About the Book

Book: Secrets of the Desert Rose

Author: Marilyn Turk

Genre: Dual Timeline

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Three Women. Two generations. Their friendship survived the war. Their secret survived even longer.

Monique and Audrey, one French and one British, grow up in French Algiers on the coast of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Best friends, they keep each other’s secrets into adulthood when World War II changes their world and Algiers sides with the Hitler-based Vichy government. Audrey joins Charles DeGaulle’s resistance army, the French Foreign Legion, while Monique stays to work in the underground resistance aiding the Allied invasion of North Africa.

In present day, American born great-granddaughter Nicole, a graduate student in archaeology, goes to North Africa for an internship. The now centenarian Monique (Mimi), debilitated by a stroke, urges her to find the Desert Rose. Nicole finds different types of desert roses, but none are the right one until she stumbles onto information that hints the desert rose might not be a flower after all. While Sami, her instructor in Algiers, helps her find the desert rose, he also has to protect her from people who want the heirloom ring Nicole wears which has its own secret.

Will Nicole find the secret before it’s too late?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Award-winning author Marilyn Turk has written over twenty historical and contemporary novels and novellas laced with suspense and romance. She especially likes writing World War II era books, and loves to discover information not widely known for her stories. In addition to fiction, Marilyn is also an annual contributor to Guideposts’ Walking in Grace and other Guideposts anthologies.

Marilyn enjoys helping other writers and founded the Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers, AWSA, Word Weavers International and the United States Lighthouse Society.

Marilyn’s most recent books have been Secrets of the Desert Rose, The Escape Game set in World War II, and a novella, The Gilding of Minnie Tucker, set in The Gilded Age..

She and her husband Chuck have a blended family of four sons, one daughter and four grandsons whom they enjoy spending time with.  Marilyn and Chuck are lighthouse enthusiasts and have visited over 100 lighthouses in the United States and other countries. They also served as volunteer lighthouse caretakers at Little River Light off the coast of Maine. As a result of her interest in lighthouses, Marilyn wrote Lighthouse Devotions, 52 Inspiring Lighthouse Stories.

More from Marilyn

Why did I write Secrets of the Desert Rose by Marilyn Turk

Because I enjoy reading novels set during World War II, I also enjoy writing them. Most of the novels I’ve read are set in Europe – England, France, and surrounding countries. But we know the war impacted the whole world, so I look for stories set in places we don’t know much about.

Why did I set this book in North Africa? My sister-in-law’s mother was French and was born and lived in Algiers until sometime during World War II. Unfortunately, I waited too long to ask her about it, even though she lived to the age of 94. However, she left journals which gave insight into her life in Algiers and opened my eyes to what happened there before and during World War II. Monique is modeled on her stories.

While researching Algiers though, I came across another woman who was British and also played a role in North Africa during the war. Her name was Susan Travers, and her autobiography provided more interesting information. Although the two real women may have never met, her life was the basis for Audrey’s character.

I always find historical surprises when I research a novel and discovering the story of Cleopatra Selene was fascinating to me, so I had to include her in the book as well. And since there was so much secrecy involved in the true stories, I thought my characters needed secrets of their own, and my present-day character, Nicole, would have to discover them.

Interview with the Author

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

Finishing a book is a great reward, mainly because I believe God gave me the story and I was faithful to complete it. Another thing that makes me feel successful is when I get good reviews or someone tells me they enjoyed the book. And one more thing I love is when people tell me they learned a lot by reading my book, because I do a lot of historical research and love to share what I learn.

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

I relate to all three women. Like Monique, I wish I could do more like the Audrey-type people. Like Audrey, I’ve gotten in a little trouble being a bit rash (but that was when ai was a child). And like Nicole, I’m fascinated by archaeology.

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

Usually, it’s the middle. But this book had three points of view, so it was a little challenging to keep each story going separately and when to put them together.

4. What inspired this book?

My sister-in-law’s mother was French and grew up in Algiers and didn’t leave until 1945, after she married an American Navy man (you might see that in the book). Since I enjoy reading books set during World War II and haven’t seen other books set in North Africa during that time, I asked my nephew, who had the most contact with her, if she left any journals when she passed away at age 100, and was thrilled to discover she did! So I used some of the personal information and also some from the autobiography of an English woman who was the first woman to join the French Foreign Legion, made her and Monique friends, then the story came together.

5. Which author influenced you most?

Lynn Austin. She also writes historical fiction, and I love her books.

6. What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

My life verse is Psalm 40:1-3,

I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
² He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
³ He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.

7. What are you reading right now?

I just finished Lynn Austin’s The Lumber Baron’s Wife.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 11

Sylvan Musings, September 12

Simple Harvest Reads, September 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 14

Artistic Nobody, September 15 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 16

Guild Master, September 17 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, September 17

For Him and My Family, September 18

Fiction Book Lover, September 19 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 20

The Bookish Ledger, September 21 (Author Interview)

Connie’s History Classroom, September 21

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, September 22

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 23 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, September 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marilyn is giving away the grand prize of a $15 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook 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/nuBqc/secrets-of-the-desert-rose-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Bible Companion Book 9 Hosea–Malachi The Minor Prophets

Author: Karen Westbrook Moderow

Genre: Non-fiction, Bible Study

Release Date: February 19, 2026

Are you overwhelmed by the evil and suffering around you?

In the time of the Minor Prophets, evil seduces and overpowers God’s people. The Bible Companion Book 9 Hosea–Malachi tracks what happens and why. A simple one-chapter-a-day format lets you engage with Scripture without the pressure of schedules, homework, or heavy reading loads. Short daily readings and thought-provoking questions connect your story to God’s Word. For personal, group, or homeschool Bible study.

As God’s disobedient people race toward destruction, the prophets do all they can to stop them. The sins and problems they address still plague us today. But their visions of a day when God deals with Satan and makes all things new gives us hope. Evil is a reality we cannot escape apart from God’s grace. If we have drifted, the prophets show us the way back. If we are holding to the Lord, they show us how to endure dark times with optimism and purpose.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

KAREN WESTBROOK MODEROW is a Bible teacher and author who brings a storyteller’s perspective to Scripture. She holds master’s degrees in theology and creative writing and loves introducing others to Jesus through the stories told in God’s Word.

