Friday, July 3, 2026

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Montana Rose by Mary Connealy

Book: Montana Rose

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: June 23, 2026

From bestselling author Mary Connealy comes a poignant Western romance about second chances, redemption, and the healing power of faith—a moving tale of a heartbroken young widow, a compassionate rancher, and the love that helps them both find their way home.

When Cassie Griffin’s abusive husband dies, leaving her pregnant and destitute, she’s forced to marry a stranger to survive. Red Dawson, a hardworking rancher and part-time preacher, steps forward to save her from a worse fate. Though Red fears marrying a non-believer goes against his principles, he can’t stand by and watch Cassie be claimed by the ruthless Sawyer clan.

Living in Red’s rustic cave home is a far cry from Cassie’s former life of luxury. But as she learns to work alongside him, she discovers strength she never knew she possessed. Red’s gentle patience and unwavering faith begin to crack the protective shell she’s built around her heart. When a dangerous enemy threatens their newfound happiness, Cassie and Red must trust in God’s plan—and each other—to survive.

Can a marriage of convenience bloom into true love? And can a woman who’s known only submission find the courage to stand tall? A tender story of healing, hope and the transformative power of unconditional love. Perfect for fans of Janette Oke and Karen Witemeyer.

Click here to get your copy!

Christian Historical Romance is a favorite Genre of mine. Montana Rose by Mary Connealy is Book 4 in the Petticoats and Cowboys series.

I began reading and the storyline grabbed my attention immediately.. The setting is in the Rocky Mountain area in Montana in 1873. The main characters are Cassie Griffin and Red Dawson. Cassie had been in an abusive marriage and then her husband dies. Cassie is a very young Pregnant Widow and worried about the future for her unborn baby. Red Dawson is a Rancher who has a LOVE for the Word of God that he also is a Preacher Part time. Red knows Cassie and has thought that she is attractive. He wants "to do right and make sure that she and the unborn baby are taken care of, so he suggests they get married for "convenience". Red is worried about Cassie's lack of faith in God. Cassie though sees how patient and caring Red is toward her and that he has a strong faith. Cassie soon realizes that Red is stronger and kinder than her deceased husband and she slowly begins to trust that Red is a protector. I really LOVE that Cassie begins to see God in working in her own heart and she credits Red for showing God's love to her. I LOVE Marriage of Convenience stories and this is one of the sweetest storylines I have read. The book is about Second Chances, Faith and Family. I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Romance. BEAUTIFUL BOOK!

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of 75 books and novellas. She has over a million and a half books in print.

Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Petticoats & Pistols!

More from Mary

Montana Rose was one of the first books I wrote. Very early on, though it took a while to get it published. And I ended up rewriting it to make it part of a three book series.

My basic goals with Montana Rose were two fold.

One, I seem almost addicted to writing feisty lady ranchers. I do it so much that I decided I needed to challenge myself. Write a quiet, shy heroine.

Cassie Dawson was born. And the thing with Cassie was, she was so used to being controlled by her much older husband, it was very hard for her new husband to convince her of her own worth.

Drawing Cassie out, finding the inner woman, making her believe she had worth, was such an interesting challenge for me as an author.

For a woman who writes in the same genre all the time, I really do try and mix things up. I PROMISE I DO!

Not sure how often I succeed but making my characters be three dimensional is always my goal. And I try and do different things in my books. A fist fight on a moving train. A fire in a blizzard. Diving off a galloping horse to stop a runaway bad guy. I try different careers and different locations. Always, I am trying something new. In Montana Rose, I picked a quiet, frightened mouse of a woman.

At least that was how it started out. By the end, Cassie finds herself.

So that was the fundamental goal.

And the second aim I had was Love Comes Softly, Janette Oke’s classic, beautiful Christian romance. I just loved that book. The pregnant widow, the husband who’s trying to help and needs help himself. Shove them together into a marriage and try to find love.

Of course, my book has more comedy and more gunfire than Love Comes Softly. I call it love comes softly, with mayhem. I pitched the title Love Comes Loudly. Or maybe Love Comes Hardly. We went with Montana Rose. Probably for the best.

Cassie remains a beloved sweetheart. Red, the best hero I’ve ever written…except he was probably too nice. The hero needs to have some challenges too. But Cassie just needed Red Dawson to be so kind and strong and wise. Yes, he has red hair and he has a temper that rarely erupts…though sometimes. But most Red is the best.

Those are the creative forces that forged Montana Rose.

