Celebrate Lit Lethal Design (KC & Orlando Prime Book 2) Author: S.F. Baumgartner

 

About the Book

Book: Lethal Design (KC & Orlando Prime Book 2)

Author: S.F. Baumgartner

Genre: Crime Thriller with Christian elements

Release Date: August 4, 2026

Some deaths are designed.

The death looks routine — no foul play, no reason to dig. But KC knows this building and what happened here a year ago. And the pattern spreading across the city is no coincidence.

Professionals with no addiction history are dying along eerily similar paths. Someone patient and invisible is engineering these outcomes. As the Orlando Prime task force chases separate leads across the city, the threads begin pointing to the same dark center.

The closer they get, the more dangerous the truth becomes. Some designs were never meant to be uncovered — and the cost of exposing this one may be more than any of them are prepared to pay.

Perfect for fans of Terri Blackstock and Lynette Eason who love fast-paced, clean crime thrillers with the intensity of Criminal Minds and the grit of NCIS.

Follow Kylie “KC” Cassidy and the Orlando Prime task force as they take on the cases no one else can crack, starting with Lethal Design.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

S.F. Baumgartner crafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets and Forgotten Secret—Books 1 & 2 of her Mirror Estate series—named Top Picks in the thriller & suspense categories, respectively, at Killer Nashville, and Tangled Secrets—Book 3 of Mirror Estate series—won couple of awards in the Christian Indie Awards and the Incipere Awards. When she’s not plotting her next twist, she’s binge-watching crime TV shows, like NCIS or playing with her cats. Fans of James Patterson’s style, especially those who appreciate short, punchy chapters, will find much to love in her work.

 

More from S.F.

Lethal Design, Book 2 in the KC & Orlando Prime series, shifts the spotlight in a powerful way. While Fatal Invitation centered on Detective Kylie Cassidy, this installment dives deep into the elite Prime Task Force, especially its leader, Commander Frank Travers.

A year ago, Travers lost his wife to a brutal, unsolved murder. The case went cold. The killer vanished. But in Lethal Design, that past refuses to stay buried.

As KC and the Prime team investigate a new wave of suspicious deaths, threads begin to surface, threads that may finally lead Travers to the truth he’s been chasing. And this time, it’s personal.

What makes this story especially layered is how it connects back to the larger conspiracy introduced in Stolen Secrets. Pieces are moving. Secrets are colliding. And everything must align as the story builds toward a confrontation that’s been a long time coming.

Expect high-stakes action, tight investigative work, and emotional tension as justice and revenge blur into something far more dangerous.

Because when Travers comes face-to-face with his wife’s killer… there’s no guarantee he walks away.

And KC may be the only one who can keep him from crossing a line he can’t come back from.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 31

The Lofty Pages, July 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 1

Vicky Sluiter, August 2 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, August 3

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 4

Texas Book-aholic, August 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 6

For the Love of Literature, August 7 (Author Interview)

Blogging with Carol, August 8

Because I said so, August 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 10

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 11 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, August 12

Betti Mace, August 13

Leslie’s Library Escape, August 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, S.F. is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook 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/uhz7K/lethal-design-celebration-tour-giveaway

Harvest of Hope by Ronda Wells

 

Harvest of Hope is the story of a Hollywood producer who never planned to spend a summer in Kansas, a cowboy veterinarian who never planned to need her, and the harvest neither of them saw coming.

Two engagements shattered.

Two hearts guarded.

Two vows never to love again.

Being jilted at the altar taught Holly Woodward and Josh Landon the same lesson: don’t risk your heart again.

Holly needs Josh’s historic Kansas mansion for her next film to save her career—but the stubborn rancher-veterinarian refuses. After he rescues her from a deadly blizzard, their uneasy truce shatters when an injury leaves Josh dependent on the one woman he can’t stand.

Forced together, sparks fly as fiercely as their arguments. But as they lean on faith and uncover surprising ties between their pasts, their guarded hearts begin to shift.

Can they trust God—and each other—enough to love again?

