Wednesday, April 9, 2025

JustRead Tours Blog Tour: Lullaby by the River by Temperance Johnson

Lullaby by the River JustRead BlogTour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Lullaby by the River by Temperance Johnson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Lullaby by the River ‎
Series: Amish River
Author: Temperance Johnson
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Genre: Amish Fiction

An unique Amish love story.

A wounded woman with no way out…unless she marries her ex.

After unexpected abuse, quiet and happy Priscilla Yoder thinks her life can’t get worse. But then she finds out she’s pregnant, and her family and church insist she marry the man who hurt her. When a man she used to love, a man who wants to leave the Amish, offers to marry her, she doesn’t see a better option.

Danny Taylor, charming bad boy of his Amish community, is ready to leave the plain life. But when a woman he used to love finds herself in danger of marriage to an evil man, he can't resist offering marriage to keep her safe. Only problem is, he didn’t expect to fall for his bride so fast. She's softening his tough heart and showing him that there’s a good side to the Amish. As they grow closer, he realizes this gorgeous woman in pain has giant walls, and it will take both patience and faith if he wants to scale them.

Caring for Danny was never what Priscilla wanted. And she never expected his faith to bring her closer to God.

But when Danny’s past wounds resurface, and as Priscilla learns to hope again, can they trust God to make their relationship more than just a marriage of convenience?

Amish Fiction is my ultimate favorite genre. Lullaby by the River by Temperance Johnson is the latest book in this genre that I had the opportunity to read.

WOW, I started reading this book and didn't stop until I finished the book. This was definitely not the "Typical Amish Fiction" book. Priscilla is a Pregnant UnWed Amish Woman. The Amish community wants her to marry the man who sexually assaulted her. Priscilla feels trapped and then Danny Taylor, her ex, steps in and offers to marry her. Danny was planning on leaving the Amish community and becoming an Englisher. I really LOVE how their relationship renews and becomes stronger. I truly LOVE that Priscilla and Danny are leaning on God more throughout the pain of the past resurfaces again. I was really amazed that Priscilla learns that her faith in God is stronger then ever. The author tackles many sensitive topics: Sexual Assualt, Domestic Abuse, Church abuse and more, with Grace. Danny was a "HERO" for offering a "Marriage of Convenience" to protect Priscilla and the unborn baby. The book is one of Second Chances, Faith, and Family. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Amish Fiction. AMAZING BOOK!

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

Also Available

Temperance Johnson has always loved to read and write. As one of eleven children, she read from her older sister's books. With that, her love for both reading and writing has only continued to grow. Passionate about the subjects of adoption, family, and faith, she started the Liberty Chronicles and now her Amish fiction. In her free time, she plays with her ponies and many nieces and nephews. Her horses even made it into her stories. She enjoys spoiling her ten nephews and twenty-three nieces.

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

(2) winners will each receive a $20 Baker Book House gift card and a print copy of Lullaby by the River!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 8, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 15, 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!

Pin It

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Meow Meow Milks the Cow: A Towers of Light Read to Me by Allen Brokken

About the Book

Book: Meow Meow Milks the Cow: A Towers of Light Read to Me

Author: Allen Brokken, Illustrated by Reace Erbe

Genre: Christian Fable

Release date: March 15, 2025

When disaster strikes the family farm, Lauren gets a big job. She has to milk their cow, Clarabelle, all by herself! Her only help might come from her new feline friend Meow Meow, but how can such a little kitten help with such a big job?

This read-aloud will help you share the timeless truth from the Bible that God can use the least of us to solve big problems.

Click here to get your copy!

Chrsitian Children Picture Books are a wonderful genre. Meow Meow Milks the Cow: A Towers of Light Read to Me by Allen Brokken is the latest in this genre that I have read.

WOW, this book is cute and has a VERY important message for the little ones and their parents. The main characters in the book are a young girl named Lauren and a little Kitty named Meow Meow. Lauren's family lives on a farm. Lauren is given the task to milk the Cow for the first time. She isn't confident that she can carry out the task and expresses that to her mom. Her mom encourages her that she can do the task. Lauren takes the Kitty to the barn with her. I really LOVE how Lauren went from discouraged about her task to encouraged. The Cow at first wasn't cooperating, but then the little Kitty was an intergarl part of getting the task done. The message is strong for the little ones, the "Big tasks" don't have to seem so BIG when the right helper comes along. God makes things possible when we are about to lose faith. The illustrations are vibrant and will capture the attention of the young ones. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone with little ones between 3yrs to 8yrs old. GREAT BOOK!

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age appropriate way. He’s dedicated 15 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off to college he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media and through his blog.

More from Allen

Sometimes, a story just HAS to be told. When I first wrote the book that became Light of Mine, book 1 of the Towers of Light series, there was a scene in which the main character, Lauren, and her newly found kitten are trying to milk the cow. It was a sweet moment in a chaotic story, and I had fun writing it as an homage to my kitten squeaker, who made trying to work around home very challenging at times. However, my editor was pretty clear that as cute as the story was, Meow Meow’s interlude with the milk cow Clarabelle just didn’t fit the story’s action. So, unfortunately, that scene found its way to the cutting room floor.

After a few years, I started having mothers of children who loved the Towers of Light Series ask the same question over and over….”But what about my littles?” Do you have a story for me to read to my younger children? After thinking about it, I realized Meow Meow’s adventure might be a perfect read-aloud. So I reached out to a fellow Realm Maker, Pam Halter, who has a really fun series of books with Willougby the Dragon, to see if she could help me turn my 2500-word novel scene into an 800-word picture book…and she did a fantastic job! So now we have Meow Meow Milks the Cow.

Another fun fact is that the character Ethan in this book is all grown up now and engaged to be married to Reace Erbe, and this is her first illustrated work in print. So we all hope you enjoy this Tower of Light read to me.

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 9
For the Love of Literature, April 10 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, April 10
By the Book, April 11
For Him and My Family, April 12
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 13 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, April 14
Hannahbandanarama, April 15
Blossoms and Blessings, April 16 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 17
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 18
Labor Not in Vain , April 19
Texas Book-aholic, April 20
Pause for Tales, April 21
A Reader’s Brain, April 22 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, April 22

To celebrate his tour, Allen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 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/00adcf54199

Pin It

Monday, April 7, 2025

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Before the King: Joanna's Story by Heather Kaufman

Book: Before the King: Joanna’s Story (Women of the Way Book 2)

Author: Heather Kaufman

Genre: FICTION / Christian / Biblical

Release date: January 21, 2025

Joanna’s wealthy family aspires to Herod’s inner circle, but when her father’s esteemed position in the Sepphoris Sanhedrin is threatened, her family harbors a dark secret. Entangled in the complexities of aristocratic life and an impending arranged marriage, Joanna is caught between her own desires and maintaining appearances. When tragedy strikes, Joanna grapples with a new future that challenges her sense of duty and hope for love.

Years later, Joanna is forever changed when a rabbi comes preaching a new kingdom and healing the sick. As she contributes to his ministry, Joanna treads a perilous path between a court that mocks Jesus of Nazareth, disciples who view her with suspicion, and a husband who guards his own secrets. With pressure increasing on all sides, Joanna must decide where her allegiances lie and protect her relationship to the Christ, whose message is as compelling as it is dangerous.

Click here to get your copy!

Christian Biblical Fiction is a very interesting genre. Before the King: Joanna’s Story by Heather Kaufman is Book 2 in the Women of the Way series. I read Book 1 in this series and I am happy that Book 2 is out now.

WOW, I started reading this book and was truly amazed at the author's writing. The author really told the story of Joanna and her sister Dalia. Joanna is only mentioned a couple of times in the Bible, so I am completely awe struck at how the author told Joanna's story in detail. Joanna's family was wealthy, but when her father's job is threatened, Joanna wants to do all she can to help the family. The Biblically aspect is the connection to King Herod. The book is filled with Biblical Scriptures, a fictional storytelling of Joanna's Story, and is faith filled. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Biblical Fiction. I will be reading the series as the books come out. AMAZING BOOK!

Heather Kaufman is the author of multiple books and devotions, praised by Kirkus Reviews for writing “a charming and well-crafted tale.” She delights in highlighting the goodness of God through storytelling. When not reading, writing, or accumulating mounds of books, Heather can be found exploring new parks with her husband and three children near their home in St. Louis, Missouri.

More from Heather

Hello, Fellow Book Lover!

My heart behind the Women of the Way series is to highlight the beauty of Jesus through the eyes of some of his lesser-known female followers. In Before the King, we behold Jesus through the eyes of Joanna. Although she’s only named twice in Scripture, the little we do know about her is compelling. In Luke 8:1-3, we discover that Joanna was healed by Jesus of an infirmity and then followed him, supporting his ministry from her own means. What’s so shocking is that she’s the wife of Chuza, Herod Antipas’ steward! During my research, I discovered that her husband’s position is better translated “procurator,” someone in charge of financial affairs. Such a position suggests that Chuza was a prominent man within Herod’s administration. But the surprises don’t end there! My research also indicated that Chuza was most likely Nabatean. Nestled just southeast of Herod’s own territory of Perea, Nabatea was a major world power at the time of Christ.

The more I researched, the more my jaw dropped to the ground. How did a Jewish woman married to a prominent Gentile within Herod’s administration come to support Jesus of Nazareth? Did her husband know? Did he approve? Did Herod himself ever find out? You’ll have to read Before the King to see just where my imagination took me!

I depict Joanna as caught between two courts—that of Herod Antipas and that of Jesus Christ. She chooses to risk everything for her faith and that choice pays off. The second time we see Joanna in Scripture is in Luke 24:10 as an eyewitness to the empty tomb. Not only did she behold the empty tomb, she gazed upon the risen Christ, for in Matthew 28:9 we read that as the women left, they encountered Jesus himself. What an amazing privilege to be one of the first to meet the risen Lord in the flesh!

I hope Joanna’s story encourages you to live a bold faith that clings to Christ, despite opposition. Our world now isn’t so different from hers then. Christ’s Kingdom is still advancing in the midst of political unrest, social division, and rampant greed. May we pin our hopes upon King Jesus, who is worthy of our devotion. Like Joanna, may we place all we have within his hands, deeming him worthy of the cost.

While you read, consider listening to the Before the King playlist! It’s full of inspirational music that ties into the themes from the book. Give it a listen HERE. Happy reading (and listening)!

Surrendering with you to Him,

Heather

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 2
Stories By Gina, April 3 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, April 3
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 5
Life on Chickadee Lane, April 6
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 7
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 8
She Lives to Read, April 8
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impression, April 9
Cover Lover Book Review, April 9
Lily’s Corner, April 10
Bigreadersite, April 11
Inspired by Fiction, April 11
For Him and My Family, April 12
Pause for Tales, April 13
EmpowerMoms, April 13
Holly’s Book Corner, April 14
Inklings and notions , April 15

To celebrate her tour, Heather is giving away the grand prize of a $15 Amazon gift card and a paperback 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/00adcf54190

Pin It

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: 63 Hours in Hell by Susan L. Davis

Book: 63 Hours In Hell

Author: Susan L Davis

Genre: Fantasy/Speculative Fiction

Release date: March 4, 2025

To reach the kingdom of Heaven, they must unlock the gates of Hell.

Discover the Journey. Rediscover Your Faith.

On their journey to Jesus’s crucifixion, Hannah and her brother perish in a tragic accident, plunging into the enigmatic afterlife of Paradise. Jesus sends them, along with the “good thief” Dismas and a mysterious angel, on a perilous quest to retrieve scattered fragments of the key to Hell.

This ragtag team races through the epochs of biblical history, trying to outwit Lucifer’s forces at every turn. Can they restore the key in 63 hours? Or will Lucifer destroy them all

Experience the power of the Christ’s resurrection in a way you never imagined.

Click here to get your copy!

Christian Fantasy isn't a genre that I normally read. I LOVED the synopsis of this book and I was intrigued to read it. 63 Hours in Hell by Susan L Davis is the most recent Christian Fantasy book that I have read.

I will admit that the book started a little slow for me. The 2 main characters in this book are Hannah and her brother. They die in a tragic and are sent to "Hell" to earn their way to the Gates of Heaven. The author compares their journey in Hell to the 3 days of Jesus Crucifixion and Resurrection. I really LOVE that the Author weaves Scripture and Biblical stories with Fiction. Hannah and her brother certainly had a journey to be had and the reader will see that there is some in depth learning to be had. The book is one that shows Redemption, Forgiveness and Faith. The storyline also has demons and fiction weaved into. I can say that I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy Fantasy and Fiction with Faith weaved in. GOOD BOOK!

Susan L. Davis is an author, speaker, and blogger whose journey from skepticism to faith began unexpectedly at a funeral. Her debut novel, 63 Hours in Hell, explores the three days Jesus spent in Hell, offering a fresh perspective on biblical events. Susan lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband, two children, and their mischievous dog.

More from Susan

Thank you so much for being part of this incredible journey. I am grateful for your support in helping to share my debut book!

I’m thrilled to introduce readers to more than just a novel—this is a journey into God’s love and mercy, reaching even the darkest places. Rooted in scripture, infused with traces of Jewish folklore, and written with the utmost respect for Jesus, 63 Hours in Hell examines themes of faith, forgiveness, redemption, and the healing of broken relationships.

If you’re a fan of The Chosen series, this book will resonate with you. It imagines what happened during Jesus’ three days in the depths of hell. The story follows a jilted bride, her brother, and the good thief on a quest: finding key fragments, freeing hell’s prisoners, fighting the devil, and facing their own inner demons.

A Special Message

Readers have shared how they found a personal message within its pages—something they needed to hear at just the right moment. I pray 63 Hours in Hell offers encouragement to you as well.

An Inspired Journey

As you can see in the photo, my furry companions have been a steady source of joy throughout my writing journey. (Fun fact: my majestic, wolf-like dog even inspired the demon dog in the book!)

An Invitation

I didn’t truly discover Jesus until later in life, which makes me even more in awe of His boundless love, sacrifice, and resurrection—and His patience throughout my personal transformation. This book is more than a story; it’s an invitation to understand why Jesus’ death and resurrection remain pivotal—yesterday, today, and forever.

Thank you for joining me on this journey and for sharing this book with others. Your support means the world to me!

Happy reading,

Susan L. Davis

Guild Master, March 28 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, March 29 (Author Interview)
Inspired by Fiction, March 30
Simple Harvest Reads, March 31 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, April 1 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 1
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 2 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, April 3 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, April 4
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 5
Artistic Nobody, April 6 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, April 7 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 7
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 8 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 9
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 10 (Author Interview)

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $75 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/00adcf54188

Pin It

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett

Book: Above the Circle of Earth

Author: E. Stephen Burnett

Genre: Science Fiction

Release date: March 4, 2025

The fight for the space mission begins in his homeworld.

Brock Rivers never wanted to be a repairman on Mars. Years ago, he failed to protect his family, and now he labors across a frontier planet to keep his children alive and escape CAUSE. But the spacefaring humanist regime is taking over Martian colonies, forcing all to join the secular state.

Back in Brock’s homeworld, his people summon him to fulfill old hopes with a new dream. After decades of cultural isolation, they plan to restore missions for the 22nd century, voyaging beyond Earth to share the gospel in space. Brock must find a ship and recruit a team of misfit believers. They expect opposition from the formidable CAUSE, but not from a more deceptive enemy.

One adversary attacks from the shadows to destroy the faithful. Others unify to oppose the project. Brock and his family must fight to resist these enemies of the space mission or else return to exile forever.

Click here to get your copy!

Christian Fiction is a favorite genre of mine. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett is the most recent book I have read in this genre.

I will admit I am not a Science Fiction reader, but the synopsis of this book really intrigued me. The main character in this book is Brock Rivers, his wife Alicia and his family. The book really has an interesting storyline in that Brock and his family are exiled to Mars to serve as Missionaries. Brock and Alicia are steadfast in their faith, even on Mars which is very secular. Brock wants to escape CAUSE. I really LOVE how Brock and Alicia know they have work to complete on Mars, yet want to eventually return to Earth to continue their Missionary work. I also like that the book is looking forward to the 22nd Century. The book is fast paced, action packed and has a STRONG, but not Preachy, Faith aspect. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Science Fiction with a Christian aspect. GREAT BOOK!

E. Stephen Burnett creates sci-fi novels as well as nonfiction, exploring fantastical stories for God’s glory as publisher of Lorehaven.com and its weekly Fantastical Truth podcast. He is coauthor of The Pop Culture Parent and other resources for fans and families. Stephen and his wife, Lacy, live in the Austin area and serve in their local church.

More from E. Stephen

Today’s earthly life seemed especially rough.

My day job had issues. A family member is facing worse challenges. Home-repair projects are piling up. Oh, plus our two dogs stormed out of the house and, for no discernable reason, attacked the neighbor’s pet (zero injuries reported, so far).

It’s not all bad. As I write, my wife and I aren’t sick. Times of rest are coming soon. We have good work and freedom to worship Jesus. We enjoy shelter and supplies.

Also—we’re not forced into exile on Mars because of secular persecution on Earth.

That last is the scenario of my debut sci-fi novel Above the Circle of Earth. Its creation began with an “original” teenage thought like, “Hey, what if someone made a sci-fi adventure, only with Christian characters?” That grew into a complex futuristic world of fantastic space exploration, but also mixed results for believers in Christ.

ACE isn’t all dystopia. You can still enjoy freedom to practice your faith on Earth. But you need to stay in your religious preserve. If you try to live like a Christian outside that homeworld, the spacefaring humanist regime CAUSE won’t appreciate that.

That’s how Brock and Alicia Rivers ended up fighting to survive on Mars, laboring in the settlements and raising their three children in a dry and weary, waterless land.

Then comes their call to adventure. This is not just a mission, but the Space Mission, the first restored missionary outreach in fifty years. They’ll have to return to Earth and face the death of a loved one, intimidation by the secular CAUSE, and many challenges and greater threats from their own Christian brothers and sisters—all forming a fantastical adventure about how we long to defend our homeworlds.

I started my first version of ACE decades ago. But to tackle big themes like this, I now realize I needed more experience to understand these kinds of struggles. Of course, I’ve never had to diagnose a leaking dome on another planet or resist a technocratic humanist regime. But I have felt the pain of lost job opportunities, grief after the loss of a parent, and the futility of researching odd subjects (from biblical theology to Martian calendars!) that seemed to lead nowhere.

Well, plot twist: All those hard times made this science fiction more realistic. You can’t build spaceships or stories without those struggles. Otherwise the tale ends up bad—inauthentic and corny, with simplistic morals and shallow heroes. Ugh. Few readers want that. And the few who do will barely remember such a book.

Maybe that’s one reason our Author allows the real-world challenges. He’s not just making us holy and more like Jesus Christ. He’s making us to be more human, well-rounded heroes with dimension and realism, for His glory and our good.

Here’s hoping Above the Circle of Earth launches a different kind of Christian-made science fiction, helping us see all hard times in light of our Author’s amazing future.

Godspeed and #GoTherefore!

Stephen Burnett