Monday, April 21, 2025

My Thoughts and More on Sunrise Reef by Irene Hannon

Sunrise Reef JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Sunrise Reef by Irene Hannon hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Sunrise Reef

Series: Hope Harbor #11

Author: Irene Hannon

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: April 1, 2025

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Sometimes you have to look beneath the surface to find the treasure within

After years of searching, Bren Ryan has found her place in Hope Harbor. Working as a barista suits her to a T, as does the laid-back vibe of her adopted town. Nothing is lacking in her life--except romance. But that's okay. Men are a complication she doesn't need.

Buttoned-up CPA Noah Ward isn't looking for love, either, when he arrives in town on a mission to convince his father to move closer to him. And he certainly doesn't intend to fall for the quirky, free-spirited woman who's taken up residence in his father's guest cottage.

But when Noah finds himself sucked into Bren's quest to help a struggling teen, might the two of them discover there's more to each other than meets the eye?

More Books from this Series:

About the Author

Irene Hannon, Photo Credit DeWeesePhotography

Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 65 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA's elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work.

Connect with Irene by visiting IreneHannon.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

My Thoughts:

This was a fun trip back to Hope Harbor, and this was probably my favorite story so far in the series. I mean how can you resist a rainbow or purpled colored hair lady who is being wooed by a button up, number crunching, all work and no play gentleman? I couldn't and I was wondering how their relationship was going to work itself out.

Bren Ryan has just turned thirty, unfortunately her birthday is turning into a disaster. An electrical fire has her scrambling to find another shelter quick. That shelter happens to be a vacation cottage owned by Fred Ward, a recent widower who happens to have a son who is surprising his father by flying into Hope Harbor. Noah's and Bren's first meeting is certainly not romantic; in fact, it could be considered comical. However, thankfully Noah is a rather matter of fact guy and understands the situation.

These two couldn't be more opposites if they tried. But as they get to know one another, opening up about deep hurts even, they begin to have an undeniable connection. One that Noah is not about to let slip through his fingers even if he doesn't understand it. Bren on the other hand is trying so hard not to get hurt, that she turns into more of the overly cautious person. This was a fun and heartfelt romance of learning to trust and taking things slow for the better. And pretty romantic as well concerning Noah's pursuit of Bren.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print set of the entire Hope Harbor series!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 16, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 23, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

My Thoughts and More on Meow Meow Milks the Cow by Allen Brokken

About the Book

Book: Meow Meow Milks the Cow: A Towers of Light Read to Me

Author: Allen Brokken, Illustrated by Reace Erbe

Genre: Christian Fable

Release date: March 15, 2025

When disaster strikes the family farm, Lauren gets a big job. She has to milk their cow, Clarabelle, all by herself! Her only help might come from her new feline friend Meow Meow, but how can such a little kitten help with such a big job?

This read-aloud will help you share the timeless truth from the Bible that God can use the least of us to solve big problems.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Facing your fears especially when you are needed to help someone, can be a very scary thing to do. Little Lauren learns that in this book, but she also learns that help can come in a surprising way.

Waking up on her farm one morning, Lauren finds a small kitten that somehow has gotten into her room. She is really hoping she can keep it. Later, she finds out that she will be doing some farm chores she usually does with her mother all by herself. This is where the fear settles in as Lauren is not sure she can milk the cow all by herself.

However, she soon finds out, help will come from an unexpected place. This is a cute story about facing your fears that will help young kids draw encouragement for when they have to do something by themselves one day.

I was provided a copy of this storybook from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age appropriate way. He’s dedicated 15 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off to college he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media and through his blog.

More from Allen

Sometimes, a story just HAS to be told. When I first wrote the book that became Light of Mine, book 1 of the Towers of Light series, there was a scene in which the main character, Lauren, and her newly found kitten are trying to milk the cow. It was a sweet moment in a chaotic story, and I had fun writing it as an homage to my kitten squeaker, who made trying to work around home very challenging at times. However, my editor was pretty clear that as cute as the story was, Meow Meow’s interlude with the milk cow Clarabelle just didn’t fit the story’s action. So, unfortunately, that scene found its way to the cutting room floor.

