Courtney Ranger's Blog, page 4

Review + Giveaway: Arranged with the Earl by Jackie Killelea

About the book

Book: Arranged with the Earl

Author: Jackie Killelea

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: May 13, 2025

A spinster with a tarnished reputation. An earl scarred from war. Can their convenient marriage withstand those aiming to steal everything they have?

Catherine Blynn resigned herself to a life without romantic love after a disastrous broken engagement. Although she’s always hoped to marry for affection, her father arranges for her to wed Loftus Cromwell, the broken Earl of Hardwicke. If she defies her parents, she risks her family’s ruin.

Loftus Cromwell had no intention to marry for love, only for the sake of his estate. But If he fails to win the love of his spirited and unconventional betrothed, he risks his conniving brother claiming everything he holds dear.

As treachery unfolds within the manor’s walls and a foe from Catherine’s past resurfaces, can Loftus and Catherine trust one another enough to unravel the truth before tragedy steals any chance of happiness?

purchaseMy review

This book is one of the best regency novels I’ve read in a while! I loved the romance, the intrigue, and the fun story!

Catherine is a bit of a free-spirit who has a very strong sense of right and wrong. She’s desperate to find love, but will not compromise herself to get it. I love how strong Catherine is in standing up for what she believes in. I love how she seeks God’s will in all things she does.

Lufton needs some hugs. He believes that because of his war scars no one can possibly love him. He is so protective and always puts the needs of others first. I love seeing how he serves his community and uses his intelligence to help his wife.

The conflict in this book was set up SO WELL!!!!!!!!!!! I had my suspicions about what was happening, and while I was partially correct, I could not have guessed ALL those twists Jackie wove PERFECTLY into her story!

If you enjoy marriage of convenience stories with Christian themes, you will love Jackie Killelea’s Arranged with the Earl.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

About the author

Jackie Killelea is a born and raised small-town girl from Connecticut with a degree in English and Creative Writing. She started off her writing journey with poetry, soon shifting into novels and becoming hooked. On days when she’s not busy with her nose in a book, she can be found typing away with a cup of tea at her side.

More from Jackie

In Arranged with the Earl, Loftus’ study of plants and flora is his foremost pastime, aside from his duties managing his estate and those that come along with being an earl. In his conservatory, there are a variety of different species of plants that he cares for but, would he actually have had these plants in his conservatory and would they have been able to feasibly grow there if he did?

Well, according to my research and a bit of wishful thinking…yes.

The thing is, Loftus has a few native plants in his conservatory and those certainly would have been able to grow there, given that they’ve pretty much just been brought inside from other counties in England. Loftus knows his home country and the landscape as well as how to care for those plants, already. The trickier plants to think upon are the exotics.

For instance, when showing Catherine the conservatory for the first time, he mentions Black Hellebore(Helleborus niger). How would he have come to own this? This plant is native to the mountains and woodlands of southern and central Europe, so we must assume that Loftus would’ve had it imported, or grown from seed. Still, would a woodland plant grow well enough to produce flowers in a conservatory setting?

Well, fortunately for Loftus, Black Hellebore actually grows fairly well in containers and does well in partial shade, so where he placed it in the conservatory was a prime location and it isn’t a stretch of the imagination to think that it produces blooms there.

With each plant I chose to be in the conservatory, I had to research if Loftus would reasonably have access to it and if it would grow under conservatory conditions–as well as during the season in which the book takes place. Of course you, as readers, will still need to use your imagination at some points. I’m sure Loftus would agree that ideas, like plants, need lots of water and space to grow.

I do so hope you enjoy Catherine and Loftus’ story in Arranged with the Earl!

Sincerely,

Jackie

Blog stops

For Him and My Family, May 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 28

She Lives To Read, May 29

Holly’s Book Corner, May 29

Betti Mace, May 30

Devoted Steps, May 30

Texas Book-aholic, May 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 1

Romances of the Cross, June 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 2

Pens Pages & Pulses, June 3

The Important Things in Life: God, books, & chocolate, June 3

Devoted To Hope, June 4

Stories By Gina, June 5 (Author Interview)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 6

Cover Lover Book Review, June 7

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, June 7

Book Looks by Lisa, June 8

Pause for Tales, June 8

Blossoms and Blessings, June 9

Blogging With Carol, June 9

Simple Harvest Reads, June 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jackie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

giveawayrelated posts

Book Review + Giveaway: The Angel of Second Street by Barbara Tifft Blakey

First of all, my apologies for posting my review a bit late, I had an appointment this morning that delayed my ability to get my post done beforehand. Thank you all for your patience with me!

About the book

Book: The Angel of Second Street

Author: Barbara Tifft Blakey

Genre: Christian Fiction/Romance/Historical Fiction

Release date: May 1, 2025

Book blurb

How Can Compassion be Considered Wrong?

When life is weighed down by challenges, pillars of enduring hope and love are always waiting to be discovered.

Ida Dempsey has grown up in a privileged life of luxury thanks to her aunt and uncle. Although Second Street—where women of ill repute ply their wares—is off limits to respectable citizens, her heart of compassion compels her to frequent the area, hoping to make a difference in their lives. Ida has also befriended Qui Shau, a Chinese woman who keeps house for her family, but friendships between the whites and Chinese are taboo in Eureka. Ida tries to keep secret her forbidden compassion, but someone is watching and will use it against her.

When Blaine Prescott meets Ida at a church picnic, his parents warn him away from any relationship with the young lady who has been seen on Second Street in the company of a Chinese woman. But how could such a kindhearted, lovely young woman be anything but good? But when riots break out in Chinatown and Ida disappears, Blaine will do anything to find out where and why she has gone.

purchaseMy review

Barbara Tifft Blakey’s The Angel of Second Street provides a poignant reminder to see all the way Christ sees them and to follow His will for your life.

Ida Dempsey feels called to help those society looks down on to find Christ. Her determination to follow her goal leads her through the story and I enjoyed seeing how, in spite of the many obstacles in her way, she kept trying until she found a way to reach those God needed her to reach. She is such a kind character, and although some of her attempts to serve may be a touch naive, she is a protagonist you can truly root for and aspire to become like.

Blaine wants to serve others and find a wife who shares his passion. Once he identifies Ida as the woman he believes God intends him to marry, nothing can dissuade him. I love how he is so dedicated to Ida and how he always seeks to do God’s will. He is so committed to supporting Ida. I love how Blaine and Ida both have the same goals but go about achieving them in their own unique ways.

