Spotlight on Romantic Suspense — Watched

1 Oct
Watched JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Watched by Jerusha Agen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Watched

Title: Watched
Series: Windy City Westons #3
Author: Jerusha Agen
Publisher: SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: September 24, 2026
Genre: Christian romantic suspense

His mind is a steel trap. He didn’t know it could trap him.

Robert Weston became a psychiatrist to heal people’s minds. He can’t lose his. But if the strange occurrences of forgetfulness and confusion continue, he may not be able to hide the truth much longer. When his psychological issues put his life in danger, he must face the reality that the genetic nightmare he fears inheriting has seized him.

Attorney Monty Montgomery doesn’t trust Robert Weston. His expert testimony once ruined her client’s case. She didn’t realize the psychiatrist isn’t only wrong but also completely unreliable. How can she defend him against a malpractice suit for the insurance company that hired her when he’s clearly incompetent?

Robert and Monty have bigger problems than they know. Someone has a mission. A mission that won’t be stopped until somebody ends up dead.

Is everyone a pawn in the lethal game, or is Robert’s failing mind playing tricks on him? Even with the help of the Weston siblings, Robert and Monty may need a mind smarter than theirs—the mind of God—to escape this twisted game alive.

Excerpt

He touched her hand on the railing, the contact zinging a jolt all the way up her arm. “I really like you, Monty.” He tilted his head toward the view but didn’t look away from her face. “As beautiful as this waterfall is, it can’t hold a candle to your beauty. But what I like about you most is that you have brains.” He grinned then. “You might be one of the few people who can keep up with me intellectually.”

He closed his hand gently over hers, the warmth of his touch infusing her with tingling awareness that traveled through her whole body.

He’d done what her siblings would say was impossible. Rendered her speechless.

But what could she say? She couldn’t lie and say she didn’t like him. And given the electricity shooting through her, she couldn’t deny an attraction either.

Still, she couldn’t possibly date him, even if she wasn’t representing him. He deserved to know why.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | JerushaAgen.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

Wasted

About The Author

Jerusha Agen

Jerusha Agen is a Christy Award finalist who imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes romantic suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats, often while reading or watching movies. Find more of Jerusha’s thrilling, redemptive stories at JerushaAgen.com.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Watched, a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card, and a Watched mug, notebook, and magnet!

Watched JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 28, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 5, 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.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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October Book Club Selection — The Second Story Bookshop

1 Oct

How is it October already?! While it’s still early for sweater weather, I have spent the last week in the glorious north Georgia mountains. With highs in the mid-70s to low 80s and the lows in the 40s and 50s, I have been reveling in the cool temps and bright blue skies. It’s been a perfect time for R&R&R — resting, relaxing, and reading! Two books completed, and I am back on a reading roll.

My book club’s selection for this month is The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter, a book perfect for fall reading. I can’t wait! Isn’t the cover gorgeous? If you have read it, please let us know what you thought.

She inherits the bookshop of her dreams . . . But she has to run it with the ex she vowed never to speak with again. “Book lovers, book clubs, and anyone who’s ever dreamed of owning a bookstore will adore this cleverly interwoven story” (Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shelterwood). Full of fall vibes, The Second Story Bookshop is perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber and Gilmore Girls.

Shelby Thatcher adores working in the charming small-town bookshop her grandmother opened years ago. Since high school she’s helped Gram turn the shop into a community hub for book lovers in the lakeside town of Grandville, NC. When her beloved grandma passes away, Shelby inherits the bookstore. But to her shock, Gram leaves half ownership to Gray Briggs, the man who broke Shelby’s heart years ago.

Grandville residents have been vilifying Gray as long as he can remember. After graduating high school he couldn’t skip town fast enough, even though it meant leaving the girl he’d fallen deeply in love with and alienating her family once and for all. Now he’s back, the beneficiary of his elderly friend’s will. Facing the town’s animosity is difficult, but seeing Shelby again is sheer torture. No one could ever stir his heart the way she did.

