Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Midnight On The Scottish Shore By Sarah Sundin

Midnight on the Scottish Shore
by Sarah Sundin
Publisher: Revell
ISBN: 9780800741860

I'm a huge HUGE fan of Sarah Sundin! I will devour every book of hers I can get my hands on. I couldn't wait to read Midnight on the Scottish Shore! Let me tell you, I was completely invested. Thanks to the author and Revell for sending me the book for review!

Summary:

In a time of war, danger lurks beneath the water--and in the depths of the human heart

As the German war machine devours the Netherlands, the only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the occupation is to do the unthinkable--train to become a spy for the Nazis. Once dispatched to Britain, she plans to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. But her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.

Yet perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence employs her to radio misleading messages to Germany from the lighthouse at Dunnet Head in Scotland--messages filled with naval intelligence Lachlan must provide. If the war is to be won, Lachlan and Cilla must work together. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy--a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?

My Review:

Midnight on the Scottish Shore is about Cilla van der Zee, cousin to Aleida from Embers in the London Sky. Cilla escapes the Netherlands, hoping to aid the Allies, but she's captured and believed to be a spy for Germany. The Allies decide to use her in their secret Double Cross unit of M15! Cilla is willing, but the man who captures her is also the one who has to aid her as part of the scheme.

I loved Cilla! LOVED her! She takes lemons and makes lemonade. While the lighthouse becomes her prison, she also learns to find freedom in it. It doesn't come quickly or easily. And let's just say Lachlan Mackenzie doesn't make it very enjoyable. I mean, while Cilla is lovely, she's also a spy for Germany (repeated over and over in Lachlan's mind)!

Lachlan, for his part, wants to do his duty to his country, but his past is always looming over him thanks to his younger, wayward brother, Neil. Lachlan toes the line and is very black & white. He's also honorable, loyal, and trustworthy. What woman would fall for the fuddy-duddy?

I knew this was going to be a book I didn't want to put down! There's so much to talk about in regards to it. Cilla used humor in hard circumstances, and she was sharp as a tack! Extending forgiveness to someone who has hurt you makes you vulnerable. Earning trust can seem impossible, but it is worthwhile. All of the ways military and gov't people have to come up with plausible ways to misdirect the enemy and the way it's done with Yardley, Cilla, and Lachlan is masterful. 

I'll admit that I can't get enough of Sarah Sundin's stories! They're so well written and keep me riveted on every page! I'm already ready for her next book... no pressure, Sarah!

About the Author:

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of When Twilight BreaksUntil Leaves Fall in ParisThe Sound of LightEmbers in the London Sky, and the popular WWII series Sunrise at Normandy, among others. She is a Christy Award winner and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received starred reviews from BooklistLibrary Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Sarah lives in Southern California. Visit SarahSundin.com for more information.

Monday, February 3, 2025

Misgivings By Anne Gibson + GIVE AWAY

Misgivings JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Misgivings by Anne Gibson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Misgivings

Title: Misgivings
Author: Anne Gibson
Publisher:
Independently Published
Release Date:
September 2, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Desperate to avoid the turmoil that now engulfs her, Dee would do anything for a chance to turn back time. Wracked with regret and paralyzed by fear, she is forced to hide halfway across the world, all in a bid to safeguard the one person she holds most dear. If only she could undo the past and prevent this disastrous situation from ever unfolding. 

After waiting five long years, Luke thought he was finally making progress in his relationship with Dee. But just as she begins to open up and trust him, she suddenly vanishes, leaving him bewildered and determined to uncover the truth behind her sudden disappearance.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub


Guest Post

Deciding what topics you were going to cover in your first book & how much detail to put
in or leave out. They're pretty heavy topics.

There are some heavy topics in my book. I remember sitting in a university class and hearing a statistic that 1 in 4 women had suffered from some form of abuse. I looked at all the women in my class, counted 1-2-3-4, and imagined every fourth woman being a victim of abuse. No one “looked” abused, but how would I know? Every time I was in the grocery store, there was a chance that an abuse victim was in my midst. Even in my church, there was the likelihood that someone sitting near me was a victim of abuse. Yet, no one was talking about it. This was years ago, and now the statistic is closer to 1 in 3 women. I wanted to write a character that women could silently identify with: a character who suffered and struggled, a character who found hope despite the odds being against her, and a character who found a way to trust Christ after someone broke their trust. Even more importantly, I wanted to write a story about a God who cares, a God who is in control, and a God who saves.