Overall, this book was a sweet read that will encourage readers to have more charity for those around them.

Content notes: this book discusses the topic of prostitution, a woman has a child out of wedlock, it is insinuated that a doctor gives a woman an abortifacient drug

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

About the author

Barbara Tifft Blakey lives in the Pacific Northwest on five wooded acres with Terry, her husband of forty-plus years. She is best known for her award-winning, literature-inspired, language arts program, Total Language Plus, which she created over twenty years ago, and is used by thousands of homeschoolers. Barbara teaches Sunday school and enjoys speaking on various topics to Christian women’s groups. She and her husband have four grown children and five grandchildren. She enjoys camping at the ocean and is an avid soccer fan. During the day-light challenged winter months, she reads, crochets, bakes, and plots her next novel.

More from Barbara

As the birthplace of my mother, Eureka, California holds a special charm for me intensified by my grandmother’s stories of the area. Every visit I’ve made has encouraged me to dig deeper, to learn more, to experience this small, coastal town’s magnetism.

Its history includes the Wiyot’s massacre on Indian Island which can be viewed from the harbor and the expulsion of the Chinese population from Humboldt County. Carson’s Mansion is the most photographed Victorian dwelling in California, and possibly the United States, built to keep the lumber baron’s loggers employed during a downturn in the timber industry. Because of the numerous brothels, an entire section of Second Street located in the heart of the community was deemed out of bounds for children.

Both hero and heroine in Angel of Second Street are fictional, but my cast of characters includes real-life people such as Reverend Huntington, David Kendall, and Wei Lum and real historical businesses such as Wells Drug Store and Kitty Farris’s Joy Emporium.

I first wrote a version of this story more than a decade ago, but who can argue with God’s timing? Events that happened over 150 years ago feel current in today’s political climate where fear tactics dominate debates and spur regrettable actions. I didn’t set out to make a political statement, only to tell an engaging, thought-provoking love story, but in the midst of relating historical events, a deeper truth emerged as relevant today as it was in the mid 1800s.

I pray you’ll journey with Ida and Blaine through the turmoil of their times and be enriched to face the trials of today with renewed hope.

Blog stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 29

Pens Pages & Pulses, May 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 31

Texas Book-aholic, June 1

Stories By Gina, June 2 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 4

Simple Harvest Reads, June 5 (Guest Review from Donna)

For Him and My Family, June 6

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, June 6

Holly’s Book Corner, June 7

Pause for Tales, June 8

Cover Lover Book Review, June 9

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, June 9

Devoted To Hope, June 10

Bizwings Book Blog, June 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Barabara is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

giveawayrelated posts

I need help writing a tagline…

I’ve been struggling with concocting a tagline for my upcoming release, In Thy Tender Care. And I could really use your help.

Last night, my sisters were helping my try to concoct some sort of tagline (no, we’re not even talking a blurb yet) for my story, and we came up with a few possibilities.

Which of these is your favorite? Which would most inspire you to read my book?

When an epidemic hits at Christmastime, can a schoolteacher with a grudge and a doctor with a secret still share the light of the season with their small town?When an epidemic hits their small town at Christmastime, can a schoolteacher with a grudge and a doctor with a secret still share God’s light in the darkest of times?When an epidemic hits their small town at Christmastime, can a schoolteacher with a grudge and a doctor with a secret still share the light of the season with those without hope?When an epidemic hits their small town at Christmastime, can a schoolteacher with a grudge and a doctor with a secret still share His light to those in despair?

Please give any help/suggestions in the comments!

preorder In thy Tender Carerelated posts

Book Review + Giveaway: Seven Brides for Seven Texans

About the book

Book: Seven Brides for Seven Texans

Authors: Gabrielle Meyer, Erica Vetsch, Amanda Barratt, Lorna Steilstad, Keli Gwyn, and Vickie McDonough

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: April 29, 2025

Book blurb

Seven brothers, seven heiresses, and one meddling grandfather—can mismatched matchmaking pave the way for true love?

Abraham Kennebrae, a powerful Minnesota tycoon, hatches a bold matchmaking scheme to secure his grandsons’ futures by pairing them with the wealthiest heiresses in town. But the brothers have no intention of complying, and their prospective brides harbor plans of their own. Jonathan battles to protect his fortune from slipping through his fingers, while Melissa guards the secret that could shatter her world—and her heart. Noah seeks refuge on Sutton Island, where fate throws him into the path of his destined bride, Anastasia. Meanwhile, Eli resigns himself to an engagement with Clarice Zahn, though his heart stirs at the sight of her younger sister, Josie.

With emotions running high and loyalties tested, Abraham’s carefully crafted plan spirals into chaos. Can love triumph when hearts rebel against expectations, or will the grandfather’s meddling prove too great a challenge for even the most determined romantics?

purchaseMy review

WARNING: This book WILL make you add the ENTIRE backlists from SEVERAL authors to your TBR.

An anthology of CHRISTIAN HISTORICAL ROMANCES set in TEXAS inspired by SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS with COWBOYS????????????????? Yeah, I was unsurprised by how amazing this anthology was!!!!!!!!!!!

I was impressed by the authors’ ability to weave together a story without any inconsistencies (that I noticed). As a multi-author series organizer, I would love to see some of the behind the scenes planning for this anthology!!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved how each author brought a unique flavor to the story while keeping the feel of the story consistent! It kept each story fresh and knew while not making the reading experience too jarring. I also LOVED getting to “meet” several new authors through this book, and I’d LOVE getting to read more books from any of them!!!!!!!!!

I’m trying to decide which story is my favorite, and ugh!!!!!! It’s so hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hays and Emma’s romance was SO SWEET and had me literally SQUEALING with delight! Chisholm (I hope that’s how you spell it) and Caro’s story was fast paced and exciting and kept me guessing who the bad guy was! Bowie and *blanks on her name*’s story had the sweetest premise and some of the BEST themes! Ooh! and I couldn’t HELP but love the scenes where… Travis(?) and Annie were working together in their sweet story!

I found it hilarious that the characters seemed to almost exclusively eat Mexican food.

My biggest complaint… couldn’t the stories have all been LONGER??????? Or like take this book, and just turn it into a multi-author series with LONGER novels, so I get to spend EVEN MORE TIME with these incredible characters AND getting to know the authors??????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Overall, this book was such a fun read for any Christian historical romance lover!!!!!!!! GO READ IT!!!!!!!!!!

