My Thoughts and More on Across the Lake by Barbara M. Britton

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee by Barbara M. Britton, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! 

About the Book

Title: Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee 
Author: Barbara M. Britton 
Publisher: Scrivenings Press 
Release Date: January 6, 2026 
Genre: Biblical Fiction Devotional

Discover the life changing power of Jesus in six short stories from the Gospel of Mark. The miracles of Jesus will leap from the page in a Biblical Fiction story, author reflection, and relatable study. 

Travel with Jesus as he calms a storm, heals a desperate woman, raises a dead daughter to life, sends His disciples on a minimalist mission, feeds thousands on a hillside, and shows compassion to a persistent mother. 

A perfect study for your small group, personal or family devotions, or even a book club. If you know Jesus, fall in love with Him all over again. 

If you haven’t experienced Jesus’s power and love, jump in His boat and engage with the Creator and Savior of the world.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Scrivenings Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

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About the Author

Barbara M. Britton is an author of Christian Fiction who loves to bring little-known Bible stories to light. She has taught the Bible in church and schools for thirty years. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website barbarambritton.com.

My Thoughts:

This was a unique devotional that takes six of Jesus's miracles that happen around the Sea of Galilee, and in story form we are taken deeper into the miracle. There are about five chapters for each story, then we are given the author reflections and following up with discussion questions. There are some fictional characters mixed with Biblical as the author tells her stories.

This would be a great devotional for a book group, or even on your own. I like that the questions are right there and they give you time to pause and reflect on the story, the miracle, and who Jesus is. I have not done a devotional like this one before and I am glad I got a chance to try it.

I was provided a copy of this book 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 an Across the Lake book box which includes a paperback copy of Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee, a Hebrews 12:2 Scripture Rock, a necklace with cross and GRACE tag, a print copy of the Shelter in the Night devotional by LoRee Peery, a Philippians 4:13 notebook, and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 26, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 2, 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 The Scars of the Revolution by Megan Soja

 

About the Book

Book: Scars of the Revolution

Author: Megan Soja

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Some scars are born from duty, others from rebellion—theirs were carved by both.

Libby Caldwell has been in love with Isaac Harrison for years, ever since her late father befriended him. While her head knows there is no hope of sharing her life with a British soldier, her heart is much more difficult to convince, especially now that he is quartering in her home. With Boston under siege and battle looming, each day together forces her to recognize how deep her feelings truly are…and how forbidden.

Bound by duty to both his family and country, Isaac is determined to serve honorably in the King’s army, despite never wishing to be a soldier. But quartering with the widow and daughter of his old friend places another obligation on his shoulders—that of their well-being. The more time he spends with Miss Caldwell, the more that duty begins to feel like something personal, something he cannot allow.

As the siege of Boston tightens, Libby finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of espionage that could save the Patriot cause—and destroy any chance of a future with the man she’s growing to love.

Will betrayal and war keep their two worlds forever apart? Or will they look to the One whose love knows no bounds to bring them healing and a future?

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was an interesting story taking place during the siege of Boston during the Revolutionary War. Libby, a patriot is now living with her widowed mother and being quartered with a British soldier, Isaac Harrison. However, he is not just any British enemy, no he is one she has deep feelings for. This was a real enemy to lover story.

I have really liked getting both of their views on the war and all that transpired between them that helped them grow. Especially their faith and how that grew over time.  They do not have an easy time as they are on different sides. Isaac has been a British soldier for years; it is what he knows. Though that does come with certain nightmares as well.

A brand-new country is being born, the old doesn't want to let go, the conflicts are real and I enjoyed seeing our history played out. This was a great continuation of the series. 

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.

About the Author

Megan Soja is a multi-award-winning author who writes stories with strong faith, rich history, and sweet romance. She lives in western NY with her husband and two daughters and loves having adventures, both big and small, with her family. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, and playing French Horn.

 

 

 

 

More from Megan

One of the things I love about reading and writing Christian fiction, is being able to see God’s truth woven into the story. Even though the characters and their experiences are fictional, the truth of who God is and how He loves us is very real.

In Scars of the Revolution, my heroine, Libby Caldwell, wrestles with understanding God’s goodness in the face of loss and hardship. Libby is grieving the death of her beloved father, while also facing the siege of her hometown and the worsening fight between the Patriot colonists and the British Army stationed in Boston. Her growing love for one of the British officers further complicates matters, and makes it hard for her to discern what God is doing in her life.

