Tag Archives: MG historical fiction

Book Bee’s Bloggers Choice Tour — Every Life Treasured

10 Jun
Book Bee Blogger's Choice JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Book Bee Blogger’s Choice Blog Tour with JustRead Publicity Tours!

Every Life Treasured

I am excited to take part in the Book Bee’s Bloggers Choice Tour today. Bloggers are featuring books that they love and warrant some special attention. Every Life Treasured is a 3-novella collection from Jennifer Q. Hunt, Hannah Hood Lucero, and Aubrey Taylor that celebrates the value of life. 10% of the proceeds from the sale helps to support LoveLine, an organization that helps women reclaim motherhood. Each story is a different genre and a unique perspective from the authors. Give it a look!

A Mother’s Tender Hand by Jennifer Q. Hunt

While others praise her kindness as a social worker, for Alice Vogel it will never be enough. The needs brought on by the Great Depression are as endless as the guilt she can never outrun. Then she meets the Tanner family, who value people—even those the rest of society scorns. With her growing attraction to Seth Tanner and her unexpected admiration for his mother Milly, everything she believes is turned upside down. Will these new friendships that have transformed her life survive the truth of her story?

The Missionary and the Marine by Hannah Hood Lucero

Since her conversion from Islam, Nadia Hamdan has made it her life’s purpose to share the hope she has found in Jesus. As surprising as her new faith is the man she’s fallen in love with–a Marine who spent his career fighting men like her terrorist father. When Nadia vanishes without a trace, Walt nearly loses his own faith. But the aftermath of her captivity will demand a reckoning from them both in what they truly believe about God, life, and unconditional love.

Born for Adversity by Aubrey Taylor

A child grows in Lani’s womb, a constant reminder of the young man she loves and will never have. The handsome François Durant fancies her, and would give her a safe and comfortable life–if only she’ll have ‘it’ taken care of. Instead, Lani seeks solace with her family in Bavaria. There, she will not only face the decision whether to keep the child or give him up for adoption, she will also be challenged to overcome the desire for a man’s love–a challenge made more difficult by the kind young farmer down the road.

10% of all profits will go to the non-profit organization LoveLine which helps women reclaim motherhood.

Excerpts

A Mother’s Tender Hand by Jennifer Q. Hunt

Wednesday, September 19, 1934

Alice Vogel stood before a mill cottage in need of fresh white paint and a new tin roof. It would get neither, she knew, for the inhabitants hadn’t enough to eat. And that was why she was here.

She checked her Manila folder. The Tanner family. Father and Mother, both aged 44. He’d lost an arm in the Great War but had been working in Lindale’s textile mill until an injury last month. Nine children, six still at home. The youngest, Bobby, aged three, was listed as retarded.

She walked up the concrete steps from the street into the front yard. An old tire had been made into a swing that hung from a towering oak, and two gray rockers on the porch gently swayed in the breeze of the autumn day. The sounds of children playing and a rooster crowing came from the backyard. Alice marched up the brick porch steps and rapped on the screen door.

The Missionary And The Marine by Hannah Hood Lucero

12 Months and Three Days Ago

New Orleans, LA

” . . . Happy birthday, dear Walt. Happy birthday to you!” DuWayne Walters beamed at his makeshift family as they concluded the obligatory serenade. His facial muscles strained to maintain the expression when his friends and girlfriend transitioned into an off-key rendition of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow. They meant well, but the reminder of his involuntary medical retirement from Marine special operations took a sizable chunk out of the enjoyment of being the center of attention.

Iris Jones had one hand resting on her swollen abdomen, fork hovering in her other as if she might stop the cake before it was even cut. Her husband, Barrett Jones, Esquire, draped his arm around her shoulders, restraining her and gently prompting her to lower the fork. They were liked night and day, not just because she was the scrappy street rat while he was from more refined stock.

Walt cleared his throat, pulse ticking up when his girlfriend of three years Nadia Hamdan, slid her hand into his. He automatically met her dark brown eyes which were glinting at him in the candlelit private room of the swanky French Quarter restaurant. Her bright red lips parted, but she didn’t get a word out before Iris spoke loudly across the table.

“You gonna blow that candle out before the whole top of the cake is coated with wax, birthday boy?”

