Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Not Precisely Mr. Knightley Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Not Precisely Mr. Knightley (The Silver Teapot Series Book Two)

Author: Carolyn Miller

Genre: Romance/Contemporary/Christian Fiction

Release Date: May, 2026

Can the Matchmaker Find True Love?

Emma-Jane (EJ) Bennett and Jordan Knight are longtime best friends who codesigned the immensely successful dating app, Dream Match. Success starts to go to EJ’s head when she gets caught up in the famous and money-hungry social circles and starts dating the son of a TV mogul. But Jordan’s feelings have grown from friendship to more. He determines to protect her by exposing Eric Churchill for the two-timer he is, finally agreeing to attend a function with her at the Sydney Opera House. But his best intentions go awry when EJ is embarrassed and runs for the security of home, small-town roots, and The Silver Teapot Café, feeling like Jane Austen’s chastised Emma—only without her Mr. Knightley.

Don’t miss book 1 in The Silver Teapot series, Not Exactly Mr. Darcy

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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

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

More from Carolyn

Do you know someone who has found love online?

I do. I have numbers of friends and even a family member who have found love and married thanks to dating apps and the like. This newer form of meeting people is something I’ve referenced in several of my books (including Only You Can Love Me), as several of my characters have used an app called Dream Match, a romance matchmaking app for Christian singles around the world. But when I first mentioned Dream Match years ago I didn’t realise at the time that I’d end up writing a story about how the inventor of Dream Match would finally meet her match.

And it seemed perfect to me that Jane Austen’s Emma Woodhouse, known for her matchmaking skills, should be reflected in a modern day context as being the ultimate matchmaker, EJ Bennett, who is responsible for helping hundreds of people find love online. Even if she doesn’t think she needs or wants love for herself.

Playing with Jane Austen’s characters and putting them in a modern setting is a lot of fun. So not only does Emma Woodhouse become EJ Bennett, but George Knightley becomes EJ’s best friend and app co-designer Jordan Knight, the straight shooter she needs. And Frank Churchill, the man Emma starts to fall for, becomes Eric Churchill, son of a TV mogul squillionaire.

The first book in The Silver Teapot series, Not Exactly Mr. Darcy, also played around with some of Austen’s settings, placing the story in a small town in Australia called Wattle Vale. I had fun further developing the Australian connections by setting other key scenes in iconic places like the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach, which naturally meant I had to visit for “research.”

So I hope readers enjoy this little taste of Australia, and all the fun references to Jane Austen’s Emma. Be sure to check out my website and follow me on social media for more Jane Austen inspiration and fun, and get ready to enjoy Not Precisely Mr. Knightley, a sweet and swoony best friends-to-more romance that shows the path to true love is never smooth – even for the professional matchmaker.

Happy reading!

MY REVIEW

EJ is a character many can relate to. She has big ambitions and finds herself bored at her job. With the development of Dream Match which she and her best friend Jordan designed a new chapter unfolds for EJ. I loved the friendship between the two and how they share a desire to help others with their website. We begin to see EJ start to lose a little of herself when she gets a taste of a lifestyle she isn’t accustomed to. Oh how that ugly world slowly impacts EJ in ways Jordan never thought he would witness.

The author does an amazing job of having faith the center of this story. Jordan begins to feel EJ slipping away and realizes he has deep feelings for her. There was a little jealousy on Jordan’s part when another man enters EJ’s life. How can he compete with flashy cars, fancy parties and a hefty bank account? Jordan wrestles with what to do when an unplanned incident happens. The exchange of words between EJ and Jordan are harsh especially when others witness the argument.

What I really liked was how we see EJ trying to prove herself to others and make bad decisions. She has this need to be accepted but doesn’t realize that her acceptance from the wrong people may pull her away from God. Jordan must face his own insecurities when he lashes out at EJ because he is jealous.

The story illustrates that it is never too late to ask for forgiveness. We all make mistakes but when we ask God for help He is always there. I like how the story is relatable and shows how everyday struggles can steer us away from God if we don’t stay grounded. We need to remember that we are always good enough in God’s eyes.

“Sometimes people need to hit rock bottom before they can finally realize that’s not where they want to be.”

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 28

Book Looks by Lisa, May 28

The Sacred Line, May 29

All-of-a-kind Mom, May 29

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 30

Pause for Tales, May 30

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 31

Stories By Gina, June 1 (Author Interview)

To Everything There Is A Season , June 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 2

Texas Book-aholic, June 3

For Him and My Family, June 4

Lyssa Loves Books, June 5

Wishful Endings, June 5

Fruitfully Planted, June 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys , June 6

Cover Lover Book Review, June 7

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, June 7

Melissa’s Bookshelf , June 8

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 8

Blossoms and Blessings, June 9

Holly’s Book Corner, June 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carolyn 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.

https://gleam.io/doE7D/not-precisely-mr-knightley-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Psalms from the Sea, Volume IV: OPERATIONS Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Psalms from the Sea, Volume IV: OPERATIONS

Author: David Reid Brown

Genre: Christian Devotional

Release Date: October, 2025

DID YOU KNOW? YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK HAS A LOT IN COMMON WITH THE LIFE OF A NAVY SAILOR!

