One Day Gone ~ A Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: One Day Gone: A Mylas Grey Mystery

Author: Luana Ehrlich

Genre: Christian Mystery

Release Date: October 29, 2019

Mylas Grey is a private investigator but don’t call him a private detective.

That title belongs to his father—not to him.

Mylas is the Chief Investigator for Senator Davis Allen, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. His job is to run background investigations of the President’s judicial nominees.

But then Lizzie, the Senator’s daughter, goes missing from her apartment.

And just like that, Mylas finds himself back in his hometown of Columbia, Missouri.

Discovering why she disappeared isn’t easy . . .

Lizzie has a reputation for doing the unexpected, so it’s possible she left town to be alone for a while, or to conduct research for her college newspaper, or simply to visit with friends.

Staying focused on the investigation isn’t easy . . .

Mylas finds himself getting distracted from the investigation when he meets a beautiful photographer who makes him question his rejection of Christianity.

Identifying a suspect isn’t easy . . .

Did Lizzie’s boyfriend play a role? Is a judge connected to Lizzie’s disappearance? What about Lizzie’s roommate?

So many suspects. So little time.

One Day Gone, Book I in the Mylas Grey Mystery Series, is a clean, suspenseful, fast-paced mystery, involving complex relationships, a fledgling romance, and a man’s search for happiness in all the wrong places.

If you enjoy an engaging, multilayered mystery with a vulnerable, endearing hero, someone who will make you cry one minute and laugh the next, you’ll love this book!

Click here to get your copy!

One Day Gone by Luana Ehrlich is a Christian Mystery. Mylas Grey doesn’t mind investigating people, but call him a private detective, and he’ll set you straight. That title belongs to his father. That little distinction caught my attention right away and made me curious about their history.

In One Day Gone, the first book in the Mylas Grey Mystery Series, Mylas serves as Chief Investigator for Senator Davis Allen. He usually runs background checks on judicial nominees, but when the senator’s daughter disappears, he heads back to his hometown of Columbia, Missouri, to find her.

Of course, Lizzie’s disappearance doesn’t come with an easy explanation. She has a habit of doing the unexpected so she might have left on her own. But with questions surrounding her boyfriend, her roommate, and a judge, Mylas can’t afford to assume anything. I like how that uncertainty gives the mystery several possible directions without making the answer seem obvious from the start.

Mylas interests me just as much as the case. His complicated relationship with his father and his own search for happiness give readers more to consider than clues and suspects. I appreciate characters who have some things figured out while still struggling with the parts of life that hit closest to home.

Then a photographer enters the picture and challenges his rejection of Christianity. As a Christian reader, I find this part of the story especially appealing. Their connection adds a little romance, but it also gives Mylas a reason to question what he believes and what he wants from life. Those personal questions add depth to the urgency of finding Lizzie.

One Day Gone combines a puzzling disappearance with family tension, a budding romance, and questions of faith. If you enjoy clean mysteries with a central character who has his own troubles to work through, this introduction to Mylas Grey offers plenty to draw you in.

So if you are looking for a Christian mystery, check out One Day Gone by Luana Ehrlich

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All my opinions are my own.

About the Author

Luana is a USA Today bestselling author, Carol Award finalist, and former missionary to Costa Rica and Venezuela. She developed her passion for mystery novels at an early age, but she didn’t write her own mystery/suspense/thrillers until her husband retired from the ministry.

Now, she writes from an undisclosed location to escape the torture of mundane housework, grocery shopping, and golf stories. However, she’s been known to come out of hiding to visit with her two grandsons or to enjoy a Starbucks caramel macchiato. She and her husband, James, are long‑time residents of Norman, Oklahoma.

More from Luana

Here’s a peek into how an author develops a protagonist for a new series. WARNING: This might be scary to some people.

When I decided to write a mystery series, I knew I wanted the protagonist, Mylas Grey, to be an investigator, but I wasn’t sure what kind. Private? Police? Corporate? All I knew was that I wanted him to be unique in some way. But what way?

At the same time, I was trying to decide where he would work—big city, small town, rural area. Washington, D.C., immediately came to mind, because I could just imagine all the mysteries Mylas might encounter there.

Once I started thinking about Washington, I naturally thought about Congress, congressional aides, journalists, lobbyists, and all the people who move in and out of that world. That led me to wonder if Mylas could work for a senator. After doing some research, I discovered that some senators—particularly those serving on the Judiciary Committee—have investigators on their staffs.

And just like that, the idea was born: Mylas Grey would be the chief investigator for Senator Davis Allen, where one of his responsibilities would be investigating the backgrounds of the President’s judicial nominees.

But that only answered one question.

Who was Mylas Grey? How did he become an investigator? Where was he born? Who were his parents? Was he married? Was he a Christian?

There isn’t enough room here to explain how I answered all those questions—and you should be thankful for that—but I promise the answers are revealed in One Day Gone.

Here’s one hint: Senator Allen sends Mylas back to his hometown to find his missing daughter. While he’s there, Mylas reconnects with his sometimes overbearing but loving family and meets Whitney Engel, a woman who not only helps him solve the case but also helps him discover the One who’s been missing from his life.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From An Avid Reader, November 4

Simple Harvest Reads, November 5 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, November 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 6

Texas Book-aholic, November 7

Artistic Nobody, November 8 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 10

Guild Master, November 11 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, November 12

Betti Mace, November 13

Fiction Book Lover, November 14 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, November 15 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 15

Cover Lover Book Review, November 16

Lily’s Corner, November 17

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/Y9Q1I/one-day-gone-celebration-tour-giveaway

A Plain Confession ~ A Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: A Plain Confession

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Amish Fiction

Release Date: October 20, 2026

Sam Mustang has come to Stoney Ridge with one purpose–to make amends before his time runs out. An outsider with a past he can’t undo, he finds unexpected companionship in Darcy Delaney, a traveling nurse whose restless spirit is steadied as Sam teaches her and young Gus Troyer the wonder of stargazing.

