Sunday, December 21, 2025

The Young Samaritan Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Young Samaritan

Author: J. Schuyler Sprowles

Genre: : Faith Based/ Inspirational

Release Date: January 20, 2024

Is survival enough when faith is tested?

“The Young Samaritan” is a gripping coming-of-age story set in a tumultuous time, where faith, identity, and survival intersect on an extraordinary journey.

Joshua, a young Samaritan boy, is forced to flee his home, thrust into a world that is as dangerous as it is unfamiliar.

Along the way, he encounters a mysterious woman who delivers a haunting vision, a wild dog that stays loyally by his side, and a reclusive uncle whose life is shrouded in secrets. Amidst the chaos of his flight, Joshua discovers uncommon love in a forsaken land.

As Joshua’s journey leads him to a band of sojourners—led by a man called Rabbi—he becomes entwined with a group that many believe to be the Messiah’s followers.

Despite their hesitations, Joshua’s determination to stay with them leads him to a transformative path, one that will ultimately take him to the cross and beyond.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

A Chicago native, Schuyler as a teenager always dreamed of becoming a radio and TV talent. His aspirations led him to Hollywood where he trained as a broadcaster. He began his career as a country music DJ and news reporter in the Southwest. Ultimately he became a TV news anchor in Dallas. In time, Schuyler moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a television news correspondent. This eventually led to a decades long high-profile career in crisis management, political consulting and speech writing. Most recently, Schuyler turned to publishing, founding a family-oriented magazine in Southern California. A lifelong Christian, Schuyler admits to walking away from his faith in the past, only to discover the light of Jesus piercing the darkness to guide him back where he belongs. Inspired by the Gospels, “The Young Samaritan” is his debut novel. He currently lives in Pasadena, California with his wife Maureen.

More from J. Schuyler

The Young Samaritan was inspired by two verses from the New Testament in the Gospel of Mark (14:51 – 52). These brief verses describe an unidentified young man who attempts to intervene in the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is quickly seized by the temple guards but manages to escape their grip, leaving his garment in their hands, as he flees naked into the night. Nothing further about him is ever mentioned in the Bible.

The Young Samaritan is my vision of the backstory for this strange and provocative episode in Jesus’ journey to the cross. The Young Samaritan creates a compelling and transformational epic tale where a fictional literary character (Joshua) collides with biblical history.

MY REVIEW

Sometimes when I start to write a review I stumble over what to say. This book was different. The words flowed so easily. The Bible comes to life in this emotionally filled look at Joshua. We witness Joshua from boyhood to becoming a young man. His destiny was ordained before he was born. I loved how the author captures the heart of Joshua and brings readers a heartfelt story that I couldn’t put down.

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

Blogs Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, December 18 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 19

Artistic Nobody, December 20 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 21

Guild Master, December 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, December 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 23

Fiction Book Lover, December 24 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, December 25 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, December 26 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 27

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 28 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, December 29

The Bookish Pilgrim, December 29

Blossoms and Blessings, December 30 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, December 31

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, J. Schuyler is giving away the grand prize of a $75 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/8KF5J/the-young-samaritan-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, December 20, 2025

The Search for the Shadow Cat Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Search for the Shadow Cat: Book 3 of the Jaguar Oracle Series

Author: Kurt Mähler

Genre: Magical Realism Fantasy

Release Date: October 26, 2025

Venture into a lush, mystically supercharged natural world where the fate of an entire animal kingdom hangs in the balance in The Search for the Shadow Cat, the captivating third installment of the Jaguar Oracle series.

After a long absence from the Rio Grande Valley, the majestic jaguar named Oracle returns for a perilous quest to restore the three feline tribes—bobcat, ocelot, and long-lost jaguarundi: the “shadow cat.”

With Patch the raccoon, Plod the horse, Bog the toad, and the child named Miracle, Oracle navigates a richly-drawn landscape, pressing through pain and perplexity to rediscover ancient wisdom that will awaken creation, from a jabber of green jays to secretive turtles to trees holding on to treasured knowledge. Along the way, Oracle finds an unexpected ally in a conflicted young entrepreneur, while a hermit holds the key to unlocking the jaguar’s destiny.

Blending magical realism, mythology, and environmental advocacy, this pulse-pounding adventure will captivate readers with its tale of courage, honor, and the power of reclaiming our forgotten roots.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kurt helps those who built someone else’s dream finally build their own.