Amazon 

 

About The Author

 Doctor by day, writer by night—award-winning author Dr. Ronda Wells penned the award-winning novella, The Christmas Cherub. She aims to bring sweetness and light into her readers' lives with her “Heartfelt Stories from the Heartland.” A Guideposts contributor, her online devotions publish at Crossmap and Arise Daily. Connect with her @rondawellsbooks on X, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Pinterest and Linked In, or on YouTube @novelmalpractice. Her next book, a contemporary inspirational western romance, Harvest of Hope, releases in August, 2026.

 

My Review

A beautifully woven Christian read, that kept me page turning!
The story starts with a bang, a snowstorm in May, and continues, with some very hard life issues, but the finding of two hurt individuals to join the same path is heartwarming, if not rocky.
A lot of deceit happens in this read, past loves turning out not to be whom you thought they were.
The setting here is a beautiful Kansas ranch home, with a history, whether true or not.
The story does have a lot of action, some do get hurt, but the love of this community is wonderful!
I loved the ending, and sweet epilogue!
I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.  

The Ladies Hall by Vanessa Miller

 

1880s, Ohio. When Mary and Anna enter the Bachelor of Arts program, also known as the "gentlemen's course" of study, at Oberlin College, they have little in common other than the color of their skin and their passion for education.

While Mary was raised in luxury, attending presidential inaugurations with her wealthy father, Anna is a schoolteacher, likely the daughter of her enslaved mother's former owner, and works a second job to pay for her room and board. But despite their differences, both women share strength, ambition, and a deep yearning for change. If they can bridge the gaps between them, they just might build a lasting legacy.

From its earliest days in the 1830s, Oberlin College admitted men and women, white and Black students. Though the doors are officially open, school policy cannot change the hearts of classmates who refuse to see a woman, and especially a Black woman, excel. Despite constantly being forced to prove themselves, the women triumphantly overcome every obstacle and push through their pain. And as the world evolves around them, Mary and Anna persevere to build a legacy of success and excellence.

Amazon 

 

About The Author

 

Vanessa Miller is a celebrated USA Today bestselling author, whose prolific body of work spans over 50 titles that explore deep themes of redemption, resilience, and faith—often spotlighting strong Black women during pivotal moments of history.

Miller’s book, The American Queen won the prestigious Christy Award, the Audie Award and was the 2024 American Fiction Award winner for Historical Fiction. The American Queen was a North Carolina Reads pick for 2025 and an Alamance Countywide read for 2026 and Our State Magazine book club pick for February 2026.

Her novel, The Filling Station, has received starred reviews from Library Journal and Booklist. It is a Positively Charlotte book club pick, an Oklahoma County Big Red Read and was an instant USA Today Bestseller. 

 

My Review

 This read was very well researched by the author. Three women, I had never heard of them previously, but got to know them quite well through the research done here. Be sure to read the author's notes.
Breaking ground in the early 1880's three women embark on their college careers, by entering Oberlin College, and being the first.
We see first hand the challenges these women face, and the outcome of their tenacity to achieve what others are determined they don't.
There is a lot of historical fiction here, and I enjoyed the fact that it is based on fact.
We get to have relationships with Mary, Anna and Ida, and loved the epilogue.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

Celebrate Lit Presents: Worlds Collide Author: Clint Hall

 

About the Book

Book: Worlds Collide

Author: Clint Hall

Genre: Adult Science Fiction

Release Date: July 14, 2026

Five worlds at war. Only one can survive.

Ten thousand years ago, five cosmic beings―a dragon, a phoenix, a serpent, a lion, and a wolf―set their worlds on an inevitable collision course. Each civilization was given one command: destroy the rival worlds, or crash into them and die.

As the planets draw near to each other, the moment of final reckoning is at hand. In a galaxy filled with starfighters and superweapons, magic and manipulation, planet-killing devices and mechanized legions, five heroes must defend their homeworlds against overwhelming odds.

But when prophecy and destiny collide, a far greater power begins to stir―one that challenges everything they’ve been told.

Oaths will be broken. Chains will be shattered. Champions will rise. The fate of the universe hangs in the balance as these heroes discover whether any world deserves to survive.

The War of the Creators has begun.

Perfect for fans of Red Rising, The Expanse, and mythic sci-fi epics, Worlds Collide blends high-stakes interplanetary war with a legendary, fate-driven mystery―where the final battle may not be what it seems.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Clint Hall is an author, speaker, and podcaster who has been writing stories since middle school, where he spent most of his time in English class creating comic books. (Fortunately, his teacher not only allowed it, she bought every issue.)

