Christmas For The Heart By Cheryl Barker

Christmas for the Heart

by Cheryl Barker

Publisher: B&H Publishing Group

ISBN: 9798384508557

I love having devotions that are specific to the Christmas season! So, when Cheryl reached out and asked me if I'd review her new release I was so excited! She sent me the book for review.

Summary:

Christmas stirs countless longings in our hearts. Longings for a joyful, peaceful season. For merry moments with loved ones. For nostalgic moments and sweet memories. For meaningful moments of worship.

Simply put, we long for the beauty and wonder of Christmas. But so much interferes with that desire. Packed schedules, the urge to do everything Christmas, seasonal commercialism, and life situations all hinder these longings from becoming reality.

Cheryl Barker wants to help you change that with her new Advent devotional Christmas for the Heart. The quotes, reflections, original poetry, Scriptures, and special features in each chapter help you reclaim the beauty and wonder of the season. Her heartfelt words lead you to rejoice in the greatest gift ever given and inspire you to give the King of Kings the worship he’s due. The guided journaling makes this beautiful devotional book a perfect keepsake gift.

My Review:

There's so much to appreciate with Christmas for the Heart! Each day turns our hearts back to the reason why we celebrate this season. The author wants us to have our hearts turned towards Him throughout the days leading up to the celebration of Jesus's birth. As I went through the book, day by day, I thought not only about MY memories, but the ones I want to leave with my children and grandchildren. While this devotion can be done on an individual basis, I think it would be a great way to have conversations with your family by doing it together.

Each day's reading is short and sweet. The questions will definitely give you time to reflect on the past and the present. The author's original poems fit perfectly with each day's read/topic. The tidbits of wisdom she shares before each section to write in are built off of the reading and give us something to consider through the season.

I think most of us will be able to relate to many of the topics the author discusses in this devotion. Whether we're concerned about how much money we'll spend on a gift, going through a difficult time, or even considering our favorite carols, the author helps turn our eyes back to the Savior.

About the Author:

Cheryl Barker has led readers in reflection and encouraged them for years through the written word. She is the author of Mother of the Bride: Refreshment and Wisdom for the Mother of the Bride and has written for various other outlets, compilations, and for Blue Mountain Arts greeting cards, gift books, and calendars. Cheryl lives in Kansas and loves to spend time with family, enjoy friends, take photos, and indulge in daily doses of chocolate. She especially loves being grandma to two sets of twin grandsons.

Every Life Treasured Novella Collection

Every Life Treasured

Publisher: Brave Author Books

ISBN: 979-8999132406

I was so grateful to be on the launch team for Every Life Treasured. Being a proponent of the right to life, this book was so hopefully! I've read Jennifer before, but have never read books by Hannah or Aubrey! Thanks to the publisher for share the ebook ARC with me.

A Mother’s Tender Hand 

by Jennifer Q. Hunt

Summary:

While others praise her kindness as a social worker, for Alice Vogel it will never be enough. The needs brought on by the Great Depression are as endless as the guilt she can never outrun. Then she meets the Tanner family, who value people—even those the rest of society scorns. With her growing attraction to Seth Tanner and her unexpected admiration for his mother Milly, everything she believes is turned upside down. Will these new friendships that have transformed her life survive the truth of her story?

My Review:

What an incredibly sweet story! I love that it gave two sides of a coin: a mother who wants to keep a baby while another woman ended the life of hers. Milly was absolutely wonderful. Struggling with her down-syndrome son as well as a husband who was disabled in the war, she gets by on the generosity of others. That's where Alice comes in. While she believes her work will do the Tanner family good, it turns out they're the ones who minister to her broken heart and soul. The author always writes villains who are easy to dislike and does so again in this story. I love the strong stance on prolife as well as compassion for someone who has made the decision to end the life of their baby. Bobby, Milly's son who has down syndrome is a delight.

The Missionary and the Marine

by Hannah Hood Lucero

Summary:

Since her conversion from Islam, Nadia Hamdan has made it her life’s purpose to share the hope she has found in Jesus. As surprising as her new faith is the man she's fallen in love with--a Marine who spent his career fighting men like her terrorist father. When Nadia vanishes without a trace, Walt nearly loses his own faith. But the aftermath of her captivity will demand a reckoning from them both in what they truly believe about God, life, and unconditional love.