As a speaker, advisor, and award-winning poet, he draws from twenty years of lived experience in forty nations.

He is a sought-after voice on five continents, advising expats in places as challenging as Cuba, Persia, and North Korea. He has published multiple books , hundreds of articles, and well-respected poetry.

Kurt and his wife Karen have been married since 1993 and raised their family in Afghanistan, where they founded a community development agency. They are Americans living in the Emirates with ties to the Gulf Coast, the Rio Grande Valley, Central Texas, Louisiana, and New England.

He writes in the poetic tradition, inspired by the wonder of creation, the mysteries of the Ancient Faith, and the drama of the nations. Guiding sources for his work include the Hebrew prophets, the Desert Fathers, Dante, Milton, George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien.

Why? Because thought leaders go back to the beginning to find the way forward.

The key to the future begins with a memory. Our calling comes from the original self the Creator had in mind when He said, “Let there be you.”

More from Kurt

How do you begin again? How do you take the first step alone?

Sometimes we don’t need a how-to manual to answer these questions. We need an encounter. We need a story.

That’s why I wrote this epic tale.

Saturated with poetry, proverbs, parables, and prayers, this book is in the tradition of the Christian poets and the Hebrew prophets. It is an immersion in a mystically supercharged natural world alongside a very real human drama.

Why? Because poetic storytelling, when done well, gives prophetic insight for the decisions we face. Then we can begin again. Then we can take the first step alone. Then we can do the thing that is in our heart to do. The thing the Creator placed there. Your calling: the original self He had in mind before the Fall when He said, “Let there be you.”

That’s what this story is about.

An epic quest for redemption and self-discovery

Venture into a lush, mystically supercharged natural world where the fate of an entire animal kingdom hangs in the balance in The Search for the Shadow Cat, the captivating third installment of the Jaguar Oracle series.

A long, mysterious absence and the fulfillment of a legacy

The majestic jaguar named Oracle has returned to the Rio Grande Valley to pick up the trail left by the last guardian of this endangered realm, Kahoo the Grave. Awakening a dormant legend, Oracle embarks on a perilous quest to restore the three feline tribes—bobcat, ocelot, and long-lost jaguarundi: the “shadow cat”—to their rightful place as stewards of the animal kingdom.

With Patch the raccoon, Plod the horse, Bog the toad, and the child named Miracle, the jaguar navigates a richly-drawn landscape where created things have a voice. Oracle must press through pain and wrestle perplexity to rediscover the wisdom of the Days of First Things and restore the fragmented animal realm. As he does, creation awakens, from a jabber of green jays to secretive turtles to trees holding on to ancient knowledge.

Reclaiming lost wisdom and honoring our connection to nature

But Oracle is not alone in his quest. He finds an unexpected ally in Tripp Menefee, the ambitious and conflicted young entrepreneur who runs the Eden’s Bend preserve and high-tech ranch, where a rhino, zebras, and other exotic beasts dwell alongside native ones.

Tripp and Oracle forge an invisible partnership as both seek to restore the animal kingdom while Tripp grapples with his own motivations—and the growing affection he has for the woman confronting him on the toll his development plans are taking on the delicate ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the hermit Brazos Ben, who had once nursed Oracle back to health, holds the key to unlocking the jaguar’s past and the secrets of the Lonely Tree at the heart of this landscape. As Ben is forced to confront his own painful history, he must decide whether to help Oracle complete his legacy or remain trapped in the shadows of the past.

MY REVIEW

Welcome to the third book in this incredible series. The jungle comes alive with action, danger and a quest for restoration. I enjoyed the creativity of the story and how you can easily visualize each scene. You are invited to follow the animals as they face incredible challenges and bring a series of action that jumps off the pages.

The author illustrates the importance of working together, finding courage and overcoming obstacles. I could hear the noise of each animal as they joined forces to reestablish lost species of powerful animals that want to survive. Mixed with determination and epic adventure readers will love the world the author has created.

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

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, December 17 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, December 18 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, December 19 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 20

Fiction Book Lover, December 21 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, December 22

Vicky Sluiter, December 23 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 24

For the Love of Literature, December 25 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 26 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, December 27 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 28

Stories By Gina, December 29 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, December 29

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 30 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Kurt is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card; a high-resolution digital map of the entire series, a high-resolution cover, and the audiobook version featuring Nashville actor Zach Lazar Hoffman when it is released!!

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

https://gleam.io/JLkld/the-search-for-the-shadow-cat-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Maxine Justice: Public Offender Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Maxine Justice: Public Offender

Author: Daniel Schwabauer

Genre: Science Fiction

Release Date: November 4, 2025

The case she didn’t need. The client she didn’t want. The trial she couldn’t win.

Fresh off her single-handed defense against alien adversaries in a galactic courtroom, Maxine Justice discovers that saving the Earth is not enough to earn a hero’s welcome back home. Once again broke and now looking for revenge, her return to night court as a public defender takes an immediate detour when she’s tasked with defending a Therapod murder suspect.

The case drags her into the quirky theories of her new client, Father Gilbert Barthes, and the corrupt underbelly of corporate robotics. As her defense takes on global significance, Maxine lands squarely in the crosshairs of new enemies determined to conceal their plans for acquiring the planet. Worse, her probably guilty client may be the only one who can expose what’s really happening.

Stripped of all credibility and most of her friends, can Maxine find some way to save humanity when the world is bent on self-destruction? Or will Earth finally succumb to the most unlikely deception?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Daniel Schwabauer, ThD, teaches English at MidAmerica Nazarene University and writes award-winning fantasy and science fiction novels. His professional work includes textbooks, stage plays, radio scripts, short stories, newspaper columns, comic books, scripting for the PBS animated series Auto-B-Good, and theology. He earned an MA in creative writing under science fiction legend James Gunn and completed his doctoral work in semiotic theology with Leonard Sweet. He lives in Olathe, Kansas, with his wife and dogs.

More from Daniel

I tend to get three questions from people who only know me from the Night Court Channel or watching my defense of planet Earth on the global broadcast that made me famous. To the first, no, I haven’t seen a penny of the money I’m owed because the feds froze ALL of my bank accounts, even my personal savings. Second, traveling in a space-egg with a pastoroid was not as terrifying as it sounds—except that I had no way to escape Counselor Singh’s dad jokes. And third, no, even though my cat is still missing, I do not want one of your kittens, thank you very much.

Maxine Justice, LLC is your only source for first-hand legal advice pertaining to extraterrestrial medical malpractice, predatory off-world time-sharing contracts, and “surprise implants” experiences at the Coliseum.

We’re also the only law firm committed to exposing what’s really happening in the world of artificial humans.

Ever wondered how Counselor Singh could be targeted on the steps of the UN building during a heavily-covered press conference, yet six months later law enforcement still claims they have no idea who the shooter was? Doesn’t it seem odd that they turned the forensic evidence over to Singh’s manufacturer instead of using a neutral third party?

If I were an artificial person, I’d be screaming these questions from the rooftop. Yet we haven’t heard a peep from that community since it happened.

That’s not some wild conspiracy. That’s fear.

Which is where I come in.

If you’re a TheraPod concerned about your future in a world spiraling out of control— if you’re a pastoroid, a rabbot, a podre, an e-mam, a surgicon EZ Doc, or any other model of artificial person and you face a legal dilemma involving your own termination and/or the fate of biological humans, give me a call.

If you’re a regular human and you’ve been railroaded by York City’s legal system, targeted by ruthless corporate bullies, or victimized by inhuman—and I do mean not-at-all-human—business practices, talk to me.

I’m not in it for the money.

I don’t have any!

I’m in it for my name—for Justice.

And I promise you this: I won’t smile until you do.

MY REVIEW

This has been an exciting adventure into the world of robots and technology. As I read the book I kept thinking about how AI has taken over some aspects of our everyday lives. Did you know that in some post offices now there are only robots working? They sort the mail with technology that uses robots instead of humans.

I enjoyed following Maxine as she does her best when assigned to night court. It is not her ideal job but she does take it seriously. Along the way we are treated to characters that allow us to use our imagination and delve into a world where everything is guided by greed and power. A threat of taking over the planet captures the very essence of certain danger.

Maxine does have flaws where she feels intimidated. The author illustrates the struggle within Maxine and her growth throughout the story. The case is high stakes and I wondered at times if Maxine was up for the fight. Those who love science fiction will find this story to have everything needed to keep readers attention.

