About the Book

Book: Lily and the Lawman

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 13, 2025

A desperate aunt and a duty-bound sheriff—thrown into marriage by necessity, driven by danger, and risking everything to rescue a child…and their hearts.

All Lily Whitman wants is to open her bakery and provide a good life for her sister and infant niece. But when her niece is kidnapped by a ruthless gang, Lily is frantic to get her back. The only one who can help is the new acting sheriff, Trace McConnell. Though she’s sworn never to trust a man again, she finds herself forced to rely on this quiet lawman—worse, she’s forced to marry him to protect her reputation during the search.

Trace McConnell, a man who sees the world in black and white, does everything by the book, and keeps his feelings to himself. He’s dreamed of being a real lawman his whole life, not just a temporary replacement. When a U.S. Marshal arrives with news of a child kidnapping ring, Trace sees his chance to prove himself worthy of the badge. But his new “wife” keeps throwing his carefully laid plans into chaos with her determination to help—and his growing feelings for her threaten to compromise his focus on justice.

Can two people burned by past betrayals learn to trust again in time to save an innocent child? Or will their fears cost them not only their chance at love, but the life of the baby they’re desperate to rescue?

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Mindy

About the Author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.

More from Erica

Lily and the Lawman has one of my favorite opening lines that I’ve ever written.

No man should have to arrest his own father—at least not more than once a month.

And so begins Trace McConnell’s adventure to lasting happiness. Trace is a lawman, and his father is the town drunk. He heads out on the trail of some bad men who have kidnapped a baby girl. He doesn’t go alone, the child’s aunt goes with him. Mayhem, danger, and love along the way happen, hopefully leading to a satisfying conclusion for everyone but the bad guy.

But I wanted to talk about first lines in fiction. First lines have to do some heavy lifting! So much responsibility! If you are a writer, you have to consider so many things when writing that first line. Does it set the tone of the book? Does it reveal something up front about the character? Does it make the reader ask a question? Does it make the reader want to continue on to see what happens next?

When I’m writing a new story, I often put in all capital letters in the first draft: WRITE A GREAT FIRST LINE HERE. Then I go on with the opening scene.

You see, there is something intimidating in starting a new story, seeing all the blank, white space where words need to go. And it’s worse when you know how important a first line can be. So I put in a place holder. Often I don’t know what the first line should be until I’m into the story a ways. Only rarely do I know what the first line will be, and even then I often change it later.

When I need inspiration, I peruse my bookshelves to read first lines. Here are two of my favorites, both from the late secular writer, Dick Francis

From To the Hilt: I don’t think my stepfather much minded dying. That he almost took me with him wasn’t really his fault.

From Longshot: I accepted a commission that had been turned down by four other writers, but I was hungry at the time.

Do you have a favorite first line?

Blog Stops

Pens Pages & Pulses, October 28

Texas Book-aholic, October 28

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 29

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 30

For Him and My Family, October 30

Vicky Sluiter, October 31

Sydney Schmied Books, October 31

lakesidelivingsite, November 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 2

Alyssa Madjeski, November 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 3

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 4

Book Looks by Lisa, November 4

Devoted Steps, November 5

Devoted To Hope, November 5

Simple Harvest Reads, November 6 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 6

Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 7

The Mommies Reviews, November 7

Books Less Travelled, November 8

Mary Hake, November 8

Blossoms and Blessings, November 9

Holly’s Book Corner, November 9

Pause for Tales, November 10

Bizwings Blog, November 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Erica 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://promosimple.com/ps/3d287/lily-and-the-lawman-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: A Lesson in Love

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 8, 2025

He thinks he’s too old. She thinks she’s too young. Can these teachers learn that love defies all boundaries?

Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after most of the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Then her friend Margery talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming.

Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, raven-haired leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. Can he trust her not to break his heart?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

More from Linda

The Women’s Land Army was originally formed in 1917, during The Great War to help Britain with its food production. After the men returned home, the group was disbanded. Once again at war in 1939, the WLA was reestablished, and over the course of the conflict, more than 200,000 women served all over the United Kingdom. Many came from cities and towns and knew very little about working on a farm. Most had to be taught how to drive, milk cows, collect eggs, sow, and reap the harvest in addition to the many other tasks associated with farms.

Among the largest crops to be produced were potatoes. They were cheap, and several varieties matured quickly providing food to citizens, troops, and refugees. Rationing was a necessary part of wartime life to ensure everyone had enough to eat. The government issued pamphlets and cookbooks with easy-to-follow recipes made with readily available food (tinned and fresh).

Lord Woolton Pie, a vegetarian potpie named after the Minister of Food, is one of those recipes. By all reports it was not well-received, however, I’ve made it on several occasions and find it quite tasty.

Pie

1lb cauliflower
1lb rutabaga (I use parsnips)
1lb carrots
1lb potatoes
Bunch of spring onions chopped
2 teaspoons of Marmite (yeast extract – or you can use a stock cube)
Tablespoon of rolled oats
Salt and pepper to taste once cooked.
Parsley (fresh or dried)

Pastry

8oz wholemeal/wholewheat flour
4oz mashed potato
3oz margarine or lard
2 tsp of baking powder
couple large pinches of salt
Dash of water if needed.

