Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 3

like a ship on the sea | social media tag

I stink at posting consistently, especially on Instagram. So when I put together an Instagram tag/posting challenge for Kellyn Roth's latest release, Like a Ship on the Sea, you better believe I wasn't about to post every other weekday on Instagram. (Hypocritical, maybe?) BUT I had so much fun putting this together that I knew I HAD to share something. So I took a cue from Saraina Whitney and decided to share this as a blog tag (which you can do too!)

So join me as I share all about some of my favorite books, inspired by different elements of the phenomenal historical romance, Like a Ship on the Sea!

~ the rules ~ There are prompts for every other weekday in September, but you’re welcome to share whenever you can and catch up at any time. Feel free to use any social media, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, your blog, and YouTube. Share about books that fit into the categories, and have fun! Don’t forget to use the hashtag #likeashipontheseatag and tag @kellynrothauthor!~ the prompts ~

Sept. 4 // a book set in your dream destination

I have so many dream destinations, y’all. My current top two are Italy and Scotland…and a portion of Like a Ship on the Sea is set in Italy, so naturally I gotta give a shout-out to it! A book set in Scotland—that I absolutely adored—is The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz!

Sept. 6 // your favorite swoon-worthy romance

Um…how am I supposed to pick JUST ONE? (I came up with the most difficult prompts, didn’t I? *shakes head*) Two of my favorite seven billion swoon-worthy romances are easily the romance between Roxanna and Cassius in The Colonel’s Lady (also by Laura Frantz) and Charity and Mitch in A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman.

Sept. 8 // a book with themes that inspire you

I feel like it would be cheating to use one of my books here, so I won’t talk about how the themes of Bound and Determined have been so powerful in my life recently.

I will, however, talk about the themes in Like a Ship on the Sea! The message of seeking God’s will and trusting Him and taking a leap of faith were so inspiring!

Sept. 11 // a most remarkable heroine

Naturally, the woman this prompt was designed for: Cassie. She is truly remarkable and so wonderful and I just love her.

Sept. 13 // a beloved mentor character

Oh, shoot. This is a tough one. Probably Nettie from The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy by Kellyn Roth. Naturally. She's a doll, that one.

Sept. 15 // a hero with an inspiring arc

Can I pick two again? Because Camden from On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White and Lukio from Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette both had such great arcs! And Moretti from Mercy Undeserved by Kristina Hall. BUT WAIT.

There’s also Abram from The Light of Eidon, and I’m sorry, but he really takes the cake. His arc was phenomenal and so well-written and inspiring.

Sept. 18 // your favorite fictional sibling dynamic

The O’Connor siblings!! (From Julie Lessman’s series, The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and The Cousins O’Connor.) They are so hilarious and sweet, and I just adore them.

Sept. 20 // a ship that took you by surprise

Okay, okay, okay. This is a tough one, since most of what I read is romance, where you already know exactly who’s getting together in the end, and there’s not a lot of room for surprise. BUT A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano is the one exception. I was completely sold on one ship, when another love interest came into play, and I fell head over heels for him, and after that, I couldn’t look back. The ship had set sail, and oh, my gosh, it was so good.

Sept. 22 // a theme that touched your heart

(Did I really do two theme prompts? Shoot. [Okay, so the difference between this prompt and the previous one is that a theme that inspire you would be a theme that literally spoke to you in your season in life, but a theme that touched your heart is just a good theme.])

The theme of Unfailing Love by Julie Lessman made me cry before I even got into the story. The thread of forgiveness and restoration was just so beautiful, and knowing it came from the author’s own experiences made it so heartfelt.

Sept. 25 // a series spinoff you loved

Once again, The Hilton Legacy. But also the two spinoff series Julie Lessman wrote to follow the O’Connor family!

Sept. 27 // a topic you love to read about

Uh…anything history and pirates and espionage and religious conflict and political intrigue. No, I’m totally not describing my books. And lighthouses. Again, that’s definitely not one of my WIPs. And purity, biblical womanhood/femininity, marriage/parenthood, foraging and herbalism. Whether nonfiction or woven into a fiction book, I love reading about these topics!

Sept. 29 // your favorite historical time period

ALL OF THEM. Specifically, Ancient/Biblical time, the medieval era, the Renaissance, the Golden Age of Piracy, the Jacobean era, the Georgian era, the Regency era, the Gilded Age/Victorian era/Wild West, the Edwardian era/WWI, the Roaring Twenties, the 1930s and ’40s and ’50s and ’60s and ’70s and ’80s and ’90s and early 2000s. (Although, if the early 2000s count as historical, I must be older than I thought…)

So, yeah, literally all of them. I go through historical moods, so my favorites fluctuate.

~ the book ~

If God asks you to confront a storm, how dare you stay in the harbor?

Lady Mary Cassidy O’Connell has a dream that can be summed up in three connecting ideas: a loving husband, adorable children, and a home of her own. Her mother’s lack of care makes life difficult for Cassie, and an escape is necessary. The plan? Marry Aubrey Montgomery, the man her parents have chosen for her, and find the peace she craves.

Unfortunately, Cassie is uneasy about marrying Aubrey. Her apprehension grows as she witnesses her dearest friend’s loving marriage take place. At this wedding, she catches the eye of Patrick Hilton, son of a wealthy American. Like Cassie, he’s also set to marry a woman chosen by his parents—only, Patrick claims, he is content with this choice.

Torn between her desire for happiness and the knowledge that God is leading her in a different direction, Cassie confronts the impossible decision. Is a loveless marriage of obligation better than being alone, or will she set sail on a voyage without a safe harbor?

Like a Ship on the Sea is the first novel in The Hilton Legacy, a stand-alone trilogy featuring characters from the author’s first series, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy.

~ the author ~

Kellyn Roth is a historical romance & women’s fiction author who writes stories to share hope in life’s storms. Her novels include the inspirational Victorian family saga, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and the Kees & Colliers series, which follows a broken family in the tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century.

Kellyn is a student of the Author Conservatory and a writing coach. When not building her author career or her indie-author-helping business, Wild Blue Wonder Press, she is likely getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, watching period dramas and facetious comedies, or spending time with her husband.

