Tell Tale Book Reviews

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 18, 2026

​#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
As a therapist who hears many stories about the world of dating, I wanted to write something incorporating therapy, storytelling, and tradition. We live in a world where anything goes, and I wanted something that acknowledges betrayal and wounds but honors the sacred.

​For all my life, I’ve been in love with the oral and written word.

And I imagine the same for you.

How many people do not enjoy reading or hearing a good tale?

And doesn’t it make sense?

Each of us has a story, our own book of life. How it unfold lays between God and us.

Although every novel involves a story, I decided to highlight a therapeutic storyteller.

Why therapeutic?

Because I’m a therapist and have listened to stories throughout my life. Also, I remember the story of Scheherazade, and with faith and modernity, I wove it into my novel. The protagonist spins tales to… Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out.
​
I hope you become mesmerized by Mesmerize.

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Cover Lover Book Review, May 30
Simple Harvest Reads, May 31 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, June 1 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 1
Guild Master, June 2 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 3
Fiction Book Lover, June 4 (Author Interview)
History, Hope & Happily Ever After, June 5 (Author Interview)
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, June 6 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, June 7
For the Love of Literature, June 8 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 9 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, June 9
Blossoms and Blessings, June 10 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, June 11
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 12 (Author Interview)

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​Is the boy next door her knight in shining armor?

Pride And Prejudice may be my favorite Jane Austen novel but Mr. Knightley is my favorite Jane Austen hero, thus I was pretty excited to discover that the next book in Carolyn Miller's contemporary Silver Teapot Series referred to him in the title. Not Precisely Mr. Knightley is as fun and eye-catching of a title as the first book in the series had and I love it.

One of the things that I really appreciated about Carolyn Miller's second book in her Silver Teapot Series was the authentic Australian feel. You can oftentimes tell when an author has been or lived in a place and when they've just read an article or two on the internet. Not Precisely Mr. Knightley has the flavor and feel of Australia and, as an American reader, I really enjoyed it.

I will confess that, just like the novel this book is loosely based on, I was not the biggest fan of EJ. She came across as intelligent but naive and very shallow. Jordan, however was great! His patience, forgiveness, faith, and honesty are precisely what she needs. Interestingly, despite my limited connection with the heroine, I didn't want to the book down. I was curious to see how EJ would hopefully grow and change with a little help from Jordan as well as the rest of the Bennett clan.

Carolyn Miller has a good series going and I will definitely be here for the next Silver Teapot book. There are, after all, 4 Bennett sisters.... Anyway, Not Precisely Mr. Knightley was a good read, perfect for those who love a sweet contemporary romance with some fun rom-com overtones.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Not Precisely Mr. Knightley by Carolyn Miller a 4 Bark rating.

​Do you know someone who has found love online?

I do. I have numbers of friends and even a family member who have found love and married thanks to dating apps and the like. This newer form of meeting people is something I’ve referenced in several of my books (including Only You Can Love Me), as several of my characters have used an app called Dream Match, a romance matchmaking app for Christian singles around the world. But when I first mentioned Dream Match years ago I didn’t realise at the time that I’d end up writing a story about how the inventor of Dream Match would finally meet her match.

And it seemed perfect to me that Jane Austen’s Emma Woodhouse, known for her matchmaking skills, should be reflected in a modern day context as being the ultimate matchmaker, EJ Bennett, who is responsible for helping hundreds of people find love online. Even if she doesn’t think she needs or wants love for herself.

Playing with Jane Austen’s characters and putting them in a modern setting is a lot of fun. So not only does Emma Woodhouse become EJ Bennett, but George Knightley becomes EJ’s best friend and app co-designer Jordan Knight, the straight shooter she needs. And Frank Churchill, the man Emma starts to fall for, becomes Eric Churchill, son of a TV mogul squillionaire.

The first book in The Silver Teapot series, Not Exactly Mr. Darcy, also played around with some of Austen’s settings, placing the story in a small town in Australia called Wattle Vale. I had fun further developing the Australian connections by setting other key scenes in iconic places like the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach, which naturally meant I had to visit for “research.”
​
So I hope readers enjoy this little taste of Australia, and all the fun references to Jane Austen’s Emma. Be sure to check out my website and follow me on social media for more Jane Austen inspiration and fun, and get ready to enjoy Not Precisely Mr. Knightley, a sweet and swoony best friends-to-more romance that shows the path to true love is never smooth – even for the professional matchmaker.
​
Happy reading!

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Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 28
Book Looks by Lisa, May 28
The Sacred Line, May 29
All-of-a-kind Mom, May 29
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 30
Pause for Tales, May 30
Life on Chickadee Lane, May 31
Stories By Gina, June 1 (Author Interview)
To Everything There Is A Season , June 1
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 2
Texas Book-aholic, June 3
For Him and My Family, June 4
Lyssa Loves Books, June 5
Wishful Endings, June 5
Fruitfully Planted, June 6
Happily Managing a Household of Boys , June 6
Cover Lover Book Review, June 7
Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, June 7
Melissa’s Bookshelf , June 8
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 8
Blossoms and Blessings, June 9
Holly’s Book Corner, June 10

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​Still curious? Read this book and find out how God will meet your curiosity with a stronger faith in Him and a deeper admiration for the service of military members and their families.

