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Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: My Grief Shared by LaDonna Shanks



About the Book

Book: My Grief Shared: A Tiny Book of Essays on Death, Loss    . . . and Life

Author: Ladonna Shanks

Genre: Memoir

Release Date: June 23, 2026

Do you find yourself overcome while living in the darkness of loss? Do you wonder if it will ever end . . . or if you will even survive?

In My Grief Shared: A Tiny Book of Essays on Death, Loss . . . and Life, Ladonna Shanks shares a message of hope while chronicling her persornal experience with grief. The essays, written in the midst of her grief journey, are bare, raw, open, and honest. Woven throughout these insightful anecdotes, however, is the fact that death is not the sole source of loss and ensuing grief, making this a relatable read for all. The book can minister to anyone who deals with grief and loss.

A light at the end of the tunnel exists. There is hope.

 

Click here to get your copy!




Christian Memoir book can cover many topics. My Grief Shared by LaDonna Shanks is a short book of essays about Grief. 

Grief is something that many go through at some point in their life. Grief also is different for everyone. LaDonna Shanks has written this short book as her telling of her journey through Grief since her husband passed away. The author wasn't anticipating writing a book about Grief, yet once she began documenting her own Grief, she decided to share her journey through a book. I really LOVE that the author gives Scriptures that helped her and encourages others. The book is written with Honesty and Openness that shows the reader how grief and loss can affect someone. The personal stories and essays are so beautifully written that they tug at the heart. Grief doesn't have a timeline, it can be never ending. The short book is encouraging and would make a great gift for anyone going through Grief and Loss. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who needs encouragement during their Grief Journey. GOOD BOOK!




 


Octogenarian Ladonna Shanks has published two other books of personal essays: Tidbits and Pearls: A Book of Essays on Living Everyday Life with God, A Cascade Award finalist, and Sermons from a Soapbox. My Grief Shared was also a finalist in the Cascade Awards Contest. She strives in all she does to honor God and encourage others.

 

More from Ladonna

I did not plan on writing another book after publishing Sermons From a Soapbox. However, when my partner passed away three years ago, I began writing as a means of comfort and solace. I tossed my essays into a drawer and, after two and a half years, realized I had made it through the dark tunnel of grief back into the “land of the living.”
 
Death is not the sole source of grief and loss. My heart’s desire is to share with others that “You are not alone,” and “If God did it for me, He can do it for you.”
 
It’s a “tiny” book, only 10,000 words, but it is “mighty.”



Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 15

Simple Harvest Reads, October 16 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, October 17 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, October 18 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 19

Fiction Book Lover, October 20 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, October 21 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 21

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, October 22 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 23

Books, Books, & More Books, October 24 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 25 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, October 26 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 27

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, October 28 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, October 28



To celebrate her tour, Ladonna is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card, a copy of my book, and a variety set of 6 handmade floral photo note cards, (including birthday, sympathy, and thank you)!!

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

https://gleam.io/98wTW/my-grief-shared-celebration-tour-giveaway







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Tuesday, October 20, 2026

JustRead Tours Blog Tour: To Win a Wager by Grace Hitchcock

To Win a Wager JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for To Win a Wager by Grace Hitchcock, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!





To Win a Wager

Title: To Win a Wager 
Series:
Best Laid Plans #3 
Author:
Grace Hitchcock 
Publisher: Kregel Publications 
Release Date:
October 20, 2026 
Genre:
Regency Romance

A Regency-era enemies-to-lovers romance set in the magnificent Scottish Isles 

Tess Hale has always been taught to fend for herself, but she never needed to until the night bounty hunters come knocking. It's 1813 in Great Britain, and Tess's best laid plans crumble when her father sends her alone in the dead of night to an island cottage to escape them. She finds herself in a world of warring clans she didn't know existed. 

After a decade as a spy separated from his clan, Jamie Malcom has a duty to fulfill as next in line as chief—but his absence means he must earn his people's loyalty. He pursues a treasure stolen from his clan long ago, and it leads him straight to Tess. 

As Tess grapples with her past, Jamie vows to protect her future—but lies revealed shatter the trust they had been building. For purposes beyond themselves, they are thrust into a marriage neither of them wanted . . . at first.