Find out more on her website, ,https://kellynrothauthor.com/

It's your turn! Post about these prompts on your blog or social media! I'd love to know about your favorite spinoff series, heroines, hero arcs, and more!

#blogtag #likeashiponthesea #books #reading #bookworm #reader #heroines #heroes #redemptionarcs #julielessman #kellynroth #favoritebooks #tag

(Pst! All my Amazon links are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission off of any purchase made through those links at no extra cost to you!)

guest post | difficult fiction (and why you should read it) by m.c. kennedy

Hello, hello, all! I'm super excited to have M.C. Kennedy on today! She's got a wonderful post for us, which I think will inspire and resonate with most (if not all) of y'all! If you've missed it, be sure to check out my spotlight of her latest release, A Bird in the Snow, to catch up on the blog tour + learn more about ABitS and M.C. Kennedy!

difficult fiction (and why you should read it) by m.c. kennedy

How many of you like to talk about difficult things?

There’s probably one or two of you who raised your (virtual) hands. But for most of us, the thought of discussing hard topics makes us squirm. We don’t want to think about hard stuff, much less talk about it. It’s so much easier to discuss the weather or the state of the roads or puppies or… anything, really, so long as it’s happy and lighthearted.

But while there’s certainly a place for conversations like those, we also need to make a point of talking about more difficult topics. Things like abortion, murder, pre-marital sex, self-hatred… You get the ugly picture.

Why are these important, though? Why is it necessary to spend time focused on these harsh realities? The Bible tells us to think about things that are pure and good and right. How does that leave any space for these hideous things?

Paul does indeed instruct us in Philippians 4 to dwell on things that are lovely. But the majority of the Bible is filled with things that, when we stop and really look at what’s going on, should make us deeply uncomfortable. (Ever read Ezekiel 16? That’ll make you squirm.) The point is not for us to wallow in the darkness, though. Rather, if we are to understand what it fully means for us as Christians to be saved, we must first grasp what it is that we have been saved from.

And that’s where fiction that deals with difficult topics (like the ones mentioned above) comes in. Most of us won’t take kindly to a lecture on how bad we are and how we should repent immediately. But maybe, just maybe, we’ll read a story that shows a character (or multiple characters) behaving in sinful ways and receiving the just consequences for their actions. Maybe we’ll respond to that more than to anything else.

The theme verse for A Bird in the Snow, my lately-released novel, is Luke 7:47, which reads, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” This verse made a big impact on me during a time when I was really struggling with the reality of my sin. As I got to know Jesus better, I became more aware of all the ways I was falling short of His perfect standard, and it drove me mad. What kind of a Christian was I if I kept sinning every day, knowing what I should be doing and yet choosing to do the opposite? How could God ever forgive me for what I had done?

Enter Luke 7:47. The “her” in this verse is a prostitute who has come to Jesus while He’s eating dinner with some of the religious leaders. While they’re arguing with Him about His teachings, this woman kneels before Jesus and begins to weep, washing His feet with expensive ointment and wiping them with her hair. She grieves because of her sins, but she loves Jesus fiercely because she knows exactly what He has forgiven her for.

This story changed my perspective. Yes, my sins were horrible. I had done things that broke God’s heart, things that I deserved to be severely punished for. And yet, God had chosen to forgive me! I still dealt with the consequences of my sin, I still struggled with the reality of my sinful nature, but they no longer held any power over me. For God did not condemn me. More than that, God loved me—loved me!—and called me His own beloved child, His special inheritance. It doesn’t make any sense. It shouldn’t be possible. But such is God’s unfathomable grace, that He saves those who know they don’t deserve it and promises them that He remembers their sins no more.

A Bird in the Snow is at its heart a story about the consequences of moral failure. Each of the characters has done something he or she deeply regrets, and each now has to live with the consequences of those actions.

But the story doesn’t leave them in the darkness of despair that comes from recognizing our own failings. Because this is also a story about how forgiveness is for those who deserve it the least. It’s a story about learning to admit that we have done wrong and turning away the desires that led us to do wrong in the first place. It’s a story about how no sin is too great to be forgiven.

My prayer is that you will discover through this made-up story how much God loves you. May you realize that no wrong is too much for Him. May you learn to see the ugliness of your sin not as a blemish upon your past but as a catalyst to love God with an unquenchable devotion—for you know full well who you were and know that somehow God has forgiven you anyway.

~ the author ~

M. C. Kennedy fell in love with fantasy at nine years old after reading The Lord of the Rings. She now strives to reflect her Creator by dreaming up fictional realms that point readers to His truths in the real world. When she’s not roaming through fanciful forests, struggling to understand Greek and Hebrew, or geeking out over one of her many fandoms, she loves to connect with readers on her website or her various social media platforms.

Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, her website, and her newsletter!

~ the book ~

Can even the worst mistakes be forgiven?

Ean Cochall has lived in the wilderness for two years, providing for the needy by day and assassinating rogues by night. It's all in pursuit of one thing: justice. So when he's approached by a mysterious figure and asked to kill a fae accused of crimes against the Gwyns, he readily accepts.

Murrin has fled to the wilderness to hide from someone who seeks her life. She has the name of a fey who can protect her: Ean Cochall, leader of the outlaw band the Green Company. What she doesn't know is that Ean already knows about her—and he was just hired to kill her.

As dark secrets come to light and old ghosts rise from the dead, will Ean uncover the truth? Or will his own mistakes come back to haunt him, making justice something not even he wants to achieve?

~ the giveaway ~

In honor of the tour, M.C. Kennedy is hosting an EPIC giveaway! There will be both a US and an international winner—woohoo! The US winner will receive a paperback copy of A Bird in the Snow + three themed bookmarks and a character card. And the international winner will receive an ebook copy of A Bird in the Snow + three printable themed bookmarks and digital character art! Enter for a chance to win below!

~ the tour ~

Saturday, September 9

Kickoff post at Graceful Reflections

Monday, September 11

Spotlight at Library Lady’s Kid Lit

Tuesday, September 12

Review at Story of a Christian Girl

Wednesday, September 13

Interview at Library Lady’s Kid Lit

Spotlight at Of Blades and Thorns

Thursday, September 14

Spotlight at Kristina Hall

Review at Lillian Estrada

Friday, September 15

Spotlight at Lilacs and Reveries

Guest Post at Of Blades and Thorns

Saturday, September 16

Guest Post at Library Lady’s Kid Lit

Spotlight at Saraina Whitney

Wrapup Post at Graceful Reflections

What's a book that's challenged or convicted you? How has fiction impacted the way you see the world, sin, yourself, or your relationship with God? If you're a writer, how do you weave powerful themes or tackle tough topics in your stories? Let us know down below!