After a few years, I started having mothers of children who loved the Towers of Light Series ask the same question over and over….”But what about my littles?” Do you have a story for me to read to my younger children? After thinking about it, I realized Meow Meow’s adventure might be a perfect read-aloud. So I reached out to a fellow Realm Maker, Pam Halter, who has a really fun series of books with Willougby the Dragon, to see if she could help me turn my 2500-word novel scene into an 800-word picture book…and she did a fantastic job! So now we have Meow Meow Milks the Cow.

Another fun fact is that the character Ethan in this book is all grown up now and engaged to be married to Reace Erbe, and this is her first illustrated work in print. So we all hope you enjoy this Tower of Light read to me.

Blog Stops

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 9

For the Love of Literature, April 10 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 10

By the Book, April 11

For Him and My Family, April 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 13 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, April 14

Hannahbandanarama, April 15

Blossoms and Blessings, April 16 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 18

Labor Not in Vain , April 19

Texas Book-aholic, April 20

Pause for Tales, April 21

A Reader’s Brain, April 22 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, April 22

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Allen 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.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54199

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Cover Reveal for The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly J. Goshorn

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton JustRead Blog Cover Reveal

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly J. Goshorn, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Undercover Heiress of Brockton
Series: Enduring Hope #2 (multi-author standalone series)
Author: Kelly J. Goshorn
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Incognito Reporter Seeks Truth and Justice

Collect a new series of six historical romances. When life seems weighed down by challenges, there are always pillars of enduring hope and love to be discovered.

Henrietta “Etta” Maxwell, heiress to the Maxwell fortune, is a hard-hitting investigative reporter for The Enterprise Daily. The catch? Etta must pen her columns under the nom de plume, Henry Mason—a fact that routinely puts a knot in her knickerbockers.

Leo Eriksson is a second-generation firefighter with a passion for rendering aid to those in need. When Leo discovers that Henry Mason is really Henrietta Maxwell, the fire department’s wealthy benefactress, he agrees to keep her identity secret.

After a sudden blast rocks the Grover Shoe Factory, Leo and Etta team up to determine if the explosion is related to a series of suspicious fires in the area. But sparks fly when Leo accuses Etta of negating the human side of the disaster in her determination to get a good story.

Will Etta go back to her socialite comforts without her story—dragging along a broken heart?

Ready to see the cover?

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton

About the Author

Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into inspiring stories of love, faith, and family set in America’s vibrant past. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys, binge-watching BBC period dramas, exploring historical sights, and board-gaming with her family and friends.

Connect with Kelly by visiting kellygoshorn.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a print copy of The Undercover Heiress of Brockton and a $10 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 17, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 24, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

My Thoughts and More on The Daughter of Rome by Angela Hunt

About the Book

Book: The Daughter of Rome (The Emissaries Book 3)

Author: Angela Hunt

Genre: FICTION / Christian / Biblical

Release date: March 4, 2025

In Nero’s Rome, Calandra helps her father, a renowned sculptor, complete the most significant commission of his illustrious career. But then a catastrophic fire nearly destroys the imperial city, leaving Calandra reliant on a group of Christians–unusual individuals unlike any she has encountered before. Intrigued by their worship of the Son of an invisible God, Calandra grapples with her mistrust, only to find herself indebted to these believers as they help her rebuild her shattered world.

