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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#1. I love a good who-dun-it. So, when I set to write about treasure hunting I know I didn’t want it to just be a journey, but a mystery my readers would enjoy unraveling.

Then finishes the with​

​These words are a reminder to lift my head and seek the Lord in all circumstances, and that He alone has the power to guide me and keep me safe.

​There is a certain in-between place where creatives tend to linger — a space where reality meets imagination and stories quietly begin. It’s where we observe the world as it is, then wonder how it might unfold just a little differently. That space is where my writing lives, and it’s where Best Seller was born.

Before novels, though, there was coffee. My very first “real” job as a teen was working as a barista, and I loved it. I wasn’t just making drinks — I was mixing flavors and letting my imagination wander between orders. There’s something comforting about coffee, something that invites reflection and creativity. Looking back, it makes perfect sense that it found its way into my stories.

In Best Seller, my main character Kelly Landon is a crime fiction writer with a carefully guarded heart. She’s shy, introverted, and far more comfortable with quiet moments than crowded rooms. Her love of seasonal coffee blends mirrors her inner world — thoughtful, layered, and hopeful beneath the surface. But Kelly’s heart is fragile, and without being anchored in God’s love and truth, it can be easily swayed by the promise of earthly acceptance.

Enter Declan — her outgoing literary agent with unassuming Irish charm and a way with words. Can you blame Kelly for daydreaming? For wondering if love might be possible after all?
​
To celebrate Best Seller, I created the Writer Girl Latte, inspired by my barista days and Kelly’s story. Cozy, creative, sweet, and just a little indulgent — because sometimes the best stories begin with a warm cup and a willing heart.

​So, pour yourself something warm, settle in, and step into the mystery of Best Seller — it’s only the beginning.

And remember, Love is a Mystery!
​
­-Christina

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 29
Stories By Gina, April 30 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, May 1 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, May 1
Pause for Tales, May 2
Artistic Nobody, May 3 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 4
Guild Master, May 5 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 6
Fiction Book Lover, May 7 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, May 8
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 9 (Author Interview)
Lily’s Corner, May 10
Blossoms and Blessings, May 11 (Author Interview)
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 12 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, May 12

​#5. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
After teaching for almost a decade, I was led to go back to being a stay-at-home mom, but feel like I am in a season of waiting for what comes next. This has made this verse important to me right now: 

​Easter is my favorite holiday because it celebrates the hope, restoration, and new life that Christians have in Jesus. It remembers Jesus’s death as the sacrifice that saved us, but also the power of the resurrection which gives us the hope of eternal life with Him. I can’t think of a better message to share with others.

When I began to write the Holliday Hotel series, I wanted to show how God is visible in all of the celebrations that we observe, and Resurrection Rest holds a special place as a celebration of God’s salvation for all people.

In today’s world, it can feel like God doesn’t still work miracles as medical treatments and professionals can get the credit for healing, but I have had the pleasure of witnessing several times where the doctors said one thing, but God intervened. A beloved grandmother figure who was so badly ill with sepsis that the doctors said that the family needed to say their good-byes only to have her not only survive, but thrive. A family friend who was hit by a drunk driver who should not have survived the night, or come out of the coma, or be able to move and speak, but defied the odds. My mother who was in a car accident that broke her neck and should have left her paralyzed, but didn’t. God is still active and working. His power has not diminished!
​
Resurrection Rest shows that God’s power is still at work in the world today and that His salvation is for everyone. I hope that you enjoy this Easter story of hope and love, and then come back to visit Holliday Hotel to celebrate other holidays through the year!

Stories By Gina, April 24 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, April 25 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, April 26 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 27
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 28
Fiction Book Lover, April 29 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, April 30 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 1 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, May 1
Texas Book-aholic, May 2
Blossoms and Blessings, May 3 (Author Interview)
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 4 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, May 4
Books, Books, & More Books, May 5 (Author Interview)
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 6 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, May 7

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

Except from the moment they arrive, Gwen sees and hears things, and it’s more than just the drafts and shadows that are part of any old house. Steven downplays her fears, warning her not to fixate on problems as she has in the past. But Gwen spent years as a homicide detective, and her instincts don’t lie. Something happened here. Proof comes when she rips up the attic’s carpet to discover a chilling message carved into the wood underneath.
​
As Gwen delves into the history of the house and the Cold Harbor community, she begins to piece the fragments together. And gradually, a terrifying picture emerges: A missing girl. A house of horrors. And a dark, decades-old nightmare that is more haunting than Gwen ever imagined…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 27, 2026 and will last through 11:59
PM EST on May 4, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours
to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for the print copy. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: April 7, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: July 13, 2025

​It’s been such a joy to set a series in the town where I graduated from college almost 40 years ago. I’m so thankful my husband suggested it, as it’s been a lot of fun digging into the history of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding area during the 19th century. Before this series, all my other books had settings in the Mid-west—Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.