Genre: Christian Devotional
Release Date: October, 2025

​1. What was the inspiration behind this book?
First, thank you for allowing me to share my insights on your blog.
The inspiration behind Operations was the sailors and families with whom I had the privilege of serving as an active duty U.S. Navy Chaplain. My career in the Navy lasted over twenty-one years. During that time, I have been the “shepherd” of thousands of military members and their families, many whose devoted service went unrecognized. Operations was my way of telling them, “I SEE YOU!” Even though this book is the fourth volume in a series (“Psalms From the Sea”), it is the only one specifically dedicated to sailors and their families. ​

2. How long did it take to finish writing this book?
Operations took about one year to write, from start to finish. However, I have had the book's title and outline since the summer of 2023.
The best way to describe my writing process is that of an accordion. It’s a bit asymmetric. Being a schoolteacher, my writing time is restricted to early mornings before classes start and weekends during the school year. Summer is my “sweet spot”, when I have the unobligated opportunity to write freely. ​

​3. What new or interesting things did you learn while researching for this book?
So, most of the research for this book was front-loaded through my deployment experience right after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. The book chronicles my ministry aboard ship to fifteen hundred sailors and Marines from September 19, 2001, until April 20, 2002. In short, I lived the experiences (research) that went into writing this book. The one interesting thing I added to the book is that each chapter doesn’t have a number, but a name: I used the phonetic alphabet seafarers use to communicate at sea. For example, the first three chapters of the book are “ALPHA”, “BRAVO”, and “CHARLIE”. 
​​

5. What do you hope your readers will remember after finishing this book?
I hope that readers will have a stronger relationship with God after reading this book and come away with a greater understanding of and appreciation for the devotion and tremendous sacrifice that military members and their families make to guard our freedoms and way of life. ​

​Did you know? The art on the front cover of my book, OPERATIONS, was designed and created by one of my Ninth Grade Art Students. Yes, it’s true. I recognized that this young artist had the technical skill and artistic flair to create the unique cover art required for this book when he was just in the sixth grade!
​
FOR OVER TWENTY-ONE YEARS, I have had the distinct privilege of serving thousands of sailors, Marines, and their families across the nation, upon every major ocean, as well as overseas. I am most proud to have shared a common bond of service, sacrifice, and devotion. OPERATIONS is my patriotic tribute to them.

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Simple Harvest Reads, May 29 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, May 30 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, May 31 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 31
Fiction Book Lover, June 1 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, June 2
The Bookish Ledger, June 3 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, June 4 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, June 5 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 6 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 7
Blossoms and Blessings, June 8 (Author Interview)
Stories By Gina, June 9 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, June 9
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 10 (Author Interview)
Books, Books, & More Books, June 11 (Author Interview)

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​For years, scientists have connected handwriting with improved learning. Designed for a unique, devotional experience, the NKJV New Testament, Tracing Edition provides an opportunity to read and write through the beautiful gospel and promises of the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation. This special edition has lightly printed text allowing you to trace the words of Scripture easily. Wide margins and a clean, single-column typesetting complete the intentional design. Chapter headings are printed regularly for easy navigation, or you can engage more deeply using the included tracing themes and reading plans on love, hope, grace, comfort, peace, eternal life, anxiety, spiritual gifts, community, heaven, Holy Spirit, and faith.

​Features include:
• Lightly printed text in a clean single-column typesetting
• Substantial 60gsm paper ideal for writing
• Topical reading plans included: love, hope, grace, comfort, peace, eternal life,
anxiety, spiritual gifts, community, heaven, Holy Spirit, and faith
• Wide outer margins for notes
• Chapter headings for easy navigation
• NKJV translation: Beautiful. Trustworthy. Today.
• Clear and readable 17-point type

My Review

​Pretty and one of the most unique New Testaments I have seen....
​
I come from a generation that used pencil and paper as well as smartphones and ereaders. As a result, I know that loss of connection when the digital age took over. Since it is one of my preferred translations, I snagged a copy of the NKJV New Testament Tracing Edition to help regain that connection with Scripture. The whole idea of writing what I am reading without the need to switch back and forth between Bible and notebook intrigued me. The layout and construction of the New Testament Tracing Edition makes it so easy to read and write at the same time – there's even a tiny amount of room in the margins if a person wants to jot down some notes. The New Testament itself is very well constructed, indeed. I have the grey one, so it has lovely fabric hard covers with gold accents. I found the open spine a little odd at first, but when I was able to flop the pages open to any place I wanted and the pages lay flat, well, I figured out just why they chose that design option. The interior is pretty high quality as well, with thicker than usual paper and light grey text on the pages. The font used surprised me at how easy it was to follow along. It is large, very readable, and has some nice elements of both print and handwriting to it. To avoid anything lasting happening to the pages, I did choose to use a graphite pencil for my tracing. The paper handled it quite well and using that pencil made me feel better while writing in and on a Bible. The science behind this rather unique New Testament is quite fascinating and, though I am just starting out, I have found myself more in tune with what I am reading as I go along. Anyway, the NKJV New Testament Tracing Edition is a high-quality, well-made book that brings the second half of the Bible to life in a new and different way....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives the NKJV New Testament Tracing Edition a 4.5 Bark rating.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Bibles/HCCP for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

$10 Amazon giftcard AND
​1 copy of the NKJV New Testament, Tracing Edition (Gray version)

Giveaway winners must be US residents who have not
won via another blogger’s giveaway for this campaign.