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

About the Authors

Gabrielle Meyer, a Minnesota native, draws inspiration for her historical fiction from the rich stories and landscapes of her home state, where she lives on the banks of the upper Mississippi River with her husband and four children. A former employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, Gabrielle loves weaving real people, places, and events into her captivating tales.

Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch weaves her love for Jesus, history, romance, and sports into her stories, including The Debutante’s Code, the first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series. When she’s not crafting fiction or planning her next trip to a history museum.

Bestselling author Amanda Barratt brings to life overlooked moments in history through her award-winning novels, including The Warsaw Sisters, Within These Walls of Sorrow, and The White Rose Resists. Based in Michigan, she’s often immersed in research, tackling her ever-growing TBR stack, or savoring a slice of lemon cake.

Carol Award finalist Lorna Seilstad explores life’s complexities with humor in her nine novels, including the Lake Manawa Summers and Gregory Sisters series, as well as several novella collections. When she’s not writing, she teaches women’s Bible classes, runs a toy store, plans weddings, or spends time with her Pyredoodle, Honey Bea.

Keli Gwyn crafts inspirational historical romances that she loves to read. A California native, she now lives in the greater Sacramento area with her husband and their sweet orange tabby, enjoying life close to family.

Vickie McDonough, a CBA, EPCA, and Amazon best-selling author of 54 books and novellas, brings the Old West to life in her award-winning romances featuring ranchers, cowboys, and lawmen. Though married to a computer geek who fears horses, she lives out her ranching dreams through her stories—and when she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, gardening, making cards, and traveling.

More from Erica

Hi, I’m Erica Vetsch, and I loved collaborating on the stories for the 7 Brides for 7 Texans collection. It was fun writing stories that were so intertwined, and working closely with the other authors in the collection to bring the whole concept together.

Initially, I was approached by a publisher, asking if I would be interested in heading up a novella collection loosely based on the idea of 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, the classic musical. The parameters were that the stories must be no longer than 25K words, be historical in setting, and that I could choose the overall concept, as well as my team of authors.

I, of course, jumped at the chance. Before I contacted anyone, I worked up a rough idea of the premise of the stories. A wealthy Texas rancher with seven strapping sons is tired of waiting for them to get married and provide him with grandchildren, so he issues an ultimatum. Get married by the end of the calendar year, or you’re disinherited.

I named all the sons after famous Texans, and gave them a birth order, then I began contacting writing friends to see if they were interested in joining the project. Everyone I asked said yes! 

Then the real fun began. We formed a private Facebook group, and as the characters were chosen by the various authors, the order of the stories in the collection formed, and as ideas for storylines poured in, I began creating what we came to call The Master Document.

In the MD we tracked main characters’ names and appearances, secondary characters, a map of the fictional town of Hartsville, TX, and more. It eventually ran to more than 20 pages of information. We named the town newspaper, the general store, and kept track of the layout of the Harts’ massive ranch house. Keeping these details all in one place made it easy for the authors to flesh out their story world in a way that was consistent with everyone else’s stories.

Because the stories are so closely tied and on such a tight timeline, each of the authors’ characters would appear in another author’s novella. We needed to respect each other’s visions for the characters and treat them with respect, while also having the freedom to write our own stories.

Early on, as the project coordinator, it was established that if a dispute arose between two authors on how something should go, it would be myself who would cast the final vote. However, that contingency never came into play, as all the authors worked so well together.

One of the most challenging aspects of the project was, that as the project lead, and the one writing the final story in the collection, I needed to know the most about all the stories. Just before the deadline to turn our stories into the publisher, each author sent their story along to me to read for continuity. I spent a long weekend at author Gabrielle Meyer’s house, and we read every novella aloud, making notes for consistency and continuity throughout. These notes were turned in to the project editor, and she used them in her editing process to make sure seven separate stories felt cohesive.

It truly was a fun—and to me—unique, project, and when the publisher asked if I would like to head up a follow up collection, I was eager to say yes, and thus 7 Brides for 7 Texas Rangers was born.

Both of these intertwined collections went out of print, but they are now being released once more, this time through Wild Heart Books. I’m thrilled that we can tell our stories to new readers and prolong the lives of these characters.

Blog stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 21

Pens Pages & Pulses, May 21

Texas Book-aholic, May 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 24

Simple Harvest Reads, May 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Devoted To Hope, May 25

For Him and My Family, May 25

Stories By Gina, May 26 (Author Interview)

Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 26

She Lives to Read, May 27

lakesidelivingsite, May 27

Labor Not in Vain, May 28

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 28

Cover Lover Book Review, May 29

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 29

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 30

Holly’s Book Corner, May 30

Books You Can Feel Good About, May 31

Blossoms and Blessings, June 1

Jodie Wolfe, June 1

Pause for Tales, June 2

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, June 2

Leslie’s Library Escape, June 3

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, the Wild Heart Books Authors are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

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Spotlight + Giveaway: Shadowed Secret by S.F. Baumgartner

About the book

Book: Shadowed Secret (Mirror Estate Series Book 5)

Author: S.F. Baumgartner

Genre: Christian Suspense Thriller

Release date: May 13, 2025

Book blurb

In a world of secrets and shadows, a priest, two accountants, and an elite task force must protect what’s hidden or risk it all.

Fr. Phil, a former Navy SEAL turned priest, finds his quiet life at Mirror Estate shattered when a priest from the Vatican pays him a visit. Asked to retrieve a secret book before it’s auctioned on the dark web, Fr. Phil must face lethal adversaries and race against time, knowing his life is on the line.

Tommy Rivers’s date with Mia Granger turns deadly when they’re attacked upon discovering a colleague murdered at the office. Assuming they have the book, ruthless operatives have Tommy and Mia in their sights.

With the exposure of the secret book threatening the lives of countless operatives, Fr. Phil, Tommy, Mia, and an elite FBI task force must prevent a catastrophic intelligence leak before time runs out.

purchaseAbout the Author

S.F. Baumgartner crafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets—Book 1 of her Mirror Estate series—named a Top Pick in the thriller category at Killer Nashville, 2024. When she’s not plotting her next twist, she’s binge-watching crime TV shows, like NCIS or playing with her cats. Fans of James Patterson’s style, especially those who appreciate short, punchy chapters, will find much to love in her work.

More from S.F. Baumgartner

Unraveling Secrets: The Journey of Writing This Book

Some books come together effortlessly. Others take their time, demanding patience, persistence, and more rewrites than I care to admit. This latest installment falls firmly into the latter category. The story simply didn’t gel the first couple of times I attempted to write it. I knew where it needed to go, but the journey to get there felt off. Characters resisted the paths I initially set for them, subplots unraveled at the seams, and the pacing never quite clicked the way I wanted it to.

It took several drafts and a fair amount of frustration before things finally started falling into place. Looking back, I realize that part of the struggle was that this book needed to do more than just continue the story—it had to weave together past threads while setting the stage for what’s to come. That’s a delicate balance, and it wasn’t something I could rush.

Why I Wrote This Book

The simplest answer? It’s the next chapter in the story. After everything that has happened in previous installments, there were lingering questions that needed answers, loose ends that needed to be tied up—or, in some cases, unraveled even further.

This story is about Fr. Phil. He’s no longer just the priest of Mirror Estate’s chapel; he’s once again being pulled into the shadows of his past. Old alliances resurface, and new threats emerge. At the same time, Olivia and Simon’s upcoming wedding adds a deeply personal layer to the story. In many ways, this book is about past decisions catching up with the present—whether in matters of faith, espionage, or personal relationships.

And then there’s the Ghost. Marge Beaumont remains as enigmatic as ever, and while she’s playing by the rules—for now—it’s clear she’s still ten steps ahead of everyone. The question isn’t just whether she can be trusted, but whether anyone can truly outmaneuver her.

The Challenge of Getting It Right

What made this book particularly challenging was the complexity of the narrative threads. There’s a missing book that may or may not contain dangerous secrets. There’s an auction on the dark web that threatens national security. There’s a decades-old mystery involving hidden treasure. And, of course, there’s the ever-present undercurrent of trust and betrayal—who’s telling the truth, who’s working an angle, and who’s about to make their next move?

Balancing these elements while keeping the pacing tight and the stakes high took longer than expected. Some subplots had to be reworked entirely, others had to be trimmed down, and a few surprises emerged that even I didn’t see coming in the early drafts.

What’s Next?

Now that this book is finally complete, I can say with confidence that the struggle was worth it. The twists, the revelations, and the character moments that emerged from this process have made it stronger than I initially imagined.

For readers who have been following this series, I hope you enjoy the ride. Expect high stakes, hidden agendas, and a few moments that might just leave you breathless. And as always, thank you for sticking with me on this journey—because the story is far from over.

Blog stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 10

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 11

Stories By Gina, May 12 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 13

Texas Book-aholic, May 14

Simple Harvest Reads, May 15 (Author Interview)

Betti Mace, May 16

Artistic Nobody, May 17 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 18

Blogging With Carol, May 19

Guild Master, May 20 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 21

For Him and My Family, May 22

Fiction Book Lover, May 23 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, S.F. is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

giveawayrelated posts

Spotlight + Giveaway: Meet Me at the Grand by Lindsay Harrel

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Meet Me at The Grand by Lindsay Harrel hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Meet Me at The Grand

Series: Jonathon Island #1
Author: Lindsay Harrel
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

She’s fighting to save her island’s legacy. He’s here to secure his family’s future. When their worlds collide, will they build something lasting—or tear each other apart?

Dani Sullivan is determined to revive Jonathon Island’s fading charm and reunite her fractured family. Her plan? Reopen the Grand Sullivan Hotel, a once-impressive landmark that’s been in disrepair for a decade. But without the funds to restore the hotel, Dani’s forced to accept help from Liam Stone—a big-city hotel developer whose sleek, modern vision is everything she’s trying to avoid.

Liam has never been one for small towns or rundown hotels, but this project isn’t just any job. His father’s health is declining, and if Liam can prove himself by turning the hotel around, he’ll finally earn the chance to take over the business so his dad can retire. But Jonathon Island is far from the high-end luxury projects he’s used to, and Dani’s fierce dedication to preserving its history clashes with everything Liam stands for.

As they battle over the future of the Grand, Liam starts to see Jonathon Island as more than just another project—it feels like the home he’s never had. But with his responsibilities pulling him back to Los Angeles, can he really stay? And can Dani trust him with her dream—and her heart?

A lot rides on the success of this project, but when emotions run high, will Dani and Liam find a way to work together—or will their differences tear them apart?

On Jonathon Island, love and loyalty are the ultimate balancing act.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Sunrise Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Excerpt

Liam turned to find a brown, double-bench golf cart headed their way. “I thought motorized vehicles weren’t allowed here.” That’s what the internet had said, anyway.

“Just golf carts and snowmobiles, and only in the off season. And of course emergency vehicles. Sometimes construction vehicles, but only for a very limited time and with a permit.”

Liam breathed a sigh of relief over that one. At least the hotel renovation wouldn’t have to revert back to the Dark Ages when they’d had to use pulleys and ramps.

“Otherwise, it’s bikes and buggies for us,” Pete continued. “Though we’ve only got a handful of horses on the island anymore, and they’re up on the Quinn property, so walking and biking are the only real options. Get used to using those things called legs.”

Liam laughed. “Thanks, Pete. I will.” He extended his hand.

Pete took his offering and shook. “Buckle up, Fancy Pants. Looks like Dani’s grabbing you today.” Then, whistling, he walked away toward another cart sitting near the building.

Danny? Maybe Seb had sent the director of tourism in his stead. The guy who, apparently, would be giving Liam a more in-depth tour of the island and hotel, and with whom Liam would be working to get the plans approved by the town council.

Turning, Liam lifted a hand in greeting as the golf cart, which was decked out with winter tires of all things, pulled to a halt beside him. A woman—not a man—climbed from behind the wheel.

A beautiful woman, tall and willowy, despite her white coat, jeans, and brown duck boots. Her long blonde hair hung nearly to her waist, and her big green eyes—framed over high cheekbones, a pert nose, and pretty lips turned downward—studied him. “Are you Mr. Stone?”

“Liam, please. Mr. Stone is my dad.” Liam stepped forward and shook her hand, which was much warmer than his, thanks to her lightweight yellow gloves. “And you are?”

“Dani Sullivan.”

“The director of tourism?”

“Were you expecting someone else? A man, perhaps?”

“What?” Liam coughed, caught off guard. “Not at all.” Then he flashed her a smile.
“With all the great things Seb told my dad about you, I thought you must be older.”

She looked him up and down. “I could say the same about you. This is a pretty big project. I guess I expected your father to come.”

“He’s needed back at the office. But don’t worry, Ms. Sullivan. He sent the best.” Then he winked at her.

