Tag Archives: historical romance fiction

Meet All Your Favorite Authors at Rendezvous ’26!

17 Jun
Read Write Rendezvous '26 JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour that brings Rendezvous 2026 to you, hosted, sponsored, and organized by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Bringing Rendezvous ’26 to You!

Rendezvous: reader and writer gathering

November 7, 2026

Holiday Inn Nashville Airport

Readers and Writers will gather at the fourth annual Read Write Rendezvous, organized and sponsored by JustRead Publicity Tours, LLC, on November 7, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT at the Holiday Inn Nashville Airport. Rendezvous celebrates Christian fiction and sweet reads, featuring corporate worship, speaker sessions, author panels, small-group discussions, games, giveaways, a pop-up bookshop, and book signings. This event aims to sweeten reading and storytelling experiences with fellowship and encouragement. Over forty featured authors are participating, including The Christy Award Hall of Fame and bestselling author Tamera Alexander who will deliver the keynote address. USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author Lisa Phillips will lead worship. We will announce several more authors in the coming weeks! We prayerfully honor the legacy of the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat through each Rendezvous event, and this year we are especially celebrating the very first CFRR which was held 10 years ago in Nashville. Rendezvous is open only to registered attendees. Want to extend your reader getaway? The Christy Award Gala and Art of Writing conference will be held at a nearby venue on November 6.

Learn more about the 2026 Rendezvous

If you’re unable to attend Rendezvous this year, we don’t want you to miss out on getting to know our authors and their books. Our bloggers are bringing Rendezvous to you by spotlighting several of the participating authors this week. Follow along to grow your TBR list to astronomical proportions!

Check out recent releases by these participating authors in the JustRead Amazon Storefront.

Author Spotlight — Tamera Alexander

Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist and one of today’s most popular authors of inspirational historical romance and women’s contemporary fiction, including A Million Little Choices, Rekindled, and Within My Heart. While being Gram Tam is her current favorite role, she’ll never turn down a stroll through an old cemetery or browsing through antique shops.

Her works have been awarded numerous industry-leading honors—among them the Christy Award, the RITA Award, the Carol Award, Library Journal’s top honors—and have earned the distinction of Publisher’s Weekly Starred Reviews.

In 2020 she was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame which recognizes authors for their legacy and contribution to Christian fiction. Her deeply drawn characters and thought-provoking plots have earned her devoted readers worldwide.

Tamera and her husband love living in Nashville, Tennessee, and treasure the time spent with their grown children and grandchildren. They live a short distance from the Southern mansions that serve as the backdrop for many of her critically-acclaimed novels.

Tamera views her writing as a way to grow closer to the Lord Jesus Christ—and her deepest desire is that those who read her novels will take steps closer to Him as well.

Tamera’s newest book, In These Hills, releases on September 8, 2026.

A young suffragist on the run finds more than refuge in the hills and hollers of Tennessee in this gripping historical romance from USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander.

1905. Josephine Dunham is running for her life. After a women’s suffrage rally in Atlanta turns deadly, she buys a one-way ticket on the first train out and lands in rural Tennessee. There, Dodge Coburn―a rough-edged stranger with undeniable appeal―begrudgingly offers her a ride to Lynchburg, a speck of a town where Josephine hopes to disappear.

Battered and desperate, Josephine has little to say when Dodge delivers her to Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House. Hoping to work in exchange for room and board, she soon discovers the only job matching her skills is at Jack Daniel’s Distillery, an irony not lost on a suffragist committed to prohibition.

Dodge is skeptical of Josephine’s claim that she’s on the run from an abusive husband. But between running Jack Daniel’s cattle farm and raising his young niece, he has little time or inclination to press her . . . at first. But when Josephine’s convictions and compassion draw him in, Dodge begins to reconsider the life he’s chasing, while Josephine must face a world far more complicated than the principles she’s held to.

As Jack Daniel’s Distillery gains national recognition, Josephine’s secrets resurface. In a place where whiskey making takes time but justice is too often hurried, Dodge and Josephine must decide what―and who―they are willing to risk everything for, and whether faith will hold when the cost is high and time is running out.