But the stars aren’t the only things shifting in Stoney Ridge. Dok Stoltzfus is thrust back into the hardest chapter of her life when the child she once fostered returns. His presence stirs complicated questions: Is she now too old to be a mother, and what lies behind the troubling changes she sees in the child?

As those secrets ripple outward, the lives of Sam, Dok, and Gus begin to pull at the same thread. Sam’s search for redemption, Dok’s struggle with calling and family, and Gus’s bond with a vulnerable child collide in ways that test faith, love, and the very meaning of forgiveness.

Click here to get your copy!

If you enjoy Amish Fiction, you should check out rA Plain Confession by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Have you ever wished you could go back and change something from your past? I think most of us have moments we’d like to do over, which is one reason Sam Mustang’s story caught my attention. I love books that explore the messy parts of life, especially when characters struggle to make peace with their past while figuring out what comes next. And what better place for a story about second chances, unexpected friendships, and faith than Stoney Ridge?

Sam Mustang arrives in Stoney Ridge hoping to make things right before it’s too late. He carries regrets that won’t simply disappear, and I found myself drawn to his desire to make amends. Along the way, he develops an unexpected friendship with Darcy Delaney, a traveling nurse, and young Gus Troyer. I especially loved the stargazing moments they share. There’s something so peaceful about looking up at a sky full of stars, and those moments made me think about how easily we let everyday worries consume our thoughts and forget just how big our God really is.

Meanwhile, Dok Stoltzfus faces difficult decisions when a child she once fostered returns to her life. She questions whether she can take on motherhood at this stage of life, especially as she notices troubling changes in the child. I could relate to her uncertainty. Haven’t we all faced situations that made us wonder whether we had what it takes? I appreciated how her circumstances challenge her to trust God even when she can’t see a clear path forward.

One of my favorite things about returning to Stoney Ridge is catching up with familiar characters and seeing how their lives continue to unfold. I enjoy the sense of community and the way everyone’s stories connect. The characters aren’t perfect, and that’s part of what makes them so appealing to me. They wrestle with doubts, carry regrets, and struggle with difficult decisions, just like the rest of us.

Sam’s struggle to come to terms with his past especially touched my heart. I think we sometimes find it easier to forgive others than to forgive ourselves. We hold on to mistakes and missed opportunities, wondering if we’ve waited too long to make things right. His journey reminded me that although we can’t undo yesterday, we can still choose how we move forward. I love how this story brings that truth to life without making forgiveness seem simple or easy.

I also enjoyed watching the different storylines come together. Sam, Dok, Darcy, and Gus each bring something unique to the story, and their experiences show how our relationships can shape our lives in ways we never expect. Sometimes God uses an unexpected friendship, a difficult responsibility, or even someone else’s struggles to help us see things from a different perspective.

If you enjoy Amish fiction with familiar faces, heartfelt moments, a little mystery, and faith that flows naturally through the story, I think you’ll appreciate this return to Stoney Ridge. I especially enjoyed how the story balances emotional struggles with quieter moments of friendship and connection. More than anything, it reminded me that life rarely follows our plans, but God continues to work through every twist and turn, even when we can’t see what He’s doing.

So if you want a new work of Amish Fiction, check out A Plain Confession by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All my opinions are my own.

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author, Christy finalist, Carol and Selah winner, and two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, with over forty books to her name. She writes contemporary, historical and Amish novels. Suzanne lives in California with her husband, where life (family and friends) provides plenty of grit for the oyster.

More from Suzanne

Dear Reader,

Here’s a fun bit of timing to celebrate A Plain Confession‘s release: in November 2026, just a few weeks after the book comes out, the Leonid meteor shower peaks. It’s one of the most dazzling showers of the year, with fast, bright streaks that show up without warning. No telescope needed. Just a dark patch of sky, a warm jacket, and a willingness to slow down for a while.

If you want to make a night of it, pack some stargazing snacks. Cosmic popcorn, sprinkled with smoked paprika. Shooting star sandwiches, cut with a cookie cutter. Milky Way hot cocoa or Comet apple cider in a thermos. Or go all out with a celestial charcuterie board: moon and star-shaped cheddar bites, chocolate-covered almonds, dried cherries, crackers, the works.

A few tips if you’re new to stargazing:

• Find a darker spot. Even stepping away from porch lights helps.
• Give your eyes time. Ten minutes without bright screens makes a huge difference.
• Look toward the east for the best show.

Then just pause. Let yourself slow down.

That’s the heart of Sam’s story too. Slowing down. Paying attention. Letting small wonders do their quiet work.

I hope A Plain Confession gives you that same sense of wonder. Thanks for joining me on the tour! Happy stargazing!

Suzanne

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, November 6

Blossoms and Blessings, November 7

For Him and My Family, November 7

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 8

Devoted To Hope, November 9

She Lives To Read, November 10

Holly’s Book Corner, November 10

Simple Harvest Reads, November 11 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 12

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 13

Maureen’s Musings, November 14

Mary Hake, November 14

EmpowerMoms, November 15

Cover Lover Book Review, November 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 16

The Avid Reader, November 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 18

Southern Gal Loves to Read, November 18

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, November 19

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/sHfUX/a-plain-confession-celebration-tour-giveaway

Karabos ~ A Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Karabos

Author: Lyndsey Lewellen

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: October 13, 2026

Enter a dangerous game of magic beetles, buried secrets, and shifting time.

