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In Review The Illusionist’s Apprentice

In Review The Illusionist's Apprentice

Be transported to the height of the jazz age in Kristy Cambron’s newest novel, The Illusionist’s Apprentice. Kristy’s newest offering, introduces us to Wren Lockhart, the late Harry Houdini’s apprentice. Wren is a strong woman and has spent years building walls of protection around herself, but when she is tossed into a web of mystery, she is forced to team up with FBI agents Elliot Matthews and Connor Finnegan.

The Illusionist's Apprentice

This may be my favorite Cambron novel (I know I say that about everyone of her books, but really). It has suspense, mystery, a strong heroine that must be rescued by the scarred and battered cop (FBI agent, but still . . . you know my soft spot for stories involving cops), and all of this taking place in my favorite time era! It’s safe to say I loved everything about this book! I love Agent Matthews and how gentle he was towards breaking down Wren’s walls. Loved their story—give me all the lovey feels. This book releases tomorrow, but I was honored to be able to read and review a ARC. If you pre-order before tomorrow, you’ll receive a special gift! You’ll def want to jump on this offer (and right now, the paperback is just a little over $8—you can’t beat that!)

Paperback | Kindle

Pre-Order Offer

And don’t miss the launch party tomorrow night!

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More about The Illusionist’s Apprentice

Not all illusions happen on the stage.

Wren Lockhart, apprentice to master illusionist Harry Houdini, uses life on a vaudeville stage to

escape the pain of her past. She continues her career of illusion after her mentor’s death, intent on burying her true identity.

But when a rival performer’s act goes tragically wrong, the newly formed FBI calls on Wren to speak the truth—and reveal her real name to the world. She transfers her skills for misdirection from the stage to the back halls of vaudeville, as she finds herself the unlikely partner in the FBI’s investigation. All the while Houdini’s words echo in her mind: Whatever occurs, the crowd must believe it’s what you meant to happen. She knows that if anyone digs too deep, secrets long kept hidden may find their way to the surface—and shatter her carefully controlled world.

Set during one of the richest, most vibrant eras in American history, this Jazz Age novel of illusion, suspense, and forgotten pasts is perfect for fans of The Magician’s Lie, challenging all to find the underpinnings of faith on their own life’s stage.

“Prepare to be amazed by The Illusionist’s Apprentice.” —Greer Macallister, bestselling author of The Magician’s Lie and Girl in Disguise

More about Kristy Cambron

51QsHTBiAyL._UX250_Kristy Cambron has a background in art and design, but she fancies life as a vintage-inspired storyteller. She is the bestselling author of THE RINGMASTER’S WIFE, named to Publishers Weekly Spring 2016 Religion & Spirituality TOP 10. Her novels have been named to Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books and RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards Best lists, and received a 2015 INSPY Awards nomination for best debut novel. THE ILLUSIONIST’S APPRENTICE (HarperCollins, 2017) is her fourth novel.

Kristy holds a degree in Art History from Indiana University, and has 15 years experience in education and leadership development for a Fortune-100 Corporation. Kristy lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, where she can probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good read.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

*A complimentary ARC of this book was given to me by the publisher. While a positive review was not required, it was heartily given. 

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christen e krumm | author | blogger | coffee addictI'm Christen. I'm a reader, writer, and I seriously love coffee.

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Christen Krumm

christenkrumm

Podcaster @exploringtheblankpagepodcast | Author of On the Golden Cliffs & It Happened at Christmas & Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage

It Happened at Christmas is a YA Christmas romcom It Happened at Christmas is a YA Christmas romcom available now!
🎄🎅 Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage is now a 🎄🎅 Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage is now available!
🎄🎄Unbox my Christmas books with me! 🎄🎄 🎄🎄Unbox my Christmas books with me! 🎄🎄

👉 Details for the book signing dropping soon!
🍰🍰 • What happens when a family of former 🍰🍰
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What happens when a family of former pro football players buys the town of Sheet Cake, Texas? A lot of small-town drama and unexpected love stories, that’s what!
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I’m so excited to dive into The Wild Card! Emma St Clair is the queen when it comes to romcoms and I always get super excited when she releases another book (seriously, everything she writes is so good!) I’ll drop a little about this one in the comments!
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⭐️GIVEAWAY⭐️
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⇒ (1) winner will receive a paperback of the book, art print, bookmark, and sticker!

