Friday, November 13, 2026

My Thoughts and More on Mail-Order Lady by Misty M. Beller

About the Book

Book: Mail-Order Lady

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: October 13, 2026

Five sons of an English duke, all raised in the Rocky Mountains…

She agreed to a safe, sensible marriage. He agreed because she already holds his heart.

Clara McKinney came west as a mail-order bride—only to watch her sister marry the intended groom instead. Now recovered from an illness that nearly killed her, she’s stranded at the Balfour ranch. Worse, her mother is demanding her return to face an arranged marriage that feels like a nightmare. When the quiet, bookish brother offers a marriage of convenience, Clara accepts with relief. No messy emotions or risk of rejection. Just safety.

Robert Balfour has one goal—win Clara’s heart. She now shares his name, but he must convince her that his devotion runs deeper than courtesy.

Then a stranger appears at the ranch with a shocking claim—he’s the rightful Balfour heir. Suddenly, Robert’s focus on earning his wife’s love faces a test he never saw coming. With enemies lurking and family loyalties tested, this marriage of convenience is about to become the most dangerous arrangement of all.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a royal family saga featuring a marriage of convenience, unrequited love, and a family mystery that spans continents…all set in the rugged Montana Territory.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

I have really been looking forward to this next installment in the Lords of the Rockies series. This is Robert's and Clara's story and their marriage of convenience. Robert already loves Clara. He just has not told her. He sets out with her as she reunites with her rather ruthless mother who only cares for money and reputation and will sell her daughter to the man she deems will give her just that. Even if he is much older and has already buried two wives.

Robert will have none of that. So beginning with deception that they quickly make right, they become man and wife. Clara is relieved as she already views the Balfour's as family and her sister Kate has already married into the family. Full of family love, protection, and secrets nobody saw coming, this was another great addition to the enduring family saga.

This series has been a favorite of mine and each new installment I look forward too. I am glad we are not done with this family yet, as a certain surprise guest to the ranch has made an appearance that changes everything they knew.

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

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is an ECPA and USA Today bestselling author with over 1 million books sold. She writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

More from Misty

A marriage of convenience only works if he’s not already in love…

Hello Reader Friends!

I’m so excited to be back with you in the Lords of the Rockies world for another swoony installment!

If you’ve been following along, you already know Clara McKinney. She came west as a mail-order bride, only to watch her sister marry the intended groom instead. (It really was the right match for both her sister and Thomas, but that didn’t make the ache hurt any less for Clara.)

Then illness nearly took Clara’s life, leaving her stranded at the Balfour ranch with nowhere to go—and a mother back home demanding she return to face an arranged marriage that felt more like a sentence than a future.

Can you imagine being in her shoes? Arriving in Montana for one life…and finding yourself in an entirely different story?

When the quiet, bookish Robert Balfour offers her a marriage of convenience, Clara accepts with relief. She knows Robert and he’s honorable. Plus a marriage on paper only means there’s no risk of rejection. No messy feelings. Just safety.

But here’s what makes my heart flutter about this story: Robert already loves her. He has for some time. He isn’t just offering convenience—he’s offering everything he has and hoping, quietly and patiently, that she’ll one day see it.

And just when their fragile new life together begins to take root, a stranger arrives at the ranch with a shocking claim that threatens to unravel everything.

I pray you love Mail-Order Lady!

Blessings!

Misty

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 31

Devoted Steps, November 1

Texas Book-aholic, November 1

Simple Harvest Reads, November 2 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

For Him and My Family, November 2

Wishful Endings, November 3

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 3

lakesidelivingsite, November 3

Betti Mace, November 4

She Lives to Read, November 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 5

Lyssa Loves Books, November 5

Sydney Schmied Books, November 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 6

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 7

Book Holds and Jello Molds, November 7

Sylvan Musings, November 8

Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 8

Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 9

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 9

Cover Lover Book Review, November 10

Artistic Nobody, November 10 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, November 11

Devoted To Hope, November 11

Mary Hake, November 11

Blossoms and Blessings, November 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 12

Lily’s Corner, November 13

Pause for Tales, November 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty 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/akiMd/mail-order-lady-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

My Thoughts and More on Pride and Practicality by Pepper Basham

Pride and Practicality JustRead Takeover + Review Tour

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Pride & Practicality by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Pride & Practicality

Author: Pepper Basham

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: November 3, 2026

Genre: Clean Regency Romantic Comedy

In a world ruled by reputation, compassion may be the most scandalous act of all.

