Author & Sewing Designer June McCrary Jacobs

Thursday, July 9, 2026

~ FRIDAY FICTION THE UNEXPECTED CALLER ~

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~ FRIDAY AMISH FICTION FEATURE ~

-- 'THE UNEXPECTED CALLER' --

AUTHOR SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY

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The Amish Widow's Club JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Unexpected Caller

by Shelley Shepard Gray, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

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About the Book

Title: The Unexpected Caller
Series: The Amish Widows Club #1
Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: July 7, 2026
Genre: Amish Fiction / Contemporary / Romance

She finds sisterhood in the Amish Widows Club--but will she risk loving again?

Leanna Mast never imagined she'd be a widow at forty-one, but it seems God had other plans. After mourning her husband for a year, she realizes it's time to start living again. But her community expects her to remarry, and after living on her own, she's not eager to start cooking and cleaning in another man's home.

When she's invited to join the Amish Widows Club, she discovers a place of belonging she didn't even know she needed. In this group of women who support each other through sharing books, stories, and companionship, Leanna immediately feels welcome. She's sure her life as a widow will bring her the fulfillment she craves . . . until handsome, kind Evan Keim comes calling. As their relationship deepens, her heart becomes involved. But how could she possibly leave the widows club for a dream that might be too good to be true?

New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray skillfully draws readers into an endearing and delightful Amish community of friendship during widowhood and a second chance at love.

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EXCERPT:

She was so tired of being nice. No, that wasn’t true, Leanna Mast decided. She liked being nice. She was a nice person. She was just tired of being nice to the string of men who had started calling on her on Sunday afternoons. Most of them she’d known all her life. Some were old enough to be her father. None of them were husband material.

Though, if she was being honest, the fault was probably hers.

The problem was that she’d already been married once and had no desire to be married again. Ever. So this constant parade of suitors was neither desired nor asked for. They’d just started appearing at her doorstep one year and one month after Willis died.

When the first one had shown up, she’d been so surprised, her good manners had taken over her personal preferences. Instead of politely sending the man home, she offered him kaffi and a slice of the almond cream- cheese bread she’d made that morning. When he asked for a second slice, she gave it grudgingly. She really hadn’t wanted to give him any of her favorite afternoon treat in the first place.

“This is mighty gut bread,” he’d said with his mouth full.

“Danke.” She’d said the word while staring at her hands clenched in her lap.

“You are a modest woman. Not only can you cook and clean, but you are shy too.”

When she lifted her chin to meet his gaze, she’d seen true appreciation there.

She’d bitten the inside of her lip so she wouldn’t ask him to leave.

Unfortunately, that little decision with her first caller had created quite a stir among the single men in the area. Next thing she knew, men started coming around all the time. She’d had to start baking cookies, pies, and bread every morning just to keep up with their hearty appetites.

It was annoying. And exhausting.

Because she was ninety-nine percent sure that she didn’t want to be another man’s wife. The only reason to consider such a thing would be to have a baby. At long last. Even though the doctor had promised that there was nothing wrong with her, she and Willis had never been blessed with a child in their nineteen years of marriage.

However, if she ever did decide to get married again, it would not be to the man currently sitting on her couch. Zeke Detweiler was too brash and too bossy. Plus, he stared at her chest too much. Did he think she wouldn’t notice?

Then, to make matters worse, he’d been her husband’s boss. Leanna hadn’t liked Zeke when Willis was alive and she liked him even less now. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean she could ask him to leave before his hour was up.

She’d learned that a widow, no matter what her age, was expected to be kind and proper. And demure.

Since she still had eighteen minutes to go, she gestured to his empty coffee cup. “Would you care for some more kaffi, Zeke?”

“I would.” His gaze drifted over her again when she started to bend down to pick up his cup and saucer. “You are over forty now, jah?”

“I am forty- one.”

