A Steadfast Heart (Wind River Mail-Order Brides) by Lacy Williams & Martha Hutchins

ABOUT THE BOOK

When his family legacy is on the line, rancher Drew McGraw becomes desperate for someone to tame and tutor his three children. Desperate enough to seek a mail-order bride. But when the wrong woman arrives on his doorstep, Drew balks.

Heiress Kaitlyn Montgomery runs straight from the scandal chasing her toward a fresh start on a secluded ranch. She strikes a bargain with Drew—a marriage convenient for both of them.

But the more Kaitlyn adapts to ranch life and forms a bond with Drew’s children and their enigmatic father, she realizes that this ranch is where she is meant to be. And then her past catches up with her…

This sweet historical romance is perfect for fans of the following

*ready-made family
*nanny/tutor
*single dad
*fish out of water

MY THOUGHTS.....

I've just found two new-to-me authors to follow! Lacy Williams and Martha Hutchins swept me into Kaitlyn Montgomery's frenzied attempts to escape her evil brother, and my enjoyment and anticipation continued to increase! I loved Kaitlyn's bravery, her special bond with the children she was hired to tutor, and the powerful connection that developed between her and rancher Drew McGraw. It didn't take long for me to know they were a perfect match, but when would they discover it for themselves?

This western story takes place in Cheyenne, Wyoming, so you can count on adventure, danger, and the hardships of living on a ranch, but there's so much more! A Steadfast Heart has sweet romance, needy children, two emotionally scarred characters who deserve to find happiness, and a strong emphasis on family and faith! I recommend A Steadfast Heart to all who enjoy romantic Christian fiction, and I look forward to the next book in the Wind River Mail-Order Brides series.

I voluntarily accepted a complimentary copy from Sunrise Publishing. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


ABOUT THE AUTHORS

USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams is devoted to bringing her readers heartwarming love stories about cowboys and the women who tame them. She is the author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Wind River Hearts and Sutter’s Hollow series. Her books have been nominated for the RT Book Reviews’ Seal of Excellence as well as finaled in RT’s Reviewers’ Choice Awards. She has been a puppy parent almost her whole life and often writes with one of her dogs snuggled in her lap. She is a mom of four and spends her non-writing time buried under piles of laundry and dishes.

Learn more at lacywilliams.net.

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Martha Hutchens writes Historical Inspirational Romance filled with hope, heart, and a touch of small-town charm. A winner of RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart® Award, she draws on her experiences as a retired homeschool mom, lifelong knitter, and former chemist to craft stories rich in faith, perseverance, and historical detail.

A self-proclaimed history nerd, Martha loves to explore historical sites and imagine the lives of the people who walked there before her. She lives with her husband in the beautiful Ozarks, where she enjoys long walks with her bossy miniature poodle and dreaming up new adventures.

Whether she’s writing about 19th-century frontier life or the challenges of World War II, Martha’s stories are filled with history, heart, and a deep love for storytelling. She’s always happy to connect with readers who share her passion for faith-filled fiction and the resilience of the human spirit.

Learn more by visiting marthahutchens.com

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Wind River Mail-Order Brides

Book 1: A Convenient Heart

Book 2: A Steadfast Heart

Book 3: A Secret Heart

Book 4: A Dangerous Heart

Book 5: A Forgotten Heart

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If Jesus Came to My School by April Graney

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a young girl learns how Jesus’s love can shine at school through her compassion, kindness, and inclusion.

In this whimsical tale, a young girl imagines what it would be like if Jesus visited her school as a boy. She would show Jesus around her classroom, introduce her friends and teachers, listen to story time, and eat lunch together! But Jesus wouldn't stop at learning and sitting in class. He'd invite the lonely to join in on games and find a way to love and get along with everyone. Soon the young girl realizes that even though Jesus doesn’t attend her school, he can live through her.

I can be his hands and feet
To spread his love to all
I can share and help and give
So no one feels too small!

Through rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, children will be inspired to make a difference in their schools through their actions. Because as they treat each other right and classes become families, Jesus truly will be in their school.

AMAZON

MY THOUGHTS.....

This is a wonderful children's book! The beautiful illustrations easily capture a child's attention, the rhyming text is fun to read, and the length is just right for their short attention span. It's a perfect choice for parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers, or youth leaders---what better way to introduce the joy that comes from knowing God's Son?

If Jesus Came to My School tells the sweet story of a little girl who imagines what it would be like to have Jesus at her school. A young Jesus who visits her classroom, meets all of her classmates, sees what she is learning, and even plays with her during recess! Author April Graney captures the joy of having this special little boy visit, but the real magic comes when the little girl realizes,

"But Jesus made a different plan---he wants to live through ME!"

