Celebrate Lit Presents: parks of Hope Author: Avrie Swan

 

About the Book

Book: Sparks of Hope

Author: Avrie Swan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 1, 2026

A woman rebuilding after tragedy and a grieving father searching for hope discover that the past isn’t finished with them.

After the Peshtigo Fire reduces her teaching dreams to ash, Willow Deeran refuses to let the flames win. She pours her last hope into an audacious plan: opening an orphanage for the children left homeless by Wisconsin’s deadliest wildfire. All she needs is funding—and a partner she’s never met.

Violin maker Valentine Ashardt has spent the year since the fire hiding behind his grief, haunted by the daughter he lost in the blaze. Helping Willow build the orphanage offers more than purpose. As silent co-owner, he’ll have access to every child who comes through its doors. Surely, one of them will be his Mary.

As anonymous threats mount, old accusations resurface, and a mysterious little girl with no memory arrives on their doorstep, Willow and Valentine must decide if their dreams might not look different than they’d once hoped. Because sometimes God’s plan looks nothing like what we imagined. And sometimes the family we’ve been desperately searching for has been standing beside us all along.

For fans of Joanna Davidson Politano and Jody Hedlund—a tender story of faith renewed, purpose rediscovered, and love rising from the most unexpected ruins.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Avrie Swan is a Christian author and avid reader with a love for all things historical. Having grown up exploring antique stores and museums, she eventually decided to combine her interest in history with her love for writing and began working on her first full-length novel at the age of fourteen. She especially enjoys writing stories that focus on themes of family, faith, and growth through difficult times.

When Avrie is not writing, she is watching old movies, collecting antique books, and hunting for agates. A native Wisconsinite, she enjoys spending the cold winters indoors with her cat on her lap and a good book in her hand.

 

 

More from Avrie

Hello, folks!

It’s hard to believe Sparks of Hope is the third and final entry in The Peshtigo Fire Chronicles series. Writing this book was bittersweet… but also undeniably exciting. Willow and Valentine’s story took me some time to develop, and the result is a book with a lot of heart. Their tale explores themes of found family and growth while also rounding out Carina and Charlotte’s journeys. I hope you enjoy the conclusion to their stories!

One of my favorite elements in Sparks of Hope is Valentine’s occupation as a luthier. My family has always enjoyed music, and since I took violin lessons for several years when I was younger, I thought it only fitting to include a violin maker in one of my stories. I didn’t know much about the process of building violins when I started my research for the book, but I soon discovered it’s a fascinating and detailed craft. I have the utmost respect for the skilled people who shape the instruments enjoyed by so many.

While music plays a small role in Sparks of Hope, the story’s central theme is purpose. Have you ever wondered what God’s plan was for your life? That question weighs heavily on Willow’s mind after a disaster ruins all her carefully laid plans. She finds herself needing to choose a new path and pursue a different dream…although achieving it may not be quite as simple as she hopes.

In honor of the upcoming release of Sparks of Hope, I thought it would be fun to do a “this or that” game featuring some elements from the book. Which options do you prefer? Pick your favorites and then head over to my Instagram (@avrieswanwrites) or website (avrieswan.com) to share your choices!

• Scarf or shawl
• Griddlecakes or fresh bread
• Cottage or townhouse
• Sleigh ride or autumn walk
• Frozen harbor or snowy forest

Blessings,

Avrie Swan

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 12

Books Less Travelled, September 13

lakesidelivingsite, September 14

She Lives to Read, September 15

Simple Harvest Reads, September 15 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

For Him and My Family, September 16

Texas Book-aholic, September 17

Betti Mace, September 18

Holly’s Book Corner, September 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 20

Cover Lover Book Review, September 21

Pause for Tales, September 21

Devoted To Hope, September 22

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 23

Connie’s History Classroom , September 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 24

Blossoms and Blessings, September 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Avrie 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/qaNE5/sparks-of-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Stepmother by Sheila Bugler

 

t is a day like any other when Sarah arrives at the school gate to pick up her two stepchildren, Izzy and Patrick.

But when the twins don't run out to meet her like normal, Sarah knows something must be wrong.

Sarah can't believe what she's hearing when the teacher informs her that their father, Mike, removed them from school earlier in the day. All of Sarah's calls to Mike go to voicemail.