Born for Adversity by Aubrey Reiss Taylor

Lorraine, France

(Formerly Lothringen of the German Reich)

April 1920

My sister grabs my hair as I heave forward into the basin. There is nothing left in my stomach. Monika coughs and waves a hand over her face. “Ugh, could you at least eat something?”

“I’ve tried.”

She tends to the bucket while I splash water on my face and rinse my mouth. I slump to the floor and run a hand over my hair. Monika reappears. “Lani, you have to tell Mama.”

“There is no way.”

“What are you going to do, you can’t hide it forever?” She pinches my side. “You know you can’t do that.”

“No, I know.”

“Once you start to show she’s going to send you away.”

“Would she really do that?”

“Why do you think Käthe went to Switzerland?”

“Because she got married.”

“Not at first.”

“Why did no one ever tell me?”

“Because you weren’t around.” She washes her hands. “Once you came back, it was old news.”

“So, what? We just don’t talk about it? I have a niece or nephew out there no one’s ever told me about?”

“The baby died,” Monika says matter-of-factly, “which for Käthe’s sake is good.”

About The Authors


A lifelong storyteller, Jennifer Q. Hunt has worked as a writer of both fiction and nonfiction, as well as an editor and ghostwriter. She has over twenty-five years of ministry writing experience for churches, pastors, and Christian ministries.

Jennifer writes fiction with faith and purpose. Her Sorrow and Song trilogy shows multi-generations as they wrestle with their place in history and following the Lord through challenging circumstances.

Back in north Georgia after several years away, Jennifer is a happy wife to Christopher and homeschool mother to four elementary-aged children.

For history tidbits, deleted scenes, and more “extras” as well as information about upcoming releases, visit jenniferqhunt.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook at Jennifer Q. Hunt, Author or Instagram @jennifer.q.hunt.author.

Hannah Hood Lucer0 is a wife, mom of three, Army veteran, and self-proclaimed word-slinger. While it is the brackish waters of the Mississippi Sound that flow through her veins, western North Carolina holds her heart. Her love for storytelling is the fruit of a lifetime of cultivation in the vibrant cultures of the Gulf Coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains. She currently resides in South Mississippi with her husband and three children on their ten-acre homestead. They have a dog, thirteen chickens, and at least fifty species of mosquitos, depending on the month of the year. When she isn’t in the garden, at the stove, or homeschooling, she can be found at her computer—just follow the sound of frenetic typing. Her motto is, “Draft, edit, read, repeat.”


In her Gott Mit Uns Series, and her new Separate Ways Series, Aubrey Reiss Taylor unites a fascination for history with a passion for redemption, creating a unique brand of gritty, honest wartime sagas, written from the German perspective. She is the mother of three, and married to her best friend Brian. When she’s not writing or taking care of home and family, she enjoys making music, dancing, reading, and spending time with friends.


Tour Giveaway

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

Book Bee Blogger's Choice blog tour giveaway JustRead

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 8, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 15, 2026. Winner 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 the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

Top 10 Tuesday — Alter Ego!

14 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is book titles that describe me or my life. Uh, no! LOL! I read a lot of mystery/suspense and those titles can be seriously scary. And besides, I am a huge rule follower — just ask my husband, the man who never saw a rule that couldn’t in some fashion be broken. 😉 So I decided to flip the topic and go with titles that would describe my evil twin aka alter ego. This was a fun post to put together. I hope you enjoy it and find a great book to read.

For more insights into the real bloggers’ lives, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Titles That Describe My Alter Ego

If I was one to take on a life of crime, I would want to be thought of as a member of The Queens of Crime. In pursuit of the lofty title I’d travel to Scotland and perpetrate a Highland Heist. Not sure if that would include a few shaggy cows, but who knows what a thief could discover among the heather. I might Ambush a man in a kilt to help me carry all the loot, making sure I hide my identity and not let on An Appearance of Impropriety. I must maintain an air of integrity and not get caught! But if I’m found out and pursued by the coppers, I’ll make sure my crimes are well Hidden by a Canyon of Deceit so I am not forced into Taking A Second Shot to fend them off. A good criminal must be able To Outwit Them All! If I’m not successful, the authorities will say that Death Follows Her and I may be presumed Guilty Until Innocent .

Here’s a tip: the authors of these books are way better at telling tales than I am. Check out their fabulous books!

