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.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

Monday, June 23, 2025

Book Review: The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz

About the Book:



Lawyer James Kinney isn’t looking for love, and laundress Sara O’Connor doesn’t want to be found. When their paths cross in a British colony on the brink of rebellion, a marriage of convenience may be their best hope of survival.


Canada, 1837. Widower James Kinney knows his precocious daughter, Evie, needs more than his lessons on law and logic, but Toronto offers few options. Classes with the neighbor children seem ideal until James discovers Evie is secretly spending her time with Sara O’Connor, a kind and mysteriously educated servant. For propriety’s sake, James forbids their friendship. But then Evie falls victim to the illness ravaging the city, and James must call upon Sara’s medical knowledge and her special bond with Evie to save his daughter’s life.

When Sara’s presence in his household threatens scandal, however, James offers an unexpected solution: become his wife, in name only, and help him raise Evie to be a proper young lady.

If Sara can ignore the sparks she feels when they’re together, his logical proposal could keep her secret secure forever. But soon, the forces of rebellion unravel their tidy arrangement. When James is accused of treason, Sara must find the courage to face a past that could save her husband’s life.


My Thoughts:

When I finished reading The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz, I found myself wishing that Sara, James, and Evie were real people. These characters came alive amid the turmoil of the 1837 Canada Rebellion, a historical event I was unfamiliar with. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this beautiful story of finding (and refinding) love and family.

My favorite theme in The Lawyer and the Laundress was how God is with us in the hard times, even when he chooses not to rescue from pain and suffering. Sara’s past experiences reflected this and in her present circumstances God felt absent. One quote by Granny stayed with me: “God isn’t only a God of blessings. He’s the Man of Sorrows, too, ye ken. He knows how it feels.” I’m thankful that’s true.

The Lawyer and the Laundress included several other elements I enjoyed. The romance between James and Sara held swoony moments, tension as the relationship evolved, and a bit of mystery due to Sara’s hidden identity. The secondary characters truly enhanced the story and kept the plot moving along. The social structures of the day added adversity for Sara and James to overcome.

I recommend The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz to readers who enjoy historical fiction with tension, secrets, and romance. Five 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.





Friday, June 20, 2025

Author Interview: The Final Word by Laura Thomas

The Final Word JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Final Word by Laura Thomas, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

The Final Word

Title: The Final Word 
Series:
Bite of Betrayal #2 
Author:
Laura Thomas 
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink 
Release Date:
June 5, 2025 
Genre:
Christian Romantic Suspense

When aspiring author Sophie Brooks chooses to trade a vibrant Paris life for the tranquility of a quaint English village, she imagines her final days in the City of Lights will be magical. Sophie doesn’t anticipate a chilling encounter with an old flame—nor does she plan to find a new love on her very last night. 

Miles Morgan’s life has been defined as a successful opera singer-until now. His chance encounter with Sophie in Paris ignites renewed hope … if he can figure out his next chapter and if she can accept what his future may hold. 

In the heart of the English countryside, Sophie and Miles’ fairy tale romance turns into a noxious nightmare as the darkness of Sophie’s past—and her volatile ex—catch up with her. Both Sophie and Miles must surrender everything to the One they thought had betrayed them as they lean into love and fight for their lives. 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | LauraThomasAuthor.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub


Excerpt from The Final Word


Satisfied she was alone, Sophie gathered the two large cake boxes in her arms, thankful a cupcake tower was already here from a previous event and she didn’t have to balance that, too. Careful to keep the boxes horizontal, she managed to lock the car door and made her way over to the elevator, the familiar sound of squealing tires protesting as they circled within the parkade floors below.

Miles. She forgot to check and see if he’d left a message. Better make sure his message wasn’t anything to do with her drop-off before she arrived down at reception. Facing the elevator and leaning her knee against the wall, she balanced the boxes with one arm around them both and snagged the phone from her jeans pocket.

Heavy footsteps sounded and before she had a chance to turn around, someone pressed her up against the wall, her boxes and phone flying in every direction. Sophie’s breath caught in her throat as her cheek grazed the brick wall and she struggled to stand upright. A hand snapped her head back and gripped her mouth from behind, a pinprick jabbed her neck like a bee sting, and her knees buckled.

Help. He-lp. Her mouth moved but no words came out. Her limbs grew heavier by the second until she sensed strong arms lifting her from her feet and carrying her away. She couldn’t hold her eyelids open, and all sounds blurred into the muffle of a car engine.

Darkness took over and Sophie sank into its depths.

