About the Book

Book: My Grief Shared: A Tiny Book of Essays on Death, Loss    . . . and Life

Author: Ladonna Shanks

Genre: Memoir

Release Date: June 23, 2026

Do you find yourself overcome while living in the darkness of loss? Do you wonder if it will ever end . . . or if you will even survive?

In My Grief Shared: A Tiny Book of Essays on Death, Loss . . . and Life, Ladonna Shanks shares a message of hope while chronicling her persornal experience with grief. The essays, written in the midst of her grief journey, are bare, raw, open, and honest. Woven throughout these insightful anecdotes, however, is the fact that death is not the sole source of loss and ensuing grief, making this a relatable read for all. The book can minister to anyone who deals with grief and loss.

A light at the end of the tunnel exists. There is hope.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Octogenarian Ladonna Shanks has published two other books of personal essays: Tidbits and Pearls: A Book of Essays on Living Everyday Life with God, A Cascade Award finalist, and Sermons from a Soapbox. My Grief Shared was also a finalist in the Cascade Awards Contest. She strives in all she does to honor God and encourage others.

More from Ladonna

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Ladonna is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card, a copy of my book, and a variety set of 6 handmade floral photo note cards, (including birthday, sympathy, and thank you)!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/98wTW/my-grief-shared-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Belle’s Christmas Carol

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance

Release Date: September 1, 2026

While all of London waits for snow, an orphanage in need holds holiday cheer, sparks of love, and secrets waiting to be discovered.

When Ebeneezer Scrooge’s former fiancée, Belle Beaumont, unexpectedly inherits a struggling London orphanage, she dreams of giving the children of Haven House the most splendid Christmas they’ve ever known. But her vision of snowflakes and merriment quickly collides with reality: Fire damage has rendered part of the building unsafe, and the paperwork is years behind.

Barrister Rafe Munro is fighting to clear an innocent man and searching for a child, who may be his relative. His pursuit leads him to Haven House, where Rafe offers to help Belle sort through the chaotic records that might lead to the missing child. Amid the mayhem of running an orphanage full of mischievous children and eccentric staff, will Belle and Rafe find love and the answers they seek this holiday season?

With characters from Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, this festive historical romance Christmas novella of family and second chances from Michelle Griep is set in Victorian England and perfect for fans of Julie Klassen and Mimi Matthews.

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Donna

What I think you should know:

Belle’s Christmas Carol by Michelle Griep is an inspirational Historical Fiction set in London England 1819. This is a Dickens inspired Christmas story  that focuses on Scrooge’s former love Belle Beaumont. In addition to Belle we get a host of colorful characters including a barrister on a mission to find his missing niece or nephew and a houseful of orphans.

What I think of this book:

When I signed up to review this book I had no idea that my son’s fall play would be A Christmas Carol and I would have read and watched every version that he could find. With that this story fit perfectly into my world at the moment and was a welcome distraction.  Belle was definitely  a fun character to explore more of. I appreciate how Griep took a character that we just got a glimpse of and gave her a story that kept me entertained. Rafe was an interesting addition, in addition to his own mission he was determined to help Belle and the orphanage.  I appreciated his interactions with Belle and all of the residents of Haven House.   Cricket was quick to steal my heart and I could really picture his interactions with Jack.  I enjoyed this story and will definitely read more by Griep.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Michelle Griep is an award-winning author known for her captivating historical romances. With a keen eye for detail, she pens tales that transport readers to the past where they’ll experience romance, adventure, and unforgettable characters. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her garden scaring away armadillos.

More from Michelle

Why I Gave Scrooge’s Belle Her Own Christmas Carol

Guest post by Michelle Griep

I’ve always been suspicious of characters who appear just long enough to break your heart and then vanish without so much as a forwarding address. Belle from A Christmas Carol is one of those.

Scrooge, of course, gets the full treatment. Ghosts. Doom. Moral terror. A dramatic overnight transformation. Turkey delivery. The works. And yes, yes, it’s all very moving. But Belle? Come on. All she gets is one aching goodbye and then is shoved neatly into Scrooge’s past. So, excuse me, Mr. Dickens, but I have questions.

What became of the woman who loved Ebenezer before greed got to him? Did she regret walking away? Did Christmas ever sting? Did she build a fine, sensible life or did some little corner of her heart still ache for him or not? That wondering became Belle’s Christmas Carol.