Procedure

• Chop up the vegetables into chunks with those that take longest to cook into smaller pieces.
• Place in pot and bring to simmer with just enough water to reach 3/4 of the way up the veg in the pot.
• Add in Marmite and rolled oats, salt and pepper and cook until tender and most of the water has been absorbed.
• Place mixture in deep pie dish and sprinkle with fresh parsley (or add dry parsley to mixture and mix in)
• Make the pastry by mixing the flour with the baking powder and salt and then rubbing in the margarine.
• Mix the mashed potato in to form a dough and knead (add a little water to the mixture if too dry)
• Roll out to form pie crust and place on top and decorate then brush with milk.
• Place in oven at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or so until top is form and browned.

Photo credits:

Newspaper recipe: Bromley & District Times, February 1941

Lord Woolton Pie: By autumnroseuk – Woolton pie, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46161211

Interview with the Author

• Which character did you connect to best in this book?

I related to Gavin. Like him I don’t “change gears” quickly. Because of the bombing in London, he relocated with the school to northern England, had to set up everything, juggle curriculums, referee teachers, and support homesick students. Then the Women’s Land Army arrives, and his plans are turned upside down.

• Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?

Because I’m a “happily ever after” kind of gal, the scenes that contain conflict are challenging for me to write. I want everyone to get along, but that makes for a boring story! It’s also important for the conflict to be realistic. If a writer goes too far, the situation may become unbelieveable for the reader.

• What is your favorite vacation spot?

Anywhere that has a lake and/or mountains which is why living in New Hampshire is so perfect. We live in the lakes region but are surrounded by mountains and can see them from just about everywhere. We’re an hour from the White Mountains and visit the town of Lincoln regularly. It’s small enough to be cozy and friendly but large enough to have things to do, places to eat, and a grocery store.

• What are you reading right now?

I typically have a non-fiction/research book going at the same time as a novel. I’m just starting Scarlett by Teresa Slack and am part way through Writing and Market Systems for Authors by Elana M. Johnson. I’m also making my way through The Resistance as research for the book I’m currently writing about the Dutch Resistance during WWII.

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

My office overlooks our backyard which is heavily treed. I get glimpses of sky, but not a lot. The view is what prompted us to purchase the house when we were downsizing several years ago and needed a smaller place. Sometimes, I see deer pass through, and every now and then an owl hangs out in the tree closest to my window. Currently, the foliage is green and lush, but in a few weeks, the leaves will turn to gold, orange, and red because we have lots of maple trees. In the winter, the skeletal branches are stark against the snow, and I can watch spring appear as the buds begin to appear on the branches. It’s the best of views.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 4

She Lives to Read, November 5

Simple Harvest Reads, November 6 (Author Interview)

Patti Wolf – Scribbling Spiritual Sand, November 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 7

Texas Book-aholic, November 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 9

Guild Master, November 10 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 11

For Him and My Family, November 12

Pause for Tales, November 13

Mary Hake, November 14

Fiction Book Lover, November 15 (Author Interview)

The Mommies Reviews, November 15

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 16

Leslie’s Library Escape, November 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Visa Gift Card & copy of the book!!

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

ttps://promosimple.com/ps/3d001/a-lesson-in-love-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Chasing the Blue Boat: A Novel of Longing

Author: Connie Kallback

Genre: Historical Coming of Age

Release Date: November 26, 2024

Nine-year-old Dana Foster will follow her older brother, Luke, wherever he goes. From climbing on ledges, jumping in a fish pond, and causing general mischief, Luke is fearless. But when tragedy strikes the Foster family, everything that Dana has ever known is suddenly turned upside down. When the storms of life come, will the Foster family stand firm in their faith? Or will they shatter under the pressure? Suddenly, a blue boat that Dana and Luke received from their uncle leads Dana on a journey of faith, hope, and love that she will not soon forget.

In this coming-of-age story, discover the truths of God’s grace in suffering, the blessing of forgiveness, and how to hold on to your faith when all hope seems lost.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Connie Kallback grew up on the plains of Cheyenne, Wyoming, attended the University of Wyoming, and graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle. She transitioned from English teacher to publishing in New Jersey with CCMI/McGraw-Hill, Prentice Hall, and CPP, Inc, in positions from writer to acquisitions and managing editor. Her early writing, penned while teaching, appeared in magazines, newspapers and literary journals. No longer wearing the hats of Mary Poppins or Sherlock Holmes, necessities of raising six children in two separate families, she writes in South Carolina where she lives with her husband.

More from Connie

The idea for Chasing the Blue Boat began with the memory of a dangerous escapade from my early childhood years. The thought of it scares me to this day.

I grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and lived one block from the Wyoming State Capitol Building. One day I followed my older brother there, up nearly 20 steps from the ground to the grand side entrance with giant doors flanked by a waist-high wall and soaring support columns. We scaled the wall close to the building and placed our feet on an architectural ledge that circled the entire structure. Hoping to follow it all the way around, we began to sidle sideways, hugging the stone.

I remember being scared, but my unrealistic stage of thinking made me hope the grass would break my fall!

We made it around the first corner – I don’t know how – and continued along the front until a woman in an office inside spotted me. Knowing we shouldn’t be there, we reversed our steps and ran home.

That’s how the fictional coming-of-age story begins. Dana, the young girl, joins her brother in many adventures before a tragedy changes her whole family and sends each of them on separate journeys of suffering, accompanied by hope and forgiveness.

Interview with the Author

1. Which character did you connect with best in Chasing the Blue Boat?

Dana Foster, main character in this coming-of-age novel, endures many of my own emotional experiences in growing up. You might think I’d connect with her most for that reason, but my favorite character is teenager Seth Morgan who appears later in the book. His devotion to God along with his sense of humor and light-hearted way of approaching life appeals to me. Along with his grandmother, he reminds Dana that God has turned up for her in ways she hadn’t realized. And yet, he seems unable to stay in a serious mode for long. I have no idea where he came from in my creative imagination, but I just love that kid.

2. Which author influenced you the most?

It may seem strange to name Richard Wilbur as an influencer of my work. Rather than a novelist, he was a poet, translator, essayist, lyricist, and author of children’s books. Words, the connecting points of them all, became the first love of my life and remain so to this day. His poems help me appreciate the wonder and power of words and sounds produced by rhythm, rhyme, and other techniques. An example of a line from an early poem demonstrates onomatopoeia, imitating the sound of what is being described. The slip, slip of the paddlewheel, emulates the water’s sound as it slips through a boat’s paddlewheel.

His poetry is masterful but understandable to most readers. One of my favorite poems, The Writer, describes his daughter writing a story. She types quickly, pauses, and types again.

            I pause in the stairwell, hearing

            From her shut door a commotion of typewriter-keys

            Like a chain hauled over a gunwale.

The next stanzas detail the struggle of a starling once caught in that room. It tries to find a way out, but bloodied from hitting the window glass, it rests until the poet and daughter steal in to open a window. They watch the bird lifting from a chair, Beating a smooth course for the right window/And clearing the sill of the world.

The final stanza ties the bird’s struggle to that of the daughter, struggling to create. The journey is hard but worth it.

3. What are you reading right now?

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White. A recommendation from a friend, it’s the first of her books I’ve chosen. It was a no-brainer for me because World War II is one of my favorite historical periods of all time. This is why: I was a preschooler when WWII ended – a clue to my ancient state of being. I knew a war was going on even though I was too young to understand it all. My brother and I enthusiastically stomped empty tin cans to flatten them for the war recycling effort and added thin aluminum we stripped from our chewing gum wrappers. I also remember being at my grandparents’ house one night when the town practiced a blackout. Grandpa, a block captain with a smoked-lens flashlight, checked neighboring houses to make sure all lights stayed off. My aunt told me it was to make sure strange airplanes flying over couldn’t see our town. Again, what did I know? I put it all together in retrospect.

Another memory: On August 14, 1945, I rode in the back seat of our family car in Cheyenne, Wyoming, when all the church bells in town rang in competition with deep-throated train whistles from the Union Pacific Railroad and people whooped it up in the streets. From a nearby sidewalk, a paper boy yelled, “Extra, Extra! Read all about it,” like a scene from the movies, and Dad stopped the car to buy a paper from him. It was Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day) that marked the end of WWII. I’ve never witnessed anything like it since. It’s still amazing for me to realize what that day meant.

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

It’s the best writing room I’ve ever had with three walls of glass to let me take in how our back yard slopes toward neighbors’ yards of rolling wooded acres. Activities of rabbits, squirrels, and birds occasionally distract me from writing. I once wrote about a rabbit standing erect as a guard while his mate casually ate the grass, but I cut the scene when the book became too long.

5. If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why? It would be the Holy Bible because it reveals not only the history of life after Adam, but the emotional responses of human behavior ranging from grief, hatred, jealousy, and greed to joy, love, kindness, and forgiveness, to list a few. The characters in Chasing the Blue Boat slip into many of these modes. And selfishly, I wouldn’t run out of reading material. Not only does it contain the greatest story ever told, it presents numerous stories to be read again and again.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 1

Texas Book-aholic, November 2

Simple Harvest Reads, November 3 (Author Interview)

Inspired by Fiction, November 4

lakesidelivingsiste, November 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 5

Artistic Nobody, November 6 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, November 6

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, November 7

Devoted To Hope, November 8

Guild Master, November 9 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 10

Fiction Book Lover, November 11 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, November 12 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, November 13

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 14 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Connie 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://promosimple.com/ps/3dc6b/chasing-the-blue-boat-a-novel-of-longing-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Lovelight Gleams: The Christmas Lights Collection 2025

Authors: Laina Turner, Cathe Swanson, Jaycee Weaver, Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian Christmas Romance

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Being selected to enter into The Christmas Lights Showcase is an honor—and a commitment! Entrants pay a hefty fee and spend months designing and executing a Christmas display to knock all others out of the running.  With only four competitors selected out of thousands of entrants, competition is stiff!  Cozy up and join us as one judge, four locales, a few million lights, and more than a little Christmas romance bring it all together.