You can pre-order the book HERE.

Excerpt

March 1905

Atlanta, Georgia

“Remember, Miss Dunham, you’re an intelligent, independent young woman. Don’t let them intimidate you!”

“No, of course not.” Josephine followed the head of the local American Woman Suffrage Association to the foot of the makeshift outdoor stage, her insides thrumming with ­ anticipation— and panic. Crowds filled the street, women and men alike. Far more than expected for so early in the morning ­ and— judging by the ­ hecklers— not all of them supportive of the cause.

She still couldn’t believe they’d invited her to speak, and on the heels of Miss Susan B. Anthony herself. Even now, the venerated Miss Anthony, ­ eighty- five years old, wearing her customary ­ round- rimmed glasses and hair pulled back in a ­ no- nonsense style, commanded the podium as she delivered her closing remarks.

“I wish I could live another century and see the fruition of all the work for women, including that of this next generation who joins the revolution with such unwavering enthusiasm and commitment. Like their foremothers, they have vowed to carry forth the fight for temperance, for voting rights for women, for equal pay for equal work . . .”

As Miss Anthony’s voice rose, so did the jeers.

A biting wind whistled through the alleyways between downtown brick buildings, sharpening the unseasonably cold spring air. Josephine turned up her coat collar and adjusted the Votes for Women sash she and her fellow suffragists wore to such gatherings.

The past week of canvasing Atlanta’s familiar streets and neighborhoods publicizing this event had made a real difference. Josephine took a deep breath. Now if only she could.

Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $30 gift card (winner’s choice of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook, or Baker Book House)!

Rendezvous '26 blog tour giveaway JustRead Tours

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 15, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 22, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

JustRead Publicity Tours

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Top 10 Tuesday — Book Covers Featuring Handwriting

9 Jun

Happy Tuesday! While you certainly shouldn’t judge a book by its cover 🙂 , we all know that compelling cover design is what attracts a reader. There are so many elements to a great cover design — I commend those who produce these works of art. The title font is one such element, and the sky is the limit to types that can be used. Today TTT bloggers were tasked with showcasing fonts that mimic handwriting. I have chosen some books I have read/reviewed that fit that bill, those that have partial or full titles that look handwritten. There are a lot of different genres; I hope you find a book and a cover to pique your interest.

For more cover art, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Books with Titles That Look Handwritten

An Appearance of Impropriety by Jayna Breigh

A Caffeine Conundrum by Angela Ruth Strong

Della’s Song by Donna Jo Stone

The Easter Sepulcher by Mel Starr

The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch

Harbor Pointe by Irene Hannon

Headwater Holiday by Hannah Hood Lucero

A Weekend on Allyson Island by Susannah B. Lewis

The Women of Wynton’s by Donna Mumma

The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese

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Spotlight on Historical Fiction — The Brunswick

3 Jun
The Brunswick JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Brunswick by Callie Murray, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

The Brunswick

Title: The Brunswick
Author: Callie Murray
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: May 19, 2026
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

When Cora provides a safe haven for Jewish refugee children, she discovers that opening her doors means risking everything, including her heart.

In 1939 Georgia, far removed from the war brewing overseas, Cora Cain’s world feels small–and shrinking. There, she runs The Brunswick, her family’s once-grand hotel, which is now struggling as the town’s general store. When Thomas Watkins arrives seeking work and solace after his mother’s death, a connection sparks between them. Through Thomas, Cora glimpses a life beyond obligation and her war hero father’s unpredictable moods.

But everything changes when Cora is asked to turn The Brunswick into a sanctuary for Jewish children fleeing persecution in Germany. As Cora and Thomas prepare for the children’s arrival, they struggle to confront their pasts–and the prejudice of their neighbors–as their fragile hope is put to the test.

Meanwhile, in Vienna, ten-year-old Charlotte is offered refuge in America. But even with the horrors she sees around her, she wonders how her parents could possibly send her away. As war’s shadow begins to reach small-town Georgia, each person must face what love demands and decide what to hold on to and what to let go.