More from Karen

Throwing Jonah Overboard

Jonah is a minor prophet with a big story. The tale of a runaway prophet who is swallowed by a big fish is the perfect analogy for many of life’s upsetting circumstances like the one my minister friend is experiencing.

He had to report his boss for ongoing unethical behavior. The church leaders listened and are now verifying facts, a process that could take weeks. In the meantime, the board asked my friend to stay in his role and submit to his boss with kindness and respect while they decide how to proceed. Because he loves the Lord, the church, and its leaders, he wants to comply. Yet he feels like he’s been thrown overboard. How can he maintain a good attitude while working daily under someone who has hurt him and the ministry so deeply?

I immediately thought of Jonah. God commanded him to go Nineveh and warn people of coming judgment. Jonah did not want to go. For good reason. The Ninevites had raped, pillaged, and burned their way through his home territory multiple times. So, instead of obeying, Jonah boards a ship heading the opposite direction. But the Lord sends a violent storm that threatens to sink the ship. When the crew cast lots to see who brought this calamity on them, the lot falls on Jonah. He tells them to throw him overboard and they will be saved. Not wanting to take a life, the sailors delay but ultimately toss him into the sea.

We may identify with Jonah if our choices have put others at risk. Or perhaps we’ve felt like the sailors, caught in the consequences of someone else’s action. In my friend’s case, his courageous decision to speak up intensified a storm already brewing. Now he bears the brunt of it.

Storms take us to the depths. The discomfort of tense relationships can feel as confining and foul as the belly of a whale. But Jonah’s story gives us a needed perspective. The crisis was never just about the prophet. As the pagan crew wrestled with fear and guilt, God was working in their hearts. After He calmed the sea, they offered sacrifices and made vows to Him. Jonah’s crisis led to their salvation and proved a major theme of Scripture—God is in control.

In the book of Jonah, God doesn’t reveal truth through the words of the prophet but through the man’s pitiful example. His life is a mirror. We see his rebellion, his anger, his submission (of sorts), his obedience (of sorts), and see ourselves. The contrast between us and Jesus couldn’t be sharper. The Father sent His Son into enemy territory too, but Jesus didn’t run. He loved us. Died for us. Saved us. And now He calls us—just as he called Jonah—to rescue others.

We are God’s messengers and He will reveal Himself through us one way or another. So we should not be surprised to find ourselves in situations where our survival depends on Him. Being thrown overboard does not mean abandonment. It’s the opposite. Whether we jump or are tossed in by others, we fall into the hands of the living God. Jonah 1:17 says, “Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah.” That fish—as scary as he must’ve been to Jonah—saved him from drowning. It’s often the same for us. The dark place looming before us can be our deliverance.

Jesus used the story of Jonah to describe His death and resurrection: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt. 12:40). Unlike Christ, Jonah was guilty. Bad choices got him to the point where sacrificing himself was the only way to save his shipmates. To his credit, he went willingly. And at that moment, Jonah became Christ-like—choosing death so others could live.

God’s plan always includes others. In the vortex, they too will make choices that affect their character and eternal destiny. But whether we or those in the boat with us act out of honor, necessity, or maliciousness, God remains Lord of the storm.

As it rages, God may call us to return to the very ones who hurt us and show them the mercy Christ showed us. We may sit in the belly of the whale for a season engulfed in grief or confusion. Yet even that dark space has its blessings. Jonah used his “time out” to confess his need, express gratitude, and commit to obeying the Lord. We can do the same.

One of the many lessons in Jonah is this: God never gives up on us. He will track us to the end of the earth—not only to restores us to Himself but to make us effective messengers. He wants everyone around us to know that Jesus saves, that He is sovereign, and that there is no cause for fear. “Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps” (Ps. 135:6). Even if life throws us overboard, we are never abandoned. Never adrift. God is in control and our lives are in His hands.

Interview with the Author

1. Which chapter was the most difficult to write?

Zechariah. The prophet has 8 visions with imagery that connects them to prophecies in Ezekiel and Daniel in the Old Testament and Revelation in the New Testament.

2. What inspired this book?

A desire for people to know how God feels about us and how we are living.

3. Which author influenced the you most?

The author who influenced my writing about the prophets most is Walter Brueggemann. His book, Hopeful Imagination: Prophetic Voices in Exile, helped me see that despite the dark tone, the books of prophecy are filled with light and hope.

4. What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

The verse I believe God has given me for this season of life is: “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Zech. 4:6).

5. What would you like your readers to get out of this book?

A sense of urgency. The same sins that took down Israel in the days of the prophets are rampant today. Judgment day is coming. Tell everyone. Those of us who know Jesus must be passionate about Him and committed to bring as many as will listen into the kingdom with us.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 8

Lots of Helpers, September 9

Girls in White Dresses, September 9

Simple Harvest Reads, September 10 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 11

Texas Book-aholic, September 12

Artistic Nobody, September 13 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 14

She Lives To Read, September 15

Guild Master, September 16 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, September 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 17

Fiction Book Lover, September 18 (Author Interview)

Because I said so adventures in parenting, September 19

The Bookish Ledger, September 20 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, September 21

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/0YRWn/the-bible-companion-book-9-hoseamalachi-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Winter’s Dawn (The Nordic Wars Book 3)

Author: Morgan L. Busse

Release Date: August 11, 2026

Genre: Viking fantasy (adult)

Fearless. Defender. Shield Maiden.

Brighid returns to the Nordic forces. But she is not alone. Her newfound companion accompanies her, along with Kaeden, the Eldaran Truthsayer. Together, they approach the battlefield, powered by a unique bond forged since their first encounter.

Yet a dark and menacing presence grows within Brighid’s mind. Her connection to death has returned, and this time, there is no oath to numb the terror. Will she be able to fight and protect her people while sensing the reaper of life?

