My Thoughts on Of Flaw and Scorn by Vera Bell

 

About:

Irish coast, 795 A.D. Caught between two clashing worlds, a Christian slave and a Viking raider must crush their forbidden love before it imperils her faith and destroys his claim to the jarl’s seat—but God’s plan is greater than either can imagine.

While gathering wild strawberries near her fishing village, thirteen-year-old Brigit stumbles into the path of a young Viking warrior, Reidar. A night terror come alive, the heathen boy is part of a Norse horde descended on Ireland beneath the cover of night. Eager for conquest and glory on his first raid, Reidar takes Brigit captive. But when her terror stirs an overwhelming compassion, he defies his father and saves her from his own people as they raze her village. This unexpected act of mercy sears Brigit’s memory into his soul and becomes his Great Flaw.

Seven years later, the Vikings storm the Irish keep where Brigit is trapped in a loveless marriage. Amid the raid, their young warlord sets his sights on Brigit. Her faith, once her anchor, has withered under years of loss and hardship, and her Great Scorn for Norsemen and all who wronged her has become her only armor. Yet her defenses crumble as she wrestles with a dangerous attraction to her enemy. Bound to her captor’s will and surrounded by savagery, Brigit fights to preserve her dignity and fading faith as she clings to the memory of the boy who once spared her. But the man Reidar has become a hardened warrior, sworn to vengeance and shackled by blood feud.

Both are doomed to ruin unless they open their hearts to the one power greater than the Flaw and Scorn that bind them.

My Thoughts:

Wow! What can I say, but it has been a long time since I read a story like this one. One that is epic and fierce, hard to read at times but full of redemption and the working of that behind the scenes. Please be advised dear readers, this story is not sweet. The author did her research, and she shows the ruthlessness and savagery of the Vikings of that time. And if we are honest with ourselves, that savagery still exists even in our modern times.

This is a story of a believer and a heathen. How both are really just trying to survive in a world that has two differing belief systems and only one is the truth. As I was reading this story, I felt the author really explained the Norse thinking and their false religion well as in how it affected the way they believed and their deeds, to the vile raiding they perceived that was good for them. They thought little of other peoples or their lives.

She starts off each chapter with a stanza from a Norse poem, that in itself has a very interesting story tied in. Then bam, the last two chapters begin with scripture. To me, that was a powerful story move.

Anyway, this story grabbed me, had me thinking, and looking forward to the next in this series. It promises to be just as powerful as it will be someone's story we have met in this one. So, looking forward to it.

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.

My Thoughts and More on Fires of Injustice by Kendy Pearson

 

 

About the Book

Book: Fires Of Injustice

Author: Kendy Pearson

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: April 15, 2026

She is fighting for the innocent.

 He is fighting for a second chance.

Yakira Mitchell has spent her life rescuing the forgotten from the clutches of exploitation and dreams of one day opening her own mission home for Chinese girls. But that dream is hard fought when she becomes a lightning rod for trouble as anti-Chinese mobs protest, and towns expel immigrants in “peaceful” purges across the West. Her heart is to build a home for the broken, but as revelations about her past erupt, the truth threatens to crumble her own foundation.

Attorney Grant Campbell, the boy who once held Yakira’s heart, returns to San Francisco after a long absence to make amends and seek forgiveness. He is determined to defend Chinese immigrants and to reconcile with his family and Yakira. But as old feelings flare—so do old wounds.

As flames of injustice consume communities, violence rages, and lives hang in the balance. Yakira must face the truth of who she really is—and who God has called her to be. In the ashes of hatred, Yakira and Grant both discover a love stronger than fear and a purpose forged in fire.

A story of resilience, redemption, and love, FIRES OF INJUSTICE blazes with the courage of those who dared to stand against the darkness.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This story takes us to San Francisco in 1883. From the prologue even further back, to China in 1863. This is a story of Yakira a young woman who has the heart and the zeal to save Chinese girls from the terrible lives ahead of them, unfortunately at the hands of wicked men. Yakira faces a lot of danger and sadly hatred from just about everyone, even those that should not, as she tries to help these poor souls. This story showed the deep prejudice humans have against each other. So sad.

Yakira's beginning is very sad as well. It was not only in America these girls were facing a horrible life, but in China as well. There is love and romance, danger, and family secrets that shake these characters foundations.

I knew about the injustices of the Chinese people, not a lot though. I appreciate that this book delved deep into that time period and I learned a lot. Sometimes I just need to read a book for fun, others I am thankful for what I have learned. This book shined a light on the past and also shows how relevant these issues are still for this world today.