Yes! It seems too hard to believe but it is true. Sailors experience hardship, trust, fatigue, worry, disappointment, joy–and so do you! A sailor’s life is filled with the common experiences you have every day of your Christian walk.

OPERATIONS is a compilation of over fifty devotional stories composed by DAVID REID BROWN while he served at sea. These stories present the life of sailors in a way that touches on topics that mirror your daily Christian walk. Each story concludes with a practical application section, relevant scripture, and prayer.

DAVID REID BROWN has first-hand knowledge in understanding the life of a Sailor because he lived it. As former Navy Chaplain, he also understands Biblical truth and how to identify spiritual principles and experiences that Christians and sailors share.

In this book, readers will be:

Surprised to learn the daily lives of Christians and Sailors are quite similar.
Inspired by sea stories that connect with Biblical truths.
Amazed by the selfless sacrifice of Sailors, Marines, and their families.

Still curious? Read this book and find out how God will meet your curiosity with a stronger faith in Him and a deeper admiration for the service of military members and their families.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

David Reid Brown is a retired Navy Chaplain and currently serves as a high school Government, Bible, and Art teacher at Grace Christian School in Mechanicsville, VA. He has authored nine books: Spirit Soundings: A Chaplain’s Journal of Life at Sea (three volumes), Lost Summer, and Psalms from The Sea (four volumes), and a book of poetry, Sophia’s Songs. These inspirational stories were born out of his global seafaring experiences, spanning twenty-one years of peace, war, and three overseas deployments as well as his service as a Christian educator.

More from David

Did you know? The art on the front cover of my book, OPERATIONS, was designed and created by one of my Ninth Grade Art Students. Yes, it’s true. I recognized that this young artist had the technical skill and artistic flair to create the unique cover art required for this book when he was just in the sixth grade!

FOR OVER TWENTY-ONE YEARS, I have had the distinct privilege of serving thousands of sailors, Marines, and their families across the nation, upon every major ocean, as well as overseas. I am most proud to have shared a common bond of service, sacrifice, and devotion. OPERATIONS is my patriotic tribute to them.

MY REVIEW

I appreciate how this book is geared toward sailors. We don’t hear much about their hard work and sacrifice. From first hand account by the author he shares many topics that are relatable to this incredible group of men and women.

I did laugh when I read that the author gets seasick. Probably not a good idea to find out when you set out for your new career. I’m not sure I would do well on a ship either so I did feel for him. At that moment he was angry with God but there is a lesson waiting for him.

With different accounts of his service, the author gives us insight into the ins and outs of being a sailor. I like how each chapter has scriptures, prayers , Biblical or personal stories and a place to jot down notes. Sailors learn to take each day one a time and appreciate their surroundings. They must learn to work as a team and be there for each other. As the author says, “ Every day is not, “ Just another day at Sea” but rather a gift from God.

I found that the book is relatable to everyone and encourages all to look for God in every situation. I learned a lot about sailors and the trials they go through. Months spent at sea away from family can be difficult. Thank you to all the men and women who serve our country.

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

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, May 29 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, May 30 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, May 31 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 31

Fiction Book Lover, June 1 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, June 2

The Bookish Ledger, June 3 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, June 4 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, June 5 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 6 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 7

Blossoms and Blessings, June 8 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, June 9 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 9

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 10 (Author Interview)

Books, Books, & More Books, June 11 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/UBDhA/psalms-from-the-sea-volume-iv-operations-celebration-tour-giveaway

Monday, June 1, 2026

Chaos Woods Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Chaos Woods, Chronicles of the Ever-Guise, Book I

Author: Scott T. Barnes

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Release Date: November 14, 2025

After a thieves’ auction goes wrong, young barmaid Telyn Brower winds up with a shard from a magical mask.

Only one problem: In this world, humans are forbidden to use magic. In fact, they’re the only sentient beings without any innate magical powers.

That doesn’t stop Telyn and her friends from using the mask to improve life in their isolated mountain town of Harlech.

At first, the changes seem small. Helpful. Necessary.

But good intentions only carry them so far.

Soon, lies begin to surface. Trust erodes. With every spell they cast, the mask tightens its grip. The power is seductive, addictive. The consequences are dangerous.

