Welcome to the Blog Tour for An Unexpected Journey by Ann Elizabeth Fryer, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

MY REVIEW:

Having enjoyed The Hobbit as well as The Lord of the Rings series a number of years ago, I was intrigued by the idea of a Christian regency novel based on The Hobbit. Not sure what to expect I nevertheless agreed to read and review An Unexpected Journey by Ann Fryer.

I am one who mostly reads for enjoyment and rarely attempt to analyze the books I read. It had been quite awhile since reading the Tolkien novel so at first I wondered how this book connected to it. As I read further I found more and more glimpses of similarities so I understood.

Actually I would have thoroughly enjoyed An Unexpected Journey even without its connection to The Hobbit. The well paced narrative was filled with intriguing and eccentric characters that I loved. The story was filled with a bit of action, plenty of suspense, a modicum of danger, and an unexpected romance. All in all, I was well pleased with my experience and would recommend it to all who enjoy a bit of fantasy mixed with mystery and suspense.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by JustReads Publicity. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Title: An Unexpected Journey: A Regency Hobbit Retelling Author: Ann Elizabeth Fryer Publisher: Independently Published Release Date: November 28, 2024 Genre: Regency Romance/Hobbit Retelling

A heritage neither of them desires, a wrong to right. A chance to end a family curse…

When strangers tumble through the doors of once resplendent Grandview Estate, Lady Laura Tamlow is pulled into a rather unexpected journey, away from the village she’s never left along with a gentleman unlike any she’s ever known.

Jonathan Canfield is out of options. And he’d do anything to restore his family fortunes in order to keep them from poverty, including roping Lady Tamlow into playing the part of thief. They must reclaim both his and her family jewels that were stolen the night of the fated Grand Masquerade of 1770, where both the Canfields and the Tamlows fell far from society’s good graces. If only his thief weren’t so lovely, he’d be able to focus on the mission without distraction.

But there’s a bigger problem at hand. The jewels reside at Lombard Park under the eye of Lord Herrington, a greedy dragon of a man who knows he’s about to die. Yet he has bigger claims than they ever imagined and attempts to steal something far more valuable than family jewels. With deception afoot, will Jonathan ever see Lady Tamlow again?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

**The author is offering free swag to the first 20 people who purchase a paperback/hardcover book. Proof of purchase required.**

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ann Elizabeth Fryer loves nothing more than using story and romance to relay the depths and graciousness of a Father who holds us securely in the palms of His hands. Daydreaming her surroundings from a young age, she’s lived in historic homes most of her life and regularly participates in backyard archaeology. When she’s not writing historical projects, her contemporary novels show a flavor of her forever-passion for all things old. Ann, her husband, and three children make their home in small-town Illinois where they can hear church bells keep time and tradition.

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

GIVEAWAY:

(1) winner will receive a hardcover copy of An Unexpected Journey, a tote bag, swag, and a $10 Amazon gift card!

(1) additional winner will receive an ebook copy of An Unexpected Journey!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight December 2, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 9, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Darkness Deepens by Sara Davison, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

MY REVIEW:

The second book in Sara Davison’s The Day Draws Near series, The Darkness Deepens continues the challenges of Christians who have been deemed possible terrorists following a vicious attack. As more and more regulations are added, the Christians in the country are forced to deny their faith or face the consequences if suspected of breaking even one of the unjust regulations. Meryn has already endured punishment for her actions and must take even more care to follow the rules. Jesse, the man she loves, is a new Christian and also an officer in the military that is in charge of enforcing all the regulations. As the story progresses, each of them as well as others they care for, are forced to endure unspeakable hardships.

The Darkness Deepens may be a speculative novel but those who are paying attention can see the similarities of a future that may very well be on the horizon if something does not change soon. The plot moves along at a steady pace with characters who will find their way into the reader’s heart. Scenes are sometimes sweet and other times heartrending. It is not an easy read but there is much that can be taken away from the story. I personally was torn between reading such a well-written story and my reluctance to experience reading what I feared might happen.