Worse is to come when Sarah is told by police that as she and Mike are not legally married, and he is the children's father, there is nothing they or Sarah can do.

Then she receives a text message from Mike: Don't go home. It's not safe.

Amazon 

 

About The Author

 

Hello. I'm an Irish crime writer who lives in the UK. I have written eleven novels so far. My twelfth book is a psychological thriller called The Stepmother, published by Hodder and Stoughton. It's out on 26 September 2026 and is available to pre-order now. I really hope you enjoy it!

I adore crime fiction and have never wanted to write anything else. I'd be delighted to share my recommendations with you and to hear yours too. If you'd like to contact me, you can do so over at my Facebook author page or on Instagram (I'm @sheilabsussex).

 

My Review

A ride you don't want to get off, full of twists and turns, right up to the last page.
Do we really know our partner? A comfortable life, and boom, gone!
Did I suspect the culprits as they are presented, nope! The the author does a great job of hiding and bringing facts out.
In the end there is no one to trust, and those you think you can, the evil one has some control.
I loved the out come of those that perpetrated what happened here, justice?
You will be holding your breath, and find your heart in your throat! All the while I love the twins!
I will say I enjoyed the fast pace read!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Hodder & Stoughton, and was not required to give a positive review.  

Celebrate Lit Presents: Secrets of the Desert Rose Author: Marilyn Turk

 

About the Book

Book: Secrets of the Desert Rose

Author: Marilyn Turk

Genre: Dual Timeline

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Three Women. Two generations. Their friendship survived the war. Their secret survived even longer.

Monique and Audrey, one French and one British, grow up in French Algiers on the coast of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Best friends, they keep each other’s secrets into adulthood when World War II changes their world and Algiers sides with the Hitler-based Vichy government. Audrey joins Charles DeGaulle’s resistance army, the French Foreign Legion, while Monique stays to work in the underground resistance aiding the Allied invasion of North Africa.

In present day, American born great-granddaughter Nicole, a graduate student in archaeology, goes to North Africa for an internship. The now centenarian Monique (Mimi), debilitated by a stroke, urges her to find the Desert Rose. Nicole finds different types of desert roses, but none are the right one until she stumbles onto information that hints the desert rose might not be a flower after all. While Sami, her instructor in Algiers, helps her find the desert rose, he also has to protect her from people who want the heirloom ring Nicole wears which has its own secret.

Will Nicole find the secret before it’s too late?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Award-winning author Marilyn Turk has written over twenty historical and contemporary novels and novellas laced with suspense and romance. She especially likes writing World War II era books, and loves to discover information not widely known for her stories. In addition to fiction, Marilyn is also an annual contributor to Guideposts’ Walking in Grace and other Guideposts anthologies.

Marilyn enjoys helping other writers and founded the Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers, AWSA, Word Weavers International and the United States Lighthouse Society.

Marilyn’s most recent books have been Secrets of the Desert Rose, The Escape Game set in World War II, and a novella, The Gilding of Minnie Tucker, set in The Gilded Age..

She and her husband Chuck have a blended family of four sons, one daughter and four grandsons whom they enjoy spending time with.  Marilyn and Chuck are lighthouse enthusiasts and have visited over 100 lighthouses in the United States and other countries. They also served as volunteer lighthouse caretakers at Little River Light off the coast of Maine. As a result of her interest in lighthouses, Marilyn wrote Lighthouse Devotions, 52 Inspiring Lighthouse Stories.

More from Marilyn

Why did I write Secrets of the Desert Rose by Marilyn Turk

Because I enjoy reading novels set during World War II, I also enjoy writing them. Most of the novels I’ve read are set in Europe – England, France, and surrounding countries. But we know the war impacted the whole world, so I look for stories set in places we don’t know much about.

Why did I set this book in North Africa? My sister-in-law’s mother was French and was born and lived in Algiers until sometime during World War II. Unfortunately, I waited too long to ask her about it, even though she lived to the age of 94. However, she left journals which gave insight into her life in Algiers and opened my eyes to what happened there before and during World War II. Monique is modeled on her stories.

While researching Algiers though, I came across another woman who was British and also played a role in North Africa during the war. Her name was Susan Travers, and her autobiography provided more interesting information. Although the two real women may have never met, her life was the basis for Audrey’s character.

