of blades and thorns

the official blog of author grace a. johnson

Cover Reveal: Deceived by Madisyn Carlin

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 31, 2022
2 min

Cover Reveal: Deceived by Madisyn Carlin

Woowee, y'all! January is the month for cover reveals, lemme tell ya! I've done four on my Facebook, and now it's time for cover reveal on the blog! Y'all know I'm not too keen on suspenseful scrolling, so if y'all will just give me a nice, steady drum roll, I'll introduce you to Madisyn Carlin's debut novel Deceived and its lovely cover! *drum rolls* *drum continues rolling* *drum rolls for another fifteen minutes... ...while I make you scroll* #sorrynotsorry Hey, before I s

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Review: Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 31, 2022
4 min

Review: Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen

Stars: 3.5 Synopsis: Rebecca Lane returned to her hometown only for a short visit with her brother John...but when he ropes her into his scheme to get his novel published and sends her to the local convent-turned-hotel Swanford Abbey, she ends up confronting the unexpected, including lost love, ghosts, and murder. I’ve held off on reading anything by Julie Klassen for years now, despite all the good things I’ve heard about her novels, and for the longest time I didn’t have a

32 views8 comments

Guest Post: Why Christian Fiction CAN End with a Kiss by Kellyn Roth

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 28, 2022
10 min

Guest Post: Why Christian Fiction CAN End with a Kiss by Kellyn Roth

Boy, am I excited for this post! I'm sure the moment y'all saw the title, you weren't the least bit surprised to see me posting on kissing in Christian fiction...but I'm not the one posting this time. Rather, Kellyn Roth is sharing her views, convictions, and opinions concerning kisses in Christian fiction with us in honor of the release of her latest historical romance, Beyond Her Calling! I can't wait for y'all to read her perspective on one of my favorite topics (which I r

166 views16 comments

Review: Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 26, 2022
8 min

Review: Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You'll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which will mean some spoilers, so watch out. Stars: 5 Synopsis: Ivy Knight needs a purpose. Despite her family’s assurances that her place is home with them, Ivy longs for more...for a calling. When God asks her to do the seemingly impossible and go to Scotland, she follows Him w

126 views19 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 21, 2022
6 min

Author Interview: Laura Frantz

Y'all, Laura Frantz is the woman who inspires me to be a better writer. Not only is her prose absolutely gorgeous, but her stories are so raw and honest, so immersive, and so true to their setting. I simply can't get over the quality of her writing and her commitment to writing authentic faith-filled fiction, and suffice it to say I'm always prompted to write better after reading one of her works! So imagine my immense joy and gratitude when Mrs. Laura agreed to be interviewe

65 views8 comments

Coming Soon: Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 19, 2022
2 min

Coming Soon: Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth

I'm pretty sure it's obvious by now that I LOVE Kellyn Roth's books - particularly The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy. But y'all. BUT Y'ALL. So far, Beyond Her Calling tops them all! You simply must read this series, if only for BHC! Now, you're probably wondering just what about this novel is so wonderful...and I would tell you...but I'mma save that for my official review later on in the blog tour (which begins on release day, January 22nd, so y'all get ready)! For now, allow m

36 views3 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 17, 2022
5 min

2021 Highlights: Blog Favorites

Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for... My 2021 blog highlights!!! I know we have all been on the edge of our seats these last few weeks, yearning for this glorious post, starved of all that is good and lovely in its absence. *swoons* I'm being sarcastic. Blog traffic stats are not necessarily my most favorite thing...and I'm sure y'all aren't too keen on them either. Which is why I am bound and determined to make this post as interesting - and short-lived - as pos

63 views10 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 13, 2022
5 min

The Liebster Award #2

Waaayyy back this time last year, I was unofficially nominated for this award (in other words, I politely borrowed it from a friend of mine) and I had a ton of fun doing it...but NOW, almost a year later, I have finally officially been nominated by the lovely Tasha! I can't wait to answer her questions and share a few of my own with some of my fellow bloggers! The Rules Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog (Thank you so much, Tasha!) Answer the

36 views2 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 11, 2022
7 min

Review: A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. Stars: 5 Synopsis: Esme Shaw was certain she had moved on, content to work in her mother’s chocolate shop for the rest of her days as a spinster...then Captain Henri Lennox, the man who broke her heart (or the man whose heart she broke;

53 views6 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 7, 2022
5 min

2021 Highlights: Reviewing Favorites

I don't suppose I've made it official quite yet, but I do consider Of Blades and Thorns a book blog (among, like, fifty million other things), so when it comes down to my highlights of the past year, book reviews are among my foremost topics! (Well, that and movies/TV shows and music...but I didn't keep up with either of those last year, so...) Y'all, I wrote at least sixty reviews last year...and probably only half of those are on Of Blades and Thorns (I post all my reviews

53 views8 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 6, 2022
1 min

Introducing...S&J Editors!

Well, well, well! What have we here? Yes indeed, folks! Today is the day that I announce the launch of a new editing business. S&J Editors! I'm starting this up with my lovely friend E. K. Seaver! We're tailoring our services to dirt-poor indie authors (like we are), so we offer one of the cheapest flat rates around and we're willing to negotiate our prices for writers who don't have the funds! We're taking on all kinds of fiction projects, from short stories to full-length n

94 views18 comments

Review: To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 4, 2022
9 min

Review: To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White

*Warnings* #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out. Stars: 5+ Synopsis: Beth Tremayne has one goal: find the rest of the infamous pirate John Mucknell’s buried treasure before Lord Theodore Howe, Marquess of Sheridan does. And, if in the process, she happens to insult Sheridan into compl

58 views10 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 3, 2022
7 min

2021 Highlights: Bookish Favorites

Man, y’all, looking back over the last year has been crazy. I read 150 books (give or take a couple that Goodreads miscounted) in 365 days—most of which were compliments of three free months of KU and NetGalley/publisher ARCs. Plus I beta/alpha read several that probably don’t count… And I’ve started many that I’ve yet to finish as of the end of 2021. My point is that HOW IN THE GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY AM I SUPPOSED TO PICK FAVORITES? Fortunately for myself, I’ve not confined mys

54 views10 comments

Grace A. Johnson

Jan 1, 2022
8 min

Welcome to 2022!

happy new year, peeps Most of y’all won’t remember my Welcome to 2021 post, but to sum up, I did a lot of praising God for His many blessings, for protecting my family, for providing for us in 2020. And I’m not saying that 2021 wasn’t a good year—it was, and I am beyond thankful for God showing up and showing out—but it definitely didn’t end as expected. On Christmas Eve morning, the day we celebrate with my mom’s side of the family, my grandmother was rushed to the hospital

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