How can it be June already?! This year is going so fast, and after checking my calendar, this summer looks like it will zoom past before I know it. But I always have time to read a good book. 😉 This month my book club is reading The Bookshop of 99 Doors — a bookshop and great gothic suspense from Jaime Jo Wright — it can’t get much better! Have you read it yet? We’d love to know your thoughts.
The manor’s rumored one-hundredth door may conceal secrets hidden as deep as the estate’s bookshelves extend high . . . but the haunted past has a way of ensnaring curious souls.
In 1888, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the dark superstitions that envelop the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain haunts the house and worried by her father’s rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home’s fraught past in an effort to bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie’s own sanity.
In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss’s dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother’s team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door–a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion–results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to hunt down the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.
An atmospheric dual-time Gothic suspense masterfully penned by acclaimed author Jaime Jo Wright with themes of a Civil War-era ghost, a possible hidden door, and unexplained mysteries at a historic mansion’s bookshop with a troubled past.
Jaime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author–including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards–is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes – providing an exhilarating amount chaos.
I loved my book club’s selection this month. Sarah Sundin is one of our favorite authors, and her books never disappoint. Her latest WWII-era novel, The Mists over The Channel Islands, presents a little known or talked about story — the German occupation of the Channel Islands, specifically Jersey. The subject matter is fascinating and the characters are special. Make sure to read this one soon.
If you have already read (and loved) it, check out a few more book recommendations.
Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot
Years of Nazi occupation have stolen much from Brigitte Durand. Family. Freedom. Hope for a future, especially for a woman with a past like hers. But that changes the day American fighter pilot Tom Jaeger is shot down over occupied France. Picked up by the Resistance, Tom becomes the linchpin in their plan to infiltrate a Germans-only brothel and get critical intel out through Brigitte, a prostitute rumored to be sympathetic to the Allied cause.
D-day looms and everyone knows that invasion is imminent. But so is treachery, and the life of one American pilot unexpectedly jeopardizes everything. He becomes more important than the mission to a man who cannot bear to lose another agent and to a woman who is more than just a prostitute, who finally realizes that her actions could change the course of history.
The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb. . . .
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.
The Librarian of Saint-Malo by Mario Escobar
Libraries are being ransacked. France is torn apart by war. A French librarian is determined to resist. Told through smuggled letters to an author, an ordinary librarian describes the brutal Nazi occupation of her small coastal village and the extraordinary measures she takes to fight back.
Saint-Malo, France: August 1939. Jocelyn and Antoine are childhood sweethearts, but just after they marry, Antoine is drafted to fight against Germany. As World War II rages, Jocelyn uses her position as a librarian in her town of Saint-Malo to comfort and encourage her community with books. Jocelyn begins to write secret letters smuggled to a famous Parisian author, telling her story in the hope that it will someday reach the outside world.
France falls and the Nazis occupy Jocelyn’s town, turning it into a fortress. The townspeople try passive resistance, but the German commander ruthlessly begins to destroy part of the city’s libraries. Books deemed unsuitable by the Nazis are burnt or stolen, and priceless knowledge is lost.
Risking arrest and even her life, Jocelyn manages to hide some of the books while desperately waiting to receive news from her husband Antoine, now a prisoner in a German camp.
Jocelyn’s mission unfolds in her letters: to protect the people of Saint-Malo and the books they hold so dear. Mario Escobar brings to life the occupied city in sweeping and romantic prose, re-creating the history of those who sacrificed all to care for the people they loved.
Happy Friday! Today I am featuring the final (boo hoo) book in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series by Pepper Basham. I am both excited and reluctant to read The Bachelor Spy. The series is so great, but I’m not sure I can bear not having a new book to look forward to. It’s a conundrum that only readers will understand. I have a lot of reading to do before I can begin this book, so I have a bit of time to savor the anticipation. LOL!
Here’s the first line:
Stephen Blake had been trailing the presumed spy most of the voyage — first to secure his target, and then . . . to strike.
Spies Infiltrate Havensbooke Hall. . .and Another Mystery Adventure Begins
Stephen Blake’s life goal is to protect people, especially those closest to him, but war in 1914 England doesn’t follow any rules. When Blake is informed that a noted German spy may have taken up residence at Havensbrooke Hall—his cousin Lord Astley’s estate, which is being used as a convalescent war hospital—he’s sent there to uncover the plot.