My Review:

This story was intense! This was a contemporary story about a missionary who heads off on a short-term mission and isn't heard from... until she is! Did I mention this story is intense! I'll admit it was a hard read because of what Nadia goes through. If there ever was a story that makes you wonder what you'd do in someone else's shoes, this is it! It's a reminder that we honestly don't know what we'd do. I like Nadia and her determination to live and protect her baby. Coming back from her tormentors is heart wrenching, and it unravels a lot about how her fiancee is going to respond as well as her friends. It's a powerful story about how God can soften anyone's heart and help us to love those we don't think can.

Born for Adversity

by Aubrey Taylor

Summary:

A child grows in Lani’s womb, a constant reminder of the young man she loves and will never have. The handsome François Durant fancies her, and would give her a safe and comfortable life–if only she’ll have ‘it’ taken care of. Instead, Lani seeks solace with her family in Bavaria. There, she will not only face the decision whether to keep the child or give him up for adoption, she will also be challenged to overcome the desire for a man’s love–a challenge made more difficult by the kind young farmer down the road.

My Review:

I really enjoy WWI stories so I was looking forward to this one. I can only imagine how many children have been born out of wedlock to men who just needed that "one time" with a girl before they deployed. Sadly, Lani finds out the hard way what the results can be. Her family certainly has some interesting history! I can easily say I didn't care one bit for François and you'll agree when you read the story! Aunt Trudi was a shining light in Lani's life as she carries her baby to term. The same could be said for Thomas. I loved that he was one of the numerous boys that Trudi's family took in. Don't miss the epilogue because it'll leave your jaw dropped!

The Rustler Hunter by R.J. Sloane + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Rustler Hunter by R.J. Sloane, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I'm happy to be participating in this blog tour! Be sure to check out my guest post below!

About the Book

Title: The Rustler Hunter
Series: Harper's Justice #1
Author: R.J. Sloane
Publisher: Desert Life Media
Release Date: September 23, 2025 
Genre: Western Action & Adventure, Christian Western, Western Romance

When forty-one successful manhunts make you a legend, there’s only one way left to go—down. 

J.J. Westin, the infamous Rustler Hunter, goes undercover at Arizona Territory's largest cattle ranch to expose the rustlers bleeding it dry. The thieves aren't just stealing cattle. They're trusted cowboys operating from inside the bunkhouse. 

What he doesn't expect is Hayley Harper, the tough-as-nails cook with secrets of her own. She's a Pinkerton agent working the same case and the daughter of notorious outlaw Galen Harper. 

When their covers are blown, they uncover something far deadlier than rustling. A corruption network spanning three territories. With enemies closing in and bullets flying, the legendary manhunter and the outlaw's daughter must survive the badlands of 1898 Arizona, where trust is deadly and justice comes at gunpoint.  

In the shadow of Canyon Diablo, where the historic Aztec Land & Cattle Company's Hashknife outfit controlled over a million acres of the Arizona Territory's most lawless land. 

 PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Desert Life Media | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

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Guest Post

Breaking Barriers: Why I Made Hayley Harper a Pinkerton Agent

When I was researching for The Rustler Hunter, I kept stumbling across references to female Pinkerton agents in the 1890s. These weren’t token hires. They were trained operatives working dangerous undercover assignments alongside men. The more I read, the more I knew Hayley Harper had to be one of them.

Making Hayley a Pinkerton wasn’t about making her “tough enough” for frontier Arizona. It was about historical accuracy. Allan Pinkerton hired his first female operative, Kate Warne, in 1856. By the 1890s, women agents were well-established. They specialized in cases where men couldn’t blend in—domestic situations, society gatherings, and roles where a woman’s presence wouldn’t raise suspicion.

  

For Hayley, going undercover as a cook and laundress at the Aztec Land & Cattle Company’s Hashknife outfit made perfect sense. Male detectives investigating cattle rustling drew attention. A woman doing “women’s work”? No one looked twice. Outlaws talked freely around her, never considering her a threat.

