Thursday, August 28, 2025

Spotlight and Giveaway: The Undercover Heiress of Brockton by Kelly J Goshorn

About the Book

Book: The Undercover Heiress of Brockton

Author: Kelly J. Goshorn

Genre: Christian Fiction / Romance / Historical Fiction

Release Date: August 1, 2025

A Socialite in Disguise Seeks Truth and Justice

Henrietta “Etta” Maxwell is a hard-hitting investigative reporter for The Enterprise Daily. The catch? Etta must pen her columns under the nom de plume, Henry Mason—a fact that routinely puts a knot in her knickerbockers.

Leo Eriksson is a second-generation firefighter with a passion for rendering aid to those in need. When Leo discovers that Henry Mason is really Henrietta Maxwell, the fire department’s wealthy benefactress, he agrees to keep her identity secret. After a sudden blast rocks the Grover Shoe Factory, Leo and Etta team up to determine if the explosion is related to a series of suspicious fires in the area.

When an unnamed source reveals Etta’s secret identity to a rival reporter, she falsely accuses Leo of being the informant. As the truth comes to light, Etta must persuade Leo to give her a second chance or lose the only man she’s ever loved.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kelly J. Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into uplifting stories of love, faith, and family set in nineteenth century America. Her debut novel, A Love Restored, won the Director’s Choice Award for Adult/YA fiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference in 2019, and earned recognition as both a Selah Award finalist in the Historical Romance category and as a Maggie Award Finalist for Inspirational Fiction. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys spending time with her young adult children, binge-watching BBC period dramas, board gaming with her husband, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Levi.

More from Kelly

A Little Swedish Flavor

Beginning in 1844, Swedish immigrants began arriving in Brockton, Massachusetts. By 1920, Swedes accounted for approximately 30% of the city’s population. Their long-lasting impact on Brockton’s character remains evident today with annual cultural celebrations and religious festivals.

The Undercover Heiress of Brockton is set in the Swedish neighborhood of Campello. My hero Leo Eriksson’s favorite meal is Kalops, a savory beef stew that is traditionally served with boiled potatoes and pickled beets. For Leo, a bachelor who takes most of his meals at The Drake Tavern, the dish recalls happy childhood memories of his mother’s cooking.

Kalops contains typical stew ingredients like carrots, celery, onions, and garlic, but what makes this dish unique is the addition of allspice. Allspice adds a warm spicey flavor to the recipe that makes it perfect for a chilly winter day.

I had the opportunity to taste test this recipe, and while I would never brag about my own cooking skills, I have to say that it turned out quite well. I’d love to hear from you if you decide to give this traditional Swedish dish a try.

Kalops (Swedish Beef Stew)

Recipe courtesy of Skandibaking.

SERVINGS: 6

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 2 hours

INGREDIENTS

2.4 lbs chuck roast (or other beef cut suited for stews)

1 medium onion

2 cloves garlic

3 large carrots

1 stalk celery

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tbsp butter

3 tbsp flour

1/4 tsp ground allspice (or more to taste!)

2-3 bay leaves

3 cups beef stock (can also use water and bouillon)

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

SERVED WITH: 7 large potatoes

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep the beef by cutting into 1 inch cubes. Season well with salt.
Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil when preheated and add beef in one layer, searing on all sides. If you need to sear the meat in batches, you can remove one batch before adding the next to ensure that it browns well.
Dice your onion and celery while the beef is cooking (or prep ahead of time). Finely mince the garlic cloves.
Once the meat is browned on all sides, add in the onion, celery, and garlic. Cook until just softened.
Chop your carrots into bite sized pieces. You can either add the carrots now if you like them super soft or add them with about 45 minutes left of cooking if you prefer them to have more of a bite.
Add one tablespoon of butter and let it melt. Once melted, add in three tablespoons of flour and stir until everything is coated. Add in ground allspice.
Pour in beef stock, stirring while adding to dissolve the flour coating. Once all of it has mixed in, add in 2-3 bay leaves. Now is a good time to taste for initial seasoning – add in salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and cover. Let the stew simmer for about an hour and 15 minutes; add more water or stock if needed! Now is also the time to add the carrots if you want them to be less soft.
Simmer for an additional 45 minutes or until the beef is very tender – in the meantime, prepare the potatoes for serving.
Prep potatoes by peeling and cutting in half. Place in a pot with cold water and add salt. Heat over medium-high heat with the lid on until it boils. Remove the lid and boil for about 15 minutes or until a knife poked into the center of a potato releases easily (you can also just taste for doneness!). Drain and set aside until ready to serve.
Remove bay leaves. Check for final seasoning (add more salt if needed). Add stew to bowls and serve with boiled potatoes. Garnish with fresh parsley if you would like. Enjoy!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 27