Excerpt

She had been born the very month her father, Ralph Cain, opened The Brunswick. “My twins,” he sometimes said of them. The Brunswick quickly became a well- known destination for those escaping the bustle of Atlanta, balancing Parisian drama with Southern charm.

The hotel was a two- story colonial with ironwork balustrades encasing each floor’s wide porch, and it was situated just across the street from the train station. For the first ten years of Cora’s life, The Brunswick provided for her family in abundance, its twenty rooms rarely vacant. Guests poured in, as did money, and Cora fell asleep each night to the clinking of glasses in the lobby, the sounds of happy tourists drunk on leisure and smuggled alcohol. But as the realities of the Great Depression settled in, the guests stopped coming, and Cora’s father slipped into a depression of his own.

Standing now at what used to be the hotel’s registration desk, Cora opened and quickly scanned a letter from the bank before pushing it aside with a sigh. She then fumbled through a mess of delivery tickets so she could determine what she needed to package and load into the truck. Today’s route would be a busy one, taking her into the farmlands east of town and then back, where she would return to do paperwork until she went to bed and could start all over again in the morning.

When she and Billie used to dream of their futures, Cora never imagined staying at The Brunswick to manage the family business like she was. They were both supposed to fall in love at the same time, go to college together, move away. 

Billie was following the plan, but Cora had detoured unwillingly.

She slumped behind the desk and sat on the floor, resting her head against the wood, coveting her friend’s nap, but she was interrupted by the scraping of the front door. From her hidden spot, she called, “I’m sorry, but we’re closed for afternoon deliveries!”

An unfamiliar voice called back, “But what if you didn’t have to be?”

Cora craned her neck around the desk and was met with leather loafers just ten feet away. Tracing the tall frame upward, she found tweed trousers and a white linen shirt, its sleeves rolled up to the elbows, hugging the arms inside tightly. The top button of the shirt hung open, and then there was the day- old scruff of a beard and a slight scar on lips that, as she rested her gaze on them, quirked into a grin.

“I’m looking for a job,” the stranger said. “Perhaps if I worked here, I could keep the store open while you make deliveries. Or I could make deliveries while you keep the store open.”

Cora nodded mutely, though she was unsure he could see her from her position behind the desk. In all the years she had managed The Brunswick, she had not once considered hiring help. That would require money, and that resource was in perpetually short supply.

She had also never met someone who caused her words to gum up in her brain like this. Pressure was building like a stream behind a dam.

The man continued, “I’ll come by tomorrow morning before you open, if that’s okay. For an interview. Does that work?”

The dam burst, and Cora blurted, “I’m all yours.” She felt her cheeks blush, and her brain fired off a list of much less embarrassing responses she could have given. “I’ll see you then.” “That works for me.” Perhaps a simple, “Sure.”

She watched the lips again lift into a smile. “Great,” he said, tipping his chin and returning to the porch, leaving Cora alone with the hall clock, which chimed the quarter- hour, reminding her she was late.

She stood and watched the man’s figure through the window as he crossed to the other side of the town. Who was that? Norcross was a tight- knit place, and Cora felt as if she knew everyone who called the small town home.

The man appeared to know a bit about The Brunswick— the fact that it was now a general store, that it closed each afternoon for deliveries, that she was the only one working. She wished she had asked for his story— or even his name. She wished she had tempered his expectations. She had no money for a new hire, after all. She wished she would have said just about anything other than what she had. Perhaps tomorrow morning she would be a little more coherent. At least by then she’d be standing.

The Brunswick • Callie Murray

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group © 2026 used by permission

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Baker Publishing Group | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

About The Author

Callie Murray

Callie Murray is an entrepreneur who has been featured on The Today Show and in The New York Times. Her debut Southern fiction book delves into the lesser-known historical details preceding World War II. Callie and her husband live in Norcross, Georgia, with their seven children, four of whom came through the honor of foster care.

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

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card!

The Brunswick JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight June 3, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 10, 2026. Winner 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 the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

JustRead Publicity Tours

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Book Review: Della’s Song

19 May

Are you looking for a sweet romance to kick off your summer reading? Then Della’s Song by Donna Jo Stone is a perfect choice. This fairytale-inspired story set in the 1930s is full of nostalgia and spiritual truths. Check it out below.

