Wednesday, January 21, 2026

"The Voice I Couldn't Ignore" by Johanna Frank -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore

Author: Johanna Frank

Genre: Christian Nonfiction / Memoirs/ Christian Death and Grief

Release Date: October 2, 2025

Through a vision, God told Hanna he was going to take her child. Seven years later, he did.

The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore

Hanna’s relationship with God is undeniably unusual—of that, she is certain.

Kept secret for three generations, a stranger’s prophecy that a window from heaven would open was aimed squarely at her. But instead, deeply wounded scars shut her off from that promised breeze, sealing away any hope for self-worth and true identity. As the years continue and she navigates motherhood, she’s drawn in and shaken by vivid dreams and visions—some illuminating, others quite alarming.

“Did God just tell me he’s going to take my child?”

When the fiercest storm of Hanna’s life strikes—a brutal whirlwind of unseen daggers—it hurls her skyward only to shatter her fragile house of faith, leaving her to wrestle in a deep pit of relentless grief. She can’t imagine trusting a soul on earth to explain why God moved the way he did in her life. And even if she tried, no one would ever believe her.

“Don’t get comfy down here.” For all her inner warnings, she’s bound in anguish and despair with no visible way out.

So she begins to piece together the God-given dreams and visions, aligning her interpretations of his handiwork in the Holy Land with Scripture. From these fragments, she shapes a parable of her own—an illustration of a new house of faith. This one on a solid foundation with gentle reminders of truth, particularly the one that sets her free: it takes the Trinity to lift a soul.

Keep a window open. Catch the breeze that binds.

Based on a true story.

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

Q. Why did you choose to write non-fiction?
Well, actually, I usually write speculative fiction with good, meaningful messages woven
in, but The Voice I Couldn’t Ignore was something different. It’s a true story—unique and
inspiring—and I honestly felt compelled to write it. I call it a creative nonfiction because
it flows like a story, even though everything in it really happened.

Q. Why did you choose to write about this particular topic – a story of finding Jesus in the midst of grief and confusion.
I talk a bit about that in the Letter to Readers at the beginning of the book. In short, this
story has been a long time coming—well over a decade, really. It took that long to make
sense of a series of unusual experiences that have shaped my life, many of which, I
believe, show God’s incredible sense of mystery. It felt wrong not to share it.

Q. What types of research do you do?
My research for this book was really more of a personal journey. I was on a serious
quest for truth and made a promise to myself: if Scripture could confirm and explain the
messages I was receiving through dreams and visions, then I would accept them as
truth. That search eventually took me on a study trip to the Middle East—through Israel
and Palestine. One of God’s great mysteries, I believe, is how He finds ways to speak to
us through nature itself, weaving messages into the world around us.

Q. Was there anything you found particularly interesting while researching?
Yes, indeed! You will have to read the book to find out.

About the Author

Johanna Frank is a Canadian author based in Southern Ontario, where she lives with her husband, and delights in time with her children and grandchildren.

Her award-winning A Lifeline Fantasy Series includes The Gatekeeper’s Descendants (Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Medalist), Jophiel’s Secret (Winner of the 2023 General Market Suspense Fiction Award and the Christian Speculative Fiction Award), and Here Lyeth (finalist for The Word Guild’s 2025 Christian Speculative Award).

In addition, Johanna has just released a creative memoir, The Voice I Can’t Ignore, a deeply personal work that explores God’s abundant mystery and healing.

More from Johanna

A creative nonfiction based on a true story; how I rebuilt a house of faith following the death of my daughter.

This story leads the reader through an ancestral prophecy, profound visions and dreams, and a mother’s journey through symbolisms in the Holy Land. It shares how she guided her teenage daughter through a devastating diagnosis while wrestling with God, and reveals her spiritual rebuilding of an unshakable house of faith in the aftermath of loss.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 10

Simple Harvest Reads, January 11 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain , January 12 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 12

Artistic Nobody, January 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 14

Guild Master, January 15 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 16

Fiction Book Lover, January 17 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, January 18

Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 19 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 20

Blossoms and Blessings, January 21 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, January 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, January 22

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 23 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Johanna 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/j2Twg/the-voice-i-couldnt-ignore-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