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

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, December 13 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 14 (Spotlight)

Artistic Nobody, December 15 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, December 15

Blossoms and Blessings, December 16 (Spotlight)

Texas Book-aholic, December 17

Fiction Book Lover, December 18 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain, December 19 (Spotlight)

Blogging With Carol, December 19

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 20

For the Love of Literature, December 21 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 22

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 23 (Spotlight)

Stories By Gina, December 24 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, December 25 (Spotlight)

Books Less Travelled, December 26 (Spotlight)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Daniel 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://promosimple.com/ps/3ede8/maxine-justice-public-offender-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Underestimated Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Underestimated

Author: Sherri Wilson Johnson

Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mystery

Release Date: December 9, 2025

Liam Holcomb is a no-nonsense forensic accountant, not a farmer—but when his grandfather dies under suspicious circumstances, Liam returns to the Anything Goats farm near Nashville to investigate. What he finds buried in old records suggests the death wasn’t an accident—and someone wanted the land badly enough to kill for it.

Wren Meadows, a free-spirited goat yoga instructor and single mom, is busy planning the church’s Christmas celebration at the farm when her daughters witness something they shouldn’t have. Now, threats are closing in, and Liam may be the only one who can protect them.

He’s serious, guarded, and sworn off relationships. She’s sunshine, spontaneity, and a walking invitation to chaos. But as danger deepens and sparks fly, Liam and Wren may discover that opposites don’t just attract—they just might save each other.

A cozy but gripping Christian romantic suspense full of heart, humor, and holiday hope.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sherri Wilson Johnson writes romantic suspense from her home in Georgia where she lives with her husband, their two dogs and spoiled Bombay cat. Sherri loves spending time with family, vacationing at the beach, reading or working on her current work-in-progress. She dreams of a second home on some beach somewhere some day, where she can plot romantically suspenseful novels around the clock.

More from Sherri

In Underestimated, Liam Holcomb cooks his grandmother’s Beef Hash recipe. This is actually one of my mom’s recipes that I cook quite often. She passed away in 1993, and cooking her Beef Hash always brings fond memories to my mind. So I’ll share the recipe with you now. Keep in mind that just like Liam’s grandmother, I use lots of garlic salt. I sample along the way until I get just the right amount of seasoning. You may want to use more or less, depending on your preference.

But here are the basics:

Ingredients:

2 lbs lean ground beef

6-8 yellow potatoes (or 4 large Idaho potatoes) cut into cubes

½ cup finely chopped onions or dried minced onions

2-3 large cut carrots (or a ½ to ¾ bag of frozen cut carrots)

Black pepper to taste

Garlic powder and onion powder to taste

Lawry’s Coarse Ground with Parsley Garlic Salt (This is the secret sauce—use as much as you want to get that good savory flavor to your liking.) (I probably use ¼ cup for a large batch, but I’m not 100% sure, honestly. I always eyeball it and then taste it once it’s done.)

Instructions:

Season the ground beef with the garlic salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Brown, drain and rinse.

Cut the potatoes into cubes and slice the carrots into circles about ½ inch thick. Boil until tender (you can use an Instantpot or pressure cooker). You can add salt to the water, but I usually don’t because I don’t want to overdo the salt. I save the saltiness for the garlic salt.

After the potatoes and carrots are tender, scoop them into a pot with the ground beef and add the potato water as the broth. You can add as much as you like depending on how much broth you like.

Bring everything to a boil, smashing some of the potatoes until the broth thickens.

Toast hamburger buns until crispy then pour the Beef Hash on top and gobble it up.

Serve with a side salad.

MY REVIEW

A goat farm, yoga in the barn and relatives fighting over a will bring thrills and chills to readers. I have heard of goat yoga but as I read the story it became easy to visualize. I don’t know about you, but I have no desire to have a goat stand on my back as I attempt to do poses that I’m sure will break my bones.

Liam is all business and really doesn’t want to take time out of his busy life to deal with his grandfather’s will. It was so sad to read how the family was estranged even during the loss of a family member. There are definitely questions Liam has surrounding his grandfather’s death. Liam finds himself in danger as he seeks answers. Greed does play a part in this story as well as the need for control.

Wren gets by doing goat yoga classes at a farm she calls home. As a single mom to two young girls she loves living at the Anything Goats farm. Her children are happy and enjoy being around open spaces and a farm filled with adventure. Soon danger comes knocking as Wren discovers her girls missing.