Known for stories of hope, wonder, and adventure, Clint is the author of Steal Fire from the Gods and Echo Nova. You can find him hosting panels at conventions, online at ClintHall.com, or at The Experience: Conversations with Creatives podcast, available on all major platforms.

 

 

More from Clint

The battle lines we cannot see

By Clint Hall

The enemy seeks to divide us. And while there are wars to be fought, the battle lines often aren’t in the places that we think.

This is not the reason I started writing Worlds Collide. But in the more than ten years that I’ve been working on this trilogy, it has become the reason this story is the thing I most want to say to the world.

I started writing Worlds Collide because of a few ideas that came together at once. I had been reading a book that discussed five types of heroes: the selfless hero, the hero with a code, the charming hero, the cunning hero, and the sympathetic hero. I challenged myself to write a story featuring each type of hero as a way of better learning the archetypes.

Around the same time, I came up with the concept of different worlds being set on a collision course by their respective creators—cosmic beings in the forms of dragon, phoenix, lion, serpent, and wolf—as a “contest of the gods.” This idea came out of nowhere. At the time, I was working on a completely different story (that still has not been published). That evening, I took my wife on a walk, told her the concept, and she said, “This has to be the next thing you write.”

But as I wrote the story, these characters from different worlds started coming together in interesting ways. Each believed that they were doing the things they had to do to survive, to protect their own kind. The distance between them and the rival planets served to create a sense of “otherness” about the people inhabiting those worlds. It was easier to hate them when they were so far removed. And like most (if not all) instances of hate, it was rooted in fear.

The danger of division is a central theme in scripture. In Matthew 12:25 and Mark 3:24-25, Jesus states, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” The Greek word for the devil, diabolos, is derived from a verb that means “to throw apart” or “to scatter,” directly identifying his nature as a divider.

We see this division every day, much of it sparked by what we read online. Humans are designed to be in connection with each other, so the most deceptive way to subvert that innate design is to present the façade of increased connection that is actually voluntary isolation and polarization.

I’m not against the internet and social media, but it must be stated that the technologies that were supposed to bring more people together have achieved the opposite. They constantly present us with groups of people who—at a distance—appear to be dangerously opposed to everything we hold dear.

When we engage with so much of this content, we believe we’re learning more about people. But in truth, we’re only presented with algorithmically curated experiences that are incented to spark fear and outrage, emotions that lead to clicking and engaging. We are told that they are the enemy, that they are to blame, and that they will destroy our way of life. Then we’re told, “click here to read more.”

I wasn’t raised in church; I came to my faith during my teenage years. As a result, and due to a handful of other personal experiences, I’m comfortable in environments where I’m surrounded by people whose beliefs are very different than my own.

But here’s what has surprised me: I never feel like I need to hide my faith in these situations. When I engage such people in conversations from a place of love, respect, and genuine curiosity, they are almost always receptive. We find common ground. How could we not? Regardless of their beliefs, these people are created in the image of God, just like me. Through these interactions, I have created real friendships with people that might have never walked through the doors of my church (but that doesn’t mean I won’t try).

I’m not saying that I’m without my biases. I’m far from perfect. But when I manage to push past my perceived boundaries, I’m often amazed at what I discover on the other side.

As believers, we affirm that every person is made in the image of God. But we must ask ourselves—do our words, our posts, and our attitudes reflect that truth? Or have we, too, begun to see those who are unlike us primarily as enemies?

That tension is at the heart of Worlds Collide. As these characters begin to interact, they discover aspects of each other that they never would have expected. They start asking questions they were never meant to ask, and the answers challenge everything they have ever known.

We may not be on warring planets, but we are constantly being told where the battle lines are in our world, and that anybody on the other side of those lines is our enemy.

And when that happens, will we accept that as the truth? Or will we dare to step across those lines in love, courage, and faith to reach out our hands, as the Savior did for us?

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 29

Books, Books, & More Books, July 30 (Spotlight)

Texas Book-aholic, July 31

Artistic Nobody, August 1 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 1

Simple Harvest Reads, August 2 (Guest Review from Susan)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 3 (Spotlight)

The Lofty Pages, August 4

Guild Master, August 5 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, August 6

Fiction Book Lover, August 7 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, August 8 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 8

Vicky Sluiter, August 9 (Spotlight)

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, August 10

For the Love of Literature, August 11 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Clint is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and signed hardcover 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/vmT2g/worlds-collide-celebration-tour-giveaway

Celebrate Lit Presents: The Husband Tree Author: Mary Connealy

 

About the Book

Book: The Husband Tree

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 21, 2026

From bestselling author Mary Connealy comes a spirited Western romance filled with danger, determination, and unexpected love—a tale of a fierce widow rancher, a hardworking cowboy, and the family that brings them together. Perfect for fans of historical romance and strong heroines.

Belle Tanner has buried three husbands under the “Husband Tree” and managed her Montana ranch alone while raising four daughters. When she needs help with a dangerous cattle drive, she hires Silas Harden—a man who actually knows his way around cattle and horses. Unlike her previous husbands, Silas isn’t afraid of hard work, but Belle’s not about to let another man take charge of her ranch or her heart.

Silas never planned on falling for a widow with four daughters, especially one as independent as Belle. But as they face treacherous mountain passes, wolf attacks, and winter storms together, he discovers that what he thought was just another job might be his chance at a real family—if he can convince Belle to trust in love one more time.

With winter closing in and dangers mounting, Belle and Silas must learn to work together and trust in God’s plan. But can Belle let go of her iron control and let love lead? And can Silas prove he’s different from the husbands who came before?

A heartwarming story of faith, family, and finding love in the rugged Montana Territory.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

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

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

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

 

More from Mary

The Husband Tree remains the book I am asked about the most when I talk to readers.

Or, if I get asked, which is your favorite character…someone inevitably says Belle Tanner.

There’s something about that woman.

The title of the book is based on the tree where she’s buried three worthless husbands. After Anthony died falling off the roof…where he was hiding from work as usual, she’s tossing dirt on his face while vowing to God and her children to never marry again.

She’s taught her girls to work hard at her side, but her main lesson is to teach them to avoid men at all costs. A warning that doesn’t survive, but not for lack of effort on Belle’s part.

She’s the meanest good guy I’ve ever written, the most enduring ‘fiesty lady rancher’. Yet somehow, her REASONS for being mean are so well tuned, that she gets away with being a very hostile-to-men woman.

Not that I haven’t written plenty of feisty lady ranchers…in fact I love the type so much I have to fight putting one as the heroine in every book. But Belle is in a league of her own.

Silas Harden is also NOT interested in a woman. He’s been burned bad TWICE by women. One woman a betrayer, another a sneaking liar who stages a ‘compromising situation’ to force a marriage. He’s lost two ranches because of it. He wants a place of his own and he’s not risking letting a woman ruin things for him. It’s cost him too much.

But, much as she hates to admit she needs a man’s help, Belle’s going to lose her herd if she doesn’t get the cattle to market and there’s no one else to help but the wandering cowpoke, Silas.

Belle and her four daughters, including a diaper-wearing baby, need to punch one thousand head of cattle over the roughest trail in the whole world…not that Belle’s familiar with the whole world, but it’s a brutally hard stretch.

Off they go, both bristling, but soon enough they’re working so hard they’re too TIRED to hate each other.

And then here comes love. A man Belle can’t help but respect. A woman Silas can’t help but trust.

If they all survive this drive…both of them might just take a chance again, on love.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 28

Texas Book-aholic, July 29

For Him and My Family, July 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 31

Guild Master, August 1 (Author Interview)

Book Holds and Jello Molds, August 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 2

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 3

She Lives To Read, August 4

Simple Harvest Reads, August 5 (Guest Review from Donna)

Fiction Book Lover, August 6 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, August 6

Book Looks by Lisa, August 7

Cover Lover Book Review, August 8

Labor Not in Vain, August 9

Holly’s Book Corner, August 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://gleam.io/GRmzP/the-husband-tree-celebration-tour-giveaway

Celebrate Lit Presents: Blue Jean Bayou Author: Janis Jakes

 

About the Book

Book: Blue Jean Bayou

Author: Janis Jakes

Genre: Contemporary Inspirational Romance

Release Date: June 12, 2026

After Jenna’s father dies, she travels to his cabin in the Texas Piney Woods to oversee the remodeling and ready the property for sale. She’s surprised when the contractor is a childhood crush – now a handsome man with a heart of gold.