As for the events that happened in Colombia, many of the details came from stories my landlady shared with me (who had immigrated from Colombia). I took some of her details and then let my imagination run wild.

The process of becoming self-published.

I wrote Misgivings 15 years ago. I was pregnant with my first child and put on bed rest. I always wanted to be a writer and I had hoped bed rest was God’s way of saying, “The time is now.” After my baby was born, I submitted my manuscript and started the long, grueling game of waiting for rejections. I was very sick with my second pregnancy and took a break. After baby #2 was born I was able to look at my manuscript with fresh eyes (it sat for over a year). I edited it, started sending it to agents, and resumed the waiting game. Then baby #3 came and I pressed pause, and baby #4 came and writing was put aside.

Now my eldest is 15 and my kids are more independent. I pulled out my manuscript this summer thinking it would be fun to read. I ended up editing it again and decided it was time to do something with it. Since it sat for 15 years, I didn’t want to wait any longer. Rather than having it sit for years as I looked for an agent, I decided to try self-publishing, which is totally different than it was 15 years ago.

This journey has been full of surprises! I loved solving the puzzle of formatting. I enjoyed creating the cover and exercising the crafty side of my brain that also was neglected when the children were little. I built a website, which was not fun at all, but I am proud to say I endured and conquered! The advertising, social media, and anything with an algorithm is still overwhelming. I’d rather write, but it has been validating learning new skills. The most fun part has been discovering the world of Bookstagram. I wasn’t a social media person before, but I would have been if I knew there were so many fantastic people sharing such wonderful books!

About the Author

Anne Gibson

Award-winning author Anne Gibson is blessed to call the stunning Canadian Rockies home. When she isn't penning her stories, she relishes time in nature—hiking, paddling, and basking in the sun at the beach alongside her family and beloved furball. A true romantic at heart, Anne often finds herself curled up with an engaging book, dreaming up her own captivating love stories.

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


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Misgivings as well as a $25 Amazon gift card!

Misgivings JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 3, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 10, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Thursday, January 30, 2025

The Indigo Heiress By Laura Frantz

The Indigo Heiress
by Laura Frantz
Publisher: Revell
ISBN: 9780800740696

As one who ADORES Laura Frantz and her stories, I couldn't WAIT to get my hands on her newest release, The Indigo Heiress! If you haven't grabbed your own copy, let me tell you that you're missing out! Revell sent me my copy of the book!

Summary:

Virginia plantation life is all she has ever known. 
But could the life she was meant to live be waiting on a distant shore? 

In 1774, Juliet Catesby lives with her father and sister at Royal Vale, the James River plantation founded by her Virginia family over a century before. Indigo cultivation is her foremost concern, though its export tethers her family to the powerful Buchanan clan of Glasgow, Scotland. 

When the heir of the Buchanan firm arrives on their shores, Juliet discovers that her father has arranged for one of his daughters to marry the Scot as a means of canceling the family's crippling debt. Confident it will be her younger, lovelier sister, Juliet is appalled when Leith Buchanan selects her instead.

Despite her initial refusal, Juliet realizes that fleeing Virginia is her only choice after finding herself in the midst of a scandal. The ship just leaving the harbor for Glasgow is her only hope. But she will soon realize that being part of the complex and calculating Buchanan clan is not the sanctuary she imagined--and the man who saved her from ruin is the very one she must now save in return.

My Review:

I haven't met a Laura Frantz book that I haven't adored! Her stories always draw me in and are rich with relationships and strong characters. The Indigo Heiress captured me. It's different than her other books in some ways, while still the same in others. Her other stories always seem to have one really awful character who is easy to dislike. This one had a side character who isn't likable in the least, but doesn't have a presence throughout the whole story.

I always love the male main characters in her stories because they're so confident in who they are and are intensely protective of their loved ones. Leith is one such man, but throughout much of the story has a hard time showing affection. He's very business minded and oftentimes seems cold and distant. He just needs the right motivation to thaw his heart.

Juliet is a delight! She's forward thinking for such a time and has a head for business. She carries on her mother's work as an abolitionist. Her sister, Loveday, helps as well and also plays a large role in this story, which I loved. The two of them are a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, their "work" gets them into trouble, and their only means of saving themselves is joining Leith on his departing ship and marrying him!