"Not Exactly Mr. Darcy" by Carolyn Miller

About the Book

Book: Not Exactly Mr. Darcy

Author: Carolyn Miller

Genre: Romance/Contemporary/Christian Fiction

Release Date: December, 2025

Pride, Pemberley, and Second Chances

When history-loving Olivia Bennett’s teaching contract isn’t renewed, she is considered her family’s logical choice to care for her ailing grandmother in a tiny English village. While there, she soon finds additional work at nearby Hartbury Hall—one of England’s great houses once used as Pemberley in a filmed production of Pride and Prejudice. The head gardener there, however, proves to be anything but the gentlemanly hero of that famous book. Little does she know that behind Liam Browne’s brusque exterior is both a family tragedy and a legacy that demands truth and honor, creating a crisis that only Liv’s vivacious determination can resolve. Along the way, she may just learn that appearances count for naught. . .and that love can be found in unexpected ways.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

I had a really hard time getting going on this book. I'm not sure all the factors that went into that. It might have been partly due to it being set in Australia/England and I kept having to Google things to know what it was talking about (What is a casual teacher? Oh, a substitute teacher....) Also maybe partly due to the writing style. Maybe because I just wasn't in a place to be reading? I liked the Austen references and imagining what it would be like to visit a grand manor like they have in England.

About the Author

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational Regency and contemporary romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband, she has pastored a church for ten years and worked as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 6

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 6

The Sacred Line, January 7

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 8

Vicky Sluiter, January 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 9

Texas Book-aholic, January 10

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews , January 12

For Him and My Family, January 13

Lyssa Loves Books, January 13

Blossoms and Blessings, January 14

Mornings at Character Cafe, January 14

Holly’s Book Corner, January 15

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s book and movie reviews , January 15

Pause for Tales, January 16

Mary Hake, January 16

Cover Lover Book Review, January 17

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, January 18

To Everything There Is A Season, January 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carolyn is giving away the grand prize of a print copy of the book and a $25 Amazon eGift card!!

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

https://gleam.io/P3So9/not-exactly-mr-darcy-celebration-tour-giveaway

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

"The Goodness of Unicorns" by Kayla E. Green -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: The Goodness of Unicorns

Author: Kayla E. Green

Genre: YA Noblebright Fantasy

Release Date: October 21, 2025

One girl determined to heal her sister and another looking for purpose in a nation on the brink of war. And unicorns—with a twist you’ve never seen before.

It’s Rowan Tritonia’s sixteenth Naming Anniversary. Her plans for the day never included a headache that causes her to almost faint on a day meant for celebration. When the world comes back into focus, her brown eyes have changed to magenta. But what scares her more is that everything around her is now black and white coupled with a mysterious ability to see the light and shadows in a person’s soul. Then a local cleric implies that Rowan could have the power of Sight, a gift which has only been seen in the stories of unicorns in the Book of Verimor, an ancient text. Rowan is perplexed. Why would Verimor give her something she never asked for instead of answering her greatest prayer to help her younger sister, Blythe?

News of the girl with Sight quickly travels beyond Rowan’s local village. When the King of Wisteria learns of her gift from a letter, he summons her to the castle. With growing political tensions from neighboring nations, Rowan may be able to provide the aid they desperately need. Linnea, the king’s sister and his primary advisor, prays that Rowan has truly been blessed by a unicorn and can save the nation and its people from encroaching darkness.

Meanwhile, back at home, Blythe, sets out on her own journey. She feels helpless, tied down by the pain that keeps her homebound most of the time. Although she wears a smile to comfort those around her—especially her family—Blythe wonders if her life will ever amount to anything more than fading into the background. Is she truly too broken for any greater purpose, or can Verimor still use her?

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?
I would say I am a hybrid of a plotter and pantser. The more I write, the more I rely on
outlining before drafting. However, I have found my characters often like to make things difficult
by changing the outline without consulting with me first!

Do you have a way to keep track of your story ideas?
This is a great question! I love the Google Keep app on my phone. I keep various notes
to keep track of current projects I’m drafting with personal timeline goals, editing deadlines, and
new story ideas.

What is your writing space like?
I do not have a designated writing space. As a full-time parent, a lot of my writing is done
on my phone as I’m able to get words down here and there. I also have a rolling table and a
lapboard to be able to work on my laptop after bedtime in my house. I would love to have a
designated office/library complete with a bookshelf and rolling ladder one day!

Where do you get your ideas for your books?
I had Rowan’s story first (The Goodness of Unicorns) placed on my heart years ago
during a period of grief and hurting. That first draft was a means to process and begin healing.
Every step forward, setback, and determined step forward again helped shape the story to what it
is today. I wholeheartedly believe the stories I share are placed on my heart for a reason. God has
called me to create and share stories as means of both worship and testimony.

Do bits of yourself/friends show up in your characters?
I think it’s easy to unintentionally leave “crumbs” of oneself and one’s experiences with others
while crafting the “recipe” for characters so it’s easy as an author for me to relate, or at least
sympathize, with my cast of characters. Like Rowan, I’m a big sister and tend to want to “fix”
everything. Like Blythe, I have struggled to find my voice and advocating for myself has taken
time. Like Linnea, I strive to do right by my family and reflect God’s light but also struggle with
anxiety. Like Bane, I find change difficult a lot of the time.

About the Author

Kayla E. Green is an author and poet who writes to remind others—and herself—that light always prevails over darkness. When she isn’t writing, reading, or spending time with her family, she loves singing loudly and off-key to KLove Radio and pretending she’s a unicorn. Fittingly, her debut novel is The Goodness of Unicorns. Kayla has also written an award-winning YA fantasy novella, Aivan: The One Truth, and an inspirational poetry collection, Metamorphosis. Kayla also has stories, poems, and devotionals featured in various anthologies, and she has several flash fiction stories available through Havok Publishing

More from Kayla

Do you enjoy reading book dedications? The Goodness of Unicorns’ dedication reads:

For my twin sister and first friend, Kari:

My world, and the world at large, is brighter with you in it.

May everyone who reads this find the strength in their own journeys to embrace the beacon of hope God has placed in their hearts for both themselves and those around them.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15, NIV

It will come as no surprise to those who read the book’s dedication that TGOU is a story about two sisters who are best friends; but, like any relationship, conflict happens. And, sometimes, it arises from the best of intentions.

Sisters, navigating chronic pain, finding purpose and learning that bravery doesn’t always look like charging into battle are all elements you will find in The Goodness of Unicorns. Join sisters Rowan and Blythe in the world of Wisteria where they each have important choices to make for the sake of light, goodness, and one another.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, December 20 (Author Interview)

Inspired by Fiction, December 21

Artistic Nobody, December 22 (Author Interview)

CeCe Reads and Sings, December 22

Stories By Gina, December 23 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 23

Fiction Book Lover, December 24 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, December 25 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 26

The Lofty Pages, December 27

For the Love of Literature, December 28 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 29

Blossoms and Blessings, December 30 (Author Interview)

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, December 31

Guild Master, January 1

Blogging With Carol, January 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kayla is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, journal, pen, and unicorn themed item!!

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

https://gleam.io/2SyFy/the-goodness-of-unicorns-celebration-tour-giveaway

"The Young Samaritan" by J. Schuyler Sprowles -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: The Young Samaritan

Author: J. Schuyler Sprowles

Genre: : Faith Based/ Inspirational

Release Date: January 20, 2024

Is survival enough when faith is tested?

“The Young Samaritan” is a gripping coming-of-age story set in a tumultuous time, where faith, identity, and survival intersect on an extraordinary journey.

Joshua, a young Samaritan boy, is forced to flee his home, thrust into a world that is as dangerous as it is unfamiliar.

Along the way, he encounters a mysterious woman who delivers a haunting vision, a wild dog that stays loyally by his side, and a reclusive uncle whose life is shrouded in secrets. Amidst the chaos of his flight, Joshua discovers uncommon love in a forsaken land.

As Joshua’s journey leads him to a band of sojourners—led by a man called Rabbi—he becomes entwined with a group that many believe to be the Messiah’s followers.

Despite their hesitations, Joshua’s determination to stay with them leads him to a transformative path, one that will ultimately take him to the cross and beyond.

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

What is your favorite part about writing?
There is one word that comes to mind and it is freedom. When I write, I am free to journey
wherever I choose. My characters are of my own making and the words they speak come from
me alone.

What is your writing space like?
I need a space where I can retreat from the noise of the world and where stillness prevails. In
my case it is what my wife and I affectionately refer to as our library. It does have many books
on shelves, but also a clutter of old family photos, paintings galore and granddaughters’ toys
spread from end to end. Although I do complain about the seeming disorder, I secretly admire
this space, especially when I can close the door behind me and be enclosed in the blessed
silence this chaotic appearing space provides.

When did you become a writer?
In was during my high school years when I discovered that perhaps I had a knack for writing
stories. I’m afraid I was terrible student. I hated math and science and preferred to disrupt the
learning atmosphere with juvenile class clownery utterly frustrating my teachers. However,
whenever I had an opportunity to compose a story for an English class, I took the assignments
seriously and realized I enjoyed the process of using my imagination with words of my own. I
would even receive praise from teachers now and then that I had the makings of a good writer.
Getting this rare recognition from teachers served as confirmation that I was a good at this.

