Christmas Duet Tour

Rebekah Morris and Faith Blum have teamed up for a fun Christmas Duet Blog Tour! Why Christmas Duet? Because both books have titles that have to do with a Christmas song! Be sure to check out all of the blog posts as well as the giveaway.

His Law is Love

Book Description:

Will hate and fear drown the song of Christmas love?

Amelia is eagerly anticipating her first Christmas in the west, but she soon finds that her brother-in-law's worry and her sister's exhaustion reach far deeper than the cares of a ranch and a family. A rash of fires and cattle thefts is plaguing the area, and the three young orphans they've sheltered are under suspicion from their prejudiced neighbors.

As hostilities mount, Amelia seizes every opportunity to help and encourage, but how much can one girl do? Will Reverend Brown win the community over to the true spirit of love? And will help arrive before everything they hold dear is destroyed?

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZ8HGSR

Author Bio:

Rebekah A. Morris is a homeschool graduate, an enthusiastic freelance author and a passionate writing teacher. Her books include, among others, Home Fires of the Great War, The Unexpected Request, Gift from the Storm, the Christmas Collection series, and her best selling Triple Creek Ranch series. Some of her favorite pastimes, when she isn’t writing, include reading, playing with her seven nieces and nephews, and coming up with dramatic and original things to do. (Sometimes with the nieces and nephews!) The Show-Me state is where she calls home.

Excerpt

“I like him,” Phoebe remarked suddenly after they had left the town behind them. “I wish I could marry him.”

Amelia, who had been confident of who her niece was talking about, turned a puzzled look at Phoebe. “Who, Sissy?”

“Reverend Brown. I like him. He’s not like the other men. But I can’t marry him.”

Hiding a smile, Amelia, glad to have something to distract her thoughts from the trouble, asked, “Why can’t you marry him?”

“‘Cause Mrs. Findley said girls shouldn’t marry men who are a great deal older then them. It was bad for . . . for . . . well, it was bad for something.”

“I see, but I think you should talk about those things with your mama, not Mrs. Findley.”

“Oh, I didn’t. Mrs. Findley was the one talking,” the little girl explained quickly. “But Aunt Amelia, why hasn’t Reverend Brown caught up with us yet?

After a glance behind them at the empty road, Amelia shook her head. “I don’t know. Perhaps he was delayed. There could be any number of reasons for a minister to be delayed. Now, what shapes are we going to cut these cookies in?”   

O Come All Ye Faithful and other short stories

About the Book

O Come All Ye Faithful Edwin wanted to be home, but instead he crouched in a trench. The English on one side of No Man’s Land and Germans on the other. What a way to spend Christmas. Could anything make it better?

Peace on Earth Emmie and Elana are estranged sisters, torn apart by an old boyfriend five years earlier. Will they survive a night in the same hotel room after a blizzard forces them together or will peace on earth go out the window?

Silent Night Christmas decorating had never gone this wrong. Jenna had just started when a crazy, gun-waving woman, walks right in the front door and ties her up in her own Christmas lights. Will Jenna even see her family this Christmas? T

he Gift Goes On Four friends and a year to reflect on. The year had been good for Carlotta, but Priscilla, Remus, and Newton all had at least one trial through the year. A mysterious giver the previous year had helped them all out, though. What would this year’s gifts bring?

O Christmas Tree Gareth loves Christmas. But more than that, he loves Christmas tree hunting. As the family prepares for their annual trip, Gareth can barely contain his excitement. But what are all the spray bottles for?

Purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JR7FSDT

About the Author

Faith Blum is a small-town Wisconsin girl. She’s lived in, or outside of, small towns her whole life. The thought of living in a city with more than 60,000 people in it scares her, especially after some interesting adventures driving through big cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Faith currently resides in the middle of the state of Wisconsin with her husband and their cat, Smokey. She is blessed to be able to have writing as her full-time career with household work and cooking to do on the side. She loves to paint walls as long as she doesn’t have to do hallways or ceilings.

When not writing, you can find her cooking food from scratch due to food allergies (fun), doing dishes (meh), knitting, crocheting, sewing, reading, or spending time with her husband (yay!). She is also a Community Assistant for the Young Writers Workshop and loves her work there. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her on her website.

