Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Desert Manna Series by Karen Baney, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Books The Desert Manna Series

Title: Beauty for Ashes
Series: Desert Manna #1
Author: Karen Baney
Publisher: Desert Life Media
Release Date: March 7, 2022
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Uplifting Historical Christian Romance Fiction set in Prescott, Arizona in 1871.

As a widow who lost her husband in Sherman’s fiery march to the sea, Rebecca Elliot struggled to provide for her son. When she hears from her brother in Prescott, Arizona, she makes the journey west to start over. An unexpected tragedy on the last leg of her travels changes the trajectory of her heart and life as she never could have imagined.

Perry Quinn finally said goodbye to his late wife when his life is turned upside down. When he loses everything that he worked hard to accomplish, he must humble himself and start over while trying to find the answers to why he lost everything. Along the way, a kind woman steals his heart and reminds him that there is beauty in the middle of the ashes of his life.

Will he let go of his grief to find true love?

If you like these authors, you’ll enjoy this book too: Tracie Peterson, Tamera Alexander, Karen Witemeyer, Lacy Williams, Jodi Hedlund, Misty M. Beller

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

Title: Joy for Mourning
Series: Desert Manna Series #2
Author: Karen Baney
Publisher: Desert Life Media
Release Date: April 25, 2022
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Historical Christian Romance Fiction set in Prescott, Arizona in 1872.

Grace Talbert spurns every suitor her father finds. She longs for the spark of romance and is unwilling to settle for something less. Her passion is running the Women’s Aid Society, which organizes many charitable events to help the poor and the Indians. When a trip to deliver goods to the reservation leaves her stranded with a handsome stranger, she discovers the love she longed for.

After many years of wandering and building up his freight business, Joshua Harrison decides to return to Prescott. As a bachelor, he is ill-equipped to raise the orphaned daughter of a friend. He hopes the stable life of a small town will bring him what he needs to become a good father. Having failed at love twice, he is afraid to try again, until he is stranded with the unconventional and beautiful Grace Talbert.

Can he move past his heartache to open himself to love again?

If you like these authors, you’ll enjoy this book too: Tracie Peterson, Tamera Alexander, Karen Witemeyer, Lacy Williams, Jodi Hedlund, Misty M. Beller

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Title: Oaks of Justice
Series: Desert Manna Series #3
Author: Karen Baney
Publisher: Desert Life Media
Release Date: June 24, 2022
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Gripping Historical Christian Romance Fiction set in Prescott, Arizona in 1873.

Mel Larson is used to being underestimated as a female attorney. When her life is threatened, her mentor takes her home to Prescott. As the defense attorney for her innocent client who is on trial for murder, she goes head-to-head with the new District Attorney. When she apologizes to him for using some unconventional tactics, sparks fly, and she finds a love she had not been looking for.

Alex Glassman was ready to settle down but after a failed courtship, he doubted if he would ever find the right match. When a major court case falls into his lap, he is unprepared to argue the case against a fiery red-headed woman. When the case is over and he humbles himself to admit his mistakes, his heart is captured, and he dares to hope that she could be the one.

Finally, when Mel’s life is threatened, can Alex save her in time?

If you like these authors, you’ll enjoy this book too: Tracie Peterson, Tamera Alexander, Karen Witemeyer, Lacy Williams, Jodi Hedlund, Misty M. Beller

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Buy the Complete Series in One Volume

About the Author of The Desert Manna Series

Karen Baney is passionate about writing stories full of flawed characters. She enjoys weaving together stories of second chances, redemption, and overcoming personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona, she loves researching the state’s history and finding ways to seamlessly incorporate real history and real settings into her novels. In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry.

Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. Both Jim and Karen are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.

Connect with Karen by visiting karenbaney.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

My Thought on The Desert Manna Series

Beauty For Ashes

I love history and reading historical fiction novels.  This one was one of those!  It’s set after the Civil War.  Our heroine has lost her husband during the war.  Our hero has also suffered loss. 

This is also a clean Christian fiction novel.  It is one of those Christian novels that even non-Christians won’t mind reading so definitely recommend this book to those around you!

I feel the characters were well-developed.  It reads like a fun movie.  You can definitely see everything playing out in front of you.  I will say that I didn’t feel the cover portrayed the characters well.  The outfits don’t merge with what I would expect them to wear from reading the novel.  

The stories of both characters have loss and heartache.  Rebecca has a young son named Josiah.  Her husband never even knew about him.  Rebecca also lost the life she was used to.  

There is one thing that wasn’t my favorite of the book.  It was the French kissing.  It didn’t change the book and I didn’t feel it was a necessary component.  Kissing is fine, we don’t need to expand on that in my opinion.  But since that’s the only thing I didn’t love this is still a five-star book for me.  

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Joy for Mourning

This is book two in a fun series that takes place in Prescott, Arizona during the 1870s.  I love historical fiction novels and this fits the bill!  You can read this one as a stand-alone novel though, of course, I advocate reading a series as a series!

I read the first book first.  And then immediately started on this one.  Our heroine is a huge proponent of helping other people.  She’s practically devoted her life to it.  And yet maybe she’s missing out on more in her life.  When she is stranded on her way to the Indian reservation she finds herself with a man and might also find love. 

Our hero has failed at love a few times and is not looking for love anymore.  He feels it’s not something he’s destined to have.  But when he’s stranded with Grace can his mind be changed?

This was a fun novel.  It read quickly.  The characters were great and I loved getting to know them.  As the same in the first book, I felt like the kissing could have been taken down a notch but otherwise, it’s a five-star book for me. 

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Oaks of Justice

Book three in the Desert Manna series is just as good as books one and two.  They’re a series so I always advocate reading a series in order.  You could technically read this as a stand-alone novel but why would you want to do that when you can read three instead of one novel?!  I, of course, went with reading three novels. 

Mel has been fighting a hard battle trying to get accepted  in the law field.  But when her life is threatened can she come out ahead?  Enter another lawyer to help her out.  

Mel has a large family which I love.  I have 13 children and came from a grandfather who was the baby of 13 kids.  Having a large family is wonderful in my opinion and i love seeing positive representations of it in books. 

As with the other two novels there is a it much in a kissing scene.  This one also has a bit of very mild language.  Still a five star book and probably the most suspenseful of the trio!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Tour Giveaway for The Desert Manna Series

(2) winners will each win signed copies of all 3 books in the Desert Manna series plus a $25 Amazon gift card!

Find the full tour schedule linked below.

The giveaway begins at midnight on May 6, 2024, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 13, 2024.

The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize.

Open to the US only.

Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

The giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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