Kaeden’s recent conflict with one of the Shadonae has left scars across both his body and soul. Still, he is determined to finish what he has started and free both the Nordic people and the world of this great evil. To do so, he may have to sacrifice everything to reach the one who has bound the Nordic people to this deadly war.

Kaeden will need Brighid’s help. But when he reveals the truth behind the dreams they have shared, Brighid must make a choice that could change not only her future but the fate of her people: accept the bond between them or let it fade―and lose him along with it.

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Mindy

About the Author

Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the FOLLOWER OF THE WORD series, THE SOUL CHRONICLES, and THE RAVENWOOD SAGA. She is a three-time Christy Award finalist and winner of both the INSPY and the Carol Award for best in Christian speculative fiction. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.

More from Morgan

What we do today will determine the ending to our story.” -Gurmund, Winter’s Dawn

Legacy. I don’t think many people think about legacy. At least not until they start facing the end of their lives. So, what is legacy? One definition I found is something handed down from one generation to the next. I like this definition because it can be so many things. It can be wisdom, stewardship, an example of a life lived with integrity, leaving the world a better place, peace, and even hope. Perhaps another way to say it is legacy is living with the future of the next generation in mind.

The quote up above is from the last book in my Viking-inspired fantasy series, The Nordic Wars. In Winter’s Dawn, the leaders of the Nordic people are facing two impossible choices, both that will most likely cost their nation everything. Then the end comes. Discouraged, Brighid feels all hope is lost. But Gurmund reminds her that even if they lose everything, and their people cease to be no more, it still mattered how they finished.

They would leave hope and light for the next generation.

This is how I want to live. I once told my husband that I don’t think we will ever know the legacy we leave behind, because it will be spoken about after we are gone. But the choices I make today and the life I live, will determine the ending I leave behind for others to read. I want that ending to be full of hope and light so that when the next generation faces darkness, they will remember they are not alone and those who went before them.

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, August 27

To Everything There Is A Season, August 28

Artistic Nobody, August 29 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, August 30 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, August 31

Texas Book-aholic, September 1

Fiction Book Lover, September 2 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, September 3 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 4

Wishful Endings, September 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 5 (Spotlight)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 5

For the Love of Literature, September 6 (Author Interview)

Devoted Steps, September 7

Labor Not in Vain, September 8

Simple Harvest Reads, September 9 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Morgan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a 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/P2Wse/winters-dawn-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: A Contrary Betrothal

Author: Denise Farnsworth writing as Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: August 18, 2026

A Cherokee lieutenant, a colonel’s daughter, and a desperate fight to protect both land and love.

Sam Hicks may be the educated son of a Cherokee chief, but his command of multiple languages and diplomatic skills can’t erase the prejudice he faces as a mixed-blood warrior. When he’s tasked with guarding Colonel Moore’s spirited daughter, Susanna, at a wilderness fort, he never expects to lose his heart to a woman he can never have.

Susanna Moore dreams of making her own way on the frontier like her Cherokee stepmother. The last thing she wants is an arranged marriage to the fort’s stuffy doctor—especially after she meets the noble and intelligent Sam Hicks. When she’s captured by a turncoat warrior during a Creek uprising, Sam risks everything to save her.

Their shared values and growing love give them hope—but with the Creek War raging and cultural pressures mounting, can a Cherokee lieutenant and a colonel’s daughter overcome the loyalties and prejudices set against them?

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Donna

What you might need to know:

A Contrary Betrothal by Denise Farnsworth is the sixth book in the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier series. Set in Cherokee Territory in 1813 this book. This book features Susanna Moore the daughter of a US Colonel and Sam Hicks who is the son of a Cherokee Chief. While this book is the sixth in the series it can be read as a standalone.

What you might need to know:

This book was previously published as Bent Tree Bride.

This book is set in 1813, this book does feature war and death, the author does include some of the deaths on the page.

This book features white and native conflict as well as prejudice.

What I think about this book:

Susanna has been raised by her father and Cherokee step mother, she is a strong young woman who has embraced her step family. I really appreciated her strength and steadfastness in the face of extreme adversity.  Sam was also a wonderful character, he is caught between two worlds and not fully accepted in either, however he did not allow this to keep him from working to serve both to better the country.  One of my least favorite characters in the book may have been Colonel Moore, however looking at it with a historical lens and knowing what happened to the Cherokee people when they were forcibly removed from their lands I try to remind myself that he may have seen the writing on the wall.  Once again Farnsworth did a wonderful job of tackling a tough time period and bringing to life with characters that kept me captivated. I will definitely read more books by her!

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

North Georgia native Denise Farnsworth, formerly Denise Weimer, has authored over twenty traditionally published novels and novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

More from Denise

The seed idea for A Contrary Betrothal came from another author a number of years ago. She proposed a collection of stories in which the heroes were all Native Americans who served their country in different wars. I still love the idea even though it never came to pass! In fact, I loved it so much, I went ahead and wrote my story. And that story became Bent Tree Bride, first published with Smitten Romance. Now, it’s joining my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier series as book six.

Many people are unaware that the Cherokees fought alongside American troops under Andrew Jackson during the Creek War or Red Stick War, a portion of the War of 1812 that occurred in present-day Alabama. The Creek people were allied to the British, as the Cherokees themselves had been during the American Revolution. The motivation for this was, of course, to keep their land. Their warriors were so valuable to Jackson that they broke the ineffective cannonade on the town of Tohopeka, swimming across the river from behind and making the victory possible that ended the war at Horseshoe Bend.

Sam Hicks, the hero of A Contrary Betrothal, is a mixed-blood Cherokee lieutenant with the head of a scholar and the heart of a warrior. His struggle to intermingle the old ways and the new ways proves reflective of the metamorphosis of his people. Even though he’s been educated as the wealthy son of a chief, he knows his white colonel’s daughter, Susanna Moore, is out of his reach. But when he’s assigned to guard her and her little brother at a wilderness fort, he can no longer deny his attraction to the feisty young woman who’s determined to convince her father she can survive on the frontier as well as her Cherokee stepmother.