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 30
Texas Book-aholic, July 1
Devoted To Hope, July 2
Books You Can Feel Good About, July 3
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 3
For Him and My Family, July 4
Simple Harvest Reads, July 5 (Author Interview)
Vicky Sluiter, July 6
Sydney Schmied Books, July 7
Labor Not in Vain, July 8
Tell Tale Book Reviews, July 9
The Bookish Pilgrim, July 10
She Lives To Read, July 11
Cover Lover Book Review, July 11
Artistic Nobody, July 12 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, July 13

To celebrate her tour, Mary 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/iDuaH/montana-rose-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Thursday, July 2, 2026

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Miriam's Little Gentleman by Anne Blackburne

Book: Miriam’s Little Gentleman (The Heart of the Amish Book 13)

Author: Anne Blackburne

Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction

Release Date: May, 2026

Her Heart Is Set on One Man

Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish Country.

Miriam Zook has loved David Miller her whole life, and she confessed her feelings the night before he moved to Indiana and joined the Mennonite church. Miriam, having been baptized into the Amish faith, makes an income by painting beautiful vignettes of Amish life. She has never married, since no one ever compared to David, and, as she is an only child, this concerns the women in her family greatly. Now, seven years after leaving, David is back in Willow Creek to embrace his Amish roots and join the church. Miriam’s heart awakens, but can she dare to hope that he will also embrace her?

Click here to get your copy!

Amish Fiction is a genre that I absolutely LOVE .Miriam's Little Gentleman by Anne Blackburne is Book 13 in The Heart of the Amish Series. The series is written by various authors and I have been enjoying this series from the beginning!

WOW, this book really captured my interest from the very first pages. The main characters in this book are Miriam Zook and David Miller. Miriam and David are Childhood friends from the Amish Community. Miriam has always had a "crush" on David throughout their childhood and when she reveals her admiration toward David, he leaves the Amish Community and moves to the Mennonite Community. Miriam is an only child and spends her days painting art works and then sells the Art as a source of income. I really felt for Miriam as she really wants someone to love, but her heart has always been toward David. 7 years after David left the Amish Community, he comes back to Willow Creek. David comes back as he felt that the Amish Community was and always will be where he wants to be. The change of heart and mind for David was very strong as he comes back with full intent on never leaving the Amish Community again and joining the Amish Church fully. I really saw the change in David, yet Miriam was reluctant to believe he was back for good. She also was reluctant to be able to open her heart to him, even though the feelings toward David never left. I really LOVE that Miriam and David were able to communicate and reconcile all that had happened since Childhood, especially the time that David was away from the Amish Community. The book is one of Second Chances, Forgiveness, LOVE and Family I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Amish Fiction! GREAT BOOK!

Anne Blackburne lives and works in Southeast Ohio as a newspaper editor and writer. She is the mother of five grown children, has one wonderful grandchild, and a spoiled poodle named Millie. For fun, when she isn’t working on Amish romance or sweet mysteries, Anne directs and acts in community theater productions and writes and directs original plays. She also enjoys reading, kayaking, swimming, searching for beach glass, and just sitting with a cup of coffee looking at large bodies of water. Her idea of the perfect vacation is cruising and seeing amazing new places with people she loves.

More from Anne

Hello Dear Readers!

It seems like only yesterday that the wonderful Christian bloggers who work with Celebrate Literature did a blog tour for my January 1 release in Barbour’s “Heart of the Amish” series, “Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer”! Yet here we are again, with another CelebrateLit blog tour, this time for my May release, “Miriam’s Little Gentleman”.

Miriam’s story is available now to readers in print and online wherever fine books are sold, and I feel blessed to have the help of the CelebrateLit folks in launching this next tale from my made-up Amish community of Willow Creek, Ohio.

In addition to Jane’s and Miriam’s stories, my previous Heart of the Amish books in the series include, “Ruth’s Gingersnap Surprise”, “Mary’s Calico Hope”, and “Lizzie’s Little Mouse”. If you’re read any of them, you’ll remember Miriam Zook, who does beautiful folk art paintings of Amish life scenes. Miriam was also mentioned in Ruth’s story as one of the lucky recipients of a kitten from their elderly friend, Lydia’s, cat’s final litter.

Miriam’s cat is a black and white tuxedo cat named Beau. He enjoys sitting outside in the fresh air while Miriam paints, safely wearing his natty red harness to keep him from wandering into trouble. If you read Jane’s story, you know kitties sometimes do wander off!

Miriam has been hung up on David Miller for years. She even told him so . . . but unfortunately, it was too late. David had already made plans to leave Willow Creek the following morning, running from troubles he didn’t make and couldn’t fix. Years later, Miriam and David still have feelings for one another. But are they strong enough to survive the hurt and years of separation, and to forge a real and lasting love? With God’s help, of course, anything is possible. That doesn’t mean it’ll be easy!

Thank you for taking the time to learn about Miriam’s story! This book is my fifth in Barbour Publishing’s series, “The Heart of the Amish”. Look for other great reads in the series from authors Mindy Steele, Kelly Irvin and Lisa Jones Baker.