As the subjugation of humans intensifies and enemies draw near, the only way out seems to lie deep in the Chaos Woods—an ancient forest where magic itself bends and frays.

To survive, the friends must face the cost of their choices and decide whether they can truly trust one another.

Discover the young adult fantasy Chaos Woods, rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by IndieReader, and described as “an ambitious, character-driven fantasy.”

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

An afficionado of small towns, forests, and mountains, you can find Scott T. Barnes writing in coffee shops all over Southern California. Scott won the Writers of the Future Award for his story “Insect Sculptor.” His contemporary fantasy, Memories of Lucinda Eco, set in Baja California, received a coveted “Editor’s Pick” from BookLife, while his epic fantasy Chaos Woods earned 4.8 out of 5 stars from IndieReader. Kirkus Reviews called it, “An absorbing, character-driven YA tale of camaraderie and redemption.”

More from Scott

One of the things that makes the fantasy genre so powerful, so important even, is that it often deals with existential questions, especially life versus death and good versus evil. Many other genres shy away from such question, or pretend that evil is, in fact, “relative.”

However, sharing the same stakes also means that many fantasy tales may come to resemble one another a little too much.

For Chaos Woods, I wanted to do something a little bit different. Given that the main character winds up with a magical mask, it did not take long to realize that the primary stakes of this story would be truth versus lies. This realization made the writing of the story much easier. Conflict and confrontation came easily through the turning of these two poles. This led IndieReader in a 4.8/5-star review to remark, “Scott T. Barnes delivers a richly imagined, character-driven coming-of-age fantasy that balances cozy adventure with thoughtful themes of morality, addiction, and the consequences of one’s choices.”

In addition to unique stakes, there is a lot of me in this tale. I grew up in a gold-mining town, surrounded by fields and live oak stands, and the mountains, forests, and small-town vibe enrich Telyn’s adventures. I hope the reader finds the Chaos Woods a place they want to visit again and again.

MY REVIEW

I was a bit overwhelmed with how many pages were in this book. It did take me awhile to get through it because I’m not a huge fan of fantasy. However I will say that the author does a good job of giving us a fantasy world where action is abound. The mention of magic in the book gave me a bit of pause, but understood the purpose of it in this epic story.

The beginning is what grabbed my attention with an auction that goes haywire. A mere human who is given magic causes “chaos.” This begins the adventure with Telyn. What will Telyn do with this mask that is forbidden to her? The question for me was would temptation cause her to do things she would normally not do?

With her friends, Telyn escapes into the woods where danger lurks. You can feel the uproar as this group has to be on guard at all times. Hunted by evil Telyn must try to outwit those who want to do her harm. I did like how the author keeps the action going and gives readers a look at another world with vivid descriptions. Surprisingly I did get so involved in the story that the pages just flew by. Don’t let the length of this book intimidate you. It is worth every moment you spend reading this wonderful story.

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

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, May 27 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, May 28 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, May 29 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 29

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 30

Fiction Book Lover, May 31 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, June 1 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, June 1

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 2 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, June 3

Books, Books, & More Books, June 4 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 5 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, June 6 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, June 7

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, June 8 (Author Interview)

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, June 9 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/E1JY7/chaos-woods-celebration-tour-giveaway

Thursday, May 28, 2026

Anchoring You Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Anchoring You

Author: Robin Patchen

Genre: Christian romantic suspense

Release Date: May 12, 2026

On the glittering waters of the Caribbean, a yacht captain’s fight for survival forces her to rely on a man she swore she’d never trust.

A fiercely independent yacht captain, Kenzie Wright has spent her life disregarding her family’s expectations. She thrives on freedom, charting her own course, and never staying in one place—or with one person—for long. But when a routine voyage thrusts her into the crosshairs of a deadly drug cartel, her carefully crafted agenda is blown apart. Her last hope to save herself and her crew is the partying playboy, Jaz.

DEA informant Jasper Aylett has spent years hunting the cartel leader known only as “the Phantom.” The mission has cost him everything—his family, his reputation, and his chance at redemption. When a beautiful yacht captain gets caught in the Phantom’s web, Jaz risks his life to rescue her. It’s his last chance to secure the information he needs to take his enemy down—and get his life back.

Kenzie is forced into hiding with Jaz, and now two cartels want her dead. With their lives on the line, Kenzie and Jaz must work together to unravel the Phantom’s network before it’s too late. But the closer they get to the truth—and to each other—the more their past wounds and buried fears threaten to tear them apart, leaving them vulnerable to an enemy who won’t stop until they’re both destroyed.