If Jesus Came to My School is perfect for families to read together, but the simple text also makes it a great choice for beginner readers. I especially recommend reading it at the beginning of a new school year. What better way to encourage children to show love and kindness to their classmates and teachers?

I received a complimentary digital copy. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

April Graney is a teacher at Cookson Hills, a children’s home and school for at-risk students in Oklahoma. She is the author of The Marvelous Maker: A Creation and Redemption Parable and the ECPA Christian Book Award finalist The Marvelous Mud House: A Story of Finding Fullness and Joy. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, April loves studying and teaching the Bible. Her greatest joy has been raising five children with her husband Tom in their crazy, loud, happy house at New Life Ranch, a summer camp and retreat center where they have served for over twenty years.

Learn more about April by visiting her Website 

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Of Silver and Secrets (Time's Lost Treasures, #2) by Michelle Griep

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1889 England, Eva Inman finds herself overwhelmed with responsibility. Haunted by guilt over her parents' deaths, Eva struggles to care for her blind sister and manage her family's crumbling estate. With the threat of overdue taxes looming, Eva's situation grows dire until an ancient silver ring is unearthed on her property. Despite local superstitions warning against disturbing the supposedly cursed acres, Eva's need for funds forces her to consider the potential of more buried relics. She turns to Bram Webb, a Cambridge professor of Roman antiquities, for help—only to be reminded of a past she would rather forget.

Bram Webb is under immense pressure to find proof of a legendary Christian Roman settlement in an attempt to conceal his uncle's deteriorating memory from the Trinity College disciplinary board and save both of their jobs. When Eva steps into Bram's office, old sparks fly, rekindling memories that are both fond and painful. The excavation is fraught with challenges from the start, and as Eva and Bram work together with time running out, they must confront their pasts, face the growing attraction between them, and decide whether their love is strong enough to overcome the buried truths that threaten to tear them apart.

Award-winning author Michelle Griep transports you to Victorian-era England with a gripping romance.

AMAZON

MY THOUGHTS.....

I loved this book! I was invited into a Victorian world filled with guilt, secrets, and superstition, and I was captivated until the very satisfying end! Of Silver and Secrets has flawless writing, well-developed characters, and an intriguing plot centered around an archaeological dig in 1889. Eva Inman and Bram Webb are old acquaintances who enter into an uneasy alliance plagued by past hurts, humorous bickering, and a growing attraction between them! Can you understand my fascination with this story?

I've been fortunate to read several of Michelle Griep's books, and I'm always entertained, educated, and inspired! Of Silver and Secrets is a mesmerizing drama filled with mystery, history, second chances, and faith. I recommend it to all who enjoy historical Christian romance.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I chose the latter. Way cheaper. I've been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write...except for that graffiti phase I went through as a teenager. Oops. Did I say that out loud?

learn more about Michelle Griep by visiting  her Website   

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Meet Me on Lilac Lane (Jonathon Island #2) by Andrea Christenson

ABOUT THE BOOK

The last—very last—person this widow can love is her late husband’s best friend. Period.

Mia Jonathon Franklin’s heart broke forever when her husband and high school sweetheart died in a fishing boat accident two years ago. Now, the life insurance money is gone, the mortgage is overdue, and she’s about to be on the Jonathon Island streets with her two young children.

And then she’s offered a chance to buy her own house cute for a dollar. But only if she can find business owners to move to Jonathon Island—and it comes with a ridiculous quota to complete the deal. She’s in over her head...or is she?

He can’t—just can’t—give into the longings of his heart….

Cody Hart refuses to let his love for Mia get in the way of being her best friend. After all, it was his fault, on his boat, that her husband—his best friend—died. And if he has to put his hopes of reopening the family fishing business on hold to help her, he will. After all, Mia needs him.

But the last thing he’s going to do is tell her how he feels—and has felt since long before she married his best friend. So, they ‘ll work together to find businesses, help revitalize the town, save her house and then he’ll get out of the way.

Except…well, there’s that undeniable connection, and so many long-buried feelings and suddenly his heart is in too deep. But if it all falls apart, they’ll lose their friendship, as well as her family’s future. And Mia—well, happy endings don’t show up twice, right? Especially not with a man who might cost her everything…again.

If you like sweet and clean, small town, unrequited love, best-friends to more stories about single parents, and finding a second happy ending, you’ll love this second book in the Jonathon Island series!

The Jonathon Island series is created by USA Today bestselling, award-winning author Susan May Warren.