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#NewTestamentTracingMIN #TraceTheWord #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

​You’d think the apocalypse already happened in Mojave, CA.

Toxic dust could invade your lungs and kill you. Owls burrowed in the ground for lack of trees. Bobcats mated and had their kittens on neighborhood roofs, and every so often, a jet screamed overhead with a thunderclap in its wake.

I arrived in the middle of the night, and when I woke up, I was in a world different from any I had ever known. As a military kid, I had eaten fresh Belgian waffles, stood drenched in Ohio rain, and fallen asleep to Las Vegas lights. But I had never seen a place so unearthly, or so tantalizingly mysterious, as Edwards Air Force Base. I stood at the window and goggled at the scenery for a while. And then I began to make it my own.

One of the first things Edwards AFB taught me was how to write. That was a byproduct of my decision, at a mature eight years old, to become a detective.

My friends and I climbed into a ditch and found a broken arrow, half the feathers ripped away, the point still intact. An assassination attempt, of course. Old golf balls buried in the dirt—secret messages to a dangerous enemy. The allure of jets overhead, of opaque military acronyms, of drab camouflage and deadly temperatures and rumors of drug lords and cowboys and sand sharks wandering the desert, gave wings to our imaginations.

The first story I wrote was a collection of “clues” we’d gathered, an attempt to frame them all into a narrative that explained how the base was going to be attacked and how we—well-prepared with our military IDs and iPods—would save everyone. I started writing in a notebook with a hot pink cover, and a hundred more notebooks kept up the thread. The story wasn’t yet a book. But it was my first attempt at weaving a story greater than anything I had experienced.

Fourteen years have passed. All That Glows is my fifth book. It’s based on everything that came before it—most importantly, on Mojave and Edwards AFB and all the time I spent trying to tease out the desert’s mystery. It captures what I felt when I was there: small, under the broad desert sky and the huge airplanes; large, compared to the tarantulas that scuttled past my boots in the dust; melancholy, when I thought of how far away the rest of the world was; determined and thrilled, as I dove into the adventure I was living and the ones I hadn’t lived yet.

In All That Glows, you’ll poke your finger on cacti needles and get your shoes tangled in grabby creosote. You’ll experience the blazing daytime heat, the tumbleweeds, the bland architecture, and the rest of Edwards AFB’s unusual scenery, all set in fictional towns. You’ll count the desert stars and shiver in the cold twilight wind. You’ll have a mystery of your own to solve, and if you can stick it out to the end, you’ll have befriended a dry-humored, scrappy cast of characters.
Here’s the first line from one of those old notebooks: “When can we go outside, Mom?”

And here’s the first paragraph of All That Glows: “On the night the world ended, raindrops stained our roof tiles green. I was the first to notice when I went outside to dump the dishwater.”

A lot has changed, but the sense of adventure Mojave taught me hasn’t. If anything, since then, the mystery from back then has only heightened. Maybe the golf balls weren’t a secret message, but maybe a new kind of missile was tested while I was there. Maybe the broken arrow was just a kid playing in his backyard, but maybe one of those jets flew faster than sound seven times over.
​
I won’t ever know. I only have my memories. But I can imagine the battles and the sacrifice and the bravery. And so, if you’ll join me for this expedition, I’ll show you what my mind’s eye saw when I looked out across the desert.

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The Lofty Pages, May 26
Simple Harvest Reads, May 27 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, May 28 (Spotlight)
Stories By Gina, May 29 (Spotlight)
Inspired by fiction, May 29
Artistic Nobody, May 30 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 31 (Spotlight)
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 1 (Spotlight)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 1
Guild Master, June 2 (Author Interview)
Books, Books, & More Books, June 3 (Spotlight)
Texas Book-aholic, June 4
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 5 (Spotlight)
Books Less Travelled, June 6 (Spotlight)
Fiction Book Lover, June 7 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, June 8 (Author Interview)

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Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: November 14, 2025

​Sometimes curiosity can get you in trouble....

What would you do if you could influence the people around you with a mere suggestion? If your circumstances could change as a result? In this first Chronicles Of The Ever-Guise novel, a ragtag group of teens finds out...the hard way.

The title, Chaos Woods, intrigued me right from the start. It is simple, short, but promised a very interesting story behind it. And an interesting story is what I got, but, first I will admit that I was a little intimidated by it. It has to be close to, if not, the longest book that I've read. Over 700 pages of story between the front and back covers.

And it is quite a story. I found it to be imaginative and, though it is more character-driven than action, it was at times quite exciting. Scott T. Barnes has populated his fantasy world with an interesting mixture of races – magical and non-magical – in addition to creatures that are as different as they are dangerous. Toss in a magical artifact with unexpected and unintended consequences, a quest for freedom and another for vengeance, and maybe a spirit or two....

Overall, I would say that Chaos Woods was a good story. It's definitely on the long side but I think it will appeal to middle and older YA readers. As an adult, I still found a fair bit of the story to be intriguing. It is the first book in the Chronicles Of The Ever-Guise series so I wonder where Scott T. Barnes will take his characters next....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Chaos Woods by Scott T. Barnes a 3.5 Bark rating.

​One of the things that makes the fantasy genre so powerful, so important even, is that it often deals with existential questions, especially life versus death and good versus evil. Many other genres shy away from such question, or pretend that evil is, in fact, “relative.”