A Christmas Glow-Up by Cathe Swanson

One small town, two big dreams… and a spark that could change everything.

When determined conference center manager Gwen Smith enters a national Christmas decorating contest, she’s betting her career on turning Golden Valley into a holiday showstopper—complete with a ghost town glow-up and a Wild West reenactment. But her carefully laid plans are upended by Seth Morgan, a sharp but skeptical marketing consultant who’s just inherited a stake in the center—and isn’t afraid to challenge Gwen every step of the way.

Faith, Food, and Festive Lights by Laina Turner

Mariah Butters is determined to put her beloved Cottontail Junction on the culinary map—even if it’s just a tiny Montana town. When a Christmas lights contest offers a shot at a national ad campaign, Pearl rallies the local restaurant owners for a festive showdown that could change everything. Enter Tom Roarke—a steady, kind-hearted rancher who offers his time, his tools, and maybe even his heart. As they string lights and spark ideas, Pearl and Tom find their friendship heating up. Can they light up the town, win the contest, and discover that the best kind of love is the one that shines brightest at Christmas?

Just One More Christmas by Jaycee Weaver

Who says insta-love never lasts?

When Cole and Amy met forty-one years ago and married a month later, who could have imagined the beautiful life that would follow? This Christmas obsessed Christian couple has made it their life’s mission to spread the love of Christ and all Christmas represents to others who need it most. And this year, the lights contest that brought them together has the potential to share their love of Christmas with even more people if they can only take their Christmas décor to the next level.

The Sparkle of New Cheltenham by Chautona Havig

Her dream job just became her worst nightmare.

Kindra Hatheway walked off her graduation platform and into the perfect position with the perfect advertising company. That’s where her perfect life ended. Now one of her supervisors has put her in for a fluff job (a Christmas decorating contest? Really?) to get her out of the way. Add to that all the travel, the pressure from one of her colleagues to pick New Cheltenham as the winner, and the fact that she keeps flirting with her supervisor, and this Christmas is looking… complicated.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Laina Turner:  Laina Turner writes sweet, feel-good romances that always have a HEA. When she’s not writing she’s a college professor teaching business and English. Through all her career choices, she has continued to have a passion for writing stemming from childhood, where, as an only child, she developed a vivid imagination.

Cathe Swanson: Cathe writes books with creative plots and engaging characters of all ages, to glorify God and entertain and bless readers. Her heartwarming stories will make you laugh and make you cry—and then make you laugh again.

Jaycee Weaver: When New Mexico resident and USA Today bestselling author Jaycee Weaver isn’t reading or writing, she enjoys dates with her brainiac hubby, crafting, pretending she’s a nature photographer, and making her daughters cringe. She appreciates humorous books with banter, characters who overcome adversity, and guaranteed happy endings, so that’s what she writes.

Chautona Havig: Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours, and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

Ten years ago, Cathe Swanson and I started chatting about maybe doing a “Christmas collection” with a couple of other authors. Never did we imagine that this Christmas Lights Collection would still be going strong!  Over the years we’ve had many authors as part of our collection—Sarah Monzon, Kari  Trumbo, Vikki Kestell (year one!), Toni Shiloh, Teresa Tysinger, and… well, you get the gist!  Lots of authors. Jaycee Weaver has been a part of the collection for… five now?  Where has the time gone and all those cliches?

For the tenth annual collection, we decided to mix things up a bit.  In this year’s collection, one character is going to visit all the locations in the other books for a semi-interconnected experience.  The idea I for each book to stand alone as usual, but if you read them in the order they appear in the collection, your experience will be a bit like our “judge,” Kindra Hatheway.

Kindra is the “judge” (shocker, right?) for a Christmas lights & decorating contest that four towns/businesses are entering. She’s young, out of her depth, and has a lot of pressure on her for something she thinks of as a “fluff job.”  Follow her from Rockland to Hawaii (or… well, that’d be spoilers), to Montana, over to  New Mexico… and more!

This year’s authors bring their unique perspectives to the story. You’ll get more of Jaycee Weaver’s Sinclair family, but this time we get to see the parents’ romance unfold both in past and present. Insta-love sometimes lasts a lifetime!  Cathe Swanson always brings quirky characters, humor, and all in a delightful community. Meet Pearl and Tom as Laina Turner brings faith and love into the lights of Cottontail Junction. And yep. Chautona (that’s me!) is taking you back to see the sparkle the residents of New Cheltenham has added to their town just for the contest.

