Carla's Book Crush

Lullaby by the River by Temperance Johnson
Series: Amish River
Publisher:  Independently Published
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Genre: Amish Fiction

​​An unique Amish love story.

A wounded woman with no way out…unless she marries her ex.

After unexpected abuse, quiet and happy Priscilla Yoder thinks her life can’t get worse. But then she finds out she’s pregnant, and her family and church insist she marry the man who hurt her. When a man she used to love, a man who wants to leave the Amish, offers to marry her, she doesn’t see a better option.

Danny Taylor, charming bad boy of his Amish community, is ready to leave the plain life. But when a woman he used to love finds herself in danger of marriage to an evil man, he can’t resist offering marriage to keep her safe. Only problem is, he didn’t expect to fall for his bride so fast. She’s softening his tough heart and showing him that there’s a good side to the Amish. As they grow closer, he realizes this gorgeous woman in pain has giant walls, and it will take both patience and faith if he wants to scale them.

Caring for Danny was never what Priscilla wanted. And she never expected his faith to bring her closer to God.

But when Danny’s past wounds resurface, and as Priscilla learns to hope again, can they trust God to make their relationship more than just a marriage of convenience?

PURCHASE LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon

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Also Available

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About the Author

Temperance Johnson has always loved to read and write. As one of eleven children, she read from her older sister’s books. With that, her love for both reading and writing has only continued to grow. Passionate about the subjects of adoption, family, and faith, she started the Liberty Chronicles and now her Amish fiction. In her free time, she plays with her ponies and many nieces and nephews. Her horses even made it into her stories. She enjoys spoiling her ten nephews and twenty-three nieces.

Connect with Temperance by visiting temperancejohnson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Author Q&A

CB: Hello, Temperance! Thank you for agreeing to do this interview. I love getting to know more about authors and their work.  

What inspired you to write Lullaby by the River, and how did the idea for this unique Amish love story come to you?  

Johnson:   I was reading a biblical fiction book and it had spiritual abuse in it. It made me a bit upset at how it was handled. I had always been interested in the Amish. And I had worked with the Amish in the past. So I started thinking about Priscilla’s story and told my writing partner about it and she loved it too. I started it and it was so fun to write.  

 I wanted this amish [sic] fiction to be different and show how real it was.  

CB: Your books weave faith into the story. How does your faith shape the way you write and the themes you explore? 

Johnson: There are some real scenes in this book and so I have shared some real experiences in this story. The Spiritual abuse is the part that is. Though I have been blessed to not have experienced spiritual abuse. I have explored how God shows His love for us. How He is steadfast.  

As I wrote the book, I had to struggle with my own forgiveness about someone. And it helped and I came to freedom.  

CB: Without giving away spoilers, is there a specific Bible verse or Christian principle that guided you while writing this book? 

Johnson: I didn’t use many bible verses in the story. More because without healing and understanding bible verses can be misunderstood by someone that has been spiritually abused. So I used how the characters lived to show their growth and faith.  

I used music as a big theme in the story. My Jesus is a big part. Along with some other songs. You will have to read to find out what they are.  

CB: Many Christian readers struggle with trusting God in hard seasons. How do you hope Priscilla and Danny’s journey encourages readers facing their own challenges? 

Johnson: I hope to give women who have been abused to give them a voice through Priscilla. to be heard. and for others to understand.  

That Danny is steadfast and loves her like God loves the church. He has a strong faith though he struggles as well.  

It shows Christians have struggles and still grow in Christ. That healing comes in time.  

CB:  What do you consider literary success? 

Johnson: I guess I didn’t think much of literary success. So it would be for my readers to come to heal through Christ.

CB:  Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Happy writing!

Johnson: I loved doing it. <3  

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a $20 Baker Book House gift card and a print copy of Lullaby by the River!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 7, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 14, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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