In my story, Belle Beaumont unexpectedly inherits Haven House, a struggling London orphanage with fire damage, muddled ledgers, eccentric staff, and children who are more than rambunctious. Naturally, Belle decides she will set everything to rights and give the children the most splendid Christmas imaginable because—like me—apparently the woman has never heard of pacing herself.

Then along comes Rafe Munro, a handsome barrister searching for a missing child, and Belle’s tidy plans start to change. Oh, did I mention he’s single? That’s because I wanted Belle to be more than Scrooge’s lost love. I wanted her to have grit, flaws, hope, purpose, and a future all her own.

Because sometimes the story doesn’t end with goodbye. Sometimes that’s where the real story begins.

Blog Stops

Where Faith and Books Meet, October 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , October 7

The Avid Reader, October 7

She Lives To Read, October 7

Texas Book-aholic, October 8

Devoted To Hope, October 8

Betti Mace, October 9

Inkwell Inspirations , October 9

The Lofty Pages, October 9

For Him and My Family, October 10

Romances of the Cross, October 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 11

Jeanette’s Thoughts , October 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 12

The Vine and The Branch, October 12

Maureen’s Musings, October 13

Fruitfully Planted, October 13

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 13

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 14

Mornings at Character Cafe, October 14

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 15

Simple Harvest Reads, October 15 (Guest Review from Donna)

Cover Lover Book Review, October 16

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, October 16

Vicky Sluiter, October 16

Devoted Steps, October 17

Lily’s Corner, October 17

Holly’s Book Corner, October 18

Mary Hake, October 18

Blossoms and Blessings, October 19

Pause for Tales, October 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/KNJXt/belles-christmas-carol-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Open Door

Author: Scott H. Meinke

Genre: Christian Contemporary Fiction / Inspirational Fiction

Release Date: November 1, 2026

Victor Chambers has spent twenty years doing everything right.

He has worked hard, remained loyal, served faithfully, and waited patiently for the opportunity that always seemed just beyond his reach. But when another promotion passes him by and the next important role in ministry goes to someone else, Victor begins asking a question he is almost afraid to answer:

Does his life still matter?

Then an ordinary open door leads him into the lives of people the world has largely forgotten. What begins as another responsibility soon challenges everything Victor believes about success, significance, and the kind of work God considers important.

Inspired by Christ’s message to the church in Philadelphia, The Open Door is a story for anyone who has remained faithful but still feels stuck, overlooked, or left behind. It is a reminder that the door we wanted may not be the door God opens, and that our most meaningful work may be waiting where we least expect to find it.

Excerpt from the Book

Victor: When the Door You Expected Stays Closed

Have you ever watched someone else receive the opportunity you thought you had earned?

At forty nine, Victor Chambers has spent twenty years helping build Five Stones Insurance. He has been loyal, dependable, and faithful. He believes his mentor, Chris Antin, has been preparing him to lead the agency. Instead, Chris announces that he is selling it to his daughter, Jess.

The decision leaves Victor questioning more than his career.

“All these years…” he said quietly. “I thought I was building Five Stones.” He looked at Chris. “Turns out I was building Jess.”

Victor has done everything he believed he was supposed to do, yet the door he expected never opens. Larger ministry opportunities also seems to pass him by. When he is invited to help with a small chapel at Living Waters Retirement Community, it feels less like a calling and more like one more responsibility no one else wants.

But what if significance is not measured by promotions, platforms, or applause? What if the work God considers important is happening where almost no one is watching?

Victor spends The Open Door asking whether his life still matters. The answer begins to emerge in a place he nearly dismissed and among people that many have forgotten.

Missed an Excerpt? Go Here:

About the Author

Scott H. Meinke is the author of The White Stone and The Open Door, the first two novels in his Seven Churches of Revelation series. Through contemporary stories set in workplaces, churches, families, and communities, Scott explores the timeless truths found in Christ’s messages to the seven churches in Revelation.

Scott has spent almost four decades in the insurance industry, where he has seen firsthand the tension between ambition, integrity, success, and faith. He is also active in church leadership, discipleship, and ministry efforts supporting Christian communities in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Scott and his wife, Nena, have been married for more than thirty seven years. They have four adult children and a growing collection of grandchildren who provide plenty of joy, perspective, and interruptions. He lives in Florida, where he continues to work, write, teach, and occasionally fund late night writing sessions with an unreasonable amount of Dr. Pepper.

