Can't Wait for... the New Year! See you January 8th! (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks


Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

We're on break for Christmas and New Year's in the US. See you on January 8th!

Merry Christmas!


Merry Christmas! It's my favorite time and holiday of the year! I love that we gather close with family as we give and receive gifts in celebration of Jesus Christ's birth. I wish you joy in your own celebrations or in whatever you celebrate if it's not Christmas!

Blessings to you all,

Can't Wait for... the New Year! See you January 8th! (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks


Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

We're on break for Christmas and New Year's in the US. See you on January 8th!

Can't Wait for... The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #fantasy #TheRagpickerKing #CassandraClare #TheChroniclesofCastellane


Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

I loved this author's Infernal Devices series. I'm behind in reading this new series from her, but she is really good at all the intricate details of her storybook worlds and the dimensions of her characters, so I know I'll enjoy this new series as well. Book two is my pick this week...

The Ragpicker King
(The Chronicles of Castellane #2)
By Cassandra Clare
Adult Romantic Fantasy
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 576 Pages
March 4, 2025 by Del Rey

Summary

In the epic follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Sword Catcher, praised by George R. R. Martin as “everything I look for in fantasy,” Lin and Kel must chart a perilous course between love and lies.

Kel Saren, body double to Conor, crown prince of the dazzling city of Castellane, is caught between two worlds. In order to protect his beloved prince, Kel must find the culprits responsible for a massacre at the royal palace—and the only clues are held by the Ragpicker King, the notorious criminal who rules Castellane’s underworld. The trail Kel follows leads back to the Hill, where among decadent nobles and glittering parties a dark conspiracy to destroy the royal family has taken hold—a conspiracy headed up by the monstrous Artal Gremont, the man engaged to marry the woman Kel adores.

Meanwhile, Lin Caster must face the aftermath of the greatest risk she’s ever taken. To save the life of a dying friend, Lin has falsely claimed to be the Goddess Reborn, the legendary heroine destined to save her people. Now the terrifying—but strangely magnetic—leader of her people has arrived to test her powers. The price of failure is exile, and only through her alliance with the Ragpicker King can she continue to access the magic that may save her.

Then Prince Conor reappears in her life, demanding that she use her healing powers to cure the madness of his father, the King. Lin soon realizes the King is gripped by an ancient and terrible magic, one whose lure she cannot deny any more than she can deny her growing passion for Conor.

As the simmering tensions in Castellane reach a fever pitch, Lin and Kel must decide who to trust when any false move means death—or worse.

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

Step back into this fantasy world... Memoria by J. J. Fischer (Spotlight) #newbooks #bookx #fantasy #christfic #memoria #jjfischer #thenightingaletrilogy #cleanreads @enclavebooks @celebrate_lit


Welcome to my tour stop for book three of this fantasy series! Read on below...

Memoria
(The Nightingale Trilogy #3)
By J. J. Fischer
Christian Fantasy
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 384 Pages
December 10, 2024 by Enclave Publishing

Summary

Would you save a life if you knew it would destroy another?

In the deeply divided world of Caldera, nothing is as it seems. Taken captive by a faceless enemy, Sephone Winter fights to reclaim her soul as her gift pirals out of control and the deadly poison coursing through her veins begins to exact its terrible vengeance.

Meanwhile, Dorian and Cass are forced into an uneasy alliance in order to find the woman they both love . . . a woman who has all but vanished from the face of the earth, along with the Reliquary. Finding her becomes impossible as the identity of their greatest adversary continues to elude them.

When Caldera’s past catches up with the trio’s future, Sephone, Dorian, and Cass are forced to make decisions that threaten everything and everyone they care about. Each of them is offered a chance to sacrifice their own happiness for the sake of the other—but will they take it? And what will it cost them in the end?

(Affiliate links included.)

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to my reviews.)

