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A Summer on Bellevue Avenue by Lorri Dudley

January 25, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: A Summer on Bellevue Avenue

Author: Lorri Dudley

Genre: Christian historical romance

Release Date: January 9, 2024

In the world of the elite, reputation is everything…

Wealthy heiress Amanda Mae Klein is set to marry the man she loves, Wesley Jansen—the only person she trusts to help ease her anxiety among the social climbers of high society. Until the daughter of a union boss falls down a flight of stairs at Wesley’s office in the middle of the night…and the woman claims Wesley pushed her.

Seeking solace from the growing scandal, Amanda flees to the mansion-dotted seaside of Newport. Wesley follows to disprove the rumors and win back the trust of Amelia and her father. But soon, Amanda finds not only her social status but her life at risk. As dire events pit the two against each other, will their love find a way to survive?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.

More from Lorri

Moguls, Millionaires, and Midas

Imagine parties where the dining guests could dig through a sand centerpiece for rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and other precious stones to take home as party favors. Or celebrating elaborate pet birthdays, where dogs are seated around a formal dining table and served liver, rice, and cake. Fancy dining on horseback as guests eat while riding. At the mention of the Gilded Age in Newport, Rhode Island, Robin Leach’s voice naturally pipes in my head, “These are the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”

Imposing wrought iron gates, expansive manicured lawns and gardens, and opulent French chateaus or Italian palazzos—the summer “cottages” of Newport’s famous self-made moguls of America’s Gilded Age stir the imagination and leave us wondering if we glimpsed a bit of what heaven may look like. What was accomplished, built, and achieved still impresses, and I had oodles of fun researching the era and its eccentric society walkers.

One of my favorite stories regarding the elites was the rivalry between “old money” Caroline Astor and “new money” Alva Vanderbilt. Legend has it that Caroline Astor frowned upon the Vanderbilts and did much to prohibit the new money Vanderbilts from having true social standing. Alva Vanderbilt concocted a plan to pry her way into old-money elitism by planning a fabulous costume party with all the who’s who of New York’s knickerbockers. Alva personally delivered Mrs. Astor’s invitation, and when Mrs. Astor refused to receive her, Alva Vanderbilt rescinded Caroline Astor’s daughter, Carrie’s, invitation. Hearing she was uninvited to the event, Carrie bent her mother’s ear and got her to acquiesce. Caroline Astor formally visited Alva Vanderbilt and attended the costume party, solidifying the Vanderbilt’s arrival into high society.

Living a little over an hour from Newport, I’ve toured many of the mansions and hiked the cliff walk along the luxurious shoreline. It was during one of these tours that the plot idea struck for Summer on Bellevue Avenue and the romance between two Gilded sweethearts torn apart by scandal was born.

My Impressions

“God has prepared you for this moment. Go and bloom where you are planted, because He has tilled the soil.”

People are the same in any century. Lorri Dudley takes us back to New York City and Newport in 1895. We are invited into the lives of the rich and famous of the time. So many times we think if we just had more money, life would be simple. In her latest novel, A Summer on Bellevue Avenue, Dudley proves that money can’t buy happiness. In the space of a few hours, the future happiness of two of the ultra-rich, Wesley Astor Jansen and Amanda Klein, is tossed up in the air and contorted into suffering by those around them.

The big question becomes, how will each of them behave in these new, undesirable circumstances? Amanda is nearly thrown to the wolves in the summer playground for the wealthy, trying desperately to fit in, avoid the whispers and the reminders of the past. Wesley tries hard to prove his innocence of sordid allegations, but evidence keeps mounting to the contrary.

I love how down-to-earth and kind both Amanda and Wesley are. They stand in sharp contrast to their social circle, which forbids becoming true friends with the servants or even treating them compassionately.

Katie is my favorite secondary character, as she reluctantly realizes Amanda’s gold heart and decides to trust her. Katie gives very solid, well-considered advice, unlike Amanda’s society mentor.

I love how Wesley rescues Amanda socially, but the biggest rescue is a change to her thinking. Amanda is very fearful of making a misstep in this elite society. Wesley uses an example to open her eyes to how that society really operates, freeing her to be who God made her to be. “The captain who taught me threw the crabs in a bucket—no lid or anything to keep them inside. I asked if they’d climb out, but the captain laughed and said to watch. As soon as one crab looked as though he was going to make it over the edge to his escape, the other little buggers pulled him back down into the bucket. According to the captain, not a single one had ever gotten away.”

“These are the crabs, and this gilded inner sanctum is the bucket. If someone gets too high within its walls, others will tear them down.”

Author’s notes at the end list some of the famous socialites of the time who are mentioned in the book and give a brief bio of each.

I recommend this historical romance for lovers of history, the Gilded Age, and any dealing with inferiority complexes.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought an ebook copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“A person’s value didn’t come from their bank account, bloodlines, or social connections. Their worth was determined by those they loved and who loved them in return and by God, who gave His son so they could have life.”

“I should warn you. Love makes a man weak.” “Vulnerable, yes, but love can also make a person stronger.”

“You’re a rose blooming in a thistle garden.” Katie smiled. “Show them not just the beauty on the outside but surprise them by what’s on your inside. My mama always says, ‘a little sugar makes bitter tea easier to drink.’”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! Such a fun, relaxing story with lessons we can all heed!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 26

Devoted To Hope, January 26

Texas Book-aholic, January 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 28

Sylvan Reads, January 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 30

Betti Mace, January 31

Alena Mentink, January 31

For Him and My Family, February 1

Simple Harvest Reads, February 2 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

An Author’s Take, February 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 3

Cover Lover Book Review, February 4

Blossoms and Blessings, February 5

Holly’s Book Corner, February 5

Life on Chickadee Lane, February 6

Pause for Tales, February 6

Connie’s History Classroom, February 7

Book Looks by Lisa, February 7

Lily’s Corner, February 8

She Lives To Read, February 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lorri is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/299bf/a-summer-on-bellevue-avenue-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase

Tangled Lies by Carol McClain Review and Giveaway

January 11, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Tangled Lives

Author: Carol McClain

Genre: Women’s fiction

Release Date: July, 2023

Two sisters and one man. Both women love him, but only one is meant for him.

Crystal Snow struggles with the paralysis caused by her biological parents’ drug use. She convinced herself no one will ever love her. Roxie, devastated by chronic childhood rejections, knows anyone who loves her must be intrinsically flawed. Both want only what is right for their sister who is also their best friend.

Dreams upend careers. Destroy friendships. End love.

When searched out by their biological grandmother, the past tangles with the present. Issues the girls wished to forget resurrect and threaten their dreams.