About the Book

Book: Wounds and Rescues

Author: Kathleen Rouser

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: October 6, 2026

A nurse with a wounded heart. A former lawman haunted by loss. An attraction neither can afford.

Rose Sinclair has built a careful new life in Stone Creek, hiding her painful past beneath a high lace collar. When private investigator Caleb Ellis arrives claiming he’s found a grandfather for two orphans she’s grown to love, she’s determined not to trust him—or let him take the children she’s come to cherish.

Caleb needs Rose’s cooperation to reunite the children with their family. But as questions begin to surface and shadows from Rose’s past reappear, it becomes clear someone is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the truth buried.
Forced to travel west posing as husband and wife, Rose and Caleb must protect the children while outrunning a past determined to destroy them. As danger closes in, Caleb must confront the faith he abandoned, and Rose must decide if she can risk her heart again.

Because this time, trusting the wrong person won’t just break them—it could cost them everything.

Perfect for fans of Karen Witemeyer and Mary Connealy, this faith-filled historical romance features a forced-proximity journey, blending danger, redemption, and a road that leads two wounded hearts toward love.

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Marilyn

It was a delightful journey back to Stone Creek, Michigan where nurse Sara has settled but longing for a change. When she went to the local Christian ran orphanage she had not expected such an adventure. With private investigator Caleb Ellis arriving there were questions by the residents. When his true reason for coming was brought to light, there were many obstacles to overcome. Sara wanted the children to be reunited with family but she had not anticipated the danger involved by deceitful men.

This book is filled with twists and turns from remarkable characters in the series plus a few new ones that created fraudulence and hardship. Themes of dedication to Christian values, caring for the orphans as if they were your own, letting go of the past with God’s love, forgiveness and surrendering one’s life to Him made this book a top notch Christian Historical read by Kathleen Rouser.

I received an early complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for a book tour. I have expressed my own thoughts without any obligation to post a positive review.

About the Author

Kathleen Rouser is a multi-published, award-winning author of historical and contemporary Christian romance. She is a longtime member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers. She resides in southeast Michigan, a location which she often uses in her novels, with her hero and husband of forty-some years and two sweet cats who found a home in their empty nest.

More from Kathleen

Joining an Orphan Home with Foster Care

Rose Sinclair makes a quick appearance in the third Stone Creek Brides novel, Scandals and Mercies as the head nurse at the local unwed mother’s home. With a tender heart and hurts of her own, she desires to help in a different way and moves to a nursing position at the town’s small orphanage. It is a loving sanctuary to around a dozen children and youth waiting for forever families.

During the era of orphan trains, the Child and Family Services of Michigan was established in 1891. They started “receiving homes” which cared for children with the goal of adoption. By 1906, the organization advocated for children to be placed in foster care when they couldn’t remain with their natural families. Thus began the trend toward foster care rather than orphanages.

The care received in the Anna and Jared Barrington Home for Children falls in between the two. In Rumors and Promises, the first Stone Creek Brides novel, readers see a glimpse into Gloria Myles’s life and how she became the guardian for her granddaughter, Elise. From this situation came her passion to care for orphans, as well as her desire to memorialize her daughter and son-in-law.

While most orphanages were often harmful institutions, I’d like to think that there were places like the Anna and Jared Barrington Home for Children, though I may have taken a bit of literary license.

I thought about what might happen if some of the children had the opportunity to be reunited with a faraway relative. How may that have taken place? Enter private investigator Caleb Ellis, who has lost several people he loved. He’s on a mission to bring together the scattered family.

In Wounds and Rescues, Rose becomes deeply attached to orphans Sam and Nellie Tubbs. The childhood trauma she experienced prompts her to become fiercely protective of them. From small-town Michigan of 1903 to the hills of Montana, she embarks on a journey of forgiveness, healing, and facing the past.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 10

Books Less Travelled, October 11

Texas Book-aholic, October 12

lakesidelivingsite, October 13

Simple Harvest Reads, October 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

For Him and My Family, October 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 15

Betti Mace, October 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 17

Devoted To Hope, October 18

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 19

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 20

Artistic Nobody, October 21 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, October 22

Pause for Tales, October 22

Cover Lover Book Review, October 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/WuCup/wounds-and-rescues-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Finding Home

