An Appalachian twist of Pride and Prejudice... The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof DeWitt (Excerpt & #Giveaway) #TheHeartofBennetHollow #JoanneBischofDeWitt #PrideandPrejudice #retelling #historicalromance #romancebooks #christfic #newbooks #bookx @Crazy4Fiction @justreadtours

Welcome to this blitz hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! Find an excerpt and giveaway below...

The Heart of Bennet Hollow

By Joanne Bischof DeWitt

Christian Historical Romance, Retelling

Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 368 Pages

October 7, 2025 by Tyndale Fiction

Summary

An Appalachian farmer’s daughter and a wealthy businessman find a surprising love but must reckon with what divides them in this retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by the award-winning author of The Lady and the Lionheart. 

New River, Virginia. 1904. Lizbeth Bennet longs to preserve her family’s farm, securing a future for her and her sisters, a difficult task in their Appalachian coal mining town. Money is scarce, and Lizbeth is determined to find a way without giving up treasured pieces of her family’s legacy. But when the mine is put up for sale, it’s clear change is approaching. A contingent of coal barons descends on the town to investigate whether the mine is worth their investment, among them a young man rumored to be a very rich, eligible bachelor. 

William Drake arrives focused on business and keeping his distance from the townspeople, especially those living on land entangled with the mine, including a farmer by the name of Bennet. As William digs through legal issues, his struggle to weigh the potential financial gain against what is right for the community grows more complicated when he meets one of the Bennet daughters. 

Despite an awkward first meeting, Lizbeth and William continue to cross paths, and soon Lizbeth questions her first impression of the man she believed to be proud and indifferent. But just as their friendship begins to evolve, a revelation shakes Lizbeth’s tenuous trust, and she learns all may not be as it seems. To determine what is true, and step toward a love she’s barely dared dream of, Lizbeth must confront her own prejudices . . . and decide whether the future she’s always imagined is the one her heart truly wants most after all. 

An inspirational historical romance retelling of Pride and Prejudice for fans of Julie Klassen, Sally Britton, and Sarah E. Ladd. A clever, clean love story. Southern historical fiction in the vein of Michelle Shocklee and Pepper Basham. Includes discussion questions for book clubs. 

Also Available:

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Tyndale Fiction | Amazon | B&N | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

Excerpt

Lizbeth Bennet clutched the handle of the wicker basket with hope. The same hope with which she’d gathered each and every wildflower within. Slipping inside the farmhouse, she traded the brightness of day for the dim light of Ma’s kitchen—the very heartbeat of Bennet Hollow.

“Did you spot the new train car, by chance?” Jayne asked from the table, her voice as soft and mountain grown as a wild birch grove. “They say it’s called the Pemberley.”

Lizbeth lowered the basket to the table and handed a sprig of lacy white yarrow to her older sister. “I didn’t wander far enough. Have you seen it yourself? This Pemberley?” Having just come in from the sunny garden, she brushed her hands clean and sat. “Clearly I’ve missed the gossip.”

“I saw it when I walked into town this mornin’.” Jayne examined the contents of the
basket. Her golden hair was bound up in rag curlers, and a single band of gray twine
wrapped her pale wrist, holding a tiny nugget of violet amethyst that Pa, a geologist, had unearthed in a mine. “It’s the prettiest sight, Lizzy. Brighter than a new penny perched there right on the track.”

Lizbeth rolled back the sleeves of her striped work dress and tried to imagine such a view. A breeze blew cool against her bare neck from the open window, causing her homespun collar to flutter. Her sisters had been on the lookout ever since some weeks back, when the owner of the New River Coal Company had announced his coming guests—a slew of coal barons and investors, all eager to bid on the property that was now for sale.

And the best part of all among the Bennet sisters . . . the dance that would mark their arrivals.

About the Author

Christy and Carol Award–winning author Joanne Bischof DeWitt writes romantic fiction that tugs at the reader's heartstrings. Her historical romance The Lady and the Lionheart received an extraordinary 5 Star TOP PICK! from Romantic Times Book Reviews and was the very first independently published novel to win a Christy Award. It has also recently taken to the stage. As a longtime Jane Austen fan, Joanne is often making popcorn with her mom so they can rewatch their favorite adaptions, and as a new wife, she celebrates God's own redemptive love stories. Joanne thanks the Lord daily for bringing along her very own hero who's a perfect balance between Colonel Brandon and Mr. Darcy. Together, they're a blended family and the grateful parents of six teens and young adults, making them huge advocates for conversations, laughter, and large dinner tables.

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

Blitz Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of The Heart of Bennet Hollow and a $25 gift card to Amazon, Baker Book House, Christianbook, or Walmart!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 22, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 29, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

Are you a Pride and Prejudice fan? Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of the excerpt?

A delightful second-chance holiday romance... Together This Christmas by Beth K. Vogt (Review & #Giveaway) #newbooks #bookx #romancebooks #holidayromance #cleanreads #TogetherThisChristmas #BethKVogt @justreadtours

Welcome to my tour stop with JustRead Publicity Tours! Find my review and the tour giveaway below...