I always find historical surprises when I research a novel and discovering the story of Cleopatra Selene was fascinating to me, so I had to include her in the book as well. And since there was so much secrecy involved in the true stories, I thought my characters needed secrets of their own, and my present-day character, Nicole, would have to discover them.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 11

Sylvan Musings, September 12

Simple Harvest Reads, September 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, September 14

Artistic Nobody, September 15 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 16

Guild Master, September 17 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, September 17

For Him and My Family, September 18

Fiction Book Lover, September 19 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 20

The Bookish Ledger, September 21 (Author Interview)

Connie’s History Classroom, September 21

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, September 22

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 23 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, September 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marilyn is giving away the grand prize of a $15 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/nuBqc/secrets-of-the-desert-rose-celebration-tour-giveaway

High Exposure Kelly Borjas

 

This riveting start to an adventure-driven romantic suspense series from a debut author

Determined travel blogger Julia Stevens is on her final assignment in snowy Silverberg, Colorado. She's running from her past—and God—but the charm of small-town life brings little comfort when she's face-to-face with the winter sport that killed her sister: skiing. Upon her arrival in town, she discovers a dead body and is quickly compelled to research the situation, give justice to the man's story, and kick off her new career in journalism.

Cade Haskins is back home after a failed mission and his subsequent retirement from the DEA. His father's declining health has pushed Cade to prioritize family, and he helps at the historic Silverberg Hotel on his dad's behalf. When Julia shows up at the hotel, Cade becomes her local contact. He quickly realizes she has a knack for sniffing around where she shouldn't, and he attaches himself to her side.

With the local death connected to a meth ring, Julia's investigation has unknowingly put a target on her back. As the danger increases and she begins to learn more about Cade and his family, she finds herself trusting the God she was running from. And Cade? He doesn't want to get dragged back into DEA work, but it seems like he may not have a choice if he wants to protect Julia . . . and his growing attraction to her.

Amazon 

 

About The Author

 

I am represented by Lynette Eason of the Steve Laube Agency. My debut three-book series releases with Kregel Publications this year! I’m so excited to see where these next steps take us! I hope my books provide adventure and escape, a love story you’ll remember, and reminders of grace and hope.
When I was in eighth grade, a teacher handed me a school library copy of a Janette Oke book. Since then, I’ve been a voracious reader of inspirational fiction. While I read in several genres, love stories amidst a suspenseful plot own my heart. It is humbling and amazing to enter into a genre filled with so many wonderful authors.
I grew up in Southwest Colorado, then transplanted to Southern California for college. I earned a degree in Communication Studies from Biola University, then a Master’s in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Azusa Pacific University. After spending most of my career in sales, I now get to work with my husband part-time and mom to my three boys full-time! We live in the slow, open space of California’s central coast. When I’m not writing, sending long Marco Polos to friends, or podcasting on TheLitLadies Podcast, I enjoy boating, camping, running, and anything else outside.

 

My Review

 This book was written by a debut author, but wow, she writes like a pro!
The book opens with a young women stuck in the snow, but not with her car, her body, and Julia Steven's rescuer, Cade Haskins, will soon play an important part in her life.
There is non-stop action here, and there seems to never be a dull moment! Don't get to comfortable, because you'll soon be holding your breath!
Did I guess whom was the culprit, yes, and then no. The author does a wonderful job of keeping me in the dark, and then I was right, until I was wrong again. 
There is a bit of sweet romance, family life, with its ups and downs! Such great characters in this read, I quickly connected with them. 
I will be looking for more by this new author, her style of writing is just what I love!

CelebrateLit Presents: Letters to the Editor Author: Paul Michael Garrison

 

About the Book

Book: Letters to the Editor

Author: Paul Michael Garrison

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

Release Date: November, 2019

Writing is hard. Editing is murder.

Editor Nathanael Carver has made a career out of exposing corruption and publishing people’s dirty secrets. From his hate mail, it seems one of his high-profile enemies wants revenge. But the person with murder in mind may be someone closer to home.