Top 10 Tuesday — New-To-Me Authors

27 Jan

Happy Tuesday! Today we are talking about bookish discoveries (new authors, new genres, new bookstores, etc.). My lists consists of new-to-me-authors and the first book (but not the last) I read in 2025. I had a great reading year, and these authors added greatly to the fun. I hope you discover a new author too!

For more bookish discoveries, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top New-To-Me Authors from 2025

Jayna Breigh — The Hunted Heir

Crystal Caudill — Written in Secret

Leslie Kirby DeVooght — Stealing Magnolias

T. I. Lowe — Indigo Isle

Jamie Ogle — Of Love And Treason

Naomi Stephens — The Burning of Rosemont Abbey

Donna Jo Stone — When Wildflowers Bloom Again

Hope Welborn — Hidden

Children’s Corner — The Heart Changer

11 Jul

I get along with a whole lot of help from my friends! One of my best book buddies helps me out with guest reviews from time to time. Carrie is a great elementary school teacher who takes reading very seriously. If I had had her in school, she would have been my favorite teacher! She recently read Jarm del Boccio’s MG historical novel, The Heart Changer. Thanks, Carrie, for helping me and my readers today!

Can an Israelite captive, wrenched from all she loves, serve the very man who destroyed her village?

Miriam is asked to do the impossible: serve the wife of Naaman, commander of the Syrian army. Clinging to treasured memories of home and faith, Miriam faces captivity with worry and bitterness. Little does she know the Heart Changer is wooing and preparing her for a greater mission far beyond what she could imagine.

This middle-grade historical novel reflects the heartache and angst of a young refugee in a foreign land where all hope seems lost.

Jarm  Del Boccio (‘J’ pronounced as a ‘Y’) finds her inspiration in everyday life, but in particular, when she travels the globe, observing the quirky things that happen along the way. Focusing on lives of characters from the past, Jarm is devoted to breathing new life into the pages of history.

Jarm has a background in elementary and high school education, and served for seven years as a school librarian. Grateful for the opportunity, she taught three missionary kids in an isolated area of Papua New Guinea. She is part of SCBWI and American Christian Fiction Writers, and has published articles in “The Old Schoolhouse” magazine.

The Heart Changer, her debut MG historical/biblical fiction, released with Ambassador International April 26th 2019. Jarm is content with the journey God has placed her on, and lives with her husband and adult son and daughter (when they are not away) in a tree-lined suburb of Chicago.

CONNECT WITH JARM: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Carrie’s Thoughts:

The Heart Changer is a Biblical fiction book based on an unnamed girl from 2 Kings. Jarm Del Boccio adds names to create a story of the young girl taken from her home and made to serve Naaman’s wife. As she tries to adjust to her new life she struggles with the God she has always served — but has she truly trusted in Him? Through the fears and unknowns in a new land without family and friends to support her, Miriam learns to trust in Jehovah completely and tells of His miracles to her mistress. Through these conversations her faith is renewed and strengthened and she not only learns to trust but helps Naaman in a powerful way, both physically and spiritually.  Miriam faces many questions and struggles that people in present times face, not only religion, but dealing with people and helping others, making this book relatable in numerous ways. The Heart Changer will challenge its readers to go back to several Old Testament places to reread stories and see just how powerful our God truly is.

Audience: middle grade readers.

To purchase, click HERE. (It is currently 99 cents on Kindle!)

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

 

Res-Q Tyler Stop Blog Tour (+Giveaway!)

24 Apr

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for RES-Q Tyler Stop by June McCrary Jacobs with JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: RES-Q Tyler Stop
Series: Tyler Stop, Book 1
Author: June McCrary Jacobs
Publisher: JMJ Story Stitcher Books
Release Date: April 22, 2019
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction

It’s the summer of 1968 in Sonoma County, California, and eleven-year-old Weston Gregg and his nine-year-old sister, Wendy, are looking for fun things to do during their summer break from school. When they discover some abandoned rabbits, they hatch an idea to make a positive difference for animals and people in their small town of Tyler Stop.

They decide to form ‘Rescue Each Species-Quickly’, or RES-Q Tyler Stop.

There are challenges to face as they move forward into their new venture, including standing up to someone who is targeting Weston’s friends for being different and a painfully bad decision.

Will Weston have to handle these issues on his own or will he learn to accept the advice and wisdom shared by some important people in his life? Join Weston and his family and friends as they share some adventures and learn and grow together in RES-Q Tyler Stop.