When Emperor Nero begins constructing his opulent Golden House, the people of Rome grow resentful, suspecting him of starting the fire in order to clear the land for his immense palace. Needing a scapegoat, Nero points at those who follow the Jewish Messiah, forcing Calandra to make an impossible choice between right and wrong, friends and family, love and death.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This book was a flood of emotions for me. Taking place during the time that Rome burned, it really showed some people's resilience to survive, those prone to desperation and give up, and those whose faith surmounted even the cruelest of deaths that they were forced to endure. During this time, Rome was run by a crazy, ever-changing cruel ruler and those closest to him knew it. This was a time when no one was really safe from Nero's whims and fancies. What he wanted he took, even setting fire to Rome.

Calandra is a poor sculptor's daughter, whose father has just been chosen to create a surprise for Nero. Unfortunately, she and her father must survive the fire first. Throughout their ordeal and the aftermath, they must come to terms with their belief system, what they now known as truth, and the devastating decisions that are forced upon them. And lastly, the forgiveness and mercy that is waiting no matter what they have done.

Hadrian is a senator's son, and he is tasked with checking on the Christian prisoners, the ones later blamed for Nero's own fire. He is also very enamored with Calandra, even though they are so far apart on the social class scale. However, he is also about to have his eyes opened and he will also be confronted with truth.

I have only read the previous story. This could certainly be read as a standalone. If you read the previous stories, be prepared to have tissues handy.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Angela Hunt is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 160 books, with nearly 6 million copies sold worldwide. Angela’s novels have won or been nominated for the RWA RITA Award, the Christy Award, the ECPA Christian Book Award, and the HOLT Medallion. Four of her novels have received ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award, and Angela is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from both the Romantic Times Book Club and ACFW. Angela holds doctorates in biblical studies and theology. She and her husband make their home in Florida with mastiffs and chickens.

More from Angela

Dear Reader:

Thank you for joining me on this blog tour for THE DAUGHTER OF ROME, book three in the Emissaries series. The book stands alone, but it includes characters from books one and two, so people who have read those books will have a fuller understanding of who those people are. But no worries! If you haven’t read the first two books, you’ll still have no problem reading THE DAUGHTER OF ROME.

When I shaped the idea for this series, I had just finished The Jerusalem Road books, which centered on Jews who lived during Jesus’ life and ministry. I wanted to keep writing in this time period, so I shifted my focus from the Jews to the Gentiles—specifically, the people who came to faith through Paul’s ministry.

The first book in the series, THE WOMAN FROM LYDIA, is concerned with the seller of purple who hosted the Philippian church in her home. The second book, THE SISTERS OF CORINTH, features two competing sisters who lived, naturally, in Corinth. And the third book, THE DAUGHTER OF ROME, is about a young sculptress who lives in Rome during the time of Nero.

I have been fascinated by this time period ever since reading THE SILVER CHALICE and THE ROBE in my childhood. What would it have been like, I wondered, to live in a time when you could be executed simply for saying you believed in Jesus? Americans don’t really know what that’s like, but people in other parts of the world still deal with that danger today. The Bible tells us that this kind of danger is not going away—it will be prevalent during the end times as well. So I wanted to explore the world of the ancient Romans, and hoped to pull some lessons from it that will apply to us today.

I’ve also been amazed at what we can still see of ancient Greek and Roman art—how did they sculpt those massive statues? One such work, the Colossus, was so large it stood in the harbor and ships reportedly entered beneath it!

THE DAUGHTER OF ROME features one other fascinating element—a question that garners as much debate as “who killed JFK?” The story takes place during the time that the Great Fire of Rome nearly leveled the entire city, and to this day, no one is certain how it began. The people blamed Nero, Nero blamed the Christians, and it may have been a kid illegally cooking his dinner at the racetrack.

I hope you’ll enjoy reading the story as much as I did writing it. Thanks for coming along on the tour!

