Thursday, May 1, 2025

Lizzie’s Little Mouse (The Heart of the Amish Series Book Eight) by Anne Blackburne

About the Book

Book: Lizzie’s Little Mouse (The Heart of the Amish Series Book Eight)

Author: Anne Blackburne

Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction

Release date: April, 2025

Lizzie Has Dreams That Won’t Be Deterred

Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.

Ever since attending a wedding in Louisiana, Lizzie Miller has been fascinated by French baked goods. With permission of her parents and bishop, she did a two-year internship in a French bakery in New Orleans. When a local Amish bakery became available, she bought it and opened her own French inspired bakery.

But now someone wants her out of business. During her grand opening, a strange man accosts her, then a brick is tossed through her window wrapped in a note telling her to leave. Someone breaks into her apartment above the bakery, and her cat chases the intruder out.

With the help of her friends, Lizzie will get to the bottom of why someone wishes her to fail. And at the same time, she’ll realize that sometimes dreams can be fulfilled with what—or who—was always close at hand, just waiting to be noticed.

Click here to get your copy!

"Lizzie’s Little Mouse" (The Heart of the Amish Series Book Eight) by Anne Blackburne is a mystery. This is a unique story about an Amish bakery owner and why someone is trying to make her give up her dream. It has romance as well. This is the Eight book of the series but can be read as a standalone. I have enjoyed each book of this series. It also has a strong theme of faith and family. I recommend this whole series. I think this book would appeal to readers of mysteries even if they aren't readers of Amish literature. This series would also appeal to animal lovers.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

About the Author

Anne Blackburne lives and works in Southeast Ohio as a newspaper editor and writer. She is the mother of five grown children, has one wonderful grandchild, and a spoiled poodle named Millie. For fun, when she isn’t working on Amish romance or sweet mysteries, Anne directs and acts in community theater productions and writes and directs original plays. She also enjoys reading, kayaking, swimming, searching for beach glass, and just sitting with a cup of coffee looking at large bodies of water. Her idea of the perfect vacation is cruising and seeing amazing new places with people she loves.

More from Anne

I’m so excited that once again, the amazing bloggers who work with Celebrate Lit are going to do a blog tour for my brand new book in Barbour’s “Heart of the Amish” series, “Lizzie’s Little Mouse”!

Lizzie’s story is available now to readers in print and online wherever fine books are sold, and I feel so blessed to have the help of the Celebrate Lit folks in launching this wonderful story.

If you read either of my previous two books in the series, “Ruth’s Gingersnap Surprise” and “Mary’s Calico Hope”, you’ll remember Elizabeth Miller, their sassy friend with the darling Haflinger pony named Goldie who gave Mary a ride one morning before church services. Elizabeth, or Lizzie, was also mentioned in Ruth’s story as one of the lucky recipients of a kitten from their elderly friend, Lydia’s, cat’s final litter.

Lizzie’s cat is a gray kitty she named Petit Souris, which is French for Little Mouse. Why Little Mouse? Because as a tiny kitten, the darling reminded Lizzie of a mouse!

And why the French name? Well, our heroine is not your typical Amish miss. After attending a wedding in New Orleans as a teen and tasting the amazing baked goods for which the city is renowned, Lizzie began dreaming of opening her very own New Orleans style French bakery – in Ohio’s Amish country!

She loves everything to do with New Orleans, and learned to speak their dialect of French while doing an internship in a bakery there when she was 18. Upon returning home she went to work at the local bakery to learn more about the business, and to save up for her dreams.

As the story opens, we find that Lizzie’s dream has come true! It’s opening day of The Plain Beignet, Lizzie’s bakery in Willow Creek, Ohio. Everyone comes out to wish her well, including friends you’ll recognize from my first two books!

But when something unexpected and frightening happens during the grand opening, it becomes apparent that not everyone is as happy as Lizzie and her friends about her success.

Along with some help from her pals, and her best friend Jane’s handsome big brother, John, Lizzie will get to the bottom of the mystery of who wants to put her out of business, and why!

They discover, among other things, that Lizzie’s bakery was the site of a murder a hundred years before! What could this historic crime have to do with Lizzie’s current problems?

As she, John and their friends search for clues, Lizzie will discover that there’s more baking than her latest batch of beignets!

Could it be romance?

Thank you for taking the time to learn about Lizzie’s story! This book is my third in Barbour Publishing’s series, “The Heart of the Amish”. Look for other great reads in the series from authors Mindy Steele and Lisa Jones Baker.

