Monday, July 7, 2025

Author Interview: Names of God: Knowing Peace by Grace Fox

Names of God JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Names of God: Knowing Peace by Grace Fox, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Names of God: Knowing Peace

Title: Names of God: Knowing Peace 
Series:
Names of God Devotional Studies #2 
Author:
Grace Fox 
Publisher:
Aspire Press 
Release Date:
July 8, 2025 
Genre: Christian Living; Devotional study

Peace. 

The very word evokes images of serene landscapes and quiet stillness. In today’s chaotic world, peace is a valuable commodity. The Bible has a lot to say about peace, claiming that God himself is the ultimate source. In this follow-up to Names of God: Living Unafraid, Grace Fox reflects on how the following names of God point to the peace our souls so desperately crave:  

Yahweh Shalom—The Lord Is Peace 
Abba
—Father
 
El Shaddai
—God Almighty
 
El Roi
—The God Who Sees Me
 
Yahweh Ori
—The Lord Is My Light
 
Yahweh Nissi
—The Lord Is My Banner
 
Immanuel
—God with Us
 

Knowing Peace uses examples from Scripture and compelling real-life stories to illustrate how these names can bring inner peace amid life’s storms. Each session includes a guided prayer, reflection questions, and a video link providing additional insights from Grace. Perfect for individual or group study, this new addition to the Names of God series will encourage and inspire readers to draw near to God and receive his peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7).  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Tyndale House | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop


Book Excerpt


My friend, I don’t know your story and the challenges you face, but I encourage you to hold onto hope. What God has promised, El Shaddai will bring to pass. He knows no limits. The impossible is possible for him. Keep your eyes on God’s faithfulness, and be alert to the lessons he wants you to learn on this faith-stretching journey. David Wilkerson wrote,

“God uses our crises—the most difficult, trying times in our lives—to give us hopeful revelations of who He is. Each revelation is like a separate ray of light reflecting from a diamond: It reveals a different aspect of our Lord’s nature, giving us fresh views of His character and power toward us. These revelations shine especially brightly during our times of darkness. Those are the most effective times for Him to reveal to us His ability and desire to deliver us.”

God met Abram in the most difficult time in his life and introduced himself as El Shaddai. He will meet us in our most difficult place, too, because he longs for us to know him better. He longs for us to know him as El Shaddai, and that aspect of his character is best taught in the face of utter impossibilities just as light shines brightest in the dark.

Excerpt from Names of God: Knowing Peace by Grace Fox. Used with permission

More in this Series


About the Author


Grace Fox

Grace Fox is the award-winning author of 15 books including Names of God: Knowing Peace. She’s a popular Bible teacher at international women’s events, a member of the “First 5” Bible study writing team (Proverbs 31 Ministries), and an annual contributor to the Mornings with Jesus 365-day devotional published by Guideposts.

Grace has been a career missionary for more than 30 years. She and her husband co-direct International Messengers Canada, a missionary sending agency with 300 staff in more than 25 countries. They currently live fulltime aboard a sailboat in Vancouver, British Columbia. Married in 1982, they celebrate three grown kids and 14 grandchildren.

Connect with Grace by visiting gracefox.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Author Interview


Q: What inspired you to write Names of God: Knowing Peace?

Grace: I had a life-changing experience in my mid-20s. My husband and I were volunteering with a faith-based NGO in Nepal at the time, and our first two children were born there. The second, Stephanie, was born with a medical condition called hydrocephalus—too much water on the brain.

Doctors at the mission hospital where I delivered her by C-section told us that she needed a shunt in her head asap, but they couldn’t provide that service. We would have to return to North America on the first available flight.

Bad news—the airline refused to issue me a ticket when the agent learned that I’d just had a C-section, saying they considered me to be a medical high risk. So, my husband returned to Seattle, Washington with our three-day-old daughter, and I was left behind for an additional eight days not knowing whether I would see her alive again.

After saying goodbye to Stephanie, I cried out to God and asked what He wanted me to learn through this experience. He spoke to me through the words of the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” The lyrics reassured me that He would be faithful no matter what happened in our family’s future.

I clung to promises about God’s faithfulness as though my life depended on it. That’s when I realized the importance of basing our understanding of God’s character on truth, not on a perspective that can be skewed by culture or false teaching or our own lens tainted by negative experiences. A misunderstanding of God’s character cannot anchor us when the storm winds blow.

Our world is growing more frightening by the day. Global storm winds are raging and picking up force. Only a correct understanding of who God is can hold us securely and give us peace when chaos surrounds us.