The story delivers a slow read but does have mystery and secrets combined to give suspense readers just enough to keep them engaged in the story. It is a little light on a faith element but is a clean read. With sprinkles of shenanigans from the goats, readers are in for an exciting story.

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 9

The Sacred Line, December 10

Stories By Gina, December 11 (Author Interview)

EmpowerMoms, December 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 12

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 13

Simple Harvest Reads, December 14 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 15

Texas Book-aholic, December 16

Artistic Nobody, December 17 (Author Interview)

An Author’s Take, December 17

For Him and My Family, December 18

Betti Mace, December 19

Bizwings Blog, December 20

Because I said so, December 21

Guild Master, December 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tourk, Sherri is giving away the grand prize of a $25 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://promosimple.com/ps/3edbd/underestimated-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, December 12, 2025

Love in the Castle Library Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Love in the Castle Library (In the Castle Library Book 2)

Author: Ann Swindell

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release Date: October 15, 2025

Predictability and efficiency have marked Delphine DuVert’s orderly life as Castle Stewardess in the small European country of Lethersby—until she is tasked by the monarchy to hire a British researcher. Lethersby needs help solving the 100-year-old mystery of their Lost Queen, a young royal who disappeared into the night during World War I.

Delphine’s split-second decision to hire Jack Worthington, a doctoral student at the University of Oxford, has long-lasting consequences when he steps in to protect her from an angry colleague determined to ruin her life. The only catch? That protection looks like Jack posing as her beau.

Jack Worthington believes that his instinct to protect Delphine was the right one, but he’s determined to stay focused on his research for Lethersby—and keep his emotional distance after reeling from a broken heart. Yet as the clues to discovering the Lost Queen’s story unravel and the Delphine’s future hangs in the balance, both Jack and Delphine must step out in faith, choosing to trust that what God has ahead for them is worth any risk.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

ANN SWINDELL writes stories that point to Christ’s presence in our day-to-day lives and the hope He brings to our hearts. She is the award-winning author of multiple books and the owner of Writing with Grace, where she teaches Christ-centered writing classes for women. Ann lives in West Michigan, and she enjoys adventuring with her family…usually with a cup of Earl Grey tea in hand.

More from Ann

Love in the Castle Library is set in two of my favorite places—one imaginary, and one real. When I started the In the Castle Library series, the main character’s journey in book one (Christmas in the Castle Library) takes her to Lethersby, a small, fictional European country full of tradition, beauty, and charm. I tried to put much of what I love about Europe into this fictional country that I wish existed. From what readers have told me, they wish it was real, too!

Book two, Love in the Castle Library, is also set in the castle in Lethersby, but I decided to make my hero and heroine take a jaunt to Oxford, England—my favorite real country outside of the USA.

I spent a summer in college studying abroad in England, and Oxford was the city that captured my heart. The “city of dreaming spires” is ancient, beautiful, and academic—a heady mix for a nineteen-year-old girl who traveled there for the first time. I even gave a nod to one of Oxford’s most well-known professors through the hero’s name, Jack.*

I had the gift of getting to go back to Oxford with my family over a decade ago, and while I’m aching to go again, including some of my favorite places in Love in the Castle Libraryhelped me to enjoy the city vicariously through my characters. Look for some of my favorite places to eat—including Ben’s Cookies and the King’s Arms—when the characters visit. And if you ever have the opportunity to make it to Oxford, make the effort to buy one of those cookies (they’re sold by weight!) and enjoy some ice cream at G&D’s…the hero recommends chocolate of any kind (and so do I!).

I hope you love this story as much as I do, and that these tastes of beautiful places, both real and imagined, point your heart to the beauty of Christ that is at the heart of every story I write.

*Jack was C.S. Lewis’s nickname, and he taught at Magdalen College in Oxford from 1925-1954.

MY REVIEW

This has been such a delight to read this story. The author is creative and brings the characters to life with just the right words. I traveled with the characters as they did research and gave us a blend of intrigue and history. Delphine is a delight and I really liked how her character developed. Her quick decision to hire Jack may be a risky move.

With a guided tour into mystery, readers will be excited to discover secrets, a depth of faith and a beautiful story that leave a lasting impression on those who read the story. I am impressed with the author who creates a place where trust and the love of our Heavenly Father is illustrated with grace.

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