In a story of this type, terrible things happen but the author handles them all tactfully without the gratuitous violence that a secular book might include. If you choose to read it, I believe your faith could be strengthened. I only hope that my faith would be as strong as Jesse and Meryn’s if faced with similar circumstances.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by JustReads Publicity. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Title: The Darkness Deepens Series: The Day Draws Near #2 Author: Sara Davison Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink Release Date: November 15, 2024 Genre: Dystopian Romantic Suspense

Their secrets protect them… but secrets are hard to keep.

No one in the army can find out that Captain Jesse Christensen has become a believer. He and bookstore owner Meryn O’Reilly are forced to meet in secret, facing imprisonment—or worse—if they are found together.

As their relationship deepens, so does Lieutenant Gallagher’s hatred for the Christians in their city, putting all believers, especially Jesse, in extreme danger.

Meryn wants to give her heart to Jesse fully, but her past holds her back. Although circumstances conspire to keep her silent, she needs to tell him her secret so nothing will stand between them anymore.

But when he finds out what she has been keeping from him, nothing will ever be the same.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sara Davison is the author of five romantic suspense series as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Holt Medallion, Cascade, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason.

Connect with Sara at saradavison.org to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

GIVEAWAY:

(1) winner will win a paperback copy of The Darkness Deepens plus a $25 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 18, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 25, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Investigation of a Journalist by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

MY REVIEW:

I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every volume of Danielle Grandinetti’s Harbored in Crow’s Nest series. While the books can easily stand alone, when read in the proper order building blocks are put into place that lead up to the exciting and satisfying conclusion found in Investigation of a Journalist.

Buck Wilson holds the hero spot in this book. He is a fairly new resident of Crow’s Net who has taken over a local organization. Although he has helped residents on more than one occasion, many of the townspeople do not trust him and consider him secretive and suspicious. Readers will get to know the true Buck as the final story plays out in this thrilling novel. Desperate to get his life back, the undercover agent seeks help from Caroline Wagoneer, the woman he practically left standing at the alter. Together, Buck and Caroline continue a charade as they attempt to capture the dangerous criminals Buck must find in order to redeem his reputation.

The suspense filled plot moves along at a steady pace with danger at every turn. The question is, “Will Buck and Caroline reconcile and live happily ever after or will they go their own ways once the case is solved?” I’ll never tell. You need to read it for yourself. Better still get your hands on the entire series. I don’t think you will regret it.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by JustReads Publicity. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Title: Investigation of a Journalist Series: Harbored in Crow’s Nest #6 Author: Danielle Grandinetti Publisher: Hearth Spot Press Release Date: November 19, 2024 Genre: Christian Historical Romance/Suspense

A second chance to set the record straight, and rekindle a lost love.

Wisconsin, 1931—Buck Wilson refuses to accept failure as his reward for all he has sacrificed, but he’s kept secrets for too long to be believed. With his freedom on the line, there’s only one person he trusts to mine for the true story: the woman he left one month before their wedding.

All investigative journalist Caroline Wagoneer wants is to shine a light on the truth wherever darkness threatens to obscure it. Which is the only reason she agrees to help her ex-fiance when he begs for her to go undercover in Crow’s Nest. What she discovers paints Buck in a whole new light.

With lies and rumor hemming them in, Buck and Caroline realize their love may be doomed on the altar of altruism.

Unless love can truly conquer all.

Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy Directly From the Author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

ALSO AVAILABLE:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

?Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea and books. As a FHLCW Reader’s Choice and Selah Award Finalist, she mixes romance, suspense, and history to bring her stories to life. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons.

Connect with Danielle at daniellegrandinetti.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

GIVEAWAY:

(3) winners will each win a paperback copy of Confessions to a Stranger, a Crow’s Nest tote bag, and a Crow’s Nest Journal!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 19, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 26, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

MY REVIEW:

I love how versatile author Kimberly Woodhouse is. Just recently she has taken me from a modern day Alaskan suspense to a no less intriguing historical mystery set mostly at Dinosaur National Monument in Jensen, Utah. A Hope Unburied concludes her Treasures of the Earth series with a most satisfying tale that tweaked my imagination more than once.

I do not remember ever having heard of the “bone wars” so the content of A Hope Unburied was a welcome change. I also loved reading about Eliza, a wealthy young woman who wasn’t afraid to go against society’s mandates in order to fulfill her dream of working as a paleontologist. Not only that, but her close relationship with Devin Schmitt, the son of a servant, defied expectations of one of her standing. I loved how he dropped everything to run to Eliza’s aid when she needed him. The possibility of their relationship becoming more than friendship was tantalizing.