In the finale to the Best Laid Plans series, Grace Hitchcock invites readers to the sweeping Highlands and beautiful Scottish Isles with a romance guaranteed to delight.



I LOVE to read Christian Historical Romance books any chance I can. To Win a Wager by Grace Hitchcock is Book 3 in the Best Laid Plans Series. I have been a fan of Grace Hitchcock for many years and I was excited to read this book. I have not read the first 2 in this series. although this seems to be a good Stand Alone book. 

I dove right into the book and did not stop reading until I was done! The setting of this storyline is the Scottish Isles in 1813. The 2 main characters are Tess Hale and Jamie Malcolm. Tess was raised by her father and has a good relationship with him. She felt life was good until one night her Dad sends her fleeing from the Bounty Hunters that are after something of her Dad's. Jamie Malcolm has been a spy for the past 10 years and is now ready to become Chief. The one thing holding him back is that he needs to regain the trust of his people as they believe he is a "traitor" to them. He feels the best way to gain their trust is to marry someone. Tess agrees to marry Jamie in a "Marry of Convenience", figuring she will be protected from the evils that she fled from. The story gets really interesting at this point as truths begin to unravel about Jamie, Tess becomes inquisitive about what the future will hold for her.  I never truly expected so much mystery and intrigue in a Regency Era book and I can honestly say I LOVE IT! This book is one of Faith, Trusting God's Will, and Romance.  I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Romance books! AMAZING BOOK!





PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

To Catch a Coronet




Grace Hitchcock

Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of the Best Laid Plans series and other historical novels and novellas. She holds a master's degree in creative writing and a bachelor of arts in English with a minor in history. She lives near New Orleans with her husband, sons, and daughter. Connect with her online at gracehitchcock.com.




(1) winner will receive a signed copy of To Win a Wager, plus print copies of To Catch a Coronet and To Kiss a Knight, and a bookmark!

To Win a Wager blog tour giveaway JustRead Tours

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 20, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 27, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours







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Monday, October 19, 2026

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: The Bible Companion Book 10 Matthew–John The Gospels by Karen Westbrook Moderow





Book: The Bible Companion Book 10 Matthew–John The Gospels

Author: Karen Westbrook Moderow

Genre: Bible Study

Release Date: May 29, 2026

What do you think about Jesus?

The Bible Companion Book 10 Matthew–John explores the gaps between our view of Christ and who Bible says He is. A simple one-chapter-a-day format lets you engage with Scripture without the pressure of schedules, homework, or heavy reading loads. Short daily readings and thought-provoking questions connect your story to God’s Word. For personal, group, or homeschool Bible study.

After four hundred years of silence, when Israel has nearly given up hope of a messiah, God sends Jesus. The four Gospels introduce us to this long-awaited Savior but also chronicle the profound disappointment Jews feel when they realize He has not come to restore their nation. Jesus refuses to be boxed in by our limited view of Him. As Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John reveal a Savior who redefines power and love, we discover that our expectations are not too great but too small.

 

Click here to get your copy!



Bible Studies are a  HUGE part of my Christian Growth. The Bible Companion Book 10 Matthew–John The Gospels by Karen Westbrook Moderow is the most recent Bible Study that I have had the opportunity to learn from.

I have read quite a few of the Bible Studies in this series, and I can honestly say the series is really strongly Biblically Based and Encouraging. The Gospels are a very important part of the New Testament and I was excited to read through this Study. Each of the 4 Gospels is gone through one book at a time. The study is also very in depth for each of the 4 Gospels, yet it is very easy to understand the Gospels in an easy explained manner. Karen really writes the Bible Study so that New Christians can understand the Gospels thoroughly and also written so that those who want to dig deep into the Gospels can be enriched by the format and study. I was very encouraged through this study and I also felt that the study taught me the Gospels in a new way. 

The Bible Studies are comprehensive with the Charts, Maps, and other tools are WONDERFUL asset to this study. I am a very visual person and having the Maps, Timelines, and other tools really helps me comprehend and understand the Study. I HIGHLY recommend this study for anyone who is wanting to Study the Gospels in depth.AMAZING Bible Study!