What is your work schedule/routine when you write?
When I wrote The Young Samaritan I adopted a routine that I felt would work for me.
My vow was to commit two hours a day, every single day to writing this story until I finished my
first draft of the manuscript. On many days I only managed to write a single paragraph or make
changes to the previous day’s text. On other days I wrote several pages. The key to all of this
was my commitment to devote two hours to this process every day until I wrote the last word.
I never committed to writing a set amount of words a day. That I felt would be a drudgery and
perhaps lead me to forcing the story forward just to meet my word count. However, my
discipline of devoting two hours a day to truly imagine where this story should go without being
forced into a word count was a routine entirely suited to me as a writer.

Do bits of yourself/friends show up in your characters?
Absolutely. Losing my father at an early age definitely shaped the emotional aspects of my
protagonist (Joshua) in The Young Samaritan. I also pulled from the days of my youth when I
was taken advantage by boys who I thought were my friends only to realize too late that they
were anything but. Throughout my formative years I had a wonderful and fiercely loyal German
Shepard named Count. On many days he would chase anything including rabbits or I would find
him running from angry neighbors after snatching a juicy steak off their backyard grill . When
the school bus dropped me off at the end of the day, there was Count waiting at my stop to
escort me home. In my story there is a stray dog who begins to follow Joshua and they soon
become inseparable. I attach all the characteristics of my boyhood companion to this stray dog
who I affectionately name Journey.

About the Author

A Chicago native, Schuyler as a teenager always dreamed of becoming a radio and TV talent. His aspirations led him to Hollywood where he trained as a broadcaster. He began his career as a country music DJ and news reporter in the Southwest. Ultimately he became a TV news anchor in Dallas. In time, Schuyler moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a television news correspondent. This eventually led to a decades long high-profile career in crisis management, political consulting and speech writing. Most recently, Schuyler turned to publishing, founding a family-oriented magazine in Southern California. A lifelong Christian, Schuyler admits to walking away from his faith in the past, only to discover the light of Jesus piercing the darkness to guide him back where he belongs. Inspired by the Gospels, “The Young Samaritan” is his debut novel. He currently lives in Pasadena, California with his wife Maureen.

More from J. Schuyler

The Young Samaritan was inspired by two verses from the New Testament in the Gospel of Mark (14:51 – 52). These brief verses describe an unidentified young man who attempts to intervene in the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is quickly seized by the temple guards but manages to escape their grip, leaving his garment in their hands, as he flees naked into the night. Nothing further about him is ever mentioned in the Bible.

The Young Samaritan is my vision of the backstory for this strange and provocative episode in Jesus’ journey to the cross. The Young Samaritan creates a compelling and transformational epic tale where a fictional literary character (Joshua) collides with biblical history.

Blogs Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, December 18 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 19

Artistic Nobody, December 20 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, December 21

Guild Master, December 22 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, December 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 23

Fiction Book Lover, December 24 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, December 25 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, December 26 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 27

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 28 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, December 29

The Bookish Pilgrim, December 29

Blossoms and Blessings, December 30 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, December 31

Giveaway

The Young Samaritan Celebration Tour Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, J. Schuyler is giving away the grand prize of a $75 Amazon Gift Card and a 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/8KF5J/the-young-samaritan-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, December 27, 2025

"Scent of Sabotage" by Dana Mentink

About the Book

Book: Scent of Sabotage

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release Date: December 30, 2025

Detective Beth Wolfe’s reunion with investigative journalist Jack St. James is a matter of life or death—and when a masked assailant attacks them, a severe blow leaves Jack with amnesia. Beth and her K-9, Arthur, are determined to keep Jack safe while he regains his lost memories. Was he targeted due to a case he was working on…or does it have something to do with the son they placed for adoption decades ago? When their investigations lead them inside a booby-trapped amusement park, it’s a race against the clock to put all the pieces together and uncover the park owners’ nefarious plot…or die trying.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

It was fun to be able to visit Security Hounds again and see familiar people and dogs. I found the story to be well written and easy to read. I liked the biblical faith thread. It kept me wanting to read and see what was going to happen next. I look forward to reading more books by Dana Mentink.

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the author of over fifty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Poisoned Pen Press.

More from Dana

How could we be at the end of a series? I’ve been having a wonderful time with the Wolfe family and their house full of hounds. The last book is finally Beth’s story. She’s the matriarch of the family who has experienced the loss of a spouse. In this story, she will meet the son she never knew and explore the idea of learning to love again. I feel especially fond of this book because Beth is an older heroine who has some living under her belt. She’s learned how to carry on, with her old dog Arthur, and stand faithfully in the face of adversity. Now that’s a heroine I can root for! I hope you enjoy this final installment of the Security Hounds series!