Lipstick and Gunpowder by Jane Daly (Gold Country Book 1)

About the Book

Book: Lipstick and Gunpowder

Author: Jane Daly

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: March 10, 2025

Dale Hardy, a disgraced FBI agent, goes undercover at the Double-Bar-G Ranch in Ione, California to gather intel on a suspected opioid-growing operation.
Mark Goodson, who hired Dale to help run the ranch while his brother recovers from an injury, is initially skeptical of her abilities. But when they are both targeted in escalating violence, they must join forces to uncover the truth and save Mark’s niece who has been kidnapped for ransom.
Their past betrayals and broken relationships are put aside as they fight against enemies that threaten their lives and Mark’s ranch.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:

This is a very engaging read. I appreciated the action, suspense, the FBI angles, and the clean romance. Mark and Dale wound up being a fantastic team. I love reading about a really good team, and this one qualifies. Faith has a strong place in this story, but it's worked in where it's not overwhelming, just steady and real. I'm very glad that this is the first book in the series, because I'm ready for more. 

5 Stars 

 

About the Author

Jane Daly is the author of sixteen books, including two nonfiction works. When she isn’t hunched over her computer, she is on the move – literally. She and her husband of 48 years make their home in Rigsby, their 37-foot motor home. Together they chase sunsets, discover quirky roadside attractions, and take the Gospel to fellow travelers.

 

More from Jane

Do you like stories with strong female characters?

Dale Hardy, a disgraced FBI agent, goes undercover at the Double-Bar-G Ranch in Ione, California to gather intel on a suspected opioid-growing operation.

Mark Goodson, who hired Dale to help run the ranch while his brother recovers from an injury, is initially skeptical of her abilities. But when they are both targeted in escalating violence, they must join forces to uncover the truth and save Mark’s niece who has been kidnapped for ransom.

Their past betrayals and broken relationships are put aside as they fight against enemies that threaten their lives and Mark’s ranch.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 23

Simple Harvest Reads, May 24 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 25

Artistic Nobody, May 26 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys , May 26

Texas Book-aholic, May 27

Guild Master, May 28 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 29

Fiction Book Lover, May 30 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol , May 31

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, June 1 (Author Interview)

Because I said So, June 2

Vicky Sluiter, June 3 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, June 3

Holly’s Book Corner, June 4

For the Love of Literature, June 5 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jane is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/hoPfh/lipstick-and-gunpowder-celebration-tour-giveaway

Frogman Puck Origins: The Rising Tides by Joel Chanaca (Family Values Series)

About the Book

Book: Frogman Puck Origins: The Rising Tides

Author: Joel Chanaca

Genre: Christian Sci-Fi / Action & Adventure (Teen & Young Adult)

Release Date: September, 2025

Frogman Puck Origins: The Rising Tides

The Legends Awaken: A Hero’s Dream Quest

Embark on an exhilarating journey beneath the waves—where dreams awaken, faith is tested, and a new kind of hero begins to rise.

Frogman Puck Origins introduces readers to Puck, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary dream: to explore the hidden world beneath the surface. What begins as curiosity about mysterious scuba gear in a neighbor’s shed becomes a life-changing adventure—one that carries him from the dreamlike stillness of lily pad ponds into the awe-inspiring reality of deep underwater exploration.

As Puck learns to scuba dive, he uncovers hidden strengths, long-buried secrets, and a mission far greater than he ever imagined. With each descent, the boundary between dream and destiny blurs, drawing him into a world of courage, stewardship, teamwork, and biblical truth.

Told through a unique blend of immersive prose and cinematic illustrations, the story visually mirrors Puck’s growth—shifting from the hazy wonder of childhood imagination to vivid, hyper-realistic underwater missions that place readers right beside him.