Pens Pages & Pulses, August 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 28

Mornings at Character Cafe, August 28

Texas Book-aholic, August 29

Devoted To Hope, August 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 30

Books You Can Feel Good About, August 30

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 31

Blogging With Carol, August 31

Hannahbandanarama, September 1

For Him and My Family, September 1

Stories By Gina, September 2 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, September 2 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

She Lives To Read, September 3

Mary Hake, September 3

Book Looks by Lisa, September 4

Books Less Travelled, September 4

Blossoms and Blessings, September 5

Bizwings Book Blog, September 6

Holly’s Book Corner, September 6

Lily’s Corner, September 7

Jodie Wolfe, September 7

Pause for Tales, September 8

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 9

Cover Lover Book Review, September 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kelly 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.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54286

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Spotlight and Giveaway: Shaded Goodness by Kathleen J Robison

About the Book

Book: Shaded Goodness

Author: Kathleen J. Robison

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Jacquie Dupre has worked tirelessly to give her daughter, Destiny, a future free from the mistakes of her past. But when Mickey, her ex-husband returns to Bay Town, her carefully built world begins to crumble. He claims he’s changed. He’s conquered his addiction that destroyed too many lives, but can Jacquie believe him? As old wounds resurface and a dangerous figure from their past threatens their fragile peace, Jacquie must confront her deepest fears—about Mickey, about love, and about God. Can faith truly heal, can goodness prevail, or will their future be forever shaded by their past?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kathleen J. Robison weaves tales that inspire a walk of faith and a reliance on God’s guidance through life’s trials. With endearing characters, her stories are a testament to the resilience of broken lives, revived through hope and renewed through God’s grace. Kathleen and her husband call Southern California home residing near the beach and find their most joy in the company of their nineteen and counting grandchildren.

More from Kathleen

Have you ever heard of a Shoofly? The word conjures up an annoying, buzzing insect, but a Shoofly is a magnificent white, wooden, raised gazebo-like structure built around giant oaks and sycamore trees. Back in the 1800s, in the south, they elegantly dotted the coastline of Mississippi. Almost every vacation boarding house boasted one. A relaxing venue for people to gather while avoiding the large horse flies that tended to hover closer to the ground, pestering guests and residents. The raised platform also allowed guests to enjoy the ocean breezes on sweltering hot summer days. Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, due to storms, hurricanes, and erosion, Shooflys all but disappeared in the 1900s. Yet in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, the setting of my Bay Town Books, you can visit a Shoofly today in the local park downtown. In 1989, a group of town women decided to resurrect the nostalgic structure and had one built. It was completed nearly one hundred years after the near extinction of most of the iconic Shooflys along the Gulf Coast. It’s a key setting in my book, Shaded Goodness.

Recently, my childhood friend returned to visit Bay St. Louis. I asked him to take a picture of the Shoofly, and his wife took the shot above of him waving from the deck. He remembers visiting my family in Bay St. Louis sixty years ago, and he said it still has the charm and hasn’t changed or grown much. Except that it’s now an artisan’s dream! Can you imagine? I can. It’s why I set my romantic suspense series in the fictional setting of Bay Town, inspired by Bay St. Louis. Shaded Goodness is the last in the book series.

“You got to forgive him, Jacquie. And no, I haven’t seen him. But I have been talking to Pastor Roland, and it’s a dark spot, one of many in my soul.”

“Dark spots? Is that what you call ’em?” Jacquie threw up her hands. “I can’t even go there. That man killed –”

Themes of forgiveness, second chances, and redemption are woven throughout Shaded Goodness. It was a joy to write because the male protagonist in this book was inspired by the character of my deceased ex-brother-in-law. Shaded Goodness is entirely fictional, but I loved using Mickey’s good traits to craft his character. He was a truly good soul who sadly made poor choices throughout his life. I like to think that if he had lived long enough, his life might have turned out like Mickey’s in this book, happily ever after. That’s why I enjoyed writing this story, as it allowed me to give Mickey a life of redemption here on earth, and I’m grateful that he’s living it in eternity. His love for the Lord in his last years proved contagious, just like his Christ-indwelling goodness. All glory to the Lord.

I pray for my readers that, as in all my books, you will be encouraged in your faith. That’s why I like writing about second chances and reconciliation. Because God is all about that, isn’t he? The Bay Town Series is a collection of stand-alone books. Still, the returning characters, after facing their own troubles and tragedies, help their neighbors as they face similar trials. 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 instructs us to do just that. Some characters choose the right path, and some don’t, just like in real life. But God’s promised hope is extended to all.

Shaded Goodness comes full circle from book one. Melanie Thompson Brooks champions through tragedy in the prequel and in Shattered Guilt. Her growth enables her to serve as the guiding voice to Jacquie Dupree in Shaded Goodness. With similar backgrounds, the pain of their pasts threatens to unravel their future. You won’t need to read Shattered Guilt, Book One, to enjoy Shaded Goodness, Book Five, but I think you’ll want to go back and get to know the lovely people of Bay Town through Restored Grace (First Place in the National Excellence in Writing competition), Shadowed Doubt, and Ransomed Peace. I think you’ll find some good friends and wish they really were your neighbors.

I hope you’ll fall in love with the setting where I lived for a short time as a child. It’s why I set my books in the deep south of Mississippi. Where life was slower, and the small-town community came together for events and rallied and prayed for one another during difficulties, much like the body of Christ should. Come on down to Bay Town; it just may become home.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 26

Stories By Gina, August 27 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 28

Simple Harvest Reads, August 29 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, August 30 (Author Interview)

Fiction Book Lover, August 30

Guild Master, August 31 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 1

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 2 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 3

Blossoms and Blessings, September 4 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 5

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, September 6 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain , September 7 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 7

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 8 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback 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://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54285/

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Spotlight Book Tour and Giveaway: World Explorer Family Cookbook by Nabila Khashoggi

Book Details:

Book Title: World Explorer Family Cookbook by Nabila Khashoggi
Category: Middle-Grade Non-Fiction (Ages 8-12), 215 pages
Genre: Cookbook
Publisher: Full Cycle Publications
Publication Date: May 2025.
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

The Spartan & the Green Egg World Explorer Cookbook contains family-friendly recipes from across the globe. With beautiful photography and easy to follow instructions, this cookbook makes cooking educational and fun for adventurers. Ideal for sparking creativity and curiosity, it's a must have for anyone looking to explore the world through food. From simple dishes kids can prepare themselves to meals that invite adults to join in, it's the perfect opportunity for family bonding in the kitchen. Each recipe is paired with historical culinary fats of the country of origin. Whether making Mahjouba from Algeria or Chiles Rellenos from Guatemala, you will gain new skills while discovering cultures worldwide. Let the Adventure Begin!

BUY THE BOOK:
Full Cycle Publications
AMAZON
add the goodreads

Meet the Author:

Born along the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean and raised amid the rich cultures of Europe, Nabila Khashoggi blends global inspiration with entrepreneurial passion. She founded NABILA K, a lifestyle brand offering skincare, makeup, home ambiance, and products that celebrate indulgence and well-being.

Nabila sparked her young son's imagination with fantastical bedtime tales of a boy and his adventurous friends traveling the globe inside a living green egg — a whimsical extraterrestrial guide. These enchanting narratives blossomed into Spartan and the Green Egg, a colorful children's graphic novel and chapter-book series that introduces young readers to environmental stewardship, cultural diversity, and the wonders of our world.

connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Author Interview:

Q & A with Nabila Khashoggi: The Story (and Flavors) Behind The Explorer’s Cookbook

Q1: What inspired you to write The Explorer’s Cookbook?

A: Honestly? Curiosity, and maybe a pinch of mischief. I’ve always believed that food is the easiest (and tastiest) way to travel. I wanted readers of my Spartan & the Green Egg adventure series to not only imagine faraway places but also taste them. And because airline tickets aren’t always in the budget, I thought: why not make the kitchen the runway?

Q2: How did you choose which recipes to include?