A Hope Unburied was filled with well defined, interesting characters, a peek into formerly unknown history, plenty of mystery and suspense, and a bit of romance. The added faith element as both Eliza and Devin learned how to put their trust in God rather than their own strengths was inspirational. I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series. Each can stand on its own but are so much better as a whole.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Book: A Hope Unburied (Treasures of the Earth Book Three) Author: Kimberley Woodhouse Genre: Historical Romance Release date: September 24, 2024 Click here to get your copy!

Beyond the perilous landscape lies a love that defies extinction. . . .

In the bustling world of paleontology in 1916, Eliza Mills defies societal expectations to pursue her passion. Having published her early groundbreaking papers under a false name, she has finally earned her place at the Carnegie Museum and seizes the opportunity to work at Dinosaur National Monument with a renowned paleontologist. But things in Jensen, Utah, aren’t what they appear. When Eliza gets the chance to dig up bones at a ranch with a dark history, it sparks a chain of events that will rock the very fabric of her carefully constructed world.

Devin Schmitt, Eliza’s closest friend since childhood, harbors unspoken feelings for her but knows he will never be able to win her heart. Just as he vows to give her up for good, Eliza begs him to visit her in Utah for another grand adventure. He reluctantly agrees, and within a few days of his arrival, he and Eliza find themselves entangled in a web of danger where the stakes are much higher than they ever anticipated. Together, Devin and Eliza must hold on to God as their hope as they navigate a treacherous terrain of betrayal to unbury the truth and save Eliza from those who wish to see her fail.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of thirty-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandkids, and research all the history around them.

MORE FROM KIMBERLY:

A couple of years ago, I asked readers on my Facebook page what they were interested in reading in Christian fiction. When one reader and friend suggested I write about the Bone Wars, I was intrigued and instantly excited. I had no idea how much of a blessing writing the Treasures of the Earth series would be.

I traveled all over western Colorado, eastern Utah and southern Wyoming, looking at the incredible displays of bones of magnificent creatures of our past. Stopping at every tiny museum along the way, and even driving miles and miles into the middle of nowhere to find just the right setting for The Secrets Beneath. But it was going to Dinosaur National Monument in Jensen, Utah that truly helped these three books come to life.

The monument was established in October 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson. The 80 acres encompassed the Carnegie Quarry, where paleontologist Earl Douglass was digging, trying to find intact dinosaur skeletons to send back to Carnegie’s museum in Pittsburgh. Eventually, President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the park to encompass more than 200,000 acres.

But this monument wouldn’t exist without the determination of one man: Earl Douglass. I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Diane Douglass Iverson, his granddaughter, during one of my research trips. She was generous with her time and memories as she shared her grandfather’s journals and memories with me. The longer we talked, the more the idea for what would be the third book of this series took shape. Though Earl is not a primary character in Eliza’s story, his presence and impact on the science of paleontology is felt through the pages.

In fact, each chapter of all three books has a quote from the book his son created out of his journal entries, titled Speak to the Earth and It Will Teach You. I am grateful to Diane for the opportunity to share his struggles, hopes, and dreams with my readers.

With this last book, I hope you enjoy Eliza’s joyful spirit, as well as her struggles to find her place in this world. She’s a spirited young woman with a passion for fossils and how God has created this incredible planet. You’ll get to visit Dinosaur National Monument with her, seeing the founding of this great national treasure through her eyes. I hope you love visiting there in your imagination and that you get the opportunity to visit on your own someday. But even more than that, I pray that, like Eliza, you find joy and confidence where God has placed you in His story.

BLOG STOPS:

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 28

Connie’s History Classroom, October 29

Mary Hake, October 29

Holly’s Book Corner, October 30

Cover Lover Book Review, October 31

Pause for Tales, October 31

Book Looks by Lisa, November 1

Lily’s Corner, November 2

Live.Love.Read., November 2

Labor Not in Vain, November 3

GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Kimberley is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon gift card and a paperback set of the Treasures of the Earth series: The Secrets Beneath, Set in Stone, and A Hope Unburied!!

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/00adcf5473/