Author: Dave Pratt

Genre: Contemporary / Action and Adventure

Release Date: October 27, 2026

Allen Farrell has always trusted his instincts. As the Home Team’s explosives expert, precision and restraint have kept both his teammates and innocent civilians alive. But when a bomb threat unfolds faster than expected—and his orders are to wait—Allen makes a split-second decision that forces him to question everything he believes about obedience, control, and God’s calling.
Already stretched thin by a long-distance engagement, Allen is struggling to balance his commitment to the Home Team with his devotion to Mallory, his fiancée. But when her groundbreaking research into cartel activity makes her a target, the mission quickly becomes personal.
As danger closes in, Allen must confront the limits of his own strength and decide what it truly means to trust God when the outcome is anything but certain.
To save the woman he loves—and the future they hope to build—he may have to risk everything.

Excerpt from the Book

Chapter 1

The rain poured down in sheets, soaking through Allen’s thin black tactical shirt and cargo pants as he hunkered on the cold gravel, his back against a low, crumbling, concrete retaining wall. The barrier was hardly tall enough to conceal his head and shoulders from the six shooters in the squat, white stucco building ten yards behind his position. The red tile-roofed house sat in a tiny enclave of similar buildings surrounding a small, cobbled plaza in the tiny town of Tuxpan, Mexico, a few hours east of Puerta Vallarta, a popular tourist destination. Normally occupied by a husband and wife working for a Christian non-governmental organization, or NGO, today, the little house held five hostages and the cartel thugs.

And another bomb.

There’s always another bomb, Allen thought.

With knees pulled close to his chest, Allen cradled his short-barreled M4A7B carbine rifle across his lap. His mind was a mix of frustration at being stuck in this rain while the higher-ups in his chain of command debated his team’s next move and his bleak thoughts about his own life.

Missed an Excerpt? Go Here:

About the Author

David Pratt is a native of most of the U.S. west coast, from Bakersfield, California to Anchorage, Alaska. A retired U.S. Army officer and private sector project manager consultant, he is based in Olympia, Washington, and spends the majority of his time living and wandering the Pacific Northwest with his wife and family. Mr. Pratt has wide and varied publication credits, including magazine articles and short stories in a variety of regional and national magazines and journals, and six fiction and nonfiction books. His guiding light in life is Our Lord Jesus Christ, and his focus is glorifying God in all he does. He considers his wife, family, and friends as some of God’s greatest blessings in his life.

Excerpt from the Book

Desperate to get home after a long, infuriating day, he pounded on the computer keyboard, trying to finish his paperwork. When the phone rang, he grabbed it and pressed it between his chin and shoulder, continuing to type. “Kelly.”

“Frustrating, isn’t it?”

“What’s that?” He didn’t recognize the woman’s voice. A little lower and smoother than any of his female friends or colleagues, with the slightest hint of a foreign accent he couldn’t quite place. He tabbed ahead to the next question on the form. Only a few more sentences and he could leave.

“The inability of the system to save everyone.”

He stopped typing. “Who is this?”

“Someone who cares about helping those kids as much as you do.”

“What kids?”

“All the kids whose parents think it’s okay to ease their own frustrations by taking them out on their children. Starting with those two adorable girls you saw today.”

His head shot up, and he looked around the room as though he might see the lens of a camera sticking through the window blinds.

“How do you know who I saw today? And what did you say your name was?”

“My name doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I know how you feel. I understand that you are angry, and you feel helpless to do anything about it. But you’re not. There is something you can do.”

He swung his chair around and toed the door shut. “What do you mean?”

“I can’t tell you any more over the phone. We need to meet face to face. There’s a café on the corner of Yonge and Davenport. Annie’s. Do you know it?”

He paused. He did know Annie’s. Whether or not he was ready to meet some sultry-voiced stranger there to hear about something that sounded a little cloak and dagger to him was another matter.

Two pairs of blue eyes peering out of serious little faces flashed through his mind. He sighed. “Yes, I know it. When do you want to meet?”

Want to know more about the book?

Get your copy here!

About the Author

Sara Davison is the author of numerous romantic suspense 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 three-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. Get to know Sara better and subscribe to her short, monthly newsletter at www.ontheedgesuspense.com.

Scavenger Hunt Word Eight: read

Find the other stops here!