Arianna Reeves knows how quickly admiration can turn into exile. One poorly placed trust, one disastrously charming rake, and she is no longer society's darling--but its favorite cautionary tale.

Now returned home--uninvited and unmistakably whispered about--Arianna is determined to make amends with her estranged family and do something useful with her thoroughly ruined life. Even if polite society would prefer she did it at a very great distance from anyone respectable.

Thomas Bridges, a principled clergyman with an inconvenient habit of thinking for himself, is already walking a narrow line. His congregation expects propriety, his mother expects matrimony, and both have very firm opinions about his future. Thomas, however, would prefer a life guided by conviction . . . even when it proves impractical.

When Arianna repeatedly--and quite disruptively--crosses his path, Thomas faces a dilemma no sermon prepared him for. She is not at all what she ought to be: not dull, not foolish, and--most dangerously--not someone he can overlook, but a kindred spirit who shares his passion for service and his troubling habit of defying society's expectations . . . all with good intentions, of course.

As their forbidden acquaintance deepens into something far more perilous than friendship, Arianna and Thomas must decide: preserve their reputations, or risk them entirely for the good of others—--and their own hearts.

Because in a society that measures worth by perfection, choosing grace, mercy, and love may cost them everything--and give them more than they ever hoped to find.

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 southwestern VA, where she is a wife, mom to 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:

This was a story of two very likable characters who really had hearts for service and for helping others. Thomas, a clergyman, because that was expected of him, but he has some ideas that go against his mother's and his congregation. Even though Thomas is a man, he had plenty of rules placed on him in regards to his reputation and whom he could socialize with and eventually marry.

Arianna was such a person that he would be warned against. She fell for the wrong man, and the rake had ruined her reputation. That was simply unforgivable, by anyone. Now she has come home a changed woman and a heart for others, even though she knows her reputation is in tatters. But as soon as these two meet, kisses fly.

These two had a great first meeting. A memorable one. There were in fact several that made this book funny and heartwarming. Author Basham delivers another escape into the regency world full of their stuffy rules and a couple that break them together.

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 Cranford Collection copy of Pride and Prejudice, a matching journal, four Pride and Prejudice inspired bookmarks, and a copy of Pride & Practicality!

(1) additional winner will receive a signed copy of Pride & Practicality!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight November 4, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on November 11, 2026. 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 The Teacher's Mending Heart by Lauralyn Keller

About the Book

Book: The Teacher’s Mending Heart

Author: Lauralyn Keller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 22, 2026

In the quiet hollows of a dying Appalachian town, a guarded nurse and a grieving teacher must decide if a second chance at love is worth the risk.

After losing her fiancé in the Great War, nurse Bethany Astor swore she’d never risk her heart again. But when the Red Cross sends her to the struggling mountain town of Laurel Ridge, Tennessee, she meets a schoolteacher whose pain mirrors her own. As she uses her skills to heal his injured leg, Bethany discovers that keeping her walls intact might be harder than she ever imagined.

Dylan Harper’s leg injury kept him from the battlefield, but his emotional wounds run deeper. Haunted by a tragic accident that claimed a young student’s life, he’s learned that loving someone means risking devastating loss. When Bethany arrives in town with her gentle spirit and healing touch, she awakens feelings he thought long buried—and terrifies him with their intensity.

As Laurel Ridge fights for survival, Bethany and Dylan must confront the ghosts of their past before they can embrace a future together. With both their hearts scarred by loss, will they find the courage to choose love over fear before time runs out?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was an interesting historical novel taking place in 1919 in a rural town of Tennessee. Just like the rest of the world, this town is not only reeling from the cost of the war with their men, but also now the Spanish influenza. Which they called the purple death due to the ending color of someone who has died from it. This was another story that I learned some new tidbits of information about that time.

Bethany and Sophia are nurses that have been sent by the Red Cross to help in this remote area. Bethany is still grieving the loss of her fiancé during the war, but she looks forward to the chance to help this town. She is also a masseuse. They meet Dr. Matthew and his neighbor, teacher Dylan, who has suffered a grievous injury to his leg in an accident that still haunts him.

We watch as these two will need to overcome their grief and fear and open their hearts up to a new beginning. And also, for Bethany to be able to help Dylan and other men of the town who have injuries that could be helped with her expertise even if she is a woman. It looks like we get Dr. Matthew's and Sophia's story next.

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

Lauralyn Keller loves to combine history and romance in stories that touch the heart. She lives in beautiful Colorado and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and reading.

More from Lauralyn

This story started as fanfiction.