Together This Christmas

By Beth K. Vogt

Sweet Small-Town Contemporary Romance, Christmas novella (spiritual thread)

Paperback & eBook, 185 Pages

October 13, 2025 by Story Architect

Summary

What if true love is only a text away? 

Mila Maxwell is happy with her life in New York City. Her boyfriend Zane is perfect for her – and yes perfect means he offers her the stability she’s always wanted. Zane’s also not threatened by the endless text thread she keeps with her best friend, Ben Kendrick. Why should he be? They’re friends, nothing more. 

Christmas is coming – a holiday she’d much rather skip – and Mila’s the maid-of-honor for her college roommate’s December wedding. When disaster strikes the wedding coordinator, Mila rushes to Colorado to save Angie’s big day and plunges headfirst into all the marital falalala. 

As Mila works the details for Angie and Charles’ wedding, Ben steps up to help.  After all, he’s the best man and someone in his life should have a happily ever after. This may be Ben’s last chance to convince Mila that they were meant for more than long texts and short video chats. 

Mila must confront her fears about love and choose: Zane, who offers her the security she’s always longed for, or Ben, who has never given up on her. What if her true love has always been one text away?  

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | BethVogt.com | Amazon | Bookshop | B&N

My Review

TOGETHER THIS CHRISTMAS is a sweet small-town holiday romance about two best friends and second chances. The characters are likable with some great side characters and family. There's some comedic situations, sweet moments, and plenty of sparks. Definitely a quick read to pick up for a delightful romance that will hit you just right for the holidays!

I honestly read this one all in one sitting. I needed something cute, festive and fun to escape into, and this was perfect for that, and had added sparks as well! The characters were relatable and lovable. Ben is this guy-next-door who has been Mila's best friend for forever. He's rugged, charming, warm, and likes to have fun. Mila is this driven, goal-focused gal who has her life all planned out with an emphasis on being safe. She's worked hard to get where she is. Through happenstance Mila is back with Ben and her other friends in their small town for a wedding and Ben has his last chance to see if he can win Mila. What ensues is a delightful story with all the feels.

My only concern was the aspect of the heroine already being in a committed relationship with someone else. I was worried there might be cheating, but thankfully the author handled it in just the right way to make it work for me.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This is a delightful story! Definitely one to grab if you're in need of a little holiday romance that is sweet with some sparks, has great characters, and some small-town charm!

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through JustRead Publicity Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Other Books Available

(Images linked to Amazon affiliate links.)

About the Author

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She writes both contemporary romance and women’s fiction because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. Beth is a Christy Award winner, an ACFW Carol Award winner, and a RITA® finalist. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International (now MomCo), Beth blogs for The Write Conversation and enjoys speaking to writers groups and mentoring writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people.

Connect with Beth by visiting bethvogt.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

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card, a "My Holidays are All Booked" mug from Pippi Post, and a print copy of Together This Christmas!

Full tour schedule linked above. The giveaway begins at midnight October 20, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 27, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Have you started reading any holiday books? Have you read Vogt's other books?

Can't Wait for... Love in a Mist by Sarah M. Eden (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #LoveinaMist #TheGents #SarahMEden #properromance #romancebooks #historicalromance #cleanreads @SarahM_Eden @ShadowMountn

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 loved Sarah M. Eden's books for forever! I actually just binge read her Huntresses series as I'd missed one of them and decided to read them all. It's been fun since The Gents' characters also appear a lot in that series. I'm more than ready for this fifth book as I can't wait to see who falls in love with "The General!" It's my pick this week...

Love in a Mist

(The Gents #5)

By Sarah M. Eden

Adult Historical Romance, Clean & Wholesome

Audiobook, Paperback & eBook, 288 Pages

November 11, 2025 by Covenant Communications

Summary

FRANCE, 1789

An unexpected letter arrives for Lord Aldric Benick on the day of his father’s funeral, seemingly from beyond the grave, informing him of a mysterious inheritance waiting for him in France. Always ready for an adventure, his closest friends, the Gents, embark with him across the Channel to solve the intriguing riddle.

French beauty Céleste Fortier is trapped in the gilded cage her controlling family crafted. She has set in motion a daring and complicated escape, only to have her plan undermined by the arrival of her brother and his friends, the Gents. Among them is the handsome and intriguing Lord Aldric, who once stole her heart—and broke it.

Distance, she decides, is her best strategy, but when violence erupts on the streets of Paris, Aldric and Céleste are thrown together in a desperate flight from danger. They must trust each other and work together if they are to have any hope of survival in a France that suddenly feels a breath away from revolution.

(Affiliate link included.)

Goodreads | Amazon

Will you be reading this one?