Carver enlists the help of Kate Baxter, a police detective with problems of her own: disapproving parents, sexist coworkers, and a smoking habit she can’t seem to kick. The support of her tribe and ample time at the gun range help to keep her sane. As her personal life and the case bleed together, Kate gains insight into Carver’s world, keeping her eye on those closest to him. Kate is on the cusp of progress when Carver, against her advice, drops the case—only to be viciously attacked. Now it’s Kate’s turn to drag everyone’s dirty secrets into the light, but not before at least one body hits the floor.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Originally from the Midwest, Paul Michael Garrison has spent roughly half his life in Upstate South Carolina. His published novels include Letters to the Editor and its sequel, The Lies People Publish. He holds degrees in publishing, theater, and creative writing (MFA). He has written for the stage, and his short fiction has appeared in The Windhover, Quantum Fairy Tales, and Heart of Flesh. Paul Michael frequently performs with the Greenville Shakespeare Company. Whether on stage or in writing, he enjoys the art of becoming someone else.

 

 

 

 

More from Paul

The Creation of Kate Baxter: Meeting the Detective of Letters to the Editor

How do you come up with your characters?

It’s one of the most frequent questions I (and probably a lot of authors) get at book events. Some authors talk about their characters as creations, while others insist their characters come to them fully formed, gradually revealing themselves to the writer. As with most writing philosophies, I personally tend to fall in the middle.

But I can tell you that Detective Kate Baxter in her trademark trench coat did not spring from my imagination fully formed like Athena from the mind of Zeus. Several thoughtful factors came into play during her creation.

The Mystery Came First

For many novelists, the character comes first, but Letters to the Editor began with the mystery. I imagine that’s common for mystery writers. It was an idea I’d had for some time, just simmering in the back of my brain.

It wasn’t until I signed up for a novel-writing class that I decided to actually flesh the mystery out and put it down on paper. So, if I was going to write a classic mystery, I was going to need a detective.

The Professional Detective

Cozy mysteries can be great fun, but in a series (and they usually end up as series) I find the trope of the amateur detective who constantly stumbles into one mystery after another a bit strained. Requiring a high suspension of disbelief, it works best in comic, here-we-go-again scenarios.

I wanted to create a world that felt more grounded and to leave the window open for my detective to come back (which she did in The Lies People Publish). And that’s one reason Kate serves on the Fulton Springs Police Department.

The Girl Next Door

I recall feeling bombarded at the time by burned-out detectives, whether in literature, film, or television. The investigator whose life is an unholy shambles, who’s nursing a substance abuse problem (usually alcohol), whose family or private life is completely shattered. I kept seeing these broken-down characters, and they just depressed me. I struggled to relate to them in any way. With their addictions and psychological damage, I questioned how legitimately they could function in everyday life, let alone track down murderers and other criminals.

I wanted a more relatable detective, not a beleaguered trainwreck nor a genius human computer of the Sherlockian variety. I wanted someone who, even if you couldn’t relate to her directly, you could imagine her living next door.

When an interviewer referred to Kate as a bit of a hot mess, I must admit I got defensive for a moment. And then I realized that she probably is—the way all of us are in the right light. She struggles with her relationships and goals and with living out her values and beliefs as most thoughtful people do.

When I began the novel, I had a female friend who was a police officer. Kate is not based on her, but I won’t deny that my friend (and her stories) inspired some of Kate’s characteristics, her tribe of friends, and even a few anecdotes that worked their way into the story.

Midwestern Woman of Faith

While I live in the South, I grew up in the Midwest. At the time of writing, I felt I could more accurately capture the Midwestern sensibility than a Southern one, both for Kate’s character and the setting in general. Plus, my publishing background (I was a book editor at the time) was going to inform the novel’s setting, and the Chicago metro area seemed a more likely representative of that world.

My writing instructor called Kate “a church-going detective,” which made me laugh a little. If, in forming Kate, I was reacting against the broken-down detective, I was also reacting against the portrayal of Christians in the arts. There seemed to be two extremes: in Christian fiction, the Pollyannaish Christian who lived a sanitized version of life, and in mainstream literature, religious hypocrites and wackadoos. I realize that may be a tad reductive, but that’s how it felt. Why couldn’t we have something a little more authentic, more fair, more nuanced?