Giveaway!

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for your chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card!

https://www.celebratelit.com/2026-mountain-brook-ink-scavenger-hunt-giveaway/

About the Book

Book: Murder, Plainly Written

Author: Mindy Steele

Genre: Christian Amish Mystery

Release Date: September, 2026

She just wanted to fit into Amish Country. . .now she’s standing out!

First novel in The Plain Order Ink Society series, in which Amish writers crack the case of local mysteries.

Sadie Lynch thought inheriting her late Amish aunt’s candle shop was a blessing—a chance to leave her stalled writing career behind and find a fresh start. But running a Plain business when she’s not Amish isn’t exactly filling her store with customers—especially when the local minister insists she sell out.

Sadie, who doesn’t want to leave, thankfully meets Wanda—an Amish woman with a secret obsession. As Wanda continues to visit the candle shop, an unexpected partnership blooms when Wanda agrees to help Sadie’s shop in exchange for writing advice.

But the grand reopening of the candle shop takes a deadly turn when the body of the Amish minister is discovered behind the counter. Now Sadie is the only suspect, prompting Wanda and the Plain Order Ink Society to try helping her solve the mystery.

But in this Plain community, secrets burn brighter than flames—and nothing is as simple as it seems.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Mindy Steele was raised in Kentucky timber country and has been writing since she could hold a crayon against the wall. Steele writes Amish Romance peppered with just the right amount of humor, as well as engaging Suspense, using rural America and the residents as her muse. Steele strives to create realistic characters for her readers and believes in engaging all the senses to make you laugh, cry, hold your breath, and root for the happy ever after ending. A hopeless romantic, with a lyrical pen, Steele wants her readers to find themselves somewhere within her pages. A mother of four and grandmother to a half dozen blessings, Steele enjoys hiking and gardening, coffee indulgences and weekend road trips, and is personally doing all she can to make peanut butter its very own food group.

More from Mindy

Murder, Plainly Written

The Story Behind the Story

Stories often begin in the most unexpected ways, and this one started with a group of remarkable new friends.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to meet a number of Amish authors from different communities. Among them were Old Order Amish writers, a New Order Amish woman, and a Danner Amish author from the Dan Amish church. What began as introductions soon blossomed into friendships that I treasure deeply.

Before long, I was invited to attend one of their monthly gatherings. Sitting among these talented storytellers, listening to their experiences, laughter, and unique perspectives on life, I found myself inspired not only by their writing but by their personalities. Since then, I have remained in contact with many of them, and our friendship continues to be a blessing.

When I was asked to write a cozy mystery series, my thoughts immediately turned to those wonderful authors. Their distinct voices, humor, wisdom, and observations about life seemed perfectly suited for solving mysteries. As we talked, they enthusiastically embraced the idea and even helped by creating character names for the series.

I could not resist imagining how each of them might approach a mystery. Who would follow the clues? Who would rely on intuition? Who would ask the questions no one else thought to ask? Those playful questions became the foundation for this series.

Murder, Plainly Written is the first book in that journey. While the story itself is entirely fictional, many of the characters were inspired by real people, and many of the settings were drawn from real places and experiences. It has been a joy to blend mystery, friendship, and a touch of Amish life into a story that celebrates the people who inspired it.

I hope as you read you get to know the characters and perhaps solve a mystery or two along the way.

Thank you for joining me on this adventure.

—Mindy Steele

Interview with the Author

1. What does success as an author look like to you?

I believe that a person’s measure of success differs from one person to another. I feel successful, as an author, because readers enjoy and spend money to read one of my stories. When I get a letter, card, email, or just a private message, that a character or circumstance I have demonstrated in one of my books, touched them, connected with them on a personal level and in a positive way, I feel, God has showed me my purpose in life. That, pleasing God, is success.

2. Which character did you connect to best in this book?

I enjoyed all of my characters, but I will admit, I’m a little partial to Sadie. Not only is she named after my granddaughter, but I understand how she felt being the outsider in an Amish community. Especially her deep fast friendship with Wanda, which I have with her real-life character.

3. Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?

There was a scene, between Wanda and the sheriff, that was difficult for me to write. As a bestselling author, it’s important to keep readers engaged and turning the pages, but there’s also that part of me that wants to remain true to realism. As much as I wanted to write a happy-ever-after for both of them, it was not realistic. Wanda’s love for the Lord was, and had always been, her deepest love.