A tragic loss, a silenced song, and a scattered family … one North Louisiana tea room offers an unlikely reunion.

In the wake of a devastating train accident, Della Swan’s world is shattered. Her father and brother are forever changed, and the Swan Family Gospel Singers have no choice but to depend on the charity of formidable Aunt Leticia, proprietor of the Hotel Fairwood.

Of Della’s six brothers, only two remain with her at the hotel: Quiet Max, the youngest, and Frank, the pianist who lost his arm—and his heart for music. The rest are sent away to school or work. Aunt Leticia believes the children must learn to make their way in the world, effectively banishing them.

During Father’s recovery, the repercussions of his head injury make one thing clear. Life as the Swans knew it, traveling the south and sharing music, may never return. Yet Della clings to the belief that God isn’t finished with her family or their calling and sets a plan in motion to bring them together again.

When she develops an unexpected bond with Clayton Miller, the hotel’s reserved, long-time employee, his steady presence reminds her there is often more to people—and situations—than meets the eye.

The Swan Family Gospel Singers are separated by tragedy, Della’s brothers scattered to the wind. With needle and thread, faith, and a song, she finds a way to stitch them together again.

A touch of fairy tale, a spoonful of history, and a teacup of hope.

Della’s Song is a stand-alone novel in the Apron Strings Tea Tales multi-author series, and a 1930s historical with romance retelling of “The Six Swans.”

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, and young adult fiction. 

Life is messy and beautiful. In everyone’s story, there is truth and hope. Donna Jo’s novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles.

When she’s not writing, she loves to read and talk about books, poke around in old bookshops and museums, and spend time with her family.

My Impressions:

I love a fairytale retelling! Della’s Song by Donna Jo Stone is inspired by The Seven Swans. With creative nods to the original story, Della is determined to reunite her family after tragedy has turned it upside down. Della is the lone sister in a large group of brothers. They were known as the Swan Family Gospel Singers before her father and older brother’s accident left her father with neurological difficulties and her piano-playing brother with only one arm. Della’s mission is to get the family back on the stage. She sees it as her one and only calling. I liked how her preconceived notions and tunnel vision are challenged. In a Google search of the original story, themes such as love, sacrifice, and perseverance are listed, and that’s what you get in Stone’s novel. The setting is charming, the characters are real and relatable, and the romance is sweet! Della’s dreams morph into a reality that is much more than she expected. It’s a quick read perfect for a lazy weekend sipping lemonade or sweet tea out on the porch! Be sure to grab a tea cake too. 😉

Recommended.

Audience: older teens and adults.

(Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Happy Release Day — Della’s Song

19 May

Happy release day to Donna Jo Stone! Della’s Song, a fairytale-inspired story that’s part of the Apron Strings Tea Tales series, is now available. You won’t want to miss this historical romance based on The Seven Swans. Find out all about it below.

A tragic loss, a silenced song, and a scattered family … one North Louisiana tea room offers an unlikely reunion.

In the wake of a devastating train accident, Della Swan’s world is shattered. Her father and brother are forever changed, and the Swan Family Gospel Singers have no choice but to depend on the charity of formidable Aunt Leticia, proprietor of the Hotel Fairwood.

Of Della’s six brothers, only two remain with her at the hotel: Quiet Max, the youngest, and Frank, the pianist who lost his arm—and his heart for music. The rest are sent away to school or work. Aunt Leticia believes the children must learn to make their way in the world, effectively banishing them.

During Father’s recovery, the repercussions of his head injury make one thing clear. Life as the Swans knew it, traveling the south and sharing music, may never return. Yet Della clings to the belief that God isn’t finished with her family or their calling and sets a plan in motion to bring them together again.

When she develops an unexpected bond with Clayton Miller, the hotel’s reserved, long-time employee, his steady presence reminds her there is often more to people—and situations—than meets the eye.