However, sharing the same stakes also means that many fantasy tales may come to resemble one another a little too much.

For Chaos Woods, I wanted to do something a little bit different. Given that the main character winds up with a magical mask, it did not take long to realize that the primary stakes of this story would be truth versus lies. This realization made the writing of the story much easier. Conflict and confrontation came easily through the turning of these two poles. This led IndieReader in a 4.8/5-star review to remark, “Scott T. Barnes delivers a richly imagined, character-driven coming-of-age fantasy that balances cozy adventure with thoughtful themes of morality, addiction, and the consequences of one’s choices.”
​
In addition to unique stakes, there is a lot of me in this tale. I grew up in a gold-mining town, surrounded by fields and live oak stands, and the mountains, forests, and small-town vibe enrich Telyn’s adventures. I hope the reader finds the Chaos Woods a place they want to visit again and again.

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Simple Harvest Reads, May 27 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, May 28 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, May 29 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 29
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 30
Fiction Book Lover, May 31 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, June 1 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, June 1
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 2 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, June 3
Books, Books, & More Books, June 4 (Author Interview)
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 5 (Author Interview)
Books Less Travelled, June 6 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, June 7
History, Hope & Happily Ever After, June 8 (Author Interview)
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, June 9 (Author Interview)

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Genre: Biblical Fiction
Release Date: May 12, 2026

​​#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
​This book was inspired by the scene in Acts when Peter is delivering a sermon to the crowd after the tongues of fire appeared over the disciples’ heads. I had been reading through that section of scripture when I began wondering what it might have been like for the people in the crowd. Usually, when I read through that passage, my focus had been on the disciples, not the crowd. The more I thought about it, how the people were from different areas, the more inspired I became.
​

​#2. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
I have always enjoyed Biblical Fiction for the simple fact that it brings some of the best parts of Scripture to life. In ways unique to the genre, it takes the imagination and keeps it within the boundaries of inspired text, drawing out spiritual nuances that one might not linger on when reading through the Bible. It also adds historical details that emphasize the cultural differences we might not pick up on unless studying the Bible in depth. I like thinking of the people as three-dimensional, with emotions and feelings we can relate to while also remaining within the sacred boundaries of God’s Word.

#3. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
One of the takeaways I hope readers have after journeying with Joram in Blaze of Honor is that God’s grace is so all-encompassing that He can weave our mistakes into His overall plan for our future. Honoring Him is as much about trust as it is about duty. There is a delicate balance between both religious obligations and walking in the Spirit.   

#4. How did you name your characters?
It was fun naming Joram because I did something a little different with his character. I posted a profile about him on Facebook’s Biblical Fiction Aficionados page (a great community for those who enjoy the genre). I got some interesting feedback on the name choices I originally selected. I found out one of them was a main character in Game of Thrones, so I went back to the drawing board and tried again. Joram came out the winner by a landslide.   

​#5. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, friends.
I have been writing all my life, but publishing for a decade. I am a wife of many years and a mother of three adult kids. My two grandchildren are in the toddler stages, which is so much fun. Currently, I have no pets. Though I miss my beloved beagle, who was a big part of our lives for fourteen years. (I really need to put more dogs into my stories)

​My inspiration for writing Blaze of Honor came from a simple lyric in a song. “Be careful, little eyes, what you see.” I had the idea of writing the Spirit Ignited Series rattling around in my head for five years. During my regular Bible reading plan, inspiration sucked me into the scene in Acts 2 when Peter preaches to a crowd on the day of Pentecost. I found myself wondering about the people described as coming from all over the empire. I wondered what had brought them there, and what they had heard. How could I not be fascinated when the church grew exponentially that day? So, the idea for Spirit Ignited grew. I wanted to write four novels about four men who had been in the crowd that day.

As excited as I was to begin writing those stories, other books crept into the queue before I fully developed the characters for Spirit Ignited. I was excited when the first ideas came back to me after five long years of waiting for these men to speak up and inspire me. What was even more challenging was that the stories were begging to be written in first-person from a single perspective. That was a daunting task since I had only written dual-perspective stories up until that point. And, truth be told, first-person isn’t my favorite.

But I obliged and found myself completely captivated by these men. Surprisingly enough, I did not write Blaze of Honor first. Though it is the first to be released in the series, it was the third book I wrote in the Spirit Ignited series.

After hearing the song lyric, I started to wonder about how parents, most specifically troubled marriages, affected children. Joram, a shy character, finally found his voice in my head, and together, we explored a life of unintended scars and how they shape a boy as he becomes a man.

The story’s themes of redemption, forgiveness, and grace underscore the main takeaway: honoring God through loving others. I yearn for readers to grasp this central truth, to feel the depth in the main character’s plight. The narrative delves into the heart of devotion, exploring how easily the concept of honoring God can become contorted in the labyrinth of the mind. After completing the first draft, the realization that this story, with its raw vulnerability, could only be told in the intimate voice of the first person hit me.
​
I truly hope readers will get as much out of it as I did when I wrote it. Stories that transform as well as entertain are my favorite kind of stories.