“That’s a gut age, I think. Not too young. Not too old.” He crossed his legs. “You could still have a babe.” His eyes narrowed. “You could, jah?”

“I suppose so.”

“Hmm,” said Zeke.

Gritting her teeth, Leanna forced her expression to remain calm.

“I’ll be right back,” she murmured.

“Don’t forget that I like two teaspoons of sugar,” he said.

“I would never forget that, Zeke.” He needed all the sweetness he could get.

Only when she reached the privacy of her kitchen did Leanna press her hands to her eyes. Tears were threatening. She needed to fight them back before Zeke noticed. She’d learned that most of these later-in-life suitors looked for weaknesses. Flaws. They could be used as ammunition to make her feel like she shouldn’t be alone anymore.

Or, perhaps, simply to make themselves feel better.

Shelley Shepard Gray, The Unexpected Caller

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About the Author

Shelley Shepard Gray

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books. Two-time winner of the HOLT Medallion and finalist for both the Christy and the Carol Awards, Gray lives in Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail. Learn more at ShelleyShepardGray.com.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 6, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 13, 2026. 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!

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Tuesday, June 23, 2026

~ WEDNESDAY CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK RAINBOWS ~

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~ FRIDAY CHILDREN'S PICTURE

BOOK FEATURE ~

-- GUESS WHY GOD MADE THE RAINBOW --

AUTHOR KAREN FERGUSON

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Guess Why God Made the Rainbow JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Guess Why God Made the Rainbow by Karen Ferguson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

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About the Book

Title: Guess Why God Made the Rainbow
Series: Questions for Kids #3
Author: Karen Ferguson
Publisher: Ambassador International
Release Date: October 1, 2025
Genre: Children’s picture book

Come join Lucy and her Papa Joe on another exciting adventure into the Bible, this time going back to Noah’s Ark!

Lucy is afraid of storms. She hides under her covers every time the thunder roars. But Papa Joe calms her fears, and then he has an important question for her, “Do you know what the rainbow means?”

Follow along in this third book in the Questions for Kids series as Papa Joe shows Lucy how God is faithful to protect and keep His promises, even amongst the storms of life.

Guess Why God Made the Rainbow is a heartwarming story of faith and trust in a God Who is with us through every storm.
April Graney ~ bestselling author of If Jesus Came to My School

A perfect book for helping build literacy skills, establishing foundations in Bible study with young children, and sharing the real meaning of the rainbow!
Kayla E. Green ~ award-winning Christian author, poet, and educator

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EXCERPT

Lucy and little Rosie whizzed past Papa Joe down the hallway, scrambling to make a sharp turn into Lucy’s bedroom.

“Is everything okay?” Papa Joe called out.

An explosive thunder clap boomed behind him, shaking the hallway walls. At the same time, a high-pitched squeal echoed from the bedroom. Another summer thunderstorm. This was not unusual for this part of the South, but Lucy was unusually afraid of them.

It seemed to bother her new puppy, too.

Papa Joe’s scooter wheels screeched as he turned the corner into Lucy’s room. It was dark, but he could see two heads popping out from under the covers.

“Lucy, it’s okay to feel afraid; just remember that God is with you, and He protects you,” Papa Joe said, trying to comfort her.

“I know. It’s just that Rosie doesn’t like thunderstorms.”

Papa Joe held back a chuckle as he scooted to the window and opened the curtains. “Well, look at that, Lucy. The storm has died down already, and look what’s in its place. A rainbow!”

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MY REVIEW:

This colorful picture book is filled with scripture, love, and wisdom that will appeal to children and adults of all ages . . .

The warm, loving relationship between seven-year-old Lucy and her grandfather, Papa Joe, is evident from the first page of this story. When Lucy and her puppy, Rosie, are frightened by a noisy thunderstorm, they run to her bedroom and dive under the covers to get away from the noise. Papa Joe follows them on his scooter so he can assist them.