Winslet Nubek knows bugs better than she knows people. The sixteen-year-old, homeschooled entomologist is determined to earn her place among the ancient and dangerous ranks of magical insect hunters. With her father’s failing mines pushing them toward bankruptcy, winning the Tournament of Scarabs becomes her only shot at securing her dream and saving her family from ruin. But when she touches a forbidden time scarab before the competition begins, she’s left with a mark she can’t explain and trips into the past she can’t control. Forced to hide her mistake, Winslet enters the tournament with a growing fear of being discovered. As her secrets grow, so do her slips through time.

Rafe Stormholt charts maps like other people write diaries, but his own future isn’t his to navigate. He needs the tournament prize to keep his grandfather’s company out of treacherous hands. After the preliminaries go awry, Rafe ends up on a team of academic misfits, including the bug girl he’s already judged as a liability. But when he’s dragged into the past alongside her, Rafe uncovers truths that shatter the faith his family has held for generations.

Bound by a time-slipping curse, Winslet and Rafe must navigate the tournament’s perilous trials while unraveling a conspiracy buried centuries deep. As enemies close in and the past begins to bleed into the present, they’ll have to decide what they’re really fighting for and what they’re willing to lose to win.

Click here to get your copy

If you are looking for a Young Adult Fantasy novel, you should check out Karabos by Lyndsey Lewllen.

I don’t usually think of beetles as the starting point for a fantasy adventure, but magical scarabs, a dangerous tournament, and unexpected trips into the past? That gets my attention. What draws me in even more, though, is that Winslet and Rafe have much more riding on this competition than bragging rights.

Sixteen-year-old Winslet Nubek knows her way around insects. People are another matter. She dreams of becoming a magical insect hunter, and winning the Tournament of Scarabs could help her prove herself while saving her family from bankruptcy. She already has enough to worry about when she touches a forbidden time scarab—only to find herself slipping into the past.

That’s quite a secret to carry into a competition where danger already comes with the territory. I can understand why Winslet wants to hide what happened, even as each trip through time makes that decision harder to maintain. Her situation brings up a familiar struggle: the more you have to lose, the harder it can become to admit you need help.

Rafe Stormholt has his own reasons for needing that prize. His grandfather’s company is at risk, and landing on a team of academic misfits hardly feels like a promising start. He’s especially doubtful about Winslet, whom he’s already written off as a liability. Of course, being pulled into the past alongside her gives him a whole new set of problems—and a reason to reconsider his assumptions.

Their uneasy partnership is a big part of the appeal for me. They both want to protect their families, but that doesn’t mean they trust each other or agree on how to move forward. There’s plenty of room for tension when two people need each other’s help but aren’t quite ready to admit it.

Then the past begins to reveal secrets that threaten everything Rafe’s family has believed for generations. This is where the mystery becomes especially intriguing. Getting through the tournament is one thing. Figuring out whom to trust when the truth challenges your own family’s history is something else entirely. And with enemies closing in, Winslet and Rafe don’t have the luxury of sorting it all out at their own pace.

I’m also drawn to the team of academic misfits. It’s easy to underestimate someone whose strengths don’t look like everyone else’s, and Winslet’s knowledge of insects gives that idea an interesting twist. In a tournament built around magical scarabs, the “bug girl” might be exactly the person you need beside you.

If you enjoy young adult fantasy with unusual magic, family secrets, and characters forced to work together under pressure, this premise offers plenty. The tournament provides the danger and excitement, but Winslet and Rafe’s reasons for entering give the story its heart. They begin with a prize they desperately need. What they uncover could change what they’re willing to sacrifice to claim it.

So if you are searching for a Young Adult Fantasy novel, you should check out Karabos by Lyndsey Lewllen.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Lyndsey Lewellen grew up on a healthy dose of comic books, punk music, and sci-fi. She infuses all three loves into novels written for young adults. Inside her “what if” worlds, her characters take risks, grow, and fight for what matters. When she’s not writing or whittling down her endless TBR, she designs novel covers and paints on shoes. She lives on a small Texas farm with her best friend/husband, five children, and what some might call a zoo of animals (especially after meeting the peacocks).

More from Lyndsey

“Oh boy!”

As far back as I can remember, TV shows and movies like Quantum Leap, Kate and Leopold, Back to the Future, and (my personal favorite) Groundhog Day have absolutely fascinated me. Why? Because all of them share my most beloved trope.

Time travel.

If a story contains time loops, paradoxes, slips, or butterfly effects, count me in! Maybe that’s because I’m intrigued with the structure of time. Sun up, sun down, rinse and repeat. Day by day, we live in a beautifully ordered timeline the Lord has placed us in. My favorite scripture in the Book of Acts exemplifies this truth. While speaking to the Athenians about God’s character, Paul says, “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:26-27)

It’s a glorious and comforting reality that we are exactly where and when we need to be in order to have our best chance at reaching for Him.

However, through fiction, we can imagine what it would be like to step outside the bounds of time. By doing so, I believe, we can better understand our reality. Moving in and out of that well-oiled timeline would jar anyone. For me, it’s that jarring that sparks my curiosity. What would I do if I was moved into the wrong time? Assuming my actions could be catastrophic in the future, how well could I think on the spot and not accidentally cause myself to not be born at all? Perhaps it’s thinking well on the spot that interests me the most. Because isn’t that a fear many of us have? Watching others succeed in these dire situations can give us confidence that we can do the same.