A: It was a bit like assembling a dinner party guest list. I wanted dishes that were approachable, exciting, and had great stories to tell. Some recipes were inspired by my own travels, others from conversations with friends, and some came from moments of “Ooh, I’ve always wanted to try that!” My rule was: if it makes me want to grab a fork immediately, it made the cut.

Q3: Do you have a favorite recipe from the book?

A: That’s like asking a parent to pick a favorite child. Impossible! That said… I have a soft spot for the Netherlands dish called Stamppot. It’s fragrant, comforting, and makes you feel like you’ve just wandered into a spice market, even if you’re still in your slippers.

Q4: What’s the funniest moment you had while testing recipes?

A: Oh, there were plenty. My kitchen became a comedy show at times. The award probably goes to my attempt at making dumplings with friends, let’s just say half of them looked like works of art and the other half… like something an alien might serve. We ate them all anyway.

Q5: How do you see families using this cookbook?

A: I imagine it as a passport in recipe form. Families can pick a recipe, learn about the country it’s from, maybe even play some traditional music while cooking. It’s a way to spark conversations and curiosity while building memories. And if a little flour ends up on the dog? That’s just part of the adventure.

Q6: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

A: That food is about connection, connection to each other and to the wider world. I want people to try new flavors, yes, but also to appreciate the cultures those dishes come from. If someone finishes a meal from this cookbook feeling a little more connected to the world, I’ll consider it a success.

Q7: Any advice for new cooks who might be intimidated?

A: Start simple, be curious, and don’t fear the mess. Even if the dish doesn’t turn out picture-perfect, you’ll have learned something, and you can always call it “rustic” and serve it proudly.

Enter the Giveaway:

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Finding Juniper by Cindy Thomson

About the Book

Book: Finding Juniper

Author: Cindy Thomson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: January 2, 2025

For Patrick Doyle, the claim that time heals all wounds is a cruel lie.

In 1920, returning from WWI, Paddy finds Ireland creeping toward civil war. Invisible borders separate people, including Paddy and his pregnant girlfriend. With few prospects, Paddy sails to America. However, America is far from the land of opportunity he’d hoped for. And worse, his girl refuses to follow him because of her political involvement.

Thirty years later, Patrick has moved on with his life, building a new family. A letter arrives, suggesting the child he’d assumed died may be alive. Patrick’s American daughter Mardell pushes him to find out what happened to her sister, named Juniper. Patrick anxiously sails to Ireland.

Juniper endured a childhood in institutions, and when she’s released, she moves on without the parents who left her. Operating an apothecary out of an inherited cottage where villagers are slow to trust outsiders, Juniper finally finds a home when her grandmother arrives. Just as she feels comfortable and content, her father shows up at her door, bringing shocking news about her mother.

Finding Juniper invites readers on a journey of confronting the past, healing from old traumas, and redefining what family truly means.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Known for the inspirational Celtic theme employed in most of her books, Cindy Thomson writes both fiction and nonfiction and has published more than a dozen books. She is co-founder of the Faith & Fellowship Book Festival, vice president of the Mordecai Brown Legacy Foundation, frequent creative writing teacher at Thurber House, and a genealogy researcher. Her love of history inspires everything she writes. When she’s not minding grandbabies, she writes from her home in central Ohio where she lives with her husband Tom.

More from Cindy

Q&A Finding Juniper by Cindy Thomson

Q: What led you to write this book?

I answer this question in my author’s note, but with this novel hearing about how soldiers returning to Ireland after WWI were treated made me want to explore how someone might have coped. It was a tough time for them but it was also a tough time to be an Irish immigrant in America with no connections. Prohibition offered easy money so it was easy to imagine how someone like Paddy Doyle might have been drawn to work as a rumrunner. I was also interested in how a young girl left at an institution might have coped once she was released. Those two story ideas sparked the writing of Finding Juniper.

Q:What was the most unexpected challenge you encountered while writing a book?

I honestly had no idea it would take me so long to write this book. I mean years. It took me about two years initially and that was because my time to write is so limited right now. I watch my grandchildren full time. When I first thought it was ready, it was not. I got some good feedback and did a lot of re-writing. When I finally got the book to my editor I discovered that working sporadically had a cost. There were too many threads in the story that went no where, mostly because I lost track of the main story here and there. I tend to be a seat-of-the-pants writer rather than a plotter and when a lot of time passes between writing sessions I get lost. I do need some kind of outline rather than what I keep in my head. So to answer your question, finishing was the biggest challenge with this particular book.