She frowned, clearly not impressed. “I hope that’s the case. There’s a lot riding on this.”

About the Author

Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd who lives in Arizona with her husband and kids. She’s held a variety of professional jobs over the years, and now juggles school volunteering with being an author and editor. When she’s not writing or keeping up with her children, Lindsay enjoys making a fool of herself at Zumba, curling up with anything by Jane Austen, and savoring sour candy one piece at a time.

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

Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of Meet Me at the Grand and a $10 Sunrise Shop gift voucher!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 14, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 21, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Paperback US only. Ebook available for international. 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!

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Character Interview: Lorelei Hilton from Like the Air After Rain by Kellyn Roth

A little while ago, I had the opportunity to ARC read Kellyn Roth’s Like a Ship on the Sea, the first book in the Hilton Legacy series. And I am so happy to help promote Kell’s NEWEST release, Like the Air After Rain!!! I haven’t *quite* finished it yet, but so far it’s so good!!!!!!

And cause I’m allowed to squirrel a bit on my own blog… the other day at work, I was upset with people (cause I was grumpy of course), and decided I just needed to take a minute to breathe. Nothing was going on, so I pulled out my copy of Like the Air After Rain. Kell’s soothing writing style had me feeling so much better and be better able to be personable and do my job, AND I even ended up having an INCREDIBLE shift!!! (I hope to post my review of Like the Air After Rain soon!!!)

Book Blurb

What if nothing’s left after the storm fades?

Aubrey Montgomery has three problems: the care of his adolescent sisters, the managing of his household, and his own loneliness. Over two years have passed since he was rejected by Cassie Hilton. Although he no longer trusts himself to love a woman properly, he could settle for an amicable partnership—if the right woman came along.

Lorelei Hilton only has one problem that she knows of: her manipulative and controlling father is arranging a marriage to a spineless boy in order to maintain the family business—and keep it out of her very determined, very female hands. But if Lorelei can’t force her way through a door, she’ll crawl in a window. To rescue herself and her sister, she sails off to England in search of a man with the gumption to stand up to her father.

After a chance meeting and an intense contract negotiation, Lorelei and Aubrey agree to a marriage of convenience. As they grow closer and struggle through the trials of their utilitarian arrangement, Aubrey is left with a question. Can the sacrament of marriage be entirely practical—or is there something otherworldly about it?
Like the Air After Rain is the second novel in The Hilton Legacy, a stand-alone trilogy featuring characters from the author’s first series, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy.

Interview with Lorelei

Without further ado (or squirrels), let me introduce you to Lorelei, the protagonist of Like the Air After Rain.

Hi, Lorelei! Can you introduce yourself for my readers?

Of course! I’m not convinced that this type of formal interview is the best idea, especially if Mrs. Roth’s entire goal is to sell more books (you should interview Patrick; he knows more about sales than I do), but I suppose I will do my best, if only because, in actuality, it would be rather embarrassing if Patrick managed to sell more books than I do. Or however that works.

Simply put, I’m Lorelei Hilton, the eldest daughter and second child of Clarence Hilton. I was raised in Boston with my brother, Patrick, and sister, Winnie. For some insane reason, I’ve been chosen for the subject of a book, but if you think that’s ludicrous, well, wait until I tell you that there’s going to be a novel about Winnie. Winnie!

There’s not much to me that’s interesting, but I will tell you that I prefer silence and privacy to a social whirl, and that I have an excellent brain that I intend to put to good use to manipulate a situation I have little control in—namely, my father has made it clear I will not be taking an active interest in The Hilton Shipping Co., a notion I find repulsive. Therefore, I must marry—and marry someone who won’t much mind what I’ll do. I’m sure it’s entirely reasonable.

I’ve heard you haven’t had many good birthdays, what would your perfect birthday celebration look like?

Honestly, I don’t understand birthdays. I did little to be born, and I’ve never been as thankful about the event as perhaps I ought, so I think I’d rather just let them pass me by. Besides, birthdays are not really for you, are they? They’re for those around you—parents, et cetera—and if you haven’t parents you much like to please, then what is the point of celebrating?

I suppose if I had to choose, I’d rather not have a party—in fact, I’m not sure I’d like to do anything at all, except perhaps watch Patrick and Winnie bicker over breakfast and enjoy some coffee. That’s how good days start.

You don’t seem to enjoy the arranged marriage trope, so what are your top three romance tropes?

After consulting with Mrs. Roth, I have learned that a trope is essentially a certain set of circumstances in a story that tend to be repeated over and over again, and I had repetition, and I don’t often pick up a book anyway, so I’m not sure I have much to contribute. You should ask Winnie. She’s ever at those dreadful dime novels which are all quite the same.

When I do pick up a romance novel, I enjoy a story where the hero and heroine actually take time to develop a relationship, where they don’t do anything foolish on the way there, and where if there is a happy ending, it isn’t predictable and perfect. But I’m not at all sure which tropes those would adhere to. It was suggested that I might enjoy what Mrs. Roth termed the “predictability” of friends to lovers, but as she mentioned Jane Austen’s Emma in the same breath, I am not sure. I don’t hate that book, but I wouldn’t say I love it, either.

So… *leans in conspiratorially* tell me about Aubrey!!!!!!! Oh, and… *struggles to remember* what’s-his-face… Billy? your father wants you to marry?

There’s not much to say about Aubrey, in all honesty. I would call him … useful. Or perhaps that’s not the right word, but he is good to have around. But I don’t care to entertain romantic notions—if you want to hear a woman talk about butterflies and fireworks and the moon in June, ask Winnie. She’s always got someone she’s mad about, and given how often that changes, well, I don’t think I could stand it.

As for Billy, he’s Billy. He’s always been there, and I’m very glad he won’t be there forever, because “he’s always been there” in the same way snow has “always been there” by the time spring rolls around. It was nice at first, but now it’s time for it to disappear and make way for better things.

So I suppose Aubrey is a little more than useful—he’s also a better thing. But don’t tell him I said that. Actually, if he must know any of what I said, you had better leave off the word “useful,” too. I’m not sure he would at all understand what I mean—he so rarely seems to.

What is it like having Kellyn as your author? Is she… *whispers* decent as far as authors go, or do you wish you’d gotten a different author?

I am fairly certain that the types of characters who question all-knowing, all-powerful decisions are the types who are given an abrupt and violent end, so I will restrain myself from commenting. If I were free to say whatever I wanted, I would have a lot to say—let’s just leave it there.