Not only that, but to think of how God is outside of time causes me to look at Him in wonder. He can be fully trusted to tell us about the future because He already knows the end from the beginning. When I read time travel in a novel or craft it in my own stories, I appreciate the wondrous works God has done, is doing, and will do down the line. I am humbled by His skill. All I can do is give Him praise.

So, when I finished my debut series, The Chaos Grid duology, I knew I wanted to tackle a time travel novel of some sort. Sci-fi idea after sci-fi idea popped into my head, but none of them resonated with me enough to start drafting.

Until one day, while eating lunch at a drive-through restaurant, I was listening to an apologetics podcast and an idea struck.

The episode was about archaeology and whether we can trust the events in the Bible. Who was the pharaoh of the Exodus? Were the Hebrews really enslaved? Why didn’t the Egyptians directly record the ten plagues? What intriguing questions! That’s when my idea for a time travel story converged with an Egyptian fantasy. I would love to read a story where people in the future who were lied to by their ancestors traveled back to that time to find out what really went on. There they could discover ancient coverups and propaganda that shaped their skewed view of the past. So, I wrote it.

But being the fantasy and adventure lover I am, I had to throw in a magical scarab competition with The Mummy and Indiana Jones vibes. And, of course, what better era to set the future timeline of my novel than a fictional 1920s when Egyptomania ran rampant?

Thus, Karabos was born, a story of a magic scarab hunting girl who tries to save her family but accidentally drags her reluctant teammate into unstable trips to the past during a dangerous archaeology competition.

I am beyond excited for readers to go on this wild journey with Winslet and Rafe. My hope is that through their story you’ll come away looking at time, and our Creator who stands outside of it, with a renewed sense of wonder.

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, October 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 29 (Spotlight)

Wishful Endings, October 29

Texas Book-aholic, October 30

Simple Harvest Reads, October 31 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 1

Artistic Nobody, November 2 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, November 3

Guild Master, November 4 (Author Interview)

Sydney Schmied Books, November 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 5

Fiction Book Lover, November 6 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 7

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, November 8

The Bookish Ledger, November 9 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 10

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/emZ3W/karabos-celebration-tour-giveaway

I

Not So Very Sensible ~ A Review & Giveaway

About the Book

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

Author: Carolyn Miller

Genre: Christian Romance

Release Date: October, 2026

Two Sisters Navigate the Minefield of Modern Dating

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

Click here to get your copy!

If you enjoy Christian Romances, you need to check out Not So Very Sensible by Carolyn Miller.

Elinor Bennett likes a plan. Her sister Katie would much rather follow a romantic daydream. Put them together at a grand hotel for a murder mystery weekend, introduce two men, and suddenly neither sister’s heart gets quite what she expected!

That’s what draws me to this story. I have a soft spot for romances that catch the practical person by surprise, especially when the dreamer discovers that love doesn’t necessarily follow the script she’s imagined. There’s something so relatable about both sisters. Even those of us who appreciate a sensible plan can find ourselves hoping for a little storybook romance.

Elinor and Katie travel to the Hydro Grand hotel in the Blue Mountains to celebrate their college graduation. A getaway with a murder mystery weekend sounds like an adventure in itself, but their encounters with two men soon make matters of the heart much more complicated. Elinor has to contend with feelings she didn’t plan for, while Katie faces the sting of disappointed hopes.

I’m especially drawn to Elinor’s predicament. When you like order and know how you want things to go, unexpected feelings can throw you completely off balance. I can easily imagine wanting to talk myself out of them! But Katie’s situation tugs at me, too. It hurts when you’ve built something up in your imagination, and reality takes a different turn.

The contrast between the sisters gives this story much of its appeal. They share a trip, yet bring such different expectations to it. I like that the premise gives each of them something to reconsider. Being sensible doesn’t protect Elinor from surprises, and believing in romance doesn’t guarantee Katie the experience she wants.

With its mountain setting, hotel getaway, and romantic complications, this story will appeal to readers who enjoy sister relationships and love that arrives unexpectedly. Sometimes you set out looking for an adventure and discover that the biggest mystery is your own heart

So if you enjoy Christian Romances, check out Not So Very Sensible by Carolyn Miller along with the rest of the Silver Teapot series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All my opinions are my own.

About the Author

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

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

More from Carolyn

Do you have a favourite ‘classic’ book?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 30

Book Looks by Lisa, October 30

She Lives to Read, October 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 1

Texas Book-aholic, November 2

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 3

Leslie’s Library Escape, November 3

For Him and My Family, November 4

Lyssa Loves Books, November 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 6

Pause for Tales, November 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 7

Sylvan Reads, November 8

Blossoms and Blessings, November 9

Holly’s Book Corner, November 10

Cover Lover Book Review, November 11

Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 11

Wishful Endings, November 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 12

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/cLby4/not-so-very-sensible-celebration-tour-giveaway

Mail-Order Lady ~ A Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Mail-Order Lady

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: October 13, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

If you enjoy Christian Historical Romances, you should check out Mail-Order Lady by Misty M. Beller. This fourth installment in the Lord of the Rockies series provides the perfect continuation of this series.

I have a soft spot for quiet, bookish heroes, so Robert Balfour immediately caught my attention. He’s already in love with Clara when he offers her a marriage of convenience. She thinks she’s agreeing to a practical arrangement, while he hopes it will give him a chance to win her heart. That’s the kind of romantic predicament I find hard to resist.