As the adversaries are forced to work together, Gram’s beyond-the-grave scheme is working–Shelby’s old feelings for Gray begin to resurface. But the problems that destroyed their relationship before still remain, and a new one surfaces–one that threatens Gram’s beloved bookshop. Is their love doomed to fail again, or will they find a way to make it work this time around?

If you’re looking for an enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance set in a cozy lakeside bookshop brimming with healing, heart, and Southern charm, The Second Story Bookshop is your perfect, feel-good escape. Let Shelby and Gray’s tender journey remind you that sometimes the path back to love starts at the front step of a bookstore.

Denise Hunter is the internationally-published bestselling author of more than forty novels, three of which have been adapted into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 Club and been featured in Southern Living and Woman’s World.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling, drinking chai lattes, hiking, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband raised three boys and are currently enjoying an empty nest and four beautiful grandchildren.

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If You Liked . . . Spies, Lies, And Alibis

30 Sep

My book club unanimously liked Spies, Lies, And Alibis by Natalie Walters. We met her in person at a book festival in our small town. After hearing from her in person we knew we needed to read this rom-com/suspense novel. It is as delightful as she is! If you haven’t read it yet, we recommend you do. And if you have and want more espionage in your reading time, please check out the four books I have recommended.

Book with Spies!

The Bachelor Spy by Pepper Basham — historical mystery with humor mixed in.

Midnight on The Scottish Shore — WWII spies

The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal — a modern day spy novel inspired by the Book of Job

To Outwit Them All by Peggy Wirgau — the real life story of George Washington’s spy ring

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Top 10 Tuesday — “Fall” Freebie

29 Sep

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT prompt is a fall freebie. I have taken that quite literally. 😉 My list includes books with titles containing fall, falls, and falling. I’ve done this for a previous fall freebie, but these book have been read since then. You’ll find that a fall occurs quite often in suspense novels. And one group of books gets extra points for their series name — Gossamer Falls! I hope you find one to love.

For more fall shenanigans, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books with Fall, Falls, or Falling in The Title

Never Fall Again, Break My Fall, Last to Fall, and Downfall by Lynn Blackburn

Dead Fall and Free Fall by Nancy Mehl

Every Bird That Falls by Sara Davison

Falling Night by Phil Clarke

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

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2026 Christy Award Takeover Blitz

25 Sep

The 2026 Christy Awards JustRead Takeover Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for The Christy Award Finalists 2026 organized by ECPA and hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! We extend our sincere and enthusiastic congratulations to The Christy Award 2026 Finalists & Winners (announced on November 6th)!

You are Invited

The Christy Award Gala
Friday, November 6, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel
Nashville, Tennessee
Featuring Michelle Shocklee, Amanda Cox, Nicole Deese, Amanda Dykes, Susie Finkbeiner, J.J. Fischer, Rhonda McKnight, Jamie Ogle, Amanda Wright, Jaime Jo Wright, and other distinguished 2025 winners—bringing a meaningful connection between past and present excellence.

This is our year to gather together in person to celebrate and honor the best Christian fiction of the year. The Christy Award Gala will be held the evening of Friday, November 6th and will feature a premiere cast of the industry’s authors to announce The Christy Award winners in nine categories, The Christy Book of the Year, and The Amplify Award for Christian Fiction.

This year’s gala features a keynote address from Michelle Shocklee, recipient of The Christy Book of the Year for her acclaimed novel All We Thought We Knew. Her story and perspective will set the tone for an evening rooted in faith, creativity, and impact. Continuing Christy tradition, recent honorees will present category awards, including Amanda Cox, Nicole Deese, Amanda Dykes, Susie Finkbeiner, J.J. Fischer, Rhonda McKnight, Jamie Ogle, Amanda Wright, Jaime Jo Wright, and other distinguished 2025 winners—bringing a meaningful connection between past and present excellence.