Lady Grace Astley has become a force to be reckoned with while Frederick is out on the war front. With Havensbrooke as a hospital, she’s shocked by the devastation the war is bringing home; but ever hopeful, she is determined to help these weary soldiers find some relief. However, not everything is as it seems inside Havensbrooke. Precious items soon start disappearing . . . and not just the kind that are worth a lot of money.
Through a case of mistaken identity, a comedy of errors, a kidnapping, and a race for time within the crumbling subterranean passageways beneath Havensbrooke, can Blake and Gracie work together to root out the criminals, thieves, and spies before time runs out?
Pepper Basham is a best-selling author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Pepper loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Home No Matter Where by Nancy Naigle, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:Home No Matter Where Series: A Shell Collector Novel #3 Author:Nancy Naigle Publisher: WaterBrook Press (Penguin Random House) Release Date: May 5, 2026 Genre: Contemporary Sweet Romance/Women’s Fiction
Three generations of women confront their pasts and discover it’s never too late for new beginnings in this heartwarming novel of second chances and unconditional love—from the bestselling author of The Shell Collector.
“In Home No Matter Where we travel to beautiful Whelk’s Island, where a close-knit community puts us right at home. Along the way we meet compelling characters caught in realistic storms and learn faith-filled lessons about weathering them.” —Denise Hunter, bestselling author of More Than Friends
Nina is at her wit’s end with her teenage daughter, Kendra. Still dealing with her own wounds of divorce, Nina hopes a change of scenery will help. She and Kendra head to the serene coastal town of Whelk’s Island to spend a restorative summer with Nina’s mother, Rosemary—bringing three generations under one roof for the first time in years. Amid the island’s charm, old wounds begin to heal, and as new friendships bloom—especially with the steady and enigmatic Fisher—light begins to break through the cracks of Nina’s tightly controlled life.
Kendra’s reckless behavior continues but Fisher’s intervention during a critical moment for Kendra sparks a sense of hope in Nina that she thought was lost. Still, change is never easy.
As the women navigate the tides of forgiveness, growing up, and letting go, healing begins and new love brings surprises. While Whelk’s Island may not hold all the answers, it has a way of reminding people that moving forward doesn’t follow a set path—it requires the bravery to start anew.
Excerpt
Later that night, the house was quiet. Too quiet. Uneasiness ran up Nina’s spine. She went to Kendra’s bedroom door, turned the knob, and peeked in. The room was empty.
Her stomach dropped. She raced from room to room, but there was no sign of Kendra. The back door was unlocked, but she wasn’t on the deck either. Panic surged through Nina. No, no, no!
As she grabbed her keys, her first thought was to text Fisher for help, but that wasn’t right. This wasn’t his mess to handle, and she hated to ruin Mom’s time with Tug if it wasn’t an emergency. Or is it? Nina ran outside, calling Kendra’s name. The salty wind whipped around her like a heavy coat, and the darkness pressed in close.
What are you thinking, Kendra?
As Nina raced for her car, she noticed the bicycle still leaning against the carport wall.
Please be nearby.
When she looked over to the beach, she saw Kendra standing knee-deep in the surf, her arms wrapped around herself, gazing out at the waves.
Relief battled anger inside Nina. She leaned over to catch her breath and regain her composure. Once her heart slowed down, she walked over to her daughter. “What are you doing?” Her voice came out sharp with fear. “Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?”
“Who cares?” Kendra turned to Nina, her face set in a defiant glare.
“I do.” She held Kendra’s hollow gaze. “Your grandmother does.”
“I needed air.”
“That’s not how this works,” Nina shot back. “You don’t just sneak out after dark.” She fought back tears, afraid to let Kendra see her weaken. “What is going on in that head of yours?”
Kendra’s lip trembled, but she lifted her chin. “If you keep being mean to Dad, he’ll never come back for us.”
It was like a dagger to her heart to be reminded that her divorce was the tipping point of her daughter’s distress. Nina stepped closer, placing a calming hand on Kendra’s arm. “He’s remarried, Kendra. Your dad has moved on. We have to as well.”
“You’re so busy making eyes at Fisher that you don’t even notice me.”
Nina’s breath caught. “That is not true. You are always first in my heart. He’s a friend of our family. I thought you liked him.”
Kendra’s eyes flashed. “It’s me or him, Mom. Pick.”
Download a free short story about Tug & Rosemary’s Valentine date here!
