Friday, May 9, 2025

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Lizzie's Little Mouse by Anne Blackburne

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!

Amish Fiction is my favorite Genre of books. Lizzie’s Little Mouse by Anne Blackburne is Book 8 in The Heart of the Amish Series. The series is written by various authors and they can be stand alone books. I read many books in the series and have been enjoying the series!

I was hooked on the storyline from the very first pages. The main characters in the book are Lizzie Miller and John Bontrager. Lizzie has always wanted to run a Bakery and has been fascinated by French Bakery treats since visiting New Orleans. She was given authority to study French Baked Goods in New Orleans for 2yrs. She was very excited to be able to buy the Amish Bakery when she returned. She is living her "dream", but then trouble arises. She is being attacked in many ways and it takes her and a crew of her friends to begin to figure out why someone doesn't want her to run the Bakery. A Mystery needs to be solved and Lizzie and her friends uncover some interesting info about the Bakery that goes back 100 years. I LOVE that the friends stand by Lizzie and protect her, especially John. I truly enjoyed watching Lizzie and John turn their lifelong friendship into a Romance. They finally admitted the have wanted to court one another for a long while. A VERY Sweet Romance blossoms! This is a WONDERFUL Story and anyone who enjoys Amish Fiction with a bit of Cozy Mystery will enjoy this book! WONDERFUL BOOK!

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

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

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

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: A Practical Guide to Health Aging by Andrea Jo Rodgers

Book: A Practical Guide to Healthy Aging: Strategies to Achieve Physical and Mental Health

Author: Andrea Jo Rodgers

Genre: Nonfiction

Release date: November 16, 2024

Embark on a journey to healthy aging!

Would you like to improve your vascular health by lowering your blood pressure, avoiding weight gain, and increasing your aerobic activity level? How about saying goodbye to urinary incontinence and overactive bladder while improving your bowel health? Have you thought about building a healthy framework of muscles, joints, and bones as you sail into middle-age and beyond? Could you benefit from a home exercise program to build bone density and manage osteopenia and osteoporosis? Would you like to keep your youthful appearance, understand your immune system, and learn strategies to improve balance and prevent falls? In A Practical Guide to Healthy Aging: Strategies to Achieve Physical and Mental Health, veteran Doctor of Physical Therapy Andrea Rodgers, who is CAPP-certified in pelvic health by the American Physical Therapy Association, a nationally certified lymphedema therapist, a PORi-certified oncology rehabilitation therapist, emergency medical technician, and a low pressure fitness instructor, expounds upon all these topics and more. Join Andrea as she shares valuable information in this one-of-a-kind book that will aid in your quest towards healthy aging.

Click here to get your copy!

Non Fiction books are a genre that I really appreciate. The knowledge gained from books in this genre are so important. A Practical Guide to Healthy Aging: Strategies to Achieve Physical and Mental Health by Andrea Jo Rodgers is the latest book in the genre that I read.

WOW, this book is very timely for me as I am now in my young 50's. I can honestly say that I jumped right into the book and the information was very practical and informative. My Aunt recently told me "When they say it Runs in the Family" you say "This is where it runs out". My family has a lot of genetic health issues, a lot of which Andrea Jo speaks about in this book. Blood Pressure Issues, Heart Issues and many more. I really LOVE how the author addresses the practical help for these and many other issues that comes with "Aging". I feel that this book goes along with the advice from my aunt, that with work and determination and the advice in this book, many things can be reversed or prevented. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who is concerned about their Physical and Mental Health. GREAT BOOK!

Andrea Jo Rodgers holds a clinical doctorate in physical therapy and has worked as a physical therapist for 30 years. She is CAPP-certified in pelvic health by the American Physical Therapy Association, a nationally certified lymphedema therapist, a PORi-certified oncology rehabilitation therapist, and a low pressure fitness instructor. She also specializes in orthopedics, osteoporosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Writing is one of her passions, and she is the award-winning author of numerous inspirational books. She has served as a volunteer emergency medical technician on her town’s rescue squad for 38 years and has responded to 10,000 first aid and fire calls. She enjoys reading, day trips, and savoring a cup of green tea. She lives with her family on the east coast.

More from Andrea Jo

Aging can be defined as the process of growing old. The key to graceful aging is to stay in good health as the years slip by. One of the best ways to do this is to be proactive. What you do today can help ensure better health tomorrow.

People often start to think about aging when something goes amiss. Perhaps they develop an ache or pain that lingers: a stiff neck, an achy back, or painful hips and knees. They may receive a diagnosis that forces them to confront their health head-on, such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, obesity, or perhaps even cancer.