I love the show When Calls the Heart. Janette Oke was one of my favorite authors as a teenager, so I was thrilled when Hallmark turned her books into a series. Back in season 6, I hardcore shipped Nathan with Elizabeth almost as soon as he joined the cast. The potential for a relationship between them sparked my creativity, and soon I was writing fanfiction for them. At first, it was all a continuation of the show itself—where I hoped it would go, how I could see the characters behaving, what situations they might find themselves in. Then 2020 hit, and the pandemic shut everything down. My fanfiction became more hypothetical, taking characters from the show and placing them in completely different times and places. I wrote three or four full-length novels that bore very little resemblance to the show—some historical, some contemporary—driven by my love of those characters and, more importantly, my love of storytelling.

Healing Hearts was one of those stories.

I wondered what would happen if I took Nathan, Elizabeth, and a few other characters and put them in a small French town immediately after World War II. Their jobs changed. Their motivations changed. Their circumstances changed. Before I knew it, the only things When Calls the Heart and Healing Hearts really had in common were the names of the characters.

Sure, some themes remained—love after loss, rising above difficult circumstances, and finding hope in the midst of hardship. But those are themes that belong to historical fiction as much as they belong to any particular story.

Several years later, I remembered that fanfic and how much fun it had been to write. I wondered if I could tinker with it and turn it into a real novel. I started changing names, places, and circumstances, expecting to end up with essentially a fanfiction rewrite. Instead, I ended up with a completely different story.

That story became The Teacher’s Mending Heart—the story of Bethany and Dylan, a nurse and a teacher in small-town Appalachia in the aftermath of the Great War.

And then things took a personal turn.

I’m a teacher, so my own job was the inspiration for Dylan’s. And the heartbreak he experiences is the same heartbreak I experienced: the loss of a student. Writing Dylan’s journey to healing became a form of healing for me.

I didn’t set out to write through my own feelings of pain and all the what-ifs that come with loss. But as Dylan’s story progressed, those feelings flowed out through him. Grief is hard. It’s something most of us have wrestled with in one form or another, and I think stories can sometimes help us process the things we don’t have words for ourselves. My prayer is that by reading Dylan and Bethany’s stories of healing after loss, some readers might find the same comfort I found in writing them

On a lighter note, Bethany’s character was inspired in part by my sister. Bethany is a nurse, but her specialty is massage therapy, which happens to be my sister’s specialty as well. A lot of Bethany’s phrases or actions as a masseuse came directly from my sister. That was fun to write, and I might have chuckled a time or two mimicking my sister’s mannerisms. I don’t know a whole lot about massage personally, but having a research aide close by and in person was very helpful!

This story ended up being the most personal I’ve written yet. It certainly wasn’t intended that way—after all, it started as fanfiction! But perhaps that’s part of the beauty of writing. Sometimes a story takes you somewhere you never expected to go. The Teacher’s Mending Heart is close to my heart because of that journey, and I hope Dylan and Bethany’s story blesses you in some way.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 3

Texas Book-aholic, November 4

Lyssa Loves Books, November 5

Holly’s Book Corner, November 5

Devoted To Hope, November 6

Simple Harvest Reads, November 7 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 9

lakesidelivingsite, November 10

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 11

Pause for Tales, November 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 12

For Him and My Family, November 13

Connie’s History Classroom, November 14

Mary Hake, November 14

Blossoms and Blessings , November 15

Cover Lover Book Review, November 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lauralyn 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/HdqGY/the-teachers-mending-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, November 6, 2026

My Thoughts and More on Not So Very Sensible by Carolyn Miller

About the Book

Book: Not So Very Sensible (The Silver Teapot Series Book 3)

Author: Carolyn Miller

Genre: Christian Romance

Release Date: October, 2026

Two Sisters Navigate the Minefield of Modern Dating

Elinor and Katie Bennett are as opposite as sisters can be: Elinor loves structure, planning and design, while Katie’s head is in the clouds as she chases fanciful, romantic dreams. A college graduation trip to the Blue Mountains sees them staying at the Hydro Grand hotel for a murder mystery weekend. There, they end up meeting two men who just might hold the keys to their hearts—taking the sensible Elinor Bennett by surprise while crushing the romantic Katie’s hopes. . .and proving that the path of love doesn’t always follow one’s plans or dreams.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This is another great addition to the Silver Pot Tea series. These modern stories follow Jane Austen stories well, though they are not straight up retellings. They follow a group of sisters, the Bennett's, from Australia as they navigate the modern world's finding of true love.