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

Kendy Pearson is a musician and veteran high school teacher who loves to discover a pocket of American history missing from the schoolbooks and turn that pocket inside out. Her novels lead fictitious characters through historical events and settings, engaging with period personalities. And she always includes a romantic thread to warm the heart. Every story is a journey through tragedy, secrets, regrets, and God’s undeniable grace.

She is the author of the award-winning series, West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm. When she finally gets away from her computer, she relishes ice cream, snowy days, fireplaces, and maple trees. Kendy is the mother of four grown children and lives with her sweet hubby and two amusing miniature dachshunds

 

More from Kendy

I just love discovering fascinating new pockets of history. For years I taught high school history, and I realize there is a lot of valuable information that didn’t make it into the curriculum. One of those little history pockets spurred the idea for Fires of Injustice.

I grew up in the Midwest learning about Jesse James, the Plains Indian Wars, frontier violence, the Civil War, the Great Depression, and all things Missouri and Mississippi River. Boy, did I get an education when I moved to the West Coast! The first time someone mentioned “Chinese Underground,” I had to find out more.

Six years ago in Pendleton, Oregon, I first learned about America’s Forgotten War and the expulsions that occurred along the West Coast. I knew thousands of Chinese laborers built the western half of the Transcontinental Railroad. But I didn’t know 300,000 Chinese immigrants came to America between 1852 and 1888. Drawn first by gold, then by opportunities in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and the service trades.

And the girls came. “Go‑away girls” were daughters of impoverished families in southern China. Families sent or sold these girls into domestic servitude or, tragically, into trafficking networks that reached as far as America.

What began as the exploitation of vulnerable Chinese girls and laborers soon hardened into a wider climate of fear and resentment. That same prejudice—left unchecked—grew into the mob violence and expulsions that later tore entire communities apart.

This was a dark chapter in American history. But there were those who cared about these girls and wanted to protect them at all costs. A story of resilience, redemption, and love, FIRES OF INJUSTICE blazes with the courage of those who dared to stand against that darkness.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 16

Sydney Schmied Books, April 17

Stories By Gina, April 18 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 18

For Him and My Family, April 19

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 20

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , April 21

Guild Master, April 22 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 22

Betti Mace, April 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 25

Connie’s History Classroom, April 26

Holly’s Book Corner, April 27

Fiction Book Lover, April 28 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kendy is giving away the grand prize of a $50 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.

https://gleam.io/zg8t0/fires-of-injustice-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts on The Rancher's Stolen Past by Tabitha Bouldin

 

About:

A man in search of redemption.

A love he will fight to deserve.

Coming home isn’t easy for cowboy Zane Kingsley—but he’s eager to earn back the trust of the woman he never stopped loving. Single mom Molly Jacobs is still grieving the husband she lost six years ago, and the last person she wants to see is the man she blames for his death. When they’re forced to work together at a summer riding program for kids, Molly can’t help but notice the growing bond between Zane and her young son. Can Zane convince her that he’s a changed man and that he’s worthy of her forgiveness…and her love?

My Thoughts:

Molly is a widow with a son who is deeply grieving her late husband. So much so that she has set all of her anger and blame on his best friend, Zane, due to the fact that she blames Zane for her husband signing up for the military. Her husband was killed while Zane never ended up going. Unfortunately, bitterness has taken root in her heart. I also found a conversation that she had with her father interesting when she told him that she was choosing to blame Zane instead of God. I really felt for Molly, however I really felt for Zane too.

Zane loves Molly. He was a bad boy growing up. He wishes that Molly's husband was still alive. However, he needs to come back to his hometown to help his grandfather. Not only that but he would like to make amends and if at all possible, win Molly and her son's hearts. A deeply moving story of letting go of bitterness and forgiving.

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.

My Thoughts and More on The Last Quiet Autumn by Loni Kemper Moore

 

About the Book

Book: The Last Quiet Autumn

Author: Loni Kemper Moore

Genre: Christian historical fiction with strong faith themes

Release Date: September, 2025

One letter stitched a family together. Now, with war on the wind, only love—penned note by note—holds the threads in place.

Autumn 1941

Three young women—strangers to one another—each receive an alluring invitation they cannot and dare not refuse—Thanksgiving dinner in Texas with a mysterious ninety-year-old woman.

Virginia Campbell, a poised Boston socialite on the brink of marrying into a powerful political family, is entrusted with a delicate family mission—one that could jeopardize the perfect wedded life she so carefully planned.

Eulalia Bell, a spirited nursing graduate, earned her scholarship in Nebraska thanks to the Orphan Train. But the truth of her past threatens the career she’s fought hard to build.

Francesca Smythe, a resilient wife and mother on an Oklahoma ranch, survived the Dust Bowl and Depression. She longs for the warmth and connection of a true family. When the letter arrives, she wonders if it holds the key to the belonging she’s yearned for all her life.