I’m currently writing my sixth book in the series, which will feature a young woman you’ve met in some of my other stories, Rebecca Beachy. Her cat is Patches, a little orange and white boy. Together, with the help of Amish farmer Rudy Miller, they’ll figure out a way to keep a dear old woman from losing her home and business. A buried treasure and a small mystery are involved!

I hope you’re having as much fun reading about these remarkable young women – and their kitties! – as I’m having writing about them. Thanks for being part of our journey!

God bless you and yours!

Joyfully,
Anne Blackburne

Texas Book-aholic, June 27
Artistic Nobody, June 28 (Author Interview)
Life on Chickadee Lane, June 29
She Lives To Read, June 30
The Avid Reader, June 30
For Him and My Family, July 1
Guild Master, July 2 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 2
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 3
Simple Harvest Reads, July 4 (Guest Review from Marilyn)
EmpowerMoms, July 5
Holly’s Book Corner, July 6
Vickey Sluiter, July 7
Fiction Book Lover, July 8 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, July 9
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, July 10

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

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

https://gleam.io/Gffm1/miriams-little-gentleman-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Twist of Time by Tricia Goyer & Nathan Goyer

Book: Twist of Time (The Clockwork Chronicles Book 3)

Authors: Tricia Goyer & Nathan Goyer

Genre: Historical sci-fi with a steampunk twist

Release Date: June 9, 2026

They thought they were fighting a war. They didn’t know it was the end of time.

In 1945, war rages across Europe, but deep beneath Prague, another kind of battle is unfolding. It’s a fight not just for land or power but for the very soul of humanity.

Kateřina Dubová, a brave journalist turned spy, receives a mysterious gift from a high-ranking Nazi officer―a jewel tied to a terrifying prophecy. Clues draw her deep into ancient secrets hidden within Prague Castle and a clock that may hold the power to save the world . . . or bring about its destruction.

Kateřina joins forces with Josef Loew, a gifted inventor; Theodora, a daring mafia spy gone rogue; and Dante, a historian with a powerful artifact of his own. Together, they unravel a chilling plot rooted in mysteries that whisper from beyond the veil.

Click here to get your copy!

Christian Historical Fiction is a great genre. Twist of Time by Tricia Goyer & Nathan Goyer is Book 3 in The Clockwork Chronicles series. It actually is a mix of Adult Historical Fiction with Steampunk Fantasy. I have anxiously been waiting for this 3rd book as I have read the first 2 books in the series.

I am a fast reader when I really enjoy a book. I think this might have set a "record time" for reading a book. I was so invested in this series that I began reading the book as soon as I received it and could not stop until I finished in about 2 hours! The main characters are Katerina, Josef, Dante, and Theodora. The setting is 1945 in Prague and Katerina has received a gift from a Nazi officer. The jewel has some mystery to it and the team is on a quest to figure out the mystery behind the jewel. This leads them to the Prague Castle and behind a clock. Katerina and Josef suddenly realize that figuring out the mystery is running out of time. I was so intrigued by the characters and how they worked together to solve the mystery, even under tense situations. The many twists and turns kept me reading. A very action packed story! I HIGHLY recommend this entire series to anyone who enjoys Historical and Steampunk Fiction! AMAZING SERIES!

Tricia Goyer is a celebrated writer, speaker, and co-host of the Daily Bible Podcast. Author of 80 books, Tricia has won four Golden Scrolls, two Carols, and a Christian Book Award. In addition to Christy and Gold Medallion nominations, her book sales exceed 4 million copies. Tricia is a highly sought-after conference speaker, sharing on writing, parenting, and purposeful living. Tricia’s most recent work, The Clockwork Chronicles, is a historical steampunk fantasy trilogy co-authored with her son, Nathan Goyer.

Nathan Goyer is an upstart designer and science fiction author who has been writing since he was young. He has written the novel Bask: City of Shadows and solo-developed the mobile RPG game Heedless, which has surpassed 30,000 downloads. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas Little Rock, he is now pushing forward with new endeavors, starting with his latest series, The Clockwork Chronicles, co-authored with his mother, Tricia Goyer.

More from Tricia and Nathan

The Heart Behind the Gears: The Final Battle at Old Town Hall

By Tricia Goyer (with Nathan Goyer)

Writing has always been a way for me to explore the quiet corners of history. This was true for my newest novel Twist of Time. Through this book, I step into a world that is both familiar and utterly mysterious. The book is set in Prague in 1945. I first visited Prague as a wannabe writer in 2001. Then, in 2008, I went back with my family and our church group. I’ve been there numerous times, most recently in 2024 when I was working on this book. I was able to go underground underneath the clock to see where the resistance fighters hid.