Excerpt

Edwin blinked against the dim light of the dawn. What had awakened him this time? A dull boom in the distance startled him. Distant or not, that boom was much too close for comfort. Who had fired their artillery and where? It was far enough away to not be a danger to him or his men, but if it was the Germans, that meant another company was getting artillery shells lobbed at them.

Not for the first time, Edwin wished he lived back during the days of King Arthur. Boulders catapulting toward him would be preferable to the devastation from a shell. He had always imagined boulders would be easier to see and move away from. If he couldn’t, then being crushed had to be better than shrapnel. He shuddered as memories of the army hospital tents came back.

The captain shouted orders to them and Edwin bit back a groan. Another day, another fight, another depressing… Wait, it was Christmas Eve. Not that it mattered, but being gloomy on this holiday was not something his sister would approve of. A smile flitted across his grim face. It didn’t stick, but that tiny seed of hope lifted his spirits just a little.

Giveaway

Just like Rebekah and Faith teamed up for this tour, they have also teamed up on the giveaway! Grand Prize: Paperback of each (US only) 1st Prize: eBook of each (International and US) 2nd Prize: eBook of choice (International and US) Enter here: https://kingsumo.com/g/ocz29j/the-christmas-duet-giveaway

Tour Schedule

November 26

Bookish Orchestrations – Introductory Post

Cover Lover Book Review – Book Spotlights

November 27

Read Another Page – Book Spotlight

Kaylee's Kind Of Writes – Two Book Reviews

Jaye L. Knight – Excerpts

November 28

Lit Aflame – Book Review and Excerpt

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Book Review of His Law is Love

Jenny Berlin – Excerpts

November 29

Frances Hoelsema's Blog – Two Book Spotlights

Rebekah Ashleigh – Review of His Law is Love and Book Spotlights

Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors – Book Review and Spotlight

Salsa And Tea – Author Interviews

November 30

Purely by Faith Reviews – Two Book Reviews

Once Upon An Ordinary – Author Interview and Book Spotlights

In the Bookcase - Excerpts

December 1

Books, Life, and Christ – Two Book Reviews

Maidens for Modesty – Two Book Reviews

Chosen Vessels – Two Book Reviews

Harvest Lane Cottage – Two Book Reviews

Jessica Greyson – Book Spotlights

Twin Thoughts – Book Spotlights

Heart of the Rose – Two Book Reviews

Read Another Page – Book Spotlight and Review

December 3

Bookish Orchestrations – Giveaway winner

May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor

The craziest day of the year has arrived! Heading into town on Black Friday can definitely feel like entering The Hunger Games. But, if you prefer to avoid the madness and shop from the comfort (and safety!) of your home, then you’re in just the right place to enjoy these holiday sales! Today is also the last day to signup to be part of the Ilyon & Acktar blog tour!

Ilyon & Acktar Blog Tour and Reviewer Signup

The release date for Bitter Winter and Lacy is only a month away! *commence author panicking* With December coming fast, Tricia and I are opening the sign up form for the Ilyon & Acktar blog tour. Signup will be open through Friday, November 23. Just use the form below to take part in this epic co-release. If you don’t have a blog or don’t want to be part of the tour, you can still sign up to review one, two, or all three books!

And don’t forget to submit your questions for our character Q&A chats!

Things are happening!

I was trying to think of an epic title for this blog post and that’s basically all I came up with. Because, really, that’s the big thing. I feel like so much has NOT been happening in the writing side of my life for a while. Finally that’s changing. But I won’t keep you in suspense. Here’s what’s happening:

Aaahhh! Bitter Winter FINALLY has a release date! Lacy too. They are both coming out on December 14th! You probably feel like it has taken forever to get to this point. Trust me. So. Do. I. Absolutely forever. But it’s finally happening. Both Kindle books are up for pre-order! Sadly, Amazon STILL doesn’t allow its authors to set pre-orders for paperbacks. *sigh* So that will have to wait until the release day.

Pre-Order Bitter Winter

Pre-Order Lacy

Since many of you are also fans of Tricia Mingerink, you know that her 5th book in The Blades of Acktar series is coming out on December 18th, only 4 days after BW and Lacy. So we’re joining forces to bring you an epic co-release! As part of the blog tour, we’re going to do Q&A chats with both Ilyon and Acktar characters. TOGETHER. That’s right, our characters will be in the same “room” with each other. This means we need questions from you, our awesome, loyal fans!