Perfect for fans of discovery, mystery, faith-based adventure, and clean action storytelling, Frogman Puck Origins: The Rising Tides is the beginning of an illustrated hero’s journey where imagination meets purpose—and the depths hold more than secrets.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Review:  

This book is pure adventure, and it's amazing. I love the lessons and the underwater parts. I have a background that makes me really like these aspects. While this book is aimed at teens, it did great with me. Puck is really growing, from a teen to a young man. I love the cast of characters and the easiest way to explain this to you is that it's like a DC or Marvel, with a combination of family and faith that is nothing short of excellent and addictive. This is a superhero series we have all been waiting for. 

5 Massive Stars, parked next to some starfish! 

About the Author

Joel Chanaca is a four-time Global Book Awards–winning author whose stories blend adventure, heart, humor, and faith. His work has been recognized across multiple categories, including Humor and Heart, Children’s Books, and Teen & Young Adult Action & Adventure—celebrating storytelling that inspires without compromising imagination or excitement.

Alongside his writing career, Joel serves as a game warden with over twenty-six years of experience in wildlife law enforcement and public safety. His lifelong connection to the outdoors—shaped by years of camping, fishing, canoeing, scuba diving, and animal care—deeply informs the authenticity and spirit of his stories.

Joel is the creator of the Frogman Puck illustrated novel series, a cinematic, faith-based adventure world designed to engage reluctant readers, families, and young adults alike. The series pairs full narrative storytelling with rich illustrations to reawaken wonder, visual imagination, and purpose-driven heroism.

In 2025, Joel also released a newly illustrated edition of Patches the Cat Is a Thief, bringing fresh life to the award-winning story that first captured readers’ hearts.

Whether crafting lighthearted animal tales or epic underwater adventures, Joel’s work consistently reflects themes of character, stewardship, courage, friendship, and hope.

“The elements of design are all around us. If we pause long enough to look, we can see how God has made a place for us. Beyond the wonders of the earth, His plan reaches into eternity.”

Your honest review helps independent, faith-driven stories continue to grow.
Thank you for being part of the journey.

More from Joel

When I set out to write Frogman Puck Origins, I wanted to bring something genuinely new to readers, both those who read constantly and those who sometimes struggle to stay engaged. I envisioned an all-new, fully illustrated novel featuring clean, epic superheroes, told in a way that feels fresh, immersive, and meaningful.
Most superhero stories begin with accidents, mistakes, or powers gained by touching a mysterious artifact. In the world of Frogman Puck, the heroes’ origins are different. Their abilities are forged through purpose, hard work, teamwork, faith, and ingenious design. The story begins with the roots of child-like memories and grows into something much larger, showing how character is built long before power is ever used.
At its heart, Frogman Puck Origins is designed to do two things at once. It invites older readers back to the wonder, curiosity, and imagination of their youth, while encouraging younger readers to dream big, work hard, and plant good seeds that will grow into strong character. It is a story about becoming, not just becoming powerful, but becoming grounded, courageous, and faithful.
The series taps into riddles, adventure, super abilities, and deep friendships, all presented in a format unlike anything else currently on the market. Readers can expect wall-crawling, SCUBA diving, flying, underwater tunnels, octopods, secret labs, personally designed base headquarters, and fierce battles between darkness and light. Every element is layered to reward curiosity and keep pages turning.
Frogman Puck Origins is only the beginning. As the series continues, the world expands, the stakes rise, and the heroes are tested in ways that challenge not only their strength but their values and faith. It is a story built to entertain, inspire, and stay with readers long after the final page.

The Frogman Puck Series is a cinematic, faith-based adventure that grows in depth and intensity with each installment. Origins begins as a dream-driven journey into underwater exploration, where curiosity, mentorship, and imagination awaken a young hero’s calling. Resurgent accelerates into a full-scale action narrative, introducing advanced symbiotic technology, global stakes, and a coordinated enemy operating in the shadows. Reckoning brings the story to its most complex and consequential phase, revealing hidden systems beneath the surface of the world itself and challenging the heroes to confront truth, deception, and sacrifice on a global scale. Across all three books, the series blends illustrated storytelling, clean action, and biblical themes to explore stewardship, courage, faith, and what it means to answer a call—one step, one mission, and one choice at a time.

