Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Marquess’s Masked Archer by Abbey Downey

About the Book

Book: The Marquess’s Masked Archer

Author: Abbey Downey

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 15, 2026

A hidden identity. A relentless marquess. And a summer where love could expose everything.

When Cleveland society parades debutante Sylvie Bryce before another string of unsuitable suitors, she secretly claims the one thing no one can arrange for her—a life of her own. Hidden beneath a green velvet hood and emerald mask, she becomes the mysterious Lady Robin, a daring trick-shot archer who captivates the crowds at Cedar Point resort. It’s the one place where Sylvie answers to no one. The last thing she needs is a charming English marquess threatening to unravel everything she has worked so hard to build.

Miles Wentworth didn’t come to Ohio looking for love. He came to study insects, escape the shadow of a devastating scandal, and prove that a man can build a life on his own terms. But a chance encounter with a boldly independent woman—first in a glittering ballroom, and then behind the mask of a legendary archer—upends every carefully laid plan. Determined to protect her, even from himself, Miles steps into a dangerous game of secrets and deception—one that draws them closer with every anonymous letter and stolen moment…even as the truth has the power to ruin them both.

A richly atmospheric Gilded Age romance brimming with wit, hidden identities, and the tender courage it takes to love without pretense—a tale of a sharp-shooting socialite, a science-minded lord, and the summer of secrets that will change them both forever. Perfect for fans of Jen Turano and Roseanna M. White.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Abbey Downey started writing inspirational romance stories during naptime when her kids were babies and found she couldn’t stop. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in central Indiana with her husband, two kids, and one rather enthusiastic beagle. She loves watching her middle schoolers in all their activities and fixing up a 125-yar-old farmhouse with her husband.

 

 

 

 

More from Abbey

“Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be impressed and entertained by the marvelous skill of Lady Robin, our own famed archer. Reminiscent of Robin Hood of old, she performs feats with a bow that are only dreamed of by most masters. Now, please, sit back and enjoy the show.” – The Marquess’s Masked Archer

 

Why do fictional characters hide? They might keep their entire identity hidden under a costume, their face covered with a mask, or just parts of who they are kept behind a confident act, but secrets are often an element of the conflict in books we love. And it’s for the same kinds of reasons all of us have tried to hide aspects of ourselves at one time or another. Fear. Shame. Protection. Freedom. Survival.

Characters in fiction reflect the truth of our human existence. Most of us probably aren’t dressing up as a female Robin Hood to perform archery trick shots or writing secret admirer letters to win a love interest, like my characters do in The Marquess’s Masked Archer. But the reasons Sylvie and Miles choose secrecy are all too relatable.

Sylvie’s goal in hiding behind a green hood is to give herself a taste of freedom. Her high society world is prescribed and controlled. There are very few opportunities for her to make choices in life. And while she longs to have more freedom, she also worries that if she were to get the independence she so desires, she would fail miserably and be forced to return to her parents in shame. Isn’t it relatable to want something desperately but at the same time be terrified that we can’t actually handle getting it?

In a different way, Miles hides behind a new life for protection. After false accusations in his youth left him disgraced in England, he wrestles with his purpose. His passion for medical entomology has given him hope for a normal life, but he also feels the constant weight of expectations due to his noble title. He’s certain people only see what they want to when they look at him, so he hides away doing his research, hoping no one will look at all. How truly human is that? We hide so much of ourselves out of worry that people won’t understand or will immediately jump to conclusions about who we are based on one glimpse.

But God didn’t create us for secrecy. The tension of hiding makes it difficult for Sylvie and Miles to fall in love, in spite of their interest in each other from the beginning. Every step forward brings new worry that they’ll be found out and their plans will be destroyed. Each romantic moment comes with the discomfort of knowing they aren’t being completely genuine with each other. Even Sylvie and Miles’s first kiss is shrouded in questions about whether the other knows that they meant it.

In the end, Sylvie and Miles’s story is also about what happens when they’re forced to take off the masks. It takes trust in each other and in God for them to finally get to the moment of happily ever after that we all love so much. Just like in fiction, when we trust God with those secret parts of ourselves, we can start to see how living in truth offers more freedom than hiding.

Do you enjoy a hidden identity or secret admirer trope? What’s your favorite book that includes one of those?

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 26

Texas Book-aholic, September 27

Pause for Tales, September 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 28

Madi’s Musings, September 29

For Him and My Family, September 30

Book looks by lisa, October 1

The Vine and The Branch, October 1

Devoted Steps, October 2

Leslie’s Library Escape, October 2

Lyssa Loves Books, October 3

Devoted To Hope, October 4

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 5

Blossoms and Blessings, October 6

Holly’s Book Corner, October 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 8

Lily’s Corner, October 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Abbey 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/GCnUr/the-marquesss-masked-archer-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

I have to admit that as soon as I saw the beautiful cover of The Marquess's Masked Archer by Abbey Downey, I knew I had to read it. It starts off the Headliners and Heartstrings series and I thought it was a great way to start the series. I adored meeting the duo of Sylvie and Miles. Their story was full of action, adventure, and romance. I loved it and had no problem reading it fully in a short time.

I am going to give The Marquess's Masked Archer five stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read clean historical romance. I can not wait to find out what happens next in the second installment from Abbey Downey's Headliners and Heartstrings series.

I received a paperback copy of Abbey Downey's The Marquess's Masked Archer from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Book Tour: Soldier's Joy by M F Jones

Book Details:

Book Title: Soldier's Joy: Book II of The Sentinel Heart Trilogy by M.F. Jones
Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +)
Genre: Romance: historical, supernatural, military​
Publisher: Fieldwood Books
Release date: Sep 28, 2026
Content Rating: PG-13 + M: Soldier's Joy contains wartime violence, the suicide of a minor character, two slightly explicit sex scenes though without gratuitous detail, and profanities like s**t, a**hole, and God damn it, though no f-words.

Book Description:

Avery Gowan is barely home from Iraq when a ghost appears to him—one that looks disturbingly like him. The apparition says that Jessie Gibbs, a woman he’s just met, can help him escape the guilt of the mission that killed three of his friends and maimed another.

A few days earlier, at a service honoring his family’s Civil War relative, Lemuel Sanders, Avery was drawn to Jessie’s quiet strength and calm presence. Jessie, a musician, had been camping with her Civil War-style band the previous year when she discovered Lemuel’s unmarked woodland grave, leading to his identification and proper burial after 145 years.

Jessie and Avery begin a relationship, but his anger, recklessness, and self-doubt threaten to tear them apart. When the ghost saves him from a deadly motorcycle crash, Avery hides the truth about his spectral guardian, afraid Jessie will see him as broken beyond repair.

But Jessie is hiding something too—a secret about her true connection to Lemuel Sanders that may cost her Avery’s love.

The sequel to the award-winning Stones River, Soldier’s Joy nonetheless stands alone as a haunting, emotionally charged story about how the past refuses to stay buried, how healing demands facing it, and how love gives the courage to do so.
Buy the Book:
Amazon
B&N ~ BAM ~ Bookshop.org
add to Goodreads


Meet the author:

M. F. JONES is a former editor for Viking Press book publishers, and Redbook, Family Circle, and Reader’s Digest magazines. When not writing, she can be found reading, knitting (while listening to audiobooks), singing in a choir, or hiking in the beautiful Tennessee woods near the home she shares with her husband, composer Douglas Hedwig. ​

Connect with the author: Website ~ facebook ~ goodreads

Guest Post:

Now Hear This! 

By M. F. Jones 

I’m a huge fan of audiobooks, and as an avid knitter I always have a book playing as I wield my needles (unless I’m working on a pattern that demands complete concentration). So it was natural for me to want to have audio versions of my two books (so far) in The Sentinel Heart Trilogy.  But the cost of producing an audiobook is exorbitant -- $2500 and up.  And I knew I wouldn’t be happy with the more economical option of an AI-voiced reading. 

