Blog Tour, Author Interview & Giveaway: Hunted at Christmas by Dana R. Lynn

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Hunted at Christmas by Dana R. Lynn, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Hunted at Christmas
Series: Amish Country Justice
Author: Dana R. Lynn
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Wanted by a bounty hunter. 

 Chased by a killer. 

When single mother Addison Johnson is attacked by a hit man, she learns there’s a price on her head. And Isaiah Bender—the bounty hunter hired to track her down for crimes she didn’t commit—is her only hope for survival. Protecting Addison and her young son from armed assailants means seeking refuge in Amish country. But when their holiday hideout is discovered, can he clear an innocent woman’s name and keep her alive?  

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

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

Interview with Author Dana R. Lynn

Can you tell us a little about yourself? 

 

Sure! I grew up near Chicago, but moved to rural Pennsylvania after I met my husband at my bet friend’s wedding. He was the best man and I was the maid of honor. We’ve been married for almost 26 years and have 3 children, one daughter and two sons. Our daughter just got married, so I am still reeling from this change. However, we feel so blessed to have our son-in-law joining our family. I love writing stories that contain romance and also allow me to share my love of Jesus. I consider my writing a ministry. It’s been such a blessing in my life.


What do you do besides writing? 

 

I am a full time teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. I love my job and find it very rewarding. I am also active in my church.


What was your favorite part of researching for this book? 

 

I loved researching bounty hunters. I found out that nearly everything I thought about that job choice was wrong, or at least only a partial truth. I also found it interesting that bounty hunters aren’t legal in all states.


Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters? Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process? 

 

In my mind, my heroine, Addison, resembles a young Emmy Rossum. Think of the movie version of The Phantom of the Opera (2004). I pictured a young Simon Baker as Isaiah. When I begin to think of characters, I search Pinterest to find images of people who best fit my mental image of the character. This helps me when I need to explain how the character looks to the marketing department. I will put an image on my character board so that as I write I can look to it. You’d be amazed how easy it is to forget a character’s eye color once you have several books of characters on your board. This way, instead of remembering, I can look at the image.


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

 

Music is so powerful to me. Some of my favorites for writing included “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban, “Remember Your Chains” by Steven Curtis Chapman, “One Small Child” by David Meece and “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant. Actually, Christmas music in general was a great muse!


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

 

Out of all the books I’ve published to date, Hunted at Christmas is my favorite. And it’s all because of my hero. Isaiah Bender is somewhat of a prodigal son. He doesn’t realize it, but he is on his journey home. I really felt the theme of reconciliation and forgiveness while writing this book.


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

 

In May, the last Bender sibling will finally get his story! I have had so many readers ask me when Gideon will get his story, so I’m pleased to say Amish Witness to Murder will be out in 2024. Later in 2024, forensic artist Francesca Brown and FBI Special Agent Tanner Hall will work together and find love in Protecting the Amish Child. While I have a few other things in the works, these are the projects with finalized dates. I can’t wait to share these stories with readers!

 

More in This Series

 

more Amish Country Justice series titles

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About the Author

Dana R. Lynn is an award winning author of romantic suspense and Amish romance who believes in the power of God to touch people through stories. Although she grew up in Illinois, she met her husband at a wedding in Pennsylvania and told her parents she had met her future husband. Nineteen months later, they were married. Today, they live in rural Pennsylvania and are entering the world of empty nesters. She is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by day and writes stories of romance and danger at night. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray with the Steve Laube Agency. Dana is an avid reader, loves cats and thinks chocolate should be a food group.

Connect with Dana by visiting danarlynn.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will win a $10 Amazon gift card, a pen and a mug!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 27, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 4, 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 for pen & mug. Egift card only in case of CAN winner. 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!

 

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Finding Their Christmas Home by Donna Gartshore

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Finding Their Christmas Home by Donna Gartshore, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Finding Their Christmas Home
Author: Donna Gartshore
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance

A holiday homecoming 

Could lead to a second chance… 

After years away, Jenny Powell returns to her grandmother’s home, known as “Christmas House,” only to find her ex already there. A household emergency left David Hart and his twin daughters with nowhere else to go, and he enlists Jenny to help him give his daughters a Christmas they’ll never forget. But with the past standing between them, could this holiday season bring the gift of a happily-ever-after for them all?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christian Book | Bookshop |BookBub

 

 

Excerpt

David and the girls walked a couple of steps ahead of her, and she watched as Rowe pulled her hand away from her father’s grip and picked up a snowball, which she turned and threw, with surprisingly lethal aim, in Jenny’s direction.