AMAZON

MY THOUGHTS.....

This second book in the Jonathon Island series is just as special as the first! I loved the setting, the characters, and the underlying theme of overcoming loss and learning to trust God. I admired the young, widowed mother who'd struggled to stay afloat after losing her husband two years ago, but my favorite character was certainly Cody Hart. He'd loved Mia since childhood but stepped aside when his best friend stole her heart. Troy, Mia, and Cody had once been 'the three musketeers' until their marriage and a tragedy changed this forever.

Author Andrea Christenson shares a poignant picture of a complicated history marked by a longtime friendship and Cody's unrequited love for Mia. His desire to help her and her adorable children seems futile until...unexplained feelings assault Mia when Cody is nearby!

If you enjoy sweet romance, second chances, and a strong message of faith, grab a copy of Meet Me on Lilac Lane. You'll love Jonathon Island as much as I do!

I received a digital copy from Sunrise Publishing. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrea Christenson is a contemporary Christian romance author. She’s a pastor’s wife with a biblical studies degree and over 20 years of ministry experience. Her stories are clean, faith-filled, and family-honoring, and can be trusted to entertain the heart, engage the mind, and edify the soul. Andrea lives in Plymouth, MN, with her husband and two daughters.

Learn more by visiting her Website

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JONATHON ISLAND SERIES

Meet Me at the Grand

Meet Me on Lilac Lane

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Unshaken by Shelley Shepard Gray

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Stephanie Miller planned her visit to a dollar store in southern Ohio, she was expecting to pick up a few items she couldn't find in her Amish community. She was not expecting to find herself an innocent bystander as a drug deal went horribly wrong. The sole witness to a murder, now Stephanie is targeted by the gunman.

Hardy Anderson is always ready to help his social worker sister, Beverly--which now includes hiding an Amish woman until a killer can be brought to justice. Surely if they dress her in English clothing, Hardy can hide her at the sprawling ranch where he works.

But the killer is desperate--and there's no telling what lengths he will go.

This tension-filled, tightly written tale from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray is sure to thrill fans of Amish fiction and romantic suspense alike.

MY THOUGHTS.....

Some readers love romantic suspense novels, and others prefer Amish fiction, but do they want them in the same story? In this new book, UNSHAKEN, author Shelley Shepard Gray once again uses her winning formula for combining these two genres, and the result is pure reading enjoyment! I was mesmerized from the first paragraph, when a young Amish woman locked eyes with a "scary young Englischer" after realizing that he had just fired a gun. A gun that left a man dead and Stephanie Miller a terrified witness to a murder. What follows is a tautly crafted plot that is hard to put down!!

UNSHAKEN has adventure, danger, and non-stop action! I loved the amazing connection and alliance that develops between Stephanie and her protector, Hardy Anderson, as he struggles to protect her and she experiences freedom for the first time! I'm also thrilled that most of the book is set in Crittenden County, Kentucky. Gray's Crittenden County series is a favorite, and I'm glad that she's used my home state as a book setting once again. Well-developed characters, page-turning suspense, and an inspiring faith element make this an engaging story that you don't want to miss. I recommend UNSHAKEN to all who enjoy thrilling romantic suspense and clean Amish romance.

I received a copy from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shelley Shepard Gray has written over one hundred novels. She currently writes Amish romances for Harper Collins, Kensington, and Simon & Schuster and contemporary women’s fiction for Blackstone Publishing.

Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s degree in English literature and elementary education and later obtained her master’s degree in educational administration. She currently lives in Colorado Springs and writes full-time. Shelley is married, the mother of two young adults and she is an active member of her church.

Learn more about Shelley at her    Website 

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UNFORGIVEN

UNFORGOTTEN

UNSHAKEN

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Mountain Homecoming (Home to Foxtail, #1) by Susanne Dietze

ABOUT THE BOOK

An unexpected partnership. A shocking secret.
Can the truth heal old wounds?

After months away, architect Wyatt Teague returns home only to find himself named a guardian to his late friends’ orphaned twins…alongside his ex-fiancée, Natalie Dalton. But caring for them together proves to be a Wyatt’s job is in the city, and Natalie can’t leave her family’s apple orchard. As they vow to make this new partnership work, old feelings between them quickly resurface. But when Natalie finds out the true reason behind Wyatt’s abandonment, can she trust him with the babies…and her heart?

AMAZON

MY THOUGHTS.....

I challenge anyone to read this story and not be moved! I was instantly engaged in this tale of a once-engaged couple trying to do what's best for two orphaned baby girls. It is filled with grief, pain, and uncertainty, but through it all, hope and faith endure.