When I started writing the first book, Abigail’s Pursuit, quite a number of years ago, I never intended to create a series about prodigals, let alone experience the pain of it in my life… but God knew what the future held. While each of the books in this Time to Come Home Series revolves around the common theme of a prodigal, each of the tales is a stand-alone. My prayer is for those who have children who have wandered away, or perhaps were once prodigals themselves, or even others who enjoy Christian historical romance with strong spiritual themes—that each of these groups find encouragement through reading this series.
​
Hannah’s Quest was exciting to write as I incorporated information about one of the oldest continually run hardware stores in PA that is still operating to this day, even though it’s changed names various times through the years. I hope you’ll enjoy stepping back in time to a small town in south-central PA where faith and family are celebrated.

Pause for Tales, April 18
Stories By Gina, April 19 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, April 20 (Author Interview)
Fruitfully Planted, April 20
Artistic Nobody, April 21 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 22
Guild Master, April 23 (Author Interview)
Fiction Book Lover, April 24 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, April 25 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, April 26
For the Love of Literature, April 27 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 28 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, April 28
Blossoms and Blessings, April 29 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, April 30
The Bookish Ledger, May 1 (Author Interview)

​To protect their loved ones, they must race to stop a treasonous brotherhood, whose dark secrets could enable Napoleon to win the war.
Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer
An ex-spy and a spinster botanist must find a murderer—with ties to both their families—whose uncanny alchemy could turn the tides against the war with Napoleon.
Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 2: Berserker
The team searches for their missing comrade before a crazed murderer finds him first.
Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 3: Aggressor
When French spies land on British soil to steal the ingredient for a powerful alchemical potion, Lady Wynwood’s team falls under attack from the toxins they unleash.

Genre: Christian Regency Romantic Suspense
Release Date: April 23, 2024

​Can the Archer help the Berserker & the Aggressor?

I actually read the first of the Lady Wynwood's Spies books, Archer, a few years ago so I was excited to get my hands on this boxed set with Archer and the next 2 stories in this serial series. Since it has been awhile and many stories in between, I did choose to re-read book 1 before diving into Berserker and Aggressor. I'm glad that I did so as these stories do have some resolution at the end of each one but they are so interconnected that you need to read them in perfect order.

Lady Wynwood's Spies is different from pretty much all other Regency fiction that I've read. It has all of the parties and polite manners and witty dialogue that one associates with the genre but Camille Elliot (Camy Tang) has also packed a lot of danger, intrigue, and even a supernatural element within its pages.

From Lady Wynwood herself to the twins, to Sol and the rest of the eclectic team, Camille Elliot's characters are varied and interesting – and all of them have secrets they wish to keep hidden. I particularly found myself caught up in Phoebe's story as she tries to navigate the wounds that only family can inflict all while searching for botanical answers to a mysterious substance wreaking havoc on London.

If you want to embark on a Regency era tale of adventure and intrigue that spans the poorest London streets to the most glittering parties of the elite, this boxed set is a great way to start. Personally, I enjoyed the first 3 Lady Wynwood's Spies novels from Camille Elliot and, since they end on a cliffhanger, I can't wait to read more in the serial-style series....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Lady Wynwood's Spies 1-3 by Camille Elliot a 4 Bark rating....

​What inspired me to write the Lady Wynwood’s Spies series:

While I love Regency Romances and Jane Austen’s books, I also really love action movies. When plotting the rest of the series, especially in light of Sol’s clandestine job for the Crown, I realized that I really wanted to do a mash-up of Mission: Impossible in the Regency era.

So I created Sol’s team of agents, some who used to work for the Foreign Office as spies and some who are civilians with unusual skill sets. And, of course, there will be lots of romance for each of the team members, as well as lots of action and suspense.

What exactly is an epic-length serial novel?

Originally I had written The Spinster’s Christmas, a Christian Regency Romantic Suspense, as a stand-alone novel, and I had planned more stand-alone novels with Lady Wynwood and Sol as minor characters in each of them. However, as I began planning the series past that first Christmas book, I realized the storyline was becoming longer and more complex.
I fought it for a while because it would have been a really long series—I even tried writing the next book as a stand-alone novel, but I wrote almost 90,000 words and I hadn’t even gotten to the 25% mark in the book!