Thankfully my local library has a state-of-the-art recording studio and allows patrons to use it for free, with the help of an engineer, for 6 hours a month. I began recording the first book in the trilogy, Stones River, in September of 2025, and released the finished book on Audible.com in February of this year. 

In the studio, doing my best to channel my

favorite audiobook narrators

It was an amazing experience and incredibly labor-intensive, first with doing the approximately 40 hours of recording, and then learning how to edit, splice in corrections, adjust volume, and add music, using the GarageBand program. The only thing I had to pay for was the final mastering. (To hear a sample of the finished product, click here https://a.co/d/098RWgoV and choose “Preview Audio” under the cover image.)  

Now I’m recording Soldier’s Joy. I hope to have it finished, mastered, and available by Christmas, but that’s going to be a push. Out of the 34 chapters, plus intro, acknowledgments, and author’s note, I’ve completed 17 chapters, with much editing still to be done. 

To add to the excitement, I’m working on my next book, Bright Canaan, the third book in the trilogy, which I hope to publish in September 2027. It’s presently in first draft form, a solid base to build on but requiring much cutting, editing, and revision. On a retreat in January with my writers’ group I hope to get it into shape. Then will come the final editing by a developmental editor, a copy editor, and a proofreader, and the extended process of production into book form. And I’ll start a new recording. 

As I think all the foregoing makes clear, the independent publishing path is one of constant work, considerable expense that there’s little assurance of earning back (true for most authors, whether self- or traditionally- published), and a steep learning curve to master the different technologies required. For most writers it has to be a labor of love. And I do love it. It gives me joy to be doing what I feel I was born to do. 

Not the least of the expense—of money, time, and emotional energy—comes in the marketing. For many of us introverted writers, promoting ourselves and our books requires a major venture out of our comfort zone. That’s why I’m so grateful to reviewers like you who spend your own resources reading my and other writers’ offerings and letting readers know about them. Thank you!

My Review:

Stones River: A Civil War Story of Courage, Sacrifice, and an Otherworldly Love was among one of my favorite books I had read in 2025. I was excited to find out that it was start of a series called, The Sentinel Heart Trilogy. As soon as I had the chance to read the second installment, Soldier's Joy, I jumped for that opportunity. I was far from being disappointed. M F Jones really knows how to craft a believable paranormal story that collides the past and present. I loved catching up with Lem and Jessie again, being introduced to Avery. I loved how characters living century and a half apart can bring healing and how to deal with horrific traumas they had faced in their lives. I adored Stones River, but surprisingly I believe I adored this one even more. I loved it so much.

I am going to give Soldier's Joy a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read romance with a paranormal and historical twist. I can not wait to get my hands on the third and final book from The Sentinel Heart Trilogy to see what happens next, as well as, how it all ends. I am definitely a fan of M F Jones and their books. 

I received a paperback copy of M F Jones' Soldier's Joy from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Book Tour: The Wandering Stars by J D Rasch

Book Details:

Book Title: The Wandering Stars by J.D. Rasch
Category: Adult Fiction 18 yrs +, 316 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Lamina Press
Release date: October, 2026
Format available for review: print - softback (USA only) and ebook (EPUB, PDF, MOBI for Kindle) internationally
Content Rating: PG: No profanity. Occasional mentions of sex but nothing explicit.​

Book Description:

​When a sacred journey is corrupted by ambition, a quest for unity becomes a struggle for control

Seeking wisdom and communion with their god, a fellowship of wizards and wanderers sets out in search of the legendary Golden Tree. But as hardship, ambition, and doubt settle in, the group fractures—letting the wizard Thurmore violently seize control, transforming his fellow wizards into mindless servants and corrupting their search for wisdom into a pursuit of power.

Elsewhere, Alitheia—the Wanderer and one of the few to have found the Golden Tree—returns to the Silver Forest, only to discover another tree rising from a desolate plain. Joined by Rogi, a former wizard searching for meaning beyond power, she follows a path not toward dominion but understanding.