I'm never disappointed in Suzanne Dietze's books! I loved the characters, the setting, and the realism of this heartwarming story. and I look forward to more books in the Home to Foxtail series. I recommend Mountain Homecoming to all who enjoy contemporary Christian romance.

I received a copy from the author. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susanne Dietze began writing love stories in high school, casting her friends in the starring roles. Today, she's the award-winning, RITA®-nominated author of several romances who's seen her work on the Publisher's Weekly, ECPA, and Amazon Bestseller Lists for Inspirational Fiction. Married to a pastor and the mom of two, Susanne lives in California and loves fancy-schmancy tea parties, the beach, and curling up on the couch with a costume drama and a plate of nachos.

You can visit her on her   Website  

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The Herbalist ((Appleton WV Romantic Mystery, #7) by Carole Brown: Celebrate Lit Blog Tour Review

About the Book

The Herbalist

Author: Carole Brown

Genre: Romantic Mystery

Release date: Spring, 2025

It’s a long, lonely walk down this West Virginia road, especially when you’ve just been accused of murder.

Can Lana Taylor prove she isn’t guilty? Can she realize that she does have a few friends who’ll stick by her regardless of the accusations? Can she forget the past and learn to trust again?

And will Athan Meadows be able to not only find the answers Lana needs, but also win her trust and love?

Click HERE to get your copy!

MY THOUGHTS.....

After reading this book, I'm convinced that I need to read the first six books in The Appleton, WV Romantic Series. The Herbalist is an engaging cozy mystery with well-defined characters, page-turning twists and turns, and a lovely romance waiting in the wings. Athan Meadows is immediately smitten after meeting Lana Taylor, but romance certainly isn't her top priority. Her client has died, and she's suspected of murder!

Author Carole Brown seamlessly weaves family, faith, and mystery into this intriguing plot. Do you enjoy mystery but can't handle gore? Are you longing for romance that isn't explicit? I recommend this book to all who appreciate romantic Christian suspense.

I received a digital copy from the author via Celebrate Lit. A positive review was never required.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

About the Author

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of twenty-one fiction books and two short stories in an anthology, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. An award-winning, best seller author, she has a degree in Religious Education and an Associate in Computer, along with other course degrees. She has a special love for animals—especially dogs, cats, elephants and horses (which is sometimes found in her books)—a love for flowers and plants, traveling and her husband who is her best go-to person for grounding her in her writing.

She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons and great granddaughter, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandchildren?

More from Carole

When I started this series (The Appleton, WV Romantic Mysteries) I didn’t realize that I would, someday in the future, be writing Book Eight. Truly, this series is one of my readers’ favorites with many of them asking when the next book is coming out.

When I plotted The Herbalist, I knew the basic outline of how the story would go, but I didn’t realize all the technical details I would need to research, even though most of it, in the book, isn’t indepth.

Car items:  fuel pumps, oil leakages, failing brakes.

Dementia:  mental stability, actions, progression, and more.

Police procedures: The various actions from a police crew when there’s a murder, the people who examine bodies, the leniency that can or can not be used in a murder case.

and other items I studied. It was both fascinating and tedious, but necessary.

But I love research, so most times I enjoy it, especially when it comes to my books.

I wanted to create an interesting and catching story that was as real as I could make it. Though the major plot scene was planned, at times, I would be stuck, wondering what should happen next. And lying in bed at night is sometimes my best time to think of the a scene and how to write it. I love it when this happens, because it’s the perfect idea for my book. So I jump from my bed to scribble down the thought at my desk.

In The Herbalist, a young mother with five-year-old twins, is accused of murder, but it’s a long, lonely walk down this West Virginia road, especially when you trust few people. Can Lana Taylor prove she isn’t guilty? Can she realize that she does have a few friends who’ll stick by her regardless of the accusations? And can she forget the past and learn to trust again?

And will Athan Meadows be able to not only find the answers Lana needs, but also win her trust and love?

Find the answers in: THE HERBALIST.

Blog Stops

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 24

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 25

Roads to Everywhere, May 25

Texas Book-aholic, May 26

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 27

The Sacred Line, May 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 31

Stories By Gina, June 1 (Author Interview)

Older & Smarter?, June 1

Vicky Sluiter, June 2

Book Butterfly in Dreamland , June 3

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, June 4

Mary Hake, June 4

Holly’s Book Corner, June 5

Pause for Tales, June 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carole is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and copy of the book in winner’s choice of paperback or eBook!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54228

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