Spotlight on Romantic Suspense/Thriller — Eye of The Mind

11 Feb

Eye of the Mind JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Eye of the Mind by Sara Davison, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Eye of the Mind

Title: Eye of the Mind
Author: Sara Davison
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: December 17, 2025
Genre: romantic suspense (with thriller elements)

She can’t picture his face.
But he knows hers.

Firefighter Jules Adler suspects her blind date with Officer Dante de Marco will not go well. When she witnesses a violent crime, the night goes from bad to worse fast.

Dante, the police sketch artist, is tasked with getting enough details from her to draw the killer. If only Jules could visualize the man’s face.

She and Dante are forced to spend a lot more time together than either would like, trying desperately to come up with a likeness. The problem is, with a ruthless psychopath closing in, that time is about to run out.

For fans of fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat suspense, slow-burning romance, humor, and deep issues of faith.

Excerpt

Dante rested his fingers on the report. “It says here that you witnessed a murder.”

She swallowed. “I did.”

He glanced at the paper. “At eight-forty-five last evening?”

“That sounds about right.”

“Weren’t we…”

“On a date then? Technically, yes. When you left to go to the men’s room, I stepped out into the alley running alongside the building to get some air. I planned to come back in and tell you I was leaving, except that, before I could, I heard a woman scream. I came out from behind a dumpster to see that man…” Her voice broke, and she pressed a fist to her mouth.

“Take your time. It’s okay.” Dante said the words by rote, the way he’d been taught and the way he’d said it to a hundred witnesses before. This situation was so unlike any he’d been in, though, that he could barely get them out, with shock and self-recrimination sending currents of white-hot pinpricks stinging across his flesh.

Jules hadn’t left without talking to him. While he was still in the pub, she’d been just outside the building, witnessing a man murdering a woman in cold blood. If he hadn’t been such a jerk to her, she wouldn’t have even been there. None of this would have happened.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Also Available

About The Author

Sara Davison

Sara Davison is the author of numerous romantic suspense series. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a HOLT Medallion, Cascade, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason. Get to know Sara better and subscribe to her short, monthly newsletter at ontheedgesuspense.com.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of Eye of the Mind plus a $25 Amazon card!

Eye of the Mind blog tour giveaway JustRead Tours

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 10, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 17, 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/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Top 10 Tuesday — The Love Boat!

10 Feb

Happy Tuesday! Today TTT bloggers are celebrating all things romance with a Love Freebie! After many years of creating these posts it is a bit daunting to come up with something fresh. Today I am featuring romance novels — contemporary, historical, and suspense — that have part or whole of their settings on boats. You know, The Love Boat! 😉 Extra points for those whose characters cement their love on the open seas. Come aboard, they’re expecting you!

For more Love Freebie fun, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Books with Love Boats!

The Choice by D. L. Wood

The Glass Bottom Boat by Laura Thomas

The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

Love Overboard by Shannon Sue Dunlap

The Magnolia Duchess by Beth White

The Mayflower Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse

Midnight on The Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Stranded by Dani Pettrey

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Book Review: Taking A Second Shot

9 Feb

Leslie Kirby DeVooght is an up-and-coming contemporary romance author you need to check out. With 3 novels published in 2025, she is well on her way to an impressive book list. She writes sweet romance with plenty of sass — something I love! Discover more about her third novel, Taking A Second Shot, below.

Can he convince her that he’s playing for keeps?

Struggling professional soccer player Rainey Allen has come to her grandparents’ small town in Georgia to train—certainly not to coach kids. But when a grief-stricken little boy gets excited about playing with her, she can’t refuse. Even if his uncle is Scott Wilcox, the source of Rainey’s worst preteen memory. Once on track to be a professional athlete himself, Scott is grappling with his new life as the high school baseball coach and guardian of his orphaned nephew. But as playing soccer puts the light back in Henry’s eyes, old wounds begin to heal. When Rainey gets her big break, will she give up on her dreams…or leave behind the family who stole her heart?

Leslie Kirby DeVooght writes women’s fiction inspired by romcoms, coastal Georgia, and fried okra! While Leslie and her family live in Jacksonville, Florida, they often visit her hometown of St. Simons Island, Georgia, where she loves to go for long walks on the beach. A graduate of Florida Southern College and Mercer Law School, Leslie is always revising her life from prosecutor to judge to PTA president to author of happily-ever-afters.