Who gets the man and career of her dreams?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Carol McClain is the award-winning author of five novels dealing with real people facing real problems. A fifth book will be out next summer.

She is a consummate encourager, and no matter what your faith might look like, you will find compassion, humor and wisdom in her complexly layered, but ultimately readable work.

Aside from writing, she’s a skilled stained-glass artist, a budding glass fuser. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband who finally gave into her dreams. They own five goats—three of them does who she milks from which she makes yogurt and cheese and butter. She’s raising bunches of chickens.

More from Carol

Have you ever:

Had a crush on your sister’s boyfriend?
Loved your sister beyond measure?
Hated your sister beyond measure?
Been confused about your career?
Waylaid by your past?

If your life’s been tangled, you’re not alone. You laugh at, root for, and not be able to put Tangled Lives down.

My Impressions

“Crystal’s school-girl crush was more than infatuation. She loved Jesse too. The minx. Roxie would make sure Crystal understood, Jesse was the real deal. Her real deal.”

Wow! Carol McClain’s Tangled Lives is a realistic, somewhat gritty look at two sisters’s complicated relationship with each other, then those around them.

Sisters Roxie and Crystal love each other deeply, but both are damaged by their past and their circumstances. Roxie will always feel like she can never attain her goals, only come in second best. Crystal is hampered by her fear of rejection, causing her to be a people-pleaser. What will it take for the girls to see themselves as God does, and value themselves accordingly?

I found Crystal very easy to like with her sweet, compassionate ways. I would love to hear her fiddle! On the other hand, Roxie is mercurial and abrasive, and I didn’t like Jesse much better. I wanted to put those two in separate corners many times.

I appreciated that all of the main characters are Christians, but I was disappointed by how often they don’t find living out their faith important. If you are looking for a women’s fiction book that shows lots of temptations and how the characters deal with them, you will like this book very much. I would have preferred some temptations not be so well described.

This could possibly be a good book club choice. I know I have a lot of thoughts about different events or actions in the book that it would be fun to get others’ opinion on.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also purchased an ebook copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Boors don’t understand that beneath crutches or skin or mental status, we’re all the same. All important to God.”

“She…was fearfully and wonderfully made, created from the womb to be who she was. Being best was nothing but pride. “

“Seemed God valued people no matter how often they fell. Could I …?”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! Raw look at the complicated relationship of two sisters.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 12

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 14

Artistic Nobody, January 15 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 16

Guild Master, January 17 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 19

For the Love of Literature, January 20 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, January 21

For Him and My Family, January 22

Beauty in the Binding, January 23 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, January 23

JESUS in the EVERYDAY, January 24

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, January 25 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carol 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 nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2958e/tangled-lives-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, New-to-Me Author, Wild Heart Books

A Courageous Betrothal by Denise Weimer Review and Giveaway

November 12, 2023November 12, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: A Courageous Betrothal

Author: Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: November 7, 2023

A wounded lieutenant, a woman fierce enough to protect her family, and an American Revolution with everything at stake.

Red-haired, freckle-faced and almost six feet tall, Jenny White has resigned herself to fame over love. Possessing the courage and wits to guard her younger siblings against nature, natives, and loyalists in Georgia’s “Hornet’s Nest” gives life meaning until she meets scout, Caylan McIntosh.

From the time Jenny nurses the young lieutenant back to health after the Battle of Kettle Creek, she can’t deny her attraction to the vexing Highlander, who seems determined to dismantle her emotional armor. But when Georgia falls to the British and Caylan returns to guide Jenny’s family on a harrowing exodus into the North Carolina mountains, will his secrets prove stronger than his devotion? Or will their love be courageous enough to carry them through the battles ahead.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

North Georgia native Denise Weimerhas authored over a dozen traditionally published novels and a number of novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

More from Denise

Welcome to the Hornet’s Nest…the setting for A Courageous Betrothal. In my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier Series, we started with my September release, A Counterfeit Betrothal, in 1813. We’ve moved backward in time to middle Georgia, where the conflict between Patriots, Loyalists, and Native Americans became so intense during the American Revolution the area was dubbed “the Hornet’s Nest.” Little is known about this portion of the war, but it’s not just the setting that makes A Courageous Betrothal unique.

If the story sounds faintly familiar, that’s because it was originally Across Three Autumnsof Barbour’s Backcountry Brides (2018). That’s why it’s a short novella instead of a full-length novel. The story became a free agent just in time to join my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier. It was a perfect fit not only because of the subject matter but also because some of the real people and places show up in this story as well as the novels of the series.

Another thing that sets A Courageous Betrothal apart is its heroine. As authors, we occasionally create characters who take on life and burst off the page. That’s Jenny White. Maybe because she was based on a real person, Nancy Hart. Six feet tall, red-haired, pock-marked, and a crack shot, Nancy was called “Wahatche” or “War Woman” by local Indians. She spied for Colonel Elijah Clark and captured Loyalists and British soldiers on more than one occasion. Her exploits are echoed in Jenny’s.

So are her insecurities, which make her relatable. Jenny’s given up on the notion of finding love. Men always prefer women like her dainty younger sister. And then she meets Caylan McIntosh, a scout for Colonel Clark whose Highland heritage makes him an ardent admirer of Jenny’s strength. Her doubts—along with the shorter word count and the time needed for love to grow between wartime encounters—are a reason I chose to write the novella solely from Jenny’s POV.

By no means does Jenny outshine Caylan. He’s still probably the most swoon-worthy hero I’ve written. Here’s a little snippet of him persuading Jenny to dance.

The unseen fiddler took his cue. The notes anchored themselves inside Jenny’s chest, with invisible strings tugging her toward the sound. Caylan and presumably several other Scots started a jig. From his fancy footwork and agile leaps, the lieutenant appeared dead sober. She found herself propping the pitchfork against a wall and drifting closer in the shadows, her mother’s previous warning drowned out in the waterfall of lilting notes.

When the musician warbled into “Soldier’s Joy,” a woman faced off with her husband. As they greeted and turned, two frontiersmen leapt up to join them. Caylan looked around as though searching for a partner and noticed Jenny standing just outside the circle of light. He came toward her, hand outstretched.

“Come, lass, will ye dance with me? Ye know this one.”

Indeed, she did. She had seen settlers perform the steps on the Yadkin River. Before Jenny had time to think, Caylan whirled her into the circle, and a man dancing a female part grabbed her for a ladies’ chain. She caught a brief glimpse of Gabriel’s alarmed face as she whizzed past.

Delighted with the actual women who joined them, the men paid courtly attention that caused Jenny’s face to flame. But none more than the sensation of Caylan’s eyes, warm amber in the firelight, fixed on her every time they met. The roughened strength of his large hand made hers feel small.

