Thursday, December 12, 2024

About the Book

Book: The Trail to the Lonely Tree (Book 1 of the Jaguar Oracle Series)

Author: Kurt Mähler

Genre: Christian Magical Realism Fantasy

Release date: September 30, 2024

A richly poetic tale of friendship, courage, and destiny that will awaken the imagination of children and adults alike.

When Oracle, a jaguar from the Yucatán, learns of the dying words of the last jaguar in the Rio Grande Valley, he finds himself on a perilous journey to see a prophecy fulfilled.

To do so he must travel 1,400 miles to Texas and find the Lonely Tree, where his kin spoke an enigma to the heavens as hunters took him down. But the Lonely Tree is in the dangerous realm of Man—and Oracle will need more than his own wisdom and strength to fulfill the task.

Oracle remembers Eden and the naming of the animals; what Adam spoke to the first of each kind. He discovers the animals in the Valley have forgotten their names—as has Man himself.

Can he not only fulfill the prophecy, but help the animals reclaim ancient truths before they are lost forever?

This hope-filled tale explores the quest for courage in a fallen world and how to make the faith journey—and its sacrifices—worthwhile.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kurt Mähler writes in the prophetic and poetic tradition, inspired by the wonder of creation and cultures of the world. He and his wife have served in forty nations as encouragers in the Christian faith, where Kurt discovered the beauty and wisdom of storytelling. His roots include the Gulf Coast, Rio Grande Valley, and Heart of Texas.

More from Kurt

During my eleven years in Afghanistan with my wife Karen and five children, I learned that sometimes we need ‘aha’ moments instead of how-to manuals; a story instead of a sermon; an encounter instead of a lecture.

That’s why my answer to the question, “What if a jaguar appeared in South Texas?” is saturated with parables, prayers, poems, proverbs, and prophetic words set in the voices of creation.

My wife Karen is from where this imaginary tale takes place, so I have visited it often. On one visit, I saw a 1946 black-and-white photo of what was believed to be the last jaguar in the Rio Grande Valley. Hunters gathered around their prize. The question, “What if a jaguar came back here?” struck like a match inside me and became a bonfire of discovery for six books, beginning with The Trail to the Lonely Tree.

C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Tolkien, Milton, and Dante are the literary mentors I have looked to for this Christian fantasy, which, in my case, is a form called “magical realism.”

It’s real in that you can visit, for example, the Port Isabel lighthouse or the Rio Grande River; it’s magical in that I have immersed that world into another one—one that isn’t “real” yet completely true. The ranches are fictitious and yet, as symbols, speak the truth to the way things are and the way things could be as wheat and weeds grow together in the realm of Man.

The descriptions of the animals and plants of the Rio Grande Valley are as accurate as I could labor to attain. For the stars, I employed the astronomy app Starry Night Enthusiast 8 to precisely describe the activity of the heavens during the time of the tale, which is from September 2016 through August 2017 in Book 1.

The herblore is a work of research too. Patch the raccoon heals a friend’s injury with aloe vera and the pita plant, while later he and ab aplomado falcon named Sent attempt to heal an ailing, abandoned child with leaves of the anacahuita (Texas wild olive); twigs of the allthorn (amargoso); and tasajillo berries of the Christmas cactus.

A word about the jaguar named Oracle. He isn’t Aslan, but he sure seems to have spent time with him. His faith journey might be like yours, with clues to the future, a heart to serve others—and profound disappointments along the way.

Let’s discover together how to begin again, own our faith, leverage our sorrows, and pick up the trail before us. For the way to our future often begins with a memory. Our destinies are found in the first things our Creator told us long ago in childhood and before. That is where we will most likely find courage for our calling.

I don’t mean ‘calling’ in the sense of clergy alone, but in the sense of living as your original self, the one God thought of when He said, “Let there be…”

I wrote this tale to impart such courage.

MY REVIEW

One of the most intriguing animals to me is the jaguar Their beauty is undeniable, their strength and grace is evident and their ability to watch their surroundings with precision make them a creature to appreciate. I love reading about them and even wanted one as a pet when I was younger. This book got my attention because of a jaguar named Oracle.

The story reminds me of a place where peace dwells. The animals live in harmony and trust the One who created them. Oracle comes upon different animals and allows them to share their story. I liked how the author illustrates how we each are here for a reason. When we all work together with our gifts we are able to overcome the enemy.

