Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Sabotage at Cedar Creek by Janice Thompson

Book: Sabotage at Cedar Creek (The Little Red Truck Mysteries Book Two)

Author: Janice Thompson

Genre: Mystery/Christian Fiction

Release date: February, 2025

Who Would Sabotage the New B&B?

Breathe in the nostalgia of everything old red truck in book two of a new cozy mystery series.

It’s summertime in Mabank, Texas, and the Hadley family’s new antique business is open and running well with Tilly, the red antique truck, as its mascot. Raelynn Hadley enjoys driving Grandpa’s truck around as she seeks out antiques for her family’s store.

Raelynn is excited that her best friend, Tasha, will soon open a new vacation rental to accommodate the area’s growing tourism, but an unexpected act of sabotage threatens to spoil all that Tasha has worked for.

Raelynn immediately gets to work sleuthing out who could be behind the crime. Could it be the bitter neighbor, intent on spoiling Tasha’s plans? Perhaps it’s a nearby resort owner, worried about the potential loss of revenue. Maybe it’s the former owner’s daughter who was left out of the will and believes the home should be hers. Or maybe it’s the squatter who had taken up residence in the home before renovations. Raelynn is determined to solve the mystery for her friend in time for opening day.

Click here to get your copy!

I really enjoy Christian Cozy Mystery stories. Sabotage at Cedar Creek by Janice Thompson is the latest book in this genre that I have read. It is Book 2in the Little Red Truck Mysteries series.

AWWW, this Cozy Christian Mystery had me from the very first pages of the book. Raelyn Hadley and her friend Tasha are the 2 main characters in this book. The setting is a small town in Texas. Raelyn is very happy that the family Antique store is doing so well and excited that her friend Tasha will be opening an Bed and Breakfast close to her soon. Raelyn and Tasha are devasted when someone tries to burn the Bed and Breakfast down. I LOVE how Raelyn springs into action and decides to investiage this action for her friend Tasha. The suspects are many and Raelyn has to whittle down the list and help her friend determine who would not a B&B in town. The many vantages of a B&B and someone is trying to prevent it. I was shocked to see "who dun it" revealed. The Hadley family, especially Aunt Bessie Mae, really make the book a must read. I am VERY glad I read this book as it truly is an intersting and cozy mystery story. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Cozy Mysterys and Small Town family life. AMAZING BOOK!

Janice Thompson hails from south Texas. She is a Christian author and mother of four grown daughters. Janice has written over forty books.

More from Janice

Travel with me to East Texas to celebrate the 4^th of July. Let’s meet at Cedar Creek Lake, a vast expanse of water tucked in and around some of the sweetest little Texas towns you’ve ever seen: Gun Barrel City, Mabank, Payne Springs, Eustace, and Seven Points, just to name a few.

Along the edge of the lake you’ll find 320 miles of idyllic shoreline, dotted with homes, campsites, and cabins for rent. And right there, on the prettiest patch of land imaginable, you’ll discover a newly renovated vacation home, recently purchased by a local gal named Tasha. Her quaint fixer-upper is just about ready for its first guests and she’s giddy with excitement.

Also thrilled is Tasha’s BFF, RaeLyn Hadley! RaeLyn has grown up near the lake and loves this place. She can hardly wait to see her bestie’s dream come true.

Of course, not everyone in the Cedar Creek area is happy to see Tasha’s new vacation rental open for business. Behind the scenes, evil lurks. Nefarious plans are already in motion, though RaeLyn and Tasha can’t yet see them.

Days before the house is listed, the beautiful home is vandalized! Clearly, someone wants to stop Tasha in her tracks. But, who would sabotage the inn. . .and why? RaeLyn won’t quit until she’s got answers, but she needs your help.

What role will you play in this tale? Visit the inn. Get to know the gals. Help them figure out the whodunit. Spend time in town with the locals, celebrating the 4^th of July. I promise, you’ll have a blast. There are quilt shows, cupcake walks, and more Texas BBQ than you can eat in one visit.