Her questions and struggles reflect much of my own faith journey. When my husband and I lost our first baby just after birth, I spent months trying to reconcile what I thought I knew of God with the tragic loss we had experienced. I wasn’t angry at God, but I was utterly confused as to how to understand His goodness in the midst of something that felt anything but good.

It wasn’t easy, but when I look back now, I see how God led me through my grief into a deeper understand of His character and a stronger reliance upon Him. I can truthfully say, as Libby’s mother does in Scars of the Revolution, that it was “in the hardest times, when God has seemed utterly incomprehensible, that my faith has grown the most.”

If you have ever walked through a painful experience that made you struggle to understand God’s purpose or even doubt His love, I hope that Libby’s journey will inspire your own faith. Or maybe your experience is more like that of my hero, Isaac Harrison, whose life has revolved around duty for so long, that it is hard for him to comprehend a God who freely gives His love and forgiveness, even when we don’t deserve or cannot earn it. I won’t give any spoilers as to how Isaac’s understanding grows and changes, but I hope you’ll be encouraged when you read it.

Libby and Isaac’s story is one of love against all odds, set against the backdrop of the Battle of Bunker Hill and a complex web of espionage. But it is also a story of faith in the God who is able to turn our scars into something beautiful. I pray you will find that truth in the pages of Scars of the Revolution.

Blog Stops

Devoted Steps, January 17

Bizwings Blog, January 17

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 18

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 18

Books Less Travelled, January 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 20

Texas Book-aholic, January 21

Betti Mace, January 22

Holly’s Book Corner, January 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 23

Connie’s History Classroom , January 24

Books You Can Feel Good About, January 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 26

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 27

The Bookish Pilgrim, January 27

Simple Harvest Reads, January 28 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Cover Lover Book Review, January 29

Pause for Tales, January 30

Blossoms and Blessings, January 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Megan 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/nSWnS/scars-of-the-revolution-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on Flames of Faith by Marguerite Martin Gray

 

About the Book

Book: Flames of Faith

Author: Marguerite Martin Gray

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release Date: February, 2025

1870 Switzerland. One year. A mountain of ideas. And a menacing railroad forging the barrier between dreams and reality.

Claire Pennington formulates a bold plan to avoid the pressure of yet another London season. Her parents grant her one year in Switzerland, yet afterward she must return to England and find a suitor. Armed with a notebook and gumption, she determines to make the mountain town of Thun a tourist destination for all classes of society. However, she does not count on an equally determined railroad engineer set on leaving Thun in the dust.

The rugged mountain terrain grants Englishman Lucas Stanley the opportunity to launch his engineering career. The railroad is the answer to modern travel—expedient, efficient, and competitive, yet conquering the section of track from Thun to Interlaken is harder than he originally thought, especially with opposition from a fiery female. Claire confronts him at every turn, using her enthusiasm and people skills to flame local zeal for change and progress in another direction.

Opposing proposals collide as Claire, Lucas, and the citizens of the quaint Swiss town face an avalanche of decisions and compromises sparked by flames of faith—and perhaps love.

Discover romance and faith in 1870 Switzerland through this standalone novel from the Elements of Hope series where fire, air, water, and earth meet elements of the heart.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This story was based around an interesting topic, tourism, especially in the 1870's, with the beautiful background of Switzerland. Claire is a well to do young British lady who loves traveling, especially to her beloved Switzerland. She is also a woman ahead of her time as she has plans that she wants to share with her uncle about making her favorite place in the world easier and more affordable to get to by all people. At this point of time, only the wealthy were able to travel, when the poorer did travel they did not have comfortable or even safe accommodations.

On her trip away from home for a year, Claire intends to make her dream come true. However, she meets Lucas Stanley, a railroad engineer who does not quite share her vision. However, their shared time together brings an attraction to fruition and will test their individual dreams to their limits. Can Claire and Lucas have a shared goal and dream while falling in love?

A sweet romance and a beautiful setting make this a lovely read.

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

Marguerite Martin Gray is an award-winning author of a dozen novels and novellas. She enjoys the study of history, especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish online. She currently lives in North Louisiana with her husband and rescue pets. Her two adult children and two grandsons keep her young and up-to-date.