The Christy Award Finalists 2026

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE – tie

Echoes of a Silent Song Hearts on the Fly Kate Landry Has a Plan The Voices We Find

Echoes of a Silent Song by Amanda Wen (Kregel Publications)
Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
Kate Landry Has a Plan by Rebekah Millet (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
The Voice We Find by Nicole Deese (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

FIRST NOVEL

In the Light of the Sun The Lawyer and Laundress Where Stillness Speaks

In the Light of the Sun by Angela Shupe (WaterBrook, an imprint of PRH Christian))
The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz Tyndale House Publishers)
Where Stillness Speaks by Chelsey Welwood (Chelsey Welwood)

GENERAL FICTION

South of Somewhere The Bitter End Birding Society When the Road Comes Around

South of Somewhere by T.I. Lowe (Tyndale House Publishers)
The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
When the Road Comes Around by Katie Powner (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

HISTORICAL – tie

From the Valley We Rise Splendor of the Land The Daughter of Rome The French Kitchen

From the Valley We Rise by Elizabeth Musser (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
Splendor of the Land by Connilyn Cossette (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
The Daughter of Rome by Angela Hunt (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron (Thomas Nelson Fiction)

HISTORICAL ROMANCE – tie

Mists Over the Channel Islands the Belle of Chatham The Collector of Burned Books Through Water and Stone

Mists Over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin (Revell/Baker Publishing Group)
The Belle of Chatham by Laura Frantz (Revell/Baker Publishing Group)
The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White (Tyndale House Publishers)
Through Water and Stone by Karen Barnett (Kregel Publications)

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER – tie

Final Approach Girl Lost Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse The Accused

Final Approach by Lynette Eason (Revell/Baker Publishing Group)
Girl Lost by Kate Angelo (Revell/Baker Publishing Group)
Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
The Accused by Cara Putman (Kregel Publications)

SHORT FORM – tie

A Very Merry Matchup One Nine Planning for Nickie To Reveal a Reckless Love

A Very Merry Matchup by Becca Kinzer (Tyndale House Publishers)
One Nine by Sara Davison (Sara Davison)
Planning for Nickie by Tasha Hackett (Tasha Hackett)
To Reveal a Reckless Love by Robin Lee Hatcher (RobinSong, Inc.)

SPECULATIVE – tie

Every Hour Until Then Heir of Light Maxine Justice: Public Offender Of Dawn and Embers

Every Hour until Then by Gabrielle Meyer (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group)
Heir of Light by Niki Florica and Jill Williamson (Sunrise Publishing)
Maxine Justice: Public Offender by Daniel Schwabauer (Enclave, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Of Dawn and Embers by Gillian Bronte Adams (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)

YOUNG ADULT – tie

Illuminary Sons of Day & Night The Outsider The Star-Blessed

Illuminary by Chawna Schroeder (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Sons of Day and Night by Mariposa Aristeo (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)
The Outsider by Katy Morgan (The Good Book Company)
The Star-Blessed by Angie Dickinson (Enclave Escape, a division of Oasis Family Media)

 

Register for The Christy Award 2026 Events

Join us in Music City for a vibrant, can’t-miss gathering of the Christian fiction community.

Beyond the Books Add-On: Meet the finalist authors at this special morning gathering of authors and readers.

The Art of Writing conference will bring together writers, storytellers, and publishing professionals for an afternoon of relevant topics and networking.

The Christy Award Winners Gala celebrates this year’s finalists and winners with authors, editors, publishers, and readers!

REGISTER

The Christy Award® is a program of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and is the foremost award honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction since 1999. For more information about ECPA, visit ECPA.org. For more information about the Christy Awards and Art of Writing conferences, visit ChristyAwards.com or email TheChristyAward@ecpa.org

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive their choice of The Art of Writing registration OR print copies of The Christy Award finalist titles for one category!

Christy Award Finalists 2026 JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 25, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 2, 2025. 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.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

First Line Friday — Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse

25 Sep

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring another 2026 Christy Award nominee — Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse by Jamie Jo Wright. This dual timeline novel is a twisty, spooky, gothic mystery/suspense with a married couple in the modern day storyline. I loved that! If you haven’t read it, what are you waiting on?!

