I hope you had a lovely Christmas and received at least one book—even if it was a present you gave yourself! Books make great gifts, so I thought I would give away two books this week. These are brand new copies of novels I read earlier in the year.
The Call of the Sea by Sian Ann Bessey
If you like historical fiction, especially with Vikings, then you will enjoy The Call of the Sea. The heroine’s father is killed during a Viking raid—an act that sends her on a life-altering journey filled with danger, romance, and faith. This well-researched, historically based novel is perfect for lovers of Medieval fiction.
“Gives a great sense of life to the fragmented Wales of the 12th century, and the interesting plot is based on a historical incident. Recommended.” —Historical Novel Society
The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer
This is the debut novel of friend Mollie Rushmeyer. I truly enjoyed this contemporary novel set in a small-town bookstore in northern Minnesota and I think you will, too. The Bookshop of Secrets has believable, dimensional characters, an appealing setting, action, romance, and even delicious literary references.
“Book love, buried treasure, and a family mystery combine in a story of redemption, faith, friendship, and new beginnings. …A warmhearted and bookish literary debut.” —Lisa Wingate, bestselling author
******UPDATE: the giveaway has now closed and the winner notified. Thanks for your interest!******
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I love historical fiction and stories set in bookshops…these sound wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing these with us!! I pray you have a refreshing & fantastic new year.
Both sound wonderful, but since I am from northwestern MN I’m very interested in The Bookshop of Secrets!
These both sound like great stories, and I have never read any of Sian Bessie’s novels so would love to try them out!
I did get a book for Christmas!
It’s always a great gift idea..
Would love to win one of the books above.
With the cold weather and more snow to come. new books and new authors will be great to curl up under a blanket.
Both look like great reads. Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year!
My daughter gave me 4 books for Christmas. She knows her mom well! I’m looking forward to reading them all, but mostly ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Although, ‘The Sisters of Sea View’, is first on my reading list!
No books yet. Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.
I received a preorder of Prince Harry’s book, Spare. I’m excited to read it.
Loving your newest book. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
Katie
These books sound wonderful. I just finished up a series so I’m looking for my next read. Love all your books!
Thank you for offering these books. Happy New Year.
I would so love to win these books – need some escapism after a stressful Christmas period.
Wonder giveaway! Sian Ann Bessey is one of favorite authors! Thank you for the opportunity!
I read your Ivy Hill Christmas during the holidays and lived it!
I love Christian Historical fiction. Both of these books sound interesting, but especially the Bookshop one.
These books sound wonderful. I only got a cookbook this year, which is unusual, but I decided to buy your latest instead of asking for it for Christmas. I am halfway through Sisters of Seaview. I would love to read these books.
I’ve enjoyed reading so many of your books and these ones look great as well.
I have both of those books on my wish list!!
Thank you so much for the giveaway! Whoever wins will be so excited!!
Yes, your new book. Every year for Christmas. My family knows that is what I want.
I have been wanting to read both of these books! Thanks for the giveaway!! Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!!
Beth
These look interesting ! Looking forward to more of your books too.
Thanks Julie!
Sadly, no books this year but my TBR pile never seems to get smaller! 🤷🏼♀️
I received your new book (as I have the last few Christmases) I was so excited! Both of these sound great! Hope you had a Merry Christmas!
These sound amazing! I did receive one new book for Christmas. Always room for more on my shelves ;). Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
It’s not Christmas without new books 😅! I received a four this year!
I got a new book for Christmas: Targeted novella collection by Natalie Walters, Lunette Eason and Lynn H. Blackburn. Both of these books sound awesome!
I love historical fiction. I would love to add this 2023 Reading list.
No books! I did not receive one! Wahhh. 🙂 But we had a lovely Christmas anyway. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for all of the wonderful hours of reading, I love y our books, each time you publish one, I grab it, fingers crossed🤞 to win 🙂
These two books sound like books I would enjoy. Thank you for the opportunity to win one. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Both of these books sound wonderful. Thank you for sharing them. I did receive some books for my birthday, which was earlier this month. And I went to a real bookstore. I live in a small town, so I have a good drive to get to a bookstore. This makes it an extra special treat!
I cannot wait to start “The Sisters of the Sea View”, it’s the next book on my pile of books to be read.
I received Nora Robert’s new book. Hope you have a Happy Bew Year!
I never did get a book for Christmas this year. I think it’s the first! I really didn’t buy anything for myself, either. I focused on my family. A few members can be a bit materialistic, and we don’t get along half the time, so I try to get good gifts to compensate, but I don’t think that’s a good approach anymore. The broke college girl budget doesn’t agree with it, haha. I’ve also realized that some people won’t appreciate what you get even with your heart in the right place. I still have people I can always fall back on and appreciate whatever I do get them.
Yes, I bought myself your book! I even wrapped it up and put it under the tree until Christmas afternoon, to open after the morning church service. 🙂 It’s so sweet of you to give these away to someone. I would so love to read these! They sound intriguing and charming respectively!
Would love to win! Sadly, I didn’t get any books for Christmas, but I did check out your latest at the library!
What a nice thing you are doing having this giveaway for your readers. Of course I hope that I win I would love to read these two books.
I got a few books for Christmas actually. Its always nice to get a book as a gift, especially when its one you’ve been wanting.
I got some pre-ordered books before Christmas… Holding the Line by Jennifer Delamere, In Love’s Time by Kate Breslin, Engaging Deception by Regina Jennings, and The Sisters of Sea View by someone you might have heard of 😉.
I’ve heard of both of the books that you are giving away but haven’t read them…both sound really good and are new to me authors. Thanks for having this giveaway!