4. What inspired this book?

I’m so glad you asked. I love sharing this part with readers the most. After befriending a stranger while visiting Baltic, Ohio, during a volleyball tournament, which I snuck into, we discovered that we both had something in common. We both love writing! Emma, my friend, is a publish writer. She writes articles for Woman’s Journal, among other magazines. She had invited me to attend a secret meeting, of Amish authors. Of course I went, and was inspired, intrigued, and a little envious. The talent in that room, far surpassed my own. When my publisher suggested I write a cozy mystery series, I jumped at the chance to give my new friends, fictional lives, solving mysteries together. The Plain Order Ink Society, is a true society and they each even named the character I created after them.

5. Describe your view as you’re sitting in your writing chair.

My office serves double as a guest room. Just beyond the oversized desktop monitor sits a white iron bed, antique with wheels, draped with a purple and white quilt my mother made. Above that, a canvas photo of Jesus, chasing after the one lost sheep. Next to the bed stands is a sturdy three-drawer dresser topped with a pair of Amish dolls, a handmade doily, and two crystal hearts, awards from my writing milestones so far. Behind my chair the wall is stretched with wooden bookshelves my father built for me, containing all of my books and the characters I have come to call dear friends. There’s also a ceramic ladybug catchall, a thoughtful gift from a reader. My chair is cracked and comfy and my refurbished desk was a gift from my husband. I always have my favorite pen next to the keyboard, and iron basket for bills and receipts that’s pilling up.

A map, of my current fictional setting, and a character sheet, is clipped on the side for easy viewing, but it’s the view out the window to the right that usually slows me down. Beyond the stretch of fence and pasture of our farm, is our Amish neighbor’s horse pastures and home. I can watch the girls play, the garden being tended, and even the ponies chase each other.

6. If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?

The Bible. I would want to be surrounded with God’s comforting words, with stories better than any written so far, and with wisdom to help me keep on keeping on.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 30

The Avid Reader, September 30

Simple Harvest Reads, October 1 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 2

Texas Book-aholic, October 3

Artistic Nobody, October 4 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, October 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 6

Guild Master, October 7 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 8

Avid Reader Nurse, October 9

Mary Hake, October 9

Fiction Book Lover, October 10 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, October 11

The Bookish Ledger, October 12 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, October 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mindy is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/q9rfA/murder-plainly-written-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Ballerina’s Bargain

Author: Lorri Dudley

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 8, 2026

A burdened earl. A determined ballerina. Saving the theatre was part of their bargain. Losing their hearts wasn’t.

London, 1815

Emmeline Laurent has survived by grace and grit. After her parents’ execution in France, she has learned to live unseen as a humble ballerina instructing young pupils in a small London theatre. When whispers spread that the Danforth Theatre may be sold to an unscrupulous buyer, Emmeline fears not only for her livelihood but for the safety of her impressionable students. With no time and no options, she does the only thing she knows to do: leap into a moving carriage and bargain with the new lord who holds their fate.

Grant Atherton, the Earl of Quincy, has inherited the crushing weight of duty along with a failing theatre, an arranged engagement, two younger sisters to usher into society, and a mountain of his father’s secrets. Selling the Danforth is the only way to save his family from ruin. The last thing he needs is a beautiful, infuriatingly determined ballerina turning his careful plans upside down.

But when Emmeline’s hidden past begins surfacing and the danger circling the theatre proves far deadlier than either of them realized, Grant must choose between the life he planned and the one God may have been preparing all along.

For fans of Roseanna M. White and Jen Turano — a sweeping Regency romance about the grace found in surrender, the courage it takes to trust, and the God who makes a way when every door seems closed.

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Donna

What I think you should know:

The Ballerina’s Bargain, a Christian Historical Fiction by Lorri Dudley is the first book in the Danforth Theatre Series.  Set in London in 1815 this book features Lord Quincy, Grant,  who has inherited a deeply indebted earldom and Emmaline Laurent, a ballerina at Grant’s failing theater.

What you might need to know:

While this book does mention “protectors” and out of wedlock pregnancy. I would still consider it to be a clean romance, but may use caution for younger readers unless you have read it first to discuss with them if needed.

Emmaline lived through the French revolution.