As secrets unfold and pasts entwine, these three women are drawn to a truth that will reshape their lives—about love powerful enough to face a potential world at war, desires too strong to be silenced, and the courage to claim their place in history.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

I was very intrigued by this beautiful cover of this book. Three young women looking at a book with a picture of another hanging on the wall. I know you shouldn't judge a book by the cover, but this one called to me to open up the story and find out what these three women are so interested in.

This is a story where we get all three of their viewpoints. It is about families and their secrets. What it means to be a family and how even after years of mistakes there is hope of reconciliation and belonging along with forgiveness. 

The story takes place in Texas during World War 2. It was interesting to see the times as there is still struggles due to the Great Depression and the world has been thrown into turmoil again. If you like a story of found family, this is a great story.

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

About the Author

Loni Kemper Moore is a sports-cheering, Diet-Pepsi-sipping, Rocky Mountain–adventure-seeking storyteller who longs to reflect God’s beautiful love through life’s hardest places, especially for remarkable women around the globe.

A preacher’s kid at heart though her father joined her mother in Heaven, Loni’s wanderlust was sparked early by family and missionary stories. She has visited more than a dozen countries, learning from other cultures while often experiencing life as “the other.” Though she attended multiple schools as a minority and later discovered African heritage through DNA testing, she approaches those experiences with humility rather than assumption.

Loni earned bachelor’s degrees in Education and Biblical Studies from the former Denver Baptist Bible College and completed graduate work in Education at the University of Evansville.

A Jesus-following history enthusiast, Loni was named Leonnie Sue after generations of strong women. Leonnie was her maternal great-grandmother, who died during the Influenza Pandemic, leaving behind her husband and four teenagers. Sue traces through the family tree to Susanna Dean, who stepped off a ship in Korea, Maine, in the 1640s. These inherited collections of more than 500 spoons; stories of faith, endurance, and love deeply shape Loni’s writing.

Her novel The Last Quiet Autumn came to life after cousin reunions on both sides of her family stirred memories of childhood gatherings at her grandparents’ homes—one on a Loudoun County, Virginia farm and the other on a southern Colorado ranch. Reflecting on shared family experiences and her parents’ childhood just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Loni began to wonder how different her life might have been without nearly two dozen cousins spread across four time zones. That question sparked a story that grew far beyond her original imagination.

When she isn’t writing, Loni is visiting friends, studying history, and exploring meaningful places—like the Cherwell River near Oxford, UK where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis once walked. During a trip to Swindon, England, she visited the Eagle and Child pub, where the Inklings met, a moment that proved especially encouraging.

Loni is the proud mom of Adam, a CAD engineer and YouTuber; Becca and Anthony, who made her a delighted grandmother of her “GrandMiracles,” Naomie and Zemira; and a frequent traveler with her beloved “Hugsband,” Robert, an embedded engineer. A granddaughter of ranchers and farmers, Loni holds close the legacy of trusting God through tragedy—faith that carried her grandparents and parents through the World Wars and continues to anchor her stories today.

More from Loni

I can still picture my grandmother standing at her farmhouse stove, cracking open precious eggs she’d just sold back to herself. The surplus eggs were sold to allow her to buy rationed products.

One recipe she made regularly was this ‘Wacky Cake’—a chocolate cake so frugal it needed no eggs, butter, or milk. While historians debate the exact origin of the name, the most likely explanation is that it earned its playful moniker from the unconventional method of mixing everything directly in the baking pan—no bowl required. Homemakers could hardly believe a cake without eggs or butter would actually rise and taste good. But it does!

As a child spoiled by Betty Crocker mixes, I had to admire her ingenuity, even if I couldn’t quite share her enthusiasm for the taste. When my character Chessa bakes in ‘The Last Quiet Autumn,’ I drew directly from recipes like this one. Understanding how women stretched ingredients during wartime rationing helped me write scenes that felt authentic.

Have you tried Depression-era recipes? I’d love to hear about your family’s resourceful traditions from that era.

It reminded me how faith, like that cake, often rises when we least expect it to.

 

Wacky Chocolate Cake

(a.k.a. Depression Cake or Crazy Cake)

Circa 1940s

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon vinegar (white or apple cider)
• ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup cold water

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. In an ungreased 8×8-inch square baking pan, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
3. Make three wells in the dry mixture:

o   In one well, pour the vanilla.

o   In the second, the vinegar.

o   In the third, the oil.

1. Pour the cold water over everything and mix well with a fork or whisk until smooth.
2. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
3. Let cool in the pan. Dust with powdered sugar or enjoy plain.