Q: How long did it take to write this book?

Grace: About five months. That includes time spent doing research and interviewing others whose stories are in each chapter.


Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this devotional Bible study?

Grace: In writing this series, I considered it vital to show how Jesus fulfills each biblical name of God. I was surprised to see how obviously He did this when He walked on earth as a man. There’s no doubt that He is God.


Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Names of God: Knowing Peace?

Grace: “What we believe to be true about God is the most important thing about us.”


Q: What makes your book different from other books about the names of God?

Grace: Some books about the names of God are purely academic. This one blends research and biblical teaching with personal stories about how I’ve experienced God by those names, accounts of others’ experiences, reflection questions for personal growth, and bonus video teaching. The variety of content provides something for everyone, and the format makes it very easy for anyone wishing to lead the study.


Q: What do you hope readers take away from Names of God: Knowing Peace?

Grace: I hope the book leaves readers in wonder and awe about who God is, and that they’ll come to a new or fresh understanding about His power, sovereignty, supremacy, and love. Once they begin to live from these truths, they will experience peace rather than panic and calm amid chaos.


Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?

Grace: I was born in landlocked southern Alberta but I’ve lived fulltime aboard a sailboat since 2018. Some people think I’m living the dream, but really, this is God’s call for me and my husband at this time. He planted us in this marina to share His love with our marina neighbors.


Q: What are you currently reading?

Grace: I’m reading The God You Need to Know: Experience the Holy Spirit’s Presence and Power Today by Margaret Feinberg. It’s an excellent reminder about the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives. As a member of the holy Trinity, He is equally as important as God the Father and Jesus the Son.


Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Grace: I love, love, love springtime because, where I live, winters are rainy and overcast. I much prefer sunshine, and I totally enjoy seeing daffodils and tulips bloom.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of "Names of God: Knowing Peace," a print copy of "Names of God: Living Unafraid," a $10 Amazon gift card, two downloadables, and a fun assortment of little beach-themed gifts!

Names of God Knowing Peace JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 7, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 14, 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/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Wednesday, July 2, 2025

June 2025 Reading Recap and July 2025 TBR

  My June 2025 Reads: 


  1. Awakened by Roseanna M. White - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - An epic romantasy with beautiful spiritual themes. Read my review.

  2. Of Silver and Secrets by Michelle Griep - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Held relatable characters, a flowing plot, and a dose of mystery. Read my review.

  3. Battling the Bluestocking by Martha Keyes - ⭐⭐⭐ - I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first two books in the series, but I'll keep it because I loved the first two. 

  4. The Woman From Lydia by Angela Hunt - ⭐⭐⭐ - My local book club's selection.

  5. Capturing You by Robin Patchen - ⭐⭐⭐ - This romantic suspense took a bit too long to hook my attention and had a main character that felt somewhat unrealistic. I did enjoy the mystery of the murdered family and the search for truth. Read my review.


Expected July 2025 Reads:
  1. With God in Every Breath: A Guide to Drawing Closer to Jesus Through Your Senses by Whitney R. Simpson.
  2.  
  3. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. - Currently reading. This is a LONG book!

  4. Religious Rebels: Finding Jesus in the Awkward Middle Way by Christy Lynne Wood - I read this book last month, but it was so good that I'm reading it again!

  5. The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White.

  6. The Voice We Find by Nicole Deese - My local book club's July selection. I loved the first two books in the series and can't wait to read this one!




What will you read this month? 

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Book Spotlight: The Fire Chief's Surprise by Chris Maday Schmidt

The Fire Chief's Surprise JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Fire Chief's Surprise by Chris Maday Schmidt, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

The Fire Chief's Surprise

Title: The Fire Chief's Surprise 
Author:
Chris Maday Schmidt 
Publisher:
Love Inspired 
Release Date:
July 1, 2025 
Genre:
Inspirational Contemporary Romance

He wasn’t looking for love… 

Until one little boy came into his life. 

Fire chief Josh Rogers has just three months to get married or risk losing custody of his late foster brother’s infant son. So when Annie Greene offers to help him find a wife in exchange for repairs at her bakery, it seems like the perfect solution. As the three spend time together, Josh can’t help but feel that Annie’s the only person he can picture filling the role of Finn’s mother. But can they set aside their past insecurities and embrace a chance at happily-ever-after?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub


Excerpt from The Fire Chief's Surprise


Masking a nervous chuckle, Josh coughed against the back of his hand, his cheeks growing warm under her scrutiny.

“Um…got anything in my color?”