Angela Hunt

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 4

Batya’s Bits , April 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 5

Mary Hake, April 5

Texas Book-aholic, April 6

Inspired by Fiction, April 7

She Lives To Read, April 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 8

Lily’s Corner, April 9

Lots of Helpers, April 9

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 11

EmpowerMoms, April 11

Devoted To Hope, April 12

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 13

Books Less Travelled, April 13

Devoted Steps, April 14

Sylvan Musings, April 15

Holly’s Book Corner, April 15

Cover Lover Book Review, April 16

For Him and My Family, April 17

Pause for Tales, April 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Angela is giving away the grand prize of a $25 gift card to Baker Book House’s website and a paperback copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54192

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

My Thoughts and More on Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham

Some Like it Scot JustRead Takeover + Review Tour

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Some Like it Scot

Author: Pepper Basham

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: April 8, 2025

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

She lives her life on the fly. His heart is double-knotted to home. Can two different souls create a life together?

Popular travel writer and podcaster Katie Campbell roams the world collecting other people's stories. She's built a career as "Miss Adventure," known for saying yes to anything new--country, food, or experience--and predictably finding those adventures taking a downward turn into misadventures.

Offered the chance to explore her ancestral roots through a three-week Edwardian experience, Katie finds herself immersed in the beauty and eccentricity of Scotland. In her period attire, with traditional foods and activities, the opportunities for misadventures are endless, especially with the presence of a maniacal macaw, a jealous co-worker, and an all-too-surly Scotsman.

Reclusive and protective Graeme MacKerrow doesn't venture far from his island home. A stoic Scotsman, Graeme's comfort zone has always been family, and after his sister's death, he's even more determined to save the MacKerrow ancestral home and keep those he loves close. The sudden intrusion of a six-foot-one American lass, famous for her traveling misfortunes, was far from his plan.

As this world of folklore, community, and woodworkers-in-kilts tempts Katie to discover her own story, could this one grand series of misadventures lead her directly to where she belongs? And would a settled-in-Scot ever risk loosening his grip on what's familiar to allow a wanderlust writer a home in his heart? How could their very different worlds share the same page of life's story when "home" is in two very different places? But maybe home--and the future--isn't quite what either one imagined it would be. Maybe home is less about a place . . . and more about a person.

Also Available:

About the Author

Pepper Basham

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC, where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

Connect with Pepper by visiting pepperdbasham.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

My Thoughts:

Wow, this was a fun read. A really fun read, and a deep read. One that really makes us take a little closer look at ourselves and see what makes us special to others. To take a closer look at why we might just be loved for who we are. It also was a story of where is home truly found.

Katie Campbell is a walking disaster, or that is how she would describe herself. Yet, she uses all her misadventures for a popular pod cast show she hosts. She is tall, clumsy, and prone to accidents, whether by her own fault of not. Trouble seems to follow her. However, I liked how she put a positive spin on the misfortunes and turned it into a business.

Graeme MacKerrow, a somewhat reclusive and grumpy Scottish man with many talents, is a homebody. He loves his family and his home, and he wants to stay put where he is. He is out of his comfort zone right now, as he has allowed a group of people to come to his ancestral home for an Edwardian experience. He needs the money to take care of said home. That is where he and Katie have their first meeting.

Throw in past family hurts, broken hearts, secondary characters, some that are lovable, others not so much, a parrot, cow, etc. and a great big dash of swoon and you have a story that is very hard to put down. My favorite author Basham book yet.

I was provided a copy of this novel by the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Some Like it Scot and hairy coo themed gift box!

(1) additional winner will receive a print copy of Some Like it Scot!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 9, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 16, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

My Thoughts and More on Dawn of Grace: Mary Magdalene's Story by Jill Eileen Smith

About the Book

Book: Dawn of Grace: Mary Magdalene’s Story

Author: Jill Eileen Smith

Genre: FICTION / Christian / Biblical

Release date: February 18, 2025

From her earliest days, Mary Magdalene has known fear and loss at a level so deep she has no hope of surfacing. Bound to the demons within her and incapable of freeing herself, Mary walks in shadow–until one day she encounters a healer, a rabbi who is radically different from the religious leaders and family members who could do nothing to help her. One touch from Jesus and Mary is never the same.