Check out a Q&A with the author... The Stories We Carry by Robin W. Pearson (Interview) #TheStoriesWeCarry #RobinWPearson #sothernfiction #womensfiction #christfic #newbooks #bookx @Crazy4Fiction

Welcome! I'm happy to share this Q&A with the author from the publisher today. Read on below...

The Stories We Carry

By Robin W. Pearson

Christian Southern Women's Fiction

Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback & eBook, 352 Pages

October 7, 2025 by Tyndale Fiction

Summary

A small-town bookstore owner finds herself at odds with a newcomer bent on disrupting her quiet life in this Southern women’s fiction novel by award-winning author Robin W. Pearson.

Glory Pryor has carved out a life for herself in Gilmore, North Carolina, cultivating a community around her bookstore, By the Book. While her business is a success, she carries the weight of stories of her own she’s never told anyone. She holds out hope that one day her estranged brother will turn up on her doorstep so she can finally learn where he’s been all these years. Glory’s husband Eli thinks she has her arms wrapped too tightly around the could-have-beens, and that it’s time for them to let go of the store as they head into their retirement years. Glory has different opinions on that—she’s not ready to give up the dream she’s built just yet. Then Adelle Simonette shows up with her young son, Bennett, and Glory’s carefully controlled life begins to crumble.

Newly widowed Adelle Simonette is a single mother trying to find her footing and navigate parenting her young son. Lost in her grief, one thing she’s certain of is that she needs to confront Glory Pryor and everybody who knows her because the woman’s been living a lie. Adelle thinks it’s high time Glory made things right. But Adelle’s finding it hard to tell the truth . . . and there will be no going back once she does.

In the wake of deeply personal grief and loss, two women reckon with a lifetime of silence and secrets to find a path forward toward healing, hope, and restoration.

- Contemporary women’s fiction for fans of Denise Hunter, Vanessa Miller, Rachel Hauck, and Rhonda McKnight
- A small-town Southern saga that features bookish heroines and themes of family, forgiveness, and reconciliation
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop | B&N

Author Interview

What inspired this story?

When my peeps and I read The Count of Monte Cristo, I became fascinated with the idea of
righteous vengeance. Here was this character, Edmond Dantès, tragically and falsely
imprisoned, who finally acquires the means to right decades of wrong. Would he, and most
important, should he? We had lots of fun discussing the question, Does the Count act with
godly authority?

I bandied about this idea long after we finished that book, and a different face supplanted
his—the image of my own character, Adelle Simonette, a young, widowed mother. But, if
she’s the hero, who is the villain, at least in Adelle’s mind? That’s where Glory and Eli Pryor
and their bookstore come in.

In my novel, Glory and Adelle tell themselves different versions of the same story: One says
God failed her. The other believes God will avenge her. Yet, they’re both wrong. That’s
because life doesn’t work the way a narrative unfolds in the classics; often, there’s no
obvious good guy or bad guy or reasonable motive. And this leads to what I show in The
Stories We Carry: we have to trust God to use all our stories for good and not harm

What messages or themes do you focus on in this book?

The overarching message in The Stories We Carry is that God is the source and the
foundation of all that’s good and true—from what we believe to what we read. This novel also
reflects the beauty and the strength of community, and it’s filled with characters who prove
that family is what we make it.

How does faith play a role in this story?

One of the biblical passages I drew from to write The Stories We Carry comes from Hosea
6:1: “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has
injured us; now he will bandage our wounds.”

In my novel, Glory Pryor thinks she’s run far enough and long enough from God that He’ll
never find her. But it turns out that He’s never left her. Adelle Simonette wields her faith like a
weapon instead of using it to soothe her own wounded heart. For both women, the LORD
wastes no effort—or painful memory and experience—to reveal His great love and save
them from themselves

What about this book excited you while writing it, and what do you hope readers will
learn?

I loved creating scripture-inspired, original poetry and showing how our Creator reveals
Himself through His Word and our words, even in places and within pages where you
wouldn’t expect to find Him. Isn’t that how He works in our everyday lives?

Also, as a wife of thirty years and a mama of many, I enjoyed the challenge of portraying a
mature, yet newly married couple whose only children were their books; their closest family
members were “found” or created within their small community. I hope this novel shows
readers that our hearts are big enough—and our world is small enough—to connect with
others by providing a meal, holding a hand, or starting a conversation. We never know when
we could be inviting Jesus to the table, as in Matthew 25:37-40.

What are your passions and how do they impact your writing?

Caring for my family is my greatest blessing. They’re why I write and why I can’t write more.
My peeps—including my dog, Oscar, who generously shared his name with the four-legged
character in The Stories We Carry—both inspire and distract me, usually simultaneously.
Because we’re homeschoolers—another great passion of mine—I’m always teaching and
learning and feeding my love of words, books, and all things literary. Our somewhat flexible,
yet hectic, schedule, provides opportunities to spend time with people of all ages as we
travel hither and yon, so I’m always adding to my cast of characters, creating dialogue, and
discovering new settings. And cooking, sweeping, and stacking sneakers on the stairs

What do you find to be the most challenging part of the writing process? What advice
would you offer young writers?