⇒ TO ENTER

⇒ LIKE, SAVE, and SHARE this post

⇒ FOLLOW me @christenkrumm @kikimojo @justreadtours

⇒ TAG a friend (up to 3x per post)

⇒ VISIT each hosted post of this tour for more entries. Schedule at @justreadtours. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on November 12, 2025.)
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#justreadtours #TheWildCard #LoveStoriesinSheetCake #EmmaStClair
With the holidays just around the corner, it’s t With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to stock up on some excellent holiday reading material!

We’ve got you covered. Everything from Victorian Murder Mysteries to RomCom to Lyrical Prose, all centered around the season.

Enter to win physical copies of:

@christenkrumm’s Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage AND It Happened at Christmas 

@a.j.skelly’s Murder at Mistlethwaite Manor

@emiliehaney_author’s Maid at Christmas

@betsystamanthaddox’s Holly and Nick Hate Christmas

@nataliewalters_writer’s Better Watch Out

@chelseabobulski’s All I Want for Christmas is the Girl Next Door

Lorie Langdon’s Once Upon a Christmas Past

@brittanyedenauthor’s Wishes

Click the link in bio to enter for a chance to win! Giveaway runs until November 15th - and winner will be announced on the 17th. US addresses only (I know, I know … but shipping’s a beast). This giveaway isn’t affiliated with Meta.
If you will excuse me, I have a large pot of tea a If you will excuse me, I have a large pot of tea and this amazing book to read. 

Because today is the release of @createexploreread’s Rising from the Galaxy and I couldn’t be more proud!!!
 
Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy (or if you haven’t read books 1 + 2, pick up all 3).
The Royal Artisan by @tessaafshar comes out tomorr The Royal Artisan by @tessaafshar comes out tomorrow! Make sure you grab a copy (this one would make a great gift!)
A new Neely Spencer chapter will be dropping on Oc A new Neely Spencer chapter will be dropping on October 31!!
Who did you get?? Who did you get??
Atlas of Neely Spencer includes: grumpy/sunshine, Atlas of Neely Spencer includes: grumpy/sunshine, the roaring 20s, adventure, witty banter, nerd vibes, boxer, a talking cat, a magical atlas, all the feels with none of the spice, “don’t touch her.”

Read now on Substack!
Ahhhh. My girl @jaimejowright has another book out Ahhhh. My girl @jaimejowright has another book out today and this one is *chef’s kiss* 

If you haven’t picked up The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall, consider this me telling you you must!!!!
Hi! I’m Christen. If you are looking for stories Hi! I’m Christen. If you are looking for stories with all the feels and none of the … bite, then I have some books for you!! 

You can find my books and Amazon (and indie book stores) and you can read Atlas of Neely Spencer now on Substack. 

All the sizzle. None of the spice!
Should I only work on one project at a time? Proba Should I only work on one project at a time? Probably, yes I should, but call me crazy, but working on multiple projects makes me feel sane (slightly unhinged, but sane.) 

In other news … I do have some big news dropping soon like …
Read Atlas of Neely Spencer now on Substack!! (Lin Read Atlas of Neely Spencer now on Substack!! (Link in bio)
Everything I’m currently reading (not including Everything I’m currently reading (not including my kindle reads or audiobooks)

What are you reading this month?
I genuinely get so excited when new readers find A I genuinely get so excited when new readers find Atlas of Neely Spencer.