This is the story of Ellie and youngest sister Katie's romances, as their story follows along the same path of Sense and Sensibility. Again, like with their older sisters' romances, I have enjoyed visiting Australia through these stories. I also have really enjoyed how these sisters and their Austen obsessed mother follow along with similar paths.

All of the important Austen characters were present as they played their part. This is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone, though reading them all you really get the feel for the Bennetts who are different enough than their counterparts. Throw in a mystery murder weekend meet and you have a story that really makes for a fun weekend read.

I don't know what more to say but that I found this series unique and enjoyable. I have read plenty of retellings and I have enjoyed how author Miller has given a new and fresh look at the stories. I am looking forward to Cousin Annabelle's story next. I hope we get a full set of Austen inspired stories in this series; I am quite curious how some of the less famous ones could be retold.

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

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational Regency and contemporary romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband, she has pastored a church for ten years and worked as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives.

More from Carolyn

Do you have a favourite ‘classic’ book?

Many people claim Anne of Green Gables or Pride and Prejudice to be among their favourites. And while I love both of these books I chose a different one of Jane Austen’s works to be the focus of my new book Not So Very Sensible.

Jane Austen fans will recognise the link to Sense and Sensibility, a tale of two sisters and their challenges with finding real love. And while in Not So Very Sensible we have two sisters who are the focus of this story, they have two older sisters as well who have been the focus of the other books in The Silver Teapot series, Not Exactly Mr Darcy and Not Precisely Mr. Knightley.

In Not So Very Sensible it was fun to look at the dynamics between Ellie (the sensible sister) and Katie (the more ‘sensitive’ one inclined to passion and emotion). I have a younger sister, and our relationship is pretty good, but some sisterly relationships aren’t always easy. Ellie often feels like she has to look after her younger sibling who is far more prone to following her heart and wearing her emotions on her sleeve—while Ellie can’t think of anything worse. Ellie and Katie love each other, but their challenges to be honest with each other provide one of the fascinating strands of tension in this book.

One of the things my sister and I love to do is to visit historic homes, which is a lot easier for her because she lives in England. Here in my corner of Australia we have some heritage places, and it was really fun to set this book in an iconic heritage hotel in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. This hotel (which had its name changed for the purpose of my story) has hosted famous people like Arthur Conan Doyle, so it was wonderful to include lots of the hotel’s details in my story’s setting.

My husband and I visited the hotel last year and enjoyed a special high tea to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and a picture of us there became the inspiration for the cover of Not So Very Sensible. I took lots of other pictures (which you can see on my website) so I hope readers enjoy the lengths I go to for the sake of research!

If you enjoy books with heart, hope and humour then I hope you’ll enjoy reading Not So Very Sensible – happy reading awaits!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 30

Book Looks by Lisa, October 30

She Lives to Read, October 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 1

Texas Book-aholic, November 2

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 3

Leslie’s Library Escape, November 3

For Him and My Family, November 4

Lyssa Loves Books, November 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 6

Pause for Tales, November 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 7

Sylvan Reads, November 8

Blossoms and Blessings, November 9

Holly’s Book Corner, November 10

Cover Lover Book Review, November 11

Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 11

Wishful Endings, November 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carolyn is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-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/cLby4/not-so-very-sensible-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

My Thoughts and More on Loyalty's Pursuit by Shannon McNear

About the Book

Book: Loyalty’s Pursuit

Author: Shannon McNear

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: October 13, 2026

She needs a husband to survive. Right now, a wife is the last thing he wants.

August 1780. After the Battle of Camden leaves British camp follower Bess Eaton widowed, expecting a child, and stranded in enemy territory, she faces two impossible choices: a return to an England that offers her nothing…or marriage to a stranger before the army marches on without her.

Backcountry loyalist Rob MacFarlane has already buried a wife and son and has no intention of marrying again at this moment. But he can’t ignore the vulnerable widow in his path. What begins as an act of duty quickly becomes something far more complicated when he offers Bess protection—and a name.

As war rages and the British cause begins to crumble, their fragile alliance is tested at every turn. Loyalties fracture. Faith is questioned. And the lines between enemy and neighbor blur. To survive, Rob must decide what allegiance truly costs—and Bess must choose whether she can trust not only the man she married…but the God she’s never fully known.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This story really brought out the tragedies of war and the necessity for fighting for survival. This was told from Bess and Rob's viewpoints, both on the loyalist side of the Revolutionary War. No, neither were rich or high and mighty, they were just ordinary folk, Bess and her late husband recently immigrated. This is their story on how the war shaped their lives, loves, and future.