About the Author

J.J. Fischer’s writing dream began with the anthology of zoo animals shepainstakingly wrote and illustrated at age five. Jasmine began writing her first proper novel at age fourteen, which eventually became her debut fantasy series, The Darcentaria Duology, which was published in 2021. She is a qualified psychologist with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in clinical psychology. When Jasmine isn’t killing defenseless house plants, she enjoys devouring books, dabbling in floristry, playing the piano, and wishing it rained more often. Jasmine is married to David, and together they make their home a couple of hours north of Sydney, Australia.

More from the Author

Have you ever felt God’s comfort in the midst of a horrific trial?

In 2021, midway through writing Memoria (Book 3 of The Nightingale Trilogy), my husband Dave and I were blindsided by his discovery of several sizable lumps on his neck. Those lumps turned out to be lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes), requiring immediate treatment.

2021 had already been a shocking year for us (and everyone else!). I’d lost both my remaining grandparents in the space of a few months. We were in the middle of a worldwide pandemic and one of the harshest lockdowns my state of New South Wales (Australia) had yet seen—which would necessitate going into further isolation while Dave underwent chemotherapy. And while I’d just received a diagnosis for my chronic illness, my recurring migraines (sometimes multiple a week) made it difficult for me to reliably drive Dave to and from his chemotherapy sessions.

But in one of the hardest times of our lives thus far, God provided. Dave made it through his chemo and has been in remission for some time now (though we’re still dealing with the consequences of the treatment in regards to fertility). I was able to drive him to all but two of his chemo sessions, and family and friends supported us in incredible ways. I’ve now received treatment for my chronic illness, which has helped me significantly and allowed me to take on more work as a freelance editor.

Eventually, I got back to Memoria, and wrote the second half of the story. And now, in hindsight, I can see the importance of God’s timing. Because Memoria is a story about pain—how we respond to it, what we do with it, and how it can poison our soul, if we let it. And ultimately, this book points to Jesus, the only one who can handle that pain, that poison, without succumbing Himself.

Are you struggling with a well of pain and suffering (and/or sin) in your own life? Perhaps not just things that you’ve done, but things that have been done to you? Are you struggling to keep your head above the raging waters, feeling swamped and pummeled by all God’s waves and breakers (Psalm 42:7)?

For starters, I want you to know that God keeps track of all your sorrows, every tear you cry (Psalm 56:8). You might feel invisible to the world, but you are not invisible to God. He knows everything about you, even the things you’ve never shared with anyone before. Even the pain you might not yourself have acknowledged.

The second piece of encouragement I want to share is that God promises to one day wipe all those tears from your eyes (Revelation 21:4). He won’t let those tears fall endlessly into eternity, ruining the perfect future He has in store for you. He will comfort you. He will bring you into his house, rejoicing over you. He can handle your pain (even the poison) without succumbing. Even your death is not the end of the story, because death was not the end of His.

I wrote The Nightingale Trilogy partly to deal with the pain of things in my own life. But as this series draws to a close, I hope it is a blessing to you in whatever season you’re going through right now (or will go through in future). I hope it reminds you of Eternity, and that you are greatly loved by the God who died to reclaim your soul.

God bless,
J. J. Fischer

Tour Schedule

A Reader’s Brain, December 14 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, December 15 (Guest Review from Mindy)

The Lofty Pages, December 16

Back Porch Reads, December 17 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, December 17

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 18 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 19


Fiction Book Lover, December 21 (Author Interview)




Guild Master, December 24 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, December 25 (Spotlight)


Inspired by Fiction, December 27

Tour-Wide Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, J.J. is giving away the grand prize of a special edition hardcover copy of the book, a signed bookplate, and character art!!

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


Have you read any of the books in this series? Do you read fantasy or Christian fantasy?

Check out a new romantic fantasy with vampires... A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya (Spotlight) #newbooks #bookx #yalit #yabooks #AngelaMontoya #TBRBeyondTours #ACruelThirst @tbrbeyondtours


Welcome to my tour stop! Read on about this new romantic fantasy with vampires below...