Clara has been through so much. She came west expecting to marry, only to watch her sister wed her intended groom. Then an illness nearly took her life. With her mother now demanding that she return home for an arranged marriage she dreads, I can understand why she welcomes Robert’s offer. She needs somewhere to belong and a little reassurance that her future won’t bring more heartache.

What draws me to their relationship is how differently they see this marriage. Clara feels safe because she believes neither of them is risking rejection. Robert, meanwhile, has put his heart on the line. There’s something tender about his hope that the woman who shares his name will someday return his love. It also makes me want Clara to recognize that his kindness comes from more than a sense of duty.

Just as they begin navigating married life, a stranger arrives claiming to be the rightful Balfour heir. Suddenly, their personal concerns become tangled in a mystery that threatens the whole family. The combination of English aristocratic ties and life on a Montana ranch gives the story an interesting backdrop, especially when questions about inheritance and loyalty follow the family across an ocean.

For me, the biggest appeal is still Robert and Clara. I’m drawn to the possibility of a woman finding love where she only dared to hope for security, especially with a man who has quietly loved her all along. If you enjoy marriages of convenience, devoted heroes, and family mysteries woven into historical romance, this story has plenty to catch your interest.

I found this the perfect continuation of this series and look forward to reading the next installment. As with all Misty M. Beller’s books and series, I found the characters and storylines captivating.

So if you enjoy Christian Historical Romances, check out Mail-Order Lady by Misty M. Beller. I definitely recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but it in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

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

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

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

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

More from Misty

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

Hello Reader Friends!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I pray you love Mail-Order Lady!

Blessings!

Misty

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 31

Devoted Steps, November 1

Texas Book-aholic, November 1

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

For Him and My Family, November 2

Wishful Endings, November 3

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 3

lakesidelivingsite, November 3

Betti Mace, November 4

She Lives to Read, November 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 5

Lyssa Loves Books, November 5

Sydney Schmied Books, November 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 6

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 7

Book Holds and Jello Molds, November 7

Sylvan Musings, November 8

Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 8

Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 9

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 9

Cover Lover Book Review, November 10

Artistic Nobody, November 10 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, November 11

Devoted To Hope, November 11

Mary Hake, November 11

Blossoms and Blessings, November 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 12

Lily’s Corner, November 13

Pause for Tales, November 13

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/akiMd/mail-order-lady-celebration-tour-giveaway

Loyalty’s Pursuit ~ A Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Loyalty’s Pursuit

Author: Shannon McNear

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: October 13, 2026

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

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

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

If you enjoy Christian Historical Romances, you should check out Shannon McNear’s Loyalty’s Pursuit.

I always enjoy a marriage-of-convenience story that gives both characters good reasons to guard their hearts. Bess Eaton needs a husband to protect her and her unborn child. Rob MacFarlane wants to avoid the heartache of loving and losing someone again. Their circumstances draw me in right away, especially with the Revolutionary War threatening any hope of a settled life.

After the Battle of Camden leaves Bess widowed and stranded, she faces choices no expectant mother should have to make. Returning to England offers little hope, while marrying a stranger means trusting him with everything she holds dear. I can understand why she accepts Rob’s offer, but I can also imagine the fear that comes with it. A wedding might provide her with protection, but it can’t build trust overnight.

Rob’s situation tugs at my heart, too. He has already buried his wife and son, and he has no desire to risk that kind of loss again. Yet he can’t turn his back on Bess. I appreciate that conflict between his wish to protect himself and his decision to help her. He offers his name out of duty, then faces the much harder question of whether he can open his heart.

The loyalist perspective adds another layer to their story. As the British cause begins to crumble, Rob must weigh his allegiance against the needs of the family he has taken on. War complicates every decision, and the shifting boundaries between enemy and neighbor leave little room for simple answers.

The faith thread especially appeals to me. Bess must learn whether she can trust Rob while also wrestling with questions about a God she has never fully known. Those struggles give her more to work through than an unexpected marriage. She needs hope for her future, but grief and uncertainty make trust a difficult step.

What draws me most to Bess and Rob’s story is the possibility of finding companionship when neither person expects it. Readers who enjoy Christian historical romance, marriages of convenience, and characters who wrestle with faith and loyalty will find plenty to interest them in this premise.

So if you are looking for a Christian Historical Romance, check out Loyalty’s Pursuit by Shannon McNear.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All my opinions are my own.

About the Author

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

More from Shannon

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

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

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

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

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

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 27

Holly’s Book Corner, October 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 28

Inkwell Inspirations, October 29

Betti Mace, October 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 30

Texas Book-aholic, October 31

For Him and My Family, November 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 3

Pause for Tales, November 4

Devoted To Hope, November 4

Jeanette’s Thoughts , November 5

Maureen’s Musings, November 6

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 7

Lyssa Loves Books, November 8

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

Cover Lover Book Review, November 9

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/AJy7n/loyaltys-pursuit-celebration-tour-giveaway

Moment in Time ~ A Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Moment in Time

Author: Cynthia L. Simmons

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Faith Redemption murder mystery, Murder intrigue

Release Date: August, 2026

Helen Moore was devastated when she learned her husband was missing and presumed dead in the Civil War. Fortunately, Uncle Henry invited her and her son, Aaron, to apprentice with his photography studio in Marietta, Ga, after the war. However, while planting herbs on his property, she unearthed a body no one could identify. Who put the man there? Was her uncle involved in his death? As she unravels the mystery, she finds unexpected companionship and learns every moment in life matters.

Click here to get your copy!