When the song changed, Jenny gave an awkward curtsy and tried to back away, but her partner caught her arm. “’Tis just a Cumberland Reel.”

“I know no Cumberland Reel. Remember, we do not dance.”

“Oh. I did forget that.” But Caylan’s smirk hinted otherwise. “Seems to me Wahatchee would not grow lily-livered at a wee promenade. See, ’tis only a skip step, toe to heel?”

Jenny turned her lips down. “Wahatchee has a mother.”

Caylan threw his head back and laughed. “What? That slip of a woman has a Highland princess like you all a’cower?”

“I am English, sir.” She clasped her hands behind her petticoats.

“Well, pardon me, my lady,” he retorted with mock offense, “but yer regal bearing and coloring beg otherwise. I wager some hint of Celtic besmears the White family past…far back in the recesses of time, no doubt.”

The “regal coloring” went up in flames. Jenny repeated what she’d heard her mother proudly state many times. “We come from pure English stock.”

“Well, then, I dare ye to prove a proper English lady has no fear of a Cumberland Reel.”

“Those are break teeth words, McIntosh. If I chose, I could dance until daybreak, and still be dancing long after you collapse.” So saying, Jenny stalked to the tail of the reel and waited for the laughing Scotsman to follow her.

Just like firing a gun, riding a horse, clearing brush, and swimming, dancing provided no challenge. Jenny did all physical things well and with endurance. What she had not expected, however, was the way Caylan’s obvious approval made her feel. It answered a craving deep inside that she had attempted to discredit for years. Not to mention the brush of his fingertips, the pressure of his hand on her waist, spread the bonfire to her bones.

From that moment to Jenny nursing Caylan back to health after the Battle of Kettle Creek, through the climactic, real-life exodus of civilians from Georgia to the mountains of North Carolina, Caylan fights for Jenny’s trust with as much determination as he fights the British. I hope you’ll be swept away by their romance amid the dangers of the Hornet’s Nest. And if you like Scottish characters, stay tuned for book three of the Scouts Series, coming in January and set in 1775 on the border of Georgia and South Carolina.

My Impressions

“The frontier flipped things backward, making a strong, tough girl desirable and a weak, delicate one a liability. But the presence of men always managed to put things back in their natural order.”

Jenny White is an incredibly strong, capable, young unmarried adult in a family on the Georgia frontier. While Jenny’s fast thinking, cunning, and abilities to care for her family almost rival that of her father’s and brother’s, it is femininity like that of her sister, Hester, that she desires when she meets Caylan McIntosh.

Jenny embodies a lot of true history of a well-known Patriot woman of the time, Nancy Hart. Reading the author’s notes at the end is mandatory, if you want to see how much of Jenny is based on truth!

I loved Caylon’s devotion to Jenny and his continued efforts to put her insecurities to rest. That part was easy to read. Not so easy to read were the many parts describing the uprisings of the conflict between the British, their Native American allies, and the colonists.

There was one section that I appreciated, describing Jenny’s faith walk or struggle. discovers she needs not only to accept Christ, but to allow “the power of the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead, to enable her to put off the “old Jenny” and live as a “new Jenny.” She had agreed to that, but over the years, “old Jenny” seemed to keep emerging.” I wished the novel had emphasized Jenny’s struggle as spiritual more after this.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotable:

“All men die, ’tis just a matter of when, and how bravely. Let it be said of me when I go that I went down fighting.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved the history, danger, and love of the early frontier.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, November 8

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, November 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 10

Blossoms and Blessings, November 11

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 11

Simple Harvest Reads, November 12 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 13

Lighthouse Academy Blog, November 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

lakesidelivingsite, November 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 15

Pause for Tales, November 16

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 16

For Him and My Family, November 17

Cover Lover Book Review, November 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 19

To Everything There Is A Season, November 19

Holly’s Book Corner, November 20

Connie’s History Classroom, November 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/28d33/a-courageous-betrothal-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle

Remain True: Amana by Thomas Nye Review and Giveaway

November 6, 2023November 5, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Remain True: Amana

Author: Thomas Nye

Genre: Christian Romance

Release Date: January 31, 2023

Rebounding from a failed relationship, Author Timothy Hayes escapes to the beautiful Amana Colonies to begin a new life. Smalltown Iowa, during the 2020 pandemic, proves lax with social distancing. Social awkwardness, however, is at an all-time high as a host of quirky neighbors crowd Tim’s personal space. Tim’s pug must go for walks which opens the door for adorable children, annoying neighbor men, old ladies who want to tell their life story, and a matchmaker set on “fixing Tim up.” Several attractive young women emerge as contenders for Tim’s heart. A woman twice his age infatuates him with her magical gift of storytelling. Remain True is a dual timeline. Tim’s life in 2020 becomes interwoven with the storyteller’s history, resulting in a surprising singular conclusion. No matter what happens in life, God will Remain True.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Thomas Nye, author of the beloved Amish Horses Series, writes romance novels with an Historical flare and a touch of humor. He and his wife live on an acreage her grandparents bought in 1918. They have five grown children, nine grandchildren, and a team of draft horses. Their home is situated between an Amish community and the Amana Colonies, a perfect location to inspire his writing.

More from Thomas

Most of us have experienced some dark episodes in this life. How do we find our way back into hope and sunshine? My wife and I have been married for almost 43 years, but about halfway through we were separated for 4 months. The storyline of Remain True has almost nothing in common with the details of my dark time. The difficult emotions and subsequent hopefulness of God’s graceful intervention led me to write this novel.

For Timothy Hayes, life has become incredibly dark. In the opening scene we find him reluctantly removing his wedding band and placing it in a miniature, coffin-like box. To make matters worse, Tim’s personal struggle coincides with the heaviness of the Coronavirus outbreak. His will to live is shrinking. Tim visited the Amana Colonies ten years earlier and thought of the villages as a hauntingly beautiful getaway where he could sulk.

God has another plan.

Small town Iowa is not the place to isolate, even during Covid, as it proves an epic failure in social distancing. Social awkwardness, however, is at an all-time high as a host of quirky neighbors invade Tim’s personal space and refuse to allow him any opportunity to submerge into depression.

I hope those who read Remain True will be able to relate with Tim’s struggle enough to rejoice with him as God provides a ray of sunshine during his darkest hour.

My wife and I found hope and restoration and are looking forward to our 43rd anniversary. We thoroughly enjoy grandparenting our 9 grandchildren (and counting) together. God is good!

My Impressions

“if you circle through all seven Amana Colonies, you will find true love.”