As Thurmore's influence spreads, two competing visions of the future emerge: one built on obedience and fear, the other on compassion and connection. The fate of the wandering stars—and all who follow them—hangs in the balance.

Philosophical and character-driven, The Wandering Stars is an epic fantasy adventure exploring ambition, redemption, and the enduring search for meaning.
BUY THE BOOK:
(pre-order now - release date: Oct 13)
AMAZON ~ BOOKSHOP.org
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

JODY “J. D.” RASCH is a writer, artist, social activist, and author. His debut fantasy series, The Wanderer, incorporates social issues including politics, religion, science, and how we are influenced in our lives.

Jody is also a painter whose art explores the mysteries of our world. He worked in finance for many years but managed to use it for good by helping banks that give loans to the poor. Jody currently serves on not-for-profit boards that seek to make the world a better place.

A native New Yorker who was forced to move to the burbs, Jody now lives just outside New York City.

Connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ goodreads

My Review:

The Wandering Stars is the first book I have read by the talented J D Rasch. It is, also, the third installment from their The Wanderer series. Although it is part of a series, I felt like I could gather enough information to enjoy this one. I am not a huge fan of fantasy fiction. However, I thought this one was pretty good. The details of the story made me intrigued and wanting to keep reading and feeling like I was part of the characters' world. I could see the important life lessons that many readers could learn from. I admired the characters determination, courage, and bravery all throughout the book. The tale was full of action, adventure, intrigue, and suspense. I thought it was a perfect mix. It was an honor to be able to take this journey and seeing how it would all end for everyone involved. 

I am going to give The Wandering Stars four and a half stars. I believe fans of fantasy fiction will not want to miss out on reading it. I would love to go back and read the two previous books from J D Rasch's The Wanderer series, The Silver Forest and The Quasi-Crystal. I am curious to see where the author's imagination took their readers to prior. 

I received a paperback copy of J D Rasch's The Wandering Stars from the publisher but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Spotlight and Giveaway: Belle's Christmas Carol by Michelle Griep

About the Book

Book: Belle’s Christmas Carol

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance

Release Date: September 1, 2026

While all of London waits for snow, an orphanage in need holds holiday cheer, sparks of love, and secrets waiting to be discovered.

When Ebeneezer Scrooge’s former fiancée, Belle Beaumont, unexpectedly inherits a struggling London orphanage, she dreams of giving the children of Haven House the most splendid Christmas they’ve ever known. But her vision of snowflakes and merriment quickly collides with reality: Fire damage has rendered part of the building unsafe, and the paperwork is years behind.

Barrister Rafe Munro is fighting to clear an innocent man and searching for a child, who may be his relative. His pursuit leads him to Haven House, where Rafe offers to help Belle sort through the chaotic records that might lead to the missing child. Amid the mayhem of running an orphanage full of mischievous children and eccentric staff, will Belle and Rafe find love and the answers they seek this holiday season?

With characters from Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, this festive historical romance Christmas novella of family and second chances from Michelle Griep is set in Victorian England and perfect for fans of Julie Klassen and Mimi Matthews.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Michelle Griep is an award-winning author known for her captivating historical romances. With a keen eye for detail, she pens tales that transport readers to the past where they’ll experience romance, adventure, and unforgettable characters. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her garden scaring away armadillos. 

More from Michelle

Why I Gave Scrooge’s Belle Her Own Christmas Carol

Guest post by Michelle Griep

I’ve always been suspicious of characters who appear just long enough to break your heart and then vanish without so much as a forwarding address. Belle from A Christmas Carol is one of those.

Scrooge, of course, gets the full treatment. Ghosts. Doom. Moral terror. A dramatic overnight transformation. Turkey delivery. The works. And yes, yes, it’s all very moving. But Belle? Come on. All she gets is one aching goodbye and then is shoved neatly into Scrooge’s past. So, excuse me, Mr. Dickens, but I have questions.