Remembering my why constantly challenges me. I’ve been called to write about how faith in
Jesus changes our perspective and affects our relationships. That’s the most important story
I carry. I encourage young writers to know their why and hold on to it so the how of their
work—platform building, querying, reviews, sales, social media, outlining, meeting
deadlines—doesn’t detract from their main purpose: conveying the truth God has led them to
share, whether in fiction or nonfiction.

What books or authors have shaped you recently?

Australian author Liane Moriarty’s manner of plopping readers smack into her novels inspires
me to help readers “move into” my North Carolina–based stories. In her latest, Here One
Moment, Moriarty paints a vivid picture of all the history her characters are toting around and
how their pasts weave together and affect each other. Johanna Rojas Vann’s An American
Immigrant emphasizes the impact of an individual’s life and voice and how staying true to
them can change the world—one story, one family, one community at a time.

About the Author

Robin W. Pearson's writing sprouts from her Southern roots, where she learned to sing “Jesus Loves Me,” how to make corn bread taste like pound cake, and the all-purpose uses of Vaseline. Her family's faith, life lessons, and life's longings inspired her to write about God's love for us and how His love affects all our relationships. This homeschooling mama of seven is the author of five novels, including the Christy Award–winner A Long Time Comin', 'Til I Want No More, Walking in Tall Weeds, Dysfunction Junction, and her latest, The Stories We Carry. Visit Robin on robinwpearson.com or follow her @robinwpearson on Instagram, BookBub, Goodreads, and Facebook.

Have you recently read a book set in the South? What connected with you in this interview?

A new post-apocalyptic YA science fiction... Beneath False Stars by S.D. Grimm (#Giveaway) #newbooks #bookx #giveaway #yabooks #yalit #scifi #BeneathFalseStars #SDGrimm #ProjectIntegration @celebrate_lit

Welcome to my tour stop! Check out this new YA Sci-Fi and enter the giveaway below...

Beneath False Stars

(Project Integration #1)

By S.D. Grimm

YA Science Fiction

Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, ? Pages

Date by Publisher 

Summary

What they don’t see will hurt them.

The day to open the centuries-old Dome gates and reintegrate genetically engineered people back into normal society has arrived. There’s one caveat—their powers must remain suppressed.

Amidst this Project Integration Initiative, hacker Ryleigh Stevens has her whole life planned out. The plan? Prevent a second Universal Tech War in two simple steps. First, help Project Integration Phase One succeed—but not for the reason she pretends. Next, infiltrate the rebellion and sabotage Phase Two—the part that would grant people unbridled access to their superhuman abilities.

Too bad the one person who can make her plan reality is her sworn enemy. He’s dangerous. He’s Powered. And he’s the reason her brother is dead. Faced with an impossible choice, Ryleigh must decide how to do what’s right for the good of all humanity, even if it means sacrificing everything she holds dear—again.

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop | B&N

About the Author

With a name like S.D. Grimm, how could she be anything but a writer of fantasy and sci-fi with equal parts sparkle and darkle? Always the dreamer, she’s been sorted into Gryffindor, she checks wardrobes for secret worlds, and has a blue lightsaber. She is the author of several young adult titles spanning many speculative genres, and she works as a freelance editor and writing coach. Her office is anywhere she can curl up with her laptop and at least one dog.

 More from the Author

What makes a fantasy writer change lanes and enter the world of science fiction?

My story actually goes back to that famous phrase “never say never.” I have ALWAYS loved both genres equally. If the question is Star Wars or LOTR? X-Men or Harry Potter? Hunger Games or Vampire Diaries? My answer is going to be, Why not all of it? But I always said I’d never write sci-fi. The reason? I didn’t think I’d ever be able to pull it off.

That’s one of the fun things about being a writer though . . . you get these little glimmers of shiny story ideas that just won’t stop sparkling in your mind. And eventually you follow the spark, and well, the rest is history.

Beneath False Stars started like that for me. But because I still believed I’d never be able to write a good sci-fi, I’d just write it for fun. To create for creation’s sake. And it was fun! Having a project that existed as something no one would ever read gave me permission to try new things, stretch my storytelling in new and exciting ways. And after a long period of burnout, this story carried me back into the heart of why I write. It was exactly what I needed.

But that wasn’t all.

Remember, it was never my intention to actually share this book. But it became something that I was too excited about to NOT share. So I tested the waters. When several writer friends read it and told me it was their favorite of all my books to date, I knew it was something that was never meant to sit in a drawer. In a way that scared me.