Here’s a little more about the project I’m releasing chapter by chapter on Substack: The year is 1925. Neely Spencer’s mother wants nothing more than for her three daughters to marry well. While her sisters are more than happy to conform to the expectations of society, nineteen-year-old Neely craves more. She wants adventure. For years, she, along with her father and older brother, have been researching an ancient lost city in the Amazon. When her brother goes missing while searching for this lost city, Neely, with the help of a handsome stranger, embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. But, if she’s not careful, there’s a chance she might lose her heart in the process.

Read Atlas of Neely Spencer now on Substack.
Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage is available now Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage is available now wherever books are sold! 

📖 blurb: She just wants a nice, quiet holiday getaway. Too bad her new—and way too handsome—accidental roommate comes with an annoying dose of holiday cheer.

Successful, but writer’s blocked author Bronte Parker just needs some holiday peace and quiet to jumpstart her brutal writer’s block. Hence her rental at a quaint cottage on quiet and remote Jonathon Island. So what’s the deal with the double booking? And worse…the sudden Santa can’t leave—not with a record breaking blizzard overtaking the island. Suddenly her world is all about eggnog, Christmas movies and decking the halls with all type of distractions.

He’s a soldier who needs a merry Christmas…

After two years away, Army surgeon Jonah White is thrilled to be going home for the holidays. Too bad his parents have escaped the island for a tropical Christmas cruise, renting out their place—his home!—to a seriously uptight author. And thanks to a blizzard, he can’t even escape.

But when he discovers the author has writer’s block, well, the doctor is in. He’ll help her fix it by showing her a real Christmas—something foster kid Bronte has never had. And maybe it’s working because as surprise Santa sweeps her up in the magical Jonathon Island Christmas festivities, a new story starts to come alive inside…one where maybe a happily-ever-after could actually exist.

But is this just a holiday romance? And what happens when the blizzard ends, the air clears, and duty calls. Is the magic over?

Enjoy this enchanting Jonathon Island Christmas story about being snowed in with an unexpected hero…and taking a chance on the happy ending you never saw coming.

#christmas #grumpysunsine #sweetromance @sunrisemediagroup
✨ Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage available now ✨ Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage available now wherever books are sold! 

📖: She just wants a nice, quiet holiday getaway. Too bad her new—and way too handsome—accidental roommate comes with an annoying dose of holiday cheer.

Successful, but writer’s blocked author Bronte Parker just needs some holiday peace and quiet to jumpstart her brutal writer’s block. Hence her rental at a quaint cottage on quiet and remote Jonathon Island. So what’s the deal with the double booking? And worse…the sudden Santa can’t leave—not with a record breaking blizzard overtaking the island. Suddenly her world is all about eggnog, Christmas movies and decking the halls with all type of distractions.

He’s a soldier who needs a merry Christmas…

After two years away, Army surgeon Jonah White is thrilled to be going home for the holidays. Too bad his parents have escaped the island for a tropical Christmas cruise, renting out their place—his home!—to a seriously uptight author. And thanks to a blizzard, he can’t even escape.

But when he discovers the author has writer’s block, well, the doctor is in. He’ll help her fix it by showing her a real Christmas—something foster kid Bronte has never had. And maybe it’s working because as surprise Santa sweeps her up in the magical Jonathon Island Christmas festivities, a new story starts to come alive inside…one where maybe a happily-ever-after could actually exist.

But is this just a holiday romance? And what happens when the blizzard ends, the air clears, and duty calls. Is the magic over?

#christmasreads #christmasromance @sunrisemediagroup
📖: Atlas of Neely Spencer Read now on Substac 📖: Atlas of Neely Spencer 

Read now on Substack. (Link in bio)
📖: Atlas of Neely Spencer Read now (link in b 📖: Atlas of Neely Spencer 

Read now (link in bio)
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Unless otherwise stated, all words and photos on this blog are my own. Sometimes I use affiliate links for products in posts as well as on my other social media sites. "We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites." Occasionally I receive books or products free of charge. This will be clearly noted and please know that when I am writing about something the words and opinions expressed are always my own. Thank you so much for reading.

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