When a rainbow soon breaks through the clouds, he draws Lucy's attention to the beauty of God's special promise—the rainbow. Without prompting, she retrieves the family Bible and brings it back to her bedroom and hands it to her grandfather.

As he reads the story of Noah and the Ark aloud, Lucy settles in to listen and pictures the action in her mind. The illustrations in this section cause the Bible story come alive with color, action, and onomatopoeias such as bang, thud, rumble, splosh, etc.

The Back Matter is one of my favorite parts of this book. It includes a Scripture about courage, a list of eight Bible promises, and seven follow-up questions that open the door for a further discussion.

I received a copy of this book from the author through JustRead Publicity Tours. All of my thoughts and opinions shared here are solely my own.

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About the Author

Karen Ferguson is a writer, podcast host, and the author of the Questions for Kids picture book series. A lover of words, family, animals, and Jesus, Karen is a passionate advocate for truth that transforms lives. Her mission is to write stories that grab and hold young readers’ attentions, teaching them all about God’s unchangeable truths and His unchanging love for them. Karen is married to her best friend. They have two grown daughters, a growing tribe of dearly loved grandchildren, and one crazy golden retriever fur baby. Her favorite part of the week is eating dark chocolate and spending time with her family exploring new places.

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

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $35 Amazon gift card + all three signed hardcover books in the Questions for Kids series!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 22, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 29, 2026. 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.

Enter Giveaway

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

🌈☔💧📘 🌈☔💧📘🌈

Thursday, June 11, 2026

~ FRIDAY COZY MYSTERY FEATURE ANTIQUARIAN ~

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~ FRIDAY COZY MYSTERY FEATURE ~

-- 'DEATH OF AN ANTIQUARIAN' --

AUTHOR ROSE KERR

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Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery

by Rose Kerr

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About Death of an Antiquarian

Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery

Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series Setting - Lakeview City, Ontario, Canada (loosely based on Toronto, Canada)

Publisher: ‎ Level Best Books Publication date: ‎ Dec. 16, 2025 Print length ‏ : ‎ 242 pages

Paperback ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8898201159

Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GHSW122X

When archaeologist Dr. Mia Reid takes a contract position at the Lakeview City Museum, she expects artifacts, exhibitions, and research notes, not murder. The death of a local antique dealer, with unexpected ties to artifact smuggling, draws Mia into a dangerous mystery.

As chatter of an international smuggling ring surfaces, Mia and Luke race to uncover the truth. The stakes rise when threats reach her—and her beloved grandmother.

With lives in jeopardy and artifacts at risk of vanishing forever into the black market, Mia must use all her skills to piece together the puzzle. Can she expose a killer before the next artifact or person disappears?

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Excerpt

Chapter One ~

Wednesday Morning

Mia pushed away from her desk and walked to the far wall of her oJice. She looked at the plans on the wall. In less than a week, this exhibit had to be ready. Marketing and promotion were well underway. Interest from all over Lakeview City was growing. Ticket sales were doing well. The artifacts were on loan from the Mexico City Museum. It was the first time the museum had loaned them out.

Mia tapped a pencil to her chin and examined the floor plans for the exhibit. They just needed a little tweaking. She made an adjustment to two of the display cases and stepped back to look at the plans again. That looked better. Patrons would have a bit more space to move around the exhibit.

Her cell phone rang with Gran’s ringtone. A clear, light piano riff. She picked it up and smiled as she heard Gran’s voice. “Mia, could you come with me to Timeless Treasures tonight? There’s an event at the store, and I think you might find a few pieces for your apartment.”

Gran never wasted time on the phone; she cut through all the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

“Sure, what time do you want to go?”

“Why don’t we meet for dinner around five-thirty? The event starts at seven, but the doors open at six-thirty. I don’t want to be late.”

“That works. Do you want to meet at Syd’s? It’s close enough to the shop that we could walk.”

“Perfect. I’ll take a cab and meet you there.”

“Great. It’ll be nice to see you again.”