Just follow the link below to visit the form Tricia created and submit all those burning questions. We’ll have more info and a sign up form for the tour itself sometime in the next few weeks. So make sure you check back if you want to be part of the blog tour!

Ilyon & Acktar Character Questions Form

Stars and Soul Cover Reveal

Today I have a another cover reveal for you! Stars and Soul is a collection of stories by the lovely Rosalie Valentine. I got to meet Rosalie this summer while staying at her house and riding with her on the way down to Realm Makers. I’m so excited to help her share her beautiful cover!

About the Book

A scheming imperial family. A bedraggled starship captain. A runaway artificial intelligence. A dying general.

Four small stories of stars and soul.

Releasing November 20, 2018

Pre-Order Now!

Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage Blog Tour

Today I’m sharing a spotlight post for the release of my friend Morgan Huneke’s  new children’s book! Isn’t it adorable? You can check out the rest of the tour here.

About the Book

Martha Squirrel made her journey down the big hill seem like a grand adventure. But what happens when Carrie Mouse disobeys her mama and explores the giant garage?

Inspired by a true story, Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage tells the story of a young mouse who gets trapped in the garage of the human house at the bottom of the hill. Beautifully illustrated with clay sculptures, this is a book you won’t want to miss!

Buy Now

A Note from the Author

This book has been about fifteen years in the making.

When I was about seven years old, a mouse got trapped in my family’s garage. Yes, this is based on a true story. My mom and sisters and I came around the corner of the house and frightened a mouse into the garage. It lived in there for days, in spite of the fact we put mouse poison out for it. Eventually, we had to take care of the problem. My dad tried to frighten it out with the leaf blower, but when it only ran to a different corner of the garage, he scooped it up in a piece of an old gutter and carried it to the top of the hill in our backyard where he left it. And I, budding young author that I was, wrote a book about the incident.

I told the story from the mouse’s perspective and it became a story of the consequences of disobedience. We seriously considered pursuing publication for Carrie Mouse, but for one reason or another, it never went anywhere. Carrie was shelved. Yet every so often, I would remember Carrie Mouse and think about reworking it for publication.

The lightbulb went on one day in early 2018 when I was at work at the local library. I was checking in books and I came across Barbara Reid’s The Night Before Christmas in the stack. As soon as I saw it, I went “That type of illustration is perfect for Carrie Mouse!” I checked the book out and took it home to show my sister Rebekah and my mom. They agreed that flat clay pictures would be perfect, and the official version of Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage was born.

Now, approximately fifteen years after the mouse in the garage incident, Carrie is finally ready to meet the world.

~Morgan Elizabeth Huneke

About the Author

Morgan Elizabeth Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia. She has enjoyed creating characters and writing stories since early childhood. Books have always been a big part of her life, never more so than when working at the local library. She is the author of several middle grade novels including the Time Captives fantasy trilogy and one YA fairy tale retelling novella entitled Twisted Dreams. Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage is her first picture book.

To learn more about Morgan and her work, visit:

www.morganhuneke.com

or www.morganhuneke.blogspot.com

About the Illustrator

Rebekah Huneke is a homeschool graduate who lives in Georgia with her parents, sisters, and yellow Labrador named Sophie. She has been working with Sculpey since age nine, and sells her creations in the Klay Kottage Etsy shop. She also creates and sells stuffed animals and knitted goods. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, and playing cello and piano. Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage is her first book.

To learn more about Rebekah and her work, visit:

www.etsy.com/shop/klaykottage

or follow @klaykottage on Instagram

Giveaway!

Morgan and Rebekah will be giving away a signed copy of Carrie Mouse and the Giant Garage with a handmade Carrie Mouse doll! Second prize is a signed copy of the book only. Be sure to enter the giveaway!

Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kill the Beast Blog Tour—Guest Post

Today I have a guest post by author Michele Israel Harper for the release of her book, Kill the Beast! This is especially fun considering I got to meet Michele at Realm Makers this last July, which I was super excited about. :D So, without further ado, here is her post!