Their start isn't an easy one and it continues to be difficult once they reach Scotland. What ensues there will keep everyone on their toes. Loveday needs to procure a husband. Leith's business is in jeopardy. Leith's scandal that began when he left is still waiting for him when he returns.

Juliet's compassion and care for those around her is palpable. Both sisters stay rooted in their faith and try to show Christ to any who will listen. While Leith has no real concern about faith, Juliet is determined to show God's love to him. There are sweet and tender moments that will have your heart aflutter.

I felt like there were a couple of loose ends that could've been tied up a bit better. One was Leith's brother's faith and where he stood in that. The other was the awful Virginian and where he ended up. Those are minor things that didn't affect the plot or story overall. Just stuck out to me.

It was incredibly fun to hear names and places mentioned in this story that we know from previous books. It gave a wonderful sense of familiarity and nostalgia for characters I've previously loved! I felt like with the author's writing, each location came to life in their unique ways and made me want to travel back in time!

About the Author:

Laura Frantz is a two-time Christy Award winner and the ECPA bestselling author of 15 novels, including The Seamstress of Acadie, The Rose and the Thistle, The Frontiersman's DaughterCourting Morrow Little, The Lacemaker, and A Heart Adrift. She is the proud mom of an American soldier and a career firefighter. Though she will always call Kentucky home, Laura lives with her husband in Washington State. Learn more at LauraFrantz.net.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Jayna Breigh By Jayna Breigh + GIVE AWAY

The Hunted Heir JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Hunted Heir by Jayna Breigh hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I've heard incredible reviews from early reviewers and I can't wait to dive into this story. I received the book for the Takeover Blitz!

About the Book

Title:
The Hunted Heir 
Author: Jayna Breigh 
Publisher: Kregel Publications 
Release Date: January 28, 2025 
Genre: Romantic Legal Drama

After a tragic loss, private investigator Nona Taylor swore off romantic entanglements and distanced herself from the world. Once a year, on New Year's Eve, she attends church to beg God for forgiveness, haunted by the guilt of driving her twin sister to her death.

Attorney DeMarcus Johnson is determined to climb the ladder to partnership by winning high-profile cases at his Los Angeles law firm, harnessing his ADHD hyperfocus to excel. He's everything Nona knows to steer clear of--an overconfident ex-jock willing to do anything for success. 

Their worlds collide when Nona's pastor receives a mysterious letter claiming he's the sole heir to a substantial estate. Desperate for answers, Nona infiltrates a lavish charity ball, only to be found out by a suspicious stranger--so she latches onto DeMarcus and concocts a fib about being his fiancĂ©e. 

Now bound by a false engagement, the pair reluctantly join forces to discover the truth about the inheritance. But when an unseen enemy strikes, they realize the stakes are higher than they thought. Can Nona and DeMarcus overcome their differences to keep the pastor safe, secure DeMarcus's partnership, and preserve a future for themselves?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & NobleChristianbook | Bookshop


Excerpt

Well, old lady, you win.

DeMarcus Johnson picked a parking space for his baby under a light fixture and as far from other cars as possible—no dingers, no dents, no damage—and readied himself to make good his promise to his beloved grandmother, G’Mama, to attend church once during the calendar year. He scanned the row of storefront businesses across the street. A couple of dudes in gang colors stood in the doorway of a store right beside the church. Fortunately, Demarcus’s C-Class convertible didn’t have the distinctive Mercedes hood ornament, because that crew gave off a vibe like it might want a souvenir. Didn’t matter. 

He’d let them know the deal before he went inside the church.

He loved G’Mama, but she played dirty. Said she wouldn’t cash another one of his monthly money orders until he made good on his repeated promises to go to church sometime this year.

“And it better be a Missionary Baptist Church too, ’cause how else I’m gonna know it’s a real gospel-preaching church?” she’d told him. “And I want proof. Send me, what you call ’em? A selfie. Send a selfie showing me you there.”

Busted. She’d mastered the texting feature on the senior citizen cell phone he’d sent her
for her seventy-fifth birthday, so there was no way out of it.