From a USA Today bestselling author… Don’t miss this heart-pounding suspense and swoon-worthy romance as Kenzie and Jasper discover their fight for survival—and for love—can only be won together.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Coventry Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. Working in marketing, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while homeschooling her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.

More from Robin

Too Far Gone? Writing a Prodigal Hero

When I started writing Anchoring You, I knew the hero was going to be a challenge.

On the surface, Jaz is everything my heroine Kenzie despises: a charming playboy who flits around the Caribbean with a different woman on his arm every week and a drink perpetually in his hand. When he tries to get to know her, she wants nothing to do with him. She’s heard the rumors. She knows exactly what kind of man he is.

Except she doesn’t know the real Jaz. Nobody does.

Underneath the polished persona, Jaz is drowning. A gambling addiction led to crushing debt, which led to a desperate deal with a dangerous man, which led to five years of living undercover as a DEA informant. He’s lost everything that matters—his money, his reputation, his relationship with his brother, Noah, and most painfully, his daughter Charlotte, whom he left with Noah to keep her safe from the criminals who control his life.

Somewhere in the midst of all that, Jaz also lost his faith.

The Prodigal Who Doesn’t Come Home

We all know the parable of the prodigal son. He squanders his inheritance, hits rock bottom, and returns to his father’s open arms.

But what happens when the prodigal believes he’s wandered too far, done too much, burned too many bridges to ever find his way back?

That’s Jaz’s life when we first meet him. He tells Kenzie at one point, “I’m not sure if I left Him or if He left me, but God and I haven’t had a relationship since I was a teenager.”

Jaz isn’t angry at God. He’s not wrestling with doubt. He’s just disconnected. Numb. He made choices that spiraled out of control. People got hurt, and somewhere along the way, he decided that men like him shouldn’t expect grace.

I think a lot of people can identify with Jaz, even if their circumstances aren’t as dramatic as his. It’s not always a crisis of faith that pulls us away from God. Sometimes it’s shame, the quiet belief that we’ve disqualified ourselves. We believe grace is real, just not for us.

A Faith That Doesn’t Preach

Kenzie could have lectured him or quoted Scripture at him. But Kenzie, a strong believer, doesn’t preach. Instead, she lives her faith, acting on what she believes. In one quiet conversation, when Jaz confesses how far he’s fallen, she offers him truth without judgment:

“There’s no such thing as too far, Jasper. Not with God.”

Kenzie’s relationship with God is evident in how she treats people, how she handles fear, how she extends grace to a man the world has written off. Kenzie’s witness begins to crack Jaz’s defenses.

Writing Broken Heroes

I’m drawn to characters who carry weight—who’ve made real mistakes with real consequences, not just minor flaws designed to make them “relatable.” Jaz gambled away half his family’s estate. He slept around. He abandoned his daughter—even if it was to protect her. He spent five years lying to everyone he met.

These aren’t small things. I didn’t want to minimize them or sweep them under the rug in the rush to make him likable.

I believe in redemption. I believe people can change—not by willpower but by the power of God.

Jaz doesn’t have a dramatic conversion moment in the middle of the action. His journey back to faith starts with prayer, the gentle testing of God in moments of crisis.

And God answered, protecting and guiding him through the most difficult time of his life. When it was over, Jaz realized God had been there all along.

That’s the heart of the prodigal story, isn’t it? The father doesn’t chase the son down the road. He doesn’t force him to come home. But when the son finally turns around, the father is already running to meet him.

Jaz spent years believing he’d gone too far. Kenzie helped him see that there is no “too far” for God.

Because if grace only works for people who haven’t messed up too badly, it’s not really grace at all.

MY REVIEW

The story starts out with a simple trip across the sea where Kenzie feels at peace. Being the captain puts her in control and centered as she takes her passengers to their destination. I like how she is very strong willed but grounded in her faith. An unexpected “accident” at sea changes her life drastically.

Jasper is a mixture of toughness and caring in his undercover role. He lives a very dangerous life and has given up so much in order to take down a drug cartel. We get to see a vulnerable Jasper at times where he shares his anger with Kenzie about God. The interaction between him and Kenzie allows readers to see how vulnerable they each are.

I liked when Kenzie shared with Jasper that , “ God doesn’t leave us.” Jasper tells Kenzie that he has done terrible things and doesn’t think God is around anymore. How many times have you messed up? Each time we think we won’t be forgiven, God shows us that He loves us unconditionally . Kenzie explains to Jasper that, “God is big enough for our messes no matter how ugly it is. The question isn’t whether He’ll take us back. It’s whether you’ll let Him.”

The author delivers a powerful story of trust, and overcoming your past. Both characters find themselves in a cat and mouse game of danger. I like how they open up to each other and allow God to direct their path. As they get deeper into the story, the only way to survive will be to rely on God.

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