About The Author
ECPA and USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle crafts small-town love stories full of heart. She began her contemporary romance series, Adams Grove, while juggling a successful career in finance and life on a seventy-six-acre goat farm. Now happily retired, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, cooking, and the occasional spa day with friends. Several of Nancy’s novels have been adapted to the television screen, airing on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Her novel The Shell Collector was adapted into the first Fox Nation original movie. A native of Virginia Beach, Nancy now calls Franklin, Virginia, home.
Connect with Nancy by visiting nancynaigle.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates. While you’re there, spin the wheel and see what your special shell message is!
Tour Giveaway
(1) grand prize winner will receive a Shell Collector Summer Escape Box which includes a Nancy Naigle book tote bag, a shell set + message, coastal candle, beachy bookmark set, lighthouse charm, signed bookplate and a little surprise swag plus copies of Sand Dollar Cove and Dear Santa!
(3) other winners will each receive a Shell Gift Set of a handprinted shell with a message, beautifully printed message card, small drawstring bag, signed bookplate and a bookmark!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 26, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 2, 2026. 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.
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Deep End of Love by Christina Suzann Nelson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:The Deep End of Love Author:Christina Suzann Nelson Publisher: Kregel Publications Release Date: May 19, 2026 Genre: Contemporary Fiction
A refreshed and updated novel on the power of motherly love
When Izzy’s pregnancy comes to light during her junior year of high school, her future sinks like a stone and leaves waves of uncertainty in its wake. And suddenly three women are pulled into the undertow. A mother desperate to protect her child but battling hurt and fear from her past. A newcomer with empty arms and a deep longing. And a broken heart trying to survive amid grief.
An unborn baby growing closer to his unknown future brings together these four women with four completely different stories. Masterfully told in woven points of view, The Deep End of Love explores how one decision exposes shame, fear, and hope—and how grace surfaces in the least expected places.
Christy Award-winning author Christina Suzann Nelson draws readers in through this emotionally engaging and inspirational novel, now revised and updated.
Excerpt
Irene sets the knitting in a basket on the floor, stands up, and positions herself behind Nikki. Placing her hands on the girl’s shoulders, she waits without a word, more patient than I’ve ever been. But I can see Irene is wearing thin too when she tips her head up like she’s pleading with God for a break.
With one finger, she taps Nikki’s shoulder.
“What?” She twists to look at Irene, her expression less than respectful.
Irene waits a beat before answering. “You need to keep the monitor on. The baby needs you.”
“He’s fine. Children need to learn their mothers aren’t going to come running every time they cry. And, anyway, I’m tired. I just had a baby.” She turns her head away.
The folder slips from my grip and skitters along the floor.
Irene walks around the couch and stands in front of Nikki, her arms crossed, her body bent slightly forward with a large pendant swinging like she’s about to perform a hypnotism.
My attention is drawn to Sierra who shrinks into the corner of the couch as the conflict rises.
Collecting the folder, I stay on my knees near Sierra. Maybe the presence of someone else will soothe her in some way. Or am I only making it worse?
Irene clasps her hands together. “Your son is a newborn baby. All you teach him by not caring for him is that his needs will not get met by his mother.”
My jaw drops open. The words are clear, brutal, and . . . true.
“I take care of him fine.” She stands, broader and taller than Irene, then takes a step too close for comfort.
With her thumb, Irene slides the dial on the baby monitor to maximum volume.
Tiny frantic wails shake my heart and make me want to scale the stairs at superhuman speed. I would never let him cry that way, but I don’t have a son to soothe. The unfairness of it has a bitter taste.
Christina Suzann Nelson is an inspirational speaker and the award-winning author of several novels, including If We Make It Home, More Then We Remember, What Happens Next, and the Christy Award-winning The Way It Should Be.
Connect with Christina by visiting christinasuzannnelson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Deep End of Love and $20 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 27, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 3, 2026. Winner 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.
Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is Favorite Books By Favorite Authors. This is a really hard post to write. Not because I can’t think of any authors/books that fit, but because there are too many! I read a wide variety of genres, so narrowing down the list to 10 is nearly impossible. So, today I am going to feature some of my favorite romantic suspense authors and the one book that I think you should read. Ugh! Too hard! But here goes. The books I’ve listed are perfect for those of you who haven’t read anything by these authors yet because they offer a good introduction with a lot of great reading to come! Enjoy!