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, April 9

Stories By Gina, April 10 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 11

Simple Harvest Reads, April 12 (Author Interview)

A Simple Texas Girl, April 12

Texas Book-aholic, April 13

Artistic Nobody, April 14 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, April 15

Guild Master, April 16 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 17

Fiction Book Lover, April 18 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 19

Vicky Sluiter, April 20 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 20

Lily’s Corner, April 21

For the Love of Literature, April 22 (Author Interview

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Loni is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://gleam.io/3bY3w/the-last-quiet-autumn-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Pieces of April by Jennifer Lynn Cary

 

About the Book

Book: Pieces of April: A Sweet, Quirky, Romantic Puzzle

Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

Genre: Sweet, Clean Romantic Comedy

Release Date: January 20, 2026

She’s trying to move beyond her past…

…He wants to know who he was.

Will combining their pieces risk erasing their future together?

April Mathers wants to move forward. She can’t undo her impulsive high school blunder, so she keeps her head down, works hard, and prays for that long-awaited promotion. She’s cautious—even about the friends she chooses.

Then her next-door neighbor sublets her apartment to the one person capable of blowing up April’s world by repeating words that once shattered her.

Except he doesn’t remember saying them.

In fact, he doesn’t remember her.

Viet Nam vet Paul Romer has returned home hoping a support group can help him make peace with his permanent amnesia. All he has from before are flashes of a girl.

Then he finds her.

She lives next door.

And she definitely knows something—something not good.

Their chemistry is real, the tension tangled, and the secret between them is as stable as six-inch platform shoes. When the truth comes out, will it destroy their fragile beginning, or give them a future worth remembering?

Return to 1974 Kokomo, Indiana, where faith, love, and a legendary cardinal in a sycamore tree might fit the pieces into place.

You’ll swoon for this sweet, quirky, romantic tale of second chances, because sometimes sharing all those pieces of your heart is the only way to put it back together.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts: 

Pieces of April was another fantastic trip back to 1970's Kokomo, Indiana. It hasn't been too long of a wait, and this story was about April and Paul, who once upon a time had a history. Due to what down during high school, now when April runs into any old high school classmates she is sometimes treated as a Pariah.

The start of this story April is really having a bad day. It gets even worse when she finds out that Paul will be her new neighbor. Things in the past did not end well with them. Except that through an injury Paul sustained in Vietnam, he has no memory of April and their shared past. He just knows that there is a connection between them that he would like to pursue no matter the truth. In fact, Paul is so determined to be with her, he doesn't even want to know what happened.

However, there are tensions with his family, some townsfolk, and even with April herself. Maybe it would be best to get everything out in the open. This book had me hooked as I wanted to know what exactly went down too.

I enjoyed my trip back and even though the time period is a little before my time, I remember the layaways. Full of nostalgia and true love with a heaping lot of forgiveness.

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

Historical Christian Romance author and three-time Selah Award nominee, Jennifer Lynn Cary, likes to say you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can’t take the Hoosier out of the girl. Now transplanted to the Arizona desert, this direct descendant of Davy Crockett and her husband of forty-plus years enjoy time with family where she shares tales of her small-town heritage and family legacies with their grandchildren. She is the author of The Crockett Chronicles series, The Relentless series, and The Weather Girls trilogy, as well as the stand-alone novel, Cheryl’s Going Home, her novella Tales of the Hob Nob Annex Café, and her split-time novels The Traveling Prayer Shawl and The Forgotten Gratitude Journal. Her current spin-off series, The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue, contains standalones with a common thread.

More from Jennifer

Ever have one of those songs that you’ve loved for a long time and then you discover someone else covered the song? As a general rule, I tend to like the first version better. It’s familiar and often brings up good memories.

However, (you knew there was a however coming, right?) I discovered a different version of “Pieces of April” solely by accident. And it was done by the guy who wrote the song, Dave Loggins. Three Dog Night’s version is great. Chuck Negron did some of his best work on that track. But Dave Loggins’s version touched me in a new way.

So, I did some investigating. For one thing, I wanted to know what the song was about. Was there really an April? Or was it just a play on words?

Turns out, there was an April. And that Dave Loggins enjoyed interacting with fans online. So he’d written that he and April (the girlfriend) had a relationship for three Aprils (meaning the month) before they broke up. He missed her and wrote the song for her and it was one of his favorites that he’d written.

However, (you should’ve known this one was coming 😉) Dave passe away in 2024 so I didn’t get to ask him any more questions.