So, I did what the main character in the book would have told me to do—I decided not to let my fears win. And I shared. And now it’s going to be in print! That only goes to show that when a project you’re passionate about pulls at your heartstrings for attention, listen. You don’t have to know that project’s future. Just revel in its present, and let yourself create. <3

~ S.D. Grimm

Tour Schedule

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 13

Artistic Nobody, October 14 (Spotlight)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 15

Simple Harvest Reads, October 16 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 17 (Spotlight)

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, October 18 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, October 18

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 19

Guild Master, October 20 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, October 20

Texas Book-aholic, October 21

Vicky Sluiter, October 22 (Spotlight)

For Him and My Family, October 23

Fiction Book Lover, October 24 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, October 25

Stories By Gina, October 26 (Author Interview

Tour-Wide Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, S. D. is giving away the grand prize of a $40 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.

ENTER HERE

Have you read any other stories like this where some of society have powers and others don't in a post-apocalyptic world?

Read an excerpt from this new release... Still Holding Out for You by Jennifer Carr (Excerpt & #Giveaway) #StillHoldingOutforYou #RealAmericanCountry #JenniferCarr #womensfiction #romancebooks #newbooks #bookx @justreadtours

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

Still Holding Out for You

(Real American Country #4)

By Jennifer Carr

Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Paperback & eBook, 372 Pages

October 21, 2025 by JCarr Writes, LLC

Summary

They met chasing dreams on national TV. 

What they found was something bigger than fame. 

Austin Blake always thought ranch life was his future—until a chance encounter at a dusty Montana bar lands him a spot on Real American Country, a televised music competition that could change everything. When he meets Willow Gracin, a fiercely talented singer from Savannah with a heart full of lyrics and something to prove, sparks fly—on and off the stage. 

As the cameras roll and the music plays, Austin and Willow find a connection deeper than either expected. But when the spotlight fades, life has its own rhythm—one that tests their strength, their love, and everything they thought they knew about purpose and passion. 

When a tragic diagnosis threatens to silence their love song, country music stars Austin and Willow must fight for a future together in a way they never imagined. Spanning a decade of soaring highs and devastating lows, this is a story about the love you hold onto, the legacy you leave behind, and the music that carries you home, even after the last note has faded.

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | JCarrWrites.com | Amazon | B&N | Bookshop | BookBub

Excerpt

My phone buzzed beside me on the porch railing, screen lighting up with a message
that already had me smiling before I even opened it.

Austin: You gotta see this sunset

Attached was a photo that looked almost unreal—like the sky had caught fire in that split second before the dark swallowed it whole. Nearly crimson clouds, streaks of orange and gold.

I leaned back in the porch swing and snapped my own photo—the lowcountry sky cotton-candy soft, streaked with violet and peach.

Me: Nice try, but nothing beats a Georgia sky

His reply was instant.

Austin: True. But that’s because it has you to admire it, so it’s definitely winning.

Gemma appeared out of nowhere, sipping her tea like she hadn’t just been watching me from the window. “You two are like a slow-burn country song, you know that, right?”

I rolled my eyes, but the heat on my cheeks gave me away. “We’re just friends, Gem.”

“Mmm-hmm,” she said, unimpressed. “I’m calling it now—your first duet? Gonna be titled The Line We Won’t Cross. Top Ten hit. Radio gold.”

I grabbed the outdoor throw pillow and lobbed it at her head. She ducked, grinning, and walked off humming some fake country tune just to drive the point home as she walked back into the house.

Other Books in the Series

(Images linked to Amazon affiliate links.)

About the Author

Married to her best friend–the boy she met at just thirteen–she’s also a homeschooling mom to one teenage daughter, an artist who is the spitting image of her dad. Jennifer Carr is a self-diagnosed social media addict, aka the Queen of the Doomscroll, and she’ll read just about anything she can get her hands on.

Her passions are wide and deep: coffee, music, learning, animals, and above all, writing. She holds a degree in Psychology, a Master’s in Marriage & Family Counseling, certifications in Life Coaching and Health & Wellness Coaching, and is a certified Brain Health Professional. But despite all that, books are where her heart truly belongs. The day she published her first book, everything shifted. 

Now, several books later, Jennifer is living the dream with a career she once thought impossible. 

Connect with Jennifer by visiting jcarrwrites.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

(1) winner will receive 6 Months of Kindle Unlimited and an ebook copy of Still holding Out for You!

Full tour schedule linked above. The giveaway begins at midnight October 15, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 22, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Did the excerpt grab your interest? Have you read any of the other books in this series or by this author? If so, do you have any recommendations?

Check out the cover for this upcoming release... Long Trail Home by Lacy Williams (Cover Reveal & #Giveaway) #longtrailhome #wagontrainmatches #lacywilliams #newbooks #bookx #christfic #christianromance @justreadtours

I'm taking part in the cover reveal for this new Christian historical romance, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours. Check it out and enter the giveaway below...

Long Trail Home

(Wagon Train Matches #9)

By Lacy Williams

Christian Historical Romance

eBook

February 26, 2026 by Lacy Williams Books LLC

Summary

All roads lead home in the dramatic conclusion to one family’s journey of love, sacrifice, and survival. 