Here’s the first line:

This great water will be my sepulcher.

Where the lighthouse no longer illuminates, ghostly lore and legends emerge . . . 

1874
A battered woman awakens atop a forgotten gravesite by Lake Superior’s southern shore. Identified only by the locket around her neck inscribed with the name Rebecca, she seeks refuge with an elderly lighthouse keeper. But as Rebecca struggles to remember who she is, she finds herself haunted by the lingering memories of Annabel, a mysterious woman who perished in the lake’s unforgiving waves years earlier. With the spirit of Annabel seemingly reawakened, and an unknown adversary on the hunt to silence Rebecca once and for all, more is at stake than reclaiming her own memories. Rebecca must reclaim Annabel’s as well. 

Present Day
Author and researcher Shea Radclyffe escapes to the lighthouse outside a historic Michigan mining town to seek clarity about her failing marriage. Instantly drawn to the lighthouse’s landlord, Shea contends with the legend of Annabel’s vengeful ghost and a superstitious community that has buried the truth about a current murder. As the secrets harbored around Annabel’s lighthouse unravel, Shea must navigate a fight between torn loyalty, self-discovery, and the haunting forces of love.

. . . demanding vengeance for secrets that should have drowned a century before.

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.

Visit her at: http://www.jaimewrightbooks.com and listen to her podcast MadLit Musings on your favorite podcast player or at http://www.madlitmusings.com.

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Spotlight on Mystery Fiction — Magic City Murder

25 Sep
Magic City Murder JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Magic City Murder by Bruce Hammack, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Magic City Murder

Title: Magic City Murder
Series: Smiley and McBlythe Mystery Series #16
Author: Bruce Hammack
Publisher: Jubilee Publishing
Release Date: August 6, 2026
Genre: Mystery / Private Detective

A missing husband. A murdered journalist. A city where everyone has something to hide.

Blind former Houston homicide detective Steve Smiley and his partner Heather McBlythe take on what looks like a straightforward case: track down a missing husband so his estranged wife can finally file for divorce.

The simple case turns deadly when the body of the woman the husband has been living with is found in a Miami canal. She wasn’t just the missing man’s companion — she was an investigative journalist silenced before her story could see the light of day.

As Smiley and McBlythe dig deeper, they uncover a trail of political corruption and cartel money that someone powerful is determined to keep hidden. With a growing list of suspects, a city full of secrets, and a killer working in the shadows, Smiley must sort through the tangle of lies before whoever is cleaning up loose ends decides Smiley’s next.

Pick up your copy of Magic City Murder today and follow Smiley and McBlythe from Houston to Miami as they chase down a missing husband and a killer who’s running out of places to hide. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie-style whodunits who love clever plots, professional detective work, and clean reads without the gore, violence, or explicit content.

Excerpt

“That’s not what you told us yesterday. What did you tell Detective Ruiz?”

Kate’s head dipped, and her words seemed to catch in her throat. “I told him Peter cleaned me out. His leaving hurt me. It still stings, so I made it sound like Peter took my money and ran. But that’s not how it happened. I agreed to loan him what I had in savings and my retirement accounts. We were going to build a publishing company together, and we worked like fiends to make the dream come true.”

Steve took a full breath through his nose and blew it out of his mouth. “We need to stop. Call Detective Ruiz right now and set the record straight before you go to jail.”

“Jail? Why would I go to jail?”

Heather explained in her lawyer’s voice. “If he hasn’t already done it, Detective Ruiz will check your financial records and those of Peter. When he sees you and Peter had full access to each other’s accounts, he’ll be back to ask you why you said or implied that he cleaned you out without your knowledge.”

“I don’t think I used those same words.”

Steve shot back, “Quit playing games, Kate. You’re a suspect in a murder case. Go to your room, let the seriousness of your situation sink in for a few minutes, then call Detective Ruiz.”

Tears fell again as Kate made a quick escape to the relative safety of her bedroom.