As I was putting this series together, I listed all the rock and roll songs I could think of from 1960 to the early 1970s that had girls’ names in the titles. Then I grouped them for similarity in beat and title words. When I came to “Pieces of April”, I immediately knew it would have to be an amnesia story. I started it out as a young married couple who ends up going through this but it wasn’t working. I struggled a lot trying to rework what I’d been musing on for months and the funny thing is, once I got past chapter five, things started happening. I’m not a plotter but I’m not a pure pansters/discovery writer either. But this book was a lot of discovery for me and how the threads all got tied up, that’s a God thing.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 15

Inspired by Fiction, April 16

Leslie’s Library Escape, April 17

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 18 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 18

Texas Book-aholic, April 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 20

She Lives To Read, April 21

Books, Books, and More Books, April 22 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, April 23

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 24 (Author Interview)

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, April 24

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, April 25

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 26

Books Less Travelled, April 27 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook copy of the book!!

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

https://gleam.io/8J97u/pieces-of-april-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Hannah's Quest by Jodie Wolfe

 

 

About the Book

Book: Hannah’s Quest

Author: Jodie Wolfe

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 13, 2025

Hannah Moore escapes the overbearing grip of her relatives and forges her own way in Shippensburg, PA, far away from their clutches. Despite Hannah’s sheer determination, she finds life on her own daunting as she loses job after job. Unsure where she fits in, Hannah wonders if she’ll ever be good enough. She feels as if God has forsaken her and questions if she will ever find a place to belong. The last thing she needs is an ignorant shop keeper constantly questioning her abilities and standing in her way. Hannah will take almost any position available so as not to return to the place of her upbringing.

Luke Weiser has one goal in mind—finding a way to save his grandmother and restore her health. Only trouble is, she has other ideas about what is best for her. Gran longs to see Luke’s return to faith in the Lord, but he blames God for his grandmother’s sickness and the tragic events of his childhood. After the death of his mother, followed by his father’s abandonment, Luke refuses to trust his heart to anyone, and certainly not a wife. When Hannah keeps popping up in the hardware shop where he works, Luke is forced to think twice about his convictions.

Can two bruised hearts follow their personal quests and discover healing in the process?

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Hannah has set out on her own so she can escape the miserable life her aunt and uncle have arranged for her. They were quite overbearing and that is saying a lot when they were mostly just writing letters to Hannah with threats of coming to pick her up. Hannah has a problem though; she is having a hard time finding and keeping a stable job to pay for her rent. She is willing to try or do anything just to stay out of her family's hands.

Luke is absolutely certain he will stay a bachelor his whole life. He is busy working and caring for his sick grandmother, whom more than anything he wants to see get well. It has even put a strain on his spiritual life. His grandmother, though very sick, was quite a spunky character. She wanted to see Luke happy and fulfilled, and with a wife. Into their lives walks Hannah. Luke just can't seem to stay away from her and sometimes all her silliness.

This was a nice journey towards true love and leaving our future in the hands of the One who loves us the most. Luke and Hannah have some lessons to learn, but together and with their faith they will see it through.

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

JODIE WOLFE loves writing historical fiction after years as a homeschooling mom. She creates novels where hope and quirky meet. Jodie is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW). She’s been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. Jodie enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, knitting, and walking.

 

 

 

 

More from Jodie

It’s been such a joy to set a series in the town where I graduated from college almost 40 years ago. I’m so thankful my husband suggested it, as it’s been a lot of fun digging into the history of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding area during the 19^th century. Before this series, all my other books had settings in the Mid-west—Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.

When I started writing the first book, Abigail’s Pursuit, quite a number of years ago, I never intended to create a series about prodigals, let alone experience the pain of it in my life… but God knew what the future held. While each of the books in this Time to Come Home Series revolves around the common theme of a prodigal, each of the tales is a stand-alone. My prayer is for those who have children who have wandered away, or perhaps were once prodigals themselves, or even others who enjoy Christian historical romance with strong spiritual themes—that each of these groups find encouragement through reading this series.

Hannah’s Quest was exciting to write as I incorporated information about one of the oldest continually run hardware stores in PA that is still operating to this day, even though it’s changed names various times through the years. I hope you’ll enjoy stepping back in time to a small town in south-central PA where faith and family are celebrated.

Blog Stops

Pause for Tales, April 18

Stories By Gina, April 19 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, April 20 (Author Interview)

Fruitfully Planted, April 20

Artistic Nobody, April 21 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 22

Guild Master, April 23 (Author Interview)

Fiction Book Lover, April 24 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, April 25 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, April 26

For the Love of Literature, April 27 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 28 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, April 28

Blossoms and Blessings, April 29 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, April 30

The Bookish Ledger, May 1 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jodie is giving away the grand prize of a Kindle!!

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

https://gleam.io/NokHu/hannahs-quest-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts on Targeted in the Swamp by Kerry Johnson

 

About:

Hunted by killers.