My Impressions:

Taking A Second Shot by Leslie Kirby DeVooght is the perfect choice for those who love sweet romance. This Love Inspired title is a quick read perfect for a weekend getaway. Especially good for soccer or baseball moms between games! But if you don’t have an athletic bone in your body, don’t let that keep you from picking up this book. There is so much more than sports just as the main characters Rainey and Scott discover. Really, any career would have worked for these two driven people. Fully committed to their paths, they often lose sight of what is really important, even when it is right in front of their noses. The banter between the two is great which adds to the chemistry they strive to deny. I loved that the two had people in their lives offering guidance and a healthy push towards each other. 😉 Spiritual threads are strong, with emphasis on discerning what God has planned versus what we think is logical or correct.

Sweet and sassy, Taking A Second Shot is the HEA you are looking for.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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First Line Friday — The Bitter End Birding Society

6 Feb

Happy Friday! Today I am featuring my book club’s February selection, The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox. We are big fans of Amanda’s stories and are excited to discuss this book. Have you read it yet? We would love to know your thoughts.

Here’s the first line:

Viola Chambers had always wondered at what point in the dying process a person understood they weren’t long for this world, and now she’d give anything to unlearn it.

Hometown hero Ana Leigh Watkins ventures to Bitter End, Tennessee, to help her great-aunt get her house ready to sell. Bitter End seems an ironic place for Ana to refresh her weary spirit, but she’s desperate for respite from her community’s attention and unwarranted admiration. While on a hike in Roan Mountain, a ragtag group of amateur bird watchers take her under their wing—a little against her will. However, she quickly warms to these genuine souls seeking solace in the great outdoors.

But when Ana’s adventures in Bitter End lead her to a severed branch of her family tree—one that involves the forbidden love between a moonshiner’s daughter and a preacher’s son—what began as a quest to study Appalachian birds becomes a transformative journey that binds together two women who, though they live on the same street, have been estranged for sixty years.

Immerse yourself in the lyrical prose and layered plotting of award-winning novelist Amanda Cox as she offers up an engaging story of finding belonging, reconciliation, and new beginnings in the most unexpected places.

Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda Cox spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read.

A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 18 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee. She’s addicted to both.) You can stay connected with her latest writing updates at http://www.amandacoxwrites.com. You can find her on social media by searching Amanda Cox Writes.

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Book Review — An Appearance of Impropriety

5 Feb
An Appearance of Impropriety JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for An Appearance of Impropriety by Jayna Breigh, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

An Appearance of Impropriety

Title: An Appearance of Impropriety
Author: Jayna Breigh
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: January 27, 2026
Genre: Romantic Legal Drama

Will their love turn into a scandal despite their efforts?

As the youngest female judge in Los Angeles, Mahalia Jackson has her career on a fast track to success. Her polished exterior makes sure of that. But when she volunteers for the Junior Jurors and ends up working side by side with attorney JD Cash, her plans begin to falter.

JD heads up the program—born out of his own troubled past—where local teens learn about the legal system. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God’s calling on his life: to support the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved fathers and husbands to TransNation’s eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America’s freeways.

Mahalia’s rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow’s attorney. When Mahalia is placed in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver.

Her increasing proximity to the empathetic lawyer sparks an onslaught from anonymous online adversaries attempting to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career by throwing around claims of an appearance of impropriety. The digital disgrace pushes Mahalia to ask one hard question: Is loving JD worth risking her career?

With a great story, well-developed characters, and a tale that explores the value of second chances and giving back, the latest from Breigh is a must-buy. —Library Journal, Starred Review

“An Appearance of Impropriety is filled with characters I cared about who were placed in challenging situations that compelled me to keep reading long into the night.”

—Cara Putman, award-winning author of the Secrets to Keep series

Excerpt

Somehow in this moment, hearing Granddaddy in her ear, preaching that verse about the excellency of Christ, both soothed and terrified her. What did all her accomplishments mean? Granddaddy had always been so proud of her, but every conversation with him ended with him asking if she’d joined a church or read her Bible.

“Sweet Mahalia baby,” his comforting voice would flow out. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

She’d always found a way to brush off his admonitions.

He’d let her deflect but always retorted, “I’m not giving up on you yet, Mahalia. The Word has a way of getting down deep inside of you, working. Even when you aren’t thinking about it.”