#blogtour #guestpost #christianfiction #fiction #books #writing #fantasy #romance #youngadultfiction #youngadult #fairytale #fairytaleretelling #indieauthor #christianauthor

romance rants & writing wonder | spirit & script podcast

Who here loves listening to people ramble about pretty much nothing for more than forty minutes?

*crickets chirp*

Oh.

Well.

In that case...

Allow me to convince you to listen to me ramble about nothing for over half an hour.

In case you missed it, I started a podcast called Spirit & Script (based off of my blog sign-off, if you were wondering) where I share my unfiltered thoughts on faith and fiction in our modern world. I've got four episode available + three ✨exclusive✨ episodes for subscribers!

Today's episode happens to be all about one of my most favorite subjects...

You guessed it.

Romance.

I answer the common question of why I write romance (of all things, right? ), what it means to me, what romance looks like in my books, AND how to glorify God by writing romance!

Whether you're a romance reader, romance writer, or just plain curious, I think you might find a little something in today's episode interesting to you!

And for only $1.99 a month, you can gain access to all my exclusive episodes, both the currently available ones and the ones to come! Today's exclusive episode features my #1 tip for romance writing!

This season, I'm focused on who I am as a writer, what I write, and my thoughts on Christian fiction, romance, and young writers! If y'all have any ideas or suggestions for episodes (or questions you want me to answer in an episode), drop them down in the comments below!

I am sooo excited for this new venture and hope y'all enjoy the episodes as much as I do!

#podcast #spiritandscript #romance #romancewriting #christianromance

book spotlight | a bird in the snow by m.c. kennedy

Oh, yes, fourteen months after the original release of her first book, A Wolf's Rose, M.C. Kennedy is BACK! In case you missed it, she recently updated and re-released her first novel with a brand-new cover (which is SO gorgeous, lemme tell ya), and now she's just celebrated the release of book TWO, A Bird in the Snow.

Y'all, when I first read the blurb for this book, my jaw literally dropped. It's the perfect fantasy mashup of Robin Hood and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs—coupled with some sweet romance and epic themes (which M.C. Kennedy will be on to talk about in a few days!), so how could I not love it??? I don't know about y'all, but I am SO excited to read it and super excited to share all about it with y'all! Once you read the blurb below, let me know down in the comments if it sounds like it's right up your alley too!

(Also, that. cover. )

~ the book ~

Can even the worst mistakes be forgiven?

Ean Cochall has lived in the wilderness for two years, providing for the needy by day and assassinating rogues by night. It's all in pursuit of one thing: justice. So when he's approached by a mysterious figure and asked to kill a fae accused of crimes against the Gwyns, he readily accepts.

Murrin has fled to the wilderness to hide from someone who seeks her life. She has the name of a fey who can protect her: Ean Cochall, leader of the outlaw band the Green Company. What she doesn't know is that Ean already knows about her—and he was just hired to kill her.

As dark secrets come to light and old ghosts rise from the dead, will Ean uncover the truth? Or will his own mistakes come back to haunt him, making justice something not even he wants to achieve?

~ the author ~

M. C. Kennedy fell in love with fantasy at nine years old after reading The Lord of the Rings. She now strives to reflect her Creator by dreaming up fictional realms that point readers to His truths in the real world. When she’s not roaming through fanciful forests, struggling to understand Greek and Hebrew, or geeking out over one of her many fandoms, she loves to connect with readers on her website or her various social media platforms.

Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, her website, and her newsletter!

~ the giveaway ~

In honor of the tour, M.C. Kennedy is hosting an EPIC giveaway! There will be both a US and an international winner—woohoo! The US winner will receive a paperback copy of A Bird in the Snow + three themed bookmarks and a character card. And the international winner will receive an ebook copy of A Bird in the Snow + three printable themed bookmarks and digital character art! Enter for a chance to win below!

~ the tour ~

Saturday, September 9

Kickoff post at Graceful Reflections

Monday, September 11

Spotlight at Library Lady’s Kid Lit

Tuesday, September 12

Review at Story of a Christian Girl

Wednesday, September 13

Interview at Library Lady’s Kid Lit

Spotlight at Of Blades and Thorns

Thursday, September 14

Spotlight at Kristina Hall

Review at Lillian Estrada

Friday, September 15

Spotlight at Lilacs and Reveries

Guest Post at Of Blades and Thorns

Saturday, September 16

Guest Post at Library Lady’s Kid Lit

Spotlight at Saraina Whitney

Wrapup Post at Graceful Reflections

Does this sounds EPIC or what?? Do you love Robin Hood retellings too? What are some of your favorite fairytales? I'd love to hear all about it!

#blogtour #newrelease #newbook #bookspotlight #giveaway #entertowin #christianfiction #fantasy #romance #youngadultfiction #youngadult #fairytale #fairytaleretelling #indie

book spotlight | like a ship on the sea

If y'all haven't heard me sing the praises of Kellyn Roth yet, have you been living under a rock??? Well, rock or no, you're about to hear a great deal about Kell and her AH-MAY-ZING writing today as we celebrate the recent release of Like a Ship on the Sea!

I had the pleasure of editing this particular novel a while back, and y'all. It is spectacular. I'd almost say it's one of my favorites of hers (the cover certainly is! ), and my girl Cassie? Hoo boy, she took the cake! This heroine was actually pure wonderfulness, and easily one of my all-time favorites. (Yes, she even tops Ivy, which is...almost impossible.)

So when I say y'all neeeeeed this book, I pretty much mean it. It's so uplifting and inspiring, and it gives us some insight into the lives of Alice and Peter after the events of A Prayer Unanswered, and even though Patrick stinks, Cass makes up for it by being perfect (more or less).

~ the book ~

If God asks you to confront a storm, how dare you stay in the harbor?