 

 

 

More from Marguerite

I am a tourist at heart and always have been since I was a child growing up in England as a preteen. A castle, a map, a manor house, a museum, a mystery, a myth in any country or state. Flames of Faith was sparked by a recent train ride from Interlaken to Thun, Switzerland where an old turreted castle rose above the lake and village. A perfect setting for a novel. It spurred thoughts of who visited this area as well as how and when since the terrain made it dangerous and tricky to just visit on a whim on a Sunday afternoon.

Have you heard of Thomas Cook (1850s and onward) and his famous travels all over Europe with tourists by horse, carriage, boat, foot, and finally train? He paved the way for the middle-class citizen to see gorgeous venues like Switzerland and the Alps. What an adventure to have been on one of his early tours! A Slow Train to Switzerland by Diccon Bewes cemented what I wanted to express in this novel.

 

Meet Claire Pennington, my heroine, who encompasses the traits of tourist in all the good senses. She wants everyone to have the opportunity to travel the continent and world as she does. Her bold dream inspires others to possibly regard seeing new sites as a way to refresh and revitalize their own lives.

Hop on board and discover romance and faith in 1870 Switzerland. Be a tourist without leaving your home.

 

 

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, January 21 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 22

Texas Book-aholic, January 23

Artistic Nobody, January 24 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, January 25

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 27

Guild Master, January 28 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, January 28

For Him and My Family, January 29

Devoted Steps, January 30

Fiction Book Lover, January 31 (Author Interview)

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 1

Holly’s Book Corner, February 2

Cover Lover Book Review, February 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marguerite is giving away the grand prize of a $25 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/sMCBM/flames-of-faith-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts and More on A Father's Dream by Heidi Ennis

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Father's Dream by Heidi Ennis, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Father's Dream 
Series: Columbia River Saga #1 
Author: Heidi Ennis 
Publisher: At the Foot of Mountains 
Release Date: December 11, 2023 
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

A young Swedish immigrant determined to survive.  

A mountain guide haunted by his past.  

In 1883, in the Pacific Northwest, their lives collide in a faith-filled historical romance of courage, forgiveness, and second chances. 

Johanna Amalia Nilsdotter Oman has left everything she knows behind. By crossing an ocean and a continent, she now faces the two-hundred-mile journey up the Columbia River into Washington Territory. Her father purchased land near Lyle with dreams of building a sawmill, and Johanna is determined that nothing—not distance, danger, or loneliness—will stop her from reaching their new home. 

John is a man running from everything. Haunted by shame and regret, he has chosen the wilderness as his grave, determined to vanish into the mountains and die alone. 

But before he can disappear, he accepts one final job: guiding a Swedish settler named Nils Oman into the rugged foothills above the Columbia River. The promised twenty dollars will buy him freedom—or so he believes. 

But God has other plans. When Johanna’s path collides with John’s, both must face the truth they’ve been running from. In the shadow of towering evergreens and the roar of the Columbia, they will discover that even in the darkest wilderness, God’s love brings redemption, healing, and the courage to begin again. 

Fans of Christian historical romance, frontier love stories, and faith-filled pioneer fiction will be swept away by this tender story of hope, forgiveness, and second chances in the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Author's Website | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

More in This Series

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About the Author

Heidi Ennis writes Christian historical romance set along the Columbia River, where faith, hope, and love meet the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Her stories celebrate courage, redemption, and the resilience of the human spirit—woven into real history and the landscapes she cherishes.

When she's not writing, you’ll find her sipping coffee with a dog or two at her side, exploring the outdoors, or sharing random PNW history facts with her family. Heidi loves languages, Pacific Northwest history, and telling stories that leave readers encouraged and inspired. 

Follow her at atthefootofmountains.com for new releases, sneak peeks, and stories that lift the heart.

My Thoughts:

This story completely swept me away. This was a beautiful story of a couple who both have had to deal with immense abuse and trauma in their lives. This story is filled with their tenacity for survival and the faith that they both relied on, when everything seemed to be falling apart and humanity showed its ugliness.

Johanna is a Swedish immigrant who has experienced way too much grief in her life. Now that her father is dead and her innocence stolen, she can only think to get to the land promised them all the way across the West into Washington state. But she is a lone young woman, who has already lost too much, how much more can be taken from her? So armed with her papers, her faith, and her resilience she makes the trek on her own hoping her lost brother will find his way to her.