“I’ll talk to you then. Don’t work too hard, dear.” Gran hung up.

By the end of her workday, Mia was pleased with the work she’d done. The project she’d been working on, featuring artifacts discovered in the mid-twentieth century from Central America, was going to be displayed in a manner that allowed people to view them and to learn about them interactively.

She still had to wrap up listening to the script for the displays. Photos would accompany the artifacts, showing how the archaeologists had discovered the objects, removed them from the ground, cleaned them, and catalogued them. The script would be read in several different languages, and the museum was fortunate to have translators who could do the work.

Mia hurried downstairs and got her bike out of the employee’s lot. She put her helmet on, made sure her backpack was secured, and headed out. The bike paths in the city meant she had a fifteen-minute commute instead of thirty minutes sitting in traffic.

Stopping in the lobby of her building, she picked up her mail. Tossing the flyers in the recycle bin, she noticed an official-looking letter from a law firm in Chicago. Tucking the envelope in her bag, she took the elevator to the fourteenth floor and made her way to her apartment. It was a nice corner unit overlooking Lake Ontario.

She hefted her bike on the rack in the utility room, dropped her keys in the dish on the sideboard in the hallway, and toed off her shoes. In the kitchen, she poured herself a large glass of ice water and added a couple of lemon slices.

She grabbed the envelope out of her bag, walked to the balcony doors, and sat in one of the comfortable patio chairs. After taking a long drink of water, she set the glass on the rattan table in front of the chairs.

She opened the envelope and read the enclosed letter. She read it twice, and the second time, tears welled up. Ethan Carter, one of her closest friends, had died a few months ago. It happened on their dig, on the Isle of Skye, and Mia had been instrumental in discovering who his killer had been. Ethan had left her his personal journals of the digs they’d both been on. It was such a wonderful gift.

Mia sent a text to Shelly, Ethan’s widow, and her good friend.

Mia: Just received the lawyer’s letter regarding Ethan’s gift to me. I’m so touched.

Mia’s phone rang a few minutes later. It was Shelly.

“I want to make sure you’re okay with his bequest.”

“I am. I wasn’t expecting this.”

“He wanted you to have the journals. I’ve packaged them up and will send them to you. I’ve made copies for Henry to have when he’s older.” Shelly sighed. “It’s been a busy few months. How are you doing? How’s the new job?”

“If Henry wants the originals, I’ll gladly give them to him.”

“Well, he’s not old enough for them now, maybe when he gets older. Now, how are you? What’s happening with work and Luke?”

Mia smiled. “Work is good. I’m settling into it. There’s more to do than I originally thought, but nothing I can’t handle. And Luke is coming back this weekend. He’ll be here for at least two weeks. He’s going to be training police on what to look for when dealing with thefts of artifacts. I’m looking forward to him being here again. I’ve missed him this past month.”

“Do you think he’d move to North America?”

“That would be great. I know he’s asked his supervisor to let him know if there’s an opportunity for him to work in Canada. That’s how this latest job came up. We’ll see how things work this trip.” Mia took a drink of water.

“How are you and Henry coping?”

“We’re okay. Henry’s health is stable. The cancer hasn’t returned. He’s getting ready for school and looking forward to seeing his friends. The nightmares have stopped.” Shelly paused and then said, “I’m going back to work. The university called and offered me a part-time position in the English department. I’m looking forward to returning to work. My parents are close by and are still helping me out with everything to deal with Ethan’s death. Mom thought it would be good for me to get back into teaching again.”

They chatted for a few more minutes. It was good to talk to Shelly. They’d been friends for a long time. Ethan’s gift was something Mia would treasure.

Mia glanced at her watch. Time to get ready for dinner.

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Author Guest Post

'Where Will Mia Reid Go Next?'

When writing a series, an author has to look ahead to future books. Mia Reid, my main character, is an archaeologist. Her job can take her anywhere in the world.