More In This Series


About the Author


Laura Thomas

A published, award-winning Christian author, Laura Thomas writes heartwarming encouragement for your soul—especially in her numerous romantic suspense novels, Christmas novellas, teen fiction and children’s books, as well as her non-fiction writing.

Laura is a hope*writers certified writing coach, a book-loving chocoholic mom and nanny, and is married to her high school sweetheart. Originally from the UK, they now live the empty nest life in Kelowna, British Columbia, with their French bulldog!

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


Author Interview


Q: What inspired you to write The Final Word?

Laura: This is Book 2 of 3 in my “Bite of Betrayal” series set in England, where 3 Canadian sisters all end up seeking solace in a charming English village—but naturally, things are more sinister than serene! I’m English and emigrated to Canada many years ago, so thought it would be interesting to flip the script and share each sister’s journey as they struggle with betrayal in their pursuit of love. For The Final Word, I took some of my own passions for inspiration in creating the character of Sophie Brooks, who is a writer, book lover, enjoys baking, and adores Paris. The overarching theme of surrender is something I know many of us find challenging, and I hope and pray that readers will be encouraged by Sophie’s story.

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

Laura:  Hmmm such a good question. I’m going to say about 9 months including revisions and going back-and-forth with my critique partner before I submitted to my publisher. It’s always hard to pinpoint as I’m usually juggling other writing projects (and real-life events!) in the process.

Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?

Laura:  I had the pleasure of going to both Paris and England for research—I think there’s nothing quite like immersing yourself in a setting, eating the food, walking the streets, and imagining your characters interacting right there. I’m especially surprised and delighted when tiny details make a big impact. For example, my amazing husband was game for reenacting Sophie and Miles’ first date scene in an ancient pub in England, where we sat in their chairs, ate their lunch by the fire, and I even visited the washroom in the “dungeon”, as did Sophie! So fun.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote from The Final Word?

Laura: “To the Author of everything, who always has the final word.

May this story give hope to every reader for their own happily ever after.”


This is the dedication Sophie writes for her own book in the epilogue—and so I also used it for my dedication in The Final Word. It encapsulates my desire for every book I write…

Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Laura:  I dreamed of being an author (Beatrix Potter, to be precise) when I was a little girl living on the South Coast of England. However, I told no one and kept it a secret for 25 years until my husband eventually unearthed the truth and encouraged me to act upon it straight away.

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

Laura:  My typing is horrible. Atrocious. Painful to watch. But on the bright side, I type as fast as my thoughts come to mind, so “slow and steady” kind of works for me!

Q: What are you currently reading?

Laura: I just finished Ambush by Colleen Coble and have started Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner.

Q: What is your favorite genre to read?

Laura:  I’m pretty eclectic in my reading life and like to mix things up with classics, literary fiction, picture books, historical fiction, romantic suspense and such—but I particularly enjoy WWII fiction. It reminds me of my late grandparents in England and I’m always impressed by the astounding courage and resilience of regular people.

Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Laura:  Is “reading” too predictable? If so, we can add my new hobbies of boating (which often involves taking a book, of course) and kayaking (books not advisable!).

Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Laura: I adore living in a place where we get to enjoy all four seasons, but my favorite is probably summer. Lake life, sunshine, bare feet, reading outside, long evenings… what’s not to love? ☺

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card plus an ebook of CAPTURED IN FRAME!

The Final Word JustRead blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 18, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 25, 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.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Author Interview: The Ties That Loose by Felicia Ferguson

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Ties That Loose by Felicia Ferguson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

The Ties That Loose

Title: The Ties That Loose 
Author:
Felicia Ferguson 
Publisher:
Salt & Light Publishing 
Release Date:
May 23, 2025 
Genre:
military romantic suspense / women's fiction

Can you really trust God when life plummets out of your control? 

While clearing out her mother’s estate, Dani Robicheau Kirkland makes a shocking discovery: a box containing pieces of her parents’ life hidden away after her father was declared Killed in Action in the Vietnam War. Inside she finds her mother had once clung to faith and the desperate certainty her husband was alive before she spiraled into the devastated alcoholic Dani has known. 

Dani’s F-15 pilot husband, Chris, chafes under his father’s expectations to live up to his granddad’s legacy as WWII pilot. While the Bosnian War rages, Chris is tasked with a clandestine mission: flying an unsanctioned diplomat into Bosnia. But when his plane goes down due to a bird strike, Chris is trapped behind enemy lines with little hope of rescue. 