A Cruel Thirst
By Angela Montoya
YA Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 432 Pages
December 17, 2024 by Joy Revolution

Summary

A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together–against their better judgment—to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.

Carolina Fuentes has always wanted to join her family in hunting down the bloodthirsty monsters that plague her pueblo. But these days, her father wants her out of town with a husband of his choosing. That’s not happening. Carolina plans to show everyone that she’d make a better vampire slayer than wife. But when she runs into a sediento that is not only handsome but kind, she questions everything.

Lalo Villalobos doesn’t act on impulses. As the eldest of two, his duties were to carry on the family business, marry, and have children. But then he is turned into a sediento and must flee the city, taking lives as he goes north, where he believes the first vampire was made. Surely, the pueblo there will have the answers to reverse this curse or end sedientos altogether. Another unexpected turn? Lalo runs right into a beautiful young woman who’d gladly stake him.

Fortunately, mostly for him, they share a common enemy. They can stop these evil beasts. Together. And if along the way, Lalo and Fernanda discover what it is to truly live and love, then they’ll have won anyway.


About the Author


Angela Montoya lives in Northern California with her family. She is the granddaughter of the celebrated activist and poet laureate Jose Montoya. When she isn’t with her partner, two children, goats, chickens, and dogs, you can find Angela co-hosting the podcast, Of the Publishing Persuasion. Sinner’s Isle was her debut novel.


Tour Schedule

Follow the tour here.


What other books with vampires have you read? What appeals to you about this one?

A cozy mystery set in Regency England... Murder in Season by Mary Winters (Spotlight) #newbooks #bookx #histfic #historicalfiction #cozymystery #romancebooks #murderinseason #marywinters #aladyoflettersmystery #austenprosepr @marywintersauthor @severnhouseimprint @austenprose


Welcome to my tour stop! Read on to find out more about this cozy mystery set in Regency England...

Murder in Season
(A Lady of Letters Mysteries #3)
By Mary Winters
Historical Cozy Mystery, Romance
Hardcover & eBook, 240 Pages
December 3, 2024 by Severn House 

Summary

Join Countess turned advice columnist Amelia Amesbury as she tries to juggle a new Season and a new murder in this charmingly deadly historical mystery.

"A beautiful debutante, a wealthy widow, and a dead would-be baron. What could be more exciting?"

Countess by day, secret advice columnist by night, Amelia Amesbury has life happily balanced on a quill's edge . . . until her sister Margaret shows up in London under a blanket of scandal and Amelia is catapulted out of mourning and into the ton's unforgiving Season.

However Madge's Season debut is marred by a rather inconvenient death at the dining table as the infamous Mr Radcliffe takes ill and is later confirmed dead by poisoning. With Madge being the last person to have cross words with the soon-to-be baron, the ton's gossip mill - and the police - are looking to pin the murder on her.

Adding to the ton's troubles is a jewellery thief targeting the most lavish of Society's houses. Is the murderer and the thief one in the same? It falls to Amelia once again to uncover the secrets buried deep within the pages before her sister goes down for the crimes.

Perfect for fans of witty historical mystery and Regency romances with a similar feel to Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey

(Affiliate links included.)


About the Author


Mary Winters is the author of the Lady of Letters historical mystery series, two cozy mystery series, and several short stories. A longtime reader of historical fiction, Mary set her latest work in Victorian England after being inspired by a trip to London. Since then, she's been busily planning her next mystery - and another trip!


Have you read any other books by this author? Have you read any other Regency cozy mysteries?

Can't Wait for... Uneasy Street by Becky Wade (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #mustread #romancebooks #cleanreads #cleanromance #uneasystreet #beckywade @beckywadewriter


Can't-Wait Wednesday  is a weekly meme hosted here to spotlight the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. Find out more here.

I have no clue what happened with my post last week. I'll blame it on the nerve painkillers I'm still on. So sorry guys!

