Welcome to the Blog Tour for Levi's Loyalty by Lynne Lanning, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Levi's Loyalty
Series: Mountain Men - Longing Hearts in the Wilderness
Author: Lynne Lanning
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Genre: Historical Romance (Christian)
Levi found out how much void a woman could fill in his heart…
But the heartache and betrayal wasn’t worth it.
He was better off alone… wasn’t he?
Levi enjoys his secluded life on the mountain until his friend convinces him he needs a woman in his life. A wife, when you’ve barely been around people, especially women? If only he could pick one out at the store like a shovel or bag of flour. But Levi falls head over heels—ignoring all the warning signs that something is wrong—until a delay in marrying her reveals her true intentions.
Now, he’s decided heartache and betrayal aren’t worth it. He’s better off alone. But God has a surprise waiting in the wilderness, softening the devastation he had suffered…in the form of a feisty woman who has claimed his mountain home for her own.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon
Excerpt
Levi’s eyes began to open to the familiar voice. He focused on a massive man hovering over him. It was Zeb.
As he tried to move his arm, he realized it was tied down to the bed. Panic seized him before Zeb put his hands on his shoulders.
“Levi, you’ve been real bad off. We tied you down to keep you from thrashing about and hurting yourself more. As soon as we know you’re back to yourself, we’ll untie you. You understand what I’m saying?”
Levi nodded weakly. “Water,” he choked out barely above a whisper.
A woman handed Zeb a cup of water, then helped raise Levi’s head enough for him to drink.
He never remembered anything tasting so good. His parched mouth and throat were like a sponge, soaking up every drop.
Nodding his head in thanks, he rested back again. “Zeb, untie me. I feel like a captured, wounded animal.” He still spoke barely above a whisper.
Zeb lowered his eyes. “Can’t. Not yet.”
Levi pulled against his restraints and his voice got a bit stronger. He glared at Zeb. “You can’t? What do you mean, you can’t? Untie me, Zeb.”
Zeb sat down beside the bed, looking sad and defeated. “Levi, you got yourself a real bad leg there. When you broke it, the bone came clear through your skin. We fixed the bone as best we could, and hope it will heal okay. But being a big man and all, you won’t be able to walk on it for a long time.”
Zeb sighed and looked at Levi. “But that’s not the worst of it. You had what Mitzi calls blood poisoning. She’s still putting her concoction on you for that.”
He shook his head and looked down again. “Some of the skin is beginning to not look so good and we’re just afeared that you may lose your leg.”
Levi stiffened against the restraints. “No!” he yelled. “Nobody’s going to take my leg!”
“Now see, that’s why we have you tied down. You’d be jumping around hurting yourself. But we sent for the doctor in town. Hopefully, he will be here tomorrow.
“I try to put myself in your shoes about this matter, and we done talked about it between the lot of us. If there’s a choice between your leg or your life, we’ve already decided, we aren’t going to let you die.”
Levi looked up at the ceiling, not even able to wipe away the tear that escaped his eye.
A woman walked up and instructed Zeb to help sit him up a bit. “I brought you some broth. You ought to be hungry by now.”
He looked at her, trying not to look so intimidating, but right now he was angry and in pain.
“You’re Mitzi? You’ve been taking care of me?”
“Yes. I’ve done most of the doctoring around here for nearly twenty years.”
“Thank you, ma’am, but the first chance I get to be out of this bed, I’ll be gone. I’ve got a woman in town waiting for me to marry her. I won’t let her down, even if I have to use crutches.”
“I know. I’ve heard. That’s why Zeb and a few other men are camped right outside. They help keep watch on you all day and night.
“Now, open your mouth and eat this broth.” She put a spoon to his mouth.
He wished he could resist, but he was hungry. The broth was good and he willingly ate every bite.
“How long have I been here?”
The woman moved away with the bowl and Zeb sat back down. He knew Levi would be upset when he found out he was already late getting back to town.
He cleared his throat. “Eight days since we found you.”
“No, Zeb, that just can’t be. I’m supposed to be getting married about now.”
He pulled against his restraints with all his strength. “Let me out of here!” He pulled and tugged with his teeth gritted. His eyes shot anger toward Zeb. “I’ve got to go. You can’t keep me like a prisoner.”
Zeb stood and shook his head. “One day you’ll see this is for your own good. Maybe you should spend some time talking to the Lord about all of this. None of us wished this on you, so we hope you don’t stay mad for long. But we will stay right by your side through it all.” He turned and left.
Levi rested back against the pillows. There was no sense in fighting. There was no way to win.
About the Author
Lynne Lanning has such an effortless way of evoking emotion from her readers. Her characters are so realistic that the reader can feel their pain during trials and their joy during triumphs. Reviews state: "...it's as if Mrs. Lanning lived through this herself." "Couldn't put it down..." "A real page turner." Lynne enjoys turning history and her love of God into enjoyable, relatable stories with practical life lessons that can benefit people today. Each story tells of true bonds of love and loyalty, mixed with tough times and decisions, with a twist of humor and sometimes devastation...the same is true in life. With a blend of her own family members and heritage along with lots of fiction, it's hard to tell where reality stops and fantasy begins.
Connect with Lynne by subscribing to her email newsletter updates or following her on Amazon.
Author Interview
Q: What inspired you to write
Levi’s Loyalty?
Lynne: I was invited to a group to write a story about a Mountain Man who had sent away for a Mail-Order Bride. During the research about Mountain Men, I fell in love with the rugged concept of how they lived…seclusion, survival, and how aware they were of their surroundings every moment. They were everything an adventurous me would have loved to be many, many years ago.
I didn’t even finish the Mail-Order Bride book before I started writing Levi’s story. I was captivated and couldn’t type fast enough. Once he made his way into my mind, he worked his way into my heart. I was almost ashamed for putting him through so much heartache, but I made sure he came out victorious in the end and so much better off because of the trials.
Q: How long did it take to write this book?
Lynne: It only took about three weeks to write it, but I tweaked and edited it for over a year, wanting it to be the best I had written so far.
Q:What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?
Lynne: I love research! I found myself getting lost in the past as vivid pictures made their way into my imagination while reading the true facts of what these men endured. Some of the most intriguing facts were about how secluded they chose to be. Most of my research was about men who never settled down in one place long enough to build more than a lean-to for shelter. But there were others, especially if they chose to have a wife and family, who would build a cabin, but still in a secluded area.
Some of these men, (and their families), never…yes, I said never, stepped foot in a town. The local trading post served multi purposes, including a place for the mountain folk to gather briefly during the spring and summer while they traded the pelts for necessities.
Although loyal to their own, and helpful when needed, they stayed to themselves unless called on for help. Levi’s Loyalty has a few scenes about the local trading post and some of its functions.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Levi’s Loyalty?
Lynne: Oh my! That is a tough one. I can’t even choose a favorite scene! This story is so touching, and explores every emotion. I almost have it memorized and still find myself sniffling and wiping tears during Chapters 5 and 13, and find myself grinning and chuckling during Chapters 6 – 8. So many other times I’m ready to bite nails from anger, or fingernails from nervous intensity…and I know how the story ends! LOL! The voice actor who did the audio (Spencer Dillehay), did an amazing job of making this story come to life.
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Lynne: As a child I loved to write and tried my hand at poetry and short stories, just for fun. In the late 1980’s, I knew writing was a passion of mine and wrote several pieces, especially for magazines and such. I also wrote poetry and stories, but at that time, to be published, you had to have an agent, who in turn would try to find a publisher to accept your work. With raising 5 kids at the time, there was no extra money for such a venture.
My husband was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2014, and I closed my Quilt Shop in 2015 to allow us to travel and spend our time together…that was when I knew I had to write. I had collected interviews over the years (on cassette tapes), and my grandmother’s life story was burning in me, so I had plenty of material to write about. That’s when I found out about self publishing on Amazon, and my life hasn’t been the same since.
Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?
Lynne: In my Amazon bio, it says readers agree that my books are so realistic, it sounds as if I had lived it myself…and a lot of it, I have. I am a firm believer that God allows us to go through things for a reason. One of those reasons, at least for me, is so I can be helpful to someone else going through the same thing. I do that through my writing. Even though I write historical, the principles and emotions are the same as they are today, and the life lessons can still be applied. When I write about devastation, heartache, and even abuse, I have been there and can vividly describe my feelings during those times. When I write about victory and joy, thankfully, I have been there also and share those emotions, giving God the glory for His kindness, mercy and grace. I am so wonderfully blessed.
Q: What are you currently reading?
Lynne: Edits! LOL! After days of writing, I take a break and read just for pleasure. I attack my TBR list for a solid week after I finish a work in progress. Right now, I am reading “A Son to Protect” by Joi Copeland.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
Lynne: Historical Romance and Historical non-fiction.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
Lynne: Oh, my goodness…whatever craft I am passionate about at the time! I have done a bit of all kinds, including (but not limited to Bob Ross style painting, macrame, crochet, quilting, and the list goes on!) Right now, I am pouring and painting plaster and making some wonderful scented soaps that smell so good I want to take a bite out of them! What a way to wash your mouth out with soap! LOL!
Q: What is your favorite season and why?
Lynne: Fall with Spring being a close second. Spring is great with colorful blooms, warmer weather, and life seeming to renew itself. But Fall, especially since I live in the South with mild winters and scorching summers with high humidity, is a blessed relief from the heat. I enjoy the gorgeous, vibrant colors of leaves, the smell of campfires and grills outside, while aromas of cinnamon, pumpkin spice, cloves and sage fill the house. The insects are gone and so is most of the pollen.
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will each receive a gift basket with homemade scented soaps (like you'll find in the story), a print copy of Levi's Loyalty, a print copy of one of Lynne Lanning's 2025 Selah Awards finalist titles (winner's choice between To Trust a Heart or Mail-Order Stonemason), and bookmarks!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 12, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 19, 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.
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