I’m currently writing my fourth book in the series, which will feature a young woman you’ve met in all my other stories, Jane Bontrager.

Just like her friends, Jane received a kitten from their friend, Lydia; a little brown tabby. Her story, “Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer”, is due out in early winter 2026. .

I hope you’re having as much fun reading about these remarkable young women – and their kitties! – as I’m having writing about them. Thanks for being part of our journey!

As for me and mine, we are all well and enjoying spring in southeast Ohio. In other words, enjoying the sunshine, but carrying a sweater and an umbrella, just in case!

God bless you and yours!

Joyfully,

Anne Blackburne

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, April 30

lakesidelivingsite, April 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 1

Carla’s Book Crush, May 1

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 2

Vicky Sluiter, May 2

Simple Harvest Reads, May 3 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Texas Book-aholic, May 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 5

Holly’s Book Corner, May 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 6

Stories By Gina, May 7 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 7

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 9

For Him and My Family, May 10

Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 10

Bizwings Book Blog, May 11

Lily’s Corner, May 12

Little Homeschool on the prairie, May 12

She Lives to Read, May 13

Cover Lover Book Review, May 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Anne is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon eGift 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/00adcf54209

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Home Baked Bribery (Addie Masters Mysteries Book 2) by Gina Holder

About the Book

Book: Home Baked Bribery (Addie Masters Mysteries Book 2)

Author: Gina Holder

Genre: Christian Cozy Mystery

Release date: March 4, 2025

The annual Rockport bake sale and competition is underway. The stakes are higher than ever for the coveted Golden Whisk Award when a high-profile celebrity chef is brought in as a surprise guest judge.

The competition takes a deadly turn when the celebrity suffers an allergic reaction. When Addie’s nemesis, Kennedy Graves is banned from the competition for using almond extract, Addie volunteers to prove Kennedy innocent. As Addie investigates the death, she learns each of the local bakers had a motive to dislike the celebrity. But did one of them kill him?

Meanwhile, hundred-year-old twins, Poppy and Marigold, keep Addie hopping, looking for their missing dogs.

Will Addie be able to uncover the truth behind the celebrity judge’s death, or will she become the next victim of the mysterious shenanigans going on in Rockport?

Click here to get your copy!

"Home Baked Bribery" (Addie Masters Mysteries Book 2) by Gina Holder was a short fun read. It is the second book of the series, I haven't read the first one but want to, but I don't think I missed anything by not reading the first one yet. Yes the book has murdered but it is not in graphic detailing nothing to make the readers to make a reader skirmished. I read this on a cold and rainy day. It was the perfect pastime. Unless, a reader, (unlike me) is good at figuring out who the guilty person is, you don't know till the end of the book, there are reason and clues given that any of the characters could have committed the crime.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

About the Author

Gina Holder is an indie author and stay-at-home mom. She’s had an infatuation with books for as long as she can remember. She loves sharing uplifting messages from God’s Word and introducing readers to new and new-to-them authors on her blog. When she’s not writing, Gina enjoys playing the piano, cooking, reading, watching Hallmark mysteries, and solving “escape room” puzzles. She loves growing in her craft as an author. She published her debut novel in 2017. Gina lives in Wyoming with her husband and daughter.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 25

By the Book, April 25

Vicky Sluiter, April 26

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 26

Book Looks by Lisa, April 27

She Lives To Read, April 28

Leslie’s Library Escape, April 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 30

Madi’s Musings, May 1

Hannahbandanarama, May 1

Texas Book-aholic, May 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 4

Holly’s Book Corner, May 4

Lily’s Corner, May 5

DevotedToHope, May 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 7

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, May 8

For Him and My Family, May 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Gina is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of books 1 and 2 of the series, Handmade Mayhem and Home Baked Bribery!!

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/00adcf54204

Monday, April 28, 2025

Mara, In the Face of Battle (The Victory Series Book Two) by Blossom Turner

About the Book

Book: Mara, In The Face of Battle (The Victory Series Book Two)

Author: Blossom Turner

Genre: Christian Suspense/Spiritual Warfare

Release date: April 22, 2025

She escaped the darkness once… but will she survive its clutches yet again?

Despite scars both seen and unseen from her unimaginable past, Mara returns to the home that once imprisoned her in secrets, lies, and abuse. This time, she’s no longer a victim—she’s a young woman transformed by faith and driven by love. Mara is determined to share with her siblings the hope she’s found in a God who saved her life and filled it with purpose.

Reminded of her past with every look in the mirror, Mara’s heart finds a home in Lucas, a man who loves her beyond appearances. With him, she steps into a new life of joy, ministry, and the promise of forever.

But an unseen battle rages. Mara discovers the enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy is closer—and far more dangerous—than she imagined. Armed with prayer and the Holy Spirit, Mara must confront the forces that seek to crush everything she holds dear. When an unimaginable failure shakes the foundation of her faith, Mara faces her greatest test yet.

Can she trust God is good when life is not? Or will the shadows of her past pull her under once more?

A gripping story of faith, love, and resilience. Turner takes us on a journey that will inspire and challenge readers to find hope in their own darkest moments.

Click here to get your copy!

"Mara, In the Face of Battle (The Victory Series Book Two) by Blossom Turner" kept this reader turning the pages. And yes, the tears fell at the abuse Mara suffered. This book clearly shows that demons are real and also that faith and Bible reading and prayer is an important part of the Christian life. This is the second book in the series, and I really recommend reading the first book first, but a reader could still enjoy this story without reading the first book, but I think it was a better read for reading the first and getting the entire story. This book deals very Sensitive subjects which could be a target for some readers that has dealt with abuse of any kind. This book deals with lies and forgiveness, in other words "Real life" that some readers has dealt with. This book is fiction, but I believe this story happens somewhere to someone every day. I am so glad that there are people in life that are a "Mrs.Liebe".
I hope you are curious enough to see who Mrs. Liebe is and why I am glad there are more Mrs. Liebe in the world to pick up a copy of this book and read it for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

About the Author

Blossom Turner is an award-winning novelist who loves to jump out of planes, garden, and sing… all for fun. She is published in a variety of anthologies, a former newspaper columnist on health and fitness, and a personal trainer. With a passion for words this gifted author brings to life this new series on spiritual warfare with thought-provoking plots and twists that will keep you guessing. Love and deep relationships sprinkled with hope permeate her novels. Check out the award-winning Shenandoah Bride Series about five sisters and their love stories. She and her husband, David, have two grown children and live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, with their Shepherd/Bernese dog named Lacey.

More from Blossom

Have you ever felt like something, or someone is watching you? Have you ever experienced darkness in a fully lit room? Or wondered if a malevolent force was working against you?

We all love stories on angels and God’s love and protection, but we also have an enemy…a living, breathing adversary. Ephesians 6:12 says…For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (NKJV)

This story, Mara, In The Face of Battle… is the second in the Victory Series. The series found me. My genre is historical romance. I was building a following, won some awards, and loved what I was doing. But as I finished up my last series the Holy Spirit made it very clear that Mara would be my next project. From my own personal experience of spiritual warfare where Satan has come to steal, kill, and destroy, (as Jesus warned in John 10:10), I was to write a series on a character named Mara from birth to death. I think this approach is unique in and of itself. But then to weave in the unseen, how angels fight to protect, and the darkness seeks to destroy, adds a whole new and deep dimension.

If you would enjoy a read that is a cross between Frank Peretti books, and Francine Rivers’ character Angel, in Redeeming Love, then you’ll love Mara, In The Face of Battle. In this powerful trilogy, discover a world where spiritual warfare is brought to life, prayer is a weapon, and faith is tested. Expect to be impacted in a way that will change your life story.

You will be entertained, (nothing wrong with that) but you will also come away with a greater appreciation for prayer, for Christ, and His work on the cross. You may even view the trials of your life in a new encouraging way. The battle is real but the One by our side is victorious.

I’d like to end by enclosing an endorsement from bestselling suspense author, Creston Mapes…

“I’ve been watching and waiting for a powerful new voice in Christian fiction, and I’ve finally found it in Blossom Turner and her new thriller, Mara – The Unseen Battle. With spiritual warfare comparable to Frank Peretti, this book was powerfully spiritual and chillingly realistic. It had everything I love in a good novel — tension throughout, great pacing, unexpected twists and turns . . . I can’t wait to read the second book in the series.” — Bestselling Author Creston Mapes

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, April 25

Texas Book-aholic, April 26

Artistic Nobody, April 27 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, April 28 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 28

Fiction Book Lover, April 29 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 30

Stories By Gina, May 1 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 2

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 3 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 4

A Reader’s Brain, May 5 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 6

Leslie’s Library Escape, May 7

Bizwings Book Blog, May 8

Simple Harvest Reads, May 8 (Guest Review from Gail Hollingsworth)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Blossom is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and an autographed 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/00adcf54205

Sunday, April 27, 2025

When the Mountains Wept (West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm Book One) by Kendy Pearson

About the Book

Book: When the Mountains Wept (West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm Book One)

Author: Kendy Pearson

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: April 5, 2024

War brought them together, but one lie holds the power to separate them forever.