Moment in Time by Cynthia L. Simmons combines aspects of Christian Historical Fiction, Faith Redemption murder mystery, and Murder intrigue elements.

A fresh start at her uncle’s photography studio sounds like just what Helen Moore needs—finding a body while planting herbs? That certainly wasn’t part of the plan.

With her husband missing and presumed dead in the Civil War, Helen tries to build a future for herself and her son, Aaron. Uncle Henry’s invitation to join him in Marietta, Georgia, offers something she desperately needs: a place to begin again. There’s something about that uncertainty that draws me to Helen. She’s facing a life she never expected, with a child depending on her and no easy answers about what comes next.

Then a discovery on her uncle’s property turns that welcome refuge into a place of suspicion. Who is the man buried there, and how did he end up in Uncle Henry’s garden? The question that makes this mystery especially intriguing is whether the person helping Helen rebuild her life could be hiding something terrible. It gives her search for answers a deeply personal cost.

I’m particularly drawn to the photography studio setting. It offers an interesting backdrop for a story about loss and the value of the moments we’re given. And with unexpected companionship entering Helen’s life, there’s the promise of more than secrets and suspicion—there’s room for hope, too.

The combination of a puzzling discovery and a mother trying to find her way makes this an appealing premise. If you enjoy historical mysteries with family questions, emotional stakes, and the possibility of a new beginning, Helen’s story may be one to add to your reading list.

So if you want a Christian Historical Fiction, Faith Redemption murder mystery, and/or Murder intrigue story, check out Moment in Time by Cynthia L. Simmons.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but it in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Cynthia L Simmons and her husband have five grown children . She loves hot tea, orchids, and adores historical research. Her ragdoll cats often sit by her when she writes. Cynthia has written historical fiction, mysteries, Bible studies, homeschool curriculum, devotions, and hosts Heart of the Matter Radio/podcast, posts History Chats, and shares history stories to encourage women.

More from Cynthia

Secrets in the Darkroom: Welcome to the Moment in Time Blog Tour!

What if the key to solving a dangerous post-war mystery was hidden in a photographic negative?

Welcome, readers and bloggers! I am beyond thrilled to kick off the Celebrate Lit blog tour for my newest historical mystery, Moment in Time!

If you love rich historical detail, high-stakes suspense, hidden ciphers, and stories of unexpected hope rebuilding from the ashes, then step back with me to 1867 Marietta, Georgia.

About the Story

The Civil War may be over, but for the town of Marietta, the fight to rebuild has just begun.

When Helen, a former midwife, takes a job assisting her uncle in his photography studio, she expects darkroom chemicals and quiet portraits. Instead, she stumbles into a web of secret codes, hidden motives, and a threat creeping through the Reconstruction-era town.

Teamed up with Edward—a former Union surgeon carrying his own deep wounds—the two must decipher the clues before time runs out. In a world of wet-plate glass negatives and volatile chemicals, every single second matters… because someone in Marietta will do whatever it takes to keep the past buried.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 22

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 23

For Him and My Family, October 23

Simple Harvest Reads, October 24 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, October 25 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 26

Guild Master, October 27 (Author Interview)

Fiction Book Lover, October 28 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 29

The Bookish Ledger, October 30 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, October 31 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 1

Mary Hake, November 1

Books, Books, & More Books, November 2 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 3 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, November 4

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/VTxgD/moment-in-time-celebration-tour-giveaway

Embers of Endurance ~ A Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Embers of Endurance: Rising Above Chronic Pain and Illness

Author: Carolyn Dale Newell

Genre: Christian Devotional

Release Date: February 17, 2026

When chronic pain invaded Carolyn Dale Newell’s life, it didn’t just attack her body—it attacked her faith.

Through crippling sciatica, major spinal fusion surgery, and countless complications that left her in agony, Carolyn found herself in the darkest valley she’d ever known.

But in that darkness, she discovered something powerful: God’s grace truly is sufficient, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

In this raw, honest 30-day devotional, Carolyn walks alongside you through the unique spiritual battle of chronic illness. She shares the biblical truths that sustained her through the fire and will sustain you too.

Like embers rising from ashes, you can find beauty again.

Begin your journey from surviving to thriving in chronic pain now.

Click here to get your copy!

If you are looking for a Christian devotional, you need to check out Embers of Endurance: Rising Above Chronic Pain and Illness by Carolyn Dale Newell.

Have you ever gone through a season of life when you knew God was there, but struggled to feel His presence? When you’ve prayed, trusted, and waited, yet nothing seems to change? I think those can be some of the hardest moments in our walk with Christ. We know what Scripture tells us about God’s faithfulness, but holding on to those truths when life hurts isn’t always easy. That’s one of the reasons Carolyn Dale Newell’s 30-day devotional resonated with me.

Carolyn shares her personal journey through chronic pain, including debilitating sciatica, major spinal fusion surgery, and complications that challenged her physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What stood out to me wasn’t just everything she endured, but how honestly she shares the struggles with her faith. I appreciate that vulnerability because I think, as Christians, we sometimes feel like we’re supposed to have it all together, even when we’re barely holding on.

One of the things I appreciated most was that Carolyn doesn’t offer quick fixes or make suffering sound easier than it is. Instead, she shares the biblical truths that helped her through some incredibly difficult days. Sometimes, we don’t need someone telling us to have more faith. We need encouragement from someone who understands the struggle and can gently point us back to God’s Word.