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Crossbones by C.C. Warrens, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:Crossbones Series: A Holly Novel #6 Author: C.C. Warrens Publisher: Independently Published Release Date: May 15th, 2026 Genre: Romantic Suspense
“Sticks and stones will break your bones, if you make me hurt you.”
Some truths are better left buried, but Jace Walker is determined to unearth the skeletons in her family’s closet. Leverage is all she needs to keep her brother alive, and she’s willing to risk everything to save him.
Even her life.
But is she willing to risk the lives of her friends?
Holly and Jordan take on the case, but what should be a simple investigation takes a deadly turn when they stumble onto a murder. Family secrets are the least of their concerns as their path intertwines with a killer intent on remaining hidden.
He doesn’t want to be found.
He doesn’t want to be known.
And anyone who threatens his anonymity dies.
Excerpt
Maybe my history was making me overly cautious, but I would rather look paranoid than end up in the trunk of a car.
I backed up a few steps. One of the alleys would take me through to the back side of the agency, and I could come in through the storage room.
As I turned to go back the way I had come, the car rumbled forward.
I quickened my steps to the nearest alley and turned into it. The car engine roared louder as the vehicle sped up before grinding to a stop where I’d been standing a moment before.
My heart jolted, and I broke into a run.
I cut left down the intersecting alley and collided with the first door I saw—a back exit for one of the local businesses. I wrenched at the handle. Locked.
I pounded a hand against the door. “Help!”
A car door closed.
He was coming after me on foot. I stumbled back from the building and searched for a place to hide.
Jesus and laughter have brought C.C. Warrens through some very difficult times in life, and she weaves both into every story she writes, creating a world of breath-stealing intensity, laugh-out-loud humor, and a sparkle of hope. Writing has been a slowly blossoming dream inside her for most of her life until one day it spilled out onto the pages that would become her first published book.
If she’s not writing, she’s attempting to bake something—however catastrophic that might be—or she’s enjoying the beauty of the outdoors with her husband. One of the many things she’s learned since she started this journey is that the best way to write a book is to go on a long stroll with her husband. That is when the characters—from their backgrounds to the moments that make them laugh or bubble over with anger—come to life.
Connect with C.C. by visiting ccwarrens.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a grand prize of a signed Crossbones paperback with bookmark, sticker, character art card, and a $10 Amazon gift card!
Up to (5) winners will each receive an ebook of Crossbones, delivered via Bookfunnel!
Up to (4) winners will each receive an audiobook download of Crossbones!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 25, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 1, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for grand prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Happy Friday! I am always excited to add a new suspense novel to my towering TBR stack. One of the latest to hit my ereader is The Targeted by Cara Putman. The Targeted is the third, and I believe, final book in Putman’s Secrets to Keep series. If you like suspense with added romance and legal drama thrown in, then check it out. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but with 3 out in the wild, you may just want to schedule some book-binge reading time!
Here’s the first line:
The man towers above me, and I want to stand firm.
Can she protect her gym students before her past catches up?
When Chloe Ainsworth’s older sister reappears after fourteen years, she brings with her the news that Chloe’s abuser is back in town. Chloe is a coach at her childhood gym and fiercely protective of her young gymnasts. She won’t allow them to suffer the way she did, but she’s desperate for an ally—one who can help her make her case.
Law student Dare Shepherd works at the local legal clinic, where he meets Chloe and hears her out. He believes her case but can’t get the clinic director on board. As he learns more about her story, he finds himself bound by a deepening personal care for Chloe.
They band together in search of answers, and suddenly the stakes skyrocket. It’s clear they’re onto something, but will they be able to find the answers before it’s too late?
Cara Putman is a professor, an attorney, and an award-winning, best-selling author of more than forty novels, including the Cornhusker Dreams series, the Hidden Justice series, and The Vanished.
Connect with Cara by visiting caraputman.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Now Until Forever by Lisa Phillips, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:Now Until Forever Series:Brand of Justice #16 Author:Lisa Phillips Publisher: Two Dogs Publishing, LLC Release Date: May 6, 2026 Genre: Christian Thriller with Romance
**The Epic Stand-alone Finale**
Born into a legacy, Eliana must find her own brand of justice.
After moving to Chicago to work at the mysterious Shrine museum, Eliana is determined to uncover the family secrets she’s never been told. When she stumbles upon her first ever dead body, everyone around her believes she should try and solve the murder. But taking cases isn’t what she came here for. Despite her plans, things are about to turn far more sinister, and the path she’s on seems determined to drag her back into a nightmare.