In each book, you’ll find characters full of faith, hope, and of course, love.  Thank you from all of the Lovelight Gleams authors. We wish you a very merry and peace-filled Christmas.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 22

Texas Book-aholic, October 23

Vicky Sluiter, October 24

For Him and My Family, October 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 26

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, October 27

She Lives to Read, October 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 29

Stories By Gina, October 30 (Author Interview)

The Mommies Reviews, October 30

Blossoms and Blessings, October 31

Simple Harvest Reads, November 1 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, November 2

Artistic Nobody, November 3 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 3

Fiction Book Lover, November 4 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

 To celebrate her tour, Chautona 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://promosimple.com/ps/3d282/lovelight-gleams-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Bible Companion Book 6 Psalms

Author: Karen Westbrook Moderow

Genre: Bible Study

Can you tell God how you feel? The Bible Companion Book 6 helps you approach God with both honesty and respect. A simple one-chapter-a-day format lets you engage with Scriptures 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 and group study.

In the Books of Wisdom (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs), God speaks to us in poetry—the language of the heart. In Psalms we mourn, celebrate, and worship with people who run to God in the best and worst seasons of life. Their experiences give us hope. If you feel alone, if you are hurting, if you need grace, join the psalmists who find forgiveness and strength in God’s presence.

Excerpt from the Book

THE PSALMS ARE A COLLECTION of poems written over centuries. King David wrote 73 of the 150 psalms, and his presence shapes the book spiritually and symbolically. In 1 and 2 Samuel, David was revealed as a flawed man who was saved by his heart for God. In Chronicles David was presented as a good king who fore­shadows Jesus, the perfect King. The book of Psalms unites these two perspectives. David-as-man speaks to our humanity. David-as-king points to Jesus, a coming Messiah who offers eternal salvation, a personal rela­tionship with our Creator, and a kingdom where love, mercy, and justice reign.

The Psalms (like Job, Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes) are considered Wisdom Literature. This genre, prized in the ancient Near East, teaches the principles needed to be successful in life.  However, wisdom in the Bible is always rooted in “the fear of the Lord.” Biblical wisdom teaches us how to live our lives in ways that honor God, ourselves, and others. Wisdom Literature (much of which is poetry) uses

striking imagery to both convey the precepts and to inspire us to obey them.

The Psalms encourages us to look to God for help when we are hurt and overwhelmed.

Missed Any Excerpts, Go Here

Excerpt One: https://www.simpleharvestreads.com/posts/the-bible-companion-book-6-psalms-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Two: https://www.fictionbooklover.com/posts/the-bible-companion-book-6-psalms-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Three: https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/the-bible-companion-book-6-psalms-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Four: https://www.deniselbarela.com/posts/the-bible-companion-book-6-psalms-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Five: https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-bible-companion-book-6-psalms-epic.html
Excerpt Six: https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/2025/10/celebrate-lit-presents-epic-book-launch.html
Excerpt Seven: https://nannie3.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-bible-companion-book-6.html

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.

About the Book

Book: Unauthorized, a prequel novella

Author: Sherri Wilson Johnson

Genre: Faith-Based Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Daisy Blackwood has always played by the rules. As a meticulous budget analyst in Nashville, she’s built a life of quiet routines and steady work—until one discovery shatters everything. She uncovers evidence of embezzlement at her firm and sets off a chain of events that leaves Daisy framed, frightened, and fighting to clear her name.

With her career—and freedom—on the line, Daisy finds an unexpected ally in Owen Mackenzie, a sharp-witted IT auditor who’s more comfortable behind a screen than in the middle of corporate chaos. As danger closes in, Owen steps out of the shadows to protect her, and a slow-burning connection sparks into something deeper.

Set against the soulful backdrop of Nashville, this heartwarming romantic suspense blends “wrongfully accused,” “slow burn romance,” and “protective hero” tropes into a story of courage, trust, and unexpected love.

As Daisy and Owen dig deeper into a dangerous conspiracy, they’ll have to risk everything—including their hearts—to uncover the truth.

* Unauthorized is the prequel novella to book one in Sherri’s The Silas Holcomb Legacy series, coming out in the fall of 2025.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sherri Wilson Johnson writes romantic suspense from her home in Georgia where she lives with her husband, their two dogs and spoiled Bombay cat. Sherri loves spending time with family, vacationing at the beach, reading or working on her current work-in-progress. She dreams of a second home on some beach somewhere some day, where she can plot romantically suspenseful novels around the clock.

More from Sherri

When I started dreaming up the Silas Holcomb Legacy series, I knew I didn’t want to write about traditional heroes and heroines. You know the type—confident, charismatic, effortlessly brave. Instead, I wanted to explore the quieter, quirkier people we often overlook. The dependable coworker. The quiet thinker in the back of the meeting room. The ones who aren’t flashy or bold or naturally brave. The ones who doubt themselves more than they should. The ones who never imagined they’d find themselves at the center of a high-stakes mystery… or a love story.

That’s the heart of The Silas Holcomb Legacy series, and specifically the vibe you’ll feel in Unauthorized, the prequel novella. Daisy and Owen are the kinds of people who don’t usually get the spotlight—but should.