The message of God’s sufficient grace especially spoke to my heart. One of the prayers I often return to is, “Not in my own strength, Lord, not in my own strength. Guide me. Direct me. Help me.” As I reflected on Carolyn’s story, I was reminded how often I want God to give me answers instead of simply trusting Him. I like knowing what’s ahead, and waiting on His timing isn’t always easy. But sometimes He doesn’t show us the whole picture. He gives us the strength to take the next step.

I also loved the imagery of embers rising from the ashes and the reminder that beauty can still be found amid suffering. Sometimes we’re so focused on wanting our circumstances to change that we overlook the quieter ways God is working—a timely Scripture, an encouraging conversation, or an unexpected moment of peace. Those little reminders of His presence can mean so much.

Although this devotional is written for those living with chronic pain, I believe its message reaches beyond physical suffering. We all face seasons when life feels overwhelming and trusting God is easier said than done. I appreciate that Carolyn reminds us we can bring our fears, frustrations, and questions to Him without pretending everything is fine.

What stayed with me most is that hope doesn’t always mean our circumstances will change. Sometimes, it means learning to recognize God’s presence right where we are. I think that’s an especially meaningful message for anyone facing ongoing struggles.

If you or someone you love is dealing with chronic pain, I would encourage you to consider this devotional. Even if chronic illness isn’t part of your story, there’s encouragement here for anyone walking through a difficult season.

More than anything, this devotional reminded me that I don’t have to have all the answers or face life’s challenges in my own strength. I need to keep turning to the One who does.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

So if you want a new Christian devotional, check out Embers of Endurance: Rising Above Chronic Pain and Illness by Carolyn Dale Newell. I definitely recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All my opinions are my own.

About the Author

Carolyn Dale Newell is a bestselling and award-winning Christian author, certified speaker, andcontributor to iBelieve.com. Despite living with chronic pain, she empowers women to break free from emotional strongholds and embrace lives transformed by faith. She resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with her husband and their two loyal Black Labrador Retrievers.

More from Carolyn

The Reason I Wrote Embers of Endurance

While discouragement had its tentacles wrapped tightly around me, it seemed easier for doubt to chisel away at my faith. Before I realized it, I was depressed, living without joy and peace. Life seemed hopeless because surgery changed my life forever.

Once God brought me out of the darkness, I began finding Scriptures I’d never given much attention. Job and the psalmist felt like I did. Elijah gave up and couldn’t resist the threat in his life. I was in good company, and so are you, my friend. I realized I walked a horrific journey of pain due to scoliosis to share my experience with you.

These devotions aren’t filled with one victory after another, but rather a slow steady pace to living like the conqueror God has made each of us to be.

I felt like my life was a pile of ashes, but then embers began to rise above that pile. Something new began to spark in my life. God gives us beauty for ashes, and I want to help you find beautiful again.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 21

Texas Book-aholic, October 21

Simple Harvest Reads, October 22 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, October 23 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, October 24 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 25

Fiction Book Lover, October 26 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, October 27 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, October 28 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 29

Mary Hake, October 29

For the Love of Literature, October 30 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 31 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, November 1 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 2

Stories By Gina, November 3 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/srRQl/embers-of-endurance-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Grief Shared ~ A Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: My Grief Shared: A Tiny Book of Essays on Death, Loss    . . . and Life

Author: Ladonna Shanks

Genre: Memoir

Release Date: June 23, 2026

Do you find yourself overcome while living in the darkness of loss? Do you wonder if it will ever end . . . or if you will even survive?

In My Grief Shared: A Tiny Book of Essays on Death, Loss . . . and Life, Ladonna Shanks shares a message of hope while chronicling her persornal experience with grief. The essays, written in the midst of her grief journey, are bare, raw, open, and honest. Woven throughout these insightful anecdotes, however, is the fact that death is not the sole source of loss and ensuing grief, making this a relatable read for all. The book can minister to anyone who deals with grief and loss.

A light at the end of the tunnel exists. There is hope.

Click here to get your copy!

My Grief Shared: A Tiny Book of Essays on Death, Loss    . . . and Life by Ladonna Shanks is a memoir.

Grief can be such a lonely journey. When we lose someone or something important to us, it can be hard to imagine a time when the pain won’t feel quite so heavy. Sometimes, we need someone to remind us that what we’re feeling is okay, that we’re not alone, and that there is still hope even when life feels dark. That’s the message I took away from My Grief Shared: A Tiny Book of Essays on Death, Loss . . . and Life by Ladonna Shanks.

What makes this book special is the honesty with which Ladonna shares her story. Written while she was walking through her own grief, her words feel raw, personal, and real. She doesn’t try to make grief sound neat or simple. Instead, she gives readers a glimpse into the difficult emotions that come with loss, making it easier to connect with her experiences and reflect on our own.

One thing I especially appreciate is that this book recognizes grief isn’t just about death. We can grieve relationships, changes in our lives, and the loss of things we once held dear. Those experiences may look different from person to person, but the hurt is still real. I think that’s an important reminder because grief doesn’t always look the way we expect, and sometimes we don’t even realize we’re grieving until we take the time to acknowledge what we’ve lost.

I also love that the heart of this book is hope. When you’re in the middle of grief, it can be difficult to believe that things will ever get better. The pain can feel endless, and even ordinary days can be a struggle. But healing doesn’t mean forgetting, and it doesn’t mean we have to stop missing the people or things we’ve lost. It means learning to carry that loss as we slowly find our way forward.

As someone who values faith, I find comfort in the reminder that we don’t have to face those difficult seasons alone. God doesn’t ask us to pretend we’re okay when we’re hurting. We can bring Him our sadness, our questions, and even the moments when we don’t have the words to pray. Psalm 34:18 tells us that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted. What a beautiful reminder that even when we feel surrounded by darkness, we are not beyond His comfort and care.

