Review: Across the Star-Kissed Sea by Arlem Hawks

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

 

About the Book

When May becomes a lady’s maid at sea, she’s hoping for an innocent adventure but instead must navigate rough waters, deadly combat, and unexpected love.

Mediterranean Sea, 1811

May Byam grew up following her father to his work at the ropemaking factory and listening to her uncle’s tales of life aboard a Royal Navy ship. After tragedy and scandal shatter her family, May is desperate to escape the shame that follows her. Despite her mother’s pleadings against it, May signs on as a lady’s maid to the young wife of a naval captain. If she’s going to run, she may as well do it in honor of her late uncle and cousin and where there is food, shelter, and perhaps even adventure. But the frosty reception she receives from the ship’s clergyman makes her feel far from welcome.

Heartbroken young Chaplain Elias Doswell returns to a harsh life at sea, but preaching to disinterested sailors isn’t the escape he’d hoped for—until a captivating young woman boards the ship. However, a case of mistaken identity ensures that he starts off on the wrong foot with the newly hired lady’s maid, who clearly wants nothing to do with him. But the close quarters of the ship forces the pair together, and May begins to see a side of the handsome clergyman she didn’t expect. As they struggle to navigate their deepening feelings, the danger of war with the French looms on the horizon, threatening their lives—and their love.

My Review

There is something special about the way this author brings her characters and the setting to life! In the first few chapters I instantly connected with May and Elias, their struggles and vulnerabilities. They are each unsure about what their future will bring, but move forward despite their circumstances. There is so much character growth on their journey at sea. May is such a cactus, and Elias seems a cowardly lion. I loved seeing them go from horrible first impressions to friendship to more. They discovered important things about themselves and life as the story progressed with the turmoil of the voyage and the danger of war. Highly recommend to fans of sweet Regency romance outside of the ballroom.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Don't miss the previous companion book . . .

 

Blog Tour for A Path to Healing by Lisa M. James

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Path to Healing by Lisa M. James, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Path to Healing
Series: The Prodigal Woman Series #3
Author: Lisa James
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: November 1, 2024
Genre: Christian Fantasy/Romance

Scarred. Blemished. Unwanted. These were all words that could describe Bethany. Since an accident disfigured the right side of her face, severing the betrothal to the man she loved, Bethany knew that no one would ever find her beautiful. When her mother insists she marries the only man willing to take her as a wife, Bethany begrudgingly agrees. Yet, the more she discovers about her new husband, the more she realizes that some scars are hidden deep within. 

After becoming a champion gladiator to purchase his mother’s freedom, Ezra wished to live a quiet life as a shepherd. When he hires a troubled woman with a veiled face to assist him with his flock, he’s surprised to find himself drawn to discover the woman beneath the mask. After a hasty marriage, Ezra vows to do everything he must to spare his wife from harm. But will her thirst for revenge against the dark forces that plague their homeland and his desperate need to protect his family tear them apart? 

Discover the story of a blemished woman in A Path to Healing. 

This Christian Fantasy novel can be read as a stand-alone novel or as part of The Prodigal Woman Series.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop | BookBub

 

Excerpt

Like a coward, I left before I could hear another word almost running into the sheepgate in my retreat. I cringed in embarrassment. What was happening to me? I was not some willful girl, daydreaming that a handsome man would sweep me away and save me from my wretched life. I had given up dreams of marriage long ago, knowing a marriage of love would be truly impossible for me. Or at least one where I was loved in return.

I pressed my fingers to my lips. Somehow, around Ezra these last two months, I had lost all my faculties. Was I truly this pathetic? Was I truly so desperate and lonely that I could no longer be trusted to be near a kind, decent man without assaulting him with my lips?

I turned back a distance away, seeing Ezra’s broad silhouette at the door of the sheep shed, watching me retreat. Perhaps I was unwise to work for Ezra and put myself in such close proximity to a man, it was clear, I was developing feelings for. Pitiful, hopeless feelings.

I turned away, hugging my arms around me. I was once considered quite beautiful. In another world, I could have been a true contender for a man like him. Unbidden, a tear ran down my cheek. I would just add Ezra to the list of my impossible dreams. Of all the hope my disfigurement, because of the Shadowclan, continues to take away from me.