Your belly will never be empty as you set out to help RaeLyn and Tasha solve this crime. Just don’t let all of those handsome Texas fellas distract you from the task at hand. They have a tendency to do that.

Hang on for the ride, folks, because an East Texas tale is one that’s always filled with twists and turns! So, what are you waiting for? Jump into that little red truck and let’s hit the road, headed to Cedar Creek Lake!

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 27
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 28
Texas Book-aholic, March 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 2
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 3
Pause for Tales, March 3
She Lives To Read, March 4
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 5
Blogging With Carol, March 6
Labor Not in Vain, March 6
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 7
Stories By Gina, March 8 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, March 8
For Him and My Family, March 9
Lily’s Corner, March 10
Holly’s Book Corner, March 11
Lights in a Dark World, March 12
Leslie’s Library Escape, March 12

To celebrate her tour, Janice is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and a print 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/00adcf54164

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JustRead Tours Blog Tour: Home Baked Bribery by Gina Holder

Home Baked Bribery JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Home Baked Bribery by Gina Holder, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Home Baked Bribery
Series: Addie Masters Mysteries #2
Author: Gina Holder
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Christian

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?

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!

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

More In This Series

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 introducing readers to new and new-to-them authors on her blog. Gina enjoys playing the piano, cooking, reading, watching Hallmark mysteries, and solving “escape room” puzzles. She published her debut novel in 2017. Gina lives in Wyoming with her husband and daughter.

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

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 4, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 11, 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.

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

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Tuesday, March 4, 2025

iRead Book Tours Blog Tour: MIT OUT SOUND by Rick Lenz

Book Details:

Book Title: MIT OUT SOUND by Rick Lenz
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 378 pages
Genre: Hollywood Tie-in Literary Fiction
Publisher: Chromodroid Press
Release date: February 2025
Content Rating: PG-13 +M. My book is rated PG-13 + M for swear words, one non-explicit sex scene, adultery and references to abuse and one on page murder.

"It's time to make a mess," said Emily.

Would-be movie producer Emily Bennett didn't believe the legend of a lost movie, starring James Dean and John Wayne. But when she meets two uncannily talented celebrity impersonators-Jimmy Riley and Tom "Duke" Manfredo, and stumbles upon the elusive film editor who stole the master negative of Showdown, it dispels her doubts, fills her with a courage she didn't know she had, and she sets out to complete the movie.

But as Emily and her stars prepare for day one of shooting, they find themselves entangled in a complex love triangle with Oedipal undertones, mirroring their own past lives and off-screen dynamics. As doubts about their ruthless director, Solange Borugian, surface, Jimmy's and Duke's friendship is turned upside down, while Emily and her brother Ben, struggle with their own unresolved issues and are forced to confront their dying father.

On location in Arizona, amidst Apache holy grounds and the magic of day-for-night shooting, the lines between past and present blur and the flawed characters' backstories intertwine into a tumultuous finale that exposes their hidden animosities, demons, and loves.

Contemporary Fiction is a genre that I enjoy. Mit Out Sound by Rick Lenz is the most current book in this genre that I have read. Rick Lenz is a new to me author and I really enjoy reading books from authors for a first time.

I will say that it took me a couple of chapters to really get into the book. Emily Bennett is the main character in this book. She is an aspiring Producer and she is very intrigued when she finds a lost movie that stars James Dean & John Wayne, two legends in Hollywood movies. Emily is preparing to shoot a movie on set in Arizona and the mystery and intrigue behind the scenes has Emily contemplating if she wants to proceed. The impersonators, Jimmy Riley and Tom "Duke" Manfredo, were a wonderful edition to the characters in this book. I really like that the storyline goes back and forth between the past and present. Emily is a wonderful character and I really enjoyed her story. The author has a very creative writing style and I am very interested in reading more from him in the future. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Contempory Fiction books with a Hollywood theme. GREAT BOOK!