What I think about this book:

Oh My, this book took me on such an emotional rollercoaster. Emmaline Laurent is a force to be reckoned with, when it comes to the protection of her Petite Ballerinas she is willing to do almost anything. I truly admired her spunk and tenacity, she was such an inspirational character in spite of all of the tragedy that she had experienced. Grant was interesting, when he met Emmaline he felt his only option was to sell the theater, but after her impassioned pleas and meeting the young ballerinas she was fighting to protect he finds himself wanting to have a way to save her.  I loved this book more with every page.  I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and learn more about those connected with Danforth Theatre.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.

More from Lorri

Many young girls dream of growing up to become a ballerina. There is a romantic whimsy to the airy skirts, graceful movements, and illusion of defying gravity as dancers balance en pointe and extend their limbs with such elegance that they seem almost infinite. While modern audiences often associate ballet with beauty and enchantment, behind the heavy stage curtains of Regency England’s opera-ballet lurked a darker reality.

Many of the ballerinas came from impoverished families struggling to put food on the table. Girls trained from a young age, long before the onset of womanhood, and were expected to endure grueling hours of rehearsal despite blisters, sore muscles, and bleeding feet. For some, ballet offered a better alternative for a working girl than scrubbing floors and emptying chamberpots as a scullery maid, laboring as a laundress near scalding water and hot presses or cleaning dangerous cotton machinery in a mill.

At least the stage held the possibility of applause—if the performance was well received. If it wasn’t, audiences could be merciless. Performers might be shouted down, heckled off the stage, or pelted with food. Fights occasionally erupted among patrons in the pit or upper gallery, while disreputable men gathered in the front row of what was known as Fops’ Alley in hopes of catching a scandalous glimpse of the ballerinas’ ankles.

Their wealthy counterparts could become a ballerina’s sponsor, gaining special access to backstage rooms where they could ogle the dancers and receive in-person introductions after a performance. These men were known as protectors, though the title was a misnomer. In exchange for a ballerina’s exclusive attention, they offered gifts the young women could scarcely afford themselves, like new ballet slippers, ribbons, bracelets, or other trinkets.

While saving the theatre and its ballerinas from these so-called “protectors” forms the premise of The Ballerina’s Bargain, the novel doesn’t dwell on the darker details of these backstage arrangements. Instead, it focuses on the heroic efforts of its protagonists to spare the young ballerinas from a wretched fate. However, the tension of what may happen should they fail lingers in the wings throughout the story.

Enjoy!

Blog Stops

Devoted Steps, September 19

The Lofty Pages, September 20

Books Less Travelled, September 20

Devoted To Hope, September 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 21

She Lives To Read, September 22

Texas Book-aholic, September 23

Melissa’s Bookshelf, September 23

Fruitfully Planted, September 24

For Him and My Family, September 24

Sydney Schmied Books, September 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 25

Connie’s History Classroom, September 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 26

Simple Harvest Reads, September 27 (Guest Review from Donna)

Sylvan Musings, September 28

Leslie’s Library Escape, September 29

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, September 30

Cover Lover Book Review, September 30

Holly’s Book Corner, October 1

Pause for Tales, October 2

To Everything There Is A Season, October 2

Giveaway

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

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/aa58y/the-ballerinas-bargain-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Return of the Guardian-King

Author: Karen Hancock

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Release Date: September 22, 2026

Special Hardcover Edition of a Classic Christian Fantasy

Believed dead by all but the handful of supporters who rescued him from his Mataian enemies, Abramm Kalladorne has fled his homeland to the high mountains of northern Chesedh. Traveling under a new name with a group of bitter and increasingly desperate fellow exiles, Abramm hopes to reunite with his wife, Maddie, where he will offer his services to her father in fighting the invading armies of the Black Moon.

But with every step, he is thwarted from the direction he wants to take, and it soon becomes clear Eidon has other plans for him.

In the royal city of Fannath Rill, Maddie alone believes Abramm still lives. But since she has no proof, her friends, family, and public opinion press her to remarry. With its neighboring realms now under enemy control, Chesedh has become the last bastion of Eidon’s Light. Desperately overmatched, it cannot survive on its own. Yet an eastern warlord has a vast fleet of galley ships that could turn the tide in their favor if Maddie agrees to his offer.