A Contrary Betrothal will resonate with readers who enjoy stories by authors like Laura Frantz, Shannon McNear, Michelle Griep, and Lori Benton. The forbidden love and fish out of water tropes create plenty of angst, and the battlefield scenes echo Last of the Mohicans. When people have asked me which of my books would translate well onto the big screen, in fact, this is one I think of. I invite you, dear reader, to be swept away by the action and romance of my final book of the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, August 25

lakesidelivingsite, August 26

Books, Books, & More Books, August 27 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, August 27

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 30

Cover Lover Book Review, August 31

Jeanette’s Thoughts , September 1

Books You Can Feel Good About, September 2

Connie’s History Classroom, September 3

Simple Harvest Reads, September 4 (Guest Review from Donna)

Blossoms and Blessings, September 5

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 6

Holly’s Book Corner, September 7

Pause for Tales, September 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise 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/7zfBE/a-contrary-betrothal-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Routed to Heaven: How Near-Death Experiences, Afterlife Testimonies And Heavenly Insights Can Help You Live With Intention

Author: Julie Bonn Blank

Genre: NF (Memoir, Devo, Christian Living)

Release Date: February 21, 2026

What happens when Heaven doesn’t just reveal itself—but sends you back with a mission?

In Routed to Heaven, Julie Bonn Blank shares the moments that changed everything: a sudden medical crisis, clinical death, and a breathtaking encounter with Jesus Himself. Standing in Heaven, overwhelmed by love and beauty beyond words, Julie received a message that would redirect the course of her life: “There is still so much work to be done.”

But this book is far more than one extraordinary near-death or afterlife experience.

Routed to Heaven weaves together over twenty additional powerful testimonies from people who briefly crossed into eternity—children healed after death, abuse survivors guided by the Holy Spirit, one person sent back to earth for a do-over, and believers who stood at Heaven’s gates and returned forever changed. These stories affirm what so many long for in uncertain times: Heaven is real. God is near. And our lives matter more than we realize.

What sets this book apart is its purpose.

Each testimony is paired with Julie’s honest, compassionate reflections that address the real-life obstacles keeping believers from living with eternal focus—fear, grief, trauma, unforgiveness, mental health struggles, waiting on God, spiritual warfare, and more. With wisdom shaped by personal suffering and years of ministry, Julie doesn’t just inspire—she equips.

At the heart of the book is what she calls the Heaven-Minded Mission Manifesto—a practical framework designed to help readers stop sleepwalking through life and begin living with bold Kingdom intention. Through prayer, worship, gratitude, belief, and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, readers are invited to move from survival to activated faith.

With thoughtful Pause & Ponder sections at the end of each chapter, Routed to Heaven becomes more than a book—it becomes a journey of awakening. For those who want to go deeper, the Companion Study Guide expands on these reflections with guided questions, scripture exploration, and practical exercises—making it ideal for personal growth, small groups, or church studies.

If you’ve ever wondered whether Heaven is real…

If you’ve questioned whether your life has greater purpose…

If you’re longing for hope, healing, or renewed fire for God…

This book—and its companion guide—are your invitation.

Heaven is watching. The time is short. And your mission matters.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Julie Bonn Blank is the Bestselling Amazon author of Routed to Heaven: How Near-Death Experiences, Afterlife Testimonies And Heavenly Insights Can Help You Live With Intention

and a fiction suspense series which highlights healing from human trafficking. She is a sought-after speaker, certified domestic violence advocate, near-death experience survivor, and founder of the advanced, faith-based interactive trauma recovery program Broken Souls Restored—a résumé she never planned on assembling, but the plot kept thickening and life hit “publish” anyway.

More from Julie

When Julie returned from visiting heaven in August of 2024, she received a list of three things (to apparently start a list of many more lol) and one of those was to gather the stories and write “Routed to Heaven.” She was shocked to discover that while she was exuberant about her heavenly trip and couldn’t wait to share more, many others had experienced visits over the years and became hesitant to talk about their journeys due to misbelief or even put-downs from other people. But the Lord had placed within her heart that not only was it her job to round them up and get them into paper format, but to build a community. And that community had a special role on earth as well as upcoming in Heaven. She began many conversations with, “Hey I went to Heaven and I hear you might have had an experience too.” Even then, sometimes people hesitated. She found cases of “Well, your heart actually stopped and I don’t think mine did so mine was just a vision” or “I barely remember any of mine …” Over time, she was honored to help over twenty people write their stories for their inclusion in “Routed to Heaven.” People now seek her out specifically at times to tell their stories and she also finds people with stories in some interesting places, including funerals and grocery stores. You just never know! But there are many more stories out there and she continues to gather them for book 2, as well as for other purposes.

Interview with the Author

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

When a reader sends over a comment or note on how the message of the book impacted them or how God used it in their lives. That is THE BEST and means I am doing what He sent me here to do.

2. Which chapter was the most difficult to write?

Chapter 23 is the ending of the book and includes stories of the great impact. It’s completely raw but even so, I didn’t find it difficult to write because the Holy Spirit was just pouring the words through me. I tell people I was really just the funnel and that is true. When He moves, He does the writing and as long as I remain close and am willing to be the vessel, He accomplishes many things.

Chapter 8 is another raw chapter when I have to admit to the hold that anxiety used to have on me. This includes an embarrassing, but very human story of a panic attack I once experienced while on a plane. But if writing it out helps someone else, every word is worth it. 😊

3. What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

A longstanding verse that has followed and impacted me throughout my life is Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

One thing I learned in Heaven is that I have not been taking scriptures literally enough. Its amazing as I read verses now how the messaging is a bit different. As an example, the “seek me with all of your heart” above means exactly that. In the original languages, the “seek” is dāraš, which can indicate “sought after; demanded; carefully investigated.” And the word for heart, lēbāb, means “wholehearted devotion.”

Demand Me and investigate Me with all of your devotion.