What became of the woman who loved Ebenezer before greed got to him? Did she regret walking away? Did Christmas ever sting? Did she build a fine, sensible life or did some little corner of her heart still ache for him or not? That wondering became Belle’s Christmas Carol.

In my story, Belle Beaumont unexpectedly inherits Haven House, a struggling London orphanage with fire damage, muddled ledgers, eccentric staff, and children who are more than rambunctious. Naturally, Belle decides she will set everything to rights and give the children the most splendid Christmas imaginable because—like me—apparently the woman has never heard of pacing herself.

Then along comes Rafe Munro, a handsome barrister searching for a missing child, and Belle’s tidy plans start to change. Oh, did I mention he’s single? That’s because I wanted Belle to be more than Scrooge’s lost love. I wanted her to have grit, flaws, hope, purpose, and a future all her own.

Because sometimes the story doesn’t end with goodbye. Sometimes that’s where the real story begins.

Blog Stops

Where Faith and Books Meet, October 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 6

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , October 7

The Avid Reader, October 7

She Lives To Read, October 7

Texas Book-aholic, October 8

Devoted To Hope, October 8

Betti Mace, October 9

Inkwell Inspirations , October 9

The Lofty Pages, October 9

For Him and My Family, October 10

Romances of the Cross, October 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 11

Jeanette’s Thoughts , October 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 12

The Vine and The Branch, October 12

Maureen’s Musings, October 13

Fruitfully Planted, October 13

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 13

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 14

Mornings at Character Cafe, October 14

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 15

Simple Harvest Reads, October 15 (Guest Review from Donna)

Cover Lover Book Review, October 16

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, October 16

Vicky Sluiter, October 16

Devoted Steps, October 17

Lily’s Corner, October 17

Holly’s Book Corner, October 18

Mary Hake, October 18

Blossoms and Blessings, October 19

Pause for Tales, October 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize of a $25 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/KNJXt/belles-christmas-carol-celebration-tour-giveaway

Review and Giveaway: CSB Teen Study Bible: Asking & Answering Questions About the God's Word

Order the new Teen Study Bible! https://bhpub.org/ur7yB

Build resilient faith in the next generation with the new CSB Teen Study Bible.

Featuring a unique Q&A style study approach, devotionals for personal
growth, and topical articles on complex faith questions, this Bible equips
students to connect Scripture to their everyday life.

Endorsed by Shane Pruitt, the CSB Teen Study Bible is an ideal study Bible for student ministries to buy in bulk, with three economical hardcover editions available.

This Bible is the perfect gift for every student—it’s durable, a convenient size
to carry, and includes content written specifically for their generation.

Robust study helps and practical devotions make this
Bible great for students who want to go deeper in Bible study.

Students are growing up in a world in which AI and social media parade as
truth. There’s no more vital moment than now to present Scripture’s truth
in a way that is easy to find for teens, preteens, and their parents.

Push back on deconstruction by equipping your students
to search God’s Word on their own, starting today.

What are the questions keeping your students up at night? This Bible can help.

Order the new Teen Study Bible for the teens in your life! https://bhpub.org/ur7yB

My Review: 

I enjoyed going over the CSB Teen Study Bible: Asking & Answering Questions About the God's Word. At the beginning of each Biblical chapter, there is an Introduction that includes: Who Wrote It?, When It Was Written?, Why Does It Matter?, and Where Should I Look For Christ?. Sprinkled throughout the chapters, there are commentaries that may help answer questions that a teen may have about the text, which I really found interesting to read. There are a LOT of footnotes, also, that can help, as well.

CSB Teen Study Bible: Asking & Answering Questions About the God's Word is definitely getting five stars from me. I believe it will make a great gift for any teen. A perfect addition for the upcoming Holiday season.

I received CSB Teen Study Bible: Asking & Answering Questions About the God's Word from Lifeway Christian Resources, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Disclosure:

Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Giveaway: 

1 GRAND PRIZE giveaway of the CSB Teen Study Bible Bundle (retail value of approx. $149.99)

Qualifications: Giveaway winners must be a US resident.