When she reaches her destination, she must put all her trust in a man by the name of John, who himself is looked down upon as he is half Native American. These two start off on this perilous journey to fight against greed and evil all to find a home and a promise. Their journey is wrought with trials and tribulations, yet so, so rewarding in the end. I am so happy to have come across this new to me author that swept me up into Joanna and John's world.

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 print copy of A Father's Dream (Book One) and An Echo of Courage (Book Two) plus a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 19, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 26, 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/CAN 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 Not Exactly Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller

 

About the Book

Book: Not Exactly Mr. Darcy

Author: Carolyn Miller

Genre: Romance/Contemporary/Christian Fiction

Release Date: December, 2025

Pride, Pemberley, and Second Chances

When history-loving Olivia Bennett’s teaching contract isn’t renewed, she is considered her family’s logical choice to care for her ailing grandmother in a tiny English village. While there, she soon finds additional work at nearby Hartbury Hall—one of England’s great houses once used as Pemberley in a filmed production of Pride and Prejudice. The head gardener there, however, proves to be anything but the gentlemanly hero of that famous book. Little does she know that behind Liam Browne’s brusque exterior is both a family tragedy and a legacy that demands truth and honor, creating a crisis that only Liv’s vivacious determination can resolve. Along the way, she may just learn that appearances count for naught. . .and that love can be found in unexpected ways.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was a cute Pride and Prejudice inspired novel that was based on a fictional 2015 film and the Pemberly estate that was used. That estate has a rather grumpy and reclusive owner who has, due to tragedy and his broken heart, cut the world off from his family home. Could anyone or anything help Liam open back up to the world?

Well in steps Olivia Bennett fresh off the plane from Australia. She has come to England to help her grandmother through her hip surgery and recovery. She was the only one free to do so of her sisters as she is between history teaching jobs. Something she is still very much smarting from. She didn't realize that when she went to visit the beautiful estate, the resident dog and its owner would run her off. 

Secrets abound and love is in the air for these two as Olivia has the set of skills that really could help Liam set his estate to rights. If they can get past their mutual dislike for one another. This one was a cute one and I look forward to the other sisters' stories as well. I also really enjoyed how their faith played a big part in how they viewed life and worked through their issues.

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

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 6

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 6

The Sacred Line, January 7

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 8

Vicky Sluiter, January 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 9

Texas Book-aholic, January 10

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews , January 12

For Him and My Family, January 13

Lyssa Loves Books, January 13

Blossoms and Blessings, January 14

Mornings at Character Cafe, January 14

Holly’s Book Corner, January 15

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s book and movie reviews , January 15

Pause for Tales, January 16

Mary Hake, January 16

Cover Lover Book Review, January 17

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, January 18

To Everything There Is A Season, January 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carolyn is giving away the grand prize of a print copy of the book and a $25 Amazon eGift card!!

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

https://gleam.io/P3So9/not-exactly-mr-darcy-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Thoughts on An Unexpected Texas Reunion by Heidi Main

 

About:

Rebuilding a life

one paw print at a time.

After a traumatic experience, Brenna Park hopes that leading a youth summer camp with her emotional support dog, Lulu, will help ease her back into her life. Only, she didn’t expect to be sharing the responsibility with the man she left behind a decade ago. Recently widowed, Owen McCaw returns to his family’s ranch with his infant daughter to mend his estranged relationship with his parents and agrees to help out at his mother’s camp. As Brenna and Owen clash over every decision, they can’t ignore their growing connection either. When camp comes to an end, the two must decide if risking their hearts is worth a second chance at love…

My Thoughts:

Life can certainly throw some hard wrenches into people's lives, and Brenna and Owen only know that too well. Both of them are still smarting from past wounds and the tragedies of the present day. Once upon a time they loved each other and planned on spending their lives together. Until it didn't happen. They both went their own ways until they came back to the small town they grew up in.

Owen is a recent widower and single father to his baby girl. He needs help, but he also needs to mend some bridges between his parents and himself. His mom needs his and Brenna's help to run her day camp, since her recent accident. They both agree, albeit reluctantly.

Brenna ran away from Owen and now she is back helping him and his family. She also has survived a recent attack that has turned her world upside down. Now she needs an emotional support animal and breaks out in a panic attack when dealing with unexpected situations with people. 

There is a lot of healing that needs to take place between these two. Not only between one another but also coming to terms with what they both have gone through. Who knew volunteering and working together could begin the healing? This was a heartfelt emotionally packed romance of forgiveness, acceptance, and new beginnings. 

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.