The Swan Family Gospel Singers are separated by tragedy, Della’s brothers scattered to the wind. With needle and thread, faith, and a song, she finds a way to stitch them together again.

A touch of fairy tale, a spoonful of history, and a teacup of hope.

Della’s Song is a stand-alone novel in the Apron Strings Tea Tales multi-author series, and a 1930s historical with romance retelling of “The Six Swans.”

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, and young adult fiction. 

Life is messy and beautiful. In everyone’s story, there is truth and hope. Donna Jo’s novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles.

When she’s not writing, she loves to read and talk about books, poke around in old bookshops and museums, and spend time with her family.

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Spotlight on Small Town Romance — Loving Sarah

14 May
Loving Sarah JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Loving Sarah by Jo Huddleston, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Loving Sarah

Title: Loving Sarah
Author: Jo Huddleston
 Publisher: ‎ Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications
Release Date: May 12, 2026
Genre: 1950s sweet small-town romance

Sarah wears William’s engagement ring. Then, Robert arrives in town.

In this love-triangle story, Sarah cheerfully manages the candy shop she inherited from her mama. Being engaged to be married to Gatlinburg, Tennessee’s most eligible bachelor, makes her life pretty much perfect. But then she meets Robert and has an unexplainable sense they’ve met before.

Robert travels from Michigan to operate Gatlinburg’s main-street SkyLift attraction while his dad recovers from a fall. He’s miserable being relocated to this Tennessee mountains hick town. That is, until he meets Sarah and feels an instant attraction to her. He’s unaware that the town’s biggest secret involves him.

Although she’s engaged to another, Sarah and Robert are mysteriously drawn to each other. This woman and her beloved mountains curb his desire to return to Michigan. Will Sarah give in to her feelings for Robert or be true to the man she’s promised to marry?

Loving Sarah is steeped in the easygoing culture and traditions of the Smoky Mountains in the 1950s. The story is a sweet, small-town romance with a heart-wrenching battle to make the right choice. This book will keep you turning pages with its mix of loyalty, betrayal, uncertainty, and emotional stakes.

Excerpt

Having grown up in these parts, Sarah knew many local people, but she wondered about this handsome stranger. He appeared extremely familiar, but she couldn’t put a name to him or remember where she might have met him. She didn’t want to be caught staring at him, but she continued to cautiously study him. Maybe it would come to her where she had seen him before.

Being engaged to William didn’t stop her from taking notice of a good-looking man near her age. It was like her frequent window shopping—she looked but didn’t choose to buy anything. After all, he didn’t wear a wedding ring.

His dark auburn hair held just enough curl to flip up in the back over the top of his white shirt collar. Many women in Detroit probably yearned to run their fingers through those curls, so unlike the shorter haircuts of the local men. The stranger didn’t appear to be from around here, with his expensive-looking suit, his shiny leather dress shoes, and the standoffish way he carried himself.

He unnerved her slightly by being near him. Alone in the waiting room, they were seated a respectable distance apart. Nevertheless, something like electricity buzzed between them in the small room. The sensation was like a magnet pulling them together. Once, he took a sideways glance at her. Did he feel the vibrations as well? His leather shoe tapped the floor continuously.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

About The Author

Jo Huddleston

Jo Huddleston writes sweet Southern romances set in the 1950s, where you can escape into wholesome, faith-based love stories of deep commitment, hope, and happily-ever-after endings. Readers describe Jo as a wonderful storyteller whose books are sure to inspire and entertain you. Reviewers say her books should be Hallmark movies.

She likes to laugh with people, but not at people. The beach is her favorite vacation spot. She’s a spectator fan of several sports, with tennis being her favorite. She doesn’t enjoy being in the dark and is fearful of snakes!

Jo holds a BA degree with honors from Lincoln Memorial University (TN), where she is a member of their Literary Hall of Fame. She earned the MEd degree from Mississippi State University.

Please visit Jo’s website and get a free book when you sign up for her newsletter.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card + eBook of Loving Sarah!

(2) winners will each receive the eBook of Loving Sarah!