 

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:

“Adventure has no end in this tale, where a heart for animals inspires and surprises await around every bend. . . . The characters and the situations they face come across realistic, and the scenes develop naturally. Not only does the author keep a nice paced plot rolling along but adds interesting and practical information about animals and ways to handle certain situations along the way. It makes for a fun mix of fiction and fact.

This appears to be the first book in the series, and I’m eager to see where the RES-Q Tyler Stop adventures will head to next.” ~ Tonja Drecker, Author of Music Boxes

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | AmazonBook Depository

 

EXCERPT:

CHAPTER FOUR

The Rescuers

Weston and Wendy took care of the foster rabbits and their own pets for the next two days. The rabbits didn’t overheat again. On the third morning, Weston and Wendy were out weeding the family’s garden when they heard a car turn into the gravel driveway. 

“I wonder who they are?” Wendy asked.

Weston shrugged his shoulders and ran over to the car. “Hi. Are you lost?” he asked the driver when the man pulled to a stop.

“Is this the Gregg family property?”

“Yes. Who are you?”

The man opened his car door and stepped out of the car. Weston peeked inside and saw three children in the backseat and a woman in the front seat. None of them looked familiar. The man stepped forward and held out his hand to Weston.

“I’m Preston McIntire. My wife is Delores and my children are Patty, Sally, and Johnny. I heard from Mrs. Fletcher at the fairgrounds that you’ve been taking care of my kids’ rabbits since we were unable to pick them up from the fairgrounds on time.”

Weston shook the man’s hand and smiled. He leaned down and waved at the rest of the family sitting in the car. “I’m Weston. I’m eleven. We’ve been taking really good care of your rabbits for you. They’re doing fine.” Wendy ran over to the car to see what was going on. “This is my little sister, Wendy. She’s nine. She’s been helping with the rabbits, too.”

“Thank you both for all you’ve done. My kids would be devastated if anything happened to their bunnies. We’re ready to take them back home to their hutches. If you’ll show me where they are, we’ll load them in the back of the station wagon and be on our way.”

“Let me get my Dad,” Weston said as he headed toward the house.

In a couple of minutes, Weston emerged with Glen Gregg following close behind.

“Hello, I’m Glen Gregg. Nice to meet you.” 

“I’m Preston McIntire. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. Sounds like you’ve got some fine children here.”

The two men shook hands, and then Mr. McIntire opened the swing gate at the back of the station wagon so they could unload the pet carriers for the trip home. Within fifteen minutes, the rabbits were loaded into their own carriers and were reunited with their family.

The McIntire children jumped up and down with excitement as they counted the rabbits and made sure everyone looked happy and healthy. Johnny stood in front of the carriers and spoke in a quiet voice. “You’re all going to get an extra carrot for a treat when we get home.” 

Everyone chuckled, and Mr. McIntire grinned at the Greggs. “We’d like to repay you for your kindness in some way. Mrs. Fletcher told us about your pets, so we brought along some bags of dog, cat, and rabbit food as a token of our appreciation. We know from experience feeding six rabbits is not cheap.”

“Thanks,” Wendy and Weston said in unison.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

‘RES-Q Tyler Stop’ is June McCrary Jacobs‘s first middle-grade book. June is a retired elementary school teacher and literacy mentor who is fond of California history and children’s literature. She especially loves to write, read, and blog about middle-grade fiction and non-fiction on her ‘Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic’ blog.

In addition to writing inspirational romance books and stories for adults {A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom, 2013; Robin’s Reward, 2015; Handmade Hearts, 2019}, June’s original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred books, magazines, and on sewing industry blogs in the past decade.

When she’s not writing, reading, blogging, or sewing, June enjoys cooking, walking, visiting art and history museums, and touring historic homes and gardens.

One of her most memorable and thrilling childhood adventures was her ride in the Goodyear blimp as it floated over Long Beach, California. She can still remember the people on the beach waving to her as she zoomed past them.

LOOK FOR MORE TYLER STOP BOOKS COMING SOON!

 

CONNECT WITH JUNE: Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Goodreads Blog | Amazon


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will win

  • $20 Amazon gift card (US/International)
  • Signed Paperback Copy of RES-Q Tyler Stop (US only) or Digital Copy (International)

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight April 22, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm April 29, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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