The first book in the series, Death at the Scottish Broch, had her in Scotland, on the Isle of Skye.

The second book, Death of An Antiquarian, sees her in Lakeview City, Ontario, Canada working at a museum.

The third book, Death at the Museum, (currently in production) has her at the Lakeview City Museum, in Lakeview City, Ontario.

Looking down the road, I’d like to have Mia travel to a few archaeological digs around the world.

Where should I send her?

I did some research, something I really enjoy and found a list of the world’s twenty-five most important archaeological sites.

Some of these would definitely work as I’ve alluded to Mia’s previous experience in the earlier books in the series.

One possible location: Egypt.

Either the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, where King Tutankhamun’s burial chamber can be found, or the Great Pyramids on the Giza Plateau located just on the outskirts of Cairo.

Both of those locations would have a wealth of possibilities. And there’s plenty of research opportunities for me. Maybe even a visit to those locations?

A second location: Mexico.

Either ChichénItzá in the Yucatan Peninsula or Teotihuacán in the Valley of Mexico.

I’ve been to ChichénItzá on a tour when we were travelling in Mexico. It was amazing. The guide we had was patient and answered my many questions with no hesitation. We were able to tour the pyramid – not walk on it though. It was founded by the ancient Mayans around 600 CE. CE means “current era”. At its peak, this city had up to 50,000 people living and working there. This location is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Teotihuacán was the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas, with as many as 250,000 people living there. Located in the Valley of Mexico from 300 BCE and 1000 CE, it’s home to flat-topped temples. One of the temples is the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. Human remains have been found there, possibly evidence that sacrifices were made to the temple. Other monuments there include the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. According to legend, the Pyramid of the Sun is the place where time began.

Mia would enjoy both of those locations!

Another option: The Acropolis in Athens.

There are twenty-one archaeological sites in Athens. Including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheum, the Theatre of Dionysus, and the Temple of Athena Nike.

I have personally been fascinated by Athens since I was in high school. We had a history teacher who brought history alive and he transmitted his love of Greece to his students. And although the sites in Athens have been excavated, work still happens there.

The Acropolis has been operating as an archaeological site sine 1833 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Mia and Luke would have a lot of options to work with in Athens.

And I think my final option, at least for this post, would be Machu Pichu.

Machu Pichu is located between four sacred peaks among the Andes mountains in Peru. It was a self-contained city, and it’s believed to have been built by the Inca Emperor Pachacuti around 1450. There are hundreds of buildings including palaces, temples, baths. Once the Spanish overtook the Inca people, the site was abandoned until 1911 when it was discovered by Yale archaeologist, Hiram Bingham.

Mia’s parents have been working in Peru for the past few years. And Mia participated in a dig there when she was younger. Going back could be a good opportunity to see how Mia works with different people.

There are many places around the world, I could send Mia off on an adventure. But it isn’t enough for her to be on a dig. I’d also need to find out about the country’s culture and laws as well. I’d want Luke to be involved as he’s her law enforcement agent and that would mean artifact smuggling would be part of the book as well.

I can also send her on a dig or a conference in North America. Either of those options could provide excellent fodder for a cozy mystery.

Wow! I think I’ve just briefly outlined the locations for several additional Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mysteries.

Let me know if you have a favorite location or one I haven’t listed here!

Thanks for reading and good luck in the giveaway!

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About Rose Kerr

Retired in Southern Ontario with her husband, Rose spends her days crafting mysteries featuring strong, smart women who use their resourcefulness to solve crimes. When she’s not writing, she enjoys discovering the hidden gems of the region and indulging her lifelong curiosity.

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BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY

Prize: 2 Winners will each win a $20 Amazon gift card.

Open to US and Canada.

LINK TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

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Author Links:

Website:https://rosekerr.com/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/RoseKerrAuthor/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/r.m.kerr/?hl=en

Pinterest:https://ca.pinterest.com/RoseKerrauthor/

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22146877.Rose_Kerr