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Simple Harvest Reads, May 19 (Author Interview)
Lots of Helpers, May 20
Artistic Nobody, May 21 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, May 22 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 23
Fiction Book Lover, May 24 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, May 25 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 25
Vicky Sluiter, May 26 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 27
For the Love of Literature, May 28 (Author Interview)
Leslie’s Library Escape, May 29
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 30 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, May 31 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 31
Stories By Gina, June 1 (Author Interview)

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​I wrote Hadley the Hippo is What She Eats to provide a fun story to engage small learners. Through the hippo’s journey through the jungle where her color changes based on what she eats, pre-K and primary students can learn about both fruits and colors. But, what’s more, the back of the book contains a note to parents/teachers with activities to discuss the importance of consumption—what we listen to on the radio, watch on TV and online, and read impacts our minds and hearts. Approaching this lesson in an age-appropriate way is important for providing a foundational framework for discernment later in life.

As a former elementary school librarian and classroom teacher turned full-time mother, I know firsthand how play and learning go hand in hand. This principle applies to foundational skills for understanding biblical teachings, character development, math, literacy, and, well, a lot of things! Playing games with your learners can help reinforce that learning is fun–not only is there a game involved, but your learner will get to spend time with YOU!
​
As a part of the book tour, I’m so excited to share 3 learning games with you! These games are designed with minimal materials but maximum fun. PLUS, they can be modified for various age groups. Find these 3 learning games to play with littles at home here in this online slideshow:

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​Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 19
Simple Harvest Reads, May 20 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, May 21 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, May 21
Guild Master, May 22 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 23
Fiction Book Lover, May 24 (Author Interview)
History, Hope & Happily Ever After, May 25 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, May 26 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, May 27
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 28 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 29 (Author Interview)
Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, May 29
Blossoms and Blessings, May 30 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, May 31
Artistic Nobody, June 1

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​Perfect for fans of discovery, mystery, faith-based adventure, and clean action storytelling, Frogman Puck Origins: The Rising Tides is the beginning of an illustrated hero’s journey where imagination meets purpose—and the depths hold more than secrets.

Genre: Christian Sci-Fi / Action & Adventure (Teen & Young Adult)
Release Date: September, 2025

​8. What one piece of advice would you like to give readers?
Dive in.
These books are designed to be more than entertainment. They are an experience, faith-based, action-packed, cinematic, and layered with Biblical truth. Explore the story, notice the details, reflect on the lessons, and enjoy the adventure.
Both well-read and reluctant readers will find something new with each reading. Like a SCUBA dive or artifact hunt, the more you look beneath the surface, the more treasures you will discover.

​When I set out to write Frogman Puck Origins, I wanted to bring something genuinely new to readers, both those who read constantly and those who sometimes struggle to stay engaged. I envisioned an all-new, fully illustrated novel featuring clean, epic superheroes, told in a way that feels fresh, immersive, and meaningful.

Most superhero stories begin with accidents, mistakes, or powers gained by touching a mysterious artifact. In the world of Frogman Puck, the heroes’ origins are different. Their abilities are forged through purpose, hard work, teamwork, faith, and ingenious design. The story begins with the roots of child-like memories and grows into something much larger, showing how character is built long before power is ever used.

At its heart, Frogman Puck Origins is designed to do two things at once. It invites older readers back to the wonder, curiosity, and imagination of their youth, while encouraging younger readers to dream big, work hard, and plant good seeds that will grow into strong character. It is a story about becoming, not just becoming powerful, but becoming grounded, courageous, and faithful.

The series taps into riddles, adventure, super abilities, and deep friendships, all presented in a format unlike anything else currently on the market. Readers can expect wall-crawling, SCUBA diving, flying, underwater tunnels, octopods, secret labs, personally designed base headquarters, and fierce battles between darkness and light. Every element is layered to reward curiosity and keep pages turning.

Frogman Puck Origins is only the beginning. As the series continues, the world expands, the stakes rise, and the heroes are tested in ways that challenge not only their strength but their values and faith. It is a story built to entertain, inspire, and stay with readers long after the final page.

The Frogman Puck Series is a cinematic, faith-based adventure that grows in depth and intensity with each installment. Origins begins as a dream-driven journey into underwater exploration, where curiosity, mentorship, and imagination awaken a young hero’s calling. Resurgent accelerates into a full-scale action narrative, introducing advanced symbiotic technology, global stakes, and a coordinated enemy operating in the shadows. Reckoning brings the story to its most complex and consequential phase, revealing hidden systems beneath the surface of the world itself and challenging the heroes to confront truth, deception, and sacrifice on a global scale. Across all three books, the series blends illustrated storytelling, clean action, and biblical themes to explore stewardship, courage, faith, and what it means to answer a call—one step, one mission, and one choice at a time.
​
God Bless, Joel Chanaca

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A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 15 (Author Interview)
Books Less Travelled, May 16 (Author Interview)
History, Hope & Happily Ever After, May 17 (Author Interview)
Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, May 18 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, May 19
Simple Harvest Reads, May 20 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, May 21 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, May 22 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 22
Fiction Book Lover, May 23 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 24
The Bookish Ledger, May 25 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, May 26 (Author Interview)
For the Love of Literature, May 27 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, May 27
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 28 (Author Interview)

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​LESSON TWO: Become headmistress and expect to find yourself
​partnering with an attractive inventor to search for treasure.

A missing girl & a menagerie. What can go wrong?