Loving Sarah blog tour giveaway JustRead Tours

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 12, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 19, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No delivery restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

JustRead Publicity Tours

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Happy Release Day — Miss Beth Bettencourt

12 May

Happy release day to Eva Marie Everson. Her newest novel, Miss Beth Bettencourt, is now available! I really enjoyed going back to the early 1960s to a small Georgia town where everyone knows everyone . . . and their business. Strong themes of faith are presented along with a sweet, sweet love story. Find out more below. (You can read my review HERE.)

Will an unlikely romance tear down Beth’s walls of indifference?

It’s 1962 in Bynum, Georgia, and Beth Bettencourt’s world is turned upside down when she wakes to a man snoring in the guest bedroom.

She’s home alone; her parents are traveling abroad, grieving her twin sister’s unexpected death. Instead of accompanying them, Beth stayed in Bynum to tend to her kindergarten and closely guard her own heart.

A beautiful and beloved member of the community, Beth is an unusual specimen for her time as she nears thirty and remains unmarried. She holds deep-seated unforgiveness toward her twin, Elise, who ran off with Beth’s beau. To make matters worse, Elise took their grandmother’s ring, which had been promised to Beth.

But now a stranger enters her home and her world. David Patrick Martin seems ready to break down her walls of indifference and find the core of Miss Beth Bettencourt. But can he be trusted with Beth’s past, her present, and more importantly, her future?

Eva Marie Everson is an ECPA bestselling and multiple award-winning author and speaker, including an ECPA Gold Medallion. She is a Christy finalist, and a Silver Medallion winner. She has won a Carol, several Maggie and Golden Scroll awards, and an Inspirational Retailers Choice Award. Born and reared in Georgia, Eva Marie and her husband make their home in Central Florida where they are owned by one very spoiled cat and two hearts full of grandchildren.

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First Line Friday — Della’s Song

1 May

Happy Friday! Today I am pleased to feature Della’s Song by Donna Jo Stone, part of the Apron Strings Tea Tales series. A standalone, this 1930s-era novel gets its inspiration from the fairytale The Six Swans. How fun is that! I’ll be reviewing Della’s Song in a few weeks, but in the meantime, here’s the first line:

Traces of green and yellow bruises marred her father’s face, and black railroad stitches tracked along his hairline, curving down toward his left ear.

A tragic loss, a silenced song, and a scattered family … one North Louisiana tea room offers an unlikely reunion.

In the wake of a devastating train accident, Della Swan’s world is shattered. Her father and brother are forever changed, and the Swan Family Gospel Singers have no choice but to depend on the charity of formidable Aunt Leticia, proprietor of the Hotel Fairwood.

Of Della’s six brothers, only two remain with her at the hotel: Quiet Max, the youngest, and Frank, the pianist who lost his arm—and his heart for music. The rest are sent away to school or work. Aunt Leticia believes the children must learn to make their way in the world, effectively banishing them.

During Father’s recovery, the repercussions of his head injury make one thing clear. Life as the Swans knew it, traveling the south and sharing music, may never return. Yet Della clings to the belief that God isn’t finished with her family or their calling and sets a plan in motion to bring them together again.

When she develops an unexpected bond with Clayton Miller, the hotel’s reserved, long-time employee, his steady presence reminds her there is often more to people—and situations—than meets the eye.

The Swan Family Gospel Singers are separated by tragedy, Della’s brothers scattered to the wind. With needle and thread, faith, and a song, she finds a way to stitch them together again.

A touch of fairy tale, a spoonful of history, and a teacup of hope.

Della’s Song is a stand-alone novel in the Apron Strings Tea Tales multi-author series, and a 1930s historical with romance retelling of “The Six Swans.”

Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning author of historical, contemporary, and young adult fiction.

Life is messy and beautiful. In everyone’s story, there is truth and hope. Donna Jo’s novels are about common struggles and finding the faith to carry on through those battles.

When she’s not writing, she loves to read and talk about books, poke around in old bookshops and museums, and spend time with her family.

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May Book Club Pick — Mists over The Channel Islands

1 May

My book club loves Sarah Sundin! We are so excited to read her latest WWII-era novel, Mists over The Channel Islands. I think this one may become our very favorite!

