Thursday, September 18, 2025

JustRead Tours Blog Blitz: Rendezvous 2025

Rendezvous '25 JustRead Takeover Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for Rendezvous 2025, hosted, sponsored, and organized by JustRead Publicity Tours!

You are Invited

Rendezvous: reader and writer gathering

November 7-8, 2025

Holiday Inn St Louis SW – Route 66

Join fellow readers and 46 writers at the third annual Rendezvous to celebrate Christian fiction and sweet reads. This event, modeled after the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat, aims to sweeten reading and storytelling experiences with fellowship and encouragement. Activities will include corporate worship, The Christy Award webcast watch party, speaker sessions, author panels, small group discussions, games, giveaways, a pop-up book shop, and author signings.

Two Dogs Publishing, Baker Publishing Group fiction imprints (Bethany House and Revell), Haven Fiction, Enclave Publishing, LiteraryScape, Kregel Publications, and Apothecary Audio have joined The Christy Award Program (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) and JustRead Publicity Tours as event sponsors.

Learn more about the 2025 Rendezvous

Participating Authors

2025 Rendezvous Writers

First Row: Abbey Downey, Amanda Cox, Angela Bell, Ann Elizabeth Fryer, Ashley Worrell, Bethany Turner, Cara Putman, Carol Moncado, Christy Barritt, Connilyn Cossette, Crystal Caudill, Crystal D. Grant.

Second Row: Dana R. Lynn, Dani Pettrey, Danielle Grandinetti, Darlene L. Turner, E. A. Hendryx, Gabrielle Meyer, Heather Kaufman, Jaime Jo Wright, Janilise Lloyd, Jayna Breigh, Jenny Erlingsson, Jessica R. Patch.

Third Row: Jill Kemerer, Joanna Davidson Politano, Karen Witemeyer, Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Kimberly Duffy, Lisa E. Betz, Lisa Phillips, Lisa T. Bergren, Liz Bradford, Lynn H. Blackburn, Megan Besing, Nancy Mehl.

Fourth Row: Robin W. Pearson, Sara Brunsvold, Sara Davison, Shannon Sue Dunlap, Sharee Stover, Sherry Shindelar, T. Elizabeth Renich, Tabitha Caplinger, Tara Grace Ericson, Toni Shiloh.

Keynote speakers are Jaime Jo Wright and Toni Shiloh. Lisa Phillips will lead worship. Kimberley Woodhouse, Lynette Eason, Pepper Basham, and Shelley Shepard Gray are unable to join us. Check out recent releases by participating authors in the JustRead Amazon Storefront.

Register

The registration fee (including a book tote, catered meals, and more) is $200 for readers. This year's gathering is nearing full capacity. Register today!

Subscribe to email updates and learn more about each author on the Rendezvous website. Connect with other attendees and hopefuls in the Rendezvous Community private Facebook group.

Register Now

P.S. Don't miss The Christy Award Finalist Reveal Webcast on Friday, September 19. Free registration is required. Visit christyawards.com for more information and registration. The Christy Award honors and promotes excellence in Christian fiction and is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

Giveaway

(1) winner will receive $50 total winner's choice gift cards (Rendezvous event shirt presale shop, Amazon, Baker Book House, or Christianbook)!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 17, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 24, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for physical prizes. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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

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Wednesday, September 17, 2025

JustRead Tours Blog Tour: Midnight Rider by D.K. Till

Midnight Rider JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Midnight Rider by D.K. Till, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Midnight Rider
Series: Time Passengers #2
Author: D. K. Till
Publisher: Spring Mountain Publishing
Release Date: July 31, 2025
Genre: Christian/SciFi/Time Travel

Journalist Thea and her fiancé, Giles, couldn’t be more excited about joining Coltrane McMurray’s inaugural journey to the year 2123. Or is it apprehension? After all, what if something goes wrong?

Their fears are validated when they arrive to find an alien world of scorching heat, flying cars, and eerie, human-like robots.

And a brutal murder by person or persons unknown.

As murder suspects, they are not allowed to leave. Until the police claim they solved the crime.

Finally free to go home, Thea’s nagging doubts about the case continue to haunt her. But to learn what really happened that awful day, she and Giles must give up their happy lives in 2023 to return to the future.

But unforeseen setbacks and heartbreak devastate them in 2123. And who is the mother-daughter duo that bear such an uncanny resemblance to Thea? Forced to master technology far more advanced than anything she’s ever seen, Thea vows to solve her friend’s murder. But will she ever see her home again?

Christian Sci-Fi is a genre that I have gotten interested in over the last year. Midnight Rider by D.K. Till is Book 2 in the Time Passengers series. I have not read Book 1 yet.

I was actually engrossed in the storyline immediately. The Setting begins in 2023 and travels ahead to 2123, YES 100 Years into the Future. The main characters are Thea and Giles. Thea is a Journalist who is excited, yet also worried, to be going on this adventure into the Future. Giles also has qualms about going as he isn't sure what might go wrong. Thea and Giles are caught in the middle of a Murder Crime in 2123. They are anxious to go HOME to 2023 and when finally released to do so, they go back. Thea feels that things weren't really finished in 2123 and she wants to go forward again to really understand what they world is going to be like and to really solve the Murder Mystery. Thea is a determined Journalist, but more importantly she is a determined friend. Her fiancé, Giles, I felt really kept Thea grounded in their endeavor. I found this storyline Intriguing, Futuristic, and Fascinating. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Sci-fi. GREAT BOOK!

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

More in This Series

D.K. Till writes Split-Time Fiction With A Twist, a blend of the dual timeline fiction she enjoys mixed with a big helping of the sci-fi she loved as a child. The indie author from the land of microbrews and coffee snobs fell in love with reading in kindergarten when her older sister taught her to read. She used to impress her parents’ friends by reading aloud the entire short story The One Hundred Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. In first grade, she knew she wanted to write stories, too. Throughout her childhood and teens, she either had her nose in a book or was attempting to write one.

But life got in the way, marriage and children set her dreams aside for higher purposes. Today, with children grown and enjoying retirement, she’s reopened that dream package and is now living the life she had only imagined.

The author is a huge fan of the Back to the Future trilogy, inspiring her to write time travel, too. Thus the Time Passengers series was born, perfect for fans of Back to the Future and The Terminator. A classic rock lover, she names her titles after hit rock songs of the 60s and 70s - Starry Starry Night, Midnight Rider, and Nights in White Satin.

Connect with D.K. Till by visiting dktill.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

(2) winners will each receive a print copy of Starry, Starry Night plus a $10 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 16, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 23, 2025. Winners 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.

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

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Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: It’s a Good Day to Be a Teacher: 52 Devotions to Equip and Encourage Educators by Gretchen Huesmann

Book: It’s a Good Day to Be a Teacher: 52 Devotions to Equip and Encourage Educators

Author: Gretchen Huesmann

Genre: Devotional

Release Date: Febuary 25, 2025

Refresh and Refocus Your Teaching Heart

Today’s educators face unprecedented challenges in and out of the classroom. Teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and special education teams need more than a few words of encouragement and a pat on the back.

Divided into four terms—fall, winter, spring, and summer—It’s a Good Day to Be a Teacher targets the trials and joys educators encounter year-round. The weekly devotions provide:

Spiritual insights and inspiration
Courage to continue the calling
Practical steps for application
Additional suggestions for deeper study

Teachers who use the tools of God’s Word and prayer will be encouraged and empowered as they witness God at work in their students, classrooms, and schools. This book helps educators teach from a place of purpose and peace and provides hope and strength to teach another day.

Click here to get your copy!

Devotionals are a big part of my daily life. I do a devotional every day and I am always looking for new devotional books.It’s a Good Day to Be a Teacher: 52 Devotions to Equip and Encourage Educators by Gretchen Huesmann is the latest Devotional Book that I have read.

I saw the title of this book and I knew that I would want to read it. I know quite a few family members and friends who work in the Schools. Teachers need encouragement for the work they do and are not appreciated enough. I really like the Layout of this Devotional. The look and layout are easy to read as it is divided into Four Sections, one for each season of the Year. There are 52 Devotionals, one for each week of the year. The main aspect of this book is to encourage Teachers to continue the calling. The Target audience for this book seems to be Christian Teachers, although it would be of encouragement to Teachers everywhere. The Devotional Book would make a GREAT Gift for Teachers and would be an encouragement. GREAT BOOK!

Gretchen Huesmann comes from a long line of educators, including both parents and grandparents. Her three-decade teaching career, in private and public schools, spanned seven states. Today, Gretchen enjoys mentoring and encouraging educators, ministry workers, and women’s groups. She is also a tutor and substitute teacher. An award-winning author, Gretchen is a member of Word Weavers International and serves as president of the Pensacola chapter. Her e-book, Teachers’ Prayer Companion: Prayer Guides for Education Teams, can be found at GretchenHuesmann.com. Gretchen and her pastor husband have raised four children, three of whom are teachers. Their empty nest sits near the gulf shores of north-west Florida.

More from Gretchen

Before I wrote the devotional for teachers, the focus of my writing had been for children. As a semiretired teacher and empty-nester, I’d hoped to fulfill my dream of writing picture books by investing in webinars, workshops, and resources to hone my craft. Then I was called back into teaching.

Three years and a pandemic separated my time in the classroom. The discrepancies in children’s abilities and behaviors appalled me. I experienced firsthand the added pressures I’d heard from colleagues. Three of my adult children, also teachers, shared similar struggles. Now I faced those challenges, too, so I sought the Bible for help and support.

Looking back over my teaching career, spanning more than thirty years in and out of the classroom, I discovered God was with me through every challenge. I wrote out a few of my experiences and applied Bible verses to those scenarios, uncovering valuable lessons.

As I compiled the devotions, common subjects emerged, such as staff relationships, pupil concerns, and dealing with parents. Yet, when I organized the book, I felt uneasy emphasizing the negative issues. Laying out three quarters of the printed devotions on my dining table, I prayed over the topics and asked God to reveal the structure that would attract and encourage educators. The answer was revealed as I recognized a progression through the school year, thus determining the structure of the book: Fall Term, Winter Term, Spring Term, and Summer Term. Each section includes relevant topics for the school year, including the all-important recovery during the summer season.

I hope teachers, administrators, and special educators will be not only encouraged by the devotions geared especially for them but also empowered to teach another day.

Its Mama Safe, September 4
Barb Howe, September 4
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 5
Simple Harvest Reads, September 6 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 7
Texas Book-aholic, September 8
She Lives To Read, September 9
Artistic Nobody, September 10 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, September 10
Blossoms and Blessings, September 11
Guild Master, September 12 (Author Interview)
Cover Lover Book Review, September 13
Fiction Book Lover, September 14 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 15
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 16
For the Love of Literature, September 17 (Author Interview)

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54291

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Monday, September 15, 2025

JustRead Tours Blog Tour: Singing Through Fire by Lara Silverman, J.D.

Singing Through the Fire JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Singing Through Fire by Lara Silverman, J.D., hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Singing Through Fire
Author: Lara Silverman, J.D.
Publisher: Isaiah 4320 Press
Release Date: August 26, 2025
Genre: Christian Romance/Memoir

What if you fall madly in love on the brink of eternity?

Singing Through Fire invites readers into the Job-like true story of a young woman who loses everything—and dares to ask why a good God allows it.

When Stanford Law graduate Lara Palanjian collapses on her dream job, she never imagines it will lead to four years bedridden—or to the love of her life.

Enter Matthew Silverman: a witty, wise, and impossibly joyful youth pastor and professor facing terminal cancer. What begins with a few random encounters soon ignites an extraordinary, God-written love story that neither of them saw coming.

As their unlikely romance unfolds between medical crises, late-night laughter, and unexpected musical performances, Matthew’s unshakable faith challenges everything Lara thinks she knows about God’s goodness—and what it means to walk with Christlike faith, resilience, and joy in the face of overwhelming grief and suffering.

But with time against them, one question looms louder than the rest: What if this gift is only for a moment?

Shockingly funny and spiritually rich, Singing Through Fire is a modern-day Job meets Lucille Ball. It explores what it means to suffer, love, and even laugh and make music while your life is burning down around you. It eloquently gives voice to the aching questions many sufferers quietly carry—then takes readers inside the breathtaking story of two people who found miraculous love and defiant joy amid heartbreaking loss.

It reveals how God can use even our deepest pain to write the most beautiful love stories—even on the cusp of eternity.

I truly enjoy reading Memoirs and they really spark something when reading. Singing Through Fire by Lara Silverman, J.D. is the latest Memoir I have read and it sure was a roller coaster of emotions.

WOW, this memoir is the BEST one that I have ever read. Lara went from working her dream job to being Bed-Ridden for 4yrs. She feels like she has lost everything, then Matt Silverman comes into her life. Matt is a Youth Pastor facing Terminal Cancer. Lara's Chronic Illness keeps her in the house often, yet she began to realize that Matt was a God Given Gift to her and they become Husband and Wife. I truly LOVE how through all the Medical situations and hurdles, they found the Joy and LOVE in their relationship. Matt's Faith and Trust in God, really gave Lara the encouragement she needed to Trust God instead asking why he allowed the Chronic Illness in her and Cancer in Matt. I LOVE how Lara and Matt not only create a relationship with each other, but their faith is strengthened. The LOVE, Laughter, late night Music Jams and more are just a few things that made their marriage so amazing. Lara rejoices in the short time she had with Matt and that God's purpose in bringing them together was a part of "her Story". Lara still suffers with chronic illness, but she knows her pain has a purpose! I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Memoirs. Be ready for a emotional roller coaster, although a GREAT one, while reading this book. FANTASTIC BOOK!

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

Lara Silverman is a Christian author, lawyer, jazz singer, comedic actress, and violinist. She holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School and a B.A. in both Economics and Political Science from UC Berkeley, where she was one of six finalists for the University Medal, Berkeley’s highest academic distinction. Before falling seriously ill in 2018, Lara worked for two federal judges and practiced high stakes litigation for three years at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, where she specialized in intellectual property, antitrust, and contract cases of all kinds.

In 2023, Lara co-founded The Silverman Show—a multifaceted comedy, music, and theology show—and released her debut jazz/pop album as her own music producer in February 2024, even while bedridden. In September 2024, she debuted as Mrs. Serious in her solo Armenian comedy show online. Lara’s writing has been featured in various respected Christian blogs, where her reflections on faith, suffering, and grace have encouraged others. Even as she remains mostly bedridden today, she anchors her unwavering hope in God.

Connect with Lara by visiting her website, Facebook, Instagram, and her YouTube channel.

(1) winner will receive a $30 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 15, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 22, 2025. Winners 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.

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

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: A Busy Mom’s Prayer Journal: 7 Minutes to Connect with Jesus by Christa Joy Spaeth

Book: A Busy Mom’s Prayer Journal: 7 Minutes to Connect with Jesus

Author: Christa Joy Spaeth

Genre: Reflective/Devotional/ Guided/Prompt-Based

Release Date: October 29, 2023

As a busy mom you want to grow closer to Jesus, but it’s so hard to make the time. And when you do, it’s hard to know where to start. Let this guided journal help you to set aside seven minutes daily to reflect powerfully on the goodness of Jesus.

With 50 days of prompts designed specifically for moms just like you, this journal will lead you into fellowship with Jesus, our Perfect Parent, helping you to lean on Him to be encouraged and grow in godly wisdom.

A Busy Mom’s Prayer Journal is divided into five sections, each exploring one aspect of moms’ hearts for their children, so you can journal straight through or skip to a section that speaks to your heart’s need that day.

This journal contains:

Daily inspirational verse to meditate and journal on.
Daily prompts to connect these biblical truths to your life as a women and as a mom, many of which include “thought starters” to help get you started journaling.
Space to document your daily “mom win” to provide positivity and help encourage you.
Guided prayers to be used as a starting point for your personal prayer.
Ample space for writing what you are thankful for daily.

A Busy Mom’s Prayer Journal will help you glimpse the awe-inspiring love Jesus has for you, both as a person and specifically as a mom, in only seven minutes a day.

Click here to get your copy!

Prayers are a part of my daily life. I really enjoy Devotionals and Prayers that have a theme for Seasons of Life. I also LOVE to journal my Prayers and go back and see how God answered them. A Busy Mom’s Prayer Journal: 7 Minutes to Connect with Jesus by Christa Joy Spaeth is the latest Devotional that I have come across and added to my Devotional and Prayer stacks.

Moms in most seasons/stages of Life are always BUSY, as parenting never ends. I am mom of 3 Young Adult Sons and still am at a BUSY stage of Life. No matter how BUSY I get, I try to find daily devotional time. The theme and concept of this devotional of being able to grow closer to Jesus in only 7 minutes a day, really intrigued me. Moms already find it difficult to get everyday routine things done, and finding time for Bible Studies weekly can be challenging. Alone time with God in 7 minutes a day is AMAZING!

I really like the Layout and how easy it is to follow. The Prayer Journal is has 5 sections, to encourage a mom's heart. The Daily Prompts, Inspirational Verses, and the growth in Prayer Journaling are a wonderful way to be in the Word. Growing closer to Jesus can really be accomplished in a few minutes a day, even through the busy times of Momhood. I would recommend this Prayer Journal for Mom's in all stages of life. FANTASTIC BOOK!

Christa Joy Spaeth is a devoted wife, mother, and passionate follower of Jesus who understands the beautiful chaos of raising a family while trying to stay anchored in faith. With a deep love for prayer and the Word of God, she created this journal to help busy moms connect with the Lord in meaningful, manageable ways—no matter how full the day gets.

Through her podcast Praying Daily and her devotional writing, she encourages women to pursue God’s presence with confidence, joy, and authenticity. Her mission is to help moms cultivate a thriving prayer life, experience daily renewal, and walk in the peace and power of God’s promises.

Christa is greatly enjoying going back to her roots of teaching! As a dietitian and foodie, she loves to share her passion for simple cooking and wholesome living.

More from Christa

I’m a mom of two young men, a registered dietitian with a love for fresh milled bread, and gardening, and someone who believes that food, faith, and family are deeply connected. Most days you’ll find me in the kitchen with flour on my shirt, sharing laughs and recipes with my family. My kitchen is usually a little messy!

As a dietitian, I’m passionate about real food and simple meals that bring people together but as a mom, I know how hard it can be to slow down and spend time with the Lord. That’s why I created A Busy Mom’s Prayer Journal: 7 minutes to Connect with Jesus. It’s not just a devotional; it’s a mom win. It’s your permission to breathe, connect with Jesus in the middle of the sometimes-messy chaos, and remember that your prayers don’t have to be perfect or long.

You’ll find quick prayers for hectic mornings, space to scribble your thoughts while the kids nap (or don’t!), and even a few “praise break” prompts for when the laundry is endless.

If you’ve ever whispered a prayer while reheating dinner or felt like you’re doing a million things but still falling short, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, and I wrote this book with you in mind. Let’s walk this journey together — one prayer, one meal, one grace-filled moment at a time.