I’d love to be a winner for these books! Thanks for letting me travel through books.
Those books look like great books. I did receive 2 books for Christmas. I got you new book, Julie, and I also got a book by Francine Rivers. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and has a happy new year!
Love historical fiction!
Thank you
You had me at a book about a bookshop, but then you added that it is in Minnesota. Sold. I will definitely be adding this book to my reading list!
I could never let Christmas go by without getting a few books! 😉 This giveaway looks fabulous – I’ve been wanting to read these two novels for months now! 😀
Thanks so much for hosting!! <3
I would love the opportunity to win these titles! Both sound wonderful, and I’m thankful there is so much good Christian fiction to be read, especially yours!
I got amazon cards to buy books. I have read Mollie’s and it was a stunning debut.
I love historical fiction and I am always looking for new books to read.
It’s so cool that your are doing a giveaway! Thank you! I haven’t read either of these books and would be happy to win either one!
Both books sound like great reads!
Both of these books sound great. Sadly, I did not receive any books for Christmas, but here’s hoping.
First year I did not receive any books but did receive a gift card for Half Price Books. I’m really excited to pick my own. These both sound amazing. It would make my day to win one of them.
I am eagerly waiting for you latest book to arrive!
I am enjoying your new book, Julie! Looking forward to giving my grandma her new book when I see her next week. ♥️
I think it would be a very interesting book. Have a great New Year.
I sadly didn’t receive any books this year despite my long list of books wanted! The two sound like fantastic reads!
Love Mollie’s book AND Mollie! I’ll have to check out this other book! Hope it was a great Christmas, Julie!
Sadly I didn’t get a single book this Christmas! I think my lovely family wanted to give me something different, but I just love getting books! Off to the public library I go…
Both of these books sound good! Happy New Year to you and yours.
Thanks for the recommendations and fun giveaway! Happy New Year!
I love reading. My husband sweetly gifted me with six of Mesu Andrews books for Christmas. I gifted myself with several others, plus I have a birthday coming up in a few weeks. I expect to get more then!
I love your books, Julie. The books above sound great as well. Happy New Year and God bless you in 2023! <3
I love everything by Sian Ann Bessey! And the other book looks wonderful as well. How fun! And Happy Holidays.
It sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas. My holiday was filled with family and food. However, I did not receive one book!I would like to enter my name for the book giveaway.
Thank you for offering the books to your readers:)
Unfortunately I didn’t receive any books for Christmas, but I’ve got ones that I purchased for myself. Your newest book is on reserve at the library. Both of these books you featured sound very interesting. Thanks for hosting a giveaway.
I received one historical novel, a cookbook, and an essential oil book. I would love to read these two books, too. Thanks for the chance!
I’m a retired librarian and received books for Christmas from me sweet family. I’d love to read these books also. Thank you for doing this.
Happy New Year to you & your family.
What a wonderful giveaway. Thank you. I have not heard of the first book but it sounds interesting. The bookshop book is one I keep hearing about and would love to read it. 🙂
Both sound amazing, can’t wait to read them! Thanks so much for the amazing giveaway!
I just bought this book for a book buddy and now I want to read. Sounds interesting.
I just returned from my local public library with 10 books. I’d love to win these two books. If you recommend them I know they’ll be great. I enjoy reading all your books.
These books have been on my radar for a while. I love books about books and everything bookish!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
These two books have beautiful covers and looks interesting.
I didn’t get any books for Christmas this year (although I gave each of my kids two—a novel & a devotional) so this would definitely make my Christmas better! 🥰
Would love a chance to win those books, especially love books about bookshops !
I’d be happy to win these books and share with others!
Merry Christmas! Loved your latest book!
I was on the launch team for The Bookshop of Secrets. I loved it. The Call of the Sea sounds interesting. I received no books for Christmas. Blessings
Merry Christmas! I always end up with books or book money for Christmas. Thank you for the giveaway. Call of the Sea looks like a beautiful book. I love Vikings and medieval stories and can now look forward to another!
The Bookshop of Secrets is one of many books I’d like to read. I did receive several books for Christmas, including your new book, The Sisters of Sea View. My kids are good at giving me books when I give them a list.
I’ve already won a copy of The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer. I’d love to read The Call of the Sea/
I have read all your books! Thanks for the recommendations. I am always looking for something new to read. Historical fiction is my favorite.
Both of these books sound like great books would love to read either one of them have a Blessed New Year!
They both sound like great reads!
I enjoy learning about history, cultures, day to day activities through historical fiction. An excellent story woven through a different time period is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
My husband gave me an Amish cookbook for Christmas. These 2 books look fantastic! Thanks for sharing.
Connie
I have been wanting to read Sian Ann Bessey’s newest book! Thank you for the chance to win!
Bookshop of Secrets looks so good.
I’ve read that book by Sian Bessey and loved it and I’m excited to read the other novel too. Thanks for introducing other great authors!
I enjoy reading historical fiction and found there are often details of history I did not know. Both of these novels do look interesting. Thank you for sharing.
I love historical fiction novels!
wow both of these books look fantastic. would love to put them on my TBR list. thanks. have a wonderful rest of the week
I would love to read these books.
This is very thoughtful, Julie. Both sound wonderful. I am most drawn to the bookshop one.
I love Sian Ann Bessey’s books! I always enjoy discovering new authors too!
They both sound fantastic! They’ll be on my TBR list whether I win or not. Thanks for the giveaway, though! <3 Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Both of these sound wonderful! Thanks for recommending them.
Wish I could give everyone books, but the winner is: Rochelle Deinert. Thanks, everyone, for your interest!