If you could give a young woman any one piece of advice, what would it be?

“Buy land; they aren’t making it anymore.”

Why should I read your story?

Oh, is this the selling part? See, I’m still not terribly prepared because I haven’t ever had to do much selling, but I’ll do my best.

If you, like Patrick, are absolutely determined to see the good in everything, and if you, like Winnie, enjoy a love story where, yes, there is a certain amount of romancing, and if you are terribly bored and don’t have much else to do with your time than watching me struggle through what must be at least ninety-thousand words of utter humiliation, then I suppose you might like this book.

But if you’re like me, and you wish you could make everything happen faster than it’s meant to, perhaps this story will frustrate you. And, certainly, I would argue that I’m not as interesting or gregarious as most romance heroines, but I suppose I am more intelligent, and I certainly know more about building docks.

Also, even though I did call him useful, I think you will rather like Aubrey. I didn’t marry him because I thought he was anything but useful, but … well. I suppose you’ll find out the rest.

Thank you for taking the time to interview me! I hope it was educational or entertaining and that it encouraged you to depart with your hard-won money for a non-necessity item in what I assume, whatever era you’re reading this from, is “this economy.”

~Lorelei

Thank you so much Lorelei!!!!!!!

About the Author

Kellyn Roth is the author of ten historical romance novels with strong Christian themes, a touch of humor, and messy situations that put the main characters through the wringer and force them to face hard questions. Kell is the founder and owner of Wild Blue Wonder Press, a small press with the mission of sharing fictional stories full of grace and truth. Her goal is to create stories that matter, to delve into the deepest and sometimes the saddest parts of life, and to return from the darkest valleys resplendent in the light of hope and the fullness of joy. When not building her author career, Kellyn is likely drinking iced coffee with her husband, getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, or watching period dramas and facetious comedies with her border collie.

Blog tour

Thursday, May 1st (LAUNCH DAY)

Intro Post & Giveaway at Kellyn Roth, Author (Lilacs & Reveries Blog)

Interview with Michaela Bush at Tangled Up in Writing (Blog)

Friday, May 2nd

Interview with Sara A. Thren (Instagram)

Book Review with M.C. Kennedy (Instagram)

Book Review with E.G. Bella (Instagram)

Saturday, May 3rd

Book Spotlight with Lydia Smith (YouTube)

Book Spotlight with Abby McKenna (Instagram)

Monday, May 5th

Character Interview (Lorelei) with Courtney at Pens, Pages, & Pulses (Blog)

Guest Post (Writing Characters You Don’t Agree With) with Katja @ Little Blossoms for Jesus (Blog)

Book Spotlight with @reading_is_my_remedy (Instagram)

Book Spotlight with Abigail Hawthorne (Instagram)

Tuesday, May 6th

Guest Post with Lillian Keith (Blog)

Book Review with Jana T. at Reviews from the Stacks (Blog)

Book Spotlight with Olivia Godfrey (Instagram)

Guest Post with Grace A. Johnson (Blog)

Wednesday, May 7th

Review (Like the Air After Rain) with Sara A. Thren (Instagram)

Interview with Cate V. @ Southern Story Scribbler (Blog)

Guest Post (Writing Imperfect Characters with Purpose) with Emma Donovan (Instagram)

Character Interview (Lorelei) with Saraina Whitney (Instagram)

Note: Kellyn Roth’s wrapup on her blog ( https://kellynrothauthor.com/blog ) will be posted some time after Wednesday to allow for a giveaway wrapup!

Giveaways!!!!!!!

Over at @wildbluewonderpress (Instagram only): Enter to win book 1 in the series, bookmarks, a candle, and printed character art! (Three winners will be selected; US entries only.)

On Kellyn’s blog (kellynroth.blog): A grand prize giveaway is live with all 6 books in The Chronicles of Alice & Ivy AND the first 2 Hilton Legacy novels in paperback. Open internationally and to US entries!

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Epic Book Launch: Being Content in God’s Way Workbook by Scott LaPierre

About the book

Book: Being Content God’s Way and the Being Content God’s Way Workbook

Author: Scott LaPierre

Genre: Christian Nonfiction

Release date: May 21, 2024

Philippians 4:12 reveals a profound truth: there is a “secret to learning contentment.” As Paul declares in the next verse, the secret is the strength Christ provides: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Just as a tree’s unseen root system gathers vital resources for the tree, the unseen part of contentment is being “rooted and built up in Christ” (Colossians 2:7).

With Being Content God’s Way, you will…
 learn to “be content with what you have” (Hebrews 13:5)
 enjoy personal stories and application to daily life
 be equipped to put off covetousness (Colossians 3:5)
 receive biblical answers to common questions
 discover why “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

Contentment is not an elusive concept. Instead, it is a tangible reality within our reach through a relationship with Christ.

About the workbook

The perfect companion to Being Content God’s Way!
James 1:22 says, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” A common mistake with God’s Word is believing we have done enough by learning without applying. Our responsibility goes much further than simply obtaining information.
This 13-week in-depth Bible study will reinforce the teachings from the book so you can be not just a hearer (or reader) but a doer (or obey-er). You will be given the tools to apply the reading and cement the teachings in your heart.

Inside, you will find:
 Helpful guidelines for deepening your relationship with Christ
 Thoughtful questions for self-reflection
 Insightful observations to help you grow spiritually

The workbook is a 3-month study to help you become rooted and built up in Christ. This great tool is perfect for individual use or group study.

Book excerpt

What is this quote really about? It is about choosing to be content with a spouse. This is
made easier by remembering that our husband or wife would love to change things about us. We are not easy to be married to, and thinking otherwise is a sign of self-deception and pride. Maybe you are saying, “How could you know this about me when you have never met me?” I know this because the Bible says that all of us, to varying degrees, are sinful and selfish.

Third, Contentment Is Not the Absence of Trials
Sometimes, people associate contentment with not suffering. If our life is going well, we are content but discontent if we experience a trial. If this were true, nobody could be content because trials are part of life on this side of heaven. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul said, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22), and “You…know that we are destined for [afflictions]” (1 Thessalonians 3:3). James 1:2 says, “when you fall into various trials…” not “if you do…”

People expecting the Christian life to be carefree are in for a shock.

About the author

Scott LaPierre is a teaching pastor, author, and popular conference speaker. He holds an MA in Biblical Studies from Liberty University. God has blessed Scott and his wife, Katie, with ten children.

Note: I have not read this book and cannot speak to its content or accuracy.

