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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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Saturday, October 17, 2026

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Wounds and Rescues by Kathleen Rouser






Book: Wounds and Rescues

Author: Kathleen Rouser

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: October 6, 2026

A nurse with a wounded heart. A former lawman haunted by loss. An attraction neither can afford.

Rose Sinclair has built a careful new life in Stone Creek, hiding her painful past beneath a high lace collar. When private investigator Caleb Ellis arrives claiming he’s found a grandfather for two orphans she’s grown to love, she’s determined not to trust him—or let him take the children she’s come to cherish.

Caleb needs Rose’s cooperation to reunite the children with their family. But as questions begin to surface and shadows from Rose’s past reappear, it becomes clear someone is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the truth buried.
Forced to travel west posing as husband and wife, Rose and Caleb must protect the children while outrunning a past determined to destroy them. As danger closes in, Caleb must confront the faith he abandoned, and Rose must decide if she can risk her heart again.

Because this time, trusting the wrong person won’t just break them—it could cost them everything.

Perfect for fans of Karen Witemeyer and Mary Connealy, this faith-filled historical romance features a forced-proximity journey, blending danger, redemption, and a road that leads two wounded hearts toward love.

 

Click here to get your copy!




I really enjoy Christian Historical Romance books. Wounds and Rescues by Kathleen Rouser is Book 4 in the Stone Creek Brides series. I have been reading this series from the beginning and I have enjoyed them all. I have been anticipating the release of this book. 

I immediately started reading the book and could not put it down. The setting is the 1800's in Michigan. The 2 main Characters are Rose Sinclair and Caleb Ellis. Rose has settled into her new life in Stone Creek, a new life that was needed after a painful past.Rose is a nurse who has taken 2 orphan children into her care. She is doing her best to LOVE the children and make a good life for them. Caleb Ellis is a Private Investigator who has been sent by the children's grandfather to bring the children home to him.  Rose is unsure if Caleb is telling her the truth and she feels the need to protect the children even more. Caleb knows he really needs Rose to Trust him and help the children get back to their grandfather. The storyline has many twists and turns as Rose and Caleb have to devise a plan to keep them and the kids out of the danger that is now lurking for them. I really LOVE that Caleb and Rose learn to lean on God throughout this journey, especially Caleb who had given up on his Faith in recent years. The Truth that unfolds for them, also sets them FREE from their pasts.   The book is one of Forgiveness, Faith, Second Chances and more. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Romance. AWESOME BOOK!




 





Kathleen Rouser is a multi-published, award-winning author of historical and contemporary Christian romance. She is a longtime member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers. She resides in southeast Michigan, a location which she often uses in her novels, with her hero and husband of forty-some years and two sweet cats who found a home in their empty nest.

 

More from Kathleen

Joining an Orphan Home with Foster Care

Rose Sinclair makes a quick appearance in the third Stone Creek Brides novel, Scandals and Mercies as the head nurse at the local unwed mother’s home. With a tender heart and hurts of her own, she desires to help in a different way and moves to a nursing position at the town’s small orphanage. It is a loving sanctuary to around a dozen children and youth waiting for forever families.

During the era of orphan trains, the Child and Family Services of Michigan was established in 1891. They started “receiving homes” which cared for children with the goal of adoption. By 1906, the organization advocated for children to be placed in foster care when they couldn’t remain with their natural families. Thus began the trend toward foster care rather than orphanages.

The care received in the Anna and Jared Barrington Home for Children falls in between the two. In Rumors and Promises, the first Stone Creek Brides novel, readers see a glimpse into Gloria Myles’s life and how she became the guardian for her granddaughter, Elise. From this situation came her passion to care for orphans, as well as her desire to memorialize her daughter and son-in-law.

While most orphanages were often harmful institutions, I’d like to think that there were places like the Anna and Jared Barrington Home for Children, though I may have taken a bit of literary license.

I thought about what might happen if some of the children had the opportunity to be reunited with a faraway relative. How may that have taken place? Enter private investigator Caleb Ellis, who has lost several people he loved. He’s on a mission to bring together the scattered family.

In Wounds and Rescues, Rose becomes deeply attached to orphans Sam and Nellie Tubbs. The childhood trauma she experienced prompts her to become fiercely protective of them. From small-town Michigan of 1903 to the hills of Montana, she embarks on a journey of forgiveness, healing, and facing the past.



Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 10

Books Less Travelled, October 11

Texas Book-aholic, October 12

lakesidelivingsite, October 13

Simple Harvest Reads, October 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

For Him and My Family, October 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 15

Betti Mace, October 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 17

Devoted To Hope, October 18

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 19

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 20

Artistic Nobody, October 21 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, October 22

Pause for Tales, October 22

Cover Lover Book Review, October 23



To celebrate her tour, Kathleen 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/WuCup/wounds-and-rescues-celebration-tour-giveaway







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