More Books in This Series

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About the Author

Lisa M. James is an independent author, marketer, and former Sunday School teacher. She loves writing fantasy novels with diverse female leads for both young adult and adult audiences. Her novels have hit the Amazon Best Sellers list for numerous Fantasy categories, including Sword and Sorcery Fantasy, Christian Fantasy, and Religious Romance. Her fictional writing is inspired by Historical Fiction, Fantasy genres, and Christian novels.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of A Path to Healing and an embroidered backpack purse!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 6, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 13, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: I'll Be Home by Sara Davison, Darlene L. Turner, Helena Smrcek, Melanie Stevenson

Welcome to the Blog Tour for I'll Be Home by Sara Davison, Darlene L. Turner, Helena Smrcek, and Melanie Stevenson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: I'll Be Home
Authors: Sara Davison, Darlene L. Turner, Helena Smrcek, & Melanie Stevenson
Publisher: Independent (Fab Four Press)
Release Date: October 29, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Christmas anthology

With chaos and confusion all around them, can they find their way home this Christmas? 

The people in these four stories are all searching for something—an escaped convict, a job promotion from a love interest, connection to a lost parent, answers across time. 

Christmas should be a time of wonder and celebration, but the obstacles each faces seem insurmountable. Even, at times, life-threatening. 

Perhaps they will find what they are seeking during this season of miracles and hope. Or maybe, with God’s help, they will discover that the longing of their hearts takes them to places—and people—they didn’t even know they’d been searching for.  

I’ll Be Home is a collection of four stories of faith, hope, love, (and trains) that will warm your heart, encourage your soul, and draw you home this Christmas.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Guest Post from Authors 

Sara Davison, Darlene L. Turner, Helena Smrcek, and Melanie Stevenson

Favorite Christmas memories of each story's main characters and individual story covers


Emory’s favorite Christmas memory was baking cookies with her mother and her sister, Autumn. She loved to taste the batter, and after they’d finished decorating, she would have a play-fight with them. In “Mistletoe and Mayhem in the Rockies,” Emory recreates this tradition and it’s the catalyst that brings her love of Christmas back.

Hunter’s favorite time at Christmas was Christmas night after everything was done. While most hated that Christmas was over, he loved to sit in front of the tree and stare at the lights, reflecting on God’s serenity. The peacefulness calmed him. His favorite hymn is “Silent Night” because it was his mother’s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In “Just a Gilbert Blythe Kind of Girl,” Lucy’s favorite Christmas memories are the years her dad took her to see her mother play Anne of Green Gables in The Avonlea Christmas Show. That sparked a desire in Lucy to follow in her mother’s footsteps, especially after her mother dies in a plane crash trying to come home from New York to spend Christmas with them. Which means that, this Christmas, when she is offered the opportunity to play the same role on the same stage that her mother played, she will finally be able to honor the best memory she has. Until she discovers that memories aren’t always true …

August has good memories of growing up and spending the holidays with his parents and older brothers and sister. His one Christmas wish has never come true, though. Until this year, when he dares to hope that the girl next door might stop dreaming about a man who doesn’t exist and realize that everything she has ever wanted is standing right in front of her.




 

 

Nick’s favorite Christmas memory is listening to Grandma’s stories of Christmas past. Every Christmas Eve, after dinner, the family would sit by the fire, the room warm with the scent of pine and oranges. Grandma would pull Nick close and share vivid tales of growing up in the old country—the handmade gifts, simple meals, and candles lit in the window for those far away. Her stories were filled with the joy of simpler times, where the true meaning of the season was in the togetherness of family. Those evenings shaped Nick’s view of Christmas as a time of reflection and deep connection although, by the time he meets Joy in “Love Across Time,” his feelings toward the holiday season have definitely changed…

Joy’s favorite Christmas memory was baking cookies with her grandfather. Every year, they’d spend the afternoon in his cozy kitchen, the counters dusted with flour and the air thick with the smell of vanilla and cinnamon. He taught her how to roll out the dough and cut out shapes—trees, stars, and angels—before carefully placing them on the trays. Joy loved how her grandfather always snuck a little dough to taste, winking as if it were their shared secret. As the cookies baked, they’d sit together, sipping hot cocoa, waiting for the oven timer to ding. Those quiet moments, filled with laughter and the warmth of tradition, taught Joy that Christmas wasn’t just about the decorations but the love shared through simple acts of togetherness.



When we meet Porsha in “Where My Heart Belongs,” we learn she hates Christmas. I know (as Porsha would say). Before the fateful Christmas when her father left, Porsha’s favorite memories were the Christmas mornings as a family where she and her parents would gather by the tree in their pajamas and open presents while songs like, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” played in the background. Now, her favorite memories are the first Christmas spent with Grant when she found her faith in the ice chapel… and the extra special event the following Christmas Eve.

Grant’s favorite Christmas memories are the ones spent with his family at his parent's log cabin. Those memories include shared laughter over turkey dinner, singing Christmas carols by the fire, and nibbling home-baked Christmas cookies. Tradition dictates one present each on Christmas Eve, which turns into a favorite Christmas memory for Grant when he gifts Porsha with a birch bark scroll, the words inside asking her out on their first date. That favorite memory is rivaled only by the precious one they share the year after (insert winky face, as Porsha would say). 

 

Also Available

    

 

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About the Authors

 

Sara Davison is the author of The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo, two sparrows for a penny, and In the Shadows series, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Holt Medallion, Cascade, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason.

Connect with Sara by visiting saradavison.org to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning and a Publishers Weekly best-selling author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message.

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

 

Helena Smrcek is an award-winning author, screenwriter, public speaker and writing coach. She is known for her thrilling and heartwarming stories. Her career began as a high school freelancer, leading to three decades in publishing. She co-founded Write!Canada and The Word Guild and has graduated from multiple writing programs.

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

Melanie Stevenson is an award-winning author and lives in Ontario, Canada, surrounded by her husband and four children. She attended the University of Waterloo and obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Melanie's first book, One More Tomorrow, was shortlisted in the Word Alive Press publishing contest out of over two hundred entries across North America and was published in 2019. In 2020, she won Best Romantic Fiction for One More Tomorrow and Best New Canadian Author at The Word Awards—Canada's top Christian literary awards. Her mission is to create stories of excellence that impact hearts and lives. Paper, canvas, and dirt are her favorite blank pages.

Connect with Melanie by visiting melaniestevenson.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 card plus a paperback copy of I'll Be Home!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 29, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 5, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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

Review: Meddling with Mistletoe by Liz Johnson

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

About the Book

Whitney Garrett is preparing to enter culinary school in the spring, but first she has to sell enough homemade pies at the local Christmas markets to pay her tuition. When her oven breaks, Whitney asks Marie Sloan, proprietor of the Red Door Inn, if she can use the inn's kitchen to keep up with her orders. Marie agrees, with a Whitney has to watch the three Sloan children and cook breakfasts for the Red Door in return.

 

The inn is busy with holiday guests--including Aretha Franklin Sloan's perpetually single nephew Daniel and Ruby, a businesswoman in town to purchase Aretha's antiques store. Intent on making a Christmas match for the two, Aretha enlists Whitney's help in her schemes. But the deeper Whitney gets, the more she realizes that Ruby is definitely not the right woman for Daniel--and the more she thinks that she just might be his perfect match.

 

Cuddle up for some warm holiday cheer as New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson explores the unforeseen consequences of meddling with mistletoe when love is on the line.

My Review

I loved the stories set at the Red Door Inn, so it was such a pleasure to return there for Whitney's story! She is at a crossroads in her life, feeling forced to choose a career that she can stick with, or let her parents down again, and no more safety net. I could sense how on edge she felt, working toward an end goal with things falling apart around her. Despite her circumstances, she is the sunshine providing contrast to Daniel's grumpiness. His character put off vibes of flatness and unhappiness, going through the motions, but still caring about his aunt enough to travel and help her sell her business. There are plenty of funny mishaps, but the best part of this book is the way Daniel blossomed around Whitney's light. They both gently challenged each other, and as Daniel learns to open his heart again, Whitney gains the courage to find and follow the dream authentic to her. A sweet holiday read with great romantic chemistry!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Don't miss the other books in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series . . .

 

 

Blog Tour, Author Interview & Giveaway: Terminal Danger by Jerusha Agen

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Terminal Danger by Jerusha Agen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Terminal Danger
Series: Guardians Unleashed #5
Author: Jerusha Agen
Publisher: SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: October 24, 2024
Genre: Christian romantic suspense

This woman and her K-9 are being hunted.  

Exactly as she planned. 

When a busload of schoolchildren disappears, Phoenix Gray knows the kidnapper is the unidentified serial killer she’s spent her life trying to catch. This time, she’ll find the killer and bring him to justice no matter what it takes. She and her Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency join the search for the hostages, but they aren’t the only ones who want the criminal captured. 

Callum Ross, an FBI agent who specializes in catching serial criminals, is about to resign. But not until he finds one last culprit, the killer behind a famous twenty-year-old crime Callum vowed to solve. 

Despite the FBI agent’s uncanny understanding of her psyche, Phoenix refuses to be distracted from her goal. When the serial killer turns into the cat instead of the mouse, Phoenix thinks she’s ready. But will she need the God she rejected to achieve the justice she’s given her life to obtain?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy Directly From the Author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

 

Interview with Author Jerusha Agen

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’ve been writing and enjoying stories as a reader since I was a little girl, so I’m in my dream job as an author of Christian fiction. I’m a lifelong animal lover and am thankful to share my life with two very big, furry dogs and two little cats.

What do you do besides writing?

Writing is my full-time job, but when I’m not working (or engaged in pet care), I enjoy watching lots of movies, baking and eating delicious desserts, and longing for snowy winters.

What was your favorite part of researching for this book?

Since the bulk of Terminal Danger takes place in a U.S. National Park, I got to research national parks extensively. That was particularly fun because I encountered many gorgeous photos of the beautiful nature God created for us to enjoy. Nature is full of wonders and jaw-dropping beauty beyond my imagination!

I also learned facts I didn’t know before about the geological formations in some local national parks. A couple of these unique formations show up in Terminal Danger.

How do you find visual inspiration for your characters? Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters?

Sometimes, I write characters without any visual inspiration. But that can pose a challenge when I want a photo later to share with readers. Then, I have to try to find a photo of a real person who matches my visual image of the fictional character!

Phoenix Gray, the heroine of Terminal Danger, was particularly challenging to find a photo for. I actually spent years searching, off and on, for an image that could capture her with any accuracy. I’d nearly given up, but then this year, since the publication of Terminal Danger was at hand, I tried one last time.

At last, I finally found the image I had been looking for, the photo that came the closest to how I had envisioned Phoenix and described her in previous books. God provided the visual just when I needed it to share with readers!

Here’s the visual representation of the mysterious Phoenix Gray (which she would not want me sharing in public!):

What are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book?

I love to listen to movie soundtracks while I write. Nothing fuels my imagination as well as an appropriate film score. I often gravitate repeatedly toward one for each particular book because that score best gets me into the creative headspace I need to access for that story.

While writing Terminal Danger, I listened to the soundtrack of Inception by Hans Zimmer. I needed maximum intensity, suspense, twistiness, and emotional depth for this book, so the Inception score worked perfectly.

What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book?

I trust that God will meet readers in this book with the message He wants them to hear. But the message that I found most helpful from this story is God’s answer to the evil in this world.

I get overwhelmed by the suffering in this world, especially the suffering of children and other helpless victims. There’s so much of that in our own country right now. It’s hard to see why God allows such things to happen.

It often feels like evil is winning, like the bad guys are winning.

But God has a plan, and it includes His justice and His purpose being brought about, now and in the future.

Evil is not winning. In fact, God has already won! He is in complete control of ALL that happens. And He promises that He will bring about full and complete justice in the end.

There is so much encouragement in understanding and holding fast to that truth!

What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?

I am launching a new series in 2025! The Windy City Westons Series will begin in March with Waylaid, the first installment in a Christian romantic suspense series that follows the five Weston siblings in Chicago, where they encounter danger, love, and God.

Here’s the Waylaid teaser: Someone wants to kill her. She wants the killer to finish the job.

Waylaid is available for preorder now! https://amzn.to/3C3x324

 

More Books in This Series

     

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About the Author

Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes romantic suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats, often while reading or watching movies.

Connect with Jerusha by visiting jerushaagen.com to find more of her thrilling, fear-fighting stories, follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of Terminal Danger, a Terminal Danger mug, $25 Barnes and Noble gift card, Terminal Danger magnet, plus more swag!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 28, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 4, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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