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Spotlight on Amish Romance — Beyond The Gray Mountains

1 Mar

Beyond the Gray Mountains JustRead Blog + Review Tour
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Beyond the Gray Mountains by Tricia Goyer, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Beyond the Gray Mountains

Title: Beyond the Gray Mountains
Series: Big Sky Amish #1
Author: Tricia Goyer
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: February 28, 2023
Genre: Christian Contemporary Amish Romance

Marianna Sommer always dreamed of a simple Amish wedding, but there’s nothing simple about marrying rock star Ben Stone. She loves him—but what about her traditions? Worse, suddenly Ben has questions—the kind that have him putting their wedding on hold.

Ben loves Marianna, but he has regrets—and fears—that are suddenly getting in the way of his happy ending. He doubts he’s going to “hear from God” in the high mountains like Marianna’s father suggests. But sure, he’ll go…

But he might not return. Because high on the continental divide, trouble finds them. Now, it’ll take a miracle for Ben, Abe, and Abe’s brother, Ike, to make it down alive. Maybe Ben will hear from God after all…but if he does, can he become the man he needs to be to save them…and keep Marianna’s heart?

When a runaway horse with a bloody saddle shows up, not only is the media alerted, but Marianna fears she’ll lose them all—her uncle, her father, and her beloved Ben. Suddenly she doesn’t care what the wedding looks like…as long as Ben makes it home.

But is there more to Ben than she knows? And when she discovers his secrets, what sacrifices will she make to save…and marry…the man she loves?

Fall in love with the first book in the cherished Big Sky Amish Collection.

EXCERPT

Saturday, June 24, Kalispell, Montana

“How hard can it be to plan one wedding?” Marianna Sommer mumbled to herself as she strode down Main Street in Kalispell toward the dress shop—the Englisch dress shop. The warm spring breeze blew softly, ruffling strands of light-brown hair that, for most of her life, had been neatly secured under her kapp.

But no longer.

On one side of Marianna paced her friend Annie Johnson, wearing her typical jeans, flannel shirt, and cowboy boots. In her mid-forties, Annie was the owner of the Kootenai Kraft and Grocery. Along with providing a location where one could buy anything from bulk flour and garden seeds to fencing and fishing supplies, Annie was also known to provide a listening ear and a boost of moral support. And this was why she’d offered to take Marianna and her mother dress shopping today.

Marianna had never attended an Englisch wedding, much less planned one. Yet now that she was marrying Ben Stone—the handsome musician with his dark hair, bright blue eyes, and easy smile—many changes would be taking place.

Starting with choosing a wedding dress.

Mem padded on the other side of Marianna in a typical Amish dress, apron, and kapp. She walked with her head lowered and shoulders slumped. She crossed her arms over her chest and uncrossed them as if she didn’t know what to do with herself. It was partly because Mem didn’t have baby Joy on her hip. Yet Marianna also knew this wasn’t how Mem had planned her life. First, losing her oldest two daughters years ago in a buggy accident, and now, having Marianna marry an Englischer. Every Amish mother dreamed of her daughters growing up and following in her footsteps. For Mem, this wouldn’t be so.

Lord, help me to get through this with peace…marrying the man I love yet also honoring my family and Amish friends. Was that even possible?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound

Other Books In Series

On the Golden Cliffs Under the Blue Skies


About The Author

Tricia Goyer

Tricia Goyer writes out of her passion for God and her love for family and others. The author of more than 70 books, she writes both historical fiction and nonfiction related to family and parenting.

This USA Today best-selling author has won a two Carol Awards and a Retailer’s Best Award. She was also an ECPA Gold-Medallion Nominee and a Christy Award Nominee and won Writer of the Year from the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference.

Tricia’s contemporary and historical novels feature strong women overcoming great challenges. She is a beloved author of Amish fiction, having written the Big Sky and Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.

Whether for fiction or nonfiction, Tricia’s writing style is vivid and heartwarming, allowing readers to take home more than engaging stories, but also messages that inspire faith and hope. Her goal is to write stories that matter.

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


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Beyond the Gray Mountains and a $10 Amazon gift card!

Beyond the Gray Mountains JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 27, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 6, 2023. 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!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Book Review: The Cairo Curse

24 Feb

About The Book

Book: The Cairo Curse

Author: Pepper Basham

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Fiction / Romance / Adventure / Mystery

Release date: February 1, 2023

Clue meets Indiana Jones with a fiction-loving twist only Grace Percy can provide.

Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley have already experienced their fair-share of suspense, but when a honeymoon trip takes a detour to the mystical land of Egypt, not even Grace with her fiction-loving mind is prepared for the dangers in store. From an assortment of untrustworthy adventure-seekers to a newly discovered tomb with a murderous secret, Frederick and Grace must lean on each other to navigate their dangerous surroundings. As the suspects mount in an antiquities’ heist of ancient proportions, will Frederick and Grace’s attempts to solve the mystery lead to another death among the sands?

Click here to get your copy!

My Impressions:

What a fun romp The Cairo Curse is! I fell in love with Grace and Frederick in The Mistletoe Countess and was eager to see what kinds of adventures awaited the pair. The second novel in the series did not disappoint. Grace and Frederick head to Egypt on the first leg of their honeymoon. Mayhem and murder accompany them. Frederick is still dashing, and Grace is, well, still Grace! The novel-loving heroine is armed with all the egyptology she could glean from books and a nose for danger and intrigue. Runaway camels, undiscovered tombs, and all the exotic sights and smells of the place and time come to life in this novel. There is a very twisty mystery in which everyone becomes a suspect as the bodies pile up. Grace and Frederick are still newlyweds, so their romance continues. Their relationship is so much fun. But a secondary romance in the novel was very satisfying too. If you are a fan of history and mystery with a good dose of romance, then The Cairo Curse is perfect for you!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

About The Author

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

You can learn more about Pepper at her website http://www.pepperdbasham.com or connect with her on FB, IG, or Twitter

Read an Excerpt from the Book!

February 1914, Havensbrook

Gunfire erupted from outside, sending Frederick Percy, Earl of Astley, leaping from his chair. The seat crashed against the floor behind him in time with another shot. What on earth! He grabbed the first weapon-like item he could find—his grandfather’s cane—and dashed toward the sound, nearly colliding with his butler moving in the same direction.

“Did you hear the gunfire, Brandon?”

The older gentleman’s brows rose as high as they could go without becoming part of his snowy hairline. “Indeed, my lord. From the south