Chicago PD Officer Carlos Ryson was born into a legacy of his own. He’s here to look for his missing sister, Luci, and wants to enlist Eliana’s help. This is a family problem, and only family working together can solve it. But Eliana has never forgotten the way Carlos shredded her heart. If he wants them to team up, he’ll have to confront the damage he did and find a way to repair it.
While the city around them descends into a chaos that resembles the end times, someone has seized the opportunity to get what they want from the Shrine. Only Eliana stands in their way, but if she’s going to figure this out she’ll need to trust that the people around her have her back.
Before it’s too late.
Now Until Forever is the stand-alone finale to the Brand of Justice series, and is set in the near-future. It features a happily ever after romance mixed with high-stakes suspense in this gripping crime fiction story.
Excerpt
She wanted to sit forward and lean the outside of her arm against his. Doing so would shift this to something else entirely, so she stayed where she was. Right around when she got comfortable with him being in her life again, he’d meet someone and she’d have to let him go.
It would be much safer to keep this thing firmly in the friends and family zone and keep her heart from getting shredded again.Who knew. Maybe she would be the one who met someone.
Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.
Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Lisa is a worship leader, tea aficionado, and dog lover of two crazy Airedales.
Connect with Lisa by visiting authorlisaphillips.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(3) winners will each receive a paperback copy of Now Until Forever and various book merch goodies!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 18, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 25, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for print. If winner is outside the US, he/she will receive an ebook instead of paperback, along with some book swag. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Targeted by Cara Putman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:The Targeted Series: Secrets to Keep #3 Author:Cara Putman Publisher: Kregel Publications Release Date: May 19, 2026 Genre: Romantic Suspense
Can she protect her gym students before her past catches up?
When Chloe Ainsworth’s older sister reappears after fourteen years, she brings with her the news that Chloe’s abuser is back in town. Chloe is a coach at her childhood gym and fiercely protective of her young gymnasts. She won’t allow them to suffer the way she did, but she’s desperate for an ally—one who can help her make her case.
Law student Dare Shepherd works at the local legal clinic, where he meets Chloe and hears her out. He believes her case but can’t get the clinic director on board. As he learns more about her story, he finds himself bound by a deepening personal care for Chloe.
They band together in search of answers, and suddenly the stakes skyrocket. It’s clear they’re onto something, but will they be able to find the answers before it’s too late?
Excerpt
The drive back to Kedgewick took only forty-five minutes, but she would have sworn it extended for days. As the wheels spun over the road, Chloe tried not to call herself a fool. She’d spent the time in therapy and prayer to own the part of the past that was hers and push back the lies that paralyzed her. The constant work surprised her at times, but she’d done it. Then why had she frozen and bolted from the clinic?
She had prepared hard.
And it hadn’t mattered.
Her thoughts screamed that she had failed, when a part of her logical mind knew that wasn’t true. She had shown up, and that had taken supernatural courage. Next time maybe she could stay and get into her story.
When the man had smiled at her in that slightly goofy way, she’d experienced a flicker of something . . . interest? . . . and she’d bolted.
She couldn’t afford a distraction or any confusion. Not when she was risking everything to show up. If she allowed anything to pull her away, she would never move toward confronting Alex. It was too hard and too vulnerable. Who would want to invest time with someone so damaged anyway? Not when there were so many beautiful, unscathed women out there.
A whisper in the depths of her heart pointed to Janae and Margeaux and their beautiful, emerging stories, but she couldn’t go there. Not now. Not as the panic pushed further against her pounding chest.
Cara Putman is a professor, an attorney, and an award-winning, best-selling author of more than forty novels, including the Cornhusker Dreams series, the Hidden Justice series, and The Vanished.
Connect with Cara by visiting caraputman.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Targeted and $20 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 20, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 27, 2026. Winner 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.
Many of the books I review are provided to me free of charge from publishers, authors, or other groups in return for a review. The opinions expressed in the reviews are mine and mine alone. No monetary consideration is given. This disclaimer is in accordance with FTC rules.
I am an Amazon.com affiliate, which means that I earn a small percentage of the sales from products purchased through links on my site. I NEVER recommend a book in order to receive a profit. Proceeds from affiliate sales help to defray operating costs of the blog.
Giveaways are open to persons 18 years or older. All winners are picked randomly. No purchases are necessary to enter a giveaway. All giveaways are for US entries only and are void where prohibited.
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