“At least she didn’t slam the door this time,” said Steve.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | BruceHammack.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

About The Author

Bruce Hammack

Bruce Hammack, a native Texan, began his professional writing career in the tenth grade when the local Rotary Club sponsored a writing contest for students in civics class. To the amazement of students and teachers alike, he won the prize of a twenty-five-dollar savings bond.

After retiring from a career in criminal justice, Bruce picked up the proverbial pen again. He now draws on his extensive background with law enforcement (and criminals) to write contemporary, clean read detective and crime mysteries.

An avid Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes fan, Bruce firmly believes the world can’t have enough whodunits. When not writing, he enjoys travel, classic whodunits and a quiver full of children and grandchildren. Having lived in eighteen cities around the US and the world, he now makes his home in the Texas Hill Country with his wife of thirty-plus years.

Connect with Bruce by visiting brucehammack.com to follow him on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each receive a signed paperback copy of Magic City Murder, a Smiley And McBlythe bookmark, a Reading Log, and book lover stickers!

Magic City Murder blog tour giveaway JustRead Tours

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 23, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 30, 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.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

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Spotlight on Historical Romance/Mystery — Sabotage Games

24 Sep
Sabotage Games JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Sabotage Games by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Sabotage Games

Title: Sabotage Games
Series: Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency #2
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press
Release Date: September 22, 2026
Genre: Historical Romantic Mystery

Who will pay the ultimate price for Olympic Gold?

LAKE PLACID, N.Y., 1932—Sports journalist Emma Hancock is determined to claim her place in the press box, despite the male colleagues who slam the door in her face. But when a mysterious illness begins systematically sidelining athletes, Emma’s gift for spotting patterns reveals a plot far more sinister than mere competition.

With the Games in his own backyard, Olympic sprinter Ryan Callahan laces up his speed skates to compete in his first winter games. He has no time for distractions—especially not the inconvenience of the beautiful female journalist staying as a guest in his family’s crowded home.

But when the pattern of sabotage deepens, Emma and Ryan must work together to follow the threads before they become the next targets to fall.

La Verità con Integrità. Truth with Integrity. The Legacy of a (Girl) Stunt Reporter.

A 1930s Historical Romantic Mystery

This page-turning novel offers a sweet, slow-burn romance mixed with cozy suspense. Set during the historic III Olympic Winter Games—the first year women’s speed skating was featured—it unfolds against the snow-covered, high-stakes press boxes of Lake Placid, New York, in 1932. Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and J’nell Ciesielski looking for an inspirational read.

Excerpt

“But as a journalist, I need facts, not suppositions.”

“You can’t prove a connection, though. It’s still guessing.”

“Not necessarily.” Emma held up a finger, then replaced it on his arm. “Take the 1919 Chicago White Sox baseball scandal. Several players conspired with a bookie to rig the World Series. It was a sports journalist, Hugh S. Fullerton, who noticed the pattern because of the anomalies. He had already predicted high-profile results in other baseball match-ups because he studied the statistics of the game. Like in 1906 when he picked the White Sox Hitless Wonders to beat the Chicago Cubs who had won 116 Games that season in the World Series. In fact, I clipped his 1910 article “The Science of Baseball” from The American Magazine and have it in my files back home.”

Ryan shook his head, not bothering to hide his grin. “You’re something, Emma Hancock.”

Red tinged her cheeks and deepened the cold-nipped pink of her nose. She looked positively adorable. He tucked a flyaway strand of hair behind her ear and tugged her hat back in place. Her lips parted as she raised her questioning gaze to his.

He ran his thumb over her cheek bone, watching the color spread. “You amaze me. Intimidate me a bit, too. Mostly, though, I wish others could see what I’ve come to see this past week. You’re absolutely brilliant, and beautiful, and brave, and bright, and amazing at baseball.”

Her smile lit up her face, drawing his gaze to her lips. Should he? He leaned in and she didn’t pull away, so he moved closer still until he could feel her coffee-tinted breath. He paused, wanting to kiss her, yet not wanting to send her running. Not to mention they were on a public street.