The author writes in a way that captures the elegance of all that has been created. Reading the chapters I stated to see a pattern of life, beauty, color, sweet smells and everything that is good in the world. There is adventure in the story as well as decisions that enhance the point that we each have choices to make.

Prophecy is evident in the story and I liked how Oracle with wisdom, power and grace wanted to see it brought forth. Great read and one that will have you thinking long after you close the book.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, December 12

Vicky Sluiter, December 13 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 14

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 15 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 15

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 16

Simple Harvest Reads, December 17 (Author Interview)

Denise L. Barela, December 17

Aryn The Libraryan, December 18

For the Love of Literature, December 19 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 20

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 21 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, December 22

Blossoms and Blessings, December 23 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, December 24

Stories By Gina, December 25 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Kurt is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, a detailed digital map of the entire six-book tale, a paperback copy of the book, and an audiobook copy of the book!!

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/00adcf54120

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

About the Book

Book: The Maiden Without Hands

Author: Michelle Redmon

Genre: Christian Fantasy

Release date: March 12, 2022

A mutilated healer with a tender heart, an anguished king with a missing twin, and a maniacal sorcerer who intends to have his way no matter the cost are inextricably connected in this retelling of a little-known fairy tale called The Maiden Without Hands.

When Elia and her parents take in an injured stranger, they have no idea of the chaos he will shortly bring to their lives. The stranger, a sorcerer named Thorn, becomes enamored of Elia. When he is rebuffed, he commits an unthinkable act, leaving Elia maimed, distraught, and separated from her family.

Adam is the ruler of Haven, a role he always expected to share with his twin sister. When the latter suddenly disappears, he is consumed with his need to find her. Will he ever find peace–even if he doesn’t find his sister? How will the disfigured young woman he finds along the way help him? And what will happen when the sorcerer finds them both?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Michelle Redmon is a self described “Jill-of-all-trades”. In addition to being an author, she is a visual artist, award winning vocalist, former children’s pastor, worship leader, homeschooling mom and cat lady. The most important thing that she is, is a follower of Jesus. Currently, she lives in Overland Park, KS with her husband, two kids, three cats and a dog.

More from Michelle

I have always loved fairy tales. From the time I could read, I loved curling up with a book of fairy tales, immersing myself in imaginary lands where kings and queens ruled, unicorns were real, and everyone (eventually) had their happily ever after. As I grew older, the love for fairy tales turned into a love for fantasy novels. My fascination with words in general turned into a love of writing, so, naturally, I began to write fantasy.

The Maiden Without Hands came to be because I had been wanting to retell a fairy tale in my own way. I didn’t want it to be one with which everyone was familiar, so I began reading through old Brothers Grimm books, focusing on their lesser known stories. When I came across the story of a virtuous young woman tormented by an evil sorcerer, I knew I had found my tale. What appealed to me was the fact that there were already some Christian elements to the story. I took the skeleton of the story and fleshed it out, adding my own elements to create The Maiden Without Hands.

It’s my hope that this tale will transport you to the world of Haven, and that the characters will resonate with you as they cry, laugh, dream, and discover their faith. It is also my hope that you will find something stirring in your own soul as you travel through the pages of this book.

So, are you ready? Once Upon a Time…

MY REVIEW

Before beginning this book I decided to skip to the end and read the original fairytale the author provided. I was not familiar with this one at all. After reading it I saw how the book and fairytale were similar. This is definitely not a book from young children because of how graphic it is at times.

The beginning pages show that a man known as Thorn was conceived out of a violent event. His mother hated him which caused him so much anger. When he becomes ill as a grown man he is taken in by Elia and her mother. Elia senses that he can’t be trusted and tells her mother she doesn’t want to be around him.

Day after day she feels his stares and continues to let her mother know how uncomfortable she is around him. I did like how she shared her faith with Thorn. He reacts with anger and wants nothing to do with this God she talks about. Thorn thinks Elia is his soulmate but he can’t be around someone who is a Christian. It turns out that Thorn is a sorcerer and uses magic on Elia .

It is a twisted mind that overtakes Thorn as he does the unthinkable. Greed and deceit storm in the room as Elia stands steadfast in God. Thorn must take away her ability to run away and then she will need him to care for her. Don’t miss this part where God shows Elia that He will send an angel to help her in her distress. God tells Elia, “in our darkest hour we must remember that God is right there with you.”