Daisy is a sharp-minded budget analyst working in the competitive corporate world of Nashville. She’s smart, driven, and meticulous—but doesn’t exactly stand out in a room. (Well, to Owen—the quiet, nerdy guy from IT—she does, but she doesn’t know that!) After the recent death of her estranged grandfather, she’s emotionally raw and not at all ready to play detective. But when she stumbles across an embezzlement scheme and someone tries to frame her for it, she’s forced to step into a role she never imagined: the one who solves the mystery.

And she doesn’t do it alone.

Owen is not your typical romantic lead—he knows more about server logs than small talk. He’s not suave, he’s not smooth, but he’s steady and loyal and brilliant in all the ways that matter. Together, they dig into the company’s secrets, unravel a trail of deception, and prove that you don’t need to be the loudest person in the room to change the story.

This story is about rising to the occasion, even when you don’t feel like the kind of person who’s supposed to save the day. It’s about finding strength when you’d rather hide. About realizing you were never a side character—you were just waiting for your moment to lead.

And yes, it’s about love that grows not from charm or swagger, but from courage and kindness. Daisy and Owen prove that sometimes, the least likely heroes are exactly the ones we need. Their journey is close to my heart, and I hope their story encourages readers to believe in their own quiet kind of brave.

And the most exciting part? This is the first book in a thrilling and mysterious new series that brings an estranged family back together. Will they stay together? Well, you’ll have to stay tuned for the rest of the series to find out!

I can’t wait to show you what’s next.

Sherri

Interview with the author

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

Finishing a story and being happy with it, but also hearing from a reader who tells me my book either blessed them or captivated them feels like success to me.

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

Daisy. I’m analytical like she is, and I can’t stop until I find answers, just like her.

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

There really wasn’t a difficult part to this book. I wrote it pretty quickly.

4)What inspired this book?

A trip to Nashville. I couldn’t wait to write something set in a city. Most of my previous books have been in rural settings.

5)Which author influenced you the most?

On a personal level, it would be Sandra Robbins, who used to write for Love Inspired Suspense before she went home to be with the Lord. She was a mentor and great friend and always had an encouraging word for me.

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

John 14:1-3

7)What is your vacation spot?

Any beach, but specifically Gulf Shores, Alabama, the setting of my Jeopardized Reunions series.

8)What are you reading right now?

Where the Crawdads Sing

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

Out my window, a 15-foot-tall blooming crepe myrtle bush houses my favorite bird, the Cardinal.

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

Besides my Bible, I would have a Hans Zimmer movie soundtrack.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 21

Stories By Gina, October 22 (Author Interview)

The Mommies Reviews, October 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 23

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, October 24 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool , October 25

Simple Harvest Reads, October 26 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, October 27

Artistic Nobody, October 28 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 29

Guild Master, October 30 (Author Interview)

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, October 31 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, November 1

Fiction Book Lover, November 2 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 3 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, November 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sherri giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d281/unauthorized-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Secrets of the Heart

Author: Vickie McDonough

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 7, 2025

A Southern belle nursing a wounded stranger must choose between family duty and a love that defies everything she’s ever known.

Hannah Madison’s life is comfortable, well-ordered, and safe. She knows what to expect. Including her mother’s plans that Hannah marry Jamie Reed, the heir to the neighboring plantation. But her sheltered life is disrupted when she stumbles upon a seriously injured stranger in the Reeds’ barn. He seems to need her help. As she nurses him back to health, Hannah is drawn to the handsome man with amnesia that she calls Adam. And as her feelings for him grow, Hannah must decide whether to follow her heart or honor her family’s expectations.

Adam remembers nothing prior to the day he met Hannah. Nothing of his true identity or the dangerous secret he carries. All he knows is he can’t help falling for his graceful and kind caretaker. But when his memories return, he’s faced with an impossible choice— pursue his love for Hannah and betray his family, or sacrifice his own happiness to preserve his family’s unity.

Can Hannah and Adam find the right path when duty and love collide?

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Marilyn

Cooper Reed is running for his life at the start of this book. Hannah Madison is traveling daily to the Reed’s plantation to have things ready when the Reed family returns from trying to find Cooper. Discovering an injured man in the Reed’s barn   with amnesia and injuries started the mystery thread of this novella. The servants were protective of Hannah attending to the man she named Adam, not knowing his background. The main characters had respect and honesty between them, but there still was an attraction even though Hannah’s future had been arranged since her early years. Who’s the mysterious man and why are rough looking and mean spirited men searching to find him? McDonough penned a captivating tale with a strong hero and heroine that both was learning to “trust God” throughout the story.

I received an early copy of this book from Wild Heart Books and Celebrate Lit Bloggers tour without any obligation to post a positive review. I have expressed my own thoughts.

About the Author

Vickie McDonough is the CBA, EPCA and Amazon best-selling author of 54 books and novellas. Vickie grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie’s books have won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, OWFI Best Fiction Novel Award, the Inspirational Readers’ Choice awards. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, making cards, gardening, and traveling.