The clink of knives tapping against wine goblets, signaling time to quiet and begin the meeting, found her with moisture in her eyes, threatening to spill. She swiped a knuckle under her bottom lids, straightened her spine, and watched the woman at the dais. She forced out the bittersweet memories of Granddaddy and supplanted them with her mantra. Prestigious college. Ivy League law school. Top-drawer law firm. And she added her new hoped-for position—assistant supervising judge.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | BookBub | Bookshop

Also Available:

The Hunted Heir

My Impressions:

I loved Jayna Breigh’s debut novel, The Hunted Heir, so I was really excited for the opportunity to read An Appearance of Impropriety. Breigh again brings her knowledge of the law and the courtroom in this legal drama with a good dose of romance. Mahalia Jackson is on track to achieve all her (and her family’s) career goals. But her personal life has been less than stellar. An accidental fall leaves her mentor unable to preside over his cases, and he taps Mahalia to fill in. Enter JD Cash, a brash and committed personal injury lawyer, and soon the sparks fly. There’s intrigue and betrayal behind the scenes in the courthouse, plus complicated pasts and insecurities that stand in the way of their relationship. But this seemingly mismatched pair are perfect for each other. I loved the youth program the two are involved in, and the heart and passion that each brought to both sides of the bench. The spiritual thread is strong as the two characters struggle with being good enough. I especially liked the growth that Mahalia experienced. And if you are a fan of Breigh’s first book, you will love the cameo appearance of one of its main characters. IYKYK! 😉

An Appearance of Impropriety is a delight! Make sure you put this book on the top of your TBR.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Kregel for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

About The Author

Jayna Breigh

Jayna Breigh is a retired attorney living in the southeastern United States and the author of The Hunted Heir. She brings to her writing over a decade of experience in trust and estate litigation in Los Angeles.

Connect with Jayna by visiting www.jaynabreigh.com. to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of An Appearance of Impropriety and a $20 Amazon gift card!

An Appearance of Impropriety 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 February 4, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 11, 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 the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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February 2026 Book Club Pick — The Bitter End Birding Society

4 Feb

Is it really February already?! Life has really gotten away from me this year. I am hoping (as always) things settle down after this month. February 22 is my goal for a return to a normal routine. Probably not going to happen 😉 , but a girl can dream. Why February 22 you ask? That’s because the Read, White, And Blue Book Festival held in my hometown is scheduled for February 21. If you are anywhere near middle Georgia, you need to make plans to attend. Here’s the link to the website — perrypageturners.com. A whole lot of your favorite CF authors will be there,, including lunch speaker Becky Wade! Check it out!

Now for this month’s book club pick, The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox. Amanda will be back in Perry too! Another reason to attend the festival.

Hometown hero Ana Leigh Watkins ventures to Bitter End, Tennessee, to help her great-aunt get her house ready to sell. Bitter End seems an ironic place for Ana to refresh her weary spirit, but she’s desperate for respite from her community’s attention and unwarranted admiration. While on a hike in Roan Mountain, a ragtag group of amateur bird watchers take her under their wing—a little against her will. However, she quickly warms to these genuine souls seeking solace in the great outdoors.

But when Ana’s adventures in Bitter End lead her to a severed branch of her family tree—one that involves the forbidden love between a moonshiner’s daughter and a preacher’s son—what began as a quest to study Appalachian birds becomes a transformative journey that binds together two women who, though they live on the same street, have been estranged for sixty years.

Immerse yourself in the lyrical prose and layered plotting of award-winning novelist Amanda Cox as she offers up an engaging story of finding belonging, reconciliation, and new beginnings in the most unexpected places.

Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda Cox spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read.

A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 18 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee. She’s addicted to both.) You can stay connected with her latest writing updates at http://www.amandacoxwrites.com. You can find her on social media by searching Amanda Cox Writes

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Spotlight on Contemporary Romance — The Single Mom’s Second Chance

4 Feb
The Single Mom's Second Chance JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Single Mom’s Second Chance by Tara Randel, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

The Single Mom's Second Chance

Title: The Single Mom’s Second Chance
Series: A Golden, Georgia Romance #2
Author: Tara Randel
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming
Release Date: January 27, 2026
Genre: Wholesome Romance

A fresh start…

Then an unexpected curveball

When Addie Lane returns to Golden, Georgia, to open her own fitness center, she’s surprised to find her late husband’s best friend, professional baseball player Nolan Travers, offering to invest. Recovering from an injury, Nolan finds solace in helping a friend—and coaching her son Jacob’s baseball team. As the summer continues, their close bond threatens to be undone by Nolan’s expected return to pro ball and Addie’s challenging relationships with her mother and sisters. Only time will tell if their separate paths will pull them apart—or if Addie and Nolan can hit their love out of the park together.