God Bless, Joel Chanaca

Blog Stops

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 15 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, May 16 (Author Interview)

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, May 17 (Author Interview)

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, May 18 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, May 19

Simple Harvest Reads, May 20 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, May 21 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, May 22 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 22

Fiction Book Lover, May 23 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 24

The Bookish Ledger, May 25 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, May 26 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, May 27 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, May 27

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 28 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Joel is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and an autographed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/c1Hae/frogman-puck-origins-the-rising-tides-celebration-tour-giveaway

Chase the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher (National Parks Summers Book 2)

About the Book

Book: Chase the Light (National Parks Summers Book 2. It can be read as a standalone.)

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Contemporary

Release Date: May 5, 2026

When Acadia National Park ranger Scout Johnson discovers a weathered note near a remote lighthouse, she never imagines it will expose a century-old mystery. The cryptic message points to a forgotten shipwreck, a vanished treasure, and a lighthouse keeper’s suspicious death. Seeking answers, Scout enlists Naki Dana, a thoughtful man whose Penobscot heritage provides crucial insights. As they venture deeper into Acadia’s rugged wilderness, their unlikely partnership begins stirring feelings Scout didn’t expect to find. But they aren’t the only ones searching.

Chase Fletcher, a charming local journalist, sees this treasure hunt as his last opportunity to save his failing paper–and finds himself increasingly drawn to the ranger leading the search. With pressure mounting and loyalties tested, Scout must navigate a winding path between history and justice, truth and betrayal . . . and determine who–and what–deserves her trust.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 My Review:

This is another amazing read by this author. This book is part of a series but can stand alone as well. I loved this story! It's a treasure hunt in a national park. The characters were awesome, and the setting absolutely perfect. The faith balance is so well-woven that it feels natural and pulls me deeper into the story. There are a lot of people (characters) in this book, so it's easy to find one or more to identify with. There is a love triangle, which I usually don't like, but I did with this book. 

5 Bright Stars

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author, Christy finalist, Carol and Selah winner, and two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, with over forty books to her name. She writes contemporary, historical and Amish novels. Suzanne lives in California with her husband, where life (and friends) inspire her stories.

More from Suzanne

If a trip to Acadia National Park isn’t already on your bucket list, it should be—and when you go, don’t miss warm popovers on the lawn at the iconic Jordan Pond House.

The Unofficial-but-Close-Enough Jordan Pond Popover Recipe*

Back in 1895, Nellie and Thomas McIntire bought a Maine farmhouse overlooking the clear waters of Jordan Pond. On their wide green lawn, they served tea and towering popovers to well-to-do summer travelers. In 1928, J. D. Rockefeller purchased the land and later donated it to Acadia National Park. The lawn remains. The view remains. And the popovers? Still iconic.

While the original recipe is famously guarded, this version comes deliciously close.

Makes 6–8 large popovers.

What You’ll Need

• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• Pinch of baking soda
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Let’s Make Them

1. Start with a hot oven (and a hot pan).
   Preheat your oven to 425°–450°F. Place your popover pan (or a muffin tin) in the oven while it heats.
2. Whisk the batter.
   Beat the eggs for about 2–3 minutes until slightly frothy. Slowly pour in the milk, then add the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix just until combined. The batter should be smooth but not overworked.
3. Fill the cups.
   Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and grease it generously with butter or spray. Pour the batter into each cup, filling them about halfway to three-quarters full.
4. Bake.
   Bake at 425°–450°F for 15 minutes. Then, without opening the oven door, reduce the temperature to 350°F and bake another 15–20 minutes. The high heat creates the lift; the lower heat helps them set inside.
5. Resist the urge to peek.
   Do not open the oven door while they bake. The steam inside is what makes them puff and keeps them tall.

Serve immediately with plenty of butter and strawberry jam.

A Few Tips for Sky-High Popovers

• Room temperature matters. Cold eggs or milk will slow the rise. Let them sit out a bit before mixing.
• Heat is your friend. A properly preheated pan jump-starts the puff.
• No peeking. Steam is everything here. Let the oven do its work.