I've been a fan of this author from her first release years ago. She's one of my favorites and one whose books I auto buy. Her upcoming release is my pick this week...

Uneasy Street
(A Sons of Scandal Romance #3)
By Becky Wade
Contemporary Romance, Clean and Wholesome
Audiobook, Paperback & eBook,  Pages
February 14, 2025

Summary

Once upon a time Max Cirillo and Sloane Madison were close friends and business partners. But when their business relationship imploded, so did the friendship.

Now, four years later, Max is a rich CEO. Sloane’s a not-so-rich etiquette expert who returns to Maine to serve as her niece’s temporary guardian and help the girl search for her birth father. Sloane and her niece move into a darling garage apartment but Sloane’s joy in their accommodations soon turns to horror when she realizes their apartment belongs to Max. Thanks to an unbreakable lease, she’s stuck living right next door to him.

Max pulled strings to bring Sloane into his orbit because he needs closure on what went wrong between them. Quickly, though, his scheming comes back to bite him. The world might view him as a cold-hearted rake, but this one woman has dangerous power over his emotions.

They’ll have no choice but to confront their history—and the undeniable spark between them—while living side by side on uneasy street.

Discover witty humor, rich emotion, banter, and charm within the pages of this sweet enemies-to-lovers romance!

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

Check out this new WWI historical fiction... The Liberty Scarf by Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski & Rachel McMillan (Spotlight) #thelibertyscarf #jnellciesielski #rachelmcmillan #aimiekrunyan #historicalfiction #historicalromance #austenprosepr #newbooks #bookx @austenprose

The Liberty Scarf:
A Story of Three Women, One War, and a Scarf That Binds Them Together
By Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski & Rachel McMillan
Historical Fiction, Romance, Inspirational
Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 368 Pages
November 19, 2024 by Harper Muse

Summary

From acclaimed authors Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan comes an evocative, three-part novel about a thread of connection during World War I--a single scarf that links three extraordinary women, each battling societal expectations, enduring the devastations of war, and striving for personal growth amidst the chaos. The Liberty Scarf is a testament to the resilience of women and the enduring power of hope and unity in the harshest of times.

In the midst of a seemingly endless war, a scarf connects three women in the cold winter of 1917 . . .

London: As an ambitious scarf maker, Iris Braxton spends her days surrounded by color and luxury not often seen during the dark days of war that were promised to be over by Christmas. That promise has come and gone for three years with still no end in sight, and her days continue in a monotony of rations and threads while she spins a dream of becoming Liberty's first female pattern designer. She hasn't the time or interest in rakish soldiers, but the temporarily-on-leave Captain Rex Conrad is persistent--and before long his charm wins her over. But war is cruel, and, all too soon, Conrad leaves once more for the Front, but not before vowing to meet again in Strasbourg, France, the most magical of Christmas cities. Iris begins stitching small messages into each of the scarves she makes in hopes that one will find a way into Rex's hands to let him know she's thinking of him. And when she receives word that he's wounded in Strasbourg, she rushes to his side. Along the way, she passes a woman wearing one of her scarves . . .

Maine: Geneviève Tremblay, a French-Canadian immigrant, is a telephone operator living in Lewiston, Maine. Her beau is a member of a prominent family who has helped to Americanize her in a community often unfriendly to Canadians. As part of this effort, she enlists in the US Army Signal Corps to serve as a bi-lingual operator. Along the way, she meets a French officer who makes her question whether losing her identity is too heavy a price for acceptance.

Belgium: Clara Janssens, a Flemish Nurse, and Roman Allaire, an Alsatian violinist, connect in a Brussels palace-turned-hospital far beyond their routine provincial and countryside lives--and the expectations in those towns. Their love of music creates a spark between them, but the destruction of battle and the transient nature of their relationship threatens the bond they have built. Still, the appearance of a kind stranger and the unexpected gift of a treasured scarf bind them long beyond their stolen moments and offer them a future brighter than they could have even hoped.