Now Mary’s one mission in life is to serve the one who freed her. She is determined never to leave his side, fearing that if she loses him, she’ll return to her former bondage. Even when the unthinkable happens and her savior is arrested and sentenced to execution, she cannot abandon him as so many others did. Let her be buried in his tomb, for she cannot live without him.

On the brink of despair, Mary is about to discover that while the life of faith is never perfect, perfect love casts out fear–and Jesus makes all things new.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was a riveting story and fictional account of Mary Magdalene told through her eyes of her life and times and how that was changed when she met Jesus of Nazareth. Please note, what we know of her factually is in the Bible, so the author does take artistic liberty in telling her story, especially her young life.

Starting from a young girl, we see Mary struggling for want of love. I also was curious how the author would handle the demon possession. I found the author's take on Mary messing around with things she should never have been in contact with, very apropos to children's lives. It was also very scary when the demons would take over Mary's body and speak through her. Mary's thoughts of trying to control them, instead of the other way, showed how much of a prisoner she really was.

I enjoyed reading this story during the Easter season as Jesus not only changed Mary, but the whole world.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King, Star of Persia: Esther’s Story, Miriam’s Song, The Prince and the Prodigal, Daughter of Eden, and The Ark and the Dove. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in biblical times. Jill lives with her family in Michigan.

More from Jill

Dawn of Grace, Mary Magdalene’s story, is a biblical novel based on the life of Mary Magdalene. Step into first century Israel during the time of Jesus Christ and meet the woman whom Jesus healed from demon possession. See how her life went from one of despair to one of grace.

We learn, through Mary’s point of view, what it might have been like to follow the rabbi, Jesus, throughout Galilee and Judea for at least part of His ministry. She is with Him as often as possible, and one of the few women in His circle who stayed with Him all the way to the cross—and watched Him die.

In her grief, Mary learned where they buried Him and determined to return after Shabbat to anoint His beloved body one more time. But when she arrived, He was not where they had lain Him. Distraught, Mary searches for answers until she hears Jesus call her name. She is the first to see the resurrected Messiah, and she is never the same again.

In Dawn of Grace, we imagine how the things we read about in the gospels might have played out through Mary’s eyes. The Bible tells us that she helped support His ministry out of her means, and she is mentioned often as one of His devoted followers. What emotions did she experience as she went from learning about a coming kingdom to hearing her Messiah speak about His coming death and resurrection? The men didn’t understand. Did she? What did she feel in that moment when she thought all hope was lost?

I hope you will gain a new perspective of what it might have been like for one of the New Testament’s most famous women, one who lived in a world where women were not given much notice or status. Yet Jesus included them, and even elevated them. The Scriptures tell us that there is no difference between male and female in God’s eyes. He loves us all. Mary got the chance to see God’s care for her and all women in a way she never expected. God’s love for all is the same today.

Blog Stops

Inspired by Fiction, April 3

Lights in a Dark World, April 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 4

Texas Book-aholic, April 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 6

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 7

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 8

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 9

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 9

Stories By Gina, April 10 (Author Interview)

Devoted Steps, April 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 11

Cover Lover Book Review, April 12

For Him and My Family, April 13

Pause for Tales, April 14

EmpowerMoms, April 14

She Lives To Read, April 15

Holly’s Book Corner, April 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jill is giving away the grand prize of a $15 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54191

Sunday, April 13, 2025

My Thoughts and More on Before the King: Joanna's Story by Heather Kaufman

About the Book

Book: Before the King: Joanna’s Story (Women of the Way Book 2)

Author: Heather Kaufman

Genre: FICTION / Christian / Biblical

Release date: January 21, 2025

Joanna’s wealthy family aspires to Herod’s inner circle, but when her father’s esteemed position in the Sepphoris Sanhedrin is threatened, her family harbors a dark secret. Entangled in the complexities of aristocratic life and an impending arranged marriage, Joanna is caught between her own desires and maintaining appearances. When tragedy strikes, Joanna grapples with a new future that challenges her sense of duty and hope for love.