But … maybe … a simple … Ryan pressed his lips to hers.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Danielle Grandinetti’s Shop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

Undercover Wish
Eyewitness Sketch

About The Author

Danielle Grandinetti

Danielle Grandinetti writes award-winning 1930s historical romantic mystery and suspense. She is the 2026 Holt Medallion winner and a second-generation Italian-American. Fueled by tea and nature, she crafts hope-filled historical romance novels exploring immigrant heritage, found family, and cozy Midwest traditions. Find her at daniellegrandinetti.com.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a paperback copy of Undercover Wish & Eyewitness Sketch!

Sabotage Games blog tour giveaway JustRead

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 22, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 29, 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.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Spotlight on Historical Romance — A Whim And A Prayer

23 Sep
A Whim and a Prayer JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Whim and a Prayer by Julie Lessman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

A Whim and a Prayer

Title: A Whim and a Prayer
Series: The Cousins O’Connor #4
Author: Julie Lessman
Publisher: Independent
Release Date: September 8, 2026
Genre: Historical Romance

She’s a former orphan desperate to protect her heart.
He’s a best friend who protects her from the start.
Till prayer protects them both from a true love torn apart.

Discarded like so much trash on the steps of an orphanage at age two, seventeen-year-old Winifred Dennehy thinks God has it out for her. Abandoned by abusive parents and born cross-eyed to boot, she spent the first four years of her life battling bullies and verbal abuse. Deliverance came in the form of one Beckett Campbell, the ten-year-old orphan who became her best friend and guardian angel for life, along with an orphanage volunteer by the name of Mrs. D. When Mrs. Charity Dennehy adopts Winnie into her family, has her crossed eyes fixed, and secretly arranges for Beckett to be fostered and then adopted by elderly neighbors down the street, Winnie figures her luck has changed. But instead of attributing it to God like Beckett does, she’s inclined to believe it’s her own grit, charm, and spontaneity that has paved the way.

From the moment twenty-four-year-old Beckett Campbell saw the tiny, cross-eyed orphan who reminded him of the sister he lost, he wanted to love and protect her forever. Best friends from the start despite over five years apart, Winnie’s naïve spontaneity for wild hairs and whims keeps Beck’s mature responsibility busy and happily so. Until the little girl he wanted to protect suddenly becomes the young woman he wants to love. When Winnie insists on protecting their friendship from the fear and risk of anything more, Beck has a decision to make. Friendship forever … or a life apart from the best friend he loves. Praying that Winnie will change her mind, Beck doesn’t hold out much hope for that day. But when an unexpected turn of events alters both of their lives, it puts “a whim and a prayer” on a collision course that just might make a way.

Excerpt

She turned back to the sink as if the matter were all settled, triggering his ire as she continued to remove food from plates and drop them into the water. “So you see, that’s why I’m asking for time apart, Beck, to get our friendship back on track and help get over this annoying attraction that the play seemed to bring out.”

A nerve quivered clear to the back of Beck’s jaw. “I see—an ‘annoying attraction.’ In me, but not in you …” He plucked the dishtowel from the counter.

She gave a nervous shrug as she scrubbed a plate hard. “Well, no, not really. I mean, sure, maybe there was a tiny seed of attraction, Beck, but for me, it was mostly acting.”

Her words lit the fuse of his temper and his muscles instantly tensed—jaws, shoulders, fists, and neck all feeling the strain—a new development with Winnie of late. She continued on as if what he felt or thought didn’t matter, and he could feel his patience begin to crack …

“So, Beck, if you don’t mind, I think we should take a break from spending time together for maybe a month or so. You know, just some space to get our friendship back on track.” She peeked up out of the corner of her eye. “Don’t you think? Then you can just focus on teaching chess to Julia.”

A tic pulsed in his cheek. “Sure, Winnie. I’ll give you all the time you need—starting right now.” Hurling the towel onto the counter, he stalked toward the door, his brain doing a slow burn as he contemplated the idiocy of her rationale. 