 





KAREN WESTBROOK MODEROW is a Bible teacher and author who brings a storyteller’s perspective to Scripture. She holds master’s degrees in theology and creative writing and loves introducing others to Jesus through the stories told in God’s Word.

 

More from Karen



Bread is a big deal in the Gospels. After feeding thousands with just a few barley loaves and two fish Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). The night of His arrest He takes a loaf of bread and says to His disciples, “Take and eat. This is my body” (Matt. 26:26). Bread. Jesus makes this simple food a symbol of Himself because it represents what we must have to live. I think about this often now that I’ve started baking my own bread.

Bread-making is the next logical step in my quest for a healthier lifestyle. Years ago, I cut out fast foods. Sodas. Processed foods (except for Fritos which I still enjoy with a sandwich on occasion J). But despite the many health gurus who say we should cut bread out of our diets my family has bread every day.

I’m from Texas. My grandparents had biscuits for breakfast, cornbread for dinner (noon meal) and yeast rolls for supper. If my grandmother didn’t have time to make rolls (which happened more often as she aged), she served Wonder Bread stacked high on a plate. In those days, we all bought the hype—“Wonder Bread builds strong bodies 12 ways!” We sometimes commented on the wonder of it all—no pun intended—that science had improved on a staple mankind has eaten for centuries. Only it didn’t. Our taste buds told us that the bread my grandmother made was infinitely better but other voices won out.

I make my own bread now to assure that what I take into my body is as clean as I can make it. I use flour without glyphosate and the best organic ingredients I can find. But do I succeed in making a bread that is free of all contaminants? No. There’s not a plot of ground or a man-made product on earth that is 100% pure. But every loaf of bread I bake is a revolution of sorts—a rejection of a system I don’t think has my best interest at heart. My efforts are imperfect but they’re a sign I see the problem and want to address it.

Spiritually, the path is similar. We’re hungry. We want and need to eat. We crave bread. But God’s Word warns us that what the world offers is not good. Whatever nutrition it offers can be saturated with things not easily seen—a distorted view of Christ, a subtle twisting of the truth, a self-focused gospel that appeals to our pride and greed. If we are spiritually discerning, we will recognize that these things can hurt us. But once we know it, what do we do? The danger is that our response is to “make our own bread” thinking that our improved spiritual resources and knowledge can create a life-giving loaf. But our best intentions and efforts to live like Jesus will always fall short. Just as we cannot eliminate all contamination from our food, we cannot eliminate sin’s influence in our lives. But wanting to be holy—to be like Jesus—is a step forward. It’s like me deciding that I don’t want to eat the bread found on the grocer’s shelf and choosing to do something about it. But that’s where the analogy ends. I can make better bread, but not perfect bread. I can make bread that satisfies my physical body for a time but not one that fills my deepest needs or gives me eternal life.

Sometimes when I make bread, I fail massively. The bread doesn’t rise. It’s too dense. Too doughy. Too dry. Other times, it is delicious, crusty, and fragrant. But every time I make it, I think of Jesus’s words, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:51). I use my bread-making time to think on the One who is Himself the bread of life. If that sounds good to you, try making one of my favorite recipes and enjoy both the bread and your time with the Lord.

1 Hour Yeast Rolls  – 2 Dozen

To Begin:

Turn oven onto lowest temp (around 170 degrees)

Crack 1 egg in a bowl (to reach room temperature)

Set out a 9” x 13”plus an 8” x 8” pans. Grease or line with parchment paper

You can substitute a cookie sheet OR (2) 12-cup muffin pans.

In a stand mixer bowl:

Whisk together

3 ¾ to 4 cups BREAD FLOUR

¼ cup granulated sugar

2 pkg rapid rise/ yeast (4 ½ tsp)

1 tsp salt

In microwave-proof glass measuring cup:

    Heat to 100–115 degrees (90 sec.)

1 ½ cups whole milk

2 TBS unsalted butter

    Add (whisk) into warm milk mixture

1 egg (room temperature)

2 TBS olive oil

Place dough hook on mixer.

     Slowly add warm milk mixture to dry ingredients on low speed. 

(Confirm temp is still at 100–115 degrees)

Increase speed slightly and knead for 6-8 minutes.

Dough will be smooth and sticky.

If too sticky, add 1 tsp flour at a time and knead until dough holds together.