And time is running out fast…

Laurel Bell’s first day as a wildlife photography ranger takes a treacherous turn when she is nearly drowned by a masked assassin. Her witness protection cover has been blown, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before her attacker returns to finish the job. Her only chance at survival is police sergeant Heath Calhoun, who will do anything to deliver Laurel to her marshal handler. But when Heath’s young daughter is taken hostage, the stakes are raised, and now they must race to outsmart the powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to exact their revenge…

My Thoughts:

Laurel has been running and hiding for most of her life. After the murder of her father, she became a key witness who could identify his murderers. These were ruthless men who think of nothing but killing and hunting her down, to exact their vengeance. Ruthless, think some chill inducing spine tingling evil just because. Gave me chills anyway.

Laurel is settling into her new job as a wildlife photographer when she is attacked and almost killed. Enter police sergeant Heath who is also attacked while saving her and she has met a most formable protective man. 

Heath has been through a lot too, as a widower he is raising his little girl alone. As a brother and son, he quite protective of his family as his own demons chase him down. Now Laurel has entered his protective sphere, and he is not about to let her go and will continue to dig deep to learn all her secrets. Something she is really trying to keep him out of. Definitely some pushing and pulling between these two.

As the danger mounts and sparks fly these two have quite an adventure ahead of them. This was a thrilling read, and the author pulled me in so much, it made it feel like I was tasting that swamp water.

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

My Thoughts and More on Chancing the Frontiersman's Heart by Andrea Byrd

 

About the Book

Book: Chancing the Frontiersman’s Heart

Author: Andrea Byrd

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 24, 2026

From Andrea Byrd comes a stirring tale of faith and courage on the Kentucky frontier—a story of second chances, steadfast love, and the family bonds that sustain us through life’s darkest hours. Perfect for fans of Lori Wick and Janette Oke.

Kentucky Territory, 1782

When Dawn agrees to travel west with her cruel stepparents, she has one goal—to reunite her young stepsister Mary with her uncle at Bryan’s Station. But a chance encounter with Jacob McFadin, her childhood sweetheart, changes everything. Despite her missing left hand and the scars of rejection she carries, Jacob sees past her differences and offers marriage to help protect them on their journey.

Jacob has spent years trying to prove himself as more than just the youngest McFadin brother. When he recognizes Dawn, the girl who captured his heart years ago, he knows God has given him a second chance. But his desire to finally make a name for himself threatens to tear apart their fragile new family.

As they face the perils of the Kentucky wilderness and escalating tensions with British and Indian forces, Dawn and Jacob must learn to trust in God’s plan—and each other. When violence erupts at Bryan’s Station, they discover that true worth isn’t found in grand achievements, but in the boundless love of family and faith.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was a story of two childhood loves finding themselves together once again on their way west in 1782. Jacob is traveling with his family, always in the shadow of his older brothers' footsteps and their plans. He is restless and not entirely happy about that. Jacob wants to set out on his own and fulfill his own dreams, whatever they may be.

He finally gets his chance to begin that when he is reunited with his first love, Dawn. Dawn, who has a birth defect that makes her feel less than whole, and her little stepsister Mary, are nothing more than slaves to their stepparents. They both are treated harshly and abused, and it takes all Dawn has to protect Mary. Until one day on the journey west, Jacob steps into protect her. Now reunited again, he is not about to let her go. What follows is a whirlwind marriage of convenience and their travels to Mary's uncle, which leads Jacob finally able to step away from his family.

Their journey is filled with adventure and love as this little family begins to click. I so very much liked the ending as they all find their way home, and to family that really loves.

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

Andrea Byrd is a small-town wife and mom from southern Kentucky who harbors a deep love of days gone by, expressed with pioneer skirts and a once-in-a-lifetime ride in an authentic biplane. She seeks to respect the past, giving voice to those that came before, while reminding readers that no aspect of their past defines them.

 

 

 

More from Andrea

As a reader of historical fiction, I love reaching the end of a novel and reading the author’s note to learn how real people and events inspired the written words. Now, as an author myself, I try to provide the same for my own readers and Chancing the Frontiersman’s Heart is no exception.

While the Siege of Yorktown is considered the last major battle of the revolutionary war, ten months afterward, American forces would suffer great losses at the Battle of Blue Licks. During this conflict, more than sixty Kentuckians would lose their lives.

However, what intrigued me most about this piece of American history was actually the events leading up to it. The Battle of Blue Licks was a result of a skirmish a few days prior: the Siege of Bryan’s Station. In what is now Lexington, Kentucky, a fortified settlement was attacked by Delaware and Shawnee warriors, as well as Canadian Rangers.

Playing a vital part in the station’s ability to withstand the attack, of course, were the women of Bryan’s Station. During this conflict, the women would do more than simply provide support though. They would put themselves directly in harm’s way, venturing outside the safety of the settlement walls, in order to fetch water from the spring. Though Bryan’s Station was surrounded and they could be descended upon the moment they left the fold, the women (and girls) marched forwarded with heads held high to do what had to be done.