Jenny’s reflexes were excellent, however, and she jerked to the right just in time to have the snowball whiz past her ear rather than get a cold, wet slap in the face.

Once again, she was sure that she had at least as much in common with Rowe as she did with Reba.

Realizing what was happening, David spun around. “Rowe,” he exclaimed. “What are you doing? You could have hurt Jenny. Are you okay?” he asked her.

She laughed as she bent down and began to gather snow. When she stood up she saw Rowe watching her, pulsing with pent-up energy, holding her own snowball, and noticed that David and Reba were laughing and busily packing their own ammunition.

After David called out the quick rule that aiming at someone’s face was not allowed, the snowballs flew with abandon, and soon Rowena joined in with her own unrestrained giggle, a blissful sound, alongside her sister’s.

Jenny gave a sigh of relief and thanked God that she had been able to turn the moment into something fun and silly for them all to share. Because it hadn’t escaped her attention that Rowe’s first throw wasn’t completely without malice. Despite her whatever attitude, trying to come across like she didn’t care, Jenny was sure that she struggled hugely with her mother’s absence and did not want anyone to take her place.

Jenny’s heart ached for her. She knew how devastating it was to resent a parent’s absence while, at the same time, desperately longing for them to be present.

She had absolutely no intentions of being part of David’s life. But when she saw him with his eyes crinkled in laughter, it was like seeing him as a boy again, her best friend, her first love.

Also Available

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About the Author

Donna Gartshore lives in Saskatchewan, Canada. Along with writing inspirational romance for Love Inspired, She has also published several short stories and poems with various literary publications and writes devotions. Donna loves family time, walks, coffee and movies with friends, serving in various capacities at the church she attends and talking about books and writing with her friends and the writing community

Connect with Donna by following her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will win a print copy of Finding Their Christmas Home, Finding Her Voice and a devotional!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 25, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 2, 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/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Review: Christmas Stitches by Judith McCoy Miller, Nancy Moser, Stephanie Grace Whitson

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

3 Talented Seamstresses, 3 Christmas Romances
Return to Christmases of yesteryear with three seamstresses who use their talents to succeed in the late 1800s. But can love also be stitched into their lives?
 
A SEAMLESS LOVE by Judith Miller
Hannah Cushman possesses a special talent for embroidered fancywork and design which secures her a position in the Dressmaking and Millinery Shop in the Pullman Arcade near Chicago where she encounters childhood friend Daniel Price. Daniel is disappointed to learn Hannah is being courted by a detective with the Pinkerton Detective Agency. With two men vying for her attention, will Hannah seek God’s direction or ignore the warning signs He sets before her?

 

PIN’S PROMISE by Nancy Moser
Penelope (Pin) Billings and Jonathan Evers have loved each other since they were children, promising to one day get officially engaged. Both have distinct talents: Pin for sewing dresses and teaching others to sew and Jonathan—a doctor right out of school—in helping the people of the village. As adulthood nears and the time to fulfill their promise seems right, a tragic event pulls them apart, making both question their future. Will they discover they are stronger together than apart?
 
MENDING HEARTS by Stephanie Grace Whitson
Rachel Ellsworth has always been encouraged to pursue her passion for art. She looks forward to taking the Grand Tour on her honeymoon and experiencing the great museums of Europe. But when tragedy strikes, Rachel's plans are put on hold and she is forced to stay with two maiden aunts in a small Nebraska town where the most exciting things that ever happen are quilting bees and the county fair. Rachel expects her stay in Lost Creek to be temporary--until a letter from home changes everything. How can a budding artist who loves the big city expect to find happiness in the middle of nowhere?  
 