Behind enemy lines, adversary and ally become impossible to distinguish. 

The German invasion of the British Channel Islands shatters Dr. Ivy Picot’s peaceful world, forcing her to shoulder the weight of her father’s medical practice and hold together a family unraveling under the strain of war. As conditions worsen in Jersey with the arrival of thousands of forced laborers, Ivy’s quiet allegiance to the Allies compels her to risk everything by providing medical aid to escaped workers–even as danger closes in.

Dutch engineer and resistance member Gerrit van der Zee volunteers to build fortifications for the Germans so he can secretly send maps and diagrams to the Allies. On his arrival in the Channel Islands, he crosses paths with Ivy, who shows him contempt for the uniform he wears. As tensions mount and their missions grow increasingly dangerous, Ivy and Gerrit must confront the cost of courage, the meaning of sacrifice, and whether love can survive in the shadow of war. Will their covert efforts turn the tide–or will they pay the ultimate price for defiance?

Renowned WWII fiction author Sarah Sundin crafts a compelling historical romance featuring enemies-to-lovers, wartime resistance, and medical intrigue–a tale of loyalty, resilience, and courage when love and duty collide.

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling and Christy Award-winning author of Mists over the Channel Islands (February 2026), Midnight on the Scottish Shore (2025), Embers in the London Sky (2024), The Sound of Light (2023), Until Leaves Fall in Paris (2022), When Twilight Breaks (2021), and several World War II series.

Sarah’s novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. Until Leaves Fall in Paris received the 2022 Christy Award, The Sky Above Us won the 2020 Carol Award, The Sound of Light was a finalist for both the Christy Award and the Carol Award, and When Twilight Breaks and The Land Beneath Us were finalists for the Christy Award.

A mother of three, Sundin lives in Southern California and enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers’ groups. Sarah serves as co-director of the West Coast Christian Writers Conference.

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Happy Book Release (+ Author Interview) — Keeper of My Heart by Heidi Gray McGill

7 Apr

Happy release day to Heidi Gray McGill! Her historical romance, Keeper of My Heart is available today! Heidi is joining BTB today to tell you more about herself and her writing journey, as well as info on her novel and upcoming projects. Thanks Heidi!

Many authors say they’ve always been writers—making up stories as children. When did you first become a writer?

That’s a great place to start, because I wasn’t one of those children who walked around with notebooks full of stories or even read everything I could get my hands on. For me, writing came out of necessity. It wasn’t until 2020 that the door really opened. What surprised me was how quickly it felt like home once I stepped through it. 

When our world changed in 2020, I closed the English as a Second Language program I founded, and I retired. That left me without a platform to share my faith. My heart has always been to share the gospel, but through actions rather than verbally.

Writing became a way to process faith, history, and human struggle (especially the quiet, unseen kind). Looking back now, I can see that storytelling had been forming in me long before I ever put words on a page.

Who in your life encouraged you to become an author?

Encouragement came in layers rather than one defining voice. My family supported the leap, even when the path wasn’t clear. Friends in the Christian writing community helped me believe this wasn’t just a hobby but a calling worth stewarding.

But I’d also say the characters themselves played a role. Once characters showed up in my mind, they didn’t leave me much choice.

Why did you choose this genre?

Christian historical fiction allows me to explore faith where it’s lived out under pressure. On the frontier, belief wasn’t abstract. It shaped survival, community, and moral choices in real time. In contemporary works, I have to be conscious of what some consider offensive or politically correct. That puts a damper on my creativity and ability to share Jesus as I see him. He is bold, so why shouldn’t I be?

In my latest historical, Keeper of My Heart, Cecelia and Jimmy live in a world where physical strength, medical knowledge, and spiritual conviction collide. I’m drawn to those intersections where belief has to be practiced, not just professed.

What types of research do you pursue?

I do a mix of historical, medical, and environmental research. For Keeper of My Heart, that included frontier medicine, herbal remedies, smallpox outbreaks, and daily life in post–Civil War Missouri. But I’ve also had fun finding period-appropriate recipes, learning what they would have worn for different functions, and the reality of modes of travel and the time to get places without today’s conveniences of automobiles and roads.