Amazon ~ B&N ~ BAM
Bookshop.org
BookBub
add to Goodreads

When Rick Lenz retired as a stage and film actor (playing opposite Ingrid Bergman, John
Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Walter Matthau, Peter Sellers, etc.), his passion for drama refused to retire with him. Although he was an actor most of his life, he is also a seasoned writer.

His plays have been produced Off-Broadway, on PBS television, and in regional theatres across the country. Rick’s memoir North of Hollywood was called “masterful” by Writer’s
Digest. His first novel, The Alexandrite was named “one of the best books of the year” by Kirkus Reviews. Bret Easton Ellis called it “almost impossible to put down.” Booklife calls A Town Called Why, “An absorbing tale of mystery and revenge… nuanced … powerful.” Rick’s books have won several awards, including, Readers Views (first place), the Chanticleer Somerset Grand Prize for Literary, Contemporary and Mainstream Fiction, an IPPY Award, and a Foreword Book of the Year. Most recently, his time-travel love story Hello, Rest of My Life was a 2022 Silver Nautilus Book Award winner (fiction), and Eric Hoffer Award finalist (fiction).

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Linda and an ever-shifting array of animals.

connect with the author:

website ~ x/twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads ~ bookbub

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Tides of Healing by Sandra Merville Hart

Book: Tides of Healing

Author: Sandra Merville Hart

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: February 11, 2025

A Southern belle fights to reclaim her home, but will her spying destroy the Union officer she never meant to love?

Savannah Adair has endured the unimaginable, hiding in a cave while her beloved Vicksburg was under siege. With the city now occupied by Union soldiers, Savannah cannot stand by and do nothing. So when one of the gaunt, half-starved Confederate prisoners asks her to spy for the South, she can’t refuse the chance to take back her home.

First Lieutenant Travis Lawson takes pride in the Union army’s hard-fought victory, but he quickly realizes that the challenges of rebuilding and reconciliation are just beginning . . . and not everyone is appreciative of changes he’s making. Namely, the fiery and alluring Savannah Adair. Despite their differing loyalties and the societal divide between them, Travis cannot deny the growing feelings he has for her. When he is tasked with finding Southern spies in Vicksburg and he captures a female spy, Travis is forced to consider that the woman he’s beginning to love may be the enemy.

Click here to get your copy!

Christian Historical Romance Fiction is a favorite genre of mine. River of Peril by Sandra Merville Hart is Book 6 in the Spies of the Civil War Series. I have read this series since Book 1 and was very excited to read this book also.

WOW, this book really gripped me from the very first Chapter. I started reading and could not put it down. I really LOVE the Civil War Era and the time of 1862. The setting is Vicksburg, MI as the war winds down. The 2 main characters in this book are Savannah Adair and First Lieutenant Travis Lawson. Savannah has seen so much destruction in this war, including losing her fiance. The end of slavery also took her family to a whole new aspect of life that she never imagined. Her life takes a real turn when Travis Lawson, a Union Officer comes into her life. She now has made the decision to be a spy for the Confederacy. Travis becomes a friend and then something more develops between Savannah and Travis. Travis has a strong faith and he helps Savannah renew her faith in God. I can honestly say that seeing Savannah renew her faith and all the great things God does for her and her family was amazing! The book has a strong Faith Based Message. Romance, History and Trust. I am very sad to see this series end, it was probably one of the BEST Historical series I have ever read! I HIGHLY recommend this entire series to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Fiction! FANTASTIC BOOK!

Sandra Merville Hart, award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of inspirational historical romances, loves to discover little-known yet fascinating facts from American history to include in her stories. Her desire is to transport her readers back in time. She is also a blogger, speaker, and conference teacher.

More from Sandra

As I typed away on this final book in my Spies of the Civil War Series, it felt as if I’d written the entire series to tell this story.