Tapping her thumb against her cheek, Annie’s eyes twinkled with merriment as she considered his inquiry with feigned seriousness before snagging his shirt sleeve with her fist and tugging him around the countertop. Imagining he looked much like the stray pup the Wellses had adopted into their home, he chuckled under his breath.

After a thorough once-over, she released her grip and rummaged through a drawer. “I’ll find something.”

She straightened, a cheeky grin splashed across her face as she held out a black-and-red-checked apron appliqued with cartoon bears and pine trees. “Here we go!”

He muffled a groan, grateful his crew wasn’t around or he wouldn’t live down this act of cruelty directed toward a civil servant.

Under her appraisal, one eye squeezed shut and her head cocked, his skin grew hotter under the collar. Snatching the apron from her hand, he shrugged it over his T-shirt and shorts.

Also Available


About the Author

Chris Maday Schmidt

A self-professed princess and Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Chris Maday Schmidt believes it's always the “write” time for real-life fairytales brimming with hope, humor & heart. She's a member of Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers, and her debut novel—A Father’s Vow—received a 5-star reader review in the 2024 Readers' Favorite Book Reviews and Award Contest. The Fire Chief’s Surprise is Chris’s second inspirational romance for Harlequin. She also writes heartwarming stories for Woman's World, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Guideposts, and assorted magazines. She and her real-life hero reside in a cabin in Northern Arizona.

Connect with Chris by visiting chrismadayschmidt.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a Reader's Prize Bundle which includes a scented candle, bookmark, and bookish socks, glass cup, and canvas bag, as well as a print copy of A Father's Vow, also by Chris Maday Schmidt!

The Fire Chief's Surprise JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 1, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 8, 2025. Winner 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.

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Saturday, June 28, 2025

Book Review: Awakened by Roseanna M. White

About the Book:



Where sea and land meet, two worlds clash in a fury of wind and waves.

Arden Bleu has always known that her stepsister, Jade, was destined for great things. In a world where beauty follows magic, she has no doubt that their upcoming Awakening ceremony will reveal that gorgeous, kind, compelling Jade is far more than a mere mortal. But when Jade is kidnapped by a mysterious sect of mer on the eve of the newly-returned king’s ball, Arden will do anything to save her sister. Even face down the man she’s always dreaded meeting because of the power he holds over her family, the man to whom her father swore loyalty long before she was born. The Sea King.

Seidon, the Sea King of Daryatla, has grown only more powerful as the centuries have gone by, but lifetime after lifetime have failed to give him what he most yearns for: a family. He knows that it will take a woman of extraordinary power to match him enough to create a child, and no such woman seems to exist…until he feels her magic calling to his one day in the water. And when Arden Bleu, daughter of his most trusted official, arrives to tell him about her missing stepsister, he knows this Jade, with a new magic so coveted that the mer would risk war with his kingdom to steal her away, may be the one he’s waited centuries for. But how can he and the determined Arden ever hope to find one young woman trapped beneath the waves? Perhaps the Great Golden Sea Hawk who has guarded the sisters all their lives holds the key.

In a world on the brink of war between the mer and the land-dwellers, friendship, faith, and love demand the ultimate sacrifice as both kingdoms seek to unlock the prophesied magic waiting to spring forth: the magic of wind and sky. To the mer, it would mean the freedom to return to the land. To Seidon’s court, it would mean safety from every storm. But how can any human hand wield the wind?

My Thoughts:

Awakened stands as Roseanna M. White’s debut into the romantasy genre. She did it so well! This novel felt intentionally written, crafted by dedication and exploration rather than formula. The characters captured my attention from the start, and I enjoyed every minute of the book. I particularly liked that the romance between Arden and Seidon went beyond the wedding into their future as they had more things to learn and adversity to overcome.

The spiritual elements in Awakened were deeper and more prominent than I had expected. More than one character learned dependence on Triada (God/Trinity) as their faith carried them through challenges and unexpected circumstances. I especially liked the themes of renewal: new mercy, new faith, and new magic.
 
I thoroughly enjoyed Awakened by Roseanna M. White and I look forward to the next story in this series!



Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Book Review: Capturing You by Robin Patchen

About the Book:




In a town shrouded by secrets, a photographer and the reclusive heir of the Ballentine fortune join forces to unravel a deadly conspiracy.

Brooklynn Wright must win a photography contest to save her gallery, and the perfect sunrise shot at a remote inlet north of town is her best hope. But when she witnesses a smuggling operation at a hidden dock and is chased by armed men, her dreams of artistic glory become a nightmare flight for survival. Rescued by a mysterious stranger, Brooklynn is forced to take refuge with him in an abandoned mansion the townspeople claim is cursed—afraid to trust her grumpy protector but with no other choice.