Q: Can you share a moment from your personal life that inspired a scene or character in the book?

On my first trip to Ireland my father passed away back home. It happened toward the end of the vacation. When my husband and I were in Dublin the night before the flight home, we kind of wandered aimlessly. We stopped in at pub to grab a light dinner. It was a quaint place with round tables scattered about. It was fairly early in the evening so not too crowded. I took a quick photo of our drinks and the menu. On our way out the door, the bartender handed us two small keychains bearing the name of the place. I didn’t realize until after we’d gotten home that we’d wandered into a famous place with a literary connection: Davy Byrnes. From the pub’s website: “The literary giant with which Davy Byrnes is synonymous, is of course, James Joyce. Joyce regularly visited the premises and developed a special relationship with the friendly but abstemious Davy Byrne. Joyce’s Dubliners has mention of Davy Byrnes, but the Joycean character with which the premises is most associated with is Leopold Bloom of Ulysses.” So when my characters Paddy and Mardell arrived in Dublin in 1950, I wanted them to visit the pub and to know, unlike me, where they were.

Q: How did you choose the title for your book, and what significance does it hold for you?

Choosing this title was very different from the process for my other books. The title popped into my head first. From there I imagined a journey where a father searches for a daughter he never knew. Later I contemplated changing it. There are a couple of other novels with the title. But I couldn’t. This was the story, finding Juniper. So I kept it.

Q: Were there any themes or messages you consciously set out to explore in this book?

Yes, the definition of family. The process of healing from past hurts, forgiveness, reconciliation.

Q: What research did you conduct for this book, and did you uncover anything surprising or fascinating?

Research is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. I love finding the lessons characters from the past learned and passing those on in fiction. As I mentioned, learning about Irish soldiers returning to an Ireland that was not the same as the one they left sent me researching for what I could find about this. As one fellow author who was born in Ireland told me, it was not talked about. The fact that Ireland was slower to recover from the Great Depression was another detail I wanted to include. Not everyone was poor but it was tough to make a living. Asylums in Ireland often held people who did not need to be there. Not everyone was mistreated but many were, their only offenses being too pretty, pregnant outside of marriage, or having no family to care for them. How someone heals from this was another thread I wanted to explore. And of course visiting Ireland is the best part of research, at least I think so!

Q: Can you describe a memorable interaction you’ve had with a reader about this book?

I’ve been pleasantly amazed at what readers have been saying. Those who have read my other books say Finding Juniper is my best. Readers tend to say they love this story, which pleases me greatly. One of my favorite quotes from a review by Kathy: “It’s been a long time since a book brought me to tears, evoking a depth of emotion I rarely experience from reading a novel. Finding Juniper contains that kind of depth.”

Q: Are there any characters in the book that you relate to on a personal level?

There are bits and pieces in most of them but I would have to say Mardell. I was the youngest daughter with only half siblings. Some I was raised with and some I wasn’t. The circumstances are not the same as in the novel, but I think wanting to find out things about my parents’ lives before they had me has always interested me. I would have loved to take a trip of discovery with my father. Perhaps I was unknowingly aware of that while writing. And perhaps I actually did in a way since my father moved on to heaven while I was over there.

Q: What was the most rewarding moment you experienced during the writing process?

The editing phase always brings me the most rewarding moment. When the story I wanted to tell is actually there on the pages (with the help of an editor), when I know I’m close to the end, is so very exciting.

Q: How do you approach writing dialogue, and do you have any tips for crafting authentic conversations?

I hear the conversations as though they are actually happening. Sometimes that causes me to invent a word or a sound that doesn’t exist. Another reason I appreciate editors. Dialogue needs to feel natural and not like the author is dumping in information. What would the characters be thinking, feeling, questioning? It’s the time they come alive.

Q: What was the most challenging scene for you to write, and how did you overcome it?

When reading this question the first thing I thought of was the memories Paddy has of the traumatic events he experienced in WWI. Readers needed to know what Paddy went through so they’d understand why it affected him so much. It breaks my heart, though. Oh, what these men suffered. I tried not to re-read that scene any more than was necessarily. It’s not graphic violence but it is heart wrenching.