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

Excerpt


Without turning from her chore, Addie heard Jacob’s voice. “You’re coming to my practice, right?”

“Couldn’t keep me away.”

Addie didn’t miss the yearning in Nolan’s tone. Staying away from the team for the season was tough on him. He was faithful about his regular physical therapy, but Addie wondered if he was at his wit’s end with all the free time. Perhaps that was why he was here. To put some distance between himself and the game he loved.

“Mom’s our coach. She’s pretty good for a mom,” Jacob announced.

Her hand froze in midwipe.

“Really.” Nolan held out the word, interest oozing from his tone.

She lowered the cloth and turned to face them. “Only temporarily.”

Humor laced Nolan’s tone. “Because…?”

“Mr. Landry has to work nights and bowed out as coach. He asked a parent to fill the position. No one volunteered and I was already the assistant coach, so…”

“And since you love baseball so much,” Nolan teased, his voice warm. Which made Addie’s heart pick up its pace again.

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

More in This Series

About The Author

Tara Randel

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Tara lives on the West Coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets and beautiful weather inspire the creation of heartwarming stories. Tara has received the Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.

Connect with Tara by visiting tararandel.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a reading journal, ‘It’s a good day to read’ tote bag and three autographed print books by the author!

(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card!

The Single Mom's Second Chance blog tour giveaway JustRead Tours

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 2, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 9, 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.

Enter Giveaway

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

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Top 10 Tuesday — Typography!

3 Feb

Happy Tuesday! Today TTT is featuring book covers with interesting typography. What is typography, you may ask? From Google AI —

Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and visually appealing. 

There were a lot of different directions to go with this topic, but I finally narrowed it down to titles with two or more fonts. While some are more subtle than others, the visual interest really grabbed my eye. What do you think?

For more on the subject, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books with Interesting Typography

The Bounty Hunter’s Surrender by KyLee Woodley

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens

For A Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer

The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof DeWitt

The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham

The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

Lost Hours by Susan Sleeman

Midnight on The Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

Specters in The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright

Wicked is The Hollow by K. E. Ganshert

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Spotlight on Historical Romance — Texas Reclaimed

3 Feb

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Texas Reclaimed by Sherry Shindelar, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Texas Reclaimed

Title: Texas Reclaimed
Series: Lone Star Redemption #3
Author: Sherry Shindelar
Publisher: Wild Heart Books
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Can love blossom between a woman haunted by her family’s past and a man haunted by the trauma of war?

Cora Scott is determined to hold onto her family’s Texas ranch and provide a stable home for her young half-brother, Charlie, despite the mounting challenges of post-Civil War frontier life. But when a scheming creditor threatens to seize their land, she must accept help from Ben McKenzie, a former Yankee soldier sent by her late brother. Though Ben’s generosity and strength draw her, the man’s private struggle she stumbles upon—too reminiscent of her father’s alcoholism—makes her question whether she can trust her heart to him.

Ben McKenzie arrives in Texas intent on fulfilling his promise to his dying friend to protect Cora and Charlie. While using his inheritance to save their ranch, he battles not only the loss of their cattle but also his dependency on laudanum—a medicine that turned into a curse after his imprisonment at Andersonville. As his feelings for Cora deepen, he must choose between his promise to his father to take over their Philadelphia newspaper and his growing dream of a life with Cora in Texas.

When a Comanche warrior begins courting Cora and Ben’s responsibilities in Philadelphia threaten to tear them apart, they must decide if their love is strong enough to overcome their fears and forge a future together on the Texas frontier.

Excerpt

Ben’s fingers curled into a fist atop the bureau. A whole year he’d been home. Regaining his health. Working for his father. Courting Olivia. But falling short of everything he’d vowed to do when he’d hobbled out of the hell on earth that had been Andersonville.

How could he expect to get a grip on his need for laudanum and bring an end to the war in his soul if he didn’t show himself a man by keeping his promises?

His chest squeezed as if someone had tightened a vise around it. He strode over to the window and threw up the sash, desperate for fresh air. Beyond the barren maples and winter-dead lawn, the western sky glowed orange above the tree-topped ridges. Maybe freedom lay somewhere out there. He had to get out of the house and away from Philadelphia. He couldn’t marry. Not yet. Not until he made things right. 

He stared down at the bottle still lying on the carpet. Surely, half a teaspoon wouldn’t hurt. Just enough to abate his symptoms until after he went downstairs and set matters straight with Olivia. 

With leaden feet, he walked over to the desk, bent down, and picked up the bottle. His palm tingled against the cool glass. He could almost hear the hiss of the serpent eating away at everything he had been. This is how it’d been last time he’d abstained. Except he’d made it for a whole week. Then he’d given in for one sip, followed by another, and another…until the fetter was fully fastened again. Dear God, no. Don’t let it be so.He marched back to the window, opened the bottle stopper, and drained the contents onto the bushes below. Lord, help me to be the man You’ve called me to be. He slung the bottle as hard as he could.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Wild Heart Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

Texas Forsaken
Texas Divided

About The Author

Sherry Shindelar

Originally from Tennessee, Sherry Shindelar is a romantic at heart who enjoys taking her readers into the past. She fell in love with writing when she was nine years old. Decades later, she is living out her dream of writing stories from her heart and sharing them with the world. Sherry is a multi-award-winning author: 2025 Maggie Award Winner, 2023 ACFW Genesis Finalist, and 2022 Crown Finalist. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband of forty-one years. They have three grown children and three grandchildren.

Connect with Sherry by visiting sherryshindelar.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Texas Reclaimed and $40 gift card to winner’s choice of Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Texas Reclaimed blog tour giveaway JustRead Tours

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 3, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 10, 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/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!

JustRead Publicity Tours

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If You Liked . . . All We Thought We Knew

30 Jan

My book club absolutely loved All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee. Although it wasn’t what I would call an easy read it was full of heart and emotion. It also brought to light new details of 2 eras we thought we knew. This Christy Award Book of The Year is a definite must-read. If you liked it too, here are a few more books to read. Enjoy!

All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner (available on Kindle Unlimited)

When Annie Jacobson’s brother Mike enlists as a medic in the Army in 1967, he hands her a piece of paper with the address of their long-estranged father. If anything should happen to him in Vietnam, Mike says, Annie must let their father know. 

In Mike’s absence, their father returns to face tragedy at home, adding an extra measure of complication to an already tense time. As they work toward healing and pray fervently for Mike’s safety overseas, letter by letter the Jacobsons must find a way to pull together as a family, regardless of past hurts. In the tumult of this time, Annie and her family grapple with the tension of holding both hope and grief in the same hand, even as they learn to turn to the One who binds the wounds of the brokenhearted.

Author Susie Finkbeiner invites you into the Jacobson family’s home and hearts during a time in which the chaos of the outside world touched their small community in ways they never imagined.

The Last Year of The War by Susan Meissner

In 1943, Elise Sontag is a typical American teenager from Iowa—aware of the war but distanced from its reach. Then her father, a legal U.S. resident for nearly two decades, is suddenly arrested on suspicion of being a Nazi sympathizer. The family is sent to an internment camp in Texas, where, behind the armed guards and barbed wire, Elise feels stripped of everything beloved and familiar, including her own identity.
 
The only thing that makes the camp bearable is meeting fellow internee Mariko Inoue, a Japanese-American teen from Los Angeles, whose friendship empowers Elise to believe the life she knew before the war will again be hers. Together in the desert wilderness, Elise and Mariko hold tight the dream of being young American women with a future beyond the fences.
 
But when the Sontag family is exchanged for American prisoners behind enemy lines in Germany, Elise will face head-on the person the war desires to make of her. In that devastating crucible she must discover if she has the will to rise above prejudice and hatred and re-claim her own destiny, or disappear into the image others have cast upon her.
 
The Last Year of the War tells a little-known story of World War II with great resonance for our own times and challenges the very notion of who we are when who we’ve always been is called into question.

The One True Love of Alice-Ann by Eva Marie Everson

Living in rural Georgia in 1941, sixteen-year-old Alice-Ann has her heart set on her brother’s friend Mack; despite their five-year age gap, Alice-Ann knows she can make Mack see her for the woman she’ll become. But when they receive news of the attack on Pearl Harbor and Mack decides to enlist, Alice-Ann realizes she must declare her love before he leaves.

Though promising to write, Mack leaves without confirmation that her love is returned. But Alice-Ann is determined to wear the wedding dress her maiden aunt never had a chance to wear—having lost her fiancé in the Great War. As their correspondence continues over the next three years, Mack and Alice-Ann are drawn closer together. But then Mack’s letters cease altogether, leaving Alice-Ann to fear history repeating itself.

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