The Liberty Scarf is more than a piece of fabric--it's a symbol of hope, resilience, and unity in the face of war, binding these three women together in an indelible bond. Experience their stories of love, sacrifice, and survival in this captivating novel from Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan.

(Affiliate links included.)

About the Authors

Bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski has a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories while weaving fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. She is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers and lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com.

Rachel McMillan is the author of The London Restoration, The Mozart Code, the Herringford and Watts mysteries, the Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries, and the Three Quarter Time series of contemporary Viennese romances. She is also the author of Dream, Plan, Go: A Travel Guide to Inspire Independent Adventure. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada. Visit her online at rachelmcmillan.net.

Internationally bestselling author Aimie K. Runyan writes to celebrate unsung heroines. She has written six historical novels (and counting!) and is delving into the exciting world of contemporary women's fiction. She has been a finalist for the Colorado Book Award three times, a nominee for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' 'Writer of the Year,' and a Historical Novel Society's Editors' Choice selection. Aimie is active as a speaker and educator in the writing community in Colorado and beyond. She lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her wonderful husband, two adorable (usually) children, two very sweet cats, and a pet dragon. Visit her online at aimiekrunyan.com.


Have you read books by any of these authors previously? I read books from two of them. What appeals to you about this book?

Perfect for Regency readers... The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen (Spotlight) #newbooks #bookx #mustread #histfic #theseasidehomecoming #julieklassen #austenprosepr @Julie_Klassen @bethany_house @austenprose


Welcome! I love this series so much and will be sharing my review of this third book soon. For those of you new to the series, it's definitely one to pick up if you're a Regency fan. Find out more below...

The Seaside Homecoming
(On Devonshire Shores #3)
By Julie Klassen
Christian Historical Fiction, Romance
Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 400 Pages
December 3, 2024 by Bethany House Publishers

Summary

A surprise homecoming tests the bonds of sisterhood as a hidden past comes to light . . .

Disgraced eldest sister Claire Summers has been living in exile as companion to a stern great-aunt in Scotland. About to become homeless and longing to be reconciled with her estranged family, Claire answers an advertisement from someone looking for a "respectable female partner" in a Sidmouth boarding house. Is it a sign or another reckless mistake? When she meets the handsome, secretive proprietor, she wonders what he's hiding and if he's any more trustworthy than the nobleman who betrayed her years ago. Even as she is drawn to him, she fears he will reject her when he discovers her genteel façade hides a less-than-respectable past.

Meanwhile, the Summers family learn their great-aunt has died and Claire has disappeared without a word. The sisters rally together to find their lost sibling, but will their unexpected reunion heal old wounds and rekindle their bonds . . . or widen the divide?

Return to the picturesque Devonshire coast as the Summers sisters navigate romance, second chances, and the enduring strength of sisterhood in the face of adversity.

(Affiliate links included.)


Other Books in the Series

(Linked to my 5-star review and an Amazon affiliate link.)

About the Author


Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing's Best Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full-time. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit JulieKlassen.com.


Are you a fan of this author and/or series? Is it a series you'd like to read if you haven't already? When was the last time you saw the ocean?

Check out this romantic suspense... Hunted on the Trail by Dana Mentink (Spotlight & #Giveaway) #newbooks #bookx #romancebooks #suspense #christfic @celebrate_lit @LoveInspiredBks


Welcome! Check out this new romantic suspense and enter the tour giveaway below...

Hunted on the Trail
(Security Hounds Investigations #3)
By Dana Mentink
Inspirational Contemporary Suspense
Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 208 Pages
December 24, 2024 by Love Inspired Suspense

Summary

A killer out for vengeance…

but this bloodhound has his scent.