More rollicking good fun from one of my absolute favorite authors! And what fun In Pursuit Of Civility was! Pretty much everything got put aside and I finished the second Merriweather Academy For Young Ladies novel in a single day. I just couldn't put it down! With shenanigans that include a pint-sized thief, a mermaid, a runaway, and an unfortunate incident with an invention gone awry. Well, who could put it down? Especially when those adventures have such fascinating settings as a county fair, a train, and the high seas. Jen Turano had just a little bit of everything in this story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I've read all, as far as I know, of Jen Turano's full-length novels and I have relished every single one of them. Her trademark blend of historical romance, romantic comedy, and suspense always make me laugh out loud and eagerly turn those pages. In Pursuit Of Civility did all of that and managed to surprise me a time or two as well.

Her animal characters are always favorites of mine and I look forward each time I pick up one of her books to discovering these four-legged and winged friends. In this second Merriweather Academy For Young Ladies book, I was pleased to find three furry friends make their appearance once again. Annaliese's attack ferrets are so delightfully vicious that they make me chuckle aloud pretty much every time they pop up on the page.

In Pursuit Of Civility was everything that I expected and hoped it would be. It was funny, poignant a time or two, and was just the entertaining break that I needed. Jen Turano has a real winner with her Merriweather Academy For Young Ladies series, and, I for one, can't wait for book three....​

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives In Pursuit Of Civility by Jen Turano a 4.5 Bark rating.

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​As a hurricane bears down on the Holbrook’s house, the storm raging within the walls threatens to rip apart the fragile stitches holding their family together. When Beth’s solid foundation crumbles, will her family survive intact? Or is her contrition too little, too late?

Genre: Christian Women’s Fiction
Release Date: April 28, 2026

​Crafting a novel from authentic life experiences is a challenging task, but it’s one I sensed God’s call to undertake. If the Lord can encourage those facing heartbreaking situations through my struggles as the mother of a prodigal twenty years ago, I’m all in.

Growing up, I tried my hardest to please my parents and teachers, but I always felt I didn’t measure up. As a Type A person, I’m sure that mindset was my doing, not theirs.

Fast forward to my season as a young mom, and my insecurities ramped up even more. When I became a Christian in my late twenties, I already had three small children and longed to be the world’s best mother and do everything right. I saw my kids’ mistakes as an indictment of my parenting abilities, leading me to believe myself a failure and to try harder to succeed.

With that attitude, you can imagine how I reacted when our teenage daughter ran away from home and returned pregnant—especially since my husband is the pastor of our church. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.

The emotional upheaval I endured while watching our child make one poor decision after another revealed my many shortcomings. Among the important lessons God taught me was what a shallow person I’d been and how much I wanted others’ respect and for them to find me acceptable—no, exceptional. Sadly, I was at a place in life where other people’s opinions seemed to carry more weight than my children’s feelings, but I was blind to my faults.

As I walked through the deep valley with a prodigal, God, in His great mercy, opened my eyes and showed me the truth about myself.

My journey of healing and restoration with our daughter was the catalyst for my debut novel, Stronger than the Storm. I pray that the challenging themes I address will uplift those going through extreme difficulty and that the embedded truths inspire hope in Jesus.

In my book, the Holbrook’s crisis begins as ours did, with a teen runaway getting pregnant by a guy she barely knew. I incorporated some factual events from our lives and drew many of the characters’ raw emotions from personal history. Although I gave Beth Holbrook, the mother in the story, a few of my personality traits, including the passion to be a supermom and failing miserably, the bulk of this family’s journey is fictional.

My experience as an adult daughter inspired the revelation of a long-kept secret in the latter part of the book. To avoid spoilers, I’ll simply state that nothing prepares anyone for such devastating news.

Yet, amid turmoil and unexpected adversity, God is still on the throne and has a perfect plan for our good and His glory. When we surrender everything to Him, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus through life’s storms, we can gain true peace and cling to the truth that God is stronger than anything we face.

In Stronger than the Storm, the Holbrook family must come to this understanding as well. As you read the book, I trust that this family’s journey, and mine, will provide you with encouragement and hope.

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Simple Harvest Reads, May 7 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, May 8 (Author Interview)
Fruitfully Planted, May 8
Guild Master, May 9 (Author Interview)
Inspired by Fiction, May 10
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 11
Fiction Book Lover, May 12 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 13 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, May 14 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 15
Stories By Gina, May 16 (Author Interview)
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 17 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys , May 17
Books, Books, & More Books, May 18 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, May 19
Blogging With Carol, May 20

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​When crime fiction novelist Kelly Landon agrees to write a memoir for an eccentric, elderly gentleman, her quiet life turns upside-down.

Unbeknownst to her, the memoir is peppered with clues leading to a rare collection of stolen jewels from World War II. After the memoir makes the best-seller list, Kelly finds herself in the crosshairs of a decades-old vendetta.

Now, instead of enjoying her rise to literary fame, she’s thrust into the dangerous world of treasure hunting.

​While Kelly struggles to win the game of cat-and-mouse, a secret family legacy is unearthed, forcing her to choose between trusting her charming literary agent or her vigilant bodyguard to keep her safe.
​
As the three of them become entangled in a web of deceit, it’s a race to see who’s the villain, who’s the hero, and who holds all the pieces to solve the mystery of the best seller.

Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mystery
Release Date: August 6, 2024

#1. I love a good who-dun-it. So, when I set to write about treasure hunting I know I didn’t want it to just be a journey, but a mystery my readers would enjoy unraveling.

Then finishes the with​

​These words are a reminder to lift my head and seek the Lord in all circumstances, and that He alone has the power to guide me and keep me safe.

