Welcome to the Blog Tour for Lullaby by the River by Temperance Johnson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Lullaby by the River
Series: Amish River
Author: Temperance Johnson
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Genre: Amish Fiction
An unique Amish love story.
A wounded woman with no way out…unless she marries her ex.
After unexpected abuse, quiet and happy Priscilla Yoder thinks her life can’t get worse. But then she finds out she’s pregnant, and her family and church insist she marry the man who hurt her. When a man she used to love, a man who wants to leave the Amish, offers to marry her, she doesn’t see a better option.
Danny Taylor, charming bad boy of his Amish community, is ready to leave the plain life. But when a woman he used to love finds herself in danger of marriage to an evil man, he can't resist offering marriage to keep her safe. Only problem is, he didn’t expect to fall for his bride so fast. She's softening his tough heart and showing him that there’s a good side to the Amish. As they grow closer, he realizes this gorgeous woman in pain has giant walls, and it will take both patience and faith if he wants to scale them.
Caring for Danny was never what Priscilla wanted. And she never expected his faith to bring her closer to God.
But when Danny’s past wounds resurface, and as Priscilla learns to hope again, can they trust God to make their relationship more than just a marriage of convenience?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon
Also Available
Excerpt
After a long day of celebrating the 4th of July, she and Danny were now alone. Priscilla stood on top of the hill, overlooking the Ohio River. Such a beautiful view with fields, trees, and moonlight shining off the river.
Looking over the mountain top, she was in awe. She turned to Danny, who was watching her closely. “It’s so beautiful. I’m in awe.”
He tugged her gently to lie down on the blanket they had brought up. “Let's watch the stars come up.”
She was tense at first, but then she calmed into his hold. He wasn’t making a move. He was just showing her a good time. She smiled.
When the fireworks started, Priscilla jumped. She had been so relaxed in his arms, the bishop himself could have yelled at them, and she wouldn’t have moved. “The fireworks are beautiful,” she told Danny.
In the middle of the fireworks, he adjusted his position. Taking her cheek in his hand, he kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her nose. “Let’s make our own fireworks.” His voice was husky. Priscilla closed her eyes, enjoying his every touch. The fireworks were loud, but she hardly heard them.
His lips finally found hers, and she touched his chest, wanting to pull him closer. He was so gentle and passionate at the same time. She kissed him back when he deepened the kiss.
After a while, she pulled back, smiling.
Danny’s face flashed red from the shadow of the fireworks. “That was nice.” He kissed her again. “I haven’t waited this long to do it wrong.” He grinned at her. He ran a hand through her hair and she could see he wanted to kiss her again, but he just pulled her close and whispered, “I love you.”
She cuddled closer to him. She was glad he had waited. It was worth it.
About the Author
Temperance Johnson has always loved to read and write. As one of eleven children, she read from her older sister's books. With that, her love for both reading and writing has only continued to grow. Passionate about the subjects of adoption, family, and faith, she started the Liberty Chronicles and now her Amish fiction. In her free time, she plays with her ponies and many nieces and nephews. Her horses even made it into her stories. She enjoys spoiling her ten nephews and twenty-three nieces.
Connect with Temperance by visiting temperancejohnson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Author Interview
Q: What inspired you to write Lullaby by the River?
Temperance: I was reading a biblical fiction book and it had spiritual abuse in it. It made me a bit upset on how it [was] handled. I had always been interested in the Amish. And I had worked with Amish in the past. So I started thinking about Priscilla’s story and told my writing partner about it and she loved it too. I started it and it was so fun to write.
Q: How long did it take to write this book?
Temperance: I started it in February of 2022 and finished it October 2024. So it took two years but I stopped writing it for a while. I wrote most of it in about 8 months.
Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?
Temperance: The real stories of the Amish women I listened to. Many were similar with all the rules.
Also I loved writing the Romance in this story. I had never done a newly married couple and it got a bit steamy. (Of course, it is clean fiction).
Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Lullaby by the River?
Temperance: “I will always come for you, my sunflower.” Danny told her.
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Temperance: Since I was a preteen. I always loved to write.
Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?
Temperance: That I come from a family of 11 and I can write in pretty much chaos going around. lol
Q: What are you currently reading?
Temperance: Healing the Mountain Man’s Heart by Misty M Beller
Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
Temperance: Christian historical fiction and I’m [now] enjoying Christian contemporary fiction.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
Temperance: I love riding horses and photography. Also book scrapbooking.
Q: What is your favorite season and why?
Temperance: I like spring. It means winter has ended. and this winter never seemed to end. lol I like fall as well. The colors are beautiful.
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will each receive a $20 Baker Book House gift card and a print copy of Lullaby by the River!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 8, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 15, 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.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