What fascinated me most was how these women used society’s assumptions against criminals. Men underestimated them, dismissed them, or saw them as harmless. That blind spot became their greatest weapon. Hayley embodies this perfectly. She’s physically capable, but her real strength lies in gathering intelligence while appearing to be just another frontier woman trying to make an honest living.

Hayley’s background as the daughter of outlaw Galen Harper adds another layer. She understands how criminals think because she grew up around them. That insider knowledge, combined with Pinkerton training and her drive to be the opposite of her father, makes her uniquely qualified. Allan Pinkerton himself commends her work in the novel, which was a nod to the real respect these women earned in an era when most professions remained closed to them.

Writing Hayley came with challenges. I wanted her to be authentic to the 1890s without modern sensibilities. She’s tough and capable, but she faces real limitations. She can’t stride into a saloon demanding answers like J.J. Westin. Instead, she must be smarter, more strategic, and twice as resourceful.

But what I love most about making Hayley a Pinkerton agent is what it says about second chances. She’s the daughter of a notorious outlaw who chose justice over lawlessness. That transformation mirrors the Arizona Territory itself as it moved from wild frontier to civilized statehood.

The real female Pinkerton agents of the 1890s broke barriers and proved that courage isn’t determined by gender. Hayley Harper stands proudly in that tradition. She doesn’t just solve cases. She carries the legacy of grit and grace that helped tame the frontier. Armed with a Colt and an unshakable sense of justice, she proves that a woman’s strength is most powerful when wrapped in grace.

R.J. Sloane captures the raw spirit of the American frontier in action-packed westerns that blend historical authenticity with timeless struggles between law and lawlessness. The Rustler Hunter launches the Harper & Justice series, following a family of territorial lawmen as they transform their outlaw legacy into a badge of honor.

About the Author

R.J. Sloane writes gritty western adventures where justice rides hard across the untamed Southwest. Inspired by shows like Longmire and Yellowstone, plus a childhood spent watching classic westerns with dad, R.J. brings authentic frontier spirit to every page. When not crafting tales of territorial lawmen, you'll find R.J. researching the legendary lawmen of the Southwest and the founding of pivotal frontier towns.

Connect with R.J. Sloane by visiting rjsloanewesterns.com to follow on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will each receive a signed copy of The Rustler Hunter!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 24, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 1, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Rendezvous 2025 + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for Rendezvous 2025, hosted, sponsored, and organized by JustRead Publicity Tours! I've thoroughly enjoyed the past two years and can't wait for November to see the readers and authors again! I sure hope I'll be seeing & meeting some of you!

You are Invited

Rendezvous: reader and writer gathering 

November 7-8, 2025 

Holiday Inn St Louis SW – Route 66

Join fellow readers and 46 writers at the third annual Rendezvous to celebrate Christian fiction and sweet reads. This event, modeled after the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat, aims to sweeten reading and storytelling experiences with fellowship and encouragement. Activities will include corporate worship, The Christy Award webcast watch party, speaker sessions, author panels, small group discussions, games, giveaways, a pop-up book shop, and author signings. 

Two Dogs Publishing, Baker Publishing Group fiction imprints (Bethany House and Revell), Haven Fiction, Enclave Publishing, LiteraryScape, Kregel Publications, and Apothecary Audio have joined The Christy Award Program (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) and JustRead Publicity Tours as event sponsors.

Learn more about the 2025 Rendezvous

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Participating Authors

First Row: Abbey Downey, Amanda Cox, Angela Bell, Ann Elizabeth Fryer, Ashley Worrell, Bethany Turner, Cara Putman, Carol Moncado, Christy Barritt, Connilyn Cossette, Crystal Caudill, Crystal D. Grant. 

Second Row: Dana R. Lynn, Dani Pettrey, Danielle Grandinetti, Darlene L. Turner, E. A. Hendryx, Gabrielle Meyer, Heather Kaufman, Jaime Jo Wright, Janilise Lloyd, Jayna Breigh, Jenny Erlingsson, Jessica R. Patch. 