​There is a certain in-between place where creatives tend to linger — a space where reality meets imagination and stories quietly begin. It’s where we observe the world as it is, then wonder how it might unfold just a little differently. That space is where my writing lives, and it’s where Best Seller was born.

Before novels, though, there was coffee. My very first “real” job as a teen was working as a barista, and I loved it. I wasn’t just making drinks — I was mixing flavors and letting my imagination wander between orders. There’s something comforting about coffee, something that invites reflection and creativity. Looking back, it makes perfect sense that it found its way into my stories.

In Best Seller, my main character Kelly Landon is a crime fiction writer with a carefully guarded heart. She’s shy, introverted, and far more comfortable with quiet moments than crowded rooms. Her love of seasonal coffee blends mirrors her inner world — thoughtful, layered, and hopeful beneath the surface. But Kelly’s heart is fragile, and without being anchored in God’s love and truth, it can be easily swayed by the promise of earthly acceptance.

Enter Declan — her outgoing literary agent with unassuming Irish charm and a way with words. Can you blame Kelly for daydreaming? For wondering if love might be possible after all?
​
To celebrate Best Seller, I created the Writer Girl Latte, inspired by my barista days and Kelly’s story. Cozy, creative, sweet, and just a little indulgent — because sometimes the best stories begin with a warm cup and a willing heart.

​So, pour yourself something warm, settle in, and step into the mystery of Best Seller — it’s only the beginning.

And remember, Love is a Mystery!
​
­-Christina

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Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 29
Stories By Gina, April 30 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, May 1 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, May 1
Pause for Tales, May 2
Artistic Nobody, May 3 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 4
Guild Master, May 5 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 6
Fiction Book Lover, May 7 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, May 8
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 9 (Author Interview)
Lily’s Corner, May 10
Blossoms and Blessings, May 11 (Author Interview)
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 12 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, May 12

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​#5. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, whatever is on your mind/heart.
After teaching for almost a decade, I was led to go back to being a stay-at-home mom, but feel like I am in a season of waiting for what comes next. This has made this verse important to me right now: 

​Easter is my favorite holiday because it celebrates the hope, restoration, and new life that Christians have in Jesus. It remembers Jesus’s death as the sacrifice that saved us, but also the power of the resurrection which gives us the hope of eternal life with Him. I can’t think of a better message to share with others.

When I began to write the Holliday Hotel series, I wanted to show how God is visible in all of the celebrations that we observe, and Resurrection Rest holds a special place as a celebration of God’s salvation for all people.

In today’s world, it can feel like God doesn’t still work miracles as medical treatments and professionals can get the credit for healing, but I have had the pleasure of witnessing several times where the doctors said one thing, but God intervened. A beloved grandmother figure who was so badly ill with sepsis that the doctors said that the family needed to say their good-byes only to have her not only survive, but thrive. A family friend who was hit by a drunk driver who should not have survived the night, or come out of the coma, or be able to move and speak, but defied the odds. My mother who was in a car accident that broke her neck and should have left her paralyzed, but didn’t. God is still active and working. His power has not diminished!
​
Resurrection Rest shows that God’s power is still at work in the world today and that His salvation is for everyone. I hope that you enjoy this Easter story of hope and love, and then come back to visit Holliday Hotel to celebrate other holidays through the year!

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Stories By Gina, April 24 (Author Interview)
Simple Harvest Reads, April 25 (Author Interview)
Artistic Nobody, April 26 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 27
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 28
Fiction Book Lover, April 29 (Author Interview)
The Bookish Ledger, April 30 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 1 (Author Interview)
Pause for Tales, May 1
Texas Book-aholic, May 2
Blossoms and Blessings, May 3 (Author Interview)
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 4 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, May 4
Books, Books, & More Books, May 5 (Author Interview)
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 6 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, May 7

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Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

​"Jessica R. Patch weaves a dark, twisty tapestry that’s both unsettling and unexpectedly hopeful. Masterful." –New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan
​
She bought this house to save her marriage. Unearthing its secrets might just claim her life.

Gwen McDaniel’s life is broken. But she knows the perfect place to fix it. Cold Harbor, Maine, an idyllic small town with views of Acadia National Park, is where she used to vacation with her parents as a child. Here, she and Steven can start over, renovating their cliff-side fixer-upper while patching up their marriage. Soon, everything will be better.

Except from the moment they arrive, Gwen sees and hears things, and it’s more than just the drafts and shadows that are part of any old house. Steven downplays her fears, warning her not to fixate on problems as she has in the past. But Gwen spent years as a homicide detective, and her instincts don’t lie. Something happened here. Proof comes when she rips up the attic’s carpet to discover a chilling message carved into the wood underneath.
​
As Gwen delves into the history of the house and the Cold Harbor community, she begins to piece the fragments together. And gradually, a terrifying picture emerges: A missing girl. A house of horrors. And a dark, decades-old nightmare that is more haunting than Gwen ever imagined…

PURCHASE LINKS:
​Goodreads | Harlequin.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

My Review

​Will the keys to the house unlock evil or hope....

Over the years I've read quite a few of Jessica R. Patch's novels, but, I've become quite partial to her more recent thrillers. They are edgy, psychological, eerie, and will keep you up at night. The Girl Upstairs was no exception....