Bess had followed her husband, Harry, into the war. He is already sick, and she is pregnant again with their second child after losing the first. This is where she meets Rob MacFarlane who comes along side to help them. However, worst comes to worst, and Bess is left a widow in a strange land during a war with no family. Rob understands her loss as he lost his wife and child two years previous. He becomes her savior and steps in to marry her.

So begins their journey of husband and wife and all that entails adding in the war that they are still very much in the middle of. I really enjoyed this story. It was heartbreaking yes but also showed that as people we can pick ourselves up and continue on. That is what Bess had to do. Especially with her new husband. Their love story was mixed with grief, uncertainty, and I think even a stronger bond of love that neither knew before. This is a standout novel for me this year.

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

Transplanted to the far north after more than two decades in the Deep South, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s the author of twenty-one novels and novellas, not all of them in print, but her favorite roles are retired military wife, pastor’s wife, mom-of-many, mother-in-law, and grammie. When not cooking, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, hanging out with her grandbabies and basking in the beauty of the northern prairies.

More from Shannon

I’m so honored to be part of yet another Celebrate Lit tour! This story especially is near and dear to my heart, because it was my very first long historical after writing fantasy for decades, the book I still had in process when I submitted the proposal for my first novella, Defending Truth, and the one which gave me the courage to try that story (and genre) to begin with.

The first draft of this story took five years to complete, in between other projects and real life. It was a hard sell to start with, I knew, being set within the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution but from the British and Loyalist viewpoint. Still, it eventually netted me both of my agents (Defending Truth’s RITA® nomination didn’t hurt there, either) while garnering interest from various editors—but didn’t actually sell until last summer. That means this story languished for more than 10 years—and then the Lord Himself practically dropped this contract in my lap.

The first story of how the concept came to me can be found here:

https://colonialquills.blogspot.com/2014/07/dispelling-colonial-myths-reenactor.html

It was on my heart from the beginning to portray the romance, such as it is, in a rather unconventional way—something closer to what I imagine real life must have been for such a situation. And I deliberately steered away from the usual flowery declarations of love between my main couple, while hoping to present them in such a way that the reader has no doubt by the end of the story that they do absolutely care for each other. My dear editor with Wild Heart Books helped me shape and refine the characters and story from what might have been a more straightforward historical fiction read into more of what a historical romance reader might expect. I hope those expectations are now met, but also that my readers also come away with a fresh appreciation for how our country came to be.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 27

Holly’s Book Corner, October 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 28

Inkwell Inspirations, October 29

Betti Mace, October 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 30

Texas Book-aholic, October 31

For Him and My Family, November 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 3

Pause for Tales, November 4

Devoted To Hope, November 4

Jeanette’s Thoughts , November 5

Maureen’s Musings, November 6

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 7

Lyssa Loves Books, November 8

Simple Harvest Reads, November 8 (Guest Review from Donna)

Cover Lover Book Review, November 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon 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/AJy7n/loyaltys-pursuit-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

My Thoughts on Unwavering Heart by Angela Hunt

About:

When Rebekah is offered a marriage to Isaac--heir to wealthy and well-respected Abraham--she leaves behind the only world she has known and ventures into the sunbaked lands of Canaan. In her new household, Rebekah learns of the mysterious Adonai, whose favor has showered Abraham's family with abundance. To ensure her future children have a different childhood from hers, she makes a promise to God: If blessed with children, she will love all of them equally.

Twenty years later, her prayer is answered with twins who could not be more different. Gentle and thoughtful Jacob captures her heart, while wild Esau seems determined to defy her at every turn. As her sons grow into men, Rebekah finds herself torn between her promise and undeniable truths. Can she keep her love impartial even as she places her faith in God's covenant?

My Thoughts:

There are only really a handful of authors that I truly enjoy their Biblical fiction, and author Hunt is one of them. This is the second in the series, The Matriarchs, and this story is Rebekah's. Rebekah who is the wife of Isaac and gives birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. The author has included notes at the back of the book that gives more clarity on why she wrote certain things. These notes are very helpful.

The story of Rebekah is very familiar to me, and I really liked stepping into the past, even though this is a fictional account, and see a more fleshed out Rebekah. From the time she first meets Abraham's servant to seeing her two boys again at the end, her voice is strong throughout this story. Sometimes Bible characters can be brushed over, and when I read these stories, it does help the person become more alive. Seeing what she may have thought, grieved, loved, hoped, and her faith in the one true God. Reminding me she was a living, breathing heroine a long time ago.