More from Vickie

Most of my writing career I’ve been an author of western historical fiction set in the late 1800’s, but a visit to Charleston and Savannah while on vacation, stirred up a desire to write in a different time period. I was born and raised in Oklahoma, a state that is only 118 years old. I was quickly enchanted by Charleston’s rich history and fell in love with the centuries-old homes and cobblestone streets.

While in Charleston, my husband and I toured an antebellum plantation called Drayton Hall, which was built in 1738. It’s located on the Ashley River about 15 miles northwest of Charleston. Touring the magnificent old home gave me lots of fodder for a new series set in South Carolina. For instance, did you know that ballrooms were often located on a third or fourth story because you could get better cross-breeze which made the temperature a bit cooler, and it was less likely that mosquitoes would plague the guests on the upper floors.

Secrets of the Heart  is set 22 years after Mutiny of the Heart, book 1 in my Windswept Brides series. When I sat down to begin writing Secrets of the Heart, the only thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to continue the story of the Reed family. I had thought the book would be mostly Jamie’s story, who was a young boy in the first book in the series, but the story took an expected turn. I ’ve always like forbidden love stories, where the hero and heroine seemed destined to be together, but everything is working against them. I had to add that to my story.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 18

Texas Book-aholic, October 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 20

Pens Pages & Pulses, October 21

Devoted To Hope, October 22

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 23

For Him and My Family, October 24

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 25

Simple Harvest Reads, October 25 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

The Mommies Reviews, October 26

Books Less Travelled, October 27

Cover Lover Book Review, October 28

Holly’s Book Corner, October 29

Pause for Tales, October 30

Stories By Gina, October 31 (Author Interview)

Alyssa Madjeski, October 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Vickie 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://promosimple.com/ps/3d280/secrets-of-the-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Anakus

Author: Stephen Phillips

Genre: Christian Fiction

Release Date: May 1, 2025

A boy torn from home. A world ruled by empire. A soul in search of redemption.

Anakus is taken from the hills of Ethiopia and thrust into the heart of a vast, brutal empire. From dusty roads to iron-clad legions, he is shaped by hardship, loss, and the long march of history.

But even in the shadow of conquest, a quiet hope endures- whispered through strangers, carried on distant winds, waiting to be found. Set against the backdrop of the ancient world, Anakus is a sweeping historical novel of identity, survival, and the unexpected power of grace.

For readers who believe that light can still rise from darkness-and that some journeys lead not just home, but to the heart of truth.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

I am a 41 retired U.S. Army veteran. Drawing from a life of service, resilience, and storytelling, I write with raw honesty and vivid imagination

More from Stephen

I have always been inspired by Pilgrim’s Progress’s story of the gospel and the imaginative way Bunyan wrote it. Now, by no means do I expect this book to ever be as successful as Pilgrim’s Progress, but I if one person is changed or saved through it, then to me that is a great success.

Interview with the Author

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

If people get enjoyment out of my writings. I am a hobby writer, so I don’t do it for the money; I do it because I enjoy it.

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

To fuse fiction and historical aspects together, making the salvation part of the book the focal point. Putting an actual event like the feeding of the five thousand, where Anakus is actually one of the people experiencing that event.

3. What inspired this book?

I went through alcohol addiction, which turned into rehabilitation from it; you could say this was part therapy.

4. What is your vacation spot?

Maine is very easy to get lost in. I guess that’s why many successful writers live there.

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

A backyard full of bird feeders for various types, and the occasional cat.

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, October 17

Inspired by Fiction, October 18

Allyson Jamison, October 19

Simple Harvest Reads, October 20 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 21

Texas Book-aholic, October 22

Artistic Nobody, October 23 (Author Interview)

The Mommies Reviews, October 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 24

Blogging With Carol, October 25

Guild Master, October 26 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 27

Books Less Travelled, October 28

Fiction Book Lover, October 29 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Pilgrim, October 29

Blossoms and Blessings, October 30 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Stephen 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://promosimple.com/ps/3cff3/anakus-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Clara and the Cowboy

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 13, 2025

She’s the rancher’s daughter. He’s the reformed outlaw who became her father’s foreman. Love was never part of the plan.

Clara Bainbridge has loved Alec for years, long before she left for finishing school in Boston. And though she is convinced he loves her too, he seems determined to push her away now that she’s back. So when the handsome stranger who protects her during a stagecoach robbery reveals that he is her new neighbor, Clara begins to wonder if accepting his suit might be wiser than waiting for Alec.

Ranch foreman Alec McConnell has worked hard to overcome his criminal past and prove himself worthy of Colonel Bainbridge’s trust. When cattle start disappearing from the Cross B Ranch, Alec’s checkered past makes him the prime suspect. He must catch the real rustlers to clear his name, but his growing feelings for the Colonel’s daughter, Clara, threaten to undo everything he’s built. How can he protect her when his very presence in her life could destroy her reputation?

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Mindy

About the Author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.

