Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Whim and a Prayer by Julie Lessman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: A Whim and a Prayer Series: The Cousins O'Connor #4 Author: Julie Lessman Publisher: Independent Release Date: September 8, 2026 Genre: Historical Romance
She’s a former orphan desperate to protect her heart. He’s a best friend who protects her from the start. Till prayer protects them both from a true love torn apart.
Discarded like so much trash on the steps of an orphanage at age two, seventeen-year-old Winifred Dennehy thinks God has it out for her. Abandoned by abusive parents and born cross-eyed to boot, she spent the first four years of her life battling bullies and verbal abuse. Deliverance came in the form of one Beckett Campbell, the ten-year-old orphan who became her best friend and guardian angel for life, along with an orphanage volunteer by the name of Mrs. D. When Mrs. Charity Dennehy adopts Winnie into her family, has her crossed eyes fixed, and secretly arranges for Beckett to be fostered and then adopted by elderly neighbors down the street, Winnie figures her luck has changed. But instead of attributing it to God like Beckett does, she’s inclined to believe it’s her own grit, charm, and spontaneity that has paved the way.
From the moment twenty-four-year-old Beckett Campbell saw the tiny, cross-eyed orphan who reminded him of the sister he lost, he wanted to love and protect her forever. Best friends from the start despite over five years apart, Winnie’s naïve spontaneity for wild hairs and whims keeps Beck’s mature responsibility busy and happily so. Until the little girl he wanted to protect suddenly becomes the young woman he wants to love. When Winnie insists on protecting their friendship from the fear and risk of anything more, Beck has a decision to make. Friendship forever … or a life apart from the best friend he loves. Praying that Winnie will change her mind, Beck doesn’t hold out much hope for that day. But when an unexpected turn of events alters both of their lives, it puts “a whim and a prayer” on a collision course that just might make a way.
A lover of all things Irish, Julie Lessman writes close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together. Award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, Silver Lining Ranch, and The Cousins O’Connor series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 24 Romance Writers of America and other awards.
Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards, Julie also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-2021, 2023, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction.
In addition, Julie has written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets, and What’s the Story, Morning Glory: A Memoir Devotional with a “Novel” Approach to Practical Christianity. Contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 21, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 28, 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/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
I have been following Julie Lessman for over 15 years now. It all started with her Daughters of Boston series. They hooked me, Hook - Line and Sinker. I was so excited to get into this book tour. I love reading clean Christian romances and Julie writes the best. I love her Christian perspective she brings to everyone of her books. She keeps God at the forefront in her writing. Lessman writes as if the story is unfolding right before your eyes. Her characters come to life. In A Whim and a Prayer, Whinnie is a spunky, spitfire seventeen year old. Almost eighteen as she reminds everyone at the beginning of the story. She is an orphan that was adopted by Mitch and Charity Dennehy when she was little. I felt as if I was right in the living room watching the story unfold. Every book I've read of Julie's are page turners. Though this is the fourth book in the O'Connor Cousins series, this is the second one I've read with one more in my Amazon library waiting to be read. A Whim and a Prayer didn't disappoint in the least bit. If you want good clean Christian romance Julie comes highly recommended.
Eight-year-old Evan leaves New York aboard a freighter bound for West Africa, beginning an adventure of a lifetime across the Atlantic...
Eight-year-old
Evan has never crossed an ocean before. Leaving behind the familiar
streets of New York, he boards a massive freighter ship with his
parents, bound for West Africa, where his family will live for the next
four years. Excited yet uncertain, Evan watches the Statue of Liberty
fade into the mist and wonders what waits for him on the other side of
the Atlantic.
Life aboard
the freighter feels like a floating world of its own. The ship carries
only a handful of passengers, and Evan quickly befriends Mateo, another
boy his age who is traveling to Ghana to live with his grandparents for a
year. Together, the boys explore the ship’s narrow passageways, climb
to the bridge where Captain Morales lets Evan help steer the vessel, and
spend long afternoons in the ship’s library building model kits and
solving puzzles while storms churn across the ocean outside.
As the days
pass, their friendship deepens. Evan learns that Mateo misses his family
as much as he does, and the two boys discover what it means to trust
someone far from home. But when Evan’s prized airplane model kit
suddenly disappears, suspicion and hurt threaten to destroy their
friendship. Angry and confused, Evan must decide whether to hold onto
resentment or search for understanding.
Meanwhile,
the voyage itself grows more dangerous. A hurricane drifts far off its
usual course, slamming the freighter with towering waves that leave
passengers frightened and seasick. In the middle of the storm, Evan
witnesses courage from the crew, compassion among strangers, and the
quiet strength of his own parents as they face uncertainty together.
Through the chaos of the sea and the heartbreak of betrayal, Evan begins
to mature in ways he never expected.
When the
ship finally reaches the bustling ports of Liberia, Ghana, and
ultimately Lagos, Nigeria, Evan is overwhelmed by sights and sounds
unlike anything he has ever known—towering cranes unloading containers,
humid air thick with salt and diesel, crowded harbors alive with
movement, and vibrant new cultures waiting beyond the docks. Yet the
hardest moment comes when Mateo must leave the ship in Ghana. Their
emotional goodbye forces Evan to confront how deeply friendship can
change a person, even in a short time.
Filled with
adventure, heart, humor, and emotional depth, Evan’s Stormy Voyage is a
middle-grade coming-of-age novel about courage, kindness, forgiveness,
and finding home in unfamiliar places. Inspired by the author’s
experiences growing up in Africa, the story offers young readers a vivid
journey across the Atlantic as it explores universal themes of
friendship, empathy, resilience, and cultural discovery. Fans of
heartfelt adventure stories will be swept into Evan’s unforgettable
voyage as he learns that the greatest discoveries are often the ones
made within ourselves.
Evan's Stormy Voyage is an excellent book for any classroom teacher's library. It focuses on courage, friendship, trust and resilience. This book may be written for kids, however, as an adult I found it to be a very engaging read. As a teacher I loved the SEL discussion questions at the end of the book. Questions to help build self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making, and emotional regulation.
╰┈➤Book Details ➺Author: Karen Charles ➺Genre: Children’s Series ➺Language:English ➺Pages: 72 ➺Publisher: BookBaby ➺Publication Date: August 24, 2026 ➺Formats: Paperback ➺Paperback ISBN: 979-8317844738
Excerpt:
Evan stood at the railing of the enormous freighter ship, his sneakers planted wide as the deck trembled beneath him. The engines rumbled low and deep, like a giant clearing its throat before speaking. New York Harbor sparkled in the morning sun. Restless seagulls wheeled overhead, crying out sharp and wild. Tugboats puffed along like busy little beetles, guiding the massive ship toward open water. And there she was. The Statue of Liberty stood tall against the sky, her torch glowing gold in the light. She appeared brave and steady, her torch raised high as if she were waving goodbye just to him. Evan raised his arm and waved. “Goodbye,” he whispered. The wind pressed against him harder now, flattening his shirt against his chest. It felt different out here, stronger, wilder. The water slapped against the ship’s sides with a hollow boom… boom… boom… like a drumbeat echoing from somewhere far below. Behind him was everything he had always known. He would miss this place. Ahead of him was Nigeria, West Africa, a place of bright sun, red earth, and tall palms that rustled like whispers of secrets. His parents had new jobs there, and he would be going to an American boarding school. He imagined classrooms filled with maps, new accents, new games, and nights under stars bigger than he had ever seen. Excitement fizzed inside him like fireworks. But underneath it, something else moved. A twisty feeling. Like clouds gathering where the sky had just been blue. He watched as the Statue of Liberty grew smaller and smaller, her torch shrinking to a tiny spark against the horizon. 1 The sky above the harbor shifted. A bank of gray clouds stretched low over the Atlantic, dark and quiet and waiting. The freighter pushed forward anyway. Evan gripped the railing tighter. The ocean ahead looked wide and endless, like a giant blue blanket that could shake itself awake. He took a deep breath. Adventure was calling. But far out on the horizon, where the ocean met the sky, something darker was rising. And it was coming their way.
– Excerpted from Evan’s Stormy Voyage by Karen Charles, BookBaby, 2026. Reprinted with permission.
About the Author
Karen
Charles grew up in West Africa and traveled across Africa, the Middle
East, Central America, and Europe. Her rich background and lifetime
experiences are reflected in the depth of her writing. In her stories,
she transforms real-life narratives into gripping thriller fiction. Her
novels intricately weave threads of truth into a tapestry of suspense,
intrigue, and riveting storytelling. She is the author of three
children’s books in the “Evan’s Adventures in Africa” series, including
Freeman Earns a Bike, Evan’s Gift, and Evan’s Stormy Voyage. Her three
thrillers include Fateful Connections, set in the aftermath of 9/11, and
Blazing Upheaval, set during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles and
the Northridge earthquake. A Glimpse Too Far offers the mystery and
heart-pounding suspense of a psychological thriller and is based on a
true story. Karen Charles has two businesses—a global company that
trains international teachers to teach American English and an Airbnb on
a beautiful bay in Washington State, where she and her husband
currently live.
1. From the co-creator of VeggieTales Mike Nawrocki. Mike is the co-creator of VeggieTales, co-founder of Big Idea Entertainment and the longtime voice of Larry the Cucumber. He created The Dead Sea Squirrels as a new way to help children connect with the Bible and the life and teachings of Jesus through humor, memorable characters and imaginative storytelling.
2. The soundtrack brings together all 22 songs featured throughout Season 1 of the hit animated series, now streaming exclusively on Minno. Season 1 premiered February 14, 2025 and includes 13 episodes, each built around a biblical lesson or passage. Themes include kindness, diligence, honesty, mercy, self-control, overcoming worry, trusting God, Jesus’ birth, baptism, the Kingdom of God, the Last Supper and the Resurrection.Minno’s official series guide provides the complete episode and theme list.
CD track listing + credits
1. “The Dead Sea Squirrels Theme Song (Short Version)” — Steve Taylor, The Dead Sea Squirrels 2. “Rolling Down the River” — Mike Nawrocki, Jenny Littleton, The Dead Sea Squirrels 3. “Do Unto Others” — Matthew West, Mike Nawrocki, Jenny Littleton, The Dead Sea Squirrels 4. “We’re Thessalonians” — Steve Taylor, The Dead Sea Squirrels 5. “Celebrate Your Face” — Matthew Ward, The Dead Sea Squirrels 6. “Kitty Kitty Nope” — Jenny Littleton, The Dead Sea Squirrels 7. “The Prison Song” — Steve Taylor, The Dead Sea Squirrels 8. “Lord Has Mercy” — Matthew West, The Dead Sea Squirrels 9. “I Roll With Self-Control” — Steve Taylor, The Dead Sea Squirrels 10. “You Lift Me Up” — Christopher Bailey, The Dead Sea Squirrels 11. “Gonna Have a Baby” — Durell Comedy, Ellie Holcomb, The Dead Sea Squirrels 12. “Headed East Toward Nazareth” — Aaron Armstrong, The Dead Sea Squirrels 13. “Nothing Is Impossible” — Durell Comedy, Ellie Holcomb, Ashley Cleveland, Henry O. Arnold, The Dead Sea Squirrels 14. “On the Nativity Trail” — Rob Howard, The Dead Sea Squirrels 15. “Time to Get Counted” — Ellie Holcomb, The Golden Hours, James Weir, Mike Nawrocki, The Dead Sea Squirrels 16. “Happy Lizard Suite” — Mike Nawrocki, Duncan Phillips, The Dead Sea Squirrels 17. “The Water’s Fine (But You’re Not)” — Mac Powell, Matthew West, The Dead Sea Squirrels 18. “Tiny Squirrel” — Mazzy Mason, The Dead Sea Squirrels 19. “Kingdom of God” — Matthew West, The Dead Sea Squirrels 20. “Here He Comes” — Matthew West, The Dead Sea Squirrels 21. “He’s Alive” — Bart Millard, Katy Nichole, Matthew West, The Dead Sea Squirrels 22. “The Dead Sea Squirrels Theme Song (Extended Version)” — Steve Taylor, The Dead Sea Squirrels
3. The animated series is based on the best-selling book series The animated series is based on Mike Nawrocki’s best-selling children’s book series published by Tyndale Kids. Squirreled Away, the first book in the series, recently surpassed 100,000 copies sold, helping introduce families to Merle, Pearl and their humor-filled approach to biblical storytelling. Series description: The Dead Sea Squirrels follows 10-year-old Michael and Merle and Pearl, two squirrels who were preserved in Dead Sea salt for 2,000 years. After being brought back to Tennessee and unexpectedly revived, the squirrels use their firsthand knowledge of Jesus’ teachings to help Michael and his friends navigate modern-day challenges.
4. The soundtrack gives families a screen-free extension of the series The soundtrack gives families a new way to carry the faith-filled fun and biblical lessons of The Dead Sea Squirrels into everyday life, from car rides and school drop-off to playtime, family time and church settings. Across 22 songs, the album reinforces themes children encounter throughout Season 1 of the animated series, including kindness, honesty and self-control, while also exploring the Nativity, Jesus’ ministry, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. The result is fun, memorable music children will want to hear repeatedly, with messages parents can feel good about reinforcing.
5. Major CCM performers The soundtrack brings together an impressive lineup of Christian music artists and performers, including Matthew West, MercyMe’s Bart Millard, Katy Nichole, Ellie Holcomb, Mac Powell of Third Day, Steve Taylor and three-time GRAMMY Award winner Ashley Cleveland. The album also features Matthew Ward, Durell Comedy, Mike Nawrocki, Jenny Littleton, Mazzy Mason, Christopher Bailey, Aaron Armstrong, Rob Howard, Duncan Phillips, Henry O. Arnold, The Golden Hours and James Weir.
Quote from Mike Nawrocki (Series creator and voice of Merle Squirrel) I’m so excited for families to hear The Dead Sea Squirrels Season 1 soundtrack. The songs are fun and super catchy, but they also carry biblical lessons and themes that parents can feel good about. My hope is that kids will want to sing them again and again, and that the truths in the lyrics will stay with them long after the music stops.”
Quote from Steve Taylor (Animated series producer, performer and co-writer of “The Dead Sea Squirrels Theme Song”) “One of the joys of The Dead Sea Squirrels has been making music for kids that never feels like an afterthought. We wanted every song to be funny, memorable and musically strong while still serving the story and the biblical truth at the heart of each episode. Having so many gifted friends lend their voices made the soundtrack even more special.”
Giveaway Items: 1 CD of the Season 1 Original Soundtrack & 1 copy of the latest book in the series, Cybersquirrels: The Dead Sea Squirrels, Book 13
I will draw a winner from the comments left on Sunday, Aug. 15th, 2026. Be sure to leave your name and an email address so I can contact you if you are the winner. (Note: This is limited to US winners only and cannot accept P.O. boxes as winning addresses.)
*********************
● Physical CD: through the Dead Sea Squirrels shop ● Apple Music: Album page ● Spotify: Album page ● Streaming Highlight: The album is currently featured on Apple Music Kids’ “Sunday School Kids” playlist and Spotify’s “Christian & Gospel Kids”
Official Hashtags/Tags: #DeadSeaSoundtrackMIN #DeadSeaSquirrels #DeadSeaSquirrelsSoundtrack
Hunted through the wilderness…can they survive animals and criminals?
He saved her once. He’ll risk everything to save her again.
After
surviving a brutal encounter with a sadistic serial killer, Abbie
Renforth finds peace in the Maine wilderness. But peace turns to peril
when a vengeful crime family brings their war to her doorstep, turning
her sanctuary into a battlefield.
Ethan
Knight, the former detective who once saved her life, is reluctantly
pulled back into the fray. Together they must outwit ruthless enemies
and unravel a dangerous tangle of lies. Can they outmaneuver a merciless
crime family and unearth the truth before their time runs out?
Deadly Wilderness Showdown is available at Amazon.
╰┈➤Book Details
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Sub-genre: Christian Mystery/Suspense
Language:English
Pages: 20
Paperback ISBN: 978-1335957863
Excerpt:
Abbie Renforth had witnessed more than her share of psyche-scarring moments in her former career as a photojournalist for an international news agency. She’d captured far too many heart-wrenching images in the aftermath of earthquakes, floods, wildfires and senseless crimes than she cared to remember. Some things, once seen, could never be unseen.
She’d experienced the worst the world had to offer—and not only in her professional life. Now, amid the wild and rugged beauty of Maine, where she’d retreated after losing her job and very nearly her life, she was experiencing the best.
Recalling how close she’d come to missing out on the chance to spend three months in this idyllic expanse of backcountry courtesy of a visiting artist program, she was grateful she’d overcome her hesitation. Fear had nearly kept her from saying yes when she’d first been offered the opportunity to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Since she’d been attacked, her formerly borderless comfort zone had shrunk to an anxiety-restricted microcosm. Nearly dying at the hands of a demented serial killer had a way of doing that to a person.
– Excerpted from Deadly Wilderness Showdown by Lisa Weaver, Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, 2026. Reprinted with permission.
About the Author
Lisa Weaver lives
in Maine with her husband and one very spoiled Maine coon cat. When
she’s not spinning pulse-pounding tails, she enjoys hiking, biking,
getting her hands dirty in her flower gardens, spending time in nature
and baking decadent treats inspired by her fascination with baking
competition shows (and chocolate).
The Story of Everything is a cinematic exploration of the cosmos that reveals the hidden hand behind our universe. From the precise laws that govern the stars to the intricate patterns found in every living cell, the film traces evidence of intentional design throughout nature. Whether examining distant star-forming clouds or the spiral structure of DNA, we discover a consistent signature woven into the fabric of existence.
Inspired by Stephen C. Meyer’s bestselling book Return of the God Hypothesis, the cinematic documentary invites audiences to explore one of humanity’s oldest—and most consequential—questions: Does the evidence point to a universe shaped solely by blind chance, or is there evidence of purpose and design?
After a successful nationwide theatrical run that sparked conversation across faith, science, and culture, The Story of Everything is now available to purchase on Amazon Prime Video!
Buy The Story of Everything now on Prime Video Prime Video page: LINK
If you are a science and history buff then this documentary is for you. If you are interested in Biblical Creation then this documentary is for you. If you are interested in finding out the real truth about everything then this documentary is for you, but you must have an open mind to finding the real truth about it all.
I love the two quotes from this documentary:
* "Behind everything there is an author."
* "The universe bears everywhere the finger print of its Creator."
I'm giving away a $10 Amazon giftcard. This giveaway is limited to US winners only please. Please leave a comment with a way for me to contact you in case you are the winner. I will draw a winner on Wed. June 24th.
About the Series: The Sacred Thread is a cinematic documentary series exploring the Lord’s Prayer through the historical, cultural, geographical, and literary world in which Jesus first spoke it. Hosted by Brad Gray and featuring insights from scholars including N.T. Wright, the series takes viewers across biblical landscapes to uncover the deeper meaning and context behind one of the most well-known prayers in Scripture.
Through cinematic storytelling and accessible scholarship, the series invites audiences to see Scripture with fresh eyes and rediscover the richness, depth, and relevance of the Biblical text.
Core Message: Most people know the Lord’s Prayer.
Very few understand the world, language, and meaning behind it.
The Sacred Thread takes viewers deep into the historical and cultural context of Scripture, helping audiences experience the Lord’s Prayer the way Jesus’ original audience would have heard it.
This is not just another Bible study.
It’s a cinematic journey through the land, history, language, and deeper meaning of one of the most important prayers ever spoken.
Angel continues to create thoughtful, high-quality series that make Scripture feel alive, relevant, and deeply personal.
This series was a very thoughtful and reflective journey helping me to understand the historical, cultural, and geographical world of Jesus. It was a fresh and meaningful way to understand, reflect, and connection with God's Word. It brought Scripture to life in a really powerful way. It helped me understand the historical and cultural world of Jesus. It had a way of making familiar Bible passages feel brand new. This is a great series to watch with your spouse, family, or Bible study group.
There is a $10 Amazon giftcard giveaway. This giveaway is limited to US winners only. Please leave a comment letting me know you want to be entered in the giveaway with an email address so I can contact you if you are the winner. I will draw a winner on Tues. June 23rd.
About the Film: Just One More follows Jess, a recovering addict struggling with shame, doubt, and the weight of her past, whose life unexpectedly collides with Charles, a dying man praying that God would use him “just one more” time. As their stories intertwine, Jess begins to discover forgiveness, healing, and the hope to fight for a future beyond addiction.
This is an emotional, character-driven story about redemption, perseverance, and the life-changing impact one person can have on another.
At its heart, Just One More is about choosing hope one more time, even when life feels impossible.
This is the kind of movie that stays with audiences long after the credits roll.
This a movie of:
* Redemption - Nobody is beyond another chance. * Perseverance - Strength is often found in simply refusing to quit. * Hope - Even in difficult seasons, there is still a reason to keep going. * Family & Relationships - Healing, reconciliation, and the people who stand beside us matter. * Emotional Impact - A deeply moving story that resonates across generations.
I loved the core message of this movie: Everyone reaches a moment where they feel exhausted, defeated, or ready to quit. Just One More is about what happens when someone finds the courage to keep going anyway. This is a story about second chances. About redemption. About the people who fight for one more day, one more conversation, one more opportunity to make things right. Angel is bringing audiences a film that reminds people hope is still worth fighting for.
Angel is doing what many studios have stopped doing. They are telling stories with emotional depth, hope, purpose, and heart. Just One More is not cynical entertainment. It is a film that leaves audiences encouraged, reflective, and inspired. This is high-quality storytelling with something meaningful to say.
Stream Just One More now on Angel and support stories that actually inspire.
Join the Angel Guild and help bring more films like this to audiences everywhere.
I have a $10 Amazon giftcard I'm giving away. If you wish to enter please, leave a comment below with your email address. This is limited to US winners only. I will draw a name from the comments on Wed, June 17, 2026.