I adored Adam and how protective he came to be with Elia. He has no idea he is being watched but danger is very near. It was sad to see that his trusted friend was jealous of him and wanted to find a way to stop him from gaining the throne. There is a lot of deceit throughout the story and it is hard at times to know who to trust.

A very emotional moment in the story is when Elia shared her faith with Adam. She tells him, “He loves you, He wants so desperately to be a part of your life, but He doesn’t go where He isn’t wanted. He’s waiting for you to invite Him.” Those words linger with Adam as Elia leaves the room. Will he allow God to show him unconditional love?

This may have been a hard book to read at times, but I’m glad I finished it. Faith was very important in illustrating how God protects us. Evil is everywhere but we need to be sure we are turning to God for help. Each of us has a choice whether to ask Jesus into our hearts. He will show us that He loves us and forgives us.

God performs several miracles in the story and brought joy and trust into lives. Rejoicing begins when we follow His direction. He sets us free from the plans of the enemy and brings us joy.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Vicky Sluiter, December 9 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 9

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 10 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 11

Simple Harvest Reads, December 12 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, December 13 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 14 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 15

Blossoms and Blessings, December 16 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 17

Artistic Nobody, December 18 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, December 19 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, December 19

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 20 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 21

Guild Master, December 22 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle 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.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54114

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

About the Book

Book: Never Forgotten

Author: Hannah Linder

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical / Regency Romance

Release date: November, 2024

All He Wanted was Justice. All She Wanted was His Heart.

Georgina Whitmore, not accustomed to any man being unaffected by her charms, is plagued with the disappearance and rejection of Simon Fancourt. Twelve years later, Mr. Fancourt returns to British society with two children and a mad hunger for justice.

Racing against time, Simon works to uncover the men responsible for his wife’s horrific murder, protect his children, and fulfill his father’s unexpected will by marrying Georgina—the last thing in the world he wants to do.

Though her heart throbs to accept, she would rather lose him again than have his name without his love. She denies his proposal of matrimony, knowing it will cost them both. But as tragedies unravel and secret enemies narrow their sights on Simon, Georgina risks her life—and her reputation—to protect him and the children. Will the danger scorch them alive? Or will it, for the first time, open his heart to her?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Hannah Linder resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels filled with passion, secrets, and danger. She is a four-time Selah Award winner, a 2023 Carol Award semi-finalist, a 2023 Angel Book Award third place winner, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Also, Hannah is an international and multi-award-winning graphic designer who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and international bestsellers. She is also a self-portrait photographer of historical fashion. When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments—piano, guitar, ukulele, and banjolele—songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, square dancing, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse.

More from Hannah

We seldom know anyone. I mean, really know them. We brush hands with people, laugh with them, tell them our stories, listen to theirs, and think we know them.

But we don’t.

We have no idea what thrums in their heart, late at night, when they burrow their face into a wet pillow. We have no idea what they fear. We have no idea what beautiful thoughts dance in their mind, or what ugly mysteries harden like lava in the pit of their chest.

“We all have secrets,” Georgina Whitmore, our heroine in Never Forgotten, once said to Mr. Simon Fancourt. He didn’t understand. He didn’t even suspect.

Because he’d sat beside her a hundred times.

Played whist with her.

Rode alongside her in summer carriage rides.

Smiled at her—emptily—and cringed a little when she smiled back.

If you had asked him, at seventeen years old, if he knew Georgina Whitmore, he would have been earnest in his answer. “Yes.” Lovely. Soft. Teasing. Ridiculous. Shallow. All attributes he professed to know only by their brief, passionless courtship.

She was more than he had ever noticed.

Deeper than he had imagined.

Perhaps if he had looked longer, prodded harder, he might have seen a glimpse of what dwelled in the heart of the woman he was betrothed to marry. How long is too long? How many years may blindness, ignorance, and prejudice be forgiven? Even if Simon finally discovers the loveliness of her heart, will it be too late?

If you walk away from Never Forgotten with nothing else, I hope you feel challenged to look deeper. As you’re brushing hands, laughing, telling stories—I hope you stare into people’s eyes and search for a bit of their soul.

We’re all more than what we seem.

We all have secrets.

Like Simon, you may discover the people around you are more beloved, dear, and wonderful than you ever imagined.

MY REVIEW

What a beautiful story of forgiveness and unconditional love. The two main characters shine as they struggle through acceptance, overcoming anger, revenge and ultimately seeking redemption. There are some sensitive subjects in the book which is handled nicely. I appreciate how the story flows and how the characters are developed.