As war, betrayal, and shifting alliances close in, both Maddie and Abramm have their faith tested beyond what either of them could ever imagine.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Karen Hancock has won Christy Awards for each of her first four novels —Arena and the first three books in the Legends of the Guardian-King series. She graduated from the University of Arizona with bachelor’s degrees in biology and wildlife biology. Along with writing, she is a semi- professional watercolorist and has exhibited her work in a number of national juried shows. She and her family reside in Arizona.

Excerpt from the Book

THE BELL-TONED VOICE DREW ABRAMM KALLADORNE

into the sunlight of the open meadow, a yellow butterfly zigzagging ahead of him above a patch of purple lupine. He pressed through the bloom-laden stalks into rippling grass, following the plucked notes of a lirret and a voice as familiar as his own. She must be just beyond that primrose at the meadow’s far edge.

Children’s laughter echoed in counterpoint to her sweet voice, and his pace quickened. Ian would be over two by now, walking well, maybe even talking in phrases and sentences, while Simon would have left all his toddlerhood behind, a real little boy at last. Then there was Maddie.

Abramm ached for her so badly sometimes he could hardly bear it. Now finally, that was behind him. All the worrying about threading the high passes before winter closed them had been for naught. In a moment he would step around that bush and there she’d be, her gray-blue eyes widening with surprise at the sight of him an instant before she’d cast her lirret aside and fling herself into his—

His foot slipped, and he lurched to regain his balance, gripping his walking staff hard as he drove it into the snow. The misstep jolted his entire body as the vision winked out and the dark, icy reality of the blizzard-swept heights filled his senses again. She wasn’t here. His boys weren’t here. There was no meadow. The passes were not behind him, and winter was very definitely closing in . . .

Realization slammed him so hard he reeled to a stop, struggling to breathe as he felt again the cold and the exhaustion and the misery.

Wind screamed around him, pelting his heavy woolen cloak with slivers of snow and flapping its snow-caked hem about his legs. For a moment, the desire to give up was so strong he nearly collapsed.

But he couldn’t. Maddie was waiting for him. His boys needed him. And so he drew a deep breath and reached up to dash away the ice that continually froze onto his beard and mustache. Chunks of it clung also to the long hair dangling beside his face, some of them rasping against the inside edge of his cowl, others frozen to his beard. He no longer felt his feet, and his fingers, numb beneath a double layer of glove and mitten, could hardly grip his walking staff.

He squinted down the rocky hill to where a shin-deep trough of footprints angled across the slope through the rapidly accumulating snow. At the end of his pocket of visibility, the last of his companions were starting down the next switchback, obscured by the shifting veils of snow. Shuddering, he started after them, placing steps and stick carefully to avoid any more almost-falls.

Neither he nor anyone else in his party had any real idea where they were going, only that having come through the Kolki Pass they must descend the barren slopes beyond to an ancient Terstan monastery just below the tree line. “The way will be obvious,” the men back at Highmount Holding had assured them. Maybe it would be if clouds hadn’t swallowed the world and driving snow hadn’t made it hard to open one’s eyes and the rock cairns that were supposed to be their guides weren’t fast disappearing beneath the drifting snow.

It was typical, though, of the bad luck that had plagued them since leaving Kiriath, transforming what should have been a three-week journey through the pass into a six-week trial of endurance. They’d run out of food two days ago and burned the last of their dung-pats in last night’s fire. Water had been in short supply for over a week, and they had an old man, a pregnant woman, and a number of children with them. Thinking they’d be in Caerna’tha tonight, they’d left much of their bedding and tents with the wagon when it had irreparably broken down in the pass that morning. Now, with the day three-quarters gone, and the tree line still who knew how far below them, their situation was growing desperate.

For not the first time he sent up a prayer for guidance and protection.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, September 25 (Spotlight)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 26 (Spotlight)

Artistic Nobody, September 27 (Spotlight)

The Lofty Pages, September 28

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, September 29 (Spotlight)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 29

Guild Master, September 30 (Spotlight)

Lily’s Corner, October 1

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, October 2 (Spotlight)

Fiction Book Lover, October 3 (Spotlight)

Vicky Sluiter, October 4 (Spotlight)

Texas Book-aholic, October 5

For the Love of Literature, October 6 (Spotlight)

Romances of the Cross, October 6

The Bookish Ledger, October 7 (Spotlight)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 8 (Spotlight)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/n17Pb/return-of-the-guardian-king-celebration-tour-giveaway