Their friendship reignites, bringing the possibility of more…but at a price. Jenna, a business owner, loves the bustling streets of Manhattan. Creed, a military veteran with a hero’s past, finds refuge in small-town living.

When Jenna learns her father led a secret life, her world turns upside down, and she suspects Creed knows more than he’s telling.

As the truth about her father emerges, Jenna faces the secrets hidden in her own heart and must choose: a life of high heels and high rises or a meandering bayou with the man she now loves.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Janis Jakes is an author of multiple contemporary and historical inspirational romances with an emphasis on courageous men, strong women, Texas sunsets, and happily ever after.

 

 

 

 

 

More from Janis

Texas is known for its vastness and cities like Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. While those cities are great, there’s something about a small Texas town that stirs the heart and evokes a sense of community.

 

When I wrote Blue Jean Bayou, I wanted Shelton’s Cove to be one of those small towns that every reader would want to visit—where they’d find hundred-year-old farmhouses, wooden bridges that clack under the weight of vehicles, country diners where chicken-fried steak is standard fare, and salt-of-the-earth folks who look after their neighbors.

 

I also wanted characters who embody the Texas nature I know so well: brave men with strong faith and a staunch work ethic, and women who face life’s unexpected twists and turns with strength.

 

My ultimate hope is that readers get a true sense of the town and enjoy meeting the characters who call Shelton’s Cove home. This is Book 1 of the three-book Small Town Texas Series.

 

A little backstory nugget: The café in Blue Jean Bayou is named Myrtle’s Café after my late grandmother. She could cook like no one’s business—her meringue is legendary!—so it only seemed right to give the café her namesake.

Blog Stops

Devoted Steps, July 27

Simple Harvest Reads, July 28 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, July 29 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 30

Guild Master, July 31 (Author Interview)

She Lives To Read, August 1

Fiction Book Lover, August 2 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, August 3

The Bookish Ledger, August 4 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, August 5

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, August 6 (Author Interview)

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, August 7 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, August 7

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 8

Stories By Gina, August 9 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Janis is giving away the grand prize of a $75 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/N6cAK/blue-jean-bayou-celebration-tour-giveaway

A Heart Set Free by Amy Clipston

 

When Renee Mast inherits her grandmother’s farm in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, she is torn about what to do. Years ago, her father cut all ties with his mother and their Amish roots. But with both her daed and mammi gone, Renee is determined to uncover the truth about why. She feels Gott urging her to return, but she never expected to face so many unanswered questions—or the growing danger that threatens to drive her away. It seems someone in town wants to keep the past buried.

Jerome Graber has spent years carrying the guilt of a buggy accident that ended in tragedy. He buries his pain in work by running Martha Mast’s farm to atone for his mistakes. The daily routine of caring for crops and animals makes him feel safe—until Renee arrives, putting everything at risk. If she sells the farm, he loses not only his livelihood but also the surprising connection that’s growing between them.

When the threats against Renee escalate, she and Jerome must rely on their faith—and their hearts—to find the courage to embrace the future Gott has intended for them all along. 

Amazon 

 

About The Author

 Amy Clipston has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series with Zondervan, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. An advocate for organ and blood donation, Amy donated a kidney in 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through her donation, her husband received a second kidney transplant. Amy and her husband matched another couple and swapped kidneys with them. Amy's memoir, A Gift of Love, will be available in early 2014. She hopes her story inspires others to become organ and blood donors. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. You can find her on the web at www.AmyClipston.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks.

 

My Review

 This is a quick enjoyable read.
A 25 year old Amish women inherits her Grandmother's farm in Bird-In-Hand Pennsylvania. A women she barely remembers, leaving with her parents and moving to Ohio.
This young women would like answers, why did they leave, and why no contact?
Answers come, but the journey is soon filled with danger? Why?
Renee Mast and Jerome Graber meet, he has been taking care of her Grandmother's property, but he is a hurting individual. Can these to help one another?
I loved the epilogue, and wished we could stay longer here. Another great cozy read by Amy Cliptson!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Guideposts, and was not required to give a positive review.