Kill the Beast: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling

Thank you for having me on your blog today, Jaye! I am honored to be your guest as I chat about my new release, Kill the Beast.

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale in the entire world.

When I was a little girl, it was the fact that Belle had brown hair and brown eyes like me—unlike the other blonde Disney princesses at the time—and loved books almost as much as I did that made me connect to the story as deeply as I did. I also adored castles, and imagining having one all to myself, with a kind beast as my friend who later became a handsome prince . . . sigh.

It was the perfect fairy tale.

Then I read Madame Villeneuve’s version, the original La Belle et la Bête. Wow! There is so much more to the story! True, it meanders quite a bit, and I truly wish she had more dialogue instead of simply telling us what they said—and some of it may be a tad on the dramatic side—but I fell even more in love with Beauty and her Bête as I studied Villeneuve’s writings for my book.

Did you know the servants are still at the castle, but they’re invisible? (And then later they show up as monkeys and apes and peacocks?) Did you know the guests have been turned to stone, and the prince into a Bête—not just a beast, but a stupid beast, which is the word’s dual meaning in French?

Then a kind fairy gives a counter-curse so he won’t actually be stupid, but just have to appear that way? That he and his mother, the queen, can never say what happened, or the curse becomes permanent? And Beauty’s biggest lament, besides wanting to see her family again, is that he seems stupid and offers her no stirring conversation?

And then, and then, the prince’s mother is a warrior queen who is off on a campaign, protecting the realm, while the curse plays out? That fairies have a huge role in La Belle et la Bête? That Beauty herself is half-fairy? (And blonde, which makes me laugh so hard after my childish reason for connecting with her so deeply. And yes, I spell feminine “blonde” with an “e” because I have taken so much French in my life. Lol!)

Oh. My. Goodness! There is so much good story fodder here!

I certainly didn’t use everything, and what I did use I twisted to my heart’s content to make it my own, but I had no idea how different the original tale was from Disney’s retelling.

My Ro is a huntress, hired by the mysterious Gautier to kill a beast who has cursed their realm, taking it in a completely different direction than Madame Villeneuve’s or Disney’s.

And since I love fairy tales so much, as so many do, Kill the Beast is a Beauty and the Beast retelling with nods to both Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella, but Beauty and the Beast is the main story here.

In the next book, Silence the Siren, I have nods to three more fairy tales, with another as my main storyline, but I can’t quite say what they are yet. ;) (Huge points if you guess what they are!)

Kill the Beast took me four years to write, and I think part of that was because I was under an enormous amount of pressure to get this story right, since it is my fave fairy tale.

And I may be wrong, but I think I nailed it. (I love reading it, anyway. Is that bad? Lol!)

They say write the story you would love to read, and I did just that.

I can’t wait to hear what you think of my new book! And thank you again, Jaye, for having me!

In Him,

Michele

About the Book

Ro remembers the castle before. Before the gates closed. Before silence overtook the kingdom. Before the castle disappeared. Now it shimmers to life one night a year, seen by her alone.

Once a lady, now a huntress, Ro does what it takes to survive—just like the rest of the kingdom plunged into despair never before known. But a beast has overtaken the castle. A beast that killed the prince and holds the castle and kingdom captive in his cruel power. A beast Ro has been hired to kill. Thankful the mystery of the prince’s disappearance has been solved, furious the magical creature has killed her hero, Ro eagerly accepts the job to end him. But things are not as they seem.

Trapped in the castle, a prisoner alongside the beast, Ro wonders what she should fear most: the beast, the magic that holds them both captive, or the one who hired her to kill the beast.

Buy Now

About the Author

Michele Israel Harper spends her days as a work-at-home mom and her nights typing away furiously on her laptop. Sleep? Sometimes… She has her Bachelor of Arts in history, is slightly obsessed with all things French—including Jeanne d’Arc and La Belle et la Bête— and loves curling up with a good book more than just about anything else. Author of Wisdom & Folly: Sisters, Zombie Takeover, Beast Hunter, and Kill the Beast, Michele prays her involvement in writing, editing, and publishing will touch many lives in the years to come.

Visit www.MicheleIsraelHarper.com to learn more about her.

Make sure to check out the Online Facebook Release Party (Thursday, September 27th, 2018, 8-10 PM EST)