Q: Can you share a behind-the-scenes anecdote or interesting fact about the creation of this book?

I’ve already shared some, but here’s another. Postman Evans. I love him, and I hope readers will too. He’s helpful, cheerful, and takes his duties seriously. My dad was a postal worker. There’s a bit of him in Toby Evans. There is also a bit of the wonderful Irish people I’ve met wrapped up in this one character.

Q: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

If you are dragging around past hurts you can’t run from them. Facing them is the only way through. Whether or not you can make amends is not as important as laying them to rest is. Also, family isn’t always about blood or about those you are close to. Family is about who is in your heart. In my view, only God creates a family and we are all his children.

Q: What projects are you currently working on, and can you offer any hints or teasers for your upcoming work?

I hope that my next novel is not so long in coming. I have a good start on it, but I’m still hatching out the story. Readers will meet Juniper and many of the characters from Finding Juniper. I’m also working on a devotional for creatives.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, August 23 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 24

Artistic Nobody, August 25 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, August 26 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 26

Fiction Book Lover, August 27 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, August 28

Stories By Gina, August 29 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 30

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, August 31 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain , September 1 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 1

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 2 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, September 3

Vicky Sluiter, September 4 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, September 5 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Cindy is giving away the grand prize of an eBook copy of the book, a mug, and tea!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54284

My Review

I have always loved to read novels from the talented author, Cindy Thomson. I was so happy to find out she had a new release, Finding Juniper, and just had to get my hands on it. I was far from being disappointed and is my new favorite written by this author. I loved the story between Juniper and Patrick's. I thought it was a beautiful tale of trauma, healing, forgiveness, faith, love, understanding, adventure, and family.

I believe Finding Juniper deserves a five star rating. I have no doubt lovers of clean historical fiction will love it as much as me. As always, I will be on the lookout for releases from Cindy Thomson in the future.

I received a digital copy of Cindy Thomson's Finding Juniper from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Monday, August 25, 2025

Spotlight and Giveaway: A Spinster for the Viscount by Jackie Killelea

About the Book

Book: A Spinster for the Viscount

Author: Jackie Killelea

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: August 5, 2025

A guarded wallflower. A charming viscount with a past. Can their fragile bond withstand a treasure hunt filled with secrets and a cunning rival’s schemes?

After five failed seasons and one humiliating heartbreak, Jane Talbot has accepted her fate as a spinster. She agrees to attend Lord Sperrin’s country house party to escape society’s scrutiny, but the promise of discovering the legendary jewel of Parcathia adds unexpected intrigue and draws her into the path of the far too charming Henry Lendin, Viscount Harroway.

Henry wears a smiling mask for society while grieving his father and bearing the burden of his duty. As the hunt for the jewel unfolds and he finds himself repeatedly in the company of the overlooked Miss Talbot, her quiet wit and warmth begin to break through his defenses. Could he finally have found a woman who sees beyond his title?

As they unravel clues amidst whispered secrets and lies, a rival emerges with both the jewel and Jane in his sights. With danger looming and love on the line, will Jane and Henry find the courage to claim the greatest treasure of all?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Jackie Killelea is a born and raised small-town girl from Connecticut with a degree in English and Creative Writing. She started off her writing journey with poetry, soon shifting into novels and becoming hooked. On days when she’s not busy with her nose in a book, she can be found typing away with a cup of tea at her side.