As soon as I learned of the women of Bryan’s Station and their act of bravery, I knew I had to weave these historical events into this novel. I hope you find their story as inspiring as I did!

Happy Reading!

Andrea Byrd

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, March 28

Books Less Travelled, March 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 30

Bizwings Blog, March 30

lakesidelivingsite, March 31

Sylvan Musings, April 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 2

Devoted To Hope, April 3

For Him and My Family, April 3

Abba’s Warrior Princess, April 4

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 5

Bigreadersite, April 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 6

Jeanette’s Thoughts, April 7

Mary Hake, April 7

Fruitfully Planted, April 8

Holly’s Book Corner, April 8

Lyssa Loves Books, April 9

Books You Can Feel Good About, April 10

Pause for Tales, April 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Andrea 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/KhGOn/chancing-the-frontiersmans-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Ashton by Anne Perreault

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Ashton by Anne Perrault, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Ashton 
Series: Yellowstone Descendants #1 
Author: Anne Perreault 
Publisher: Independently Published 
Release Date: October 1, 2025 
Genre: Christian Fiction/Contemporary Western Romance

Return to Yellowstone with the next generation of our beloved characters from the original series.  

Saddlehorn, MT 

Ashton Anderson, former town sweetheart and prodigal son of rancher Clint Anderson, has finally returned home. Where has he been for the last ten years, you ask? Apparently, working a smaller rodeo circuit up north. With his strength and skill, he should have done well, but he has returned battered, bruised, and grieving the loss of his faithful gelding, Dusty. As for the girlfriend who turned down his marriage proposal all those years ago . . . 

Kelsey Winters has left her less-than-idyllic past behind. She now helps others as a therapist at the therapeutic riding center outside of town, although her own personal life seems to be a solid mess. She’s tried to be a good older sister to her brother, Darren, but she can’t protect him—or herself—from his poor choices. They’re one bad decision away from homelessness when they’re robbed and Darren is put in jail for possession of a controlled substance. 

Due to circumstances beyond their control, Kelsey and Ashton’s long-ago romance resurfaces. But will it leave the gate running, or suffer a colossal wreck?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author | Amazon | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

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About the Author

Anne Perreault was born and raised in Germany. By the time she was 14 years old, her family moved to Dubai, UAE. While living in this exotic place, she traveled extensively to various countries around the world. After graduating from an American boarding school in Austria, she attended college in England, where she met her husband. She graduated from New England College with a degree in biology, and settled down in Connecticut.

Anne became a horseback riding instructor as well as a certified therapeutic riding instructor. She and a group of friends started a therapeutic riding center in Bristol, CT. During that time, Anne also received a masters degree in secondary education and began to homeschool her three children. While raising their three children, she began to write an inspirational story primarily for her daughter. 12 years later, God commissioned her to write down her skating stories. That started a writing ministry she has enjoyed ever since. 

Anne, her husband, and two of their grown children now reside in Southern Vermont, where they are building their home. Besides writing, Anne enjoys reading, spending time with her husband, grown children, and granddogger. Her oldest son and his wife recently welcomed their first child making Anne and her husband now grandparents. She enjoys visiting and seeing her grandlove a few times a year.

Connect with Anne by visiting intothelightfiction.weebly.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

My Thoughts:

Broken hearts and broken dreams are the start of this story of two people coming home after being gone many years. In this loosely based story of the Prodigal son, we have a story told of healing, redemption, and dreams better than the first.

Ashton has come back home after ten long years, literally broken in body and a bit down in spirit. He is coming home after running away from home after his ex-girlfriend, Kelsey, broke his heart and refused his marriage proposal. I understand Ashton has to go and lick his wounds; however, I did feel the most for his parents when they were not even sure if he was dead or alive. 

Kelsey has a bit of trouble of her own. She certainly has come from a rough background. Her wealthy grandmother did not love her or her younger brother and left nothing to them when she passed away. Kelsey has been taking care of her brother ever since, unfortunately he has been making some very unwise decisions that she is unable to fix for him. This all brings her back into the crosshairs of Ashton.

Both are a little older and wiser, can they let go of the past, good and bad, and reach for a better tomorrow? Great redemption story of hope.

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.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a blind date with a book prize package which typically includes a signed paperback, bookish stickers, chocolates or mints, sticky notes, bookmarks, a drink koozie, and other fun bookish things!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 6, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 13, 2026. 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

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

My Thoughts and More on Sooner or Later by Vickie McDonough

 

About the Book

Book: Sooner or Later

Author: Vickie McDonough

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 31, 2026

Rebekah’s dreams have become a nightmare.