Years later, Joanna is forever changed when a rabbi comes preaching a new kingdom and healing the sick. As she contributes to his ministry, Joanna treads a perilous path between a court that mocks Jesus of Nazareth, disciples who view her with suspicion, and a husband who guards his own secrets. With pressure increasing on all sides, Joanna must decide where her allegiances lie and protect her relationship to the Christ, whose message is as compelling as it is dangerous.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was an enthralling and engrossing read about Joanna, a follower of Christ who is mentioned in the New Testament a few times. Please be aware, that since we do not know more of her than what is mentioned in the Scriptures, this is a fictional account.

As the title suggests, this is Joanna's story, and we follow along in her footsteps starting as a young girl living in a well to do Sadducee household. This is where we see her life is altered and she is thrown on a course of life by no choice of hers. As she grows into a young woman, we see that that continues for a while.

I was interested in the relationships formed of the people she met, the circumstances she saw, and her meeting with Jesus as all of these shaped her life, and more importantly her faith. From the political drama surrounding King Herod to the dangerous liaisons and people in the court. I liked that the author gave us an explanation of the Sadducees' views and that we saw some of the happening's kind of like an insider, through Joanna's eyes.

Again, this was a riveting read, and though fictional takes us back to the Bible and to the One who gives hope to us all. Great for an Easter read or anytime.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Heather Kaufman is the author of multiple books and devotions, praised by Kirkus Reviews for writing “a charming and well-crafted tale.” She delights in highlighting the goodness of God through storytelling. When not reading, writing, or accumulating mounds of books, Heather can be found exploring new parks with her husband and three children near their home in St. Louis, Missouri.

More from Heather

Hello, Fellow Book Lover!

My heart behind the Women of the Way series is to highlight the beauty of Jesus through the eyes of some of his lesser-known female followers. In Before the King, we behold Jesus through the eyes of Joanna. Although she’s only named twice in Scripture, the little we do know about her is compelling. In Luke 8:1-3, we discover that Joanna was healed by Jesus of an infirmity and then followed him, supporting his ministry from her own means. What’s so shocking is that she’s the wife of Chuza, Herod Antipas’ steward! During my research, I discovered that her husband’s position is better translated “procurator,” someone in charge of financial affairs. Such a position suggests that Chuza was a prominent man within Herod’s administration. But the surprises don’t end there! My research also indicated that Chuza was most likely Nabatean. Nestled just southeast of Herod’s own territory of Perea, Nabatea was a major world power at the time of Christ.

The more I researched, the more my jaw dropped to the ground. How did a Jewish woman married to a prominent Gentile within Herod’s administration come to support Jesus of Nazareth? Did her husband know? Did he approve? Did Herod himself ever find out? You’ll have to read Before the King to see just where my imagination took me!

I depict Joanna as caught between two courts—that of Herod Antipas and that of Jesus Christ. She chooses to risk everything for her faith and that choice pays off. The second time we see Joanna in Scripture is in Luke 24:10 as an eyewitness to the empty tomb. Not only did she behold the empty tomb, she gazed upon the risen Christ, for in Matthew 28:9 we read that as the women left, they encountered Jesus himself. What an amazing privilege to be one of the first to meet the risen Lord in the flesh!

I hope Joanna’s story encourages you to live a bold faith that clings to Christ, despite opposition. Our world now isn’t so different from hers then. Christ’s Kingdom is still advancing in the midst of political unrest, social division, and rampant greed. May we pin our hopes upon King Jesus, who is worthy of our devotion. Like Joanna, may we place all we have within his hands, deeming him worthy of the cost.

While you read, consider listening to the Before the King playlist! It’s full of inspirational music that ties into the themes from the book. Give it a listen HERE. Happy reading (and listening)!

Surrendering with you to Him,

Heather