I’ve worked as a clinical Doctor of Physical Therapy in both the hospital and outpatient setting for thirty years. During this time, I’ve helped people with wellness initiatives as well as various health problems. I’m CAPP-certified in pelvic health by the American Physical Therapy Association, a nationally certified lymphedema therapist, a PORi-certified oncology rehabilitation therapist, and a certified low pressure fitness instructor. During my 38 years as a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) with my local rescue squad, I’ve assisted countless people in times of medical crisis. The goal of this book is to share pearls of wisdom that I’ve learned from my experiences as a physical therapist and EMT.

Some may be reading this book to stay healthy as you get older. Others may be looking for ideas to improve your current condition. Perhaps you are looking to build muscle and bone strength, improve flexibility, or choose a healthier lifestyle with respect to diet and exercise. Or maybe you wish to stop leaking urine or say goodbye to constipation and countless hours in the bathroom.

Do you think wellness simply means freedom from disease? Well, it includes much more than that. Wellness can be defined as the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal. Wellness serves as a cornerstone towards the vision of healthy aging. Wellness constitutes a dynamic process of change and growth in which individuals actively become aware of healthy choices and consciously make a decision to choose them. It’s a balanced lifestyle which encourages physical and mental health and well-being. Wellness emphasizes the mind, body, and spirit. Wellness means being proactive about staying healthy as you get older. It involves using available knowledge and tools to achieve optimal health. Many of the chapters in this book focus on different areas of wellness as a means to strive towards healthy aging. My goal is that each of you stay active, embark on a journey of wellness, and enjoy your middle age and golden years in good mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 7
It’s Mama Safe, May 8
Simple Harvest Reads, May 9 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 9
Texas Book-aholic, May 10
Book Looks by Lisa, May 11
Life on Chickadee Lane, May 12
Artistic Nobody, May 13 (Author Interview)
Girls in White Dresses, May 14
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 15
Guild Master, May 16 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, May 16
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 17
Fiction Book Lover, May 18 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 19
A Reader’s Brain, May 20 (Author Interview)

To celebrate her tour, Andrea Jo is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

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/00adcf54214

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iRead Book Tours Blog Tour: I'll Be Seeing You by Joanne KuKanza Easley

Book Details:

Book Title:  I'LL BE SEEING YOU by Joanne Kukanza Easley
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 227 pages
Genre:  Literary Women's Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Red Boots Press
Release date:   September 2022
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M. Adult themes of alcoholism, miscarriage, promiscuity, some cursing

From Joanne Kukanza Easley, the multi-award-winning author of Sweet Jane and Just One Look, comes I’ll Be Seeing You—a raw, gripping saga of one woman’s wild ride through five decades, fueled by ambition, derailed by booze, and haunted by the past.

Lauren’s done with ranch life. Spotted by a modeling scout at the 1940 Fort Worth Stock Show Parade, she ditches Palo Pinto County for Manhattan’s glitz. But when her dream crashes, she drowns her sorrows in liquor and lovers. By twenty-four, she’s a widowed, divorced mess, hopping cities until Austin becomes her last stand. After a decade of chaos, she claws her way to sobriety and builds a thriving business, yet peace is still out of reach.

Then, in 1985, the past storms back: Brett, her third husband, wants to reconcile after thirty-three years apart. Reeling from old wounds, Lauren turns to Jane, her AA lifeline. The clock’s ticking—will she rewrite her story or let it burn?

Amazon
add to Goodreads

Don't Miss Joanne Kukanza Easley's Upcoming New Release!

COMING MAY 2025!

Joanne Kukanza Easley, a retired registered nurse who worked in the cold, stark environment of operating rooms and the highly charged setting of psychiatric facilities, now resides in the Texas Hill Country. There, she crafts fiction centered on complex women of the twentieth century. Her debut novel, Sweet Jane, garnered multiple accolades, including the adult fiction prize at the Texas Author Project, and was a finalist for prestigious honors like the Sarton Award and the Eric Hoffer Award, among others. Her second book, Just One Look, was selected as a May 2022 Pulpwood Queen Book Club Pick. Her third novel, I’ll Be Seeing You, revisits characters from Sweet Jane. Her fourth novel, Higher Love, a continuation of her third, is slated for release in Spring 2025. Easley’s award-winning short stories and poetry have been featured in various anthologies.

connect with the author: website ~ X ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

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Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Book Review Blog Tour: Sweet Ridge Hearts by Susan Bagby

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Sweet Ridge Hearts by Susan Bagby!

Title: Sweet Ridge Hearts
Series: Maple Ridge #3
Author: Susan Bagby
Publisher: She Rises Studios
Release Date: October 22, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sweet

Career-driven Katy Flanagan desperately wants to become the creative director of the Martin and Lewis marketing agency. But when she loses the promotion and gets dumped by her boyfriend the same day, Katy flees New York for a small-town break with her cousin Christine.