Billionaire Forbes Ballentine returned to Shadow Cove for answers, not distractions. Haunted by the unsolved murder of his family twenty years ago, he’s spent his life in the shadows, hunting for the truth. He believes the network Brooklynn stumbled upon is tied to his family’s deaths, but protecting the cheerful photographer means jeopardizing the investigation he’s been chasing for decades. Especially when her presence stirs feelings he’s not prepared to face.

As Brooklynn and Forbes grow closer, so do the network’s ruthless enforcers. With everyone in town hiding something, they must navigate lies, betrayal, and deadly truths. When the network closes in, they’ll have to trust each other completely—or lose everything.

Dive into this gripping romantic suspense full of mystery, secrets, and danger, where two broken souls must uncover the truth while battling the enemies outside—and the wounds within.
My Thoughts:

Capturing You lands as the sixth full-length novel in The Wright Heroes of Maine series by Robin Patchen. I read book one (which I loved) but not any of the other novels. I recognized some character name dropping, but Capturing You worked fine as a standalone romantic suspense.

I read about one-third of Capturing You before the story truly hooked me. The mysterious murder of Forbes’ family had me side eyeing all the secondary characters, wondering who knew details about the murder and who did it. Was Forbes’ late father a good guy or a bad guy? As is typical for Patchen’s novels, my guesses were incorrect and I didn’t know who did what until it was explained.

The murder mystery element of Capturing You appealed to me the most, but the novel also held suspense, some character growth, and a romance with the forced proximity and grumpy/sunshine tropes. At times, Brooklynn's optimism and naivety felt unrealistic, but I stuck with the story and enjoyed the big reveals and the happily ever after. Readers of Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips will likely enjoy Capturing You by Robin Patchen. Three stars.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Book Spotlight: Echoes of Darkness by Darlene L. Turner

Echos of Darkness JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Echoes of Darkness by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Echoes of Darkness

Title: Echoes of Darkness 
Author:
Darlene L. Turner 
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade 
Release Date: June 24, 2025 
Genre:
Christian Suspense/Romantic Thriller

A serial killer stalks a small town, and a police officer must face her family’s dark past to catch him. 

The sleepy community of Kenorapeake Falls in northern Ontario seems like somewhere Constable Oaklynn Brock can finally outrun her violent past. That is, until she’s assigned to investigate a series of suspicious deaths. She can’t reveal that she knows how serial killers think because she grew up with one. Yet the eerie similarities between these murders and those committed by her father, known as the Suicide Slayer, hint at a copycat in their midst. But why here and why now? 

Caleb Greene of the Canadian Watchers Squad, a special task force, has his own reasons to be wary of working alongside Oaklynn. But with rumors of a local cult known as the Light Paragons gaining power, the stakes are too high to refuse. 

As they explore connections between the killings and cult, Oaklynn and Caleb are forced to confront old secrets…and a terrifying new threat. Someone is watching Oaklynn’s every move. They know exactly who she is and what she might be capable of. And soon her biggest fear isn’t just having her past exposed, but that a killer will turn whatever days she has left into a living nightmare… 

 PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub


Also Available

K-9 Ranch Protection


Excerpt from Echoes of Darkness


Oaklynn swallowed the scream threatening to break free. Terror parched her throat. Breathe. Her knees buckled, but she shifted her stance to steady herself. Being the infamous Suicide Slayer’s daughter proved to be a hard past to erase. Even after his arrest, Oaklynn couldn’t escape the glances and whispers when she’d entered her high school classes. Everyone, including her best friend, had cut off all communication, as if her father’s crimes were her fault. Little did they realize it was Oaklynn herself who’d provided the evidence to convict the serial killer after she discovered his secret when she was a teenager.

After helping the police with her father’s case, Oaklynn packed her bags and moved to her aunt’s house. But it hadn’t helped. The press still found them and hounded them during the trial. After her father was convicted, Aunt Sue suggested they move farther away. At eighteen, Oaklynn took her mother’s maiden name and expunged her identity from being tied to her father.

Even though she changed her identity, the monster still haunted her dreams. Ugliness had seized her soul when her father stole everything good in her life, including her precious mother. She squared her shoulders. Oaklynn wouldn’t let him take over again.

She was more than a serial killer’s daughter.

About the Author

Darlene L. Turner

Darlene L. Turner is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.


Tour Giveaway

(4) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card!

Echoes of Darkness JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 23, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 30, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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