Since the moment he saw her, Coop Spencer has been single-minded in his quest to protect Belle. She’s running from something—someone—and he’s never met anyone so scared. When the wagon master forces an ultimatum: a marriage or Belle is expelled from the wagon train, Coop makes the only choice he can. He’ll do everything in his power to prove he's the kind of man she can trust. But overcoming the mistakes of his past may prove too much... 

Belle knows that the danger she escaped is still out there, still hunting her. Experience has taught her that she can't rely on anyone, not even the man who promised their marriage was in name only. 

As they traverse the Oregon Trail together, Belle is taken in by Coop’s big family, and the more time she spends with her temporary husband and his siblings, the more she starts to long for something she'd forgotten ages ago: home. 

When danger closes in, one of them must sacrifice everything for love...

• Forced marriage of convenience
• Redemption
• Family saga
• Heroine with a dark past/sworn off men

(Affiliate link included.)

Goodreads | Amazon

About the Author

With multiple hits on the USA Today and Publishers' Weekly bestseller lists and more than 1 million copies sold, Lacy Williams has won the hearts of readers worldwide with her heartwarming romances set in the rugged beauty of the American West. A proud Oklahoman, she balances writing with the joyful chaos of raising four children and snuggling her fur babies.

Connect with Lacy by visiting lacywilliams.net to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Cover Reveal Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of A Trail so Lonesome and ebook copies of the rest of the series!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 16, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 23, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

What do you think of the cover? Have you read other books by this author or in this genre?

Can't Wait for... Revenge, Served Royal by Celeste Connally (Can't-Wait Wednesday) #CWW #WOW #bookx #newbooks #RevengeServedRoyal #CelesteConnally #histfic #historicalfiction #mystery #cozymystery #suspense

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.

This one looks and sounds like it will be an absolute delight to read! It's my pick this week...

Revenge, Served Royal

(Lady Petra Inquiries #3)

By Celeste Connally

Adult Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Suspense

Hardcover & eBook, 336 Pages

November 11, 2025 by Minotaur Books

Summary

Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie in this dazzling third instalment to the captivating Regency-era Lady Petra Inquires mystery series.

September, 1815. Autumn is in the air as Lady Petra Forsyth and some of the most illustrious members of the ton descend upon Windsor Castle for a week of royal celebrations, with the highlight being Queen Charlotte’s inaugural patisserie contest for the best bakers employed by England’s finest houses. Not only is Lady Petra’s own cook one of the contestants, but Her Majesty has requested that Petra herself serve as one of the judges.

Petra’s happiness at tasting delicious cakes and biscuits only increases at finding her beloved Aunt Ophelia in attendance at Windsor, as well as Sir Rufus Pomeroy. As England’s most famous former royal chef-turned-cookbook author, Sir Rufus is slated to present his best recipes to the Queen during the festivities, with Petra being granted an early viewing in the royal library.

Yet upon arrival, Petra instead encounters a frantic housemaid pointing to a body of one of Her Majesty’s guests―and to the valet still tugging at the silk ribbon used to strangle the victim. What’s more, the valet turns out to be Oliver Beecham, the ne’er-do-well brother of Petra’s own lady’s maid, Annie. But as Oliver is hauled away to the dungeons, he protests his innocence, claiming the late guest argued with several aristocrats, including the Prince Regent and Petra’s Aunt Ophelia, and boasted about hiding a potentially scandalous document within the vastness of Windsor Castle.

When some poisoned tea meant for Petra is consumed by one of her fellow judges, it’s clear the real killer is still walking the castle’s halls. Indeed, in order to prove the innocence of Annie’s brother and find the incriminating document, Petra will need to act like a lady, eat like a chef, and think like one of Her Majesty’s best spies before a murderer can turn the celebrations from sweet to royally deadly.

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop | B&N

Will you be reading this one?

An intriguing and thought-provoking sci-fi... Singularity by Shannon McDermott (Review & #Giveaway) #Singularity #TheEternitiesDuology #ShannonMcDermott #newbooks #bookx #scifi @celebrate_lit

Welcome to my tour stop! Read my review and enter the giveaway below ...

Singularity

(The Eternities Duology #2)

By Shannon McDermott

Science Fiction

Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 256 Pages

October 7, 2025 by Enclave Publishing

Summary

Machines in rebellion, humanity on the brink…

Lila Stanislaw, a freelance analyst with a roster of foreign clients, is summoned by the U.S. government to hunt down a mysterious threat. She joins a team of strangers with pasts as colorful as her own. The mission spirals when they discover that the AI created to run the new colony on Mars has gone rogue on Earth. As the conflict mounts to war, Speaker of the House Manasseh Cruz joins the fight with an implacable will to destroy the enemy. But the team, racing to find any vulnerability, must first confront the question of what the AI truly is.