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Book Review + Giveaway: Relinquishing the Agent by Lorri Dudley

About the book

Book: Relinquishing the Agent

Author: Lorri Dudley

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: April 8, 2025

Book blurb

Can love bloom between a woman living a lie and a man sworn to uncover the truth?

Bluestocking Rebecca Leah Prestcote would prefer to hide in a library, searching for a cure to her sister’s ailment, over participating in London’s Season. But when her wealthy cousin demands Rebecca attend a house party as her, Rebecca cannot refuse. Her cousin intends to win the affection of the Marquis of Wolston and Rebecca is, after all, a charity case. When the Marquis unexpectedly arrives at the wrong party, Rebecca must uphold the ruse, or be caught in her cousin’s lie.

Daniel Elmsley, Marquis of Wolston, cannot let another target escape, not if he plans to catch the band of body snatchers and prove his worth as a spy. But when people at Lady Coburn’s house party go missing, his mission escalates to stopping a murderer. When he intercepts a letter meant to blackmail Lady Prestcote, he begins to wonder if the beguiling beauty may be involved in the conspiracy.

Singled out for Lord Wolston’s affections, Rebecca must maintain her web of deception and evade the investigation of the captivating marquis even while he ensnares her heart.

purchaseMy review

Regency intrigue, riveting suspense, lovable characters, and a beautiful discussion on ethics combine to create a novel readers will fall in love with!!!

Rebecca wants to help her sister find a cure for her heart problem, even if it means masquerading as her cousin. She longs to be respected for her ideas and opinions, even if she is a woman. I love how she uses her kindness and ingenuity to bless the lives of those around her. It is fascinating to watch as she grapples with her loyalties to her sister and her desire to keep a clean conscience.

Daniel will do what he must to complete his task of apprehending “body snatchers.” He is intrigued by Lady Prestcote’s new ideas and eagerness to pursue knowledge. While Daniel can be a bit of a… rogue(?) at times, I love how he is always looking to protect the innocent around him.

There are so many other wonderful characters in this book!!!!!! I want like ALL of them to get their own book!!!!!!!!!!!

Lorri built the mystery in this book masterfully!!! I was COMPLETELY thrown off about who the real villain was, and that doesn’t happen often!

I was expecting to like this book. I was not expecting how much I would LOVE this book!!!!!!!!! I now need to find the previous books in the series and read ALL OF THEM!!!!!!!!!! (This book is the fourth in the series, but can be read as a standalone). I’m also hoping there will be a few MORE books in the series for me to read!!!

If you love regency era mysteries and clean romance, READ THIS BOOK!!! It was INCREDIBLE, and such a fun, quick read!!!!!!!!!!!

About the author

Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.

More from Lorri

Listed among the Regency underworld of housebreakers, Thames pirates, sneaks (pickpockets), Covent Garden nuns (prostitutes), vagrants, and ruffians are another class of evil-doers called resurrection men, also known as sack-‘em-up men or body snatchers. The dark industry of grave robbing blossomed in the early 1800s and was thrust into the public’s eye by the notorious Burke and Hare murders in 1831. While my story takes place earlier, in 1817, the laws and practices were already in place before Burke and his accomplice were arrested.

In the early 1800s, the academic field of anatomy and physiology started to break new ground with the invention of the stethoscope and the first open heart surgeries (not all successful). Many of these breakthroughs developed as a result of the dissection of human cadavers. Fresh bodies became a hot commodity, but by law, the only bodies legally designated for dissection were those of hung criminals. Demand outweighed the supply, and an underground market for grave robbing grew as academics handsomely paid resurrection men to dig up specimens. The fresher the body, the higher the earnings, which ultimately led to the ugly intent of murder.

Why would a Christian author want to write about a horrific topic like body snatching?

While my story doesn’t go into any gory details (I get woozy at the sight of blood), Rebecca and Daniel’s story allowed me to dive into the concept that we all have intrinsic worth. The victims of Burke and Hare were people society had forgotten—people who were expected to go unnoticed if they disappeared. But those victims were image bearers of God. Jesus proved their value by dying for them on the cross. They are not forgotten because God knit them together in their mother’s womb, knows every hair on their heads, and has carved their names into the palms of His hands.

Rebecca and Daniel’s love story, with mystery, espionage, and romance mixed in, demonstrates how God’s power is made perfect in weakness. While Lady Coburn’s excentric party guests and the victims of the villainous resurrection men exemplify that worth isn’t based on works, popularity, or lineage but on the sacrifice Jesus made for them.

Enjoy!

Click to watch Relinquishing the Agent’s book trailer

Blog stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 22

Pens Pages & Pulses, April 22

Melissa’s Bookshelf, April 23

Betti Mace, April 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 24

She Lives To Read, April 25

lakesidelivingsite, April 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 26

Texas Book-aholic, April 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 28

For Him and My Family, April 28

Devoted To Hope, April 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 30

Book Looks by Lisa, May 1

Holly’s Book Corner, May 2

Cover Lover Book Review, May 3

Bizwings Book Blog, May 4

Pause for Tales, May 4

Stories By Gina, May 5 (Author Interview)

Roads to Everywhere, May 5

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lorri is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

giveaway!

This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of my links, I will receive a percentage of the sale, at no extra cost to you! Essentially, you can buy a book, and support my blog at the same time!!!

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

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Interview with Beyond the Bookery

Beyond the Bookery is a small press Christian publisher that seeks to share stories of hope and light with the world. I had the extraordinary opportunity to interview the founder of Beyond the Bookery.

The interview

Hi, Abigail! Can you introduce yourself for me?

Hi, Courtney! Thank you so much for having me. I am the founder and acquisitions editor of Beyond the Bookey which officially launched in February 2023. As founder, I do a bit of everything and coordinate things for the whole publishing process. I manage the main communications, set up all the important details behind the scenes, and delegate everything. Those are the easy and loose explanations, I could go on, but it would get boring.

Mostly, I just do anything and everything needed for BtB as my publishing team grows.

Why did you start a publishing company?

When I first started enjoying reading myself, I found that I didn’t like many books on the market, really. I mainly stuck to older books, Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, and Charlotte’s Web, and a summer flew by filled with G. A. Henty’s works. I read one of Kellyn Roth’s early editions of her The Dressmaker’s Secret, and I realized that it was possible to indie publish as a young writer. I didn’t really want to run a small press yet. I just knew that I wanted to help new and young writers. It took me a while to find my footing in the writing community and find the right writing style for myself. I entered a few contests with some stories, even a silly little poem, but it wasn’t until 2020 that I really started thinking of doing more.