Third Row: Jill Kemerer, Joanna Davidson Politano, Karen Witemeyer, Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Kimberly Duffy, Lisa E. Betz, Lisa Phillips, Lisa T. Bergren, Liz Bradford, Lynn H. Blackburn, Megan Besing, Nancy Mehl. 

Fourth Row: Robin W. Pearson, Sara Brunsvold, Sara Davison, Shannon Sue Dunlap, Sharee Stover, Sherry Shindelar, T. Elizabeth Renich, Tabitha Caplinger, Tara Grace Ericson, Toni Shiloh.

Keynote speakers are Jaime Jo Wright and Toni Shiloh. Lisa Phillips will lead worship. Kimberley Woodhouse, Lynette Eason, Pepper Basham, and Shelley Shepard Gray are unable to join us. Check out recent releases by participating authors in the JustRead Amazon Storefront.

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Register

The registration fee (including a book tote, catered meals, and more) is $200 for readers. This year's gathering is nearing full capacity. Register today! 

Subscribe to email updates and learn more about each author on the Rendezvous website. Connect with other attendees and hopefuls in the Rendezvous Community private Facebook group. 

Register Now

P.S. Don't miss The Christy Award Finalist Reveal Webcast on Friday, September 19. Free registration is required. Visit christyawards.com for more information and registration. The Christy Award honors and promotes excellence in Christian fiction and is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

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Giveaway

(1) winner will receive $50 total winner's choice gift cards (Rendezvous event shirt presale shop, Amazon, Baker Book House, or Christianbook)!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 17, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 24, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for physical prizes. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Augmented By Candace Kade

Augmented

by Candace Kade

Publisher: Enclave Escape

Series: The Hybrid

ISBN: 9798886052220

I've read the first two books in this series and they've been fantastic. I was happy to be on the 

Summary:

Lee Urban must win to survive.

After being sentenced to the banned list, half of the Asian Federation believes Lee Urban is a ticking time bomb that could end the world as they know it. They’re willing to do anything to erase her existence and silence her voice before she can take a stand.

There’s only one way to fight back: enroll in the Race to the Clouds. Winning the competition would garner global media attention and give Urban the coverage she needs to dismantle the enhancement programs. Unfortunately, it also happens to be the deadliest event of the year.

With less time to train than her rivals, Urban and her team must find a way to best the competition. But as enemies close in, riots erupt, and her homeland teeters on the brink of civil war, one thing is certain—she’s running out of time. Not just for herself, but for every Natural she represents.

My Review:

It was great to catch up with Urban, her family, and friends in Augmented. The story picks up right where Hybrid leaves off. You definitely want to read these in order.

I love how the author really brought this world to life. It would be fascinating to spend a day in that world seeing how everything works from the Aquas to the fliers, and who wouldn't want to see a Gamelyon?!

Urban has to participate in the Race to the Clouds so that she can fight to stop what's going on with the enhancement program. Unfortunately, like Urban herself, no one knows where she belongs since she's the Hybrid. Trying to become a representative proves challenging to say the least!

There are a lot of twists and turns. Secrets are unveiled and truths come to light in some unexpected ways. I know, that's rather vague, but clearly I can't give anything away! Her relationship with her family members often seem to leave a lot to be desired, but thankfully, at various points, they are able to step up to the plate.

I loved that even though Urban is on the "banned" list, she finds a sponsor who is willing to take her on and support her for the Race to the Clouds! I wanted to cheer them on throughout the whole story! Mako may have been one of my favorite characters. lol

Everest is once again a hero in the story and I loved how he protected and supported Urban! He takes one for the team and continues to prove himself over and over. Everest is the kind of hero we all want in a story!

Am I sad this series is over, you better believe it! I can't wait for more stories from this author!

About the Author:

Candace Kade likes to spend her time dreaming up stories involving tech, psychology, culture, and/or swords. She’s a certified Krav Maga assistant instructor and loves writing action-packed martial art scenes. A third culture kid, she considers Chengdu and Austin to be her homes. When she’s not exploring new countries, she enjoys hiking in national parks, moving, teaching her husband Mandarin, and keeping a baby human alive. She can be bribed with boba tea, fluffy puppies, and breakfast tacos.