Lady Mary Cassidy O’Connell has a dream that can be summed up in three connecting ideas: a loving husband, adorable children, and a home of her own. Her mother’s lack of care makes life difficult for Cassie, and an escape is necessary. The plan? Marry Aubrey Montgomery, the man her parents have chosen for her, and find the peace she craves.

Unfortunately, Cassie is uneasy about marrying Aubrey. Her apprehension grows as she witnesses her dearest friend’s loving marriage take place. At this wedding, she catches the eye of Patrick Hilton, son of a wealthy American. Like Cassie, he’s also set to marry a woman chosen by his parents—only, Patrick claims, he is content with this choice.

Torn between her desire for happiness and the knowledge that God is leading her in a different direction, Cassie confronts the impossible decision. Is a loveless marriage of obligation better than being alone, or will she set sail on a voyage without a safe harbor?

Like a Ship on the Sea is the first novel in The Hilton Legacy, a stand-alone trilogy featuring characters from the author’s first series, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy.

~ the author ~

Kellyn Roth is a historical romance & women’s fiction author who writes stories to share hope in life’s storms. Her novels include the inspirational Victorian family saga, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and the Kees & Colliers series, which follows a broken family in the tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century.

Kellyn is a student of the Author Conservatory and a writing coach. When not building her author career or her indie-author-helping business, Wild Blue Wonder Press, she is likely getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, watching period dramas and facetious comedies, or spending time with her husband.

Find out more on her website, ,https://kellynrothauthor.com/

~ the giveaway ~

What's a blog tour without a giveaway?? Scratch that—what about TWO giveaways? Kell is hosting a US-only giveaway and an international giveaway so everyone can have a piece of the action!

The US winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Like a Ship on the Sea, a themed candle, two bookmarks, three character art prints, a themed charm bracelet, and extra special bonus scenes.

And the international winner will receive an ebook copy of Like a Ship on the Sea, extra special bonus scenes, a themed phone wallpaper, and the first chapter of book 2.

~ the tour ~

Monday, September 4th

“Why You Should Read Like a Ship on the Sea” by ,Kellyn Roth

Book Spotlight by ,Abby Johansen

Review by ,Coralie Terry

Author Interview by ,Naomi Sowell

Tuesday, September 5th (LAUNCH DAY!)

“All the Launch Day Celebrations” by ,Kellyn Roth

Book Spotlight by ,Faith Blum

Book Spotlight by ,Natasha Joy

Book Spotlight by ,E. G. Bella

Wednesday, September 6th

“About the Gilded Era” by ,Kellyn Roth

Review by ,Anna Galicinski

Review by ,H.S. Kylian

Review by ,Cassie Porath

Thursday, September 7th

“Tackling Tough Topics with Tact” by ,Kellyn Roth

Review by ,Faith’s Bookshelf

Friday, September 8th

“A Guest Post by Alice Strauss” by ,Kellyn Roth

Book Spotlight by ,M.C. Kennedy

Review by ,Reviews from the Stacks

Book Spotlight by ,Bizwings Book Blog

Saturday, September 9th

“Introducing the Hiltons of Boston” by ,Kellyn Roth

Review by ,The Rivers of Words

Monday, September 11th

“How The Hilton Legacy Fits in with The Chronicles of Alice & Ivy” by ,Kellyn Roth

Author Interview by ,Amy Ullrich

Review by ,Pens, Pages, and Pulses

Author Interview by ,Jane Mouttet

Book Spotlight by ,Rhys-Marie Whitnell

Tuesday, September 12th

“All About Book Two, Like the Air After Rain” by ,Kellyn Roth

Review by ,Katja H. Labonté

Book Spotlight by ,Grace A. Johnson

Review by ,Naomi Sowell

Interview & Review by ,Saraina Whitney

Who else here is excited for Like a Ship on the Sea?? *throws hand up in the air* Have you read it yet? (If so, what are your thoughts on Patrick??) Are you psyched for a genuinely good heroine too? Let's chat!!

#kellynroth #blogtour #bookspotlight #newbook #newrelease #historicalfiction #historicalromance #romance #christianfiction #indie #giveaway

the girl in the pages | heard in silence anthology

If you haven’t heard about Heard in Silence (see what I did there? ), then you’re missing out! This anthology is chock-full of tender, entertaining, and beautiful stories and poems all about life in silence. Whether you love historical romance or fantasy adventures or contemplative contemporary, there’s something for everyone in this collection, each story tied together by the thread of deafness.

You can now purchase a copy from Amazon! ALL of the proceeds from this anthology will go to the American Society for Deaf Children to help support families of deaf and hard-of-hearing children by providing them with the services and resources they need!

I am so excited to introduce y’all to my contribution to this wonderful collection: The Girl in the Pages! Whereas most of the stories in Heard in Silence are more YA and explore the deaf experience through the perspective of a younger character in a way most of us can relate with…I opted for something a little more unique.

No, not pirates. (Although there are pirates in this collection.)

Classic historical romance.

You see, The Girl in the Pages has existed in my mind for years (since 2019, to be precise). Between my love for Regency romance and Sue Thomas FBEye, I created a story based on a few stock photos I found about the daughter of a nobleman who was born both illegitimate and deaf. By the time I’d written a few chapters, I’d already moved on to something else.

Well, then Sisters Three announced their short story contest for stories centering around deaf characters, and I knew I had to reuse The Girl in the Pages instead of creating an entirely new story.

So allow me to introduce you to the love story of Amice, an orphaned girl who lost her hearing as a child, and the earl who shows her kindness.

the girl in the pages

Cast aside by her father for her illegitimate birth and left homeless after the death of her mother, Amice has been taken in by a compassionate housekeeper and given a job keeping the master’s beloved library in pristine condition. When the earl returns after his lengthy overseas voyage, Amice fears he too will cast her out because of her deafness.

Kent Grosvenor, the Earl of Westerly, had expected to find a new shipment of novels in his library…not a beautiful young librarian. But when he accidentally scares the latest addition to his staff upon arriving home, he discovers that not only can she not hear but she may be just what his life was missing.

~ the anthology ~

Some voices can only be heard in silence.

Thirteen young authors invite you to journey deep into a silent world so often overlooked. Within these pages, you’ll find bittersweet contemporary YA, spellbinding fantasy, tender romance, and so much more, each centering on a deaf character.