Ambushed by sudden gunfire, former cop Stephanie Wolfe realizes the tracking competition she entered with her bloodhound is a setup. An escaped fugitive has lured her into the remote wilderness to exact his deadly revenge. And her ex-boyfriend, bounty hunter Vance Silverton, has fallen into the fatal trap, too. Now cut off from civilization with only minimal supplies and their two dogs, the pair must depend on each other to survive. But with a treacherous storm approaching, it’s not only a cold-blooded killer they’ll have to escape.

(Affiliate links included.)

About the Author


Dana Mentink is a USA TODAY and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author. She’s written more than forty mystery and suspense novels for Love Inspired Suspense, and Poisoned Pen Press. Her debut novel with Revell releases in the summer of 2025. She is honored to have received two ACFW Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion Award, and a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award.

More from the Author

My life has gone to the dogs! No joke! While readers enjoy the Wolfe family humans, I hear on the regular that their favorite characters are the bloodhounds. In book #1, Wally was just an irrepressible disaster, and he continues his naughty ways throughout the series. In book #2, we met Pinkerton who is a model canine, unless squirrels enter the picture. And now, you’ll get to know Chloe who is fabulous, but I will venture to say she is going to be outshined by her mutt companion Brutus (you’ll have to read the book to discover his real name and identity!) As this book launches, I’m deep into writing the last two and there are a couple more unpredictable hounds you have yet to meet. Such fun! Thanks for galloping along with me on this series!

Tour Schedule


She Lives to Read, December 3


Wishful Endings, December 5

An Author’s Take, December 5

Betti Mace, December 6


Texas Book-aholic, December 7

Devoted To Hope, December 7


Stories By Gina, December 8



The Avid Reader, December 10


Blogging With Carol, December 11


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

Kyliegh Reads, December 12




Labor Not in Vain, December 14


Pause for Tales, December 15



Tour-Wide Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a $75 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.


Are you a fan of this author or romantic suspense? Will you be reading this one?

Read an excerpt from this Hobbit retelling... An Unexpected Journey by Ann Elizabeth Fryer (Excerpt & #Giveaway) #newbooks #bookx #histfic #historicalromance #romancebooks @justreadtours

An Unexpected Journey JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to my tour stop with JustRead Publicity Tours!
Read an excerpt and enter the giveaway below...

An Unexpected Journey
An Unexpected Journey:
A Regency Hobbit Retelling
By Ann Elizabeth Fryer
Regency Romance, Hobbit Retelling
Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 300 Pages
November 28, 2024

Summary

A heritage neither of them desires, a wrong to right. A chance to end a family curse... 

When strangers tumble through the doors of once resplendent Grandview Estate, Lady Laura Tamlow is pulled into a rather unexpected journey, away from the village she's never left along with a gentleman unlike any she's ever known. 

Jonathan Canfield is out of options. And he'd do anything to restore his family fortunes in order to keep them from poverty, including roping Lady Tamlow into playing the part of thief. They must reclaim both his and her family jewels that were stolen the night of the fated Grand Masquerade of 1770, where both the Canfields and the Tamlows fell far from society's good graces. If only his thief weren't so lovely, he'd be able to focus on the mission without distraction. 

But there's a bigger problem at hand. The jewels reside at Lombard Park under the eye of Lord Herrington, a greedy dragon of a man who knows he's about to die. Yet he has bigger claims than they ever imagined and attempts to steal something far more valuable than family jewels. With deception afoot, will Jonathan ever see Lady Tamlow again?

**The author is offering free swag to the first 20 people who purchase a paperback/hardcover book. Proof of purchase required.** 

Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Excerpt

May 9, 1815

Hillshire, England

I poured a steaming cup of perfection and nestled before a quiet fire in my cozy parlor at
Grandview Estate. This small miracle of a room had long been my refuge in this large and rather
emptied home—if one could call it such.

A home ought to have a family within, not merely their leavings. My father’s spyglass remained
on the old sea chest. Mother’s thin, brown shawl was carelessly slung over the chair where she’d
left it. My brother’s frightful collection of pinned beetles and butterflies leaned against the
bookcase, never to creep or flit about the earth again. Was I not pinned in place like them?