My Grief Shared is a small book with a message that may mean a great deal to someone who is struggling. Ladonna’s willingness to share her experiences offers readers an opportunity to feel understood and reminded that grief is a journey, not something we get over. If you’re dealing with loss yourself or know someone who is, this collection of essays may offer a little comfort and encouragement when it’s needed most.

My final thoughts: I appreciate the honesty and hope behind this book. Grief is never easy, and everyone’s journey looks different, but there’s something comforting about knowing we’re not the only ones trying to find our way through the darkness. Sometimes, we need that reminder that it’s okay to hurt, it’s okay to take our time, and it’s okay to hope for brighter days ahead.

Even when we can’t see the light just yet, that doesn’t mean it’s not there. There is hope, even in the midst of grief.

So if you enjoy memoirs, check out My Grief Shared: A Tiny Book of Essays on Death, Loss    . . . and Life by Ladonna Shanks.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Octogenarian Ladonna Shanks has published two other books of personal essays: Tidbits and Pearls: A Book of Essays on Living Everyday Life with God, A Cascade Award finalist, and Sermons from a Soapbox. My Grief Shared was also a finalist in the Cascade Awards Contest. She strives in all she does to honor God and encourage others.

More from Ladonna

I did not plan on writing another book after publishing Sermons From a Soapbox. However, when my partner passed away three years ago, I began writing as a means of comfort and solace. I tossed my essays into a drawer and, after two and a half years, realized I had made it through the dark tunnel of grief back into the “land of the living.”

Death is not the sole source of grief and loss. My heart’s desire is to share with others that “You are not alone,” and “If God did it for me, He can do it for you.”

It’s a “tiny” book, only 10,000 words, but it is “mighty.”

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 15

Simple Harvest Reads, October 16 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, October 17 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, October 18 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 19

Fiction Book Lover, October 20 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, October 21 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 21

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, October 22 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 23

Books, Books, & More Books, October 24 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 25 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, October 26 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 27

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, October 28 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, October 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Ladonna is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card, a copy of my book, and a variety set of 6 handmade floral photo note cards, (including birthday, sympathy, and thank you)!!

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

https://gleam.io/98wTW/my-grief-shared-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Ties That Bind ~ A Review & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Ties That Bind

Author: Jane Bayly Vaughan

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: April 14, 2026

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

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

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

Inspired by real people and events.

Click here to get your copy!

If you enjoy Historical Fiction, you should check out The Ties That Bind by Jane Bayly Vaughan.

How do you find the strength to keep going when it feels like everything you love is slipping away? That’s the question at the heart of this story, and it’s what makes Grace Bayly’s journey sound so compelling to me.

Set in 1830s Cornwall, this story introduces us to Grace Bayly, whose world is upended by circumstances that threaten her family’s very survival. Her father and half of her large family are already an ocean away, while her mother and remaining siblings are preparing to follow. What should be the beginning of a new chapter instead becomes a time of uncertainty, hardship, and heartbreaking loss. With their future growing increasingly uncertain, Grace must find a way to hold her family together when everything seems to be working against them.

What strikes me most about Grace’s situation is the tremendous weight she carries. How do you stay strong for the people you love when you’re struggling with your own grief? How do you keep hoping for a better tomorrow when each new challenge makes that hope feel a little more distant? These are the kinds of struggles that make a character’s journey feel real, and I can imagine Grace’s determination and sacrifices making this an emotional read.

I especially appreciate stories that show courage in its many forms. Sometimes courage means standing up and fighting back, but other times it means getting out of bed, facing another difficult day, and continuing to care for the people who depend on you. Grace’s story seems to embody that quieter, often overlooked kind of strength. Her love for her family becomes the reason she keeps pushing forward, even as grief threatens to overwhelm her.

The fact that real people and events inspire this story makes it even more intriguing to me. There’s something powerful about reading a story rooted in real lives and remembering that the hardships, sacrifices, and difficult choices faced by these characters reflect experiences people actually lived through. It makes Grace’s struggle feel all the more meaningful.

I also love that this story explores the enduring bonds of family. Families don’t always have an easy road, and sometimes circumstances force people to make heartbreaking sacrifices. Yet love can give us a reason to keep going when we might otherwise feel like giving up. I’m curious to see how Grace navigates the losses she faces and whether she can find the strength to protect the people who mean so much to her.

If you enjoy historical fiction filled with heartfelt family relationships, emotional challenges, and a strong heroine fighting for the people she loves, this story deserves a place on your reading list. Grace Bayly’s journey sounds like a moving reminder that even in our darkest moments, love can give us the courage to face another day.

Sometimes the most powerful stories aren’t about having an easy path or a perfect ending. They’re about discovering just how much strength we have when the people we love are counting on us. And that is what makes Grace’s story one I would be interested in exploring.

So if you are looking for Historical Fiction, check out he Ties That Bind by Jane Bayly Vaughan.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All my opinions are my own.

About the Author

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

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

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

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

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

More from Jane

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

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

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

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

Blogs Stops

Books Less Travelled, October 20

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , October 21

Simple Harvest Reads, October 22 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 23

Texas Book-aholic, October 24

Blossoms and Blessings, October 25 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, October 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 27

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 28

Stories By Gina, October 29 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Pilgrim, October 29

Avid Reader Nurse, October 30

Cover Lover Book Review, October 31

Holly’s Book Corner, November 1

Pause for Tales, November 2

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/94vrw/the-ties-that-bind-celebration-tour-giveaway