Yet even in country-quiet Maple Ridge, Katy’s skills can be useful, and she’s prepared to jump in to help Christine win a competition for her Sweet Ridge Bakery. What she’s not prepared for is handsome bakery manager Derek Higgins.

A veteran dealing with the aftermath of PTSD, Derek is a lone wolf, and he likes it that way. Being forced to work with a spirited businesswoman and her healthy ego is a challenge every step of the way. But the stakes are too high for him to give up helping his boss.

As the competition heats up, so does the chemistry with Katy—until she’s offered a new job in another city. Now she has to decide whether to take a risk and start her own company, or become the creative director of a new, successful firm, which is everything she ever wanted. At the same time, Derek must face his own issues when personal tragedy wraps him in survivor’s guilt, leaving him unable to forgive himself for past actions.

While Derek seeks to heal the wounds of a haunting past, and Katy searches for the courage to face her fears and forge a new path, what will become of their relationship?

Contempory Romance is a genre that I read every once in a while. Sweet Ridge Hearts by Susan Ragby is the latest in this genre that I have read. It is Book 3 in the Maple Ridge Series. I have not read the first 2 in this series, but it seems to be a good standalone book.

I will admit it took me a bit to get the gist of the storyline. The main characters in this book are Katy Flanagan, who is career focused on becoming a "big time" Marketing Manager. Derek Higgins who is a Bakery Manager in Maple Ridge is the secondary main character. Katy decides to go visit her cousin, Christine, when life does a flip flop on her. Losing the opportunity to obtain a job she desperately wanted and breaking up with her boyfriend. This brings her to Maple Ridge and where she meets Derek Higgins. Derek is a Veteran and suffers from PTSD and is the manager of the town Bakery, which is owned by her cousin Christine. Katy decides to use her business skills to help her cousin win a contest. Derek seems intimated by Katy and her skills but he also wants to be a part of helping Christine win the contest. Derek and Katy seem to have a spark for one another, but Derek is trying to hold back. Katy and Derek have baggage that might prevent them from having a meaningful relationship. I really think the author handled the love story between Derek and Katy quite well, especially helping them overcome things to have a relationship. The book does contain some foul language and sexual content, so read with caution. I think, the storyline was good and would appeal to those who enjoy Contemporary Romance. Good BOOK!

More in This Series

Author Susan Bagby spent most of her life working with children and youth as a speech pathologist. After retirement, she moved back to her hometown of Akron, Ohio, and her debut novel, Christmas Wish Upon a Star, was published in 2022 and was a semi-finalist for the 2023 CIBA Chatelaine Book Awards for Romance Fiction. Her second book, Home for Love released in October of 2023 and was a second-place winner for the Romance-Wholesome category in the 2024 Spring BookFest Awards. Her third book, Sweet Ridge Hearts, was published in the fall of 2024 and won a first place for Romance-Wholesome category in the spring BookFest Awards 2025.

Susan belongs to the Great Lakes Fiction Writers organization and to Romance Writers of America (RWA). She is presently working on a new small-town romance series and loves seeing new characters come to life. When she’s not writing, she loves reading, walking in the woods, yoga, Pilates and playing the piano. She’s a firm believer that dreams do come true.

Connect with Susan by visiting susanbagby.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

(2) winners will each receive a signed copy of Sweet Ridge Hearts and a $20 Amazon gift card!

The giveaway begins at midnight May 7, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 14, 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. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

DISCLOSURE: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. The book contains some language that some readers may not agree with and/or use in their everyday life.

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Home Baked Bribery by Gina Holder

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!

Cozy Christian Mystery books are truly a favorite genre of mine. I like that the book has Mystery to it although a soft "cozy" one! Home Baked Bribery by Gina Holder is the most recent book that I have read. It is Book 2 in the Addie Masters Mysteries series. I have not read Book 1 yet, but I do plan on doing so soon.

WOW, what an interesting and COZY book. Abbie Masters is the main character in this book. Talia is Abbie's roommate and is a baker in the Annual Bake Sale and Contest in Rockport. Abbie she is a Junk Removal and Handy Woman, but also loves investigations and mystery. The competition takes an interesting turn when the Celebrity Judge dies and Abbie decides to figure out who killed the judge. Abbie is also trying to help Poppie and Marigold, the local 100yr old twins, find their missing dogs. The book is fast paced and fun loving. I really enjoyed how Abbie has a great love for her town of Rockport and keeps busy with helping others. The mystery of who killed the judge had so many twists and turns and really kept me intrigued in the storyline. The 100 yr old twins were such a great addition to the story. I truly enjoyed this book from beginning to end! I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Cozy Mysteries. GREAT BOOK!

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.

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

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