 

*Recipe adapted from Weston Table.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 16

Lyssa Loves Books, May 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 17

Texas Book-aholic, May 18

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 19

The Avid Reader, May 19

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 20

Lakesidelivingsite, May 20

For Him and My Family, May 21

Holly’s Book Corner, May 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 22

EmpowerMoms, May 23

Pause for Tales, May 23

Blogging With Carol, May 24

Lily’s Corner, May 25

Devoted To Hope, May 25

She Lives to Read, May 26

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 27

Cover Lover Book Review, May 27

Simple Harvest Reads, May 28 (Guest Review from Donna)

Lights in a Dark World, May 28

Wishful Endings, May 29

Mary Hake, May 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/f01pi/chase-the-light-celebration-tour-giveaway

In Pursuit of Civility by Jen Turano (Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies Book #2)

About the Book

Book: In Pursuit of Civility (Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies Book 2)

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Christian, Romance, Historical, Gilded Age

Release Date: April 21, 2026

LESSON TWO: Become headmistress and expect to find yourself partnering with an attractive inventor to search for treasure.

Annaliese Merriweather has been appointed the temporary headmistress of the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies while her sister is on her honeymoon, but she doesn’t feel cut out for the role. Especially after she loses two of her most troublesome students during an outing to a county fair and has to recruit the help of Seth McCormick, an eccentric inventor, to retrieve them.

Soon after, one of those mischievous students disappears again, intent on pursuing a pirate map. Together, Annaliese and Seth set out to find her, accompanied by a menagerie of Annaliese’s rescued animal companions. As they stumble from one chaotic situation to the next, sparks fly between Annaliese and Seth. Somehow, they’ll need to outwit dangerous individuals also intent on seeking the treasure and bring everyone back in one piece—all while deciphering what their hearts desire.

With witty characters and humorous banter, Jen Turano takes readers on a lively tale of hijinks, humor, treasure hunting, and forced proximity in her latest historical rom-com set in Chicago at a finishing school during the Gilded Age.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 My Review: 

I somehow missed the first book in this series, but I didn't have an issue with this one, as it almost stands alone. I absolutely loved the characters. They are so much fun, have quirks and flaws, but they are more amazing for those traits. This book has several very funny places in it, and Annaliese is quite a catchy personality. Seth is the perfect match for her, and the mystery and story that ensues was well worth my time reading it. I really enjoyed it, a great deal! The faith elements are light.  

5 Stars 

About the Author

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. She and her family live outside of Ormond Beach, Florida.

 

 

More from Jen

Welcome Jen! Why don’t you start off by telling us a little about “In Pursuit of Civility.

1. Thank you so much for hosting me. It’s always exciting to release a new book, and “In Pursuit of Civility” is no exception to that. The short telling of what the book’s about is this – it’s the second installment in the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies series, and readers will get to travel with Annaliese Merriweather as she tries to adapt to being given the position of temporary headmistress of the academy while her sister goes off on holiday. Clearly, Annaliese is going to have some trouble with this new position, that idea proven when two of her students go missing – and on purpose – and go missing not once, but twice. That right there is exactly why Annaliese finds herself going off with the oh-so-charming Mr. Seth McCormick (and don’t worry, his mother is going off with them to chaperone) to track down her erstwhile students, finding herself involved in quite the adventure, and one that might include a bit of romance.

Annaliese Merriweather is a lady who enjoys saving animals. Any reason why you chose that particular pursuit for her?

2. Years ago, when reading up on John Astor, I was appalled to discover that, while he amassed a fortune that was unheard of back in the nineteenth century, he did so by completely decimating the beaver population. That always stuck with me, as did what happened to the bird population due to overzealous plume hunters during that time, those plume hunters staying in business because ladies wanted to adorn their hats with an overabundance of feathers. I’d been waiting for the right storyline to come up where I could add an animal advocate, and when Annaliese popped to mind when I was crafting the outline for the Merriweather series, I knew she was going to be the lady I was going to use to bring just a little attention to what happened to birds and beavers during the Industrial Revolution.