About the Author

Jayna Breigh

Jayna Breigh is a retired attorney living in the southeastern United States. She brings to her writing over a decade of experience in trust and estate litigation in Los Angeles. Breigh enjoys speaking at Christian women's conferences, hosting Bible studies, and homeschooling her children. This is her debut novel.

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


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Hunted Heir and a $25 Amazon gift card!

The Hunted Heir JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight January 29, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 5, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway


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Monday, January 27, 2025

Tatterhood By Dawn Ford + GIVE AWAY

Tatterhood JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Tatterhood by Dawn Ford, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I've really enjoyed all of the covers to this series! So great to have this series for middle grade kids to enjoy. Be sure to check out the author's Guest Post below.

About the Book

Tatterhood

Title: Tatterhood
Series: Band of Unlikely Heroes #3
Author:
Dawn Ford
Publisher:
ScrivKids
Release Date:
January 28, 2025
Genre:
Middle-Grade Fantasy

Troll Princess Horra Fyd and young druid Rowan team up to reverse the evil Erlking’s spells and save the creatures across the Wilden Lands. However, Fairy Princess Glory Toppenbottom is still a thorn in Horra’s side. After Horra and Glory have a heated fight, Glory sneaks out of the castle. She is bent on finding the Erlking to reverse the hex he cast on her. This creates a political disaster when the Glory’s sister announces she’s coming to retrieve Glory. 

Angered by Horra’s treatment of a royal guest, King Fyd proclaims Horra to be Queen Bearer. She becomes the ad hoc ruler, freeing her father from the scandal. Shocked, Horra assents. Her first move is to find the missing fairy princess before it becomes an interkingdom war. They form a search party and leave. 

The Erlking stalks their every move. When the only choice points them toward the Riven, a cursed hidden land, they don’t hesitate. They find Glory is already there, but are immediately separated. The Riven is nothing like anyone imagined. Will they survive the Erlking’s magical traps, or will they, like everyone else, perish within its borders?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

More Books in This Series

Woodencloak  Mossycoat


Guest Post

What do you hope kids will take away from this story and series overall? 

Tatterhood is a harrowing tale of what happens when you lie and scheme to get your way. Princess
Glory Toppenbottom suffered a hex at the hands of the Erlking, an evil elf who mesmerized and used her in his scheme to invade the troll’s castle in his first step in taking over their world, the Wilden Lands. Because of that, she lost the one thing that mattered to her: her beauty. She’s stuck in the horrible troll’s castle where the despicable troll princess Horra Fyd and her sidekick Rowan stand in her way of getting it back. Glory refuses to wait and devises a plan of escape. She has the one thing the Erlking wants bad enough to trade her to reverse the hex. She’s determined to meet with the Erlking again for the trade. Lies and schemes come at a cost, however, and Glory soon learns that cost is too high.

The last thing Horra wants to do in the middle of her kingdom’s crisis is form a search party for a petulant fairy princess. When told the Glory’s sister is on her way to retrieve her, Horra has no choice. Their alliance with the fairies is at stake. She must save the girl from herself no matter what, even after Glory leaves her and Rowan stuck in the last place they want to be: the Riven. Situated between Horra’s troll kingdom and the hidden elf kingdom, the Riven is a deadly land that no one who enters returns from. Deeply hurt and angered by Glory’s treachery, Horra and Rowan become a united front, strengthening their heroic bond in ways they never expected. The adventure continues as our heroes continue to break down the pieces of how the Erlking’s dark magic works. And Glory holds the key to the Erlking’s motives and methods. The question is, will she cooperate or not?

Tatterhood, the third book in the Band of Unlikely Heroes series, is full of bravery in the face of betrayal and redemption after tragedy occurs.

About the Author

Dawn Ford

Winner of the 2016 ACFW Genesis Award and Finalist in the 2023 Carol awards and 2024 Realm Makers Realm awards, Dawn Ford has been recognized for her published and non-published works.

As a child, Dawn often had her head in the clouds creating scenes and stories for anything and everything she came across. She believed there was magic everywhere, a sentiment she has never outgrown. Nature inspires her, and her love for the underdog and the unlikely hero colors much of what she writes.

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


Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each receive a $15 Amazon gift card, a signed paperback copy of Tatterhood, and one eBook copy of Woodencloak and Mossycoat!

Tatterhood JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight January 27, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 3, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

 
Creative Commons License
Woven by Words by Mimi B is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.