While not necessarily tackling a spiritual journey, I wanted to show Christians in real-world, everyday contexts. I know some readers may find Kate’s faith alienating, but no reader is going to agree or sympathize with every character they read. That’s only natural. But as I researched the genre, I found mainstream novels with detectives with all kinds of worldviews, so why not a mainstream novel with a Christian detective?

Introducing Kate Baxter

These influences formed the initial skeleton of Detective Kate Baxter, but they don’t begin to paint the entire picture of the character she developed into—the insecurities and challenges she faces as a single woman; her love for her friends, her pets, and classic literature; or her belief that the best therapy is found at a gun range. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of Letters to the Editor and meet her yourself.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 10

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 10

Leslie’s Library Escape, September 11

Vicky Sluiter, September 12 (Author Interview)

Book Looks by Lisa, September 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 14

Texas Book-aholic, September 15

For the Love of Literature, September 16 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, September 17

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 18

For Him and My Family, September 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 20

Lily’s Corner, September 21

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 22 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, September 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 23

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Paul is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of the book and its sequel!!

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

https://gleam.io/XImFE/letters-to-the-editor-celebration-tour-giveaway

A Christmas Surprise: An Amish Romance by Linda Byler

 

 

In A Christmas Surprise, the Kauffman family leaves behind their familiar Amish community in Lancaster County to start over on a neglected farm in northern New England. While Eli and Anna embrace the adventure, their teenage daughter Mandy struggles with homesickness, lost friendships, and an uncertain future.

As the family restores an old farmhouse and adjusts to a simpler, harsher way of life, unexpected friendships begin to bloom with the local townspeople—and perhaps even romance. Filled with cozy family moments, horse-drawn buggies, snowy landscapes, renovation dreams, and the warmth of Christmas hope, this uplifting Amish romance captures the challenges and joys of starting over.

Perfect for readers who love Amish fiction, clean romance, inspirational women’s fiction, and heartfelt holiday stories set in small-town communities.

Amazon 

 

About The Author

Linda Byler grew up Amish and is an active member of the Amish Church today. She is the author of the bestselling Amish romance novel series, Lizzie Searches for Love. Linda is also well known within the Amish community as a columnist for a weekly Amish newspaper.

 

My Review

This was a story of some sweet romance, but it was also the story of Amish pioneers.
Someone has to do it, but to be the first to leave the security of their community, and we join the Kauffman's as they leave Lancaster PA and travel to and homestead in Maine.
This is a story that will warm your heart with the new community being there for them when disaster strikes.
What will teens do to find friends, there are no Amish? Then the remodeling of the big home begins, and we are there. Maine winters! Not quite the same as Pennsylvania!
I loved how things work out here, and big twists and surprises!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Skyhorse Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.  

The One Who Felt Like Home by Tammy Karasek

 

Flight attendant, Gracelyn Cooper, wants to see the world. What she doesn’t want was to travel alone. While her days keep her busy crossing the country, her heart misses home and the people she loves. But her deepest desire is to travel with someone special. Always on the road, or rather in the air, doesn't lend itself to meeting that special guy.

Brent Marshall is enamored with computers. As a young boy, he’d tear discarded ones apart to rebuild them into something new. Now as a software engineer, he travels a lot which took him away from Fox Grove, his hometown—the place where the girl who holds his heart still visits regularly.

Amazon 

 

About The Author

 Tammy uses humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, is the driving force of her passion to always encourage and inspire others and give them The Reason to smile. She’s gone from down and defeated to living a Tickled Pink life as she believes there is always a giggle wanting to come out! And desires that for others as well.

 

My Review

This was such a fun quick read to get lost in!
An airplane ride from Los Angles to Chicago, time to grab some quick sleep on the red eye! Brent Marshall isn't gifted any shut eye, but he is interested in one of the flight attendants, and it turns out he knows her.
This was such a fun and unique way to reunite a couple, turns out they were both from Fox Grove, and went to school together.
Of course, life does get in the way and the path to a relationship here is definitely not easy. Both Brent and Gracelyn are jet setters for their livelihood, and boy do they have a hard time meeting up.
Can these two whom seem to pass in the night forge a lasting relationship? I was beginning to wonder, and boy do things get in the way, talk about planes passing in the night, or basically waving at them as they take off!
This was a page turner for me, and I enjoyed it up to the last page!
I received this book through the Fox Grove Launch Team, and was not required to give a positive review.