This brings an urgency to it that doesn’t seem to come across in the English versions. Seeking after Him is what I did with insistence after I returned from my Heaven visit. We spent hours together each day and as a result, as you will read in “Routed,” He physically healed me and also activated an extra gift that honored me and now serves His people. And He’s not done yet! Last week, He instigated more healing in my body and provided me with my Heaven Name. That will be in book 2!

4. What is your vacation spot?

Cannon Beach, Oregon is a place I grew up visiting and remains close to my heart. It also plays a special part in my husband’s life and in other family members lives. My Lord meets me there and it has been a place of healing, restoration, connection and chill-time. We are there as much as possible, have family there, and hope to retire there someday.

5. What is your most well-loved and well-used house appliance?

Keurig, for sure. But I don’t like coffee. I prefer to drown myself in tea. 😊

Thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog, Mindy! Very kind of you!

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, September 4 (Author Interview)

Girls in White Dresses, September 4

Artistic Nobody, September 5 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, September 6 (Author Interview)

Fiction Book Lover, September 7 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 8

The Bookish Ledger, September 9 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, September 10 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, September 11 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 13 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, September 14 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, September 15 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 16

Cover Lover Book Review, September 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Julie is giving away five books by Julie Bonn Blank and a Starbucks 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/6H1bQ/routed-to-heaven-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Drandar and the Quest for Redemption (Book 2)

Author: Terrie Hellard-Brown

Genre: Middle School Fantasy Chapter Book

Release Date: June 15, 2026

What do you do with an enemy who tried to destroy you?

Drandar didn’t expect to find the answer in a dungeon.

Seaton the knight betrayed the king, hunted Drandar, and lost. Now he’s locked up and miserable — and somehow, Drandar can’t stop thinking about him. When Drandar was ready to give up, Seraphina and the fairy believed in him anyway. Maybe Seaton needs the same thing.

The king has a different idea. He’s sending both of them on a quest to find the kingdom’s greatest treasure. Together. Whether they like it or not.

The problem? Drandar isn’t sure he trusts Seaton. And the quest is harder than either of them expected.

Drandar and the Quest for Redemption is a story about second chances, unlikely friendships, and discovering that the greatest treasure isn’t always what you went looking for.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Terrie Hellard-Brown is an award-winning author, speaker, and missionary with over thirty years of experience as a teacher and homeschool mom. That time at the classroom and kitchen table convinced her of something she writes into every story: every child’s journey matters, and no one is too far gone for redemption.

Terrie works with families — especially mixed-needs families (those raising both neurodivergent and neurotypical children) — to disciple their kids and build a peace-filled home culture. She hosts two podcasts focused on equipping parents to raise the next generation to follow Christ with their whole hearts.

She holds a BA in sociology and psychology, an MA in education, and is currently pursuing her DMin.

More from Terrie

Forgiveness, redemption, purpose, trust, truth – these are so important for children to grasp early. Those are the motivation and foundation behind the Drandar the Dragon series.

Drandar and the Quest for Redemption is the second book in the Drandar the Dragon series of chapter books. It picks up where book one ended, but it also can stand alone on its own as long as readers begin with the understanding that Drandar is a knight in a Medieval, fantasy kingdom.

I began writing these stories for my daughter who is autistic because I saw such potential in her and God’s blessing in her life, yet I watched her struggle with doubt and fear. (She is also the illustrator for the series which is exciting for both of us).

Interview with the Author

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

I know it would be wonderful to make a lot of money selling my books, and I am certainly not opposed to that. LOL! However, I feel like a success when I see a child hug my books and ask for them to be read again. Or when a mom comes to my booth at a live event and tells her friend about my book she bought the year before and tells her friend she needs that book and how much it’s blessed her. That why we write, so our books will be loved and read—so they can touch lives and bless people.

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

I just love Drandar. I relate to his awkwardness and self-doubt. I understand how he sometimes overthinks things and has to fight negative thoughts. I love that in this book he gets a bad case of the worry warts, and one of the cooks at the castle teaches him a little song to encourage and help him. I can relate to that so much. I will hold on to a song that helps life my spirits and helps me keep my thoughts focused on God’s Word and Truth when life gets challenging. I know I don’t want to get a bad case of the worry warts, but I do want to walk by faith. Drandar reminds me to do that. By the way, readers can download the song for free with the QR code in the book.

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

The fight scene with the thieves in the forest was the most challenging. It’s new for me to write action like that. I had a hard time getting it right, and I still doubt that it’s as good as it should be. I had that problem in the first book too. I guess if I’m going to keep writing about Drandar, I need to get more comfortable with scenes like that because being a knight and a dragon tends to cause him to find himself defending the kingdom in battle now and then.

4. What inspired this book?

The first book was written for my daughter who has autism. She is also the illustrator of both books. I wanted to encourage her to keep persevering even when life gets tough. However, this second book was inspired more by the amazing gift God has given us in redeeming us. Redemption is a gift we all need and one that is far beyond the riches of earth. I wanted children to think about the power of redemption. When we forgive others and when we are forgiven by others or by God, we are experiencing the greatest gift anyone can offer us. I am so thankful for God’s gift of redemption, and I love when an enemy becomes a friend through forgiveness and understanding. Both give our lives such joy and meaning.

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

We are missionaries in Thailand. So, I love the view from my writing chair. I look out over the neighborhood to a beautiful mountain. There are so many birds everywhere. The skies in Thailand are just gorgeous with big fluffy white clouds most days. It is so peaceful and always inspires me to pray thanking God for such a beautiful place but also to pray for the people of Thailand. It’s a blessing to write from a place like that.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, September 3 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 3

Texas Book-aholic, September 4

Vicky Sluiter, September 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 6

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, September 7

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 8

Fiction Book Lover, September 9 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 10

The Bookish Ledger, September 11 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Pilgrim, September 11

Artistic Nobody, September 12

Guild Master, September 13

Books, Books, & More Books, September 14 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, September 15

Blogging With Carol, September 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terrie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a 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/hFZiv/drandar-and-the-quest-for-redemption-celebration-tour

About the Book

Book: Until I Knew You

Author: Tanya Eavenson

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release Date: April 21, 2026

Photographer Jacob Michaels has spent his life running, from foster homes, from emotional attachment, from anything that asks more of him than a fleeting moment through his camera lens, except for Clay Logan, his one true friend and the only person who ever saw past the walls.