Previously, I had felt a similar importance of an as yet unpublished two-book contemporary series, but the sense that the whole series climaxed with the final book was as surprising as it was welcome.

Because it seemed as if everything that happened in all the earlier books culminated in Book 6 for me as an author. Its significance reverberated in my soul while still researching the events…and weeks before I sat to pen the first page, the first paragraph, the first sentence.

That sense of importance made this book difficult to begin. The early chapters took far longer to write than normal.

I believe that those who only read Tides of Healing will have a satisfying, complete story. Those who read the entire series in order—or at least Books 4-6 set in Vicksburg—will experience a deeper impact as the characters’ stories build on one another.

There is a song in Tides of Healing. As an author, the impact of the lyrics within the story preceded it, meaning that I knew a certain song would play a significant role while still in the research phase.

Let me explain.

When I’m researching a story, I read a variety of nonfiction resources including diaries, journals, and newspaper accounts. My research for Vicksburg during the Civil War led me to song lyrics written by the enslaved.

African American Spirituals, also called Negro Spirituals, were sung before and after the Civil War. These Christian songs served a variety of purposes beyond bolstering hope and faith during dark days. They told stories about Biblical characters like Moses. Some comforted the sorrowful and some rejoiced with the joyful. They were sung in churches, in camp meetings, and in the fields.

They often contained secret messages. “Home” in a song can refer to Heaven, but the secret meaning was a free country. Author Frederick Douglas had been a former slave. He wrote that the lyrics to “O Canaan, Sweet Canaan” signified more than a hope of Heaven. Repeated singing of the lyrics “I am bound for the land of Canaan” announced an intention to go North, their Canaan.

The Underground Railroad is a theme in Tides of Healing. In 1828, Reverend John Rankin built his home on a hill overlooking the Ohio River in Ripley, Ohio. As a station on the Underground Railroad, this home was easily seen from the opposite side of the river in the slave state of Kentucky. Runaways waited for a boat to take them across the river.

It surprised me to learn that the lyrics of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” are about this station. “I looked over Jordan and what did I see?” refers to the Ohio River. The band of angels are people who rowed them across the wide river to the free state of Ohio.

Neither of these songs is referenced in Tides of Healing. The tune that is in my story was a popular spiritual leading up to the war. I listened to it many times. The message took root in my heart long before it affected my characters.

My research trip to Vicksburg’s battlefield and museums inspired the writing of Streams of Courage, Book 4, River of Peril, Book 5, and Tides of Healing, Book 6.

Avenue of Betrayal, Book 1, is set in the Union capital of Washington City (Washington DC) in 1861, where a surprising number of Confederate sympathizers and spies lived. Boulevard of Confusion and Byway to Danger are set in Richmond, the Confederate capital in 1862. Actual historical spies touch the lives of our fictional family. The heroines in Books 1 – 3 are two sisters and their cousins. Another set of characters begin with Book 4, and three friends are the heroines in Books 4 -6.

Through both real and fictional characters, this series highlights activities spies were involved in and some of the motives behind their decisions.

I invite you to read the whole Spies of the Civil War Series!

Bizwings Book Blog, February 26
Holly’s Book Corner, February 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 27
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 28
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 1
Pause for Tales, March 2
Texas Book-aholic, March 2
Devoted To Hope, March 3
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 4
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 5
Betti Mace, March 5
Life on Chickadee Lane, March 6
Cover Lover Book Review, March 7
Books You Can Feel Good About, March 8
Connie’s History Classroom, March 9
For HIm and My Family, March 10
Stories By Gina, March 11 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, March 11

To celebrate her tour, Sandra is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon 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/00adcf54163

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Sunday, March 2, 2025

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: The Curator's Secret by Denise Weimer

Book: The Curator’s Secret

Author: Denise Weimer

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Release date: March 1, 2025

It’s taken six years for Lacey Colbert to escape the heartbreak that caused her to disappear from Golden Isles Christian Camp and the life of her summer sweetheart, Trent Stevenson. Then a museum curator job at a Gilded Age resort lures her back to Georgia’s Jekyll Island. Lacey finds Trent no longer an employee in his dad’s lawn care business, but director of landscaping right in her historic district.

Winter Haven cottage’s century-old mystery of a vanished fiancé compels Lacey to settle her own past with Trent. Just one thing stands in the way … the fact that someone else likes uncovering secrets, too—Lacey’s. And her unknown foe won’t hesitate to use them against her.

Click here to get your copy!

Christian Historical Mystery is a great genre. The Curator's Secret by Denise Weimer is the latest in this genre that I have read.

The storyline started strong and was very intriguing throughout the book. The 2 main characters are Lacey Colbert and Trent Stevenson. Lacey and Trent were sweethearts many years ago, during their teenage years. They grew apart and Lacey moved away. She comes how many years later to Jekyll Island to begin a job at Gilead Age Resort. Lacey feels the need to reconcile with Trent, but someone is uncovering Lacey's secrets and it might jeopardize things with Trent. I really LOVE how Trent stands by Lacey and helps her uncover the Mystery of who is telling Lacey's secrets. Trent is an outstanding person and I was happy for Lacey and Trent as their relationship rekindled. The book is one of Mystery, Faith, and Romance. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Romance and Mystery. GREAT BOOK!

Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance from her home in North Georgia and also serves as a freelance editor and the Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books. A mother of two wonderful young adult daughters, she always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

More from Denise

When Secrets Lead to Suspense…

The Curator’s Secret is a bit of a departure from the historicals I’ve been releasing over the past year—not only in that it’s contemporary romantic suspense, and released independently rather than through a publishing house, but in its theme and setting.

Have you ever found yourself unable to keep a promise you made with the best intentions? This could happen due to unforeseen circumstances, mistakes, or information you didn’t have when you offered the pledge. The inability to follow through may break our heart, haunt us, and sever relationships. Secrets can do the same thing, stealing our ability to live authentically, blocking our blessings, and creating a stockpile of lies.

Broken promises and secrets choked the life from Lacey and Trent’s youthful romance six years before the hero and heroine of The Curator’s Secret are reunited when Lacey takes a job as a curator for a historical complex on Georgia’s Jekyll Island, where Trent, unbeknownst to her, is the landscape director. Rather than the restart Lacey expects with her new career, God brings her face to face with her past—not just her first love, but also her grad school stalker who has somehow followed her to the remote island. As the threat escalates, the tale Lacey uncovers in Winter Haven Cottage of a vanished fiancé seems to parallel her own tragic romance…and possibly offer answers and healing. If her past doesn’t destroy her chance of happiness first.

The Curator’s Secret was originally written as a time slip or dual time period novel. It was my mom’s favorite story and my agent’s favorite story I’ve ever written! But somehow, we couldn’t find a publishing home for it. So at last, I’m releasing it myself to my readers who enjoy stories of faith and unique Georgia history. Even though I made the decision to pull the historical backstory out so as not to slow the modern suspense story, the history of Jekyll Island is paramount to the plot. And BONUS, I also have the historical tale of William and Clara that I can share separately to anyone who emails me from my website with their Amazon receipt number for their purchase of The Curator’s Secret.

I’ll close with a fun fact. My mom and I love to take research trips when I’m gathering info for my novels. We enjoyed a beautiful stay at Jekyll for this one…until a hurricane came roaring up the coast! We had to hightail it out of there as workers boarded up the historic district. The eerie sense of impending doom sparked my idea of having a hurricane crescendo with the action in The Curator’s Secret. Imagine being trapped on an island with a storm and a stalker both bearing down on you! That’s exactly what happens to Lacey at the end of the novel. I hope you enjoy this exciting tale of redemption and romance.