Spending part of my childhood near Cedar Rapids, the Amana Colonies were a family trip or school field trip destination. So, discovering Remain True: Amana by Thomas Nye was an automatic draw for me, as well as the fact it is a dual timeline.

Tim, a young, divorced writer has retreated to the rural Amana Colonies (Main Amana to be exact) to lick his wounds and try to re-ignite his life as a writer.

Tim’s annoyance at his neighbors’ friendliness (and possibly over-interest in his life) annoys me. I am thankful that Linda pushes him to help the neighbor children out, when he might choose to ignore them! They are adorable, and a dog like Chimichanga would easily capture their attention and curiosity!

Oma is a little more formidable. Tim handled her better than I might. One part friendly and two parts gruff, her storytelling ability is superb as she relates the “history” of Tim’s house. When Tim questions Oma’s stories being about people not individuals, Oma has a ready answer. “I thought you were going to tell me stories about my cottage.” Oma frowned at him. “A home is defined by those who live there.”

Eventually, like Tim, one falls in love with this old woman who has seen so much life.

One part of life portrayed heavily in the story is COVID. The constant mention of the disease, masking, social distancing, etc, made me uneasy. While I’m not sure ignoring it in literature is the way to go, so many people suffered so much. One needs to at least know this is a possible trigger in the book.

Nye does an incredible job of tying everything and everybody together by the end. A few stereotypes were involved, but there were also some surprises that were fun to uncover. Overall, a fun book with a bit of history in the setting.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! Nice to read a dual timeline set in the Amana Colonies!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 6

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 8

Lighthouse Academy Blog, November 9 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Texas Book-aholic, November 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 12

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 13

lakesidelivingsite, November 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 15

Artistic Nobody, November 16 (Author Interview)

Exploring the Written Word, November 16

For Him and My Family, November 17

Pause for Tales, November 18

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 19 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 19

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Thomas is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/28d2e/remain-true-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Kindle, Purchase

Crushed Hopes and Hopeful Beginnings by Carol Ashby Review

November 1, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Crushed Hopes and Hopeful Beginnings

Series: Light in the Empire

Author: Carol Ashby

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Release: November 1, 2023

Can God work all things for good if you don’t even think he’s real?
Lusario was content in Cyrene as part of the Philandros household. After he returns from serving the youngest son, Diokles, while he studies in Alexandria, Lusario expects to become a paid tutor for his master, earning the money to buy his freedom. But when Diokles uses him to pay a gambling debt, he must go to Carthago as the slave of a man who hates him. His once-bright future is gone forever. So why does his Christian friend Timon insist things will turn out so much better than he expects?

But Carthago brings new people, like Caelus Martinus, and new possibilities into Lusario’s hopeless world. Could Timon be right? When Lusario sees a chance to escape his fate, will going for it give him a future again, or only hasten his death?

Crushed Hopes and Hopeful Beginnings is a short novel about the turbulent lives of Lusario and his friends three years before Carol Ashby’s next full-length novel, River of Life, when two of them embark on a journey up the Nile that changes everything.

Crushed Hopes and Hopeful Beginnings is now available in print and e-book editions at the online retailers below.
Amazon for paperback, hardcover, and Kindle.
Barnes & Noble for Nook. paperback, and hardcover .
Kobo for e-readers that use epub files.
Or ask your local bookstore to order it for you.
You can find a local independent bookstore here at Indie Bound.

About the Author

Carol Ashby has been a professional writer for most of her life, but her articles and books were about lasers and compound semiconductors (the electronics that make cell phones, laser pointers, and LED displays work). She still writes about light, but her Light in the Empire series tells stories of difficult friendships and life-changing decisions in dangerous times, where forgiveness and love open hearts to discover their own faith in Christ. Her fascination with the Roman Empire was born during her first middle-school Latin class. A research career in New Mexico inspires her to get every historical detail right so she can spin stories that make her readers feel like they’re living under the Caesars themselves.

Set during the reigns of Trajan and Hadrian, her Light in the Empire series will take you around the Empire, from Germania and Britannia to Thracia, Dacia, and Judaea and, of course, to Rome itself.

Read her articles about many facets of Roman history at “Life in the Roman Empire: Historical Fact and Fiction” (carolashby.com) or join her at her blog, “The Beauty of Truth,” at carol-ashby.com.

My Impressions

“with God, you never know what will happen.”

“You’d be praying for your god’s best to come quickly. You didn’t know what that would be, but you were certain it would come.”

Why might you enjoy Crushed Hopes and Hopeful Beginnings by Carol Ashby? If you enjoy Roman-era Biblical fiction, Ashby writes knowledgeably and keeps you reading to find out how the future will turn out for the Stoic slave, Lusario.

I appreciated the look into the secretive world of first-century believers. That tension. How does one like Timon, my fave secondary character, attempt to share his faith and stay safe? Ashby naturally shares the gospel clearly in snippets throughout.

You will enjoy the look at the early Roman world, and learn a lot about the social status of the Roman citizen, the Greek, and the slave. I loved the detailed descriptions of Alexandria. This is not a fast-paced book, but it is full of deep emotions if you place yourself in Lusario’s or Timon’s shoes.

Crushed Hopes ends a little abruptly, in hopes your appetite is whetted and you now have the backstory you need for Ashby’s upcoming novel, River of Life.

I received a copy of the book from the author, plus I bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“A man could put up with a lot if it helped him reach his goal. He’d decided long ago to let the charioteers at the circus be his model. It wasn’t your position at the end of each lap that determined your future. Only where you were as you crossed the finish line mattered.”

“You can keep your name when you make the bill of sale.” Lusario sank into the wicker chair as their happy voices faded away. Keep his name. It was all he had left of everything that he’d been and all that he’d hoped to become.”

“Once a man gave up hope, he might as well curl up and die.”

“Clear answers to prayer are always cause for rejoicing.”

“The Romans don’t care what you believe as long as you perform their rites correctly. God cares what you truly believe.”

“But even if something might be true, the value of truth has to be weighed against the cost of claiming it’s true.”

“Ignoring Roman law is a dangerous thing to do.” “Doing the right thing is more important than doing what’s safe.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! I learned a lot about the political and religious climate in the times of the early church.

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle

Voices in the Sanitorium by Amy Lynn Walsh Review and Giveaway

October 17, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Voices in the Sanitorium

Author: Amy Lynn Walsh

Genre: Historical Mystery, Women’s Fiction

(This is not horror or paranormal. Readers will have no trouble falling asleep after reading this!)