So I decided to structure the series like a Japanese light novel series, in which each book has a complete story arc, but there is an underlying story arc that runs through each of the volumes and isn’t resolved until the end.

This is similar to the serial novels being published in the U.S., but those tend to be smaller installments of around 20,000 words, while each of the volumes in my series is around 100,000 words.

I have already plotted the entire series and it will be 12 volumes, plus 3 prequel novels (The Spinster’s Christmas, The Gentleman Thief, and Lissa and the Spy). At the moment, I’m writing volume 10.
​
I hope you enjoy my latest Regency series!

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 22
Inspired by Fiction, April 23
Books You Can Feel Good About, April 23
Melissa’s Bookshelf, April 24
Lily’s Corner, April 25
Life on Chickadee Lane, April 26
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 28
Texas Book-aholic, April 29
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 30
Sydney Schmied Books, April 30
For Him and My Family, May 1
Blogging With Carol, May 2
Blossoms and Blessings, May 2
Book looks by Lisa, May 3
Devoted To Hope, May 4
Holly’s Book Corner, May 5

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

Through raw storytelling and spiritual insight, the film reveals how unmet needs from an earthly father can shape identity, relationships, and self-worth. But it also offers a path forward. One rooted in the love of a Heavenly Father who restores, redeems, and redefines what it means to be a daughter.
​
This is not just a story about pain. It is a story about healing, forgiveness, and identity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh, no! Curtis!

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

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

“He–yah!!!” she cried softly.
​
Prince vaulted into a gallop and raced down the road.

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

​​#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
​Cinderella, one of my favorite childhood fairy tales, inspired Cerulean Rose. I always enjoyed that romantic tale, but felt the poor prince was a little flat. His character was so underdeveloped that I wanted to give him another layer. What if he didn’t start out charming? What if he was arrogant and bossy? Could he recognize true love if he saw it in one he deemed below him? With those questions swirling in my mind, The Fates Trilogy was born.   
​

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
​Cerulean Rose took a little over a month to write. I originally envisioned it as a standalone novel, but after weaving in a subtle faith element and reaching an unforeseen conclusion, I realized it was destined to become a trilogy. Part of the fantasy world setting for this novel includes two kingdoms that have a fractured view of God, reducing His divine power into attributes instead of seeing Him as a whole being. I wondered what it would be like if people related to God only through certain traits like love or justice or hope, never connecting them. Then what if God’s messengers went to war because people lost sight of Him as a being and only thought of His attributes as a way of life? Those ideas span the three novels, bringing a conclusion that links the fairy tales and scripture.   

#3. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
After delving into a multitude of books in this particular literary style, I couldn't resist feeling a surge of creative energy. Fairy tales have always held a special place in my heart. After spending years writing an epic fantasy series—without a doubt, the most difficult project I've tackled so far—I was looking forward to something less complicated. This trilogy, while different from my epic fantasy, still boasts a wealth of complex plot developments and a creative backstory that completely absorbed me in its narratives. I had a blast writing it.   
​

#4. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
​While I don’t like picking favorites… I have to say that Enris, a side-character with a lot of charm, truly stole my heart. He was quite unexpected. So much so that he gets his own story in Scarlet Oak. But, I can’t say too much about him without giving spoilers, so you will just have to trust me that he is complicated and charming. His story arc over the three books was my favorite. Shh—don’t tell the others.   

#5. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
​One of the things I hope readers will take away when reading this book is the power of true love. A love that is blessed by the divine. The anchor verse for Cerulean Rose comes from Song of Solomon 2:1-3. But the takeaway I hope readers get from immersing themselves in this story comes from 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. 

​The inspiration behind The Fates Trilogy came after I spent a few years crafting an epic fantasy series called The Illumination Chronicles. I wanted to write something light-hearted and less involved. What began as a simple idea for a single story quickly escalated into a trilogy—all because of the final scene in the first book. Though it isn’t a cliffhanger, my author’s mind grabbed onto the possibilities, and the second book invaded my dreams at night. Then the third. The combination of romance and fantasy was too much fun to stop at writing one book.

The royalty element is what I enjoy most about the stories in this series. Exploring the complicated relationships between fathers and sons, and the unspoken bond of brotherhood, added depth to the otherwise light-hearted stories. In this trilogy, the Christian influence is less pronounced than in my other novels, but the overarching themes of unity and sacrifice reach their peak in the final book.

The characters in The Fates Trilogy struggle with issues that echo Christian values. Some of the issues include the sting of prejudice, the challenge of forgiveness, and the ache of feeling forsaken. Each book dives deeper into those ideas until they culminate in the epic climax in the last story.