But I’m equally attentive to emotional truth. I want the work to feel right. My words need to reflect how people actually moved, labored, spoke, and trusted God when answers weren’t immediate. Research gives the story bones; empathy gives it breath.

What does a typical writing day look like? Are you structured or informal?

I’m structured, but not rigid. I value consistency more than word counts. Some days are deeply productive. Others are spent revising, researching, or simply listening to where the story wants to go next. Unfortunately, being an author isn’t all about writing the story. Being an author is like running a small business. And, like any entrepreneur, there is advertising, finances, social media, and connections outside the story with readers through my newsletter and my devotional-style blog to attend to daily.

The act of writing isn’t just typing. It’s thinking, praying, and sometimes stepping away long enough to see clearly again. That balance was especially important while writing Cecelia and Jimmy’s story. Taking characters through a faith journey or growth is not something I take lightly. I work diligently to make my readers feel what the character is experiencing and empathize with them. If I do this well, then the reader can see how God is working in their life similarly.

Can you tell us a little about what inspired your latest novel?

Keeper of My Heart grew out of a desire to explore strength that isn’t showy. Cecelia is capable, grounded, and fiercely independent, but she’s also guarding places she doesn’t yet know how to open. Jimmy is bookish and trained, yet untested in the physical world Cecelia navigates with ease.

Their story asks what happens when knowledge meets experience, and when pride—of different kinds—has to give way to trust. At its core, this novel is about surrender: to God’s timing, to unexpected callings, and to a love that doesn’t arrive the way either character planned.

What do you want your readers to take away after finishing one of your novels?

I hope readers walk away encouraged. I want them to see that God works just as powerfully in the ordinary as in the dramatic. That obedience doesn’t always look bold—but it is always costly. And that being strong doesn’t mean being self-sufficient.

If a reader closes the book feeling seen, steadied, or gently challenged to trust God more fully, then the story has done its work.

What’s next for you? Do you have any works in progress you can share?

The world of Shumard Oak Bend, the fictional town where my stories take place, will hopefully always be very much alive. While Keeper of My Heart focuses on Cecelia and Jimmy, their story fits into a larger tapestry of faith, family, and frontier life that continues to unfold in my Discerning God’s Best series.

However, there is only one more book coming. There is one more sibling in the Shankel family who needs to tell her story.

You can read each book in the Discerning God’s Best series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XWD3ZZ6 as a standalone, but you will benefit from the growth of the characters if you read from the beginning starting with my free Christmas prequel, Before We Belong (https://heidigraymcgill.com/free_Christmas_book) which is available for free in both eBook and audiobook formats when you sign up for my newsletter. Once you are part of my reader family, I’ll have another free book to give where we continue to explore what it means to follow God when the path forward isn’t obvious.

Thank you so much for having me today, Beckie. It’s been a joy to share a little about myself and my new release, Keeper of My Heart. (AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4J7B471 ). I’m truly grateful for the chance to talk about stories that celebrate faith, perseverance, and God’s quiet work in our lives.

Heidi Gray McGill is the award-winning author of the Discerning God’s Best series, a five-time NEST Award recipient, and Selah Award–recognized author for her audiobook, Desire of My Heart. Readers consistently praise her stories for their emotional depth, strong faith thread, and characters who feel real, flawed, and deeply human. Readers often describe her s as comforting, hope-filled, and hard to forget—stories that stay with readers long after the final page and point gently but clearly back to God’s faithfulness.

If you’d like to get to know Heidi better, her newsletter is a great place to stay on top of what is happening in her writing world and get notified when books are on sale. You can learn more about her heart in her devotional-style blog posts (https://heidigraymcgill.com/blog/).

It is always an encouragement to Heidi when readers follow her on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/author/heidigraymcgill), BookBub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heidi-gray-mcgill?follow=true), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20851872.Heidi_Gray_McGill), or subscribe to her YouTube Channel where you can listen to free audiobooks (https://www.youtube.com/@authorheidigraymcgill/?sub_confirmation=1).

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