Western Virginia’s Kanawha Valley is a hotbed of rebellion tensions and mixed allegiances.

Amid talk of war, Augusta Dabney tends her younger siblings and dying father. But when hatred sparks tragedy, peace is but a shattered memory. Heartbroken and desperate, Augusta searches for a way to protect all she holds dear.

Defying family and friends, Dr. James Hill declines a prestigious commission in the Confederate Army to join the Union cause as a Regimental Surgeon. When the Dabney farm becomes a crossroads of colliding forces, Major Hill commandeers their barn for a hospital.

He is running from his legacy, seeking penance for his past.

She is desperate to preserve hers, at any cost.

As a wise, former slave nurtures James’s battered faith, cynicism crumbles, and James discovers grace and belonging with Augusta and her family unlike any he’s ever known.

But when James comes face to face with his past, secrets unravel until deception ends in disaster, leaving Augusta with only one option.

And it is unthinkable.

Click here to get your copy!

"When the Mountains Wept" (West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm Book One) by Kendy Pearson is a wonderful read. I could see the scenes as I was reading. I really felt some of the character's pain and feelings. It seems like the author really researched the era and the specific battles and I learned a lot about what the war hospitals must have been liked. I especially loved the conversion between Izzy and Dr. Hill about being free and being a slave and that all men are like the slaves before they let Jesus into their lives because "He brought them not with money but with His own blood". If you like romance and Scriptural insight and real history and fiction in one novel, then I recommend this book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

About the Author

Kendy Pearson is a worship leader, Bluegrass fiddler, and Civil War reenactment enthusiast. As a veteran high school teacher, she loves to discover a pocket of American history missing from the schoolbooks and turn that pocket inside out. Her novels lead fictitious characters through historical events and settings, engaging with period personalities. And she always includes a romantic thread to warm the heart. Every story is a journey through tragedy, secrets, regrets, and God’s undeniable grace.

She is the recipient of multiple lit awards and enjoys public speaking and teaching writing workshops. When away from the computer, she relishes ice cream, snowy days, fireplaces, and maple trees. Kendy is the mother of four grown children and lives with her sweet hubby and two amusing miniature dachshunds.

More from Kendy

I was quite happy expressing my inner farm-girl and thriving at all things musical for decades. Until I found myself teaching high school history and raising three sons. I should have saved up a dollar for every war movie I watched! All the men in my family had a great interest in history. I remember watching the boys in a production of King Henry the Fifth, complete with Old English and death by sword. One year, I taught about the Civil War in three different classes, so that era became a favorite interest of mine. I read every Christian Historical novel I could find about the War of Rebellion.

Boy, did I have fun researching! For three months, I pored over the most incredible true stories of families and events, reading even soldier diaries. I created timelines and wrote note cards. I became the student again!

There is much of myself and my life in When the Mountains Wept. The female main character (Augusta Dabney) is part me and part who I long to be. She’s responsible, tough, brave, smart, farmish, doctorly—and she has red hair, freckles, and an Irish complexion that splotches and sunburns. My daughter influenced the 12-year-old sister in the story (she figured that out on her own). Will (Willamina) is a tomboy who will risk trouble for the sake of adventure. She is strong-willed and often has an attitude. (I’m pretty sure that last part was why my daughter figured it out.)

I enjoy a story that makes me laugh, so having three sons, I am pretty familiar with boyish antics. The 6-year-old brother added humor, and a saucy 12-year-old girl provided plenty of fodder, too. The romance between two very different but strong personalities provided an opportunity for a few laughs as well.

If a book makes me cry, it’s a keeper. My story contains painful truths, each rooted in my research. The characters experience the harsh reality of their circumstances. I cried while writing more than a couple of the scenes. It is just plain hard to wrap my head around living smack dab in the middle of war, where your neighbor is your enemy and your home is no longer your own.

I fell in love with the family I created in When the Mountains Wept, hence, I must not consign them to the past. They will live on in this series as each member of the Dabney family shares their own story of adventure, romance, sacrifice, and faith.

Blessings from the Heart of History, my friends!

Kendy