Peace, Be Still Cover Reveal

 

 

I'm thrilled to be participating in the cover reveal for Virginia Henderson's novel Peace, Be Still. Isn't it beautiful and atmospheric? I love blue-themed winter scenes. Read on to find out more about the book and Virginia herself!

 

 

About the Book

True peace doesn't always mean that God calms the storms surrounding us. Sometimes He calms the storms within us.

William insists on taking his family to a cabin in the mountains for Christmas. It is supposed to be a quiet getaway from distracting electronics and civilization, where he and Rachel can finally share their exciting news with their daughter, Peggy.

However, 13-year-old Peggy has other ideas, including flying to California alone to meet her biological father, Ryan. Unfortunately, her trip goes sour, and it might cost her more than she bargained for.

Shady characters, flashy casinos, unexpected friendships, and a lesson in learning who your real family is. This is one Christmas the Hamlets and Hughes will never forget!

A perfect read for the Christmas season! Great for fans of Christ-centered reads that deal with sensitive topics. Clean & Christian romance with a few kisses between married couples. No swearing, smut, or gore. 

Content warnings: Drinking/drunk character, mild physical abuse, gambling, kidnapping, and human trafficking. 

The Abundant Blessings series:
#1- It's Called Grace
#2- A Stolen Heart
#3- Peace, Be Still

 

Book & Sign-Up Links

Goodreads Link

ARC Review Sign-Ups (Sent out on Oct 15^th – Review deadline is preferably Dec 6^th)

Launch Tour Sign-Ups (Dec 2^nd - Dec 6^th)

 

About the Author

Originally from Ohio, I now reside in Texas with my folks and little sister. I’m a born-again Christian and I want to give all the glory to God. He’s gifted me with this passion for writing and I want to give it back to Him.

 

I’m a multi-genre author with an interest in suspense, thrillers, and the occasional wholesome Christmas story. Down the road, I would like to try my hand at fairy-tale retellings and historical fiction.

 

Aside from writing, I’m always reading. I love the classics (Treasure Island and Peter Pan being my top favorites), historical fiction, survival, adventures, fairy-tale retellings, suspense, and all things Newsie-related. That particular time period (turn of the century New York) is one that I find very interesting.

 

I very much enjoy plays and musicals, embroidery, road trip adventures with the fam, retro arcade games, and board games. I’m also very interested in weaponry (archery, swordsmanship, etc).

 

Find Virginia in all these places!

Newsletter

Blog

Amazon

Goodreads

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

 

Blog Tour: Patriot at the River by Jayna Baas

Today I'm shining a spotlight on a new release by Christian historical fiction author Jayna Baas.

 

 

 

Patriot at the River

Book 2 in the series For Liberty and Conscience 

THE FIGHT HE GOT WASN’T THE FIGHT HE WANTED.

It’s 1780, and North Carolina is a battleground. Backcountry scout Benjamin Woodbridge is guarding a Patriot camp when he sees the king’s men pursuing a civilian. Never one to stand by while someone is in trouble, Benjamin steps in to help the stranger and finds an unexpected ally.

But the same British officer who targeted the stranger is also targeting Benjamin’s settlement. After Benjamin is wounded on a lonely mountain trail, he watches Sunrising fall to the man who crushed his father’s cause nine years earlier. Benjamin’s fight has come home to the very people he wanted to protect—his shy younger sister and the woman who has given them both a home.

Now, with the help of some unlikely comrades and the indomitable Aunt Kate, Benjamin must fight for what he loves before Sunrising goes up in flames. But only if he can fight himself first.

Perfect for fans of Christian historical fiction and tales of bravery and redemption, Patriot at the River combines engaging characters, daring action, and biblical truth. Read now and step into an adventure of faith and freedom.

 

Check it out on Amazon HERE.