Curated by author Kaytlin Phillips, this short story collection offers you a peek inside a life without sound, a fresh perspective on a world you may never have experienced. For a moment in time, hush the noise around you and absorb the quiet heartbeat of these diverse stories. Let yourself be swept away in these characters' struggles, heartaches, and victories.

Heard in Silence features work from Saraina Whitney, Alison Stadt, K.R. Mattson, Marisa Phillips, Kylie Beevers, Riley G. Stanch, Jaiden Phillips, Lorelei Angelino, Lillian Keith, Grace A. Johnson, Kaytlin Phillips, Autumn Nicole, and Wilder W.! This unique, richly imagined short story collection will stretch your mind and hold your heart captive.

All proceeds from this anthology will be donated to the American Society for Deaf Children !

~ the tour ~

Monday, Sept. 4th

Sisters Three - Blog Tour Launch Announcement

Tasha Van Kesteren - Author Interview

Tuesday, Sept. 5th

Writers’ Vision - Author Interviews

Wednesday, Sept. 6th

Grace A. Johnson - IG Spotlight & Author Interview on Blog

Kristina Hall - Review

Katherine Barnard - Review & Spotlight

Thursday, Sept. 7th

Lorelei Angelino - Review and Spotlight

Old Fashioned Book Love - Review and Spotlight

Friday, Sept. 8th

Autumn Nicole - IG Spotlight

Saraina Whitney - Spotlight

The Introspective Introvert - Spotlight and BTS Collab Post

M. C. Kennedy - Review

Riley G. - Spotlight

Lucy Peterson - Spotlight

Sisters Three - End Tour

Vanessa Hall - Spotlight

Are you a Regency romance buff as well? Have you ever watched Sue Thomas? Have you ordered your copy of Heard in Silence yet?

Answer any of these questions in the comments below, and I'll email you a sneak peek of The Girl in the Pages!

#blogtour #regency #regencyromance #romance #christianfiction #christianromance #historical #historicalromance #deaf #thegirlinthepages #heardinsilence #anthology #shortstories #poems

interview with lillian keith (heard in silence anthology)

Our next interview for Heard in Silence in here! Today, I have Lillian Keith, a middle-grace indie author, joining us today! If you missed my interview with Saraina, you can check it out here!

Without any further ado, Lily!

~ interview ~

Hey, Lily!! Welcome to Of Blades and Thorns! I am sooo excited to have you join us today! Before we get started, do you mind telling everyone a little bit about yourself?

Hi Grace! Thank you so much for having me here on your blog.

Absolutely! I’m a Christian homeschool grad who writes mainly for kids, and reads way too many books in the children’s/middle grade book department (*cough* I still love beautiful or very clever picture books, even as an adult *cough* XD). Writing-wise, I’m dabbling a bit into different kids’ book genres such as realistic fiction or a mix of dystopian/fantasy.

Outside of writing, though, I really enjoy doing crafts, blogging, hiking, and playing Animal Crossing with my younger sisters. Or taking hundreds of photos of the sunset (we live on a hill, so the view on most nights is so beautiful!)

Your story “Stormy, with a Chance of Logan” is featured in Heard in Silence anthology! What inspired this story or prompted you to submit it for the anthology contest?

Yes, it is! I’m so excited and honored to be a part of it (congrats on your story being in the anthology too, Grace!) I remember first hearing about the contest that Sisters Three hosted, but I was too busy to submit something at the time. When they announced that they were going to turn the winning entries into an anthology (and were opening up for more submissions) I decided to give it a go. I don’t remember what sparked the story inspiration first; maybe it was a mix of finding a photo of a girl for my MC and the idea of doing a camping trip that started the seeds of the story idea. I also knew that I wanted to aim for a young protagonist and focus on themes of friendship in the story.

What was the most difficult part about writing from the perspective of a deaf character?

I’d say that learning to walk in the mindset of the deaf community was a unique challenge. Actually, they don’t really see themselves as having a disability. I wanted to avoid stereotypes in my story and try to get into the viewpoint of my MC instead. It took awhile, but I started trying to see how isolating being deaf can be in a hearing world (and actually, vice versa if you’re a hearing person dropped into the middle of a deaf community with no understanding of ASL. Imagining myself in the reverse has helped some.)

When did you first begin writing? What inspired you?

I guess it started when I first learned how to write XD. But, according to my mom, I was always telling stories to my dolls and stuffed animals since I could talk. Stories have always been running through my head, so I guess it was only a matter of time before I started jotting them down. I didn’t get fully serious about being a full-time writer until I was about to graduate highschool.

What writing projects are you currently working on?

Right now, I’m working on getting my next MG novella published on October 19th. It’s called Because You Saw Me, and has a mix of dystopian/19th century vibe to the setting (it’s also a companion novella to my short story, An Apprentice Escapes.) I recently got a proof copy, and it felt so surreal to see it in print (my sister did the interior illustrations and they turned out so well!) Here’s the story blurb:

​​Would Nari ever be happy if she learned the truth? Agatha swallowed hard. She knew what her friend would say.

As an orphan in Daivron, Agatha has learned to scavenge for anything that might prove useful. When she picks up an innocent-looking button box, she unwittingly incurs the wrath of a shadowy stranger. While being chased through the alleyways of a city that’s turned its back on her, will Agatha use the box’s hidden treasure to escape to a better future? Or will she follow her beloved friend’s advice and do the right thing?

As for any other writing projects, I actually don’t have anything on the table at the moment. I’m hoping to take a bit of a break this month and completely ignore the giant backlog of summer vacation photos—I mean, work on organizing my summer photos, plus getting blog posts done for the Five Fall Favorites book blog event. (I think sign-ups are still open until the 14th.)

What are your goals or mission as a writer?

Aside from honoring God, my main goal as an MG writer is to bring adventurous and thought-provoking stories to kids to inspire their imagination and get them to think. God gave me wonderful parents who inspired a love of good books in our family (book discussions are some of my favorite things to do together) and I want to give those kinds of stories to kids as well. Sometimes, I see more shallow-ended books for kids, and while not all are bad (hey, I loved the Boxcar Children series!) I wanted to write something more deep and meaningful. Something that would linger with kids for a long time and give them something to think about (like the Tales of the Kingdom book. Years later, I still remember some of those stories *lol*.)