“You’re in love with my daughter, Beck, so act like it. You have my permission—in fact, my utmost plea—to remind her every time you see her that you’re in love with her.”

Palm to the wood, he paused, anger suddenly surging through his veins like liquid fire. Doing an about face, he stalked back to where she stood hunched at the sink, head bowed and hands buried deep in the bubbles, perfectly still. 

A gasp left her lips as he whirled her around and kissed her soundly, his lips dominating hers until her moan gave way to let him in. Heat engulfed him while his mouth explored hers, teasing and tasting the only woman he ever wanted to love. Until he finally let go, so abruptly that she wobbled against the sink with eyes glazed and mouth agape. “Yeah,” he said as he delivered a slant of a smile with a stone cut of his jaw, “and that was acting too.”

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

More in This Series

About The Author

Julie Lessman

A lover of all things Irish, Julie Lessman writes close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together. Award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, Silver Lining Ranch, and The Cousins O’Connor series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 24 Romance Writers of America and other awards.

Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards, Julie also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-2021, 2023, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction.

In addition, Julie has written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets, and What’s the Story, Morning Glory: A Memoir Devotional with a “Novel” Approach to Practical Christianity. Contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card!

A Whim and a Prayer blog tour giveaway JustRead

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 21, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 28, 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/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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Book Review — Spies, Lies, And Alibis

22 Sep

My book club chose Spies, Lies, And Alibis by Natalie Walters as our September selection. While we have read many of Walters’ romantic suspense novels, we all agreed that this suspense with a lot of rom-com elements is a bit of a departure for the author. In a good way! We all liked it. Check it out below.

They were each other’s first love. Now they might be each other’s last hope. Perfect for fans of Ally Carter, Spies, Lies, and Alibis is an unputdownable binge-fest, full of laughs, heart, and mischief.

Cybil Langford has spent years hiding behind her polished, professional facade as the executive assistant to a powerful real estate mogul, where she’s perfectly positioned to collect intel on her boss’s criminal network. But when her mission leads her into the path of Lorenzo Ramirez–a ruthless crime boss with deadly plans–she’ll need every ounce of cunning and charm to stay one step ahead.

Then he walks back into her life.

Ben Bradley is deep undercover for the FBI, living under an alias, as a financial advisor with a reputation for helping the wealthy and corrupt launder their money. His target? Lorenzo Ramirez, a dangerous crime boss with his hands in everything from smuggling to murder. But when a familiar face from his past suddenly reappears, things get . . . complicated.

The last time Cybil saw Ben, he was an annoying prankster–and her first crush. The last time Ben saw Cybil, she stole a piece of his heart. Neither expected to run into each other at a high-stakes fundraising gala where crime, corruption, and undercover agendas collide.

Forced to work dangerously close, neither knows the other’s true agenda. Cybil sees the boy who once broke her heart, now a man whose motives are deeply suspect. Ben sees the woman he never got over but can’t determine if she’s an innocent caught in the crossfire or a willing accomplice. As they navigate a world of spies, lies, and fragile alibis, they must dismantle the walls around their hearts.

The intel is classified. The trust is fragile. And their covers are one lie away from blowing wide open.

My Impressions:

If you are a fan of the romantic suspense by Natalie Walters, you will soon realize that Spies, Lies, And Alibis is a bit of a departure for her. Your first hint will be the cover. This novel was my book club’s September 2026 selection, and all admitted they probably would have passed this book by due to the cover (they’re old, LOL). The whimsy of its design is an indication that you will find more inside. This book can be described as a suspense-filled rom-com or a humorous romantic suspense. Either description fits, and it was everything we could have asked for in a fun book club read. There is the underlying plot that included seriously bad bad guys, two endearing main characters that need to get together despite their past relationship, and witty banter and hilarious situations to keep you chuckling. And the secondary characters are a hoot too! Danger, twists you don’t see coming, and a love story to, uh, love made us love (there’s that word again) this book. We are happy to see that another book in the series will be released next year. It’s already on our TBR list.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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