More from Jackie

Hi all! I want to thank you so much for your interest in my book. Since reading it, perhaps you’ve wondered about a few things. Maybe one of those things is if I have a penchant for strawberries. After all, they come up in the novel often enough and are Henry’s favorite fruit. I must confess, dear reader, that they are mine, as well…
My mouth was watering when I was writing the strawberry-picking scene and I simply love the idea of a good strawberry tart. Therefore, I decided to take the basics for one and bend them to my preferences. And Henry’s. I do hope you’ll like them as much as I do! Note: The recipe is OLD FASHIONED. I MEAN IT. BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE ODD TASTE.
*Recipe for Henry’s Strawberry Tarts*
Ingredients
*Crust:*
- 1/2 Pound Butter(Cold)
- 1/2 Cup Ice Water/Cold Water
- 1/2 Tbsp. Salt
- 3 Cups Flour
Before beginning, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. This is important, I tell you! At least, if you like to save time, like me.
In a medium/large bowl, add flour and salt. Stir. Cut cold butter into small cubes, then add to flour mixture, cutting the cubes in with a pastry cutter until fine crumbs form. Once this has occurred, add water one tablespoon at a time, mixing after each tablespoon. After all water is
incorporated, if the mixture is too sticky to roll, add more flour until it can be. If the mixture is too dry and won’t form into a ball, add one teaspoon of white vinegar and knead the dough(only a little). If still too dry, continue to add water by the tablespoon until the dough forms into a ball.
Once the dough is formed into a ball in the bowl and doesn’t stick to your hands when touched, set it out on a floured surface and roll it with a rolling pin to about a quarter of an inch in thickness. From here, it can be cut into circles and each circle can be placed into a mini tart pan. You can crimp the edges, if you’re feeling especially fancy. 🙂 If you don’t have a tart pan on hand, you can use a cupcake pan and line the bottom half of each reservoir with pastry dough. The edges won’t be as pretty, but it will work in a pinch. Conversely, a full-sized tart pan will
do just fine.
It is at this point, once your dough is in its pans, that you can place it in the preheated oven to let it cook for about 10-15 minutes in order to set. Make sure it doesn’t overcook, though. This setting process will prevent the bottom of the pastry from getting soggy from the filling, later
on. Just like with babies, soggy bottoms on pies and tarts are a big downer.
While that’s cooking, it’s time to make the filling.

*The Filling:*

- 1 1/2 Cups of strawberries, rinsed and dried.
- 1/3 Cup White Granulated Sugar
- 4 Eggs + 1 Yolk
- Unseasoned Breadcrumbs (Optional)

Take your strawberries and remove their tops. Attempt to keep as much of the red fruit as you can. We want as much of the good stuff as we can get. In a medium/large bowl, crush them(a potato masher can come in handy for this part, or even pop them in the blender. We want them super crushed) and set aside. The mixture will be liquidy(yes, I’m aware liquidy is not a
word).
In a separate bowl, whisk your eggs and the extra yolk. Once they’re well-beaten and a light yellow color, add the egg mixture a little at a time to the strawberry liquid, stirring after each addition. It is at this point that you may also add breadcrumbs and stir them in. They’ll make the consistency of the tarts a bit thicker. If you do choose to add them, I recommend adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup. Make sure they’re unseasoned! No one wants Italian-spice-flavored strawberry tarts. I don’t imagine so, anyway.

TAKE OUT YOUR CRUST BEFORE IT BURNS. THOSE TART CRUSTS ARE GETTING TAN IN
THERE. Ok, now that you’ve read that reminder, let’s continue.

You may spoon, ladle, pour, etc., your tart filling into your tarts, now. Make sure only to fill them 3/4 of the way to the top, for you don’t want to spill that goodness over the edge. Once your crust/crusts is/are filled, you can shove them into the oven. They’ll have to cook for twenty minutes. If you have a full-sized tart, it will likely have to cook for more. Examine it for doneness like you would a pumpkin pie; When you wiggle the pan, the middle should only jiggle a very little bit, not like there’s a bunch of liquid beneath. More like a jello wiggle. Not a water
balloon. Add more time or take time away, depending on how the filling moves when you wiggle it. :)

Jello Wiggle = Yes
Water Balloon Wiggle = No

Once the tarts are done, take them out and let them cool for a while. The filling needs to set a bit more. Put the pan in the fridge, even, once it’s cool enough, if that’s what you’d like to do. When the tarts are sufficiently cooled(they can still be a little warm), you can remove them from their pans and decorate them with sweetened whipped cream and cut strawberries/fruits. Or leave them plain. Your choice.
They’ll look very cute, regardless of what you cooked them in. A fair warning before you try them, however: This recipe is a very old one that I’ve only changed a little. Therefore, don’t be surprised if the results are not what you’re expecting. This dessert is certainly not like those artificial, too-sweet, abominations we have today. Neither is it like the refined, well-spiced, classic treats we’ve come to love.
Bake at your own risk…And tag me on social media if you decide to make them. I’d love to see what you think! :)

Love to all and happy baking,

Jackie Killelea