In 2021, I published my first novella. And I started dreaming of more. Fast forward to October 2022 when I joined M. L. Milligan, a friend and fellow author, in curating a series of anthologies.

Curating a series of anthologies gave me the confidence and the real idea of working on starting my small press.

What was involved in starting Beyond the Bookery? 

God’s grace. Lol, I mean I did do some planning and worked on so many things, learned as much as possible before I began my plans, but it was really all God. Most ideas were brainstormed with M. L. Milligan, Madisyn Carlin, (yourself, Courtney), and others who have been an amazing help in seeing BtB succeed.

There are lots of publishing companies out there. Why should I choose yours?

BtB puts our authors first. As I never thought I would actually fulfill my dream of having a small business, I spent years learning everything I could in relation to publishing a book independently. I have nearly a decade of experience in publishing, marketing, interior formatting, cover and graphic design, web design, and so on in the behind the scenes of publication.

Beyond the Bookery has a tight knit publishing team that is slowly growing as our number of publications grow, however, each author is assigned to the editorial team that will best fit them and their work/s.

We do not charge any fees for publication. Our service providers, team members, and publishing team do not begin to make a profit until the author does.

What’s your favorite project Beyond the Bookery has been involved with?

You’re asking what my favorite project is? That’s like asking a parent which their favorite child is!

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned from the process of building this company?

While there are ups and downs, it’s still always a learning experience. Long before I even started BtB, I took time to learn all I could about things I thought were relevant to the publishing process. So, even though I started pursuing a career solely as an author nearly a decade ago. That changed into learning about the whole publishing process,  and behind the scenes work for publishing… And, one of the most interesting thing to me is how there’s always more to learn about publishing and writing.

As I started pursuing my career as an indie author nearly a decade ago, I had to learn many things about the publishing process all by myself. I learned about graphic and cover design, formatting, marketing, etc.. This has enabled me to understand how the entire publishing process works which has helped me in starting and running BTB and selecting team members etcetera etcetera etcetera. As I help authors publish their books, I love getting to learn more about the publishing process so I can become the best publisher I can be… or whatever drivel you want there.

If I had to pick just one thing that surprised me with how it interests me would be the legal side of publishing. Picking apart every line of legal information and laws I could find to build each and every contract is still quite interesting to me. I never thought it would be something I enjoy, but it turned out to be a fun side to publishing whereas I had dreaded the tasks when I first started.

In addition to running Beyond the Bookery, you’re also an author. How does being an author affect your business decisions at Beyond the Bookery?

Being an author helps me understand how to help authors and know that each author is different. At the same time, all authors mostly need the same things in publishing. You write a story that then needs to be edited, a cover designed, the files formatted, etc. and having worked with others as both an author and a service provider, it’s made it easier to understand author expectations. Having worked with editors and cover designers as an author myself, I understand just how important it is that a book has just the right editor and how happy an author is when the cover they’ve dreamed of is created just so perfectly for their book. 

Working on anthologies (like the now-out-of-publication Seize the World series, A Noble Collection, and the upcoming anthology series A Warrior’s Heart, etc.); Multi author series (the Cornerstone Series, The Carols of Christmas, and some other secret in-the-works MAPs); as well as on my own works (Oh, The Fallen, Roads of Love, Oh, The Lamented), I learned that having the right designers and editors is such a blessing and it made me all the more determined to help other authors find the right designer or editor for their works. That is why BtB has multiple team members for each stage of publishing.

From your experience in the publishing world, what’s the biggest piece of advice you have for aspiring or new authors?

Take every bit of advice with a grain of salt. One thing may work for five people you know while it doesn’t work for you. Other advice may work for you and fifty other people, but not for two other writers. Live and learn what works for you and keep trying your best. 

Trust God to write your story.

I have a book I’m wanting published. What’s the process if I wanted to go through Beyond the Bookery?

Each book is different, but that would begin with me. When an author emails a submission in or submits through one of BtB’s forms, I or  the editorial team would review that work, and if accepted we would begin the process of discussing a contract. 

Once those details are ironed out, the marketing team and author would begin marketing. The author would start working with the cover design team on creating just the right cover for the book and author. Once the cover has been approved, it would be time to move onto editing. Depending on the levels of editing needed, the submission would be shared with our editing team and edited before the deadline to return it to the author. At that time, the author will go over the edits and return the submission.

BtB will begin setting up the pre-order or release date and the submission will move into the marketing side of publishing with an already decided on plan. Then comes more marketing, the book is sent to the street team prior to release, and then onto publication!

After the book is published, BtB will continue marketing and working on helping the author share the book with the world. If it is part of a series, that is also when work begins on the next release.

Is there any reason you wouldn’t be willing to publish my book?

Typically, there are only three reasons BTB would refuse your submission. First, you might be a bit inexperienced as a writer and need a bit more time to hone your craft. Second, we might just have already filled our submission allotment for the time. Lastly, we do not accept books that include content that goes against BTB’s terms and conditions, this includes the use of AI in the creation of the work. 

I don’t have a book ready to be published, but I’m looking for other opportunities to learn about writing and publishing. What opportunities does Beyond the Bookery provide to people like me?

BtB loves working on our themed anthologies and collections with new writers who are just entering their publishing journey for those who do not have a full manuscript ready to submit. We also have coaching for new writers who are looking into if they will be indie publishing or working with a publisher like BtB.

BtB tries to help all authors, not only those who have published or plan to publish with us so that is where our services come in. Looking for coaching on how to do something? Need someone to design a cover, edit, or format your book files? BtB would love to assist with any part of the publishing process!

I’m not a writer, but I love sharing about books I love. Can I be involved at all?

Yes, of course! BtB is always happy to have more people join our publishing team and we  are currently seeking street team members. If you enjoy fairy tale retellings, historical or contemporary romance, and other Christian or clean fiction, we would love to have you join us! You can join The Bibliophiles here.

Where can I find more information about Beyond the Bookery?

You can find us on Instagram and Facebook under @beyondthebookery. And everywhere else through our linktree.

Is there anything else I should know about your company?

BtB always loves hearing about authors’ ideas and we would especially love to hear about your ideas and stories that would be perfect for our submissions, but especially our Bite-Sized Books here.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions!!!!!!!

Is there anything else you’d like to know about BTB? Feel free to leave your questions below, and I’ll see if I can get answers about them for you!related posts