Olivia Logan lives in a world of color and quiet, expressing through art what words cannot, and Clay understood her without explanation, offering a steady presence in a world that often feels overwhelming.

But when a hiking trip ends in tragedy and Jacob returns alone, everything changes, and Clay’s final request becomes Jacob’s new reality: take care of Olivia, protect her, don’t walk away.

Now her legal trustee, Jacob steps into a life he never intended. Bound by grief and a promise neither asked for, he and Olivia are drawn into a fragile closeness they don’t know how to navigate.

And perhaps God isn’t finished mending what was never meant to be broken.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Tanya Eavenson is an award-winning Christian romance novelist who writes heartfelt stories of love, faith, and second chances.  To date, she has written thirteen fictions novels and seven craft books for new writers. Her historical romance The Rescue, from the All Roads Lead to Texas series, won the 2018 Cascade Award, and the series has gone on to be a finalist for several awards.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with family or curling up on the couch with a cup of coffee, chocolate, and a good book.

More from Tanya

“If you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism.”

Some stories come from imagination . . . and others feel gently placed on your heart for a reason. Until I Knew You is one of those stories.

At its heart, this is a story about grief, love, and healing, but also about the quiet ways God works in our lives, even when we do not fully understand what He is doing. Jacob and Olivia’s journey was never meant to be easy, but it was always meant to lead somewhere meaningful.

Olivia was a character I approached with a lot of care. I truly wanted to do this right. Along the way, I had the privilege of speaking with several people who have worked closely with autistic children and adults. They were so generous with their time, answering my questions and sharing their experiences, and I am incredibly grateful.

“If you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism.” Patricia’s words stayed with me and shaped how I wrote Olivia. Every individual is unique, and it was important to me that Olivia reflect her own voice, her own experiences, and her own way of seeing the world.

There is a moment in this story where Olivia observes a black widow, something many would fear or turn away from, but she sees beyond that fear and recognizes that even it was created with purpose. Not random or a mistake. That realization reflects something deeper woven throughout this story, that each of us, no matter how we are seen or misunderstood, was created with intention and for a purpose.

I wrote this story to the best of my knowledge and ability, with respect, care, and a genuine desire to honor both the beauty and the challenges within it. My hope and my prayer is that you not only enjoy this story, but that you also find something meaningful within its pages.

Here’s a short excerpt.

Olivia

It happened so fast. … Clay didn’t make it. … Clay is dead.

I could still feel the heat of Jacob’s breath against my face, his nearness burning my skin. I wanted to scream, How dare you! Leave me be! But his words rushed through me, painfully churning their way through my heart, touching the deepest parts of my innermost being, and I felt them there for a moment, but it was the fear of being without Clay that clenched my throat.

I struggled to make sense of it all, to breathe, and by some miraculous power I’d been able to hold myself upright, but the moment Ellie made Jacob leave the house, my knees buckled, and I hit the floor so hard pain radiated up my right side.

I gasped. The air forced into my lungs caused my body to crave more. The pressure in my chest grew. Please, Lord. I can’t. Breathe.

It happened so fast.

Clay didn’t make it.

Clay is dead.

Interview with the Author

1)Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?

The most difficult part of writing Until I Knew You was my heroine. She is autistic and it took me eight years of interviews, research, and care to get her character right. And from my readers’ responses, it was well worth it!

2)What inspired this book?

I felt this story in my heart for some time and finally felt it was time to tell Olivia and Jacob’s story. It’s a story of redemption, forgiveness, and second chances.

3)Which author influenced the you most?

Lori Wick inspired me the most. Reading her work showed me what Christian fiction looked like, and I was hooked.

4)What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

My favorite Bible verse would be Jeremiah 31:3. I read this verse while I was writing my first novel, Unconditional, and it really felt like the Lord was tugging on my heart. Like my character, I was young and running away from the Lord emotionally because of past hurts. They were different hurts than what my heroine was going through, but nevertheless, that verse hit home. The Lord, at times, has to chase us, leave those 99 sheep, and find us. He doesn’t just stand there in disappointment but lifts us up into His loving arms and tends to us in a way we’ve never experienced before. Why? Because He loves us. He always has. Sometimes we just have to be reminded.

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

5)What is your vacation spot?

The lake. Which lake? It doesn’t matter. 😊 As long as I’m on the water, able to look out with a cup of coffee in hand early in the mornings.

6)What are you reading right now?

I’m writing a story called Goldilocks’ Choice. It’s a collaboration with several authors for a fairytale retelling. So, I guess you can say, I’m reading my own story as it’s being written.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, September 2 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, September 3

Artistic Nobody, September 4 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 5

Guild Master, September 6 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, September 7

Fiction Book Lover, September 8 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 9

Pause for Tales, September 9

The Bookish Ledger, September 10 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 11

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 12 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, September 13

The Quiet Bookmark, September 14 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tanya is giving away the grand prize of a $45 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/TcQZ8/until-i-knew-you-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Shadowing You (The Wright Heroes Book 10)

Author: Robin Patchen

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: September 8, 2026

When the wife he believed dead calls from China, an ER doctor races to find her before her enemies silence her forever.

Ethan Wright never recovered from the death of his first love.

Six years ago, Mei Lin discovered evidence linking powerful officials to a human trafficking ring. She planned to smuggle the details out of China and join her new husband in America—but COVID sealed the borders before she could escape. Snatched by the men she’d been investigating, she was wrongfully imprisoned while authorities claimed she had died in quarantine. Now, Mei Lin’s sudden release doesn’t mean she’s free.

Ethan will stop at nothing to get his wife out of China, but he has no idea where she is. He must reach out to his estranged father, a former CIA agent who has powerful connections. With his dad’s help, Ethan begins a desperate search. He finally finds Mei Lin, but she refuses to run without the evidence that could expose the conspiracy—and ensure they’re never hunted again.