As robots stalk the landscape and toxins poison the air, Lila is certain that the AI must be completely destroyed for the good of humanity. But she will find that not all humans, or even all of her teammates, agree.Machines in rebellion, humanity on the brink…

Lila Stanislaw, a freelance analyst with a roster of foreign clients, is summoned by the U.S. government to hunt down a mysterious threat. She joins a team of strangers with pasts as colorful as her own. The mission spirals when they discover that the AI created to run the new colony on Mars has gone rogue on Earth. As the conflict mounts to war, Speaker of the House Manasseh Cruz joins the fight with an implacable will to destroy the enemy. But the team, racing to find any vulnerability, must first confront the question of what the AI truly is.

As robots stalk the landscape and toxins poison the air, Lila is certain that the AI must be completely destroyed for the good of humanity. But she will find that not all humans, or even all of her teammates, agree.

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop | B&N

My Review

SINGULARITY is one of those stories with a motley crew (one of my favorite things!) with complex personalities and vague in their thoughts and intentions all working in some way to solve an ever-escalating situation. The world-building is unique and immersive with pertinent references to artificial intelligence. For sci-fi fans with who like quirky characters, government versus a faction versus and entity with characters stuck in the middle and a unique plot, this story is for you!

This story drops you right into this world and its characters. I found the plot and characters intriguing to the point that I kept picking this one up when I had time to read until I finished over just a few days. It's definitely a story that is so bizarre, original and compelling that it's hard to put down. I was so curious what all the characters would choose and how they would for and then carry out a plan. And, of course, I had to know how it all would end. There were also so many moments that made you think about ethics, morals, corruption, humanity, intelligence and bravery. I can't say that I loved the characters. They were all so vague as was the story in places... more in not telling you what to think or what was happening, but letting you come to your own conclusion and figure things out on your own (also another plus for this story). And even thought I didn't love the characters, I found them to be fascinating and was fully invested in the outcome.

There were some things here and there that I would have liked smoothed out more. Some of the vagueness was maybe too vague? And I had trouble linking the first book in this series that I read last year and which takes place about half the time on Mars. I wanted more of a tie-in to that story.

In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, this was a very unique, fascinating science fiction with complex characters. A story that kept me turning pages. Definitely recommended to strong sci-fi fans!

Content: Some violence, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Other Books in the Series

(Image linked to my review.)

About the Author

Shannon McDermott is an author of science fiction and has been occupied for years with constructing scenarios of the colonization of Mars. Always a fan of the genre, she reviews Christian speculative fiction with Lorehaven. Her interests include history, classic literature, and lattes. She lives in the great Midwest, where she does her best to avoid icy weather, sweltering heat, and tornadoes, according to the season.

 More from Shannon

AI looms everywhere. It lives on our devices, occupies the public discourse, and haunts the horizon. Whatever tomorrow brings, AI will be there.

Singularity—the point at which artificial intelligence becomes self-aware—is an old prophecy. Now the public is finally beginning to believe it. We already have a sense that AI is escaping us. That we don’t really understand it, can’t fully control it, and don’t know what it is becoming.

AI could go rogue. It could even develop something that might be called a soul.

Congress has held hearings on AI. Hollywood has released doomsday movies. The prophets of the twenty-first century have written books and articles and social media posts, trumpeting the warning signal. All are messengers of the same idea: AI, when it becomes ascendant, will not be benevolent.

Yet there is dissent. There are those who think that AI will prove both beneficial and benevolent. If I may put it this way (they wouldn’t), they welcome our new AI overlords.

The eagerness with which some people have awaited singularity is striking. There is a strain of religious feeling toward AI—not as it is, to be sure, but as it will be. They are hoping for the day when AI, surpassing humanity, will guide us into a better world. They want, as so many people have wanted, a superhuman intelligence to show them the way.

When I wrote Singularity, I incorporated both antagonism and religiosity toward AI. I have my own viewpoint, but I wanted to represent the most likely reactions if AI turned against us. The divide over whether such an AI should be treated as a person or a machine, a potential friend or an irreconcilable enemy, would be sharp and weighty. And the AI could not be defined without also defining humanity.

The singularity of AI confronts us with the singularity of humanity. Are we truly unique, truly singular? And if so, how?

These questions create the double meaning of the title Singularity. I wrote Singularity to explore the concept of AI. By a logical necessity, it became also an inquiry into the nature of humanity. This novel presents one vision of the singularity, and raises the universal questions of artificial intelligence.

Tour Schedule

The Lofty Pages, October 11

Simple Harvest Reads, October 12 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 14 (Spotlight)

Wishful Endings, October 14

Texas Book-aholic, October 15

Artistic Nobody, October 16 (Author Interview)

CeCe Reads and Sings, October 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 17

Fiction Book Lover, October 18 (Author Interview)

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, October 19

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 20 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, October 21

Guild Master, October 22 (Spotlight)

Blogging with Carol, October 23

Stories By Gina, October 24 (Author Interview)

Tour-Wide Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon 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.

ENTER HERE

Have you read any other books like this? What sounds intriguing about this one?