I enjoyed this story and the faith that was shown. I look forward to Leah's next.

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.

Connect with Angela Hunt:

https://www.angelahuntbooks.com/contact/

Monday, November 2, 2026

My Thoughts and More on The Ties That Bind by Jane Bayly Vaughan

About the Book

Book: The Ties That Bind

Author: Jane Bayly Vaughan

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: April 14, 2026

In 1830s Cornwall, Grace Bayly faces unimaginable events that threaten the survival of her family. Her father and half of her large family are an ocean away and her mother and remaining siblings are poised to follow. As hardships close in, hopes of a new beginning grow distant. She must summon fortitude borne of love and sacrifice to hold her family together. Amid the unyielding grip of loss and grief, Grace steels herself to persist as she faces the ultimate challenge that threatens to break her.

Will Grace find the strength she needs to ensure her family survives?

A poignant tale of loyalty, resilience, and the enduring bonds that shape a woman’s courage when everything she cherishes is at stake.

Inspired by real people and events.

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My Thoughts:

Stepping into this story we are swept into the life and times of Grace Bayly and her home in Cornwall. Her family is the center of her life, both immediate and extended. As we begin the story, Grace has recently given birth to her fifth child, a first daughter. We also very much get a good handle on what her life was like as a woman living in the 1830's. A woman who either was obedient and reliant on her family, or her husband. She has a good marriage, but I appreciated her thoughts as a woman and her want for more freedom in the choices she was given.

Half of Grace's family have gone to America. She secretly longs to go, much to her husband Richard's chagrin. He will not even entertain the idea with his father still in Cornwall. Grace understands even though she feels tied down. I like that this is a family novel, Grace loves her family all of them, even the in-laws. The close-knit bonds were great to read about and gave strength to these people as they lived in what seemed a harsh world.

A harsh world it was too. This book is full of sadness along with family bonds. The author based this story on her own ancestors. Grace has a lot to overcome. I believe her story will continue in the series.

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

About the Author

Jane’s love of God and family permeates her life, including her passion to share stories rooted in genealogy and history. She weaves the theme of family into the fabric of her historical fiction and dives deep, by writing about true events and people.

Using her 20+ years of experience in genealogy research as a family historian, Jane has written articles and short stories. She was awarded a travel grant by the Cornish American Heritage Society and visited Cornwall to walk in the footsteps of her ancestors and research her roots.

Jane has won several awards for her writing, and invites readers to experience timeless lessons of faith, resilience, and heritage that echo from the past into our lives today.

She makes her home in the beautiful lowcountry of South Carolina with her husband of 45+ years. They have two grown children, and lots of cats.

To learn more about Jane, visit her at JaneBaylyVaughan.com and sign up for her newsletter to receive an award-winning short story that will introduce you to the series A Story of Grace.

More from Jane

I have been a long-time family historian for over twenty years. When COVID hit, I was at a crossroads and could choose the next grand adventure. As I took stock, I revisited a question that had nagged me on and off for some time: how do I ensure the family history is not forgotten? Around that time, a friend of mine invited me to observe a writer’s group. I accepted her invitation, and after one meeting, I became a member of Word Weavers International. I knew that writing stories about my ancestors would generate interest among my relatives.

I faced a learning curve and dedicated myself to writing brief scenes as submissions each month. At first, I considered this venture as something fun, not to be taken seriously, but after several months, someone I respect encouraged me, and so I applied myself. As my writing improved and my research continued, I thought of my four^th great-grandmother from Cornwall. A story formed, and I wrote all my submissions to the writer’s group about her in a fictional narrative. After a year or two attending the writer’s group, I was suffering from imposter syndrome and needed encouragement from sources who were not familiar with me. I wrote a short story and entered it into a contest as validation to either continue writing or quit altogether.

I attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference in 2024 and sat white-knuckled as they announced the short story winners. They announced third place first, and I didn’t win, so I almost stopped listening because I assumed I hadn’t placed at all. They announced second place, and of course, someone else won. Then the announcer paused and explained that the first-place winning piece was so good they said it was ready for publication. The words, “In first place is ’Becoming Grace’ by Jane Vaughan,” shocked me! That was a God moment, and I realized He was offering me a partnership.

Driven by my love for family history, I found my next grand adventure: partnering with my Creator to create stories that help us remember the resilience and sacrifices of our ancestors and how their lives affect us today. Ultimately, my stories are about how important it is to love each other. The Ties That Bind is the first book in the series A Story of Grace.