Reunited after years apart, Ethan and Mei Lin must rediscover the love they thought they’d lost—while staying one step ahead of enemies who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden.

From a USA Today bestselling author… You’ll love this heart-pounding suspense and gripping romance as Ethan and Mei Lin discover that real love is strong enough to survive anything.

Click here to get your copy!

Excerpt from the Book

Mei Lin inhaled the scents of diesel and old upholstery as she would the finest incense, watching the skyscrapers shrink in the rear window—and willing the bus to move faster.

She’d been out less than four hours, and she still half-believed she’d wake up any minute from the cruel dream.

The new warden had summoned Mei Lin that morning and said, without looking up from her desk, that there was no documentation to support her detention. No intake forms. No court order. No record of Mei Lin’s name in any official register. The warden had spoken as she might have about a scheduling error, utterly unconcerned.

A small inconvenience, easily corrected.

Then she’d slid a manila envelope across the desk. When their eyes met for a blink, Mei Lin saw a flash of concern and compassion, gone so fast she wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it.

Mei Lin hadn’t dared to reach for the envelope. She’d learned her lesson about yearning for things, about asking questions.

“Go on,” the warden had said. “It’s yours.”

Mei Lin did what she was told.

She clutched the envelope in her lap now, checking it every few seconds to make sure everything was still there.

Missed an Excerpt? Go Here:

About the Author

Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Coventry Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. Working in marketing, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while homeschooling her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. Visit robinpatchen.com/subscribe to receive a free book and stay informed about Robin’s latest projects.

About the Book

Book: Wildflower Bride

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: August 11, 2026

From bestselling author Mary Connealy comes a thrilling Western romance about finding belonging in unexpected places—a tale of a fierce woman warrior caught between two worlds, a gentle-hearted rancher, and the faith that brings them together. Perfect for fans of historical romance and unconventional heroines.

Abby has lived with the Flathead tribe since they rescued her as a child, forgetting her white heritage. But when her village is massacred, and she’s saved by kind-hearted rancher Wade Sawyer, she’s forced to confront her past and future. Though drawn to Wade’s gentle strength, she refuses to be bound to the white world that once abandoned her.

Wade Sawyer has spent his life trying to please his tyrannical father while battling his own demons. When he finds Abby—fierce, independent, and unlike any woman he’s known—he sees a chance at real love. But winning the heart of a woman who trusts no man and bridging the gap between two worlds seems impossible.

As they face deadly rustlers, family conflicts, and their own fears, Wade and Abby must learn to trust in God’s plan for their lives. But can Abby let down her defenses and embrace a future with Wade? And can Wade prove that true strength lies in gentleness and faith?

A moving story of finding home, healing from the past, and discovering that love knows no boundaries in the untamed Montana Territory.

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Donna

What I think you should know:

Wildflower Bride by Mary Connealy is the sixth book in the Petticoats and Cowboys series. Set in 1877 Montana Territory this book features Wade Sawyer and Glowing Sun, also known as Abby.  While this book could be a standalone I highly recommend that you read the previous books in the series prior to starting this book.

What you might need to know:

Glowing Sun, who later becomes known as Abby has been raised among the Salish people since she was 10.  When her village is massacred by white men she goes back to the “white” world with Wade. This is not a fluffy book, Abby has had her family torn from her twice and has much mistrust for the white world.

What I think about this book:

This series has featured a lot of spunky heroines, and it seems that they were all just building up to Abby. Abby may have been born white, but she has the spirit of a warrior. More than once in this book we see Abby face situations that would make a grown man run but instead she stands and fights usually with her trusty knife.  This book is not a relaxing book, Wade and Abby seem to be facing danger at every turn. I found myself frustrated with both main characters at times but was so invested in the story that I wanted to know what was going to happen to them next. I am definitely looking forward to Doctor in Petticoat and can’t wait to see what adventures Connealy takes her readers on next.

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

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of over 80 books and novellas. She has over a 1.8 million books in print.

Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Petticoats & Pistols!

More from Mary

I try to write books I love, and I re-read my own books. I’m a big re-reader and if I find myself uninterested in a book I wrote, I take that as a bad sign.

I happen to LOVE Wildflower Bride as much as any book I’ve ever written.

I wrote for ten years before I got my first book published. On that fateful day when I earned my first contract, I had twenty finished books on my computer. And I didn’t just write them and move on. I’d go back (re-reading even then) and polish them. I took stand alone books and shortened them, lengthened them. Turned them into series, saved all versions in case an editor wanted a series or did NOT want a series.

Each book well, not ALL twenty of them, but a whole bunch, had about nine versions, all saved separately. Love Inspired length, trade fiction length, series, stand alone. I kept them all. But when I felt like I’d really improved one of them, I went back to the other versions and made those same improvements. I did a LOT of writing within those twenty books.

Wildflower Bride was the first book I wrote from scratch after I signed a contract for it. Maybe for this reason, I especially love it. I took everything I knew, everything I learned and put it into this book. I remember staring at that blank page…I had about six books published by this time…and holding my hand flat on the computer screen and praying, God help me to remember everything I’ve learned.

The hero is Wildflower Bride is the villain in Montana Rose. He is wretched. But to me, he was a broken man. My editor, when I told her Wade was the hero, said, “I can’t imagine it, but go for it.”

He is saved at the end of Montana Rose. A young Christian trying to do right in the face of enormous pressure from his powerful, abusive father, in The Husband Tree, and a sad, lonely, but strong man, still growing in his faith at the same time he’s very solid in it, in Wildflower Bride.

I just loved him.

I love the wild beginning of Wildflower Bride, the heroine is an adult woman taken in by an Indian tribe at the age of ten when they find her, alone in a cabin, with her family all dead from a fever. She loves the people who saved her.

Then people start trying to save her from the tribe and she is insulted and wants no part of this new world when her small band of native family is killed in a massacre. Again, she survives.

Abby, she only vaguely remembers her birth name, fits nowhere. And she’s so at home in the wilderness she’s planning to live on her own, somewhere.