What’s your #1 word of advice for other young writers?

Oh man, only one Grace? XD. Let’s see. I’ll try not to sound too cliche

Don’t forget the reason you write, and why you’re writing a story. Grow and learn, yes, but also stay true to your style and the story you want to tell. What matters is what God thinks and lays on your heart to write; and also whether you told the story you wanted to tell in the best way possible.

Where can people read other stories by you?

Great question! Well, you can find all my published stories either on Goodreads (to check out the story plotline/reviews to see if it’s up your alley) and on Amazon if you want to buy a copy. I haven’t really started publishing short stories on my blog yet, just snippets from past WIP’s, though maybe that will change in the future.

(However, if you’d like to read a totally ridiculous comedy story I did for a blog tag, you can find it here. I did a combination of tags in that post, so you might have to scroll a bit to find it; it’s the third one from the top. Lol, comedy is not my usual genre to write in, but it was a lot of fun to try!)

Thank you so much for joining me, Lily! I loved having you here!

Thanks so much for hosting me on your lovely blog, Grace! I had a lot of fun with this interview!

~ the author ~

Lillian Keith is the pen name of a girl who loves writing kids literature (anywhere from the children's to middle grade age range. Also, feel free to call her by her real name Lily). Her published works include an MG short story called An Apprentice Escapes; a realistic MG novella, Should We Tell Her?; and the upcoming book, Because You Saw Me (related to An Apprentice Escapes.)

A Christian homeschool grad, Lily enjoys hiking, crafting, and practicing harmony with her younger sister (who's also her illustrator and critique partner! And also the better singer.) Oh, and don't get her started on her love of clean humor and puns (you've been forewarned!) You'll often find her being a mix of witty and thoughtful on her blog The Introspective Introvert where she also helps promote upcoming Christian indie books releases, keeps readers updated on her latest work, hosts various blog events, and randomly photo dumps her favorite pictures of ducks and sunsets. She loves meeting new people, so feel free to drop by and say ‘hey'.

~ the anthology ~

Some voices can only be heard in silence.

Thirteen young authors invite you to journey deep into a silent world so often overlooked. Within these pages, you’ll find bittersweet contemporary YA, spellbinding fantasy, tender romance, and so much more, each centering on a deaf character.

Curated by author Kaytlin Phillips, this short story collection offers you a peek inside a life without sound, a fresh perspective on a world you may never have experienced. For a moment in time, hush the noise around you and absorb the quiet heartbeat of these diverse stories. Let yourself be swept away in these characters' struggles, heartaches, and victories.

Heard in Silence features work from Saraina Whitney, Alison Stadt, K.R. Mattson, Marisa Phillips, Kylie Beevers, Riley G. Stanch, Jaiden Phillips, Lorelei Angelino, Lillian Keith, Grace A. Johnson, Kaytlin Phillips, Autumn Nicole, and Wilder W.! This unique, richly imagined short story collection will stretch your mind and hold your heart captive.

All proceeds from this anthology will be donated to the American Society for Deaf Children !

~ the tour ~

Monday, Sept. 4th

Sisters Three - Blog Tour Launch Announcement

Tasha Van Kesteren - Author Interview

Tuesday, Sept. 5th

Writers’ Vision - Author Interviews

Wednesday, Sept. 6th

Grace A. Johnson - IG Spotlight & Author Interview on Blog

Kristina Hall - Review

Katherine Barnard - Review & Spotlight

Thursday, Sept. 7th

Lorelei Angelino - Review and Spotlight

Old Fashioned Book Love - Review and Spotlight

Friday, Sept. 8th

Autumn Nicole - IG Spotlight

Saraina Whitney - Spotlight

The Introspective Introvert - Spotlight and BTS Collab Post

M. C. Kennedy - Review

Riley G. - Spotlight

Lucy Peterson - Spotlight

Sisters Three - End Tour

Vanessa Hall - Spotlight

Who else loves the Boxcar Children? *raises hand* What about deep and well-written stories for middle-grade? What did you think of Lily's blurb for Because You Saw Me? Have you read Should We Tell Her? or An Apprentice Escapes?

Let's talk about it in the comments!

#blogtour #interview #authorinterview #indieauthor #christianauthor #middlegrade #heardinsilence #anthology #shortstories #poems

interview with saraina whitney (heard in silence anthology)

If you haven't heard, a new anthology is coming to town: Heard in Silence! Organized by Kaytlin Phillips (of Sisters Three), this anthology includes stories and a poem or two centering around deaf characters and life lived in silence.

To celebrate the release of this delightful collection, I'm super excited to have Saraina Whitney, one of the contributing authors, on for an interview today!

~ interview ~

Hey, Saraina!! Welcome to Of Blades and Thorns! I am sooo excited to have you join us today! Before we get started, do you mind telling everyone a little bit about yourself?

Thank you so much for having me, Grace!!! Yes, indeed; I’m a Christian homeschool graduate with a passion for creating stories of hope and truth to draw hearts closer to God, and I live in the Illinois countryside with my family of fourteen, of whom I am probably the most introverted. I also love playing piano, analyzing people’s personalities, fangirling over favorite fantasy novels and historical romances, and blogging about bookish things.

Your story “Invisible” is featured in Heard in Silence anthology! What inspired this story or prompted you to submit it for the anthology contest?

If I’m honest, desperation inspired it. I wanted to submit something for the contest, but I was running low on creativity until I finally got an idea days away from the deadline. I think it was the image of a girl hiding behind curtains that first came to my mind. Specifically, a deaf girl who was impatiently waiting for a concert to start. The questions that premise raised caught my attention and the rest of the story ended up flowing rather easily!

What was the most difficult part about writing from the perspective of a deaf character?

Ooo, that’s a good question. I think it was the challenges it raised with the dialogue aspect of the story…because my characters couldn’t have a completely normal conversation. My heroine Elizabeth understands Roland because she can lip-read, but I went back and forth on that detail because lip-reading is not as easy as it sounds, and I wanted to portray it as realistically as possible. So I had to make sure she wasn’t magically, effortlessly registering all his speech, and I had to be mindful of environmental details that would make it easy or hard for her to understand him.

Things I’d likely never have thought about unless I was a writer.

When did you first begin writing? What inspired you?

I’m one of those born writers who started creating stories the moment I learned how to write. (I really wish I had a dramatic inciting incident, but alas, such is not my story.) Books were what first inspired me, along with the desire to share lessons/morals in my stories. (Probably because stories with morals woven through them greatly influenced me.)

What writing projects are you currently working on?

Wouldn’t you like to know?

Joking aside, my main project is a Christian historical romance set in 1947 London about a dressmaker and a WWII veteran. You can expect a lot of piano, heartwarming sibling relationships, romantic drama, painful backstories, and themes of vulnerability and identity in Christ.

My second current project is a fantasy novella with a startling amount of danger, suspense, and romance. Not necessarily in that order. :P

And then I have a good-sized stack of WIPs on the back burner, impatiently waiting for their turn to be shown some love. Haha.

What are your goals or mission as a writer?

My mission as a writer is to remind readers that they’re never alone in their pain and that hope can be found in Jesus, no matter their past.

I don’t always write explicitly Christian stories—as in, direct mentions of God or the Bible. Case in point, “Invisible.” Usually, I feel called to write explicitly Christian fiction, but when I reread “Invisible,” I realized there were no direct mentions of God.

I tried to go back and intentionally include explicitly spiritual content…but then I realized that if I had to force it, it didn’t need it. (That’s become my rule of thumb.) The theme is still Biblical and readers still find hints of the hope ultimately found in Christ.

*realizes I’m going on a rabbit trail* *apologizes and makes a note to do a separate post about this*

What’s your #1 word of advice for other young writers?

My #1 word of advice would be to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It’s going to be uncomfortable at times, and you’ll wish you could go your own way. But don’t. Don’t listen to the lies that you can’t, that you’re not good enough, that you’re not talented enough. Write boldly, in faith, because God has abundantly supplied you with everything you need as a writer—and more.

Can I also sneak in a word of practical advice? ‘Cause that would be to STOP TRYING TO BE THE PERFECT WRITER. (Yes, that needed to be in all-caps. ) Give yourself permission to break rules, make mistakes, and take the pressure off. Once you do, you’ll probably find yourself writing even more, because you’re having more fun and your creativity is unhindered by that inner self-critic. Perfection stunts growth. Art is a messy process, as you well know, so allow yourself to be okay with mistakes.

Where can people read other stories by you?

You can subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated on all my stories! (And perhaps find yourself in possession of some freebies… )

Besides “Invisible” in Heard in Silence, I have a short story published in an anthology curated by the incredibly talented Grace A. Johnson herself, called Tell Me You Love Me, and you can read that here!

In the months and years ahead, I have more exciting projects set to make their entrance onto bookshelves, so stay tuned! (Or maybe not if you don’t like what you see. )

Thank you for joining us, Saraina! I so enjoyed having you on!!

Thank you so much for hosting me on Of Blades and Thorns, Grace! It’s been such an honor!

~ the author ~

Saraina Whitney is a passionate Christian writer who has a weakness for poignant stories with hints of true hope. She lives in the windy Illinois countryside with her family of fourteen. Known as the quietest of them all (except when she’s singing), she loves observing people and sharing inside jokes about movies with her siblings. She often spends her free time editing what she just wrote, rereading her favorite scenes from books, learning about Myers-Briggs personality types, or playing piano pieces from epic soundtracks. Her short story To Be Loved in the Tell Me You Love Me anthology is her first publication. Connect with her at http://www.sarainawhitney.wordpress.com.

~ the anthology ~

Some voices can only be heard in silence.

Thirteen young authors invite you to journey deep into a silent world so often overlooked. Within these pages, you’ll find bittersweet contemporary YA, spellbinding fantasy, tender romance, and so much more, each centering on a deaf character.

Curated by author Kaytlin Phillips, this short story collection offers you a peek inside a life without sound, a fresh perspective on a world you may never have experienced. For a moment in time, hush the noise around you and absorb the quiet heartbeat of these diverse stories. Let yourself be swept away in these characters' struggles, heartaches, and victories.

Heard in Silence features work from Saraina Whitney, Alison Stadt, K.R. Mattson, Marisa Phillips, Kylie Beevers, Riley G. Stanch, Jaiden Phillips, Lorelei Angelino, Lillian Keith, Grace A. Johnson, Kaytlin Phillips, Autumn Nicole, and Wilder W.! This unique, richly imagined short story collection will stretch your mind and hold your heart captive.

All proceeds from this anthology will be donated to the American Society for Deaf Children !

~ the tour ~

Monday, Sept. 4th

Sisters Three - Blog Tour Launch Announcement

Tasha Van Kesteren - Author Interview

Tuesday, Sept. 5th

Writers’ Vision - Author Interviews

Wednesday, Sept. 6th

Grace A. Johnson - IG Spotlight & Author Interview on Blog

Kristina Hall - Review

Katherine Barnard - Review & Spotlight

Thursday, Sept. 7th

Lorelei Angelino - Review and Spotlight

Old Fashioned Book Love - Review and Spotlight

Friday, Sept. 8th

Autumn Nicole - IG Spotlight

Saraina Whitney - Spotlight

The Introspective Introvert - Spotlight and BTS Collab Post

M. C. Kennedy - Review

Riley G. - Spotlight

Lucy Peterson - Spotlight

Sisters Three - End Tour

Vanessa Hall - Spotlight

Are you as excited for Heard in Silence as I am? Have you ever read a story about a deaf character? Which story in HiS are you most excited for? What did you think of Saraina's answers (and her two WIPs)?

I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below!

#blogtour #authorinterview #interview #heardinsilence #anthology #collection #poems #shortstories #deaf #deafcommunity #youngauthor #christianauthor

monthly gratitude

Weeeeell, folks. I'm currently undergoing a lot of design and mindset changes over here in my neck of the woods, so I don't have an updates post for y'all. I've noticed that my updates/goals posts have become more pitiful and complaintive than motivational + beneficial for y'all...so come October (Lord willing), I'll have something different prepared for y'all!