 

Endorsements
“A fast-paced tale, Patriot at the River captures the spirit of the American Revolution in spades. Through courageous
flesh-and-blood characters in the Carolina backcountry who are the embodiment of soul liberty, this well-layered novel
offers a fresh look at freedom and those who fought to win it not only for themselves but generations to come. Huzzah!”
—Laura Frantz, Christy Award–winning author of The Frontiersman’s Daughter

“I am so impressed with Jayna Baas and this story! Intense, at times heartstopping, richly textured and steeped in an
authentic Carolina backcountry voice. Reading it felt like visiting old friends that I hadn’t yet met.”
—Shannon McNear, Selah Award winner and author of Daughters of the Lost Colony

“If you’re looking for a story filled with adventure, faith, biblical values, history, and characters you’ll love, look no
further than Patriot at the River.”
—Kristina Hall, author of Trouble in Dry Springs
 

 

About the Series
Patriot at the River is the second book of the For Liberty and Conscience trilogy, which combines early American history with Christ-centered fiction. Though Patriot at the River can be read as a standalone, readers will enjoy the return of several characters from the first book in the series, Preacher on the Run.

 

About the Author
Jayna Baas (pronounced as in “baa, baa, black sheep”) is the author of Preacher on the Run and director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. She writes and edits from beautiful northern Michigan, where she strives to give readers faith-filled adventures bursting with relatable characters and biblical truth.

When she’s not writing her own books or editing other people’s books, Jayna seeks out new adventures on the screen, on the page, and in the kitchen. She also loves to spend time with her great family of real people and the family of pretend people who live in her head. (Yes, she does know her characters are not real. No, she does not want you to tell them she said so.)

Although her love of words extends to multiple genres, Jayna’s favorite story is this: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Learn more at booksbyjayna.com, join her newsletter, or connect with her on Goodreads.

 

 

Giveaway Info
Time: 12:00 AM September 30 – 12:00 AM October 14
Prize: One signed paperback copy each of Preacher on the Run and Patriot at the River, the first two books in the For Liberty and Conscience trilogy. All entrants will receive a promo code for Jayna Baas’s online store.
Notes: US mailing addresses only, 18 and up or with parental consent. No purchase necessary. All entrants
agree to join Jayna Baas’s email list.
Giveaway link: https://kingsumo.com/g/1v9v4zm/patriot-at-the-river-release-tour-series-giveaway
 

Blog Tour Schedule

Here is the full tour schedule so you can visit all the stops to learn more about the book.

 

Sept 30: Kelsey’s Notebook
Hope-Inspired Stories
Oct 1: Tangled Up in Writing 

For Him and My Family 

Oct 2: Kristina Hall 

Oct 3: Alena Mentink 

Oct 4: Happily Managing a Household of Boys 

Oct 5: Southern Gal Loves to Read 

Oct 7: Captive Dreams Window 

Oct 8: Read Review Rejoice 

Oct 9: Britt Reads Fiction 

Oct 10: Vanessa Hall—Author of Christian Fiction 

Oct 11: Life of Heritage Corner 

Books by Virginia 

Oct 12: Reading Excursions 

Kenmore Pines

The Prayer Garden Re-Release

 I have an exciting announcement! Last year, my novella The Prayer Garden was published in A Very Bookish Easter. Since that collection is no longer available, I am publishing The Prayer Garden as a standalone. The ebook is now available for preorder and releases on April 21!

About the book:

Will she ever find the peace her life has been missing?

Uprooted from her dream job at a New York publishing house, Nyree Thistle moves to Florida to care for her grandparents’ old house. Fearing her life is going nowhere, she focuses on the small things—connecting with her grandmother who has dementia, exploring the woods behind the old house, making friends with locals including a certain young man, and rereading her favorite book, The Secret Garden. When she stumbles upon an overgrown garden, it could hold the key to everything she’s been searching for—but only if she can let go of what she thinks her life should be.

 

~*~

For those of you who read the story in A Very Bookish Easter, this is the same story with a few tweaks plus a slightly expanded ending...plus an announcement about the sequel!

Find it on Amazon here for a special preorder price of 99 cents. (Price goes up on release day.) You can find it and add it to your to-read shelf on Goodreads here.