Alas, Father had been long deceased, I scarcely remembered him. Mother and Colin were away
seeking fortune, and I was very much alone for months on end. Being closed in this cheerful
space made me feel less so. The rose pattern on the walls, the snapping fire, and the pile of books
at my disposal gave me a sense of being wrapped in my grandmother’s arms. God rest her soul.

About the Author

Ann Elizabeth Fryer

Ann Elizabeth Fryer loves nothing more than using story and romance to relay the depths and graciousness of a Father who holds us securely in the palms of His hands. Daydreaming her surroundings from a young age, she's lived in historic homes most of her life and regularly participates in backyard archaeology. When she's not writing historical projects, her contemporary novels show a flavor of her forever-passion for all things old. Ann, her husband, and three children make their home in small-town Illinois where they can hear church bells keep time and tradition.

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

Tour Schedule

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

Tour-Wide Giveaway

An Unexpected Journey JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

(1) winner will receive a hardcover copy of An Unexpected Journey, a tote bag, swag, and a $10 Amazon gift card!

(1) additional winner will receive an ebook copy of An Unexpected Journey!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight December 2, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 9, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

JustRead Publicity Tours

Are you a fan of Tolkien and hobbits? What appeals to you from the excerpt or book synopsis?

An adorable board book for Austen fans... Persuasion: A BabyLit® Colors Primer by Jennifer Adams & Alison Oliver (Review & Giveaway) @BabyLitJen #alisonoliver @babylitbooks @Austenprose #persuasionbabylit #jenniferadams #babylit #boardbooks #childrensbooks #janeausten #holidaygifts #austenprosepr


I'm reviewing this adorable board book today. Head over to Instagram to enter a giveaway for all four board books in the series. They're perfect for Austen fans! Read my review below...

Persuasion:
A BabyLit® Colors Primer
By Jennifer Adams
Illustrated by Alison Oliver
Children's Book
Board Book, 22 Pages
July 30, 2024 by BabyLit®

Summary

The million-copy selling Classic BabyLit® series now has a new title to add to your toddler’s bookshelf.

BabyLit ® is a fashionable way to introduce your toddler to the world of classic literature. With clever, simple text by Jennifer Adams, paired with stylish design and illustrations by Allison Oliver, these books are a must for every savvy parent’s nursery library.

Persuasion: A Colors Primer exposes little ones to the world of Jane Austen through words and artwork that offer an awareness of the Regency era and the preferred color palette of the time period: beige, olive, navy, ivory, chestnut, lavender, umber, grey, scarlet, and periwinkle.

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My Review

PERSUASION: A BabyLit ® Colors Primer was an adorable board book perfect for Austen fans who want to introduce their kids to her storybook world, in this case, Persuasion. The illustrations are lovely and full of color. The book is short and succinct with a page of text that has two words and an illustrated page for reference. This book is also humorous in how it applies the colors and illustrations, such as a "chestnut horse" to describe a horse that is hooked up to a carriage. It will definitely expand a child's vocabulary with more complex color names. My only complaint would be that it may not be the most applicable to its audience. However, for this Austen lover it was a fun and enjoyable read!

Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Austenprose PR, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author & Illustrator

Jennifer Adams is the author of more than 60 books for children. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and Parents magazine. Jennifer has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Salt Lake City, where she works weekends as a bookseller at The King's English Bookshop. Visit her website at jennifer-adams.com.

Alison Oliver is the author-illustrator of Moon and Sun, and the illustrator of 32 BabyLit board books. Alison lives in New York City, where she runs a creative studio called Sugar that focuses on design and illustration.

Other Books in the Series


Head over to my post on Instagram for the giveaway.


Are you an Austen fan? Is this a book you'd enjoy or enjoy reading with your child or grandchild?