A BOOKSHOP FOR CHRISTMAS by Heidi Chiavaroli, Reviewed and Hosted by Paula Shreckhise for #JustRead

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for A Bookshop for Christmas by Heidi Chiavaroli, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Bookshop for Christmas 
Author: Heidi Chiavaroli 
Publisher: Hope Creek Publishers 
Release Date: October 20, 2026 
Genre: Christian Women's Fiction

Seven estranged cousins. One ambitious project. A hundred ways it could all go very wrong. 

When Brooke’s beloved grandparents die unexpectedly, their final wish brings her scattered family back to Hope Creek, including Jeremiah, the boy she once loved—the same boy who abandoned them when the Chilton clan disintegrated years ago. Despite the long-held grudges and awkward secrets that kept them all apart, Brooke and Jeremiah convince the Chilton cousins to help honor their grandparents’ last request: to take the old church they saved from destruction and turn it into a bookshop that will serve their beloved community. 

And to do it all before Christmas. 

But repurposing the church building may be easier than healing the deep wounds that tore their family apart. Secrets, both old and new, threaten to destroy Brooke and Jeremiah’s hope that this project could be a new beginning for all of them. With the bookstore’s opening day fast approaching and everyone’s lives upended, each cousin must discover for themselves that the greatest inheritance their grandparents left behind wasn’t a building—it was the gift of forgiveness, the power of second chances, and the enduring hope of Christmas.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Author's Website | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

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About the Author

Heidi Chiavaroli is the award-winning author of several books, including Freedom’s Ring, The Orchard House, The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast series, and the bestselling Draw Close to Jesus: 40 Encounters with the Savior for the Sacred Season of Lent. She makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and their two sons.

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

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PAULA'S REVIEW:

“Life is made up of sobs, sniffles and smiles-O Henry, The Gift of The Magi.”

What is not to love when a story includes a beautiful church turned into a bookstore? Seven cousins are bequeathed a decommissioned church by their grandparents with instructions and the means to turn it into a unique bookshop and cafe. 

“Don’t quit before the miracle happens.”

Family can be messy with hurt feelings, hidden secrets and estrangement. But the Chilton cousins band together to fulfill their grandparents wishes and vision for their legacy. They also hope the project will bring their estranged parents back together.
It was fun to see how the bookstore transformed. I almost wish it were real so I could visit. 

The author was plain spoken about sin, but also plain spoken about the remedy, faith in Christ. She presented her characters with some seemingly difficult problems but they worked through them and grew from them. I am glad she included a Down Syndrome toddler. That warmed my heart. And the quotes at the beginning of each chapter were a nice touch.

 

With themes of redemption, forgiveness, reconciliation and hospitality, this book is worth the read.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Hope Creek Publishing through JustRead tours. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*4.5 stars and a strong faith thread

 

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of A Bookshop for Christmas and a $75 Amazon Gift Card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 3, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 10, 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

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

NOT SO VERY SENSIBLE by Carolyn Miller, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney #NewRelease

The Silver Teapot Series #3

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
" ... he figured death would be easier than facing the woman many people thought of as his girlfriend."

Life was complicated. And it was about to become even more complicated, but before it did, Ethan Ferris met a lovely woman at an art deco murder mystery weekend in the Blue Mountains who caught his attention and captured his heart. But there was a problem, actually two or three problems if he was going to be completely honest with himself; his family expected (even demanded) that he tie his future to a family friend, that same family friend was dangerously delusional about their relationship, and somewhere in the process Ethan lost his phone along with the only way he knew how to contact the one person he really wanted to spend time with, Ellie Bennett.

Ellie Bennett could not believe her good fortune. Meeting Ethan Ferris was like a dream come true, they had so much in common, their conversations were rigorous and fun, he thought she was beautiful, and he promised to visit their family tea room on the following weekend. And then . . . nothing. Nothing at all. Heartbroken, Ellie tries to imagine what could have happened, until what happened became abundantly clear . . . or so she thought.

What an entertaining conglomerate of misunderstanding! Learning to trust God in the big things as well as the small, acknowledging the value of honest communication, nurturing a heart that gracefully forgives, and realizing what a precious gift the love of another truly is, all in a surrounding that serves the best tea! (and coffee!)
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from the publisher and the opinions stated above are entirely my own. 

BackCover Blurb:
Two Sisters Navigate the Minefield of Modern Dating

Elinor and Katie Bennett are as opposite as sisters can be: Elinor loves structure, planning and design, while Katie’s head is in the clouds as she chases fanciful, romantic dreams. A college graduation trip to the Blue Mountains sees them staying at the Hydro Grand hotel for a murder mystery weekend. There, they end up meeting two men who just might hold the keys to their hearts—taking the sensible Elinor Bennett by surprise while crushing the romantic Katie’s hopes. . .and proving that the path of love doesn’t always follow one's plans or dreams.

The Silver Teapot series
Book 1: Not Exactly Mr. Darcy
Book 2: Not Precisely Mr. Knightley 

Barbour Fiction, October, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook

Buy NOT SO VERY SENSIBLE at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House 

THE PASTOR'S CHRISTMAS PRAYER by Mindy Obenhaus, Reviewed by Winnie for #JustRead

An Uplifting Inspirational Romance (Legacy Ranch Book 4)

WINNIE'S REVIEW:
"Regrets keep you in the past and prevent you from stepping into the future God has for you."

Mindy Obenhaus has penned a charming, heartwarming story in her new book, The Pastor's Christmas Prayer. It is part of the Legacy Ranch series but can be read as a standalone book. I enjoyed this second-chance story with teenage friends Meredith and Jonathon reuniting after many years apart. They both had lingering regrets and hurts to deal with. Jonathan has returned with his two young daughters to be the youth pastor. As he and Meredith work together on some community events, can they heal their past? It was sweet to see the way Meredith was able to bond with Jonathan's daughters and help them feel comfortable in their new home.

