the Year. She added two additional awards in 2019 (Mistaken Reality - best mystery/suspense and Sanctuary - Adult Novel of the Year.) She currently lives in Virginia with her family where she enjoys sports, travel, writing, and recently retired from coaching high school swimming.

Connect with Traci by visiting traciabramson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Sian Ann Bessey was born in Cambridge, England, but grew up on the island of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales. She left her homeland to attend university in the U.S. and earned a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in English. She began her writing career as a student, publishing several magazine articles while still in college. Since then she has published historical romance and romantic suspense novels, along with a variety of children's books. She is a USA Today best selling author, a Foreward Reviews Book of the Year finalist, and a Whitney Award finalist. Although Sian doesn't have the opportunity to speak Welsh very often anymore, she can still wrap her tongue around, "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch." She loves to travel and experience other cultures, but when she's home, her favorite activities are spending time with her family, cooking, and reading.

Connect with Sian by visiting sianannbessey.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

 

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a signed copy of The Danger of Diamonds, and book-themed swag (including stickers, bookmark, and postcard).

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 17, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 24, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Bentonsport - A Christmas Story by Lisa Schnedler

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Bentonsport - A Christmas Story by Lisa Schnedler, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: Bentonsport - A Christmas Story 

Series: Bentonsport #1 

Author: Lisa Schnedler 

Publisher: Scrivenings Press 

Release Date: September 27, 2022 

Genre: Clean Romance/Christmas/Time Travel

What if you found the love of your life right in your hometown—in another century? Bentonsport—two different eras in one special town, two lonely persons, and one miraculous Christmas...

For Bentonsport Academy Headmaster Thomas Barton, Christmas emphasizes his loneliness. He has given up hope of discovering a woman to share his heart and life and plans to return to his hometown for the holidays. But when his friend’s preposterous prophecy comes true, he finds himself having traveled not by train, but through time, from 1869, to Bentonsport today! Now he must navigate a modern world for the two weeks before Christmas and discover what he was sent to find. 

Baker Sarah Peterson has everything she wants in the small historic town of modern-day Bentonsport—everything but a man with whom to share her dreams and future. And, in a town of under fifty residents, where’s she going to encounter a soulmate? But when Thomas walks into her bakery, seemingly odd and out of place, but handsome and charming, she finds herself hoping something special might happen this Christmas.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub

 

GUEST POST FROM AUTHOR LISA SCHNEDLER

 Bentonsport: A Magical Setting for A Christmas Romance

There are towns that you visit—or perhaps ones you have lived in—that are so unique and notable that they seem to have a personality all their own.

Bentonsport is such a town and is the setting of my new novel, Bentonsport, A Christmas Story. And, Bentonsport is a real place.

Bentonsport is a town of just 42 residents. Once a bustling river town with mills along the riverbank, steamboats carrying cargo and passengers to and from the town, and trains chugging prosperity to and from its station, Bentonsport nearly disappeared with the end of river traffic and the development of highways that bypassed it.

But, there was something special about the town that spoke to visitors in its nearly abandoned state—as it spoke to visitors long ago. The serene landscape, undulating hills, and soft churn of the Des Moines River beckon to those who wanted to slow down a bit and focus on the art of living—and on art.

Over the past 30 years, this tiny town of historic homes and bucolic scenery has become home to many artists –a weaver, blacksmith, potter, watercolor artist, writer, and sculptor, to name a few. They restored houses, set up shops, reopened the inn, and held events celebrating history and art.

The town that grew on the riverbank more than a century before—attracting those wanting to create a new future and to see their dreams come to life—attracted a new generation desiring to do the same.

And today, thousands of tourists come to experience the tiny town, walk the rose garden, fish from the riverbank, visit the shops, stay at the inn, and enjoy stepping back in time.

Bentonsport: A Christmas Story is about two people, from two eras, who meet two weeks before Christmas. Set mainly in modern-day Bentonsport, readers get a brief glimpse of Bentonsport in the 1870s. And though time travel plays a role in the story, it is a subtle one.

The focus of the novel is on love and commonality. The town, though changed, offers the same special opportunities to the different generations. Although much has changed within the town, people have come to make their dreams come true in both eras.

The beauty of the landscape, the goodness of people, and the endurance of love and faith carry us through the decades—and Christmas brings this all together.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Lisa Schnedler writes cozy romances. She has lived in Bentonsport, Iowa, for more than 25 years, the setting of her latest series. A certified Christian Life Coach, Lisa has a Christian life planning ministry, Branch Living, to help Christians live out their God-given purposes. This ministry includes retreats, classes, a website, blog, and podcast. She is president of a health system in Wisconsin. She is a pastor’s wife, mother of three, and grandmother of six.

Connect with Lisa by visiting lisaschnedler.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates. 

 

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card & bookmarks.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 10, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 17, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Healing Hazel by Jennifer Moore

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Healing Hazel by Jennifer Moore, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: Healing Hazel 

Series: The Blue Orchid Society #3 

Author: Jennifer Moore 

Publisher: Covenant Communications 

Release Date: September 8, 2022 

Genre: Clean & Wholesome Romance / Historical / Victorian

Hazel Thornton has one great ambition: to help the sick and wounded as a nurse. But that dream can never become a reality. After a devastating childhood trauma, she has spent her life battling fits of panic that make it impossible to finish her studies. Everything changes, however, when a trip to Spain takes a perilous turn that derails her plans to visit her father for Christmas and immediately plunges her into the dangers of a brutal war.

With single-minded focus, she springs into action to help her fellow travelers. To ensure their continued care, she begins work at a Spanish hospital alongside Dr. Jim Jackson, a man whose only emotion seems to be wariness of his new assistant. Armed with gifts of support from each of her dearest friends, a group that dubs themselves the Blue Orchid Society, Hazel embarks on a journey of hope and healing to battle the demons of her past with the help of the doctor who has captured her heart.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

 

GUEST POST FROM AUTHOR JENNIFER MOORE

My favorite thing about Historical Fiction is the paradox that “these people are just like us” while at the same time, “they were so different back then.” I always like to put myself in the shoes of the character I’m reading about and wonder how I would react to things during the time period. Like, would I have followed Hitler if I was a German citizen? Of course, based on who I am as an American in the 21st century, I adamantly deny even the smallest possibility that I would. But that’s just the thing. The circumstances are both similar and completely foreign to what we know today. And while we can imagine ourselves with our modern attitudes in the setting, we can’t fully understand how it actually was to actually be there, in that situation, in that time.

I found this particularly true when I was researching the Carlist Wars in Spain for this book. On one hand, the culture of 19th century Spain is nothing like my own. It was fascinating and different to learn about, the traditions, the language, the food, all of it so foreign to me. But there were also shocking similarities that reminded me so much of the current political situation in the US.

The wars were fought over succession. Who should be the next king (or queen)? And the two factions became more and more divided as time went on. On one side were the traditionalists, the Carlists. They were religious and believed in the old ways, they wanted Spain to stay how it was with old-fashioned values and believed the Cristinos had unfairly installed their ruler instead of the rightful one. The Cristinos or Liberales believed in progress and change. They didn’t want religion in their government and believed in social justice. They wanted Spain to move forward instead of being trapped in outdated traditions.

Reading about these two groups and how their inability to compromise led to so many deaths and thrust Spain into a civil war that lasted decades, I couldn’t help but compare the climate of the time to what I see every day on the internet.

And so, what’s the takeaway? People are people, and we have the same worries for our kids, the same frustrations with our jobs, and many of the same fears that people have always had—but on the flip side, there are things we cannot ever fully understand about a different culture and a different time. The only thing we can really do is appreciate it, learn from it, and hope when future generations look back at us, they can have empathy.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Jennifer Moore lives with one husband and four sons who produce heaps of laundry and laughter. She earned a BA from the University of Utah in Linguistics, which she uses mostly for Jeopardy. A reader of history and romance, she loves traveling, tall ships, scented candles, and watching cake decorating videos. When she’s not driving carpool, writing, or helping with homework, she’ll usually be found playing tennis.

Connect with Jennifer by visiting authorjmoore.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

 

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Healing Hazel, bookmark, blue orchid pin, themed stickers, and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 20, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 27, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Gift card open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: His Small Town Dream by Tara Randel

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for His Small Town Dream by Tara Randel, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: His Small Town Dream 

Series: The Golden Matchmakers Club #3 

Author: Tara Randel 

Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming 

Release Date: August 23, 2022 

Genre: Contemporary Romance (Sweet/Clean)

This city girl…

Could be his perfect match! 

Adam Wright is ready to stop nursing his broken heart and give in to his family’s matchmaking. He knows lively marketing exec Carrie Mitchell wants to return to New York, but he’s showing her all small-town Golden has to offer…including himself. When his ex-fiancée arrives, it could scare Carrie away, or it may be a chance to heal past hurts…and share his small-town dream with her!

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub

 

 

 

GUEST POST FROM AUTHOR TARA RANDEL

I have always enjoyed setting my books in small towns. Probably because I grew up in one and remember how much I loved it there. I recall the town green where we watched the July 4th parade and gathered to count down before the Christmas tree lights blazed to life. How if I walked from my house to the town center, I passed a dozen neighbors along the way. I had wonderful friends and lovely memories. Now, I travel to get that small town feel.

For instance, we spend a week in the north Georgia mountains almost every fall. Since autumn is my favorite season, I love to see how the leaves have changed color and go for long hikes in the woods. But when we are in one of the towns in the area, I especially love to people watch. My special town, Golden, was born from the many vacations we have taken in this area.

In creating Golden, I’ve taken the best of every town and plunked it down in one place. My imagination runs wild as I bring to life a place where I’d love to live myself. Since this is my town, I create the businesses, the descriptions of the town and surrounding areas, and most of all, the characters. Trust me, there is no lack of drama in a place where everyone knows each other, or a newcomer arrives and has to learn about the townspeople. There is a lot of conflict packed there and I love coming up with plots that will build on the conflict and then drag it out, revealing the setting as the story progresses.

I take lots of pictures when I’m in the mountains, so I have inspiration when I’m creating. I can see downtown Golden in my mind’s eye; the six blocks of Main Street on a slight incline, full of interesting businesses to lure tourists. The buildings are painted different colors and are neatly kept by the shopkeepers. Ornate cast iron lampposts line Main Street, supporting large planters brimming with flowers, the variety and colors changing with the seasons.

There is a local hangout, Smitty’s Pub, where there is action in most of the books, along with the always important coffee shop where characters meet up. You never know where the matchmakers might gather, but usually they can be found at the ringleader’s house while they plot the future of the unsuspecting couples. I’ve included cabins by the lake, had characters hike through the beautiful woods or searching for waterfalls and offered my characters horseback riding on secluded trails. To me this is heaven on earth.

In another series, I set the town on the Florida coast, similar to where I live. I was able to bring the lovely weather, beach activities and the fun of living near the water to those stories, while creating characters who thrive in the this setting.

Mostly, I love my characters’ connections to these towns. The joy of their hometown or how they unintentionally fall in love with their new home. There are roots, traditions and pride in these settings that I love to portray. I also enjoy reading stories set in small towns when I get lost in a good book. And from what I can tell, readers love to visit these towns as well.

Small towns are a wealth of content for writers, and to be honest, I just love them, so it’s natural that I’d pick a small town in which to set a story every time I write a book.

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and, of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. She writes for multiple genres, including romance, mystery and Women’s fiction.

Connect with Tara by visiting tararandel.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive an autographed print copy of Stealing Her Best Friend’s Heart and Her Christmastime Family, a festive fall mug and towel, and a $25 Amazon Gift Card. (1) additional winner will receive a $10 Amazon e-Gift Card.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 19, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 26, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Gift card open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: The Dreaming Beauty by Anneka R. Walker

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Dreaming Beauty by Anneka R. Walker, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

 

Title: The Dreaming Beauty 

Series: Standalone follow-up to The Masked Baron 

Author: Anneka R. Walker 

Publisher: Covenant Communications 

Release Date: July 11, 2022 

Genre: Clean & Wholesome Romance / Historical / Regency / Fairy Tale 

Once upon a dream, two cursed people fell in love . . . 

 Tansy White doesn’t want to end up alone like her three aunts who raised her, but when she is betrayed by her would-be betrothed, she fears she might never change her fate. At her aunts’ suggestion, she seizes the chance to visit Rose Cottage, the country home of her late mother. For years, dreams of the cottage have haunted Tansy, and she is convinced it holds the answer to her hidden past. But after getting caught in a terrible storm, she meets a man who is just as determined as she is to learn all her secrets.

Marcus Taylor, brother to the Duke of Westmorland, is also troubled by vivid dreams. On a sleepless night, as a tempest rages outside his brother’s estate, he makes a discovery far more mysterious than any dream: a young woman, cold as ice, lies unconscious in the library, and he is sure she is the key to solving his problems. When she wakes, what begins as a shared quest for information turns into an unexpected friendship. As they piece together the fragments of their pasts, they discover a tangled web of lies, and their feelings for each other become just as entwined. But is their love as strong as their dreams . . . or their fate? 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub   

 

GUEST POST FROM AUTHOR ANNEKA WALKER

I’m so excited to share with you about my experience retelling Sleeping Beauty! Let’s chat about retellings in general first so you can see why I took the direction I did.

A big portion of books or shows are retellings in some form. Some these are direct retellings, like all the many historic versions of Pride and Prejudice (trust me when I say, we can’t have too many Jane Austen adaptions). Other retellings are parodies or loosely inspired by another story. My book, The Dreaming Beauty, would be considered a fractured retelling. This means I’ve taken some familiar elements from Sleeping Beauty, but changed the plot points, creating a fresh new story. Why did I do this? I wanted my readers to find the fun Easter eggs from the fairy-tale they love but experience a new romantic adventure at the same time. The predictable elements are comforting, while the twists and unexpected scenes keep the pages turning.

Now to dive into plotting a fractured Sleeping Beauty tale. I knew I didn’t want my character asleep the entire book. I also write in a historical fiction genre, so sleeping for a hundred years wasn’t going to fly. Dreams, however, are related to sleeping and are both historical and realistic, and also give a paranormal vibe creating the fairy-tale tone I desired. I ran with this idea and the rest of the story evolved quickly in my mind. I created my own version of a worthy prince and wicked step-mother. And the doting fairies we love from the Disney adaption turned into three lovable aunts. From there, I played with other sleeping beauty elements and era-specific research until I had a something uniquely mine.

Once upon a dream, two cursed people fell in love…

You’ll have to read my story to find out what happens next!

ALSO AVAILABLE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Anneka Walker is an award-winning author raised by a librarian and an English teacher turned judge. After being fed a steady diet of books, she decided to learn about writing. The result was a bachelor's degree in English and history. When she isn't dreaming up a happy ending for a story, she is busy living her own with her husband and adorable children.

Connect with Anneka by visiting annekawalker.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

 

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card, The Dreaming Beauty, signed book plate, matching bookmark, stickers, and button!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 15, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 22, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.