Release Date: October, 2022

Relocating from Manhattan, teenage Aislyn must adjust to life near the abandoned West Mountain Sanitarium. One night, Aislyn joins new friends in the old ruins — and seems to return home with a different personality. Not long after Aislyn purchases a diary written almost a century ago by Bridget, a young patient recovering from tuberculosis on the sanitorium grounds, strange things begin to happen.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Amy Walshwrites historical and contemporary romance, mysteries, speculative fiction, and women’s fiction. She is a 5th-grade writing teacher in an urban public school. Amy and her husband, Patrick, have three children. Amy considers herself greatly blessed in the roles God has given her as an earthling, including aspiring wordsmith, teacher of youngsters, nature appreciator, tea aficionado, avid dessert fan, book fanatic, lover of family and friends, and Christ follower.

More from Amy

Mam’s Apple Cinnamon Scones with Maple Cinnamon Glaze

These are the scones Katherine’s mother makes the morning their new friend Cadence comes for an Irish tea. This time of fellowship marks a turning point in the plot of Voices in the Sanitorium.

The dough:

2 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 stick of softened butter

1 diced small apple

3/4 cup cinnamon chips (optional)

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup applesauce

For best results, follow the steps below. However, if you are as busy as Katherine is with four children and a thriving Irish textile business, you can just melt the butter in the microwave and throw all the ingredients together at once, and these scones will still be delicious.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon.
Mix in the butter just until the mixture is crumbly
Stir in the chopped apple and cinnamon chips.
Mix the eggs, vanilla, and applesauce in another bowl, then add these to the dry ingredients.
Make sure you have parchment paper or have floured your baking sheet.
Drop scoops of the dough onto the baking sheet. (about ¼ cup scoops)
Bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees or until golden brown

Notes:

If pressed for time, Mam just makes drop scones. When guests are coming, she forms the dough into a circle about ¾ inch high, cuts the dough into pie pieces on the parchment paper, then gently pulls the pieces apart and uses her fingers to form them into perfect isosceles triangles.

Sometimes Mam puts the dough into the freezer after forming it on the baking pan. She says freezing dough for a half hour makes them softer. Katherine has never noticed a difference.

Glaze:

1 ½ cup powdered sugar,
1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons melted butter
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
4 ½ Tablespoons maple syrup

If the glaze needs to be thickened, add more powdered sugar. If it is too thick, add more syrup, cream, or milk. You can put it in the microwave for about fifteen seconds if it starts to get firm while you wait for the scones to come out of the oven.

My Impressions

“Kat–ren,” Aislyn butchers my name, “I know you think I am trying to be a brat. But this place gives me bad vibes. We are all going to really regret moving here.”

In 2009, a family from Manhattan moves to rural Pennsylvania hoping to rebuild a damaged marriage. Bringing with them the beloved mother-in-law and their four children, elementary-age to a new high school senior, problems emerge as Aislyn, the senior, begins to exhibit troubling signs of mal-adjustment and depression. To make matters worse, the family has moved right next to an old TB sanitarium from the 1930s, purported to be haunted.

I loved this book because of the elements of a dual timeline. So much history of tuberculosis and sanitarium treatments before there was an actual cure. The novel has quite a spooky element without venturing into the supernatural. Bravo! Also, it is fun to read about thrifting, exploring, and treasure hunting. Plus, reading about working through family issues. Very identifiable for many readers.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great! One of those books you will want to keep reading through a slower start to get to more intense ending.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 17

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 18

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, October 19 (Author Interview)

Avid Reader Nurse, October 19

Texas Book-aholic, October 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 22

Connie’s History Classroom, October 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 24

Denise L. Barela, October 25

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 26

Blogging With Carol, October 27

For Him and My Family, October 28

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 29 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 29

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Amy is giving away the grand prize package of $40 Amazon card, a hardcover copy of the book, and historical memorabilia related to the West Mountain Sanitarium in 1931!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/28796/voices-in-the-sanitorium-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle

Abigail’s Secret by Marilyn Turk Review and Giveaway

October 9, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Abigail’s Secret

Author: Marilyn Turk

Genre: Dual Time

Release Date: August 15, 2020

Newly widowed mother Abby Baker goes home to Hope Harbor to help her ailing mother and restart her life. Weighed down by grief and fear of failure, she wishes she had the strength of her grandmother, who raised a young child alone while taking on the role of lighthouse keeper after her husband drowned. What was the secret of Granny Abigail’s strength?

Carson Stevens is a lighthouse enthusiast who has bought the deteriorating Hope Island lighthouse to restore it and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. When he meets Abby, he wants the attractive granddaughter of the former keepers to be part of the restoration.

As Abby and Carson work together, they uncover clues to a family secret that threatens to change Abby’s life forever. But someone is trying to sabotage their efforts at restoration.

Renovating the old lighthouse is Abby and Carson’s goal, but as they grow closer, they discover that what they’ve really needed is a renovation of their hearts.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Award-winning author Marilyn Turk writes historical and contemporary fiction flavored with suspense and romance. Marilyn also writes devotions for Daily Guideposts, Walking in Grace, and contributes to other Guideposts publications. She and her husband are lighthouse enthusiasts, have visited over 100 lighthouses and also served as volunteer lighthouse caretakers at Little River Light off the coast of Maine.

When not writing or visiting lighthouses, Marilyn enjoys reading, walking, boating, fishing, gardening, tennis, and playing with her golden retriever. She also sings in the choir at her church and leads a women’s Bible study group. Marilyn and her husband have a combined family of four sons, one daughter, and four grandsons. She’s still hoping for a granddaughter someday.

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Word Weavers International, and the United States Lighthouse Society.

Marilyn is also the director of the Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference.

More from Marilyn

When I fell in love with lighthouses, I wanted to read all about them and see as many

in person as I could. Lighthouse Digestmagazine was an answer to prayer. I inhaled every story in the magazine and used the information to write my lighthouse blog. https://pathwayheart.com/lighthouse/.

One blog post I wrote was about an opportunity to be a volunteer lighthouse keeper at a lighthouse, such as the Little River Lighthouse in Cutler, Maine. When my brother read my blog post he suggested that my husband and I do it. It had never occurred to me that I could be one of those people I wrote about! My husband jumped on board the idea, so we filled out the application, along with character references and proof we could drive a boat, and we were selected! The next summer, we arrived in the tiny town of Cutler, Maine, for our 10-day stay, and were met by the couple who arranged the lighthouse stays, who just happened to be the editors of Lighthouse Digest! I was awestruck.

They loaded us up in a boat in the harbor and took us out to the small island. We were charmed, and as a history buff, I was in heaven. The lighthouse and keepers’ house had been completely restored by a local non-profit organization which included a former Coast Guardsman who was once stationed there when the Coast Guard managed the property, as well as descendants of the last keeper family and the magazine editors. Beforehand, the keepers’ house had been abandoned for years, and it took months of work to tear out the old and restore it to livable again. Notebooks with before and after pictures showed the extensive work they’d done.