Were there any parts of this book that gave you trouble?

3. While I would love to say “Of course not,” that just wouldn’t be true because all of my stories give me trouble at some point. This one happened relatively early on because, at first, I had Annaliese rescue a whole mess of animals in the first couple chapters. I knew full-well that I had too many, but you know how I love writing those animal scenes, so…I left all of them in the original draft that I sent to my editors, knowing they’d spot the issue, but then leaving it up to them to suggest which animals I should cut. I’m sad to say that Bart the Bear got the boot. Yes, that’s right. However, because I was so attached to darling Bart, he makes an appearance in the third and final book of the series “A Dash of Decorum.”

What is a question you get asked the most as an author?

4. That’s an easy one because people always ask me if I always dreamed of being a writer, and…nope. I really wanted to be a singer – and yes, I can carry a tune – but I suffer from extreme stage fright and anytime I would get up in front of an audience I would turn all sorts of queasy. That’s why I abandoned that dream and majored in fashion. I just started writing as something fun to do with my son when he was in elementary school, and it turned out that I really enjoyed it. It took me five years and seven manuscripts to secure a literary agent, and then it took her about a year before she sold “A Change of Fortune” for me. I’ve been writing ever since.

If you had to pick a character from your book to be stuck in a haunted academy with – since the Merriweather Academy was rumored to be haunted in book one – who would it be?

5. I’d definitely go with Miss Seraphina Livingston because she has all of those delicious secrets, and secrets that revolve around how she’s capable of wielding a pistol with ease, taking out assailants with a good round-kick to the head, and…she might know a thing or two about how best to use dynamite to get out of a tricky situation.

How has your writing evolved since you began writing?

6. I definitely write a tighter story these days, and I’m also more mindful of making sure my chapters are moving the story along at a rapid pace. Having had the pleasure of working with an editing team for years now, it’s like they’re sitting on my shoulder as I write that first draft, saying things like “Nope, that’s a total distraction from plot,” which is rather annoying, but saves me a lot of time in the end.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

7. To always remember that it’s all about the reader. That means that an author needs to know their audience and write accordingly. Every genre has specific unwritten rules, and the best way to understand those rules is to make sure a writer reads a ton of books in the genre they’re hoping to get published in.

What are you working on now?

8. I recently turned in developmental edits for the third and final book in the Merriweather series, “A Dash of Decorum.” That’s the step where I’ve turned in a first draft – although know that I go through a book seven times before I turn it in – and then my editors send me their suggestions. I then end up rewriting a good portion of the book because of ripple effects, and then turn it in again. I’m now waiting for them to send me copy/line edits, which aren’t all that difficult to do since I’m just making sure that nothing got cut during the editing process that I want to keep in. I also just turned in the first draft of a Christmas story I wrote, but I was really early with that one, so I won’t be seeing developmental edits for a while. And, the reason I turned that in early is because I just signed a new three-book contract and I need to get started on the first book of the Bluestocking series.

Thank you so much for hosting me. I appreciate everyone stopping in to see what I’ve been doing lately.

All the best,

Jen

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 21

Sydney Schmied Books, May 21

Devoted Steps, May 22

Blogging With Carol, May 22

Truth and Grace Homseschool Academy, May 23

For Him and My Family, May 24

Holly’s Book Corner, May 24

Book Holds and Jello Molds, May 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 25

Texas Book-aholic, May 26

lakesidelivingsite, May 27

Pause for Tales, May 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 28

Devoted To Hope, May 29

Fruitfully Planted, May 30

Labor Not in Vain, May 30

Lily’s Corner, May 31

Cover Lover Book Review, May 31

Book Looks by Lisa, June 1

Mary Hake, June 1

Books You Can Feel Good About, June 2

She Lives to Read, June 3

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, June 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jen is giving away the grand prize of a book box with a copy of “A Lesson in Propriety”, “In Pursuit of Civility” and entire Matchmaker series – “Meeting Her Match” “To Spark a Match” and “A Match in the Making”!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/YjVmt/in-pursuit-of-civility-celebration-tour-giveaway