My Review

A Seamless Love by Judith Miller - 3 stars

This story had a great setting and interesting historical details. Hannah is ambitious with her career as a seamstress with custom embroidery, and spends extra hours on special projects for the company owner's wife. Contrary to the book synopsis, she's not dating a Pinkerton agent, but a businessman from Chicago who spends a lot of time on the road (suspicious). I had hoped for more development of her relationship with Daniel, but the majority of the story focused on her trials with her beau and workload.

Pin’s Promise by Nancy Moser - 4 stars

I enjoyed the character growth as Pin learns to be patient and understanding, while Jonathan realizes the differences in treating patients in the town rather than a hospital. An endearing but abused set of children really steal the show, giving Pin and Jonathan the opportunity to look beyond themselves and draw closer together because of the shared trials. I loved the strong sense of community and service.

Mending Hearts by Stephanie Grace Whitson - 4 stars 

Rachel and Adam have both suffered great loss, and I loved Rachel's two aunts that are the heart of the community- caring for Adam's children and bringing Rachel into their fold as well. Rachel's talent as an artist are brought into the story in subtle ways, inspiring those around her. Although Rachel's exuberant friend Nel sets her cap for Adam, the interference gives both Rachel and Adam time to heal from their  broken hearts before discovering the love blossoming between them. A supporting cast full of personality!

 
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.

Review and Author Interview: The Beacon Street Bookshop by Carla Laureano

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Ever since Olivia Quinn lost her husband to a freak plane crash, she’s been focused on one thing—making a stable life for her teen stepdaughter, Taylor, of whom she’s the sole guardian. But when she loses her job as a children’s book editor because she refuses to relocate from Colorado to New York, all her hard-won stability is shattered. Then the opportunity arises to open Liv’s dream bookshop in Haven Ridge, offering not only the solution to her financial problems, but a chance to bond with her stepdaughter and become a real family for the first time. Soon, the wild idea transforms into a thriving nonprofit, thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of the town—and a handsome contractor who stirs feelings in Liv she'd thought might be gone forever. But just as she begins to lean into the new life she’s made for herself, a figure from her late husband’s past puts the life she’s been building with Taylor in jeopardy. And Liv must face the possibility that following her heart might just cost her a daughter.

My Review

I absolutely love the themes of restoration and revitalization in Haven Ridge! The small Colorado town has been "cursed" since a scandal rocked the community and it was handled badly. Families moved away, businesses and stores emptied. But with a new zeal for hope mixed with some faith and goodwill, the younger generation is slowly returning- breathing new life and enterprise into the town that is forgettable to many, but not to those with important memories there. 

 

Liv and her teenage stepdaughter Taylor have a complicated relationship, and their growth throughout the book was inspiring as they communicate more and create lasting bonds. Their healing dynamic is challenged with changes they are facing as new people come into their lives, but the bookshop is their shared endeavor and creates opportunities for them to be consistent and present with each other, despite the personal and emotional struggles. Liv and Charlie have great chemistry and I enjoyed their special moments together as their romance developed. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

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 books in the Haven Ridge series . . .

* The e-book of The Brick House Cafe is free to subscribers at carlalaureano.com

 

 

About the Author

Carla Laureano is the two-time RITA® award-winning author of sixteen books, spanning the genres of contemporary romance and Celtic fantasy. A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked in sales and marketing for more than a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write full-time. In 2022, she founded Sophisticated Fiction to provide editorial, critique, and coaching services to authors of all levels. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, two sons, and an opinionated tortoiseshell cat named Willow.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Bookbub | Amazon

Q & A with Carla Laureano

What is the Haven Ridge series about?

The Haven Ridge series is a small-town romance series with a magical realism twist: the town has gotten away from its founding mission to provide a haven for people who needed a fresh start and a community, and as such, it’s slowly dwindling away. The prequel novella, The Brick House Cafe, goes into the history of the town and its goal to rebuild itself by drawing back the people it needs and who in turn need it. Each full length shows how the town draws people together and how the people in it contribute to the new life of the town!


What is The Beacon Street Bookshop about?

I introduced Liv Quinn in The Broken Hearts Bakery as the catalyst that got Gemma back to Haven Ridge, and we got a little window into her struggles of being a young window and guardian of a teenage stepdaughter. We also saw she was facing a pretty big work decision—stay in Haven Ridge or move back to New York in order to keep her job. It probably surprises no one that she decided to stay in Haven Ridge, but this story is about how she deals with all the change in her life—not the least being how to incorporate romance back into it while raising her late husband’s daughter.

I love this story because it’s angsty and heartfelt, but it’s still got some delicious new-love tingles throughout. This is definitely the most romantic book of the series so far.


The Beacon Street Bookshop has some serious themes. Why did you choose to write about them in this book?

I’m in a similar phase in life to Liv—I have two teenage boys, a recent high school graduate who is continuing his education and starting his career, and one who is just entering the high school years. There are lots of feelings attached to this phase of parenting, not the least of which is figuring out where to draw the line between letting them have their independence and still remaining a strong influence in their lives. I channeled some of that uncertainty into Liv, made more difficult by the fact that she hadn’t raised Taylor since birth and has a bit of a complex about being the stepmom.


What was the easiest scene in The Beacon Street Bookshop to write?

I’ve had the meet cute between Liv and Charlie in my head since the beginning of the series, so I couldn’t wait to get it down on paper. “Love” at first sight is super fun to write, especially when the parties involved are completely determined not to acknowledge it.


What was the hardest scene in The Beacon Street Bookshop to write?

Believe it or not, the final chapter before the epilogue! And I don’t think it was all that successful initially, because my beta readers said it fell a little flat. So I had to rewrite that last chapter and the epilogue several times until I felt like I’d given readers (and the characters) enough closure to end the book. But I love the way it turned out in the end. Liv and Charlie’s happy ending feels really satisfying now.


What is your favorite scene involving Liv and Charlie?

There’s a particular scene where Liv is served up a gut punch and her first instinct is to ask Charlie to stay with her. Until then she’d been sort of resisting what he meant to her, but he’s the one that she wants for support when the chips are down.


Which character was the hardest to write?

Probably Taylor. She’s very mercurial, so I was constantly walking the line between her being sympathetic and irritating (like a real teenager, at times). I’m not going to say that I drew from some of the more difficult moments of my parenting journey, but let’s just say that I sympathize with Liv over Taylor’s bouts of snottiness.


Which character was the easiest to write?

Liv felt very natural to write, which is a surprise because she’s less like me than some of the other characters in the series. But I’ve always liked her combination of determination and self-doubt, which is something I think we can all relate to.


What would readers never guess about the writing of the book?

This is a much-abbreviated version of the first draft! I always find the second full-length books in a series a bit difficult to write because I have to incorporate everything that’s happened before as well as set up the books to come… and that was reflected in the fact that the book was about fifty pages too long! It took a very painful process of cutting and rearranging to get this into its final format. (Aspiring authors who aren’t happy with their first drafts take heart!)


Where did you get the idea for this book?

I knew that I was going to get Liv together with a down-on-his-luck contractor who was the polar opposite from her late husband as soon as I conceived of the empty accessory unit above her garage and the work-in-progress kitchen…long before the other books were written! But as I started to develop the Haven Ridge series, I decided to lean into all the businesses and features about small town life that gave me warm fuzzies. And small independent bookstores are one of the things I love best (along with bakeries) so it was natural to make Liv part of the book world and have her open a bookshop.


What kind of research did you do to write this series?

The majority of my research involved the setting: Haven Ridge is set rather vaguely in a real area of southern Colorado, between Salida and Buena Vista. It has a colorful and interesting history, so coming up with a founding story that was plausible (as detailed in the prequel novella, The Brick House Cafe) and fit with the actual history of the area was my first priority. From there, it was getting the architectural and topographical details right. Fortunately, my experience in publishing made writing Liv pretty easy, but I did have to email the very kind and helpful people at the Chaffee County Building Department about how contractor licenses worked in the area.


Most of your books are set in Colorado. Is Haven Ridge based on a real place, or is it made up?

Haven Ridge is completely made up, but it’s heavily based on Salida, Colorado, which is in the same area. Given the fact that they were founded about the same time and sit in the same general area, it made sense to model the architecture and hot springs on the real place.


What can we expect next from you?

I’m planning for the Haven Ridge series to run for at least four books, not including the prequel, so you can expect two more after this one! I’m hoping to finish up the series with a Christmas novel, which will be the first one I’ve ever written.


What can you tell us about the next book in the Haven Ridge series?

The next book in the series is The Larkspur House. It will be the story of Will Parker, who we got to meet briefly in The Beacon Street Bookshop, his sister, Erin, and a brand-new heroine that we haven’t yet met! Plus lots of historic-mansion vibes and a century-old mystery. I think readers who enjoyed Provenance are going to like this one!

Review: Pause by Taylor Dean

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Marin and Blu, a lifetime for two.

Such a cute rhyme for our wedding invitations. Until my wedding day didn’t happen.

I felt sure my life was over and there was nothing left for me except heartache and loneliness. I had a lot to learn. About life, love, and loss.

When I heard Blu took off on our honeymoon trip by himself, I decided to make an escape as well. I needed to pause my life, take time to heal. Breathe. Laugh. Feel the sun on my skin.

Marin and Blu, boo hoo.

I wasn’t expecting to meet Slade Sheridan on the heels of losing the false love of my life. He erased my grief and drew a picture-perfect future of us together. I thought I knew love. Turns out, we’d never even met before. Until now.

Blu who?

But when Blu makes a reappearance, my hasty actions threaten to destroy my new love. I know which man is the one for me. I have a new rhyme planned for my life.

Marin Sheridan.

Slade’s the one for me.

Right?

My Review

Poor Marin! She is blindsided by Blu's sudden abandonment, and encouraged by her support system of family and friends to take some time off for herself to grieve. She breaks down in front of a cute inn- wedding dress, streaked mascara, and all, and is rescued by Slade, who is too good to be true! I appreciated how they took their relationship slowly, keeping in mind the trauma Marin is recovering from. They are so sweet and fun together, and I absolutely loved it as they built a foundation for their romance. Marin feels things so intensely, but as much as Slade helped her heal and experience a different kind of relationship (fun and caring), and she did her best to not bury her emotions about being left at the altar... her resentment towards Blu comes raging back at the most inopportune moment. A lovely angsty romance with a strong supporting cast and amazing setting!

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.

Review: Second Chances on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Beloved inspirational romance author Jennifer Beckstrand continues her uplifting Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series featuring Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin’s, irrepressible eighty-something matchmakers Anna and Felty Helmuth! Will appeal to readers of Amish and inspirational romance and fans of Charlotte Hubbard, Amy Lillard, and Emma Miller.

Martha Sue Helmuth wishes she could just relax and enjoy her extended visit with her beloved grandparents. Instead, she is nursing a broken heart over gentle widower Yost Beiler.  Yost’s thirteen-year-old son, Jonah, refuses to accept Martha Sue, and she refuses to risk coming between them. For now, she is just trying to avoid her Mammi’s choice of yet another eligible suitor. But when Yost moves himself and Jonah to Huckleberry Hill to change Martha Sue’s mind, she can't help dreaming that somehow, some way, she and Yost will have a miraculous second chance to be together . . .
 
After his wife’s untimely death, Yost did everything he could to help Jonah through his grief.  He hopes that Martha Sue's outgoing family—and her generous ways—will show his son how loving and trustworthy she truly is. But Anna and Felty's matchmaking antics are inspiring Jonah to drive Martha Sue off for good. And when he goes too far, can Yost and Martha Sue find the understanding to forgive him—and the strength to prove they can overcome differences to make one joyous forever family?

My Review

I'm always excited to read a book by Jennifer Beckstrand! She has a wonderful way of blending laugh out loud humor with more subtle humor, unique characters, and depth of emotion. Anna and Felty are their usual lovable selves, and I have to say that I appreciate them even more after reading the prequel novel that tells their story, First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill. Anna is quirky as ever and sly as a fox as she tries to help Martha and Yost overcome the obstacles to their relationship. And they have a pretty big one- Yost's young teenage son who is struggling with all the hard emotions that come with the circumstances he is in. Shenanigans abound, with Yost's love and attention divided between the two most important people in his life. And Vernon Schmucker showing up for food doesn't help matters either... I'm so curious as to whether he will ever find love!

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 amazing books in The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series . . .