Wade falls desperately in love with the strength he finds in her.

These two need each other so badly, but Abby is a hard one to convince she should spend her life with Wade.

Then Abby finds that one of her family, an older brother who didn’t come west with her family, is alive and living nearby.

The way they discover each other, well, I just love it. Wade is starting to look pretty good compared to the grouchy, quick to swing a fist, brother. Still, she begins to remember her big brother, and she remembers loving him. Abby is a confused woman.

Can Abby find her place anywhere in the world? Can Wade find enough backbone to stand up to his father…so far he’d just cut him out of his life. But Pa needs him even if he’s too awful to admit it. Wade’s pa needs God, too.

And those evil men who destroyed her village, haven’t gone away and they want more from Wade and Abby than anyone can imagine. They have to be stopped and Abby and Wade have to find a way to work together to stop them.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 18

Texas Book-aholic, August 19

Labor Not in Vain, August 20

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, August 21 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, August 21

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 23

Book Holds and Jello Molds, August 24

Guild Master, August 25 (Author Interview)

Books You Can Feel Good About, August 26

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

Holly’s Book Corner, August 28

Cover Lover Book Review, August 29

Fiction Book Lover, August 30 (Author Interview)

The Vine and The Branch, August 31

Mary Hake, August 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary 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/reBqi/wildflower-bride-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: A Guided Gratitude Journal

Author: Donna Wyland

Genre: Nonfiction/Christian Guided Journal

Release Date: September, 2025

What would you change in your life if you could? Scientific and faith-based research prove that gratitude is the key! 5 minutes a day/7 days a week/7 weeks. CHANGE YOUR MINDSET. CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Let today be the day your new life begins!

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Donna Wyland is an award-winning author of fiction, nonfiction, and picture books. Her most recent gift book, Last Best Year – A Short Guide to a Grateful Life – is a Golden Scroll Award Winner, and her picture books, ‘Twas the Night Before Jesus and Psalms in Rhyme for Little Hearts were both Readers’ Choice Award Finalists.‘Twas the Night Before Jesus also won the Illumination Award Silver Medal and Psalms in Rhyme for Little Hearts was the Christian Indie Award winner for picture books.

Though she began a career in financial planning, God interrupted those plans and called her to write more than twenty years ago. Donna responded, “Yes, Lord,” and today has numerous books, essays, and blogs attributed to her name.

In the future, Donna hopes to continue writing guided journals to encourage and inspire people’s faith and confidence in God and themselves. As a Certified Christian Life Coach, Donna learned the value of asking powerful questions. Through her guided journals she hopes to lead readers to greater clarity, peace, and purpose as they read, consider, and reply to the questions asked.

Donna is grateful for her husband, four grown daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. She and her husband currently live in Southwest Florida, but her passion for travel frequently takes her to other states and countries around the world. Only God knows where she will live in five years. Thankfully she has a husband who says he will follow her wherever she goes.

More from Donna

What would you change in your life if you could? Scientific and faith-based research prove that gratitude is the key! 5 minutes a day/7 days a week for 7 weeks could change your life. Let today be the day your new life begins!

This journal was inspired by God and written as a result of many personal losses in my life. As I tried to move toward healing, I felt like I was still walking under a dark cloud each day, faking happiness and joy as I went about my responsibilities as a wife, mother, and grandmother. I was still hurting and desperately wanted to know why. That’s when I did a deep dive on the topic of gratitude and discovered its tremendous power to heal.

I pray that this journal becomes a legacy of readers’ journeys to joy, emotional and physical health, peace, and a thankful way of life. God knows you and sees you. He is excited to hear your praise and watch you grow into a gratitude-filled man or woman of God who lights the world on fire simply by being your wonderful, beautiful, joyful self.

Interview with the Author

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

Success as an author to me means writing what God puts on my heart to write, being authentic with my words, and encouraging readers toward a closer relationship with Jesus. It would be wonderful to receive a six-figure advance for one of my books, but I’m confident God did not call me to writing to become rich and famous. He called me to share His heart through books. As long as I continue to do that, I will consider my life’s work a success.

2. What inspired this book?

My life has been a series of extreme ups and downs, numerous losses of family, friends, and mentors, tragedies, trials, and trauma. As a survivor, I believe it is critical to constantly live in gratitude in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Mental attitude and emotional boundaries are important to overall health. Writing A Guided Gratitude Journal was therapeutic for me, in a way, as I share snippets of personal experiences I’ve had and how God taught me to find joy despite the situation. There is truly always something to be grateful for.

3. What would you like your readers to get out of this book?

I pray that readers of A Guided Gratitude Journal are inspired and encouraged to seek gratitude in their own lives, to be able to see what I lived through and know without a doubt that they can live a life of joy no matter what they need to endure. The questions in the journal are intended to help readers go deeper to find the lesson and blessing in every circumstance and struggle.

4. What is your vacation spot?

This is a hard question to answer as I love to travel and dream of visiting every continent on earth. My favorite place so far to visit has been Bellagio, Italy on Lake Como. The scenery and history are stunning, and the food – especially the lemon ravioli – are superb. Next year my husband and I plan to take a Mediterranean Cruise to Spain, France, and Italy to celebrate our anniversary. I cannot wait!

5. Why write nonfiction?

Nonfiction, to me, offers a writer the chance to share personal insights and experiences and gives readers an opportunity to know the writer in a more personal way. I believe nonfiction can be compelling and powerful when written for the glory of God. When the focus is on the Lord, our stories become testimonies that help the world to heal and draw nearer to God.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 22

Texas Book-aholic, August 23

Simple Harvest Reads, August 24 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 26

Its Mama Safe, August 27

Guild Master, August 28 (Author Interview)

The Vine and The Branch, August 28

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 29

Fiction Book Lover, August 30 (Author Interview)

Book Looks by Lisa, August 31

Cover Lover Book Review, September 1

Devoted to Hope, September 2

Mary Hake, September 2

Artistic Nobody, September 3

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Donna is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a 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/tkOYA/a-guided-gratitude-journal-celebration-tour-giveaway