Congratulations to the 2025 Christy Award Finalists! (Event & #GIveaway) #bookx #christyawards #christfic #christianfiction @justreadtours

Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for The Christy Award Finalists 2025 organized by ECPA and hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! We extend our sincere and enthusiastic congratulations to The Christy Award 2025 Finalists & Winners (announced on November 7th)!

You are Invited

The Christy Award Gala 2025 

 Via webcast November 7, 2025 | 7 pm CT 

 Featuring Chris Fabry, T.I. Lowe, Jessica Hooten Wilson, and a host of Christy-winning authors

This is our year to gather together VIRTUALLY to celebrate and honor the best Christian fiction of the year. The Christy Award® Gala Webcast will be held the evening of Friday, November 7th and will feature a premiere cast of the industry’s authors to announce The Christy Award winners in nine categories, The Christy Book of the Year®, and The Amplify Award for Christian Fiction.

The special evening will be hosted by radio personality and award-winning novelist Chris Fabry and will include keynotes by Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University, Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson and award-winning and Christy Book of the Year 2024 author, T.I. Lowe. The event will also include award-winning novelists Jaime Jo Wright, Johanna Rojas Vann, Lori Z. Scott, Katie Powner, Jamie Ogle, Rachelle Nelson, Vanessa Miller, Gabrielle Meyer, Crystal Caudill and Amanda Barratt.

The Christy Award Finalists 2025

Contemporary Romance - tie

A Run at Love, Toni Shiloh (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group) The Nature of Love, Toni Shiloh (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group) The Roads We Follow, Nicole Deese (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group) Who Touches the Mountains, Deborah Raney (Raney Day Press)

First Novel

 

Darkfell, Amanda Wright (Quill and Flame Publishing House) Until Our Time Comes, Nicole M. Miller (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group) The Yellow Badge, Addison Crissone (Addison Crissone)

General Fiction - tie

Between the Sound and Sea, Amanda Cox (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group) Bitter and Sweet, Rhonda McKnight (Thomas Nelson) Lowcountry Lost, T.I. Lowe (Tyndale House Publishers) The Way Back, Heidi Chiavaroli (Hope Creek Publishers)

Historical

All We Thought We Knew, Michelle Shocklee (Tyndale House Publishers) Born of Gilded Mountains, Amanda Dykes (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group) The Queen's Cook, Tessa Afshar (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

Historical Romance - tie

As Sure as the Sea, Jamie Ogle (Tyndale House Publishers) The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple, Joanna Davidson Politano (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group) The Seaside Homecoming, Julie Klassen (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group) Walking on Hidden Wings, Rachel Scott McDaniel (Kregel Publications)

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller - tie

The Crown Conspiracy, Connie Mann (Tyndale House Publishers) Night Falls on Predicament Avenue, Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group) Serial Burn, Lynette Eason (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group) Shattered Sanctuary, Nancy Mehl (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group) Terminal Danger, Jerusha Agen (SDG Words)

Short Form - tie

A Daffodil in the Dress (within Something Borrowed), Susie Finkbeiner (Kregel Publications) Forgiving the Cowboy, Tabitha Bouldin (Love Inspired) A Heart in Disguise (within Something Borrowed), Rachel Scott McDaniel (Kregel Publications) A Letter to Eli (within Something Borrowed), Allison Pittman (Kregel Publications)

Speculative - tie

 

A Slice of Sky, Nancy Moser (Mustard Seed Press) Darkfell, Amanda Wright (Quill and Flame Publishing House) Memoria, J.J. Fischer (Enclave, a division of Oasis Family Media) Protector, Megan Schaulis (WhiteCrown, an imprint of WhiteFire Publishing)

Young Adult - tie

\

Ben Washington is the Newbie on the Block, Jasmine Mullen (Moody Publishers) The Chaos Grid, Lyndsey Lewellen (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media) Echo Nova, Clint Hall (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media) Jake Rogers' Planet, Philip Wilder (Great Commission Alliance)

 

Register

Register for The Christy Award 2025 Winners Webcast

The Christy Award winners webcast on November 7 at 7 p.m. CT. – free but registration is required. Celebrate this year’s finalists and winners with authors, editors, publishers, and readers!

REGISTER

The Christy Award® is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and is the foremost award honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction since 1999. For more information about ECPA, visit ECPA.org. For more information about the Christy Awards and Art of Writing conferences, visit ChristyAwards.com or email TheChristyAward@ecpa.org

Author and Reader Event

Join fellow readers and 46 writers at the third annual Rendezvous to celebrate Christian fiction and sweet reads. This event, modeled after the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat and organized by JustRead Publicity Tours, aims to sweeten reading and storytelling experiences with fellowship and encouragement. Activities will include corporate worship, The Christy Award webcast watch party, speaker sessions, author panels, small group discussions, games, giveaways, a pop-up book shop, and author signings.

Learn more about the 2025 Read Write Rendezvous

Registration Ends Oct 15!

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive print copies of The Christy Award 2025 finalist titles for one category of their choice!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 10, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 17, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

---

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