COVER tightly with plastic wrap and let rest for 5–10 minutes.

Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface.

Flour hands and using a scraper, divide the dough in two.

Shape one portion into a log and divide into 12 equal pieces.

Close the ends of each piece together at the top then turn it over and roll into a smooth ball on the counter.

Place pinched side down into the greased dish or muffin pans

Repeat with the second log.

Cover bread with a clean kitchen towel. You should have 24 rolls total.

TURN OFF THE OVEN you’ve preheated to 170 degrees and place bread in oven.

Let dough rise until double in size (approx. 20 minutes).

REMOVE ROLLS FROM OVEN

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Just before placing in oven a second time, brush tops of rolls with an egg wash (1 egg, lightly beaten with a splash of water).

BAKE 16–18 minutes.

Brush baked rolls with melted butter and sprinkle lightly with coarse salt.




Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 14

She Lives To Read, October 15

Lots of Helpers, October 15

lakesidelivingsite, October 16

Fiction Book Lover, October 17 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 18

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 19

Texas Book-aholic, October 20

Artistic Nobody, October 21 (Author Interview)

Writing from Walsh Mountain, October 21

Simple Harvest Reads, October 22 (Guest Review from Donna)

Mary Hake, October 23

Cover Lover Book Review, October 24

Guild Master, October 25 (Author Interview)

Lights in a Dark World, October 26



To celebrate her tour, Karen 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.

https://gleam.io/XhgP0/the-bible-companion-book-10-matthewjohn-the-gospels-celebration-tour-giveaway







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JustRead Tours Blog Tour: The Stand-In by Kit Hawthorne

The Stand In JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Stand-In by Kit Hawthorne, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!




The Stand-In

Title: The Stand-In 
Author:
Kit Hawthorne 
Publisher:
Highsmith Books 
Release Date:
October 13, 2026 
Genre:
Contemporary Romance

He reinvented himself. Now the truth could cost him everything. 

For years, Halverson Ramsay Ford cultivated a reputation for brilliance and reckless arrogance. But after a devastating accident leaves him with a permanent limp, the notorious biotech genius disappears from public view…and emerges as a very different man. 

Intelligent, sensitive, and scarred by a past betrayal, librarian Tamryn Page has no interest in falling for a charming billionaire—especially one with Hal’s history. Yet the man she comes to know is thoughtful, vulnerable, and kind, with a love of history and literature to match her own. 

But the relationship is built on a lie. And when the truth comes to light, it threatens to destroy not only the future of Hal’s company, but the trust of the only woman who has ever truly seen him. 

Now Hal must choose whether to step out from behind the identity he created—or lose the woman he loves forever.  




Contemporary Romance is a genre that I really enjoy. The Stand-In by Kit Hawthorne is the latest in this genre that I have read. I was intrigued by the Synopsis and wanted to read it. 

I will say that it took me until Chapter 2 to understand the storyline. The 2 main characters are Halverson Ramsay Ford(Hal) and Tamryn Page. Hal has made a great life for himself in the BioTech field and is a Billionaire. His life is changed when he is in a devastating accident and now has a disfiguring limp that makes him a changed man. Tamryn Page is a Librarian who went through a difficult break up in the past and now is prefers to be a homebody living with her parents. Hal and Tamryn have known each other since High School and when they met again at a Party, they build their friendship again. Tamryn is careful to go slow with a relationship due to her past hurts. Hal may have different motives for wanting to get close to Tamryn and he isn't ready to be reveal things to Tamryn. I really began getting deep into the storyline when Hal was hiding things, as my heart felt for Tamryn and I didn't want to see her hurt by a man again. The book has many twists and turns, especially when it comes to relationships. I couldn't put it down once I got half way through the book. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a Clean Romance book. GREAT BOOK!





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




Kit Hawthorne

A lifelong resident of the American South, Kit Hawthorne lives on a Texas farm that’s been in her husband’s family for two centuries. She used to play in a Celtic folk band, and the only sport she understands is Highland games.

Connect with Kit by visiting kithawthorne.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.


(2) winners will each receive a copy of The Stand-In and a $30 Amazon gift card!

The Stand-In blog tour giveaway JustRead

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 19, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 26, 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. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours







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