To enter: Entrants must fill out THIS FORM (there’s no other way to enter) by 10/20)

Bundle contents: 1 CSB Teen Study Bible (Blue Hardcover), a CSB Backpack, a CSB Sweatshirt, Yeti, Journal, and Pen.

Spotlight and Giveaway: Murders in the Marquee by Dana Mentink

About the Book

Book: Murders in the Marquee

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release Date: September 1, 2026

In this witty historical murder mystery set in a San Francisco hotel, an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths must uncover a killer before another guest checks out for good.

In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.

Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.

Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion for excellence in mystery/suspense. She was honored to receive the Author of the Year award from West Coast Christian Writers. A California native, she’s written over sixty titles for the general and Christian markets in the suspense, lighthearted romance, and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Revell.

More from Dana

Ice cream or pie? Cake or cookies? Beach or mountains? The answer for me is always, “Yes!” I’m a restless soul, I suppose, but I’ve never been able to choose one delight over the other. I’m that way with writing too. I started my career in mystery and sidestepped to suspense. It’d be so much easier to stick with one genre but no. Dana Mentink has to write both, it seems. I attended a Harlequin anniversary celebration in Toronto a couple of years ago and listened to the editors discuss their futures wishes. Tina James mentioned she’d like to see an “Only Murders in the Building” type book or maybe a historical mystery. Whammo! The idea hit me like a train. What about both? An Only Murders in the Building/Downton Abbey type mashup? The series idea was born. Lots of twists and turns? Check. Humor? Check? An unlikely crime solving trio? You bet! I’m truly thrilled to have been allowed to step back into mystery land. I hope you’ll enjoy the results!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 29

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 29

Books Less Travelled , September 30

She Lives To Read, September 30

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 1

Texas Book-aholic, October 2

Wishful Endings, October 2

For Him and My Family, October 3

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 3

Lily’s Corner, October 4

Blogging With Carol, October 4

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 5

Leslie’s Library Escape, October 6

Life of Literature , October 6

Connie’s History Classroom, October 7

Mary Hake, October 7

Blossoms and Blessings, October 8

Holly’s Book Corner, October 9

Pause for Tales, October 9

Cover Lover Book Review, October 10

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 11

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 12

Lights in a Dark World, October 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a $100 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/hz50N/murders-in-the-marquee-celebration-tour-giveaway

Spotlight: Life Plan: Living by Design, Not Default by Rich Harris

Living by Design, Not Default by Rich Harris

Synopsis:

Many of us do not consciously design our lives. We drift into routines and patterns shaped by habits, past experiences, and external expectations. Over time, those unexamined patterns can create a quiet but persistent sense of misalignment, even as our lives generate meaningful external validation.

In Life Plan: Living by Design, Not Default, Rich Harris provides a practical framework for living with greater clarity, balance, and intention. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and a written annual life-planning practice he has followed for three decades, Harris explains why change is hard, how subconscious patterns shape our behavior and decisions, and what it takes to create lasting alignment between who you are and how you live.

Rather than relying on inspiration alone, Life Plan introduces a structured life-planning process designed to help readers clarify priorities, interrupt autopilot thinking, and align daily actions with deeper values and long-term goals. Through accessible behavioral science, personal stories, real-world examples, and end-of-chapter "Thought to Action" exercises, readers learn how to reflect more honestly, decide more intentionally, and build habits that support meaningful change and true alignment.

More than motivational sound bites or traditional self-help platitudes, Life Plan offers a grounded, thoughtful guide to designing a life that reflects what matters most to you.

Book Links: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1918661332/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/255556134?ref=s_s

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/life-plan-living-by-design-not-default-rich-harris/811eed8a455c04c2?ean=9781918661330&bkshp-astro=t

Meet the Author: 

Rich Harris is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, and founder of Life Plan, a platform dedicated to helping people live with greater purpose, clarity, and intention. For nearly thirty years he has completed an annual written life plan that aligns his actions with his values. He currently lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife and twins. 

more at LifePlan-RichHarris.com.