Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Relic Keeper by Heidi Eljarbo, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book The Relic Keeper

Title: The Relic Keeper
Author: Heidi Eljarbo
Publisher: independently published
Release Date: November 18, 2025
Genre: Christian Inspirational Historical Fiction

Once a thief, always a thief?

Italy, 1620. Angelo is an orphan, lonely and forgotten. Having been passed on from one family to the next, he ends up as a common thief, subject to and under the thumb of a ruthless robber called Tozzo. The boy knows no other life and has lost hope that any chance of providence will ever replace his lonely, misfortunate existence.

One day, a priest invites Angelo to help with chores around the church and rectory and, in exchange, offers him room and board. Padre Benedetto’s kindness and respect are unfamiliar and confusing, but Angelo’s safety is still a grave concern. Two older robbers have heard rumors about Tozzo’s hidden treasures and will stop at nothing to attain them.

With literary depictions and imagery, Angelo’s story is a gripping and emotional journey of faint hope and truth in seventeenth-century Italy. Using invisible threads, Heidi Eljarbo weaves together her fictional stories with historical figures and real events.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

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About the Author of The Relic Keeper

HEIDI ELJARBO grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island. She enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history.

Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin. Here they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.

Heidi’s favorites are her family, God’s beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

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

My Thoughts on The Relic Keeper

The Relic Keeper is a wonderful historical fiction novel, but also a sweet look at Christmas and the joy of transformation.  I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.  It read quickly.  The characters were engaging.  I became invested in the tale.  

Angelo, an orphan, has had a hard life.  He can’t remember much of his life prior to being on his own.  He’s a thief.  Because his “master,” or the man who “took him in,” is a thief and uses Angelo to steal for him, and then he sells the goods.  Angelo is not a fan of stealing, and he actually really enjoys artwork and the relics he is forced to steal. 

I love Heidi Eljarbo as an author and have read everything she’s written.  When I saw she had a new book coming out, I was intrigued as it was not connected to any of her prior series.  And just a side note, if you haven’t read her art series, you totally need to.  They’re amazing.  

The main piece of art in this book is “The Adoration of the Child”, and of course, I had to look it up.  It is truly a masterpiece.  The effects of light and dark, and the shine.  I’m not an art critic.  I didn’t even think I liked art until I started reading Heidi Eljarbo’s books and learning about art in a fun way.  

Back to Angelo. 

He, too, is impressed with the painting.  I don’t want to spoil the hows and the whys and definitely not the ending, which will have you crying, but let’s just say that Angelo gets to see the painting as it is painted, and I personally felt emotional at the descriptions he uses of the painting.  

Angelo has a hard life.  He has ups and downs.  But the priest he meets makes an impact on him.  I love the priest.  Padre Benedetto makes such an impact on him and the story.  I want to be like Padre Benedetto.  I want to see the good and the potential within.  As this holiday season comes, I hope that this is something I take with me as a pivotal lesson (or at least a powerful reminder of a lesson I knew) to see the depth and what is within a person, versus just what they are doing or who they want us to see.  And to reach within myself to their inner person instead of just being surface with them. 

I’d love to hear what you think of this novel.  Please take a moment or two to read it.  It really is a quick read and more novella-length.  

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours and the author. 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 Relic Keeper

(2) winners will each receive a paperback copy of The Relic Keeper and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Find the full tour schedule linked below.

The giveaway begins at midnight on December 9, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 16, 2025.

Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway.  They have 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize.

No shipping restrictions.

Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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