 

 

Review: A Very Bookish Romance

 

I read it! Here is my review of this final collection from A Very Bookish Holiday. You can see my review and add this book on Goodreads here, or you can buy it on Amazon here.

~*~

 

I loved all of these well-written and heart-warming novellas. They were all relatively light on the romance angle but with a focus on what a real relationship should be. They had a cozy feel, mostly set in late winter when the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over and everyone is settling into normal life. (Though a couple of the stories had a longer time frame that included other holidays.)

-Daisy's Heart. I was so curious to see how Charlotte's Web would be used since it's a children's classic and the main characters in that book are animals. It was so loveable! Daisy's little brother, Will, adores that book. Daisy is such a good big sister, and her plight with the family farm had my full sympathy. That's one of my favorite story lines, trying to save the place you love. The other characters in this story are well crafted, too, and the nods to Templeton the rat in one certain person made me grin in satisfaction. I enjoyed seeing characters from Abigayle Claire's story in A Very Bookish Easter and realizing how her three stories for this series tie together.

-A String of Paper Hearts. All the Pride and Prejudice tie-ins were a delight to behold, especially since the characters themselves were so conscious of them. I was amazed at how Sarah Holman made the lead characters, Jeremiah and Pace, so likeable and sympathetic once we understand them, since when these characters appeared in an earlier Bookish Holiday story, they weren't so likeable and aren't typically the kind of characters I enjoy being around much. Bravo, Ms. Holman! The spiritual lessons, as always in her stories, are very impactful.

-Southeaster Lodge. We get two Jane Austen retellings in this collection! Northanger Abbey is one of the more neglected Austen novels when it comes to retellings, so I'm glad this fun novel got its spotlight here. It translated perfectly into this modern-day story. Katy is an endearing young woman with a few lessons yet to learn, and I think it was a genius twist how she went to work at a fancy lodge that contains a hallway that's been mysteriously "under construction" for years. I'm familiar with the area where Southeaster Lodge is fictionally located, so I really enjoyed that aspect as well.

-The Artist of Hearthstone Cottage. I can always expect great historical fiction from Kellyn Roth, and this novella, set in WW2 England, is no exception. I enjoyed how June's story enfolded bit by bit, almost like a mystery; she was definitely a mystery to those around her, like the heroine in her favorite book, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, though we as readers had a few more insights into her. Speaking of her favorite book, I was thrilled that this comparatively lesser-known classic was used in this collection. It worked really well!

-Lore in Love. This story was so sweet! Little Town on the Prairie is my favorite Little House book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the tie-ins. The story is full of family love, toddlers, delicious food, and inviting traditions. Lore and Mish are relatable and loveable characters, and watching their friendship develop was so much fun.

A Very Bookish Romance

 

The final A Very Bookish Holiday novella collection will release on January 14, 2024! It's available now for a special preorder price of $2.99. Paperbacks will be available on January 15. 

About the Collection

 

Daisy is determined to help her brother thrive,
Jeremiah seeks a second chance with Pace,
Katy longs for adventure and romance,
June finds herself seeking solace at church,
Lore makes a new friend…

…all at Valentine’s Day.

Join Abigayle Claire (inspired by Charlotte’s Web), Sarah Holman (inspired by Pride and Prejudice), J. Grace Pennington (inspired by Northanger Abbey), Kellyn Roth (inspired by The Tenant of Wildfell Hall), and Kate Willis (inspired by Little Town on the Prairie) as they share stories full of hope, faith, and love.

 

Find it HERE on Amazon. 

Add it on Goodreads HERE.

Click HERE to join the Facebook party on release day.

 

My Thoughts

I've read two of the stories so far, and they are the epitome of sweet romance! Not to mention a celebration of bibliophiles, which you can expect in A Very Bookish Holiday collections. I did not author a novella in this collection, unlike the previous three collections, and I'm rather sad that this is the last one. It's a beautiful conclusion to a wonderful set of anthologies. Don't miss it!