More from Erica

Did you, like me, grow up watching westerns on tv? I watched often in reruns as the heyday of the TV Western was waning about the time I was born. But I watched Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, Bonanza, Have Gun, Will Travel, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, The Virginian, and more.

And so grew my love of the old west, of cowboys, cattle drives, frontier justices, and rolling tumbleweeds.

I also read westerns. Zane Grey, Louis L’Amour, Abel Shott (Yes, that was the pen name of the man who wrote the series called Solo Strand: The Silver Kid.) I was a firm believer in The Code of the West.

So, when it came time to write my own ‘cowboy book’ I took much inspiration from the screen and the page.

Clara and the Cowboy is the story of Alec and Clara, a cowboy and the ranch owner’s daughter. There’s cattle rustling, gunplay, good vs. evil, a damsel in distress…all the best parts of western classic lore. I had such fun writing it, influenced by those who had written the genre before me.

The setting was chosen (Southwest Idaho) because of a series of books I had read as a teen, written by Glenn Balch, about a ranching family near Nampa, ID. I’ve never been to that part of the US, but I felt as if I had because I read those books (many times!)

As I look back on the hours I spent watching classic westerns on tv and reading western fiction, I’m reminded of the impact they had on my life. How they taught that good and evil exist in the world, and that it takes bravery to stand up and do the right thing. I learned that honor and integrity do not come without cost, and that actions have consequences.

Who would have thought that watching a rerun of The Big Valley would instill a desire to embrace the cowboy culture through my own fiction?

I hope you enjoy reading Clara and the Cowboy, and that perhaps it takes you back to your own childhood of rooting for the man in the white hat to get the girl he loves before the credits roll.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, October 14

Book Looks by Lisa, October 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 16

For Him and My Family, October 17

Devoted Steps, October 17

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 18

Devoted To Hope, October 18

Simple Harvest Reads, October 19 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Fiction Book Lover, October 20 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 20

lakesidelivingsite, October 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 21

She Lives to Read, October 22

Pens Pages & Pulses, October 22

Books Less Travelled, October 23

Blossoms and Blessings, October 23

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 24

Cover Lover Book Review, October 24

Bizwings Blog, October 25

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 25

Pause for Tales, October 26

Holly’s Book Corner, October 26

Jodie Wolfe, October 27

Vicky Sluiter, October 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Erica 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://promosimple.com/ps/3d27f/clara-and-the-cowboy-celebration-tour-giveaway

About the Book

Book: Sermons from a Soapbox

Author: Ladonna Shanks

Genre: Devotional, based on personal experience; Memoir; Adult Nonfiction; “Life Lesson Essays”

Release Date: April 8, 2025

“What is God like?

Does He even exist, other than as a figment of the imagination?

Or is He real, a part of daily life and our world?

In Sermons from a Soapbox, Ladonna Shanks shares her personal spiritual journey of more than seventy-five years. “I cannot write what I have not experienced,” serves as the base of her easy-to-read, anecdotal essays. The short “sermons” challenge the reader to think, question, search, and consider living where God is . . . in the spiritual, long-term, instead of humankind’s physical, short-term.

Excerpt from the Book

Filled with a passion to save humanity from a fate of hell and damnation, I evangelized with boldness and force.

As a child, my grandfather didn’t call me by my given name. He attached the moniker “Carrie Nation” to me. I wonder if the force of my personality and character manifested even as a small child. Grandpa’s nickname, “Carrie Nation,” suited me perfectly.

Entering high school, I could only be classed as “odd man out.” My country grade school had an eighth grade graduating class of six. The high school enrollment of one thousand students catapulted me into culture shock. Many of my fellow classmates attended grade school and the same junior high together. I knew very few of them. If that wasn’t enough to isolate me, my behavior, which could only be viewed as eccentric or fanatical, did.

A few months prior to that initiation into the larger world of high school campus life, I made a commitment to live my life for God. I thought He wanted and expected me to “be a witness.” I walked alone from class to class, my Bible prominently displayed atop my books. While others socialized in the cafeteria and halls, I attended Bible Club during lunch hour.

Missed Any Excerpts, Go Here

Excerpt One: https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/sermons-from-a-soapbox-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Two: https://www.simpleharvestreads.com/posts/sermons-from-a-soapbox-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Three: https://www.fictionbooklover.com/posts/sermons-from-a-soapbox-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Four: https://www.deniselbarela.com/posts/sermons-from-a-soapbox-book-spotlight/
Excerpt Five: https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/2025/10/11/sermons-from-a-soapbox-epic-book-launch/
Excerpt Six: https://nannie3.blogspot.com/2025/10/sermons-from-soapbox.html?m=1
Excerpt Seven: https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/2025/10/celebrate-lit-epic-book-launch-presents.html

About the Author

Ladonna Shanks was born and raised in Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley. During her several decades of life, she has been an entrepreneur, a small business owner, and, most recently, a writer. Her first book, Tidbits and Pearls, A Book of Essays on Living Everyday Life with God was published in 2019. Ladonna’s family, including five grandgirls, and her commitment to God serve as her priorities.