Obviously, I could talk a long time about our experience on the island, but I’ll spare you. The point is, the story of Abigal’s Secret had its origin there, and I knew what Carson and Abby went through to restore the lighthouse property in the book.

My husband and I fell in love with Maine while we were there, so the story had to be set there among the many islands and lighthouses. Maine has the second most lighthouses in the United States (over 50). We also stayed in Bar Harbor a few days before we went to Cutler, so the town in the book is loosely based on Bar Harbor. (Cutler isn’t that big.)

And of course, being the historian that I am, I knew Abby had to be connected to the lighthouse and that she would discover how her own life was similar to her grandmother’s, who just happened to be the lighthouse keeper during World War II, another era in history that fascinates me.

My Impressions

“I promised I’d keep the secret until I die, and I will keep that promise.”

After reading a previous book by Marilyn Turk, I quickly decided I wanted to read her newest, Abigail’s Secret. It is a dual timeline, one part taking place in the present and one in the 1940s, both involving Hope Harbor, Maine.

Abby Baker is a widow with a five-year-old daughter. She has returned to her hometown to care for her mother, whose health is declining. At a service honoring her lighthouse keeper grandparents, Abby meets Carson Stevens, the man who bought that lighthouse. Carson dreams of turning the lighthouse into a B and B.

Between her mother’s memories and an unexpected discovery, we slowly see Abby’s grandmother, Abigail’s, life unfold. Abigail is a person Abby highly regards for her strength and resiliency. What makes Abigail so strong?

At first, I wasn’t very invested in Abby and Carson’s lives, and I did have a few questions about Abby’s mother’s memories. By the last fourth of the book, the action picked up and the pieces began to come together. I was flipping pages as quickly as possible at that point. I really did enjoy the conclusion! (And I’d love to see that renovated lighthouse.) Discussion questions are included at the end, so the book could be used for a book club.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“I keep reading my Bible and repeating the verses that say, “You are not alone. The Lord is with you.” And I know He is, even if it doesn’t feel like it sometimes.”

“Maybe it was time to quit running away and start running toward something.”

“Don’t make promises about the future. You never know what the future holds.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great! This book would make for an interesting book club discussion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 4

To Everything There Is A Season, October 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 5

Texas Book-aholic, October 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 7

Mary Hake, October 7

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 8

Cover Lover Book Review, October 9

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 10

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 10

The Book Club Network, October 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 12

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 13

Books I’ve Read, October 13

Blogging With Carol, October 14

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, October 15 (Author Interview)

For HIm and My Family, October 15

Holly’s Book Corner, October 16

Pause for Tales, October 17

Lily’s Book Reviews, October 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marilyn is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/28431/abigail-s-secret-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, New-to-Me Author

The Resourceful Stockman by Karen Baney Review and Giveaway

October 5, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Resourceful Stockman

Author: Karen Baney

Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Christian Western

Release Date: January 24, 2023

Gripping western romance and murder mystery set in Prescott, Arizona Territory in 1893.

Deacon Colter was happy in his job as the stockyard vet. But when his best friend asks him to work as a livestock inspector, he must confront his own obsessive-compulsive nature to support his friend. Even though he hopes for a family of his own one day, he believes that no woman will see past his quirks. Will he find a woman who can overlook his behavior to see his true heart?

Grady Thatcher waited six long years for justice for his parents’ murder. When a strange twist of fate puts him in a position to find the killers, he must decide if he will sacrifice his budding romance with one of the Harper sisters to pursue justice. Will he choose love over justice?

Lilian and Justine Harper were two sisters who moved to Prescott to escape the abusive men their father tried to pair them with. When Lilian meets Deacon Colter, she wonders if he could ever love someone with her past. Justine falls hard for Grady Thatcher. Yet she doubts if he truly loves her or if he befriended her only to get information about the men who killed his parents. Will Lilian and Justine find true happiness with the men they love?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Karen Baneyis passionate about writing stories full of flawed characters. She enjoys weaving together stories of second chances, redemption, and overcoming personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona in the late 1990s, she loves researching the state’s history and finding ways to seamlessly incorporate real history and real settings into her novels. In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry.

Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. Both Jim and Karen are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.

Visit Karen on the web at: www.karenbaney.com

More from Karen

What was the inspiration behind the Colter Sons Series?

The Colters (Will and Hannah) are the central characters from my first series, the Prescott Pioneers. For years, I have wanted to write stories about their children. I love the idea of writing many series about several generations of the same family.

Nothing came of the idea until I brought back a character, Joshua, from the Prescott Pioneers who fancied Hannah before she married Will. Joshua’s unrequited love led me to write a scene where he meets Hannah and Will again after eight years. To hit home the point that Hannah had everything he always wanted, I spontaneously wrote that she had five sons. Only a few sentences sparked the idea for the entire Colter Sons Series. (Joshua’s story is in Joy for Mourning, Book 2 in the Desert Manna Series).

Before I mapped out a series outline or developed the characters, I wrote the introductory chapters in the first person from each of the son’s point of view. Their personalities came to life, and I eventually fine-tuned that writing exercise in Chapter 1 for each of the books in the series.

Where does Deacon Colter fit into the series?

Deacon Colter is the fourth Colter Son, and his book is the fourth in the series. Since he was a very minor character earlier in the series, I refined some of his character traits. (Don’t worry, I write each book in a series to stand on its own, so you won’t miss anything.)

Out of all the Colter Sons, Deacon is the most socially awkward. What made Deacon special for me was that behind his looming, large exterior lies a soft heart and fierce loyalty for those who he cares about. When under stress, his obsessive-compulsive tendencies become harder to control.

Do you normally write a story with over two points of view? Why write the four points of view in The Resourceful Stockman?

Other than my very first series, The Prescott Pioneers, I usually stick with two points of view in my novels: the hero and the heroine.

However, earlier in the Colter Sons Series, I wrote that Deacon Colter became fast friends with Grady Thatcher, the younger brother of the woman who married Deacon’s older brother Sam (The Reluctant Cattleman, Book 1). When it came time to outline the story, I knew Grady’s story had to be told along with Deacon’s. Doing anything else would disappoint fans and leave the story feeling incomplete.

Grady’s quest to solve his parents’ murder provided the perfect catalyst to force the routine-loving, obsessive-compulsive Deacon outside of his comfort zone. Because he is fiercely loyalty, he risked much to help his friend.

Where did the idea for livestock agents come from?