Collaborating with my son, Nathan, on the conclusion of The Clockwork Chronicles has been a highlight of my career. We wanted to take the grit of May 1945 Prague and weave it together with the ancient, ticking secrets of the Orloj—the city’s famous astronomical clock.

In this final chapter, the stakes are anchored in the very real, devastating history of the Prague Uprising. On May 8, 1945, the Old Town Hall became a focal point of fierce resistance. As the German forces retreated, they directed heavy fire toward the building, leading to a catastrophic fire that destroyed the municipal archives and heavily damaged the clock. We imagined our characters, Katerina and Josef, caught in this chaos, where the smoke of history meets the supernatural shadows hinted at throughout this series.

While the town hall burned, the Czech resistance fought with everything they had. In our story, this physical battle is a mirror to a much larger, spiritual confrontation. We often think of history as a series of dates, but I believe it is actually a tapestry of souls choosing light over darkness.

Researching the legends of Prague Castle and the hidden depths beneath the city inspired us to ask: What would you do if you realized the war you were fighting was only a shadow of a much larger battle?

We hope this story of Josef, Theodora, Dante, and Katerina reminds you that even when time seems to be running out, hope is never late. I am so grateful to have you join us for this tour. Whether you have been with us since the first gear turned or you are just now discovering this world, we hope Twist of Time keeps you breathless until the very end.

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 29
Lily’s Corner, June 30
Simple Harvest Reads, July 1 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 1
Inspired by Fiction, July 2
Artistic Nobody, July 3 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, July 4 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 5 (Spotlight)
Fiction Book Lover, July 6 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, July 7
The Bookish Ledger, July 8 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, July 8
Texas Book-aholic, July 9
Books, Books, & More Books, July 10 (Spotlight)
For Him and My Familly, July 11
Life on Chickadee Lane, July 12

To celebrate their tour, Tricia and Nathan are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

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

https://gleam.io/dV2pP/twist-of-time-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Tuesday, June 30, 2026

JustRead Tours Blog Tour: A Mother's Prayer by Chris Maday Schmidt

A Mother's Prayer JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for A Mother's Prayer by Chris Maday Schmidt, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: A Mother's Prayer
Series: Sweetwater, Arizona #3
Author: Chris Maday Schmidt
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired
Release Date: June 30, 2026
Genre: Inspirational Romance

Can an unexpected turn
lead her right where she belongs?

Pregnant, single and stranded in a storm with her two young kids, Olive Hart is out of options—until gruff mechanic Hank Valentine comes to their rescue. When her housing falls through, he reluctantly offers them shelter at his ranch in exchange for help at his garage. It’s just a temporary arrangement…but Olive’s chaotic, lovable crew begins to warm his guarded heart. They’ve both been burned by the past, but can they find the courage to build something lasting…together?

Christian Romance is a genre that I truly enjoy. A Mother's Prayer by Chris Maday Schmidt is Book 3 in the Sweetwater, Arizona series. The LOVE Inspired Series is a wonderful series by various authors and I enjoy the brand.

WOW, this storyline grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I could not stop reading. The main characters in this book are Hank Valentine and Olive Hart. Hank is the Town Mechanic for Sweetwater. Olive Hart is a Single Mom of a 6 year old and a 3 year old and is pregnant with Baby #3. Olive is newly divorced and she and her children are making their way to begin life anew. Just as they reach Sweetwater, a snow storm strands them, along with their dog. Hank is the town mechanic and has lost many people in recent years that were near and dear to him. He feels that he let others down and didn't take care of his sister before she passed away. He now tries to "overcompensate" and goes out of his way to help others. Hank decides that he can't let Olive and her family be stranded, so he offers them space at his Farm House. The events that happen while Olive and her kids are staying with Hank, gets Hank to thinking that he might have found the "family" he has always wanted and needed. The story is one of Second Chances, Faith, Trust and moving forward in life. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Romance. GREAT BOOK!

More in This Series

Chris Maday Schmidt is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author who writes contemporary inspirational romance—real-life fairy tales filled with hope, humor, and heart. A member of Faith, Hope & Love Christian Writers, she is the author of the Love Inspired Sweetwater series for Harlequin, including her latest release, A Mother’s Prayer (June 30, 2026). Her debut novel received a 5-star review in the 2024 Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews and Award Contest.

Connect with Chris by visiting chrismadayschmidt.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

(1) winner will receive a book tote, a B&N gift card, and a signed print copy of A Mother's Prayer!

(1) winner will receive a Sweetwater, Arizona book bundle: A Father's Vow, The Fire Chief's Surprise, and A Mother's Prayer! (print for US winner, ebooks if winner is outside the US)

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 30, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 7, 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 for print copies & book tote. 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!