For years, Rebekah’s mother told her that sooner or later a handsome man would come along and sweep her off her feet. That was before her mother and brother had died and her stepfather arranged for her to marry their repulsive neighbor in exchange liquor and a half-side of beef. She won’t marry the vile older man and flees in the dark of night.

Mason Danfield has no interest in a wife. He’s focused on caring for his motherless niece and nephew. But when Mason finds a young woman stranded on the side of the trail, he can’t leave her behind to possible die on the prairie.

A chance encounter with Jake, the children’s father, ends up with Mason riding in the 1889 Oklahoma land run. He hopes to get land for Jake and the children. Maybe then he can talk Jake into marrying Rebekah, so she can have a home and stay with the children she has come to love. But for some reason, the idea of her and Jale together doesn’t sit well with Mason.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was quite an adventure story with many trials that this makeshift family had to go through.  All of them are also reeling from broken hearts, from losing beloved family members. I was quite surprised with how much was packed in this story.

Rebekah is desperate to escape the plans her stepfather has for her after the death of her mother and brother. Not wanting to be sold off in marriage to a horrible man, Rebekah takes matter in her own hands and runs away. Right into the path of Mason Danfield.

Mason is trying to get his niece and nephew to their father after the death of their mother, his sister. An accident that also took his wife and unborn child. Many broken hearts in this story that had me feeling for all of them. When Mason finds Rebekah, dressed as a man, half dead, their lives begin to take an upturn. That is if they can survive the weather and the trail.

This was a great adventure that didn't have one boring moment and had me turning those pages.

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

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.

 

Excerpt from the Book

April 2nd, 1889

Indian Territory

Never in her life had Rebekah Bailey done anything so daring, but then she’d never been this desperate before. She peered over her shoulder at the dilapidated house as she tiptoed toward the barn. Good. Still dark.

The full moon illuminated the rickety A-frame shack that had been her home for as long as she could remember. The breath she’d been holding came out on a ragged sigh. At least she’d managed to get out of the house without Curtis hearing her. But she was far from safe.

Her heartbeat resounded in her ears, and she was certain her closest neighbors, who lived miles away, could hear it. Hugging her ma’s ancient carpetbag against her chest, she quickened her pace.

A sharp creak in the direction of the house jerked Rebekah from her reverie. With a quick tug on the reins, she turned Prince west and kicked his sides. West toward the open plains and Indian Territory. Then northwest toward Denver–and freedom. She prayed it was the last place Curtis would think to look for her.

The chanting of tree frogs gave music to her ride, and an owl hooted somewhere in a nearby tree. She used to love the sounds of the night, but now they only reminded her that she was alone. Hoping to ward off the night chill, she tugged her frayed cloak around her. The world seemed normal, asleep, as it should in the middle of the night. But she felt anything except normal. Her world had fallen apart this evening with Curtis’s declaration. Nothing would ever be same for her. She shivered at the memory. “I’ve made a deal with Giles Wilbur,” Curtis had said, grinning with pride. “Swapped you for a half side of beef and some moonshine. In the morning, you’ll be moving in with him and be his woman.” Thoughts of the filthy, drunken sloth of a man more than twice her age made her blood run cold. How could Curtis expect her to live with Mr. Wilbur without the sanctity of marriage? How could he simply swap her like she were livestock—something to be bartered? Bile churned in her stomach and burned a path to her throat. Tears blurred her vision and streamed down her cheeks.

She’d never felt so alone. Completely alone–as though not a single person in the world cared for her. But the gentle touch of the wind to her cheeks reminded her of the One who never failed. Rebekah turned to her heavenly Father as Prince trotted down the dark road. “Protect me, Lord–and show me the way. And Father . . . oh, Father, give me courage for the ride ahead and strengthen Prince’s old bones–”

The faint sound of approaching hoof beats intruded on Rebekah’s prayer.

Oh, no! Curtis!

She was certain her heart would jump clear out of her chest. The reins nearly slipped from her trembling hands. Fear of what was behind her overpowered the fear of what was ahead.

Taking a deep, determined breath, and with a firm grip on the reins, Rebekah dug her heels into Prince’s side.

“He–yah!!!” she cried softly.

Prince vaulted into a gallop and raced down the road.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 7

Texas Book-aholic, April 8

Artistic Nobody, April 9 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 9

For Him and My Family, April 10

Happily Managing a Houehold of Boys, April 11

Guild Master, April 12 (Author Interview)

Books You Can Feel Good About, April 13

lakesidelivingsite, April 14

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 15

Fiction Book Lover, April 16 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, April 17 (Guest Review from Donna)

Cover Lover Book Review, April 18

Holly’s Book Corner, April 19

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 20 (Author Interview)

Jodie Wolfe, April 20

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://gleam.io/mieGk/sooner-or-later-celebration-tour-giveaway