I initially wanted to make Deacon and Grady Arizona Rangers. However, during my research, the timing and even some duties didn’t fit either of these men. I like to stay true to history. Rarely do I take creative liberty because I want readers to learn about Arizona history. Deacon and Grady’s ages put them about a decade before the Arizona Rangers formed.

So, I continued with my research about brand-burning and rustling. When I stumbled on an Arizona Territorial statute to create a Livestock Commission, complete with details on what the duties entailed, I had my answer. The timing and duties fit. Many livestock agents started as veterinarians or ranchers. They had the authority to hunt down the rustlers and deal with disease outbreaks. All this fit with my characters.

And, yes, everything in the novel about their jobs and the livestock commission’s start is true to history, except for the names of real people.

My Impressions

“My entire life was about control. Somehow, feeling like I controlled every aspect of my life helped me feel safe.”

Karen Baney’s The Resourceful Stockman is a Christian romantic Western that details the courtship of two AZ veterinarians turned livestock inspectors during the late 1800s, when cattle were being driven to large stockyards to be sold and shipped further on. While this book is the fourth in a series about five brothers, it easily stands alone. Point of view is shared between the two vets, Deacon and Grady, and the women they fall for, Lillian and Justine.

I enjoyed seeing how the bond had developed between Deacon and Grady. Deacon can notice things most people don’t, which is both a blessing and a curse. He often offends people with his extreme obsessive-compulsive personality. “When I get upset, I must fix things. Like… Like the brand wall. Only worse. It makes little sense…” “I have to fix them…” “I can’t stop myself from doing it.” (My honey and I had a good discussion about whether Deacon with his special gift-big flaw could be on the spectrum.) Grady, whose goal in life is to bring his parents’ murderers to justice, is a good people-person to balance out Deacon. He needs Deacon’s ability to see things super clearly, and his loyalty.

Lillian is probably my fave character. She had endured so much, yet she is always looking out for others. She is beautiful, inside and out, even though she is struggling with her unfair past.

The action really picked up in the last one-third of the book. There were a few times that what I felt what the reader knew about the characters didn’t match what happened, in order to make the story flow a certain way.

It would be interesting to pick up the other books in the series and find out more about this family.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blog Stops

Alena Mentink, September 28

Lakesidelivingsite, September 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 29

Texas Book-aholic, September 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 1

The Lit Lady, October 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 2

The Book Club Network, October 3

Connie’s History Classroom, October 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 5

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 6

Bizwings Book Blog, October 7

Cover Lover Book Review, October 8

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 9

Pause for Tales, October 9

For Him and My Family, October 10

Lily’s Book Reviews, October 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize package a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of The Resourceful Stockman!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/282a5/the-resourceful-stockman-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, New-to-Me Author

The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch by Kurt Brouwer Review and Giveaway

September 21, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch

Author: Kurt Brouwer

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: June 15, 2023

He was the Beloved Disciple…
…and he would be the last.
The burden to tell the whole story now rests on his shoulders.

He was the Beloved Disciple, chosen by Jesus and destined to be the last to carry the divine message. Devastated by the loss of his adopted mother Mary, John has no time to mourn. The streets of Jerusalem teem with danger, as Roman rulers engage in fierce conflict with Jewish rebels, all vying for control.

While his allegiance lies with his people, John is at odds with the rebels’ passion for earthly power. His quest is to preserve and share the legacy of Jesus.

Will he succeed in spreading the gospel?

Or has he waited too long?

As Jerusalem descends into chaos, John escapes to Antioch. He finds rest, renewal, and purpose among the devoted Christians there and begins sharing his account of the life and teachings of Christ.

Yet even within this refuge, the old conflicts descend on Antioch too, and the dangers ignited in Jerusalem draw near.

Set against a backdrop of actual events, The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch is the second novel in a series woven from the Bible and Christian history.

Join John as he embarks on an extraordinary journey, discovering the true essence of faith, love, and divine purpose.

Your heart will embrace The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch because John’s story is the story of our hope and promise.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kurt Brouweris a Christian and a member of a vibrant Christian church in Hawaii. He also loves to write.

A few years back, Kurt did a study at his church on the Apostle John. If you’ve ever been obsessed by anything, you’ll understand that Kurt couldn’t stop researching, digging, diving into the life of John and other first century Christians. The result is a series of Christian historical novels.

The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem was published on Amazon in November 2022. It has been in the top five for Inspirational Religious Fiction and Religious Historical Fiction in 2023.

More from Kurt

Right now I’m living in two worlds: writing and researching the first century world of the early Christians while also tackling the technical demands of self-publishing and online book promotion in the 21st century.

LIVING IN TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS

Writing a book and publishing it have become almost polar opposites, at least for me. Research and writing require a focus on history, places, people, and then the work of creating a written narrative that brings all these to life. With my books, I focus on the first century Biblical world of John, the disciple of Christ. So I have to study, imagine, and then describe the life of first century Christians like John, Timothy, Priscilla and many more.

But publishing has to be done in the modern world of software, online apps, book cover graphic design, and navigating sites like Amazon.com. I actually enjoy this, but I definitely find it frustrating too.

GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR BOOK TWO

For example, I had my book cover designer create a graphic I wanted to use as a part of the book detail page on Amazon. But when I go through the step-by-step instructions on Amazon, I get an error message. Eventually, I’ll figure it out, but there’s a steep learning curve in the publishing and promotion side of writing. Here is the design. It may not be on Amazon yet, but you can see it now.

This is the description for book two:

He was the Beloved Disciple…
…and he would be the last.
The burden to tell the whole story now rests on his shoulders.

While his allegiance lies with his people, John is at odds with the rebels’ passion for earthly power. His quest is to preserve and share the legacy of Jesus.

Will he succeed in spreading the gospel?

Or has he waited too long?

As Jerusalem descends into chaos, John escapes to Antioch. He finds rest, renewal, and purpose among the devoted Christians there and begins sharing his account of the life and teachings of Christ.

Yet even within this refuge, the old conflicts descend on Antioch too, and the dangers ignited in Jerusalem draw near.

Set against a backdrop of actual events, The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch is the second novel in a series woven from the Bible and Christian history.

Join John as he embarks on an extraordinary journey, discovering the true essence of faith, love, and divine purpose.

Your heart will embrace The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch because John’s story is the story of our hope and promise.

But now I’m heading back to what I really love, writing and research. I’m about half way through with the first draft of book three in the series. The title will be, The Last Disciple: Exile to Ephesus.

Yours in Christ, Kurt

My Impressions

“Thank you, Lord. Your love and that of my brothers, Symeon and Emmaus, brought me out of my grief and back to my senses. To do what, I know not. Yet all is well with my soul, for I know my name is written in the Book of Life. Written in heaven. Beyond that, I just put my faith in you. Your will be done.”