Themes of forgiveness, healing, redemption, and faith bring inspiration and hope into this story. The characters are engaging, realistically flawed, and very likeable, and the tale inspires and lifts without being preachy. I recommend this book to those who enjoy contemporary, inspirational Christmas stories.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

BackCover Blurb:
A Christmas homecoming

Will bring shocking revelations to light…

Returning to Legacy Ranch with his two young daughters, widowed youth pastor Jonathon Bauer is delighted to find his first love, Meredith Hunt, is one of the owners. When Jonathon and Meredith are thrown together to oversee the annual Christmas Under the Stars event at the ranch, past affections stir between them. But Meredith has been keeping a secret since they were teens—one that she must reveal if she and Jonathon are ever to have a future together. Will the truth tear them apart…or give them everything they’ve always dreamed of?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Legacy Ranch

Book 1: Their Texas Christmas Redemption
Book 2: A Texas Easter Blessing
Book 3: The Pastor's Christmas Prayer 

Love Inspired, October, 2026

Available in digital ebook or paperback

Buy at Amazon or Christianbook 

 

LOYALTY'S PURSUIT by Shanon McNear, Reviewed and Hosted by Paula Shreckhise #CelebrateLit

 

About the Book

Book: Loyalty’s Pursuit

Author: Shannon McNear

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: October 13, 2026

 

She needs a husband to survive. Right now, a wife is the last thing he wants.

August 1780. After the Battle of Camden leaves British camp follower Bess Eaton widowed, expecting a child, and stranded in enemy territory, she faces two impossible choices: a return to an England that offers her nothing…or marriage to a stranger before the army marches on without her.

Backcountry loyalist Rob MacFarlane has already buried a wife and son and has no intention of marrying again at this moment. But he can’t ignore the vulnerable widow in his path. What begins as an act of duty quickly becomes something far more complicated when he offers Bess protection—and a name.

As war rages and the British cause begins to crumble, their fragile alliance is tested at every turn. Loyalties fracture. Faith is questioned. And the lines between enemy and neighbor blur. To survive, Rob must decide what allegiance truly costs—and Bess must choose whether she can trust not only the man she married…but the God she’s never fully known.

 PAULA'S REVIEW:

“God was the one true King. The only one who could never abandon them.” 

A story of the American Revolution told through the eyes of Bess Eaton a camp follower and wife of a British soldier in South Carolina. Bess becomes a widow and must wed another out of necessity or face a long journey back to England but England holds nothing for her anymore.
 

I am always drawn to Ms McNear and her stories for their authenticity and attention to historical details. She writes flawed characters who have their faith tested but still rely on God. She does not shy away from the unsavory aspects of war but chronicles events with dignity and grace.
 

The author has a beautiful way with words. They caused me to emphasize with Beth through all her trials, worrisome thoughts and difficult decisions. She portrays Rob MacFarlane as a trustworthy and honorable man who cares for family and respects God.
 

I love history about the Revolutionary War and seeing it through the characters that Ms McNear creates makes the subject come alive. She depicts the nobility of service, no matter which side of the conflict the players may be on. I enjoyed the epigraphs at the chapter beginnings as they added insight to the story.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Wild Heart Books through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* 5stars and a solid faith thread

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Transplanted to the far north after more than two decades in the Deep South, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s the author of twenty-one novels and novellas, not all of them in print, but her favorite roles are retired military wife, pastor’s wife, mom-of-many, mother-in-law, and grammie. When not cooking, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, hanging out with her grandbabies and basking in the beauty of the northern prairies.

 

More from Shannon

I’m so honored to be part of yet another Celebrate Lit tour! This story especially is near and dear to my heart, because it was my very first long historical after writing fantasy for decades, the book I still had in process when I submitted the proposal for my first novella, Defending Truth, and the one which gave me the courage to try that story (and genre) to begin with.

The first draft of this story took five years to complete, in between other projects and real life. It was a hard sell to start with, I knew, being set within the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution but from the British and Loyalist viewpoint. Still, it eventually netted me both of my agents (Defending Truth’s RITA® nomination didn’t hurt there, either) while garnering interest from various editors—but didn’t actually sell until last summer. That means this story languished for more than 10 years—and then the Lord Himself practically dropped this contract in my lap.

The first story of how the concept came to me can be found here:

https://colonialquills.blogspot.com/2014/07/dispelling-colonial-myths-reenactor.html

It was on my heart from the beginning to portray the romance, such as it is, in a rather unconventional way—something closer to what I imagine real life must have been for such a situation. And I deliberately steered away from the usual flowery declarations of love between my main couple, while hoping to present them in such a way that the reader has no doubt by the end of the story that they do absolutely care for each other. My dear editor with Wild Heart Books helped me shape and refine the characters and story from what might have been a more straightforward historical fiction read into more of what a historical romance reader might expect. I hope those expectations are now met, but also that my readers also come away with a fresh appreciation for how our country came to be.

Blog Stops

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 27

Holly’s Book Corner, October 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 28

Inkwell Inspirations, October 29

Betti Mace, October 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 30

Texas Book-aholic, October 31

For Him and My Family, November 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 3

Pause for Tales, November 4

Devoted To Hope, November 4

Jeanette’s Thoughts , November 5

Maureen’s Musings, November 6

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 7

Lyssa Loves Books, November 8

Simple Harvest Reads, November 8 (Guest Review from Donna)

Cover Lover Book Review, November 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon 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/AJy7n/loyaltys-pursuit-celebration-tour-giveaway