Dani is terrified she’ll nosedive like her mother did, but still clings to hope and a certainty that Chris remains alive despite the Air Force’s doubts. As she searches for a way to bring Chris home and he strives to stay alive, they each battle their family histories desperate to find God’s future for them both. 

Family ties ensnare them. Can God loose their grip forever?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub


Excerpt from The Ties That Loose


Two raps on the door jamb lifted Chris’s eyes. Maj. Bill Price, call sign Baron, and the Assistant Operations Officer stood in the doorway. Chris tossed his pencil on the desk. “What’s up, Baron?”

Baron’s lips thinned. “Badger wants you in the vault.”

First, the block of flying time scheduled for his plane, and now a summons to the vault?

As one of the squadron’s instructor pilots, regular calls to the operations officer’s office weren’t out of the ordinary. But those requests were always via email or phone call. A personal, verbal invitation would leave no paper trail and could be silenced under orders. And the invitation was not to the office but to the vault, a location that housed all the classified materials behind a steel door and was littered with alarms.

Curiouser and curiouser. Chris gave his schedule another glance, the FHP piece slowly rotating in his head. “On my way.”

Baron nodded but didn’t leave. Instead, he stepped back and waited while Chris password-protected his computer screen.

They made the short walk to the vault in silence. Once there, Baron stepped in front of him and led him to one of the offices inside. He rapped twice, then opened the door and stepped back. Chris nodded and glanced into the room, smothering his surprise.

Badger, Lt. Col. Conrad Marks, the operations officer was there as expected. But Lt. Col. Javier Brown, the squadron commander, as well as Chris’s flight commander, Captain Jimmy Hoyle, callsign Dodger, filled the other chairs around the metal table.

Something big was up.

About the Author

Felicia Ferguson

Felicia Ferguson achieved master’s degrees in Healthcare Administration and Speech-Language Pathology, but has written since childhood and dreamed of authoring books that teach and inspire others. An award-winning fiction and non-fiction freelance writer, she has published several devotions and sweet romance short stories. Her passion, however, is writing women’s fiction and romantic suspense with strong female characters who work through their traumas and tragedies using biblical principles and counseling techniques.

As a child, Felicia lived in Kansas, Texas, and Louisiana before her family settled on a horse and cattle farm in Kentucky. As an adult, she lived in Tennessee for two years and later spent ten years in the Florida panhandle soaking up the sand and sun. But then God moved her once again. This time out of the South and into the mountains of Colorado. When she’s not glued to her laptop, Felicia enjoys hiking, Bible studies with friends, and looking forward to the next story.

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


Author Interview


Q: What inspired you to write The Ties That Loose?

Felicia: A presentation about the Vietnam MIA/POW bracelets at my Daughters of the American Revolution chapter inspired me to write this story. I had been born well after that war ended and the only military person in my family was my grandfather who served in the Navy during World War II. So I was fascinated by her report and the personal experience she and her family had with a bracelet for one particular missing soldier.

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

Felicia: It took me eight months to write this story because of all the research involved. I contacted Air Force pilots for specific details Chris would experience in flight and behind enemy lines. I read numerous books about the Bosnian War or books related to it. And I picked the brain of my across-the-street neighbor at the time who worked in Dani’s position at Eglin Air Force Base.

Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?

Felicia: The biggest surprise was that a plane’s cockpit will smell like cooked chicken after a bird strike to the engine.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote from The Ties That Loose?

Felicia: My favorite quote is from Grand-Mére Genevieve to Dani.
 
Cher, your Mama had a hole in her heart big enough to walk through—and on stilts. Part of that had to do with her own Daddy’s death. It took a long time for me to come to peace with the reality I couldn’t do a thing for her except pray. And even then, that still didn’t seem to help. Ya’ gotta want help, gotta want to heal, before ya’ can. And your mama never got to that place.”

Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Felicia: I knew in the fifth grade that I wanted to be a writer. Before I ever knew about fanfiction, I co-wrote Sweet Valley High stories with a classmate and friend. We’d trade off chapters and another classmate would draw the covers for us. I wrote several “books” in high school ranging from Star Trek to women’s fiction, but none that I would ever want to see the light of day today!

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

Felicia: I can curl my tongue lengthwise.

Q: What are you currently reading?

Felicia: Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline for my radio show spots, historical books on the Golden, Colorado area in the 1900s for my current project, and I just started a Bible study on Mark.

Q: What is your favorite genre to read?