Georgina is a wonderful character who has never gotten over the rejection of a certain man. The years pass but she still remembers what could have been. I liked how she kept in touch with who could have been her mother-in-law. Their relationship is special and helps Georgina feel close to her true love.

Simon has a hard road ahead after a tragic accident that left him heartbroken. The bitterness he now carries is eating him up. With two young children he has no choice but to do something he thought he would never have to do. His children are so sweet and have been through a hard time. I began to wonder if this could be a bit about the prodigal son.

With a bit of mystery added to the story I found myself quickly turning pages. It was easy to relate to the characters and feel their emotions. I enjoyed how the author brings the story to life with illustrations that span several topics. Don’t miss this story that will stay with readers for a long time.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Alena Mentink, December 6

Book Looks by Lisa, December 6

Inspired by Fiction, December 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 8

Stories By Gina, December 9 (Author Interview)

Pens Pages and Pulses, December 9

Texas Book-aholic, December 10

Cover Lover Book Review, December 11

Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 11

Betti Mace, December 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 13

Mary Hake, December 13

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 15

Pause for Tales, December 16

Books You Can Feel Good About, December 16

For Him and My Family, December 17

An Author’s Take, December 18

Sylvan Musings, December 18

Holly’s Book Corner, December 19

Giveaway

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

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/00adcf54111

Monday, December 9, 2024

About the Book

Book: All Together West: A Ginnie West Adventure

Authors: Monique Bucheger & G.L. Rasmussen

Genre: Upper Middle Grade

Release date: December 5, 2024

Families are complicated… and no one knows that better than 12 year-old Ginnie West. With her dad engaged to her best friend’s mom, this summer should be a dream come true. However, the return of Tillie’s birth father muddles the girls’ celebration.

To complicate matters further, Ginnie finds herself in the midst of an escalating prank war with her mischievous Uncle Jake, drawing the entire family into the chaos. The West/Stratton/Taylor families must come together and heal, allowing her great-uncle’s cherished motto, “When you’re here, you’re family,” to hold true once more.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Authors

Monique is a bestselling author, a certified Farland Fiction Coach, and an empowerment speaker, dedicated to championing the underdog, in both her writing and real-life adventures.

Having a heart for families in crisis, Monique creates stories that capture the essence of real-life challenges and triumphs, with a touch of humor.

Monique’s upper upper middle-grade series, ‘The Ginnie West Adventures,’ delves into sensitive and weighty themes such as parental loss, abandonment, and overcoming abuse. She delivers stories not only for tween readers, but for those young at heart.

Drawing from her experiences nurturing a dozen of her own children and fostering over a hundred more, Monique’s experiences shape her books, creating novels in a number of genres, including a historical family saga, contemporary family dramas, a fun picture book, and a middle grade series weaving whimsy and heart into her tales.

A country boy by birth and by choice, Gary spent his youth working on the family farm, for local farmers and ranchers, on horseback or playing sports. Offered scholarships in Agriculture and Advertising Design, he opted for the bright lights and big city. Eight years in the advertising field convinced him that wasn’t where he wanted to be.

Gary freelanced in design and illustration, converted his love of writing for advertising to a newspaper column about the country lifestyle. He has also worked as a ranch manager, cowboy, rancher, and horse trainer. An avid painter and author, Gary shares his talents through mentoring others, is a past president of the Western Art Guild and Idaho Writers League and is an active member of Western Writers of America.

Gary and his wife, Margie are the parents of four children and ten grandchildren and have traveled extensively throughout Europe, Great Britain and the United States.

More from Monique

All Together West: A Ginnie West Adventure is an accumulation of many arcs, including getting to know some family members that Ginnie didn’t even know existed not very long ago. These blasts from the past make Ginnie and Tillie’s present very interesting.

When Monique and G.L. wrote Book 5: Chase Your Dreams West: A Ginnie West Adventure, it turned into a very long book and was split almost in half–with some storylines going into Book 5 and others into Book 6. A new plotline was added to weave a more interesting tale that readers have really liked. In fact, while Ginnie and Tillie have puzzled along trying to solve some riddles, readers made some interesting guesses that have given the authors ideas to add to future novels.

So put on your thinking caps and jump right in with your best guesses as the girls go on a treasure hunt. Who knows what they might find as they search for clues from the present to fill in gaps from the past? Their hunt might lead to an amazing adventure in the future.

MY REVIEW

Another adventure with Ginnie , her friends and family make this story a fun read. If you haven’t read the others in this series, it would be helpful so you can follow the characters better. There is a wonderful family theme in the book and shows how blended families can work out.

Complications arise when jealousy sets in and an unexpected person shows up to shake up the story. I enjoy how the author illustrates the struggles a young person may face and how faith is the key.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 5

Stories By Gina, December 6 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, December 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 7

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 8 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 9

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 10 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 11

Fiction Book Lover, December 12 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 13

Vicky Sluiter, December 14 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, December 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 15

Guild Master, December 16 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 17

Blossoms and Blessings, December 18 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Monique and Gary are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54110

Sunday, December 8, 2024

About the Book

Book: Seeking Simon

Author: Susan Pope Sloan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: November 26, 2024

When a mysterious stranger claims to be her fiancé, the fight to save her land turns into a battle for her heart.

Daviana Spalding dreams of leaving Georgia in search of a place where she can prove her worth as more than a claim to land. And when a handsome and kind stranger wanders onto the farm in need of help, she can’t help but see him in those dreams too. Yet those are only daydreams…until the Freedmen’s Bureau shows up threatening to take their land, and her guest steps forward claiming to be her betrothed.

Simon McNeil is a man haunted by his past and his time in a Confederate prison, seeking redemption and a fresh start back in Alabama. But his journey home is delayed when a bout of malaria keeps him bedridden, depending on strangers for help. As Daviana nurses him back to health, Simon is drawn to her strength and beauty, and when her home is threatened, he steps in to help.

When their fake engagement becomes real, Simon and Daviana must confront their feelings for one another as they face escalating threats that could tear them apart. And when a long-lost friend returns, all their plans could come crashing down.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Born into a family of storytellers, Susan Pope Sloanpublished her first articles in high school and continued writing sporadically for decades. Retirement provided the time to focus on writing and indulge her avid interest in history. Her Civil War series begins (and ultimately ends) in her home state of Georgia with references to lesser-known events of that period. She and husband Ricky live near Columbus where she participates in Word Weavers, ACFW, and Toastmasters.

More from Susan

When I started the series, I thought it would stop with the end of the war, but I became intrigued with the McNeil family who lived near the Alabama-Georgia line. (My family also is scattered on both sides of that state line, but farther south.)

Troy McNeil and his brothers had fought on opposing sides, which could lead to some tense moments. Simon became the prodigal son longing to go home after a long separation. This book delves into the relationships within the McNeil family and also with their former slaves. As a Southerner who grew up in the 1960’s, I’m well aware of the cultural distinctions that existed during that time, but I also know that relationships between individuals can emerge despite those distinctions. I believe the same could have happened in the previous century.

Seeking Simon also let me bring back that rascally Rufus Spalding from Loving Lydia. Rufus was a fun character to write, but I hadn’t paid much attention to his daughter, who was destined to become Simon’s love interest. Dottie/Daviana Spalding represents many women of the Civil War, who struggled within the confines of the old socio-economic system and longed for personal significance, symbolized here by the change in her name.

I pray that reading this book will encourage those who feel insignificant and long to matter in their world and also those who are praying for a prodigal to return. My favorite line from the book is “Every prodigal runs out of road sooner or later.”

Thank you for taking a look at Seeking Simon.

MY REVIEW

I often wonder how many marriages survived during a time when marriage for convenience was practiced. In this story we see two people who need each other and decide to marry. I don’t want to forget to let readers know that the opening pages of this book are emotional but needed as the story continues. I appreciate how the author gives us a look at a time period that was hard for many.

Daviana is a good character who has overcome many things in her life. She desperately wants to save the family place. The fear of someone coming in to take the land gives her reason to look at different options. I liked how she was guarded around strangers but showed grace when needed.

Simon is a man who is trying to start over after a traumatic event. It is hard for him to share what he went through. When he meets Daviana and her father he is in need of help. As his strength is restored he finds himself wanting to stay. His decision will change his life but is it the right choice?

With the backdrop of a war and tension mounting between neighbors the story is emotional and faith filled. The characters struggle with trust and must learn to see past circumstances they had no control over. Will Daviana and Simon find happiness? Can they overcome their past to start a new beginning? Grab a copy and find out these answers in this moving story.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.