So prays John, as he struggles to decide what purpose God has for him at the start of The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch. Escape to Antioch is book 2 in a series of 4 books about the disciple John. The title caught my attention and made me want to read this exciting book by Kurt Brouwer. It stands on its own, although it does end in a cliff-hanger.

Following the death of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is his adopted mother, John decides to leave Jerusalem and minister to the church in Antioch. He takes his nephew, Emmaus, with him. The two share many harrowing experiences as they visit relatives and church leaders on their way, avoiding both the zealot Jews and the war-ready Romans.

Brouwer has done a lot of Biblical and historical research. I liked how he shows the Christians, John in particular, are changed into more peaceable people because of Jesus’s message and love. The Gospel is clearly presented and many Scripture quotes are included, many as memories of what Jesus said. I did not care for the inference that Mary, after her death, was capable of telling John what to do. I felt like that should have been, at best, Mary’s memory encouraging John to follow Jesus. She seemed, to me, to get more importance than I believe she deserves Scripturally.

I did like all the subterfuge and scheming portrayed in the book. With having so much going on military-wise, whether it all happened the way Brouwer imagines, it sure makes for a good story!

I received a copy of the book from the author through Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great! I think I’ll have to get books 3 and 4! I’ve learned a lot!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 23

Christina’s Corner, September 24

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 25

Texas Book-aholic, September 26

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 27

The Lit Lady, September 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 28

Lights in a Dark World, September 29

Cover Lover Book Review, September 30

Lily’s Book Reviews, October 1

Artistic Nobody, October 2 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 2

Connie’s History Classroom, October 3

The Book Club Network, October 4

She Lives To Read, October 5

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Kurt is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/27fb8/the-last-disciple-escape-to-antioch-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, New-to-Me Author

Preacher on the Run by Jayna Baas Review and Giveaway

September 13, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Preacher on the Run: The Truth Will Hold Its Own

Author: Jayna Baas

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: April 12, 2020

STANDING FOR TRUTH COULD COST HIM HIS FREEDOM. FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM COULD COST HIM HIS LIFE.

It’s 1771, and North Carolina is at war. On one side stands the power of the Crown. On the other side stands a dangerous freedom of conscience.

Former circuit rider Robert Boothe has spent the last four years leading the tyrant-hating Regulators against North Carolina’s corrupt British government. All he wants is a safe place for his little Baptist church to worship God.

But when Colonel Charles Drake arrives in town, Robert becomes a target. The Church of England wants him to shut up. The governor wants him dead.

Now Robert’s church and family are caught in the crossfire. And that safe place is farther and farther away.

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About the Author

Jayna Baas, pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep,” is the author of Preacher on the Run and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. She lives in northern Michigan with a great family of real people and the family of pretend people who live in her head. (Yes, she does know her characters are not real. No, she does not want you to tell them she said so.) Although she enjoys multiple genres, her favorite story is this: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Learn more and sign up for a free short story at http://www.booksbyjayna.com.

More from Jayna

Freedom is risky. If people are free to make up their own minds, they might discover they’ve been lied to. They might discover the truth and then act on it, and they just might turn the world upside down.

That’s a story that’s been happening ever since Christ freed his first followers from the law of sin and death. They shared that freedom all over their world, and the hierarchy didn’t like it, from the Pharisees on up to Nero. It’s a story that happens over and over again. And it happened in eighteenth-century North Carolina.

Almost all of the Thirteen Colonies had an official state-sanctioned church that could banish, imprison, or even execute those who did not conform. The most common “state church” in the southern colonies was the Church of England, and that’s what we find in North Carolina at the time of Preacher on the Run.

Imagine you’re a dissenter preacher in this time and place. Up the street is the local vestry, which you’re taxed to support, while you’ve been threatened with jail for preaching without a license. One of your church members is about to be dispossessed for not paying taxes—taxes he can’t afford and has probably already paid once. No one dares go to court; everyone knows the courts are nests of extortion, and you could be charged with felony if you stay at a meeting after an official deems it seditious.

Now the governor’s new agent comes to town—a man who is hungry for power, a man who knows you’re a leader not only in your congregation but also in the grassroots resistance that is rising against the government’s corruption. To him, your belief that people can go to God directly through faith in Christ without the state church is blasphemous. And your belief that all men are on equal footing before God and the law is unthinkably dangerous.

What would you do?

This is a scenario that set my story-loving imagination on fire. This is the story of Preacher on the Run. It’s the story of a spark that ignited and spread throughout the colonies until it was a blaze of revolution—not the rejection of authority but the restoration of rightful authority. It’s the story of countless men and women who faced persecution on American soil for the sake of truth and freedom. Truth never needs to be forced on others, because it can never truly be defeated. And only where there is freedom can truth flourish and spread and turn the world upside down. Because, as Robert Boothe says in Preacher on the Run, the truth will hold its own.

This is his story, and ours.

My Impressions

“He says being brave isn’t always feeling brave. Sometimes it’s just doing brave things.” “He doesn’t always feel brave either, Susanna. But he still does brave things because he knows God is with him.” “Just like God is with us.”

It’s easy to forget that our country, while supposedly founded on the basis of religious freedom, also often followed in the footsteps of the continent that sent settlers here. Religious persecution and the marriage of church and state existed in many of the early colonies. With many thanks to Jayna Baas, who reminds us of this fact in her novel, Preacher on the Run.

Most of the story takes places in North Carolina, starting in 1767. We meet Pastor Robert Boothe, his family, and their church in the town of Ayen Ford. When Col. Drake, a new agent of Gov. Tryon arrives, persecution of Boothe, his church, and the Regulators(so called because they wanted to hold the government responsible for injustices) begins in earnest.

There are many compelling figures in this story. So many relationships that produce growth in each other, yet by painful rubbing. Three of these I especially appreciated were Rob Boothe and Alec, and Mitchell and Hank, and Mitchell and Rob. Underneath it all, though, was the willingness to surrender to God’s prompting, or the common denominator to fight against God’s leading.

The gospel is clearly shared and many beliefs are explained well and naturally due to the religious and political conflict present. There is a lot of suspenseful action. Topics like trusting God (completely), slavery, salvation, Holy Spirit, pride, and listening to God’s voice are discussed. I would have liked to have seen a more balanced look at the Native Americans. There were a few times I laughed out loud at a character’s antics.

I received this book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotable:

“Just take things one day at a time.” “I don’t have time for only one day at a time.” “That’s the only way they come,” Mitchell said. “Let God give you a little grace, all right? He loves doing that more than we give Him credit for.”