Like The Other Sister, The Girl Upstairs keeps you on glued to the page and unable to function as a normal human being. There are no ifs, ands, or buts, you simply HAVE to know what happens next! And there are serious twists and turns in this story. I will admit that I did guess one of the major plot threads very early on, but, oh, that did not change the emotional upheaval one iota when it was finally revealed.

Jessica R. Patch has really gotten to stretch her wings with her longer books, in particular these psychological thrillers. They are dark and gritty but are still clean reads with an indirect faith element. I'm a big fan of getting to read the genre – with all of its chills and thrills – without the unwanted content often found in secular fiction. On the reverse side, I also appreciate getting to delve much deeper in the main character's thoughts and emotions minus extended sermons. That balance can be difficult but it is definitely struck in The Girl Upstairs.

Jessica R. Patch has a winner with this chillingly thought provoking book and I can't wait to read more....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch a 4.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

 (2) winners will each receive a signed copy of The Other Sister
​and a $10 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 27, 2026 and will last through 11:59
PM EST on May 4, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours
to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for the print copy. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

​Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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

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Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: April 7, 2026

​Their lives are about to take an unexpected turn....

I fell in love with Chawna Schroeder's fiction when I read her book The Vault Between Spaces. That book is standalone so I was pretty excited to find out that she was writing a series, The Sceptre & The Stylus. Perplexity is book two in the series and it takes up right after book one, Illuminary ended.

I will admit that, for me at least, Perplexity got off to a bit of a slow start. However, then things started really happening, and wow, did they happen! Assassins, betrayal, winter storms, jealousy, secrets, a hunt for the truth, spies... See what I mean? And that doesn't even address all of the amazingly cool Steampunk gadgets from airships to submersibles, automatons to children's toys, and everything in between. Chawna Schroeder's blend of fantasy and Steampunk is so much fun in this second The Sceptre & The Illuminary novel – just as it was in book one.

Another thing that I found fascinating was that it's not often that a YA book will take on the difficult subject of grief beyond a surface level. Through her characters Chawna Schroeder explores this topic in a way that is comprehensible and tugs at the heart of adult and YA readers alike. That being said, Perplexity is still very much an enjoyable and entertaining read.

My one and only complaint is that cliffhanger at the end of this book! How could the author do this to me? Those revelations and unanswered questions will eat at me until the eventual release of the next The Sceptre & The Illuminary book. Until then....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Perplexity by Chawna Schroeder a 4 Bark rating.

​“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” We’ve all heard it. We’ve all said it.

We’ve all done it.
​
We try not to, but the reality is that a book’s cover does influence us. Things pleasing to the eye attract us. Our interest is piqued by the mysterious. Color palettes and designs offer clues about the type of story within. Whether we’re buying online, browsing a bookstore, or selecting our next read from our shelves, the cover often sways our decision.

Thus, covers are designed to draw the interest of those who would most enjoy the story, and Perplexity is no different. So, is this novel for you? Perhaps taking a closer look at cover’s design will answer the question.

The first thing you might notice about Perplexity’s cover is it colors, especially if you’re familiar with Illuminary, which is book one in this series. Whereas Illuminary was bold and vibrant to reflect its India-inspired culture, Perplexity obviously has a much cooler and muted color palette. This reflects the wintry season of this story, both physically and emotionally. The snowflake motif emphasizes this.

This should tell you immediately that if you’re wishing for an upbeat comedy, this isn’t it. You probably need to find a much different cover (and book) than this one. But if you’re looking for a thoughtful read, dealing with slightly heavier topics, Perplexity might be worth a second look.

Now alongside the snowflakes, you might notice a bunch of gears. Those reveal inventions and technology are important to the setting of Perplexity. Gears are also a popular cover motif for books in the steampunk genre. Their subtle use in the design therefore implies a light steampunk element—a world with a Victorian vibe and steam-powered technology.

So are you not a fan of the Victorian era? Do you prefer to read about the real, contemporary world? Perplexity probably shouldn’t be your next read. But if you’re a fan of Jules Verne or fiction that mixes the fantastical with the historical, Perplexity might be your cup of tea.

The third major element of the cover are the odd objects tucked throughout the art work, like a hidden-object picture: An automobile, a pocket watch, a beaded bracelet, an envelope, a carousel horse, a crow, a key. Seven items, which seem completely random and unrelated. Yet they were carefully selected for the cover from a myriad of objects. What does it all mean? Ah, that is the hint of the puzzles the characters must unravel and the mysteries they must solve.

Not a puzzle fan? Hate trying to solve riddles? Then it’s time for you to search elsewhere for a book. But if you love escape rooms, National Treasure, and Amazing Race, your brain might just love unlocking all Perplexity has to offer.

So there. We’ve cracked the code of Perplexity’s cover, a code that tells us of a thoughtful story with a light Victorian/steampunk vibe and puzzles galore. Now it’s time for you decide: Does that sound like a story worth cracking into?

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Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 21
For the Love of Literature, April 22 (Spotlight)
Book Looks by Lisa, April 22
The Bookish Ledger, April 23 (Spotlight)
Simple Harvest Reads, April 24 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 25 (Spotlight)
Artistic Nobody, April 26 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, April 27 (Spotlight)
Guild Master, April 28 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, April 29
Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 30
Fiction Book Lover, May 1 (Author Interview)
Wishful Endings, May 1
Stories By Gina, May 2 (Spotlight)
Vicky Sluiter, May 3 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, May 4

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