However, my main goal in the first book was to ensure that the narrative centered on the theme of love. Fairy tales swirled in my mind during my childhood, weaving vibrant worlds in my imagination. Cinderella was one of my favorite fairy tales, so it comes as no surprise that those vibes worked their way into this story. Yet, putting my own spin on it, I added depth, intrigue, and instead of glass slippers… a blue rose.
​
While the vibes of that classic story have found their way into Cerulean Rose, it pulses with its own heartbeat. The faint imprint of a quest for true love feels familiar … but there is so… much…. more.

Book Looks by Lisa, April 10
Simple Harvest Reads, April 11 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, April 11
Lily’s Corner, April 12
Artistic Nobody, April 13 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 14
Guild Master, April 15 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, April 16
Fiction Book Lover, April 17 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, April 18
For the Love of Literature, April 19 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, April 19
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 20 (Author Interview)
Leslie’s Library Escape, April 21
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 22
Blossoms and Blessings, April 23 (Author Interview)

Welcome to Enchanting Confections, where 12 no-spice, cozy fantasy romance stories come in every flavor imaginable. Some are as sweet as sugar, and some have a bit more "stabbiness” in the center.

#1. What was the inspiration behind this book?
The inspiration behind this book began in my childhood. Even as a young child I had a personal relationship with God. As the events of my life unfolded, I didn't initially attribute them to God but looking back I realize He has had his hand on my life from the very beginning. I began talking about God stories decades ago. I marveled at the different circumstances, situations, and stories that God produced in my life. Not all of them were happy stories but they all had purposeful results or endings. I was keenly aware of the sovereignty of God and His many amazing attributes. The 30 true stories in my/His book are all nonfiction. They range from my birth and resuscitation during a Los Angeles earthquake in 1952 to surprising travels abroad. They are all stories about Him, and I am passionate about proclaiming what He has done. As I told my/His God stories over the years and decades, family and friends encouraged me to write about them. Over those years, my faithful prayer partners prodded me to write this book. It was in, or around, the year 2018 when God Himself, directed me to write them through His familiar God Tap/directive in my life.
​

#2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
I began writing my/His book in the spring of 2019. God directed me to go away for several days to focus and concentrate on my writing. I was able to complete the book in that one chunk of time while I was away in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Twain Harte, California. Writing the book was twofold. It was easy to write because they were familiar stories that were true that I did not have to imaginatively create. But the stories were personal and I found myself resistant to sharing them in public as I am predominantly a very private person and sharing my stories was out of my comfort zone. The process from writing to actual book release was from spring of 2019 until October of 2025 … six years.
​

#5. What do you hope your readers will remember after finishing this book?
It is my goal that the readers of my/His book will recognize and grow deeper in their own personal relationships with God. It is my prayer that people will see God in their own lives in a new, fresh and reliant way. I hope that individuals will perceive their own personal God stories and proclaim them. God Storys is intended for people of all ages and all genders.
​

​I have been asked, “What is the purpose of this book? I believe that the answer to that question lies in the fact that you are holding this book in your hands and reading these God storys. That is not a coincidence; it is another God incidence. I do not believe in coincidence. I believe that our lives and our world are beautifully orchestrated by a very personal, very relational Creator.
​
This book is not about me; it is not about spiritual one-upmanship. This book is all about Him … about having a relationship with Him. I am an ordinary person; I am an ordinary Christian. I am merely His scribe writing out of obedience. Even the cover and subtitle of this book reflect God storys. I photographed the sunset from my front door before this book was ever written. The song that I refer to “The Truth”, reflects our royal relationship with Him as our King. The lock on the cover is to be unlocked as you explore your own relationship with Him, the God Who breathed life into our nostrils.

Simple Harvest Reads, April 8 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, April 9 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, April 10 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, April 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 12
Fiction Book Lover, April 13 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, April 14 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, April 15 (Author Interview)
Lots of Helpers, April 15
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 16 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 17
Blossoms and Blessings, April 18 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, April 19 (Author Interview)
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 20 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, April 20
Books, Books, & More Books, April 21 (Author Interview)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can’t we all use some of that?

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

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

There is also chaste, moral romance and deep love between a pair-bonded husband and wife. My sister accused me of trying to “create the perfect man” in my series hero, Brennen. I won’t call him perfect—no one is—but I think he’d be a catch on any planet. Then there’s Prince Tel, left a widower . . .
​
If you’ve never enjoyed science fiction, you might try a space opera, maybe even mine. If you already enjoy science fiction, this series could fall within your comfort zone, too.

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