Felicia: Oh, that’s tough. I’m a very eclectic reader. I love Star Trek, the classic Star Wars (not the Disney version), David Baldacci’s King & Maxwell and Robie & Reel series, James Rollins’s Sigma Force series, Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters. And then I’ll read a book or two in police procedural mysteries, a little Louis L’Amour, and romantic suspense.

Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Felicia: Taking road trips. Long or short, I love seeing God’s creation and meeting people in different locations of the country.

Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Felicia: That answer depends on where I’m living at the time. In Kentucky and Tennessee, definitely spring. In Florida, the fall. In Colorado, summer. I’m not a fan of snow (and yes, God moved me to Colorado), but I’m also not a fan of humidity. Colorado’s summer is amazing compared to Florida’s and yet, Florida’s fall is still warm with an edge of cool whereas Colorado’s fall is cool to cold, even though the skies are a brilliant blue. And Kentucky and Tennessee have all the flowers and flowering trees I love and miss out here in the mountains: dogwoods, magnolias, weeping cherries, and a longer growing season for the flowers.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a That's So 90s Trivia Game, in honor of the book being set in the 1990s!

The Ties That Loose JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 16, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 23, 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.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Book Spotlight: The Dutch Muse by Heidi Eljarbo

The Dutch Muse JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Dutch Muse by Heidi Eljarbo, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

The Dutch Muse

Title: The Dutch Muse 
Series:
A Fabiola Bennett Mystery #4 
Author:
Heidi Eljarbo 
Publisher:
Independently Published 
Release Date:
June 17, 2025 
Genre:
Clean Historical Dual-Timeline Mystery with a touch of romance

A ruthless thief leaves a private Dutch gallery with a coveted seventeenth-century painting. The owner lies unconscious on the floor. Art historian Fabiola Bennett is on vacation in Holland and takes on the case.  

Amsterdam, 1973. It’s late summer, and Fabiola and Pippa join their friend, Cary, for a few days of sightseeing, museums, and riding bikes around the beautiful city. 

For the first time in her life, Fabiola feels a pang of jealousy, and rude comments from a gallerist make her doubt her own abilities. 

Then, unexpectedly, Cary’s Dutch client, Lennard van de Hoek, is brutally struck down and a baroque portrait by Ferdinand Bol is stolen. Fabiola pushes aside her problems and jumps into danger without hesitation. The list of suspects is long, and with a cold-blooded criminal at large, they must constantly be on the alert.  

Amsterdam, 1641 

Ferdinand Bol has completed his five-year training with Master Rembrandt van Rijn and is ready to set up his own studio. The future looks bright, and Ferdinand sets a goal to become a widely sought-after and, hopefully, prosperous master portraitist. 

Just when Ferdinand’s career starts to flourish—and patrons and customers discover his exceptional talent—one of his models confesses she’s in deep trouble, and he drops everything to help her.  

This is a fast-paced and captivating who-done-it set in the Netherlands—the fourth installment and a spin-off from the Soli Hansen Mysteries. Perfect for fans of Kathleen McGurl, Louise Penny, Deborah Swift, Anna Lee Huber, Lucinda Riley, Sherry Thomas, Ellery Adams, and Jennifer S. Alderson.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub


Excerpt from The Dutch Muse


Amsterdam, 1641


“Now, when you leave, don’t be a stranger,” Rembrandt said. “You have been a most excellent assistant, and you will do well.”

“Any final piece of advice to send me on my way? I am both eager and perhaps bold in assuming I’ll see success in my future. At the same time, I am merely your humble student.”

Rembrandt laid his hand on Ferdinand’s shoulder. “The training you received in Dordrecht before you came here provided you with an excellent foundation, and I have taught you everything you need to know to have great success as a painter. You have sucked up every lesson, mastered each skill, and been as pliable as a new branch in spring. My advice would be to never become an old branch, dry through and through; one that easily breaks because he cannot bear to be shaken. Be docile and teachable, always learn, continuously develop a better way to use your paint and brushstrokes to become worthy of the title master painter. That said, you are your own ruler now. Twenty-five years old and merely ten years younger than myself…we are much alike, you and I, Ferdinand. We both chose our profession at an early age—or rather, I would say a life of painting chose us. Go forth, now. Let Ferdinand Bol take charge of his own destiny.”

“Thank you, Master Rembrandt. I am highly indebted to you for your generosity.” He stood and placed his flat-top hat on his head.

More in this Series

Trouble in Assissi


About the Author

Heidi Eljarbo

HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history. 

Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter. 

Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

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


Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive their choice of any one paperback from the Fabiola Bennett series plus a $20 Amazon gift card!

The Dutch Muse JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 17, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 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. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours