Guess the Fairy Tale Retelling ~ Of Hope and Honor

 

Guess the Fairy Tale ~ Of Hope and Honor

 Of Hope and Honor is coming March 10, 2026.

The stories in this book are coming to you from 

M. K. Minnick, Meagan Myhren-Bennett (me), and Kelsie Engen.

This book is part of the Fairy Tale Frenzy Collection from 

Beyond the Bookery's Consuo Spes Liber

 Preorder from Amazon at 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9S7NT5B/

I'm offering two clues regarding the two fairy tales I'm retelling.

1) A sister succeeds after her brothers are turned to stone.

2) There are three brothers; only one succeeds, but he nearly falls to his brothers' treachery.

Now a fun fact about these two fairy tales that I'm retelling and combining.

They have the same name.

Yes, these two fairy tales are being retold as one story.

I can't wait for you to read

Water's Gift
and the stories written by my fellow authors.

Any guesses.

Comment below

Once Upon a Pen Book Awards 2025

 

The Once Upon a Pen Fairy Tale Book Awards celebrate the best in fairy tale, myth, legend, and classic literature retellings, published in 2025.

This is a reader’s choice award, where books are nominated and voted on by readers.

Books are eligible for several categories, including Best Book of the Year, and must meet  specific content guidelines to ensure suitability for a wide audience, including teens.

Learn more and vote at https://fairytaleauthors.com/awards

Now if you are inclined to nominate Golden Lotus, I won't object. But there were so many great books published this year, so be sure to nominate your favorites before December 31, 2025!

The Mistress of Wyndham Hall ~ Review

The Mistress of Wyndham Hall

The Widows of Lavender Cottage #3

By Jen Geigle Johnson

Eliza Tyndale is enjoying the unexpected freedom that widowhood has afforded her. Unfortunately, her sisters feel she needs to reintroduce herself to society and remarry as soon as possible. But when the Secret Society of Young Widows reaches out to her, Eliza is introduced to a whole new way of looking at marriage. love, and widowhood.

I found Eliza's sisters totally annoying when they decided to help her. They were like a runaway train and weren't about to stop for anyone. Loved how they were worried that others would try to take advantage of her situation. (Hello, sisters dear, have you looked in a mirror recently?) But her sisters really did care about Eliza and her future.

This was another enjoyable and interesting addition to the Widows of Lavender Cottage series. Eliza's steward Julian Brooks encourages her in finding herself and establishing a place that is of her choosing. But he has secrets that he is keeping; secrets that come as a shock to Eliza. And the truth could change everything between them.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

A young widow not looking for love and a man who is not who he seems.

When widow Eliza Tyndale inherits her aunt's Somerset estate, she expects solitude and simple country life. Instead, she finds herself drawn to the charming steward who seems to understand her better than anyone ever has. Julian Brooks is everything she didn't know she wanted—intelligent, compassionate, and unafraid of her independence.

But Julian is harboring a secret that could change everything between them. As their friendship deepens into something more meaningful, Eliza begins to suspect there's more to the quiet steward than meets the eye. When the truth finally emerges at a public assembly, she feels betrayed by the man she thought she knew.

Fleeing to the sanctuary of Lavender Cottage and the Secret Society of Young Widows, Eliza must decide whether love is worth the risk of trusting again. Can she forgive the deception that brought them together, or will Julian's secret destroy any chance of a future?

As Christmas approaches and the local foundling home needs their help, Eliza and Julian are thrown together in service to others. Working side by side, they rediscover the connection that drew them together—but can they build a future when trust has been shattered?

In this charming tale of second chances and chosen family, one woman must learn that sometimes the greatest risk is opening your heart to love again.

Interview with author Heather Flynn

 Today, I'm thrilled to share a recent interview I had with author Heather Flynn.

1) Who is your favorite comfort read author?

Oh, that's a really good question! My favorite comfort read author... my mind immediately went to Melanie Dickerson. I especially love her historical set fairytale retellings. Those books are always ones that tend to get me out of a reading slump and take my mind on a wonderful adventure! A few other authors that are go-to ones for me would have to be Robin Jones Gunn and Melody Carlson, because those were the first two Christian authors that I came across after I became a Christian in high school. I'm going to stop myself before I keep naming more names.

I love Melanie Dickerson's books, but I know the feeling, there are so many great authors, I could go on-and-on too. 

2) What do you most like about this genre that you are writing in? 

My most current story, a novella titled Beauty in the Shadows (featured in Evermore from Beyond the Bookery), is a fantasy, specifically leaning towards what I would consider a "kingdom fantasy". Oddly enough, this is a genre that a lot of my (unpublished) stories that I have written over the years ended up being set in. Currently, I have short stories published in a contemporary small town setting, with several historical projects in the works behind the scenes, but fantasy seems to be a comfort spot for me that I can really lose myself in.

I think that what I like most about this genre is that in a fantasy setting, it's very much "what you say goes" as the author. It is literally your world to create and make it how you want it to be. I enjoyed creating the kingdom of Enulmoor in this story, as well as mentioning the neighboring lands. I even at one point started playing around with creating a map for this area, which is probably something I just try to get back to, because it was a lot of fun. So to summarize, I suppose that what I like most about this genre that I'm currently writing in is that I enjoy bringing a whole new world into existence, and that I get to share this with readers.

I love that creating a new world and sharing it is what you enjoy about fantasy. 

3) Who, past or present, is one author you would like to mentor you? 

If I go for my gut response, I would have to say C.S. Lewis. I was given a copy of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe at a young age by a friend of my mom's and I immediately fell in love with it. I believe he has inspired my dream to write and what has led to fantasy being a comfort spot for me in writing.

I love C.S. Lewis's writing. His writing definitely opens a new world to readers. 

4) How do you develop your setting (a photo, a trip, a random comment)? 

For me, this really seems to vary from story to story. Sometimes I'm inspired by a photo, and others it could be anything. I've had all sorts of "story sparks" while at work, because my day job allows me to see the stories of a lot of interesting people.

5) If you could share a cup of tea (or coffee) with anyone, who would it be? 

I'd love the chance to share a cup of tea or coffee with some of the friends I've made along the way in my author journey. There are so many lovely people that I wouldn't have met if it hadn't been for writing and taking a chance on my words. I'm so pleased that I did, because I've made some truly remarkable friendships along the way. So long story, a bit shorter, I would love to settle in for a cup of tea or coffee with my writer friends.

 

6) Do you have a favorite author that you would recommend? 

A go-to for me for a lot of years has been Melanie Dickerson, I love her historically set fairytale retellings. However, I have so many favorites that I don't know that I could possibly choose just one, but I'm currently enjoying listening to some of Rebekah Morris' stories on Audible (as I get the chance). A lot of these are short and very entertaining reads that make for a nice little wind-down treat.

 

7) What one book would you recommend that everyone read? 

The Bible! Truly it is a book filled with all manner of stories, all that can help guide us in all that we say and do.

 8) Who is your favorite character in your book/story?

The answer that I want to give regarding my favorite character in this book/story is ALL of them. *glances at Tiburon* Well, almost all of them. However, if I have to choose one favorite it would probably have to be Lewis. Throughout the writing process I continued to find myself just adoring this character, and what he said and did (even though I was writing him lol). I felt very much like a proud momma hen sitting upon my nest watching my offspring encounter the world!

9) Is there a specific line or scene from Beauty in the Shadows that you feel directed the entire story in a specific direction? That is, if it were not in the story, everything would have changed?

My mind is whirling through the story thinking about the best way to answer this question. I feel like a very pivotal scene takes place with Lewis and Jacaranda in the garden. It's a big moment, which I won't spoil, but it really impacts the future direction of the story in a lot of ways for both characters! Ooh, and the library scene directly after! Afterall, it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I had to have a library scene of some sort.

 10) What one question would you like to be asked, and how would you answer it?

Would you mind if I shared two questions?

No, that would be fine. 

Do your stories ever surprise you in the direction they take?

Absolutely! I feel like each of my stories at some point in time takes on a life of its own, and I feel as if I'm just along for the ride. In Embracing Joy, for instance, I had a pretty good idea for how the story would go. However, as I continued writing the story there was almost a still whisper inside me that said we needed to do something different than what I originally had planned.

What do you hope readers feel after finishing your work?

I hope that readers go away feeling as if I have given them something, whether that be a smile, a new perspective on something, or even a few tears shed. Whatever it might be, I want my stories to have an impact on people's hearts and in their lives.

Thank you, Heather, for taking time to give us a chance to get to know you!

You can find Heather's books on Amazon Heather Flynn on Amazon

Connect with Heather via her website https://heatherflynnauthor.weebly.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/heather_flynn_author/

On Facebeook https://www.facebook.com Heather Flynn author

 

Abducted in the Woods ~ Review with IG Giveaway

Abducted in the Woods

Forest Ranger Rescuers #2
By Kerry Johnson
Published by Harlequin/Love Inspired

Sarah Brindley thought she was safe. But the men who killed her husband have found her and her seven-year-old son. But why these men are so intent on finding her is beyond her understanding. 

Now she her only hope of rescuing her son lies with the help of her brother-in-law and his K-9 partner. But when she discovers the secrets her husband held, she knows that the men after her won't be satisfied until she is permanently silenced. This Christmas season is anything but jolly!

Abducted in the Woods jumps right into the action from the beginning. As the story unfolds, secrets are slowly unveiled and they don't paint Sarah's just murdered husband in a good light. This is a story of forgiveness, redemption, and second chances. And for kitty lovers there is a cat in addition to the dogs.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Pursued by criminals—with a child’s life on the line.

Just when Sarah Brindley believes she and her son, Liam, are safe from the men who murdered her husband, they are attacked—and Liam is taken. Her only hope is to team up with her brother-in-law, forest ranger Tucker Brindley, to uncover who is targeting her family. When they discover her late husband’s ties to an underground medical black-market ring, it’s clear the trail of danger runs deeper than they realized. With assaults on them ramping up, they must race against the clock to recover young Liam…before they become the next victims.

Be sure to enter the Instagram Giveaway - You must go to Instagram to enter!

To enter the giveaway go to the following link https://www.instagram.com/p/DRye54TCsVU/

⇒ Giveaway – (1) winner will receive a $30 Amazon gift card!

⇒ VISIT each hosted post of this tour for more entries. Schedule at @justreadtours. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on December 10, 2025.)

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Links –

https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335957436_abducted-in-the-woods.html

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228126590-abducted-in-the-woods 

Whoops! I forgot to end my Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

 

You have one more day to enjoy the $0.99 Sale on 

Golden Lotus and Arabella's Song!

It's my Giving Tuesday gift to you. 

Save $3.00 off the price of the eBook on Amazon.

Purchase Link for Arabella's Song 

Purchase Link for Golden Lotus