In the meantime, why not dump some photos from my August on y'all + share what I'm grateful for this past month (in no specific order)?

caramel frappes

finally getting my driver's license (like we always talked about)

starting my podcast

turning 18

my friend madison

worship night

new clothes

our beach vacation

new books

spotify premium

indie bookstores

unique history

God's protection

homemade rolls & biscuits

good food

trying tiramisu for the first time

brainstorming new stories

ice cream in a cone

rainbows

aesthetic skies

steve urkel funko pop

my sweet friends

birthday gifts

salad with chicken

getting contacts

book giveaways

springtime in surrey

ordering new headcoverings

designing beautiful websites

marketing

my car

lois & clark

I know I'm not the best at aesthetics (see Ryan Elizabeth's Substack and Emily Charlotte's blog for that), but I hope y'all enjoyed this little snapshot of my month!

What are you grateful for from this past month? What was the highlight of your August? What song(s) is (are) currently on repeat for you?

#gratitude #monthlygratitude #music #songs #photodump

review | sky of seven colors by rachelle nelson

⭐⭐⭐

I still don’t know what to think of this book. Did I love it? Did I hate it? I just…I don’t know. Truthfully, it wasn’t my usual fictional fare. There was loads of villainy and very little romance, and when I do endeavor to pick up a YA fantasy, there must be romance. As is typical of me, I didn’t really connect with Meg or with the writing…

But I couldn’t put it down.

I can’t really give any negative feedback beyond “this wasn’t quite my cup of tea,” so it’s no fault of the book’s that I wasn’t 100% charmed. However, I was definitely surprised by how much I was sucked into it. The first few chapters were kind of meh, and after reading some other reviews (which were positive, actually), I wasn’t certain I’d fully enjoy the rest of it anyway. But I couldn’t give up on it (not when I had a review due). I plopped down on the couch, curled my feet up beside me, and committed to reading a chapter, and another, and another, and another, until I more or less made myself stop reading.

Even though I wasn’t really feeling Meg, I didn’t dislike her. She was just a kid, and unlike most heroines I have to put up with, she wasn’t the kind that was snarky and do-bad. She was realistic (as realistic as you can be in the situation she was in ) and had authentic ups-and-downs. There were some elements that were kind of flip-floppy to me about her character, and I couldn’t really get a read on her personality, but I admired her determination, her strong moral compass, and her inner strength.

Proce and Von were easily two of my favorite characters, and I loved watching how their relationship with Meg grew and changed. The rest of the secondary and minor characters were very well-written and intriguing, with backstories and desires of their own.

But the character that shined the most was Kalmus, let’s face it. I knew going into the story that he couldn’t be trusted, but he was just so well-written that you couldn’t really tell what was legit or not, what his intentions were, etc. He was just an extremely good villain. Except the scene at the end was just so weird and kinda ruined the vibes.

The world of the Croppers and Regents was very well-developed, but I feel like there were some issues that could’ve been clarified. For spoilers’ sake, I won’t give details, but adultery, bigamy, and fornication were three such issues. They were never explored beyond vague mentions in the book, but they still existed, and I wanted to know what the protocol was for such in the fantasy world. (Highlight for spoilers: Why would Elia be so laissez-faire about her husband marrying Meg even though they were still married? Was bigamy allowed? Was adultery not an issue? Why wasn’t Meg concerned about how Kalmus used women?)

Otherwise, I loved how many details were woven in and how the cultures were explored! The plot kept me on my toes, and the twist at the end was . I do feel like the ending was a little too rushed (I just plain wanted more of her acclimating to life in her earth again + her relationship with Andrew!!!), but that can be overlooked.

There were some slight allegorical details I noted (I probably imagine them by this point ), and some great themes of sacrifice + how you see others + what it means to serve others that I really appreciated as well!

All in all, it wasn’t my kind of story by a long shot, but I still enjoyed it, which I think speaks for just how good of a story it is! Minus a few pet peeves, I was hooked from a little after the beginning to the end! The premise is so unique, and Nelson put a new spin on classic clichés to create a captivating and all-around well-done story!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy from Celebrate Lit Publicity. All opinions expressed are my own.

~ the book ~

In a strange part of the forest, the divide between worlds grows thin.

After the accident, Meg would do anything to wake her best friend from his deadly coma. At least, that’s what she whispered into the woodland shadows. She never imagined her wish would trap her in a gray other-earth, void of any color.

Meg’s vibrant humanity is a priceless artifact in the gray kingdom, coveted by the royal court. All she wants to do is find a way back home. Until she discovers the other-earth contains healing powers that can save her friend. But only if Meg becomes what the gray people need—a human bride for Kalmus, the powerful king of the capital city.

With her heart torn between earths, Meg’s choices may cost more than she knows.

~ the author ~

Rachelle Nelson grew up reading fantasy novels and getting her clothes muddy in the pine forests of Idaho. These days, she still loves hiking through mountains and libraries, though she is a bit less fond of mud. She doesn’t write true stories, but she writes about truth. When Rachelle is not reading and writing, she sings in a band with her talented husband, who makes her happier than should be legal. If you like adventures, good food, and honest conversations, you are her favorite kind of person.

~ the tour ~

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, August 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 18

Texas Book-aholic, August 19

Through the Fire Blogs, August 20 (Author Interview)

Christina’s Corner, August 20

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 21

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 22

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 23

The Book Club Network, August 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 25

Blogging With Carol, August 26

Labor Not in Vain, August 27

Simple Harvest Reads, August 28 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Beauty in the Binding, August 29 (Author Interview)

Raining Butterfly Kisses, August 29

Of Blades and Thorns, August 30

~ the giveaway ~

You didn't skim the rest of this post just to get to this part, now did you?

It's time for everyone's favorite part of Celebrate Lit tours...the giveaway! Rachelle is giving away the grand prize package of a hardback copy of Sky of Seven Colors (I'm sorry, but who doesn't need a hardback copy of this absolutely gorgeous gem???), a $50 Amazon gift card, a signed bookplate, a set of 3 bookish themed waterproof stickers, and a bookmark with exclusive Sky of Seven Colors character art!!

To enter, click the button below...AND be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Have you ever read a book outside your comfort zone? Was it a hit or a miss? What do you love most about fantasy worlds? How would you felt if you were transported to a world devoid of color?

I'd love to hear all about it below!

#review #bookreview #youngadult #yafiction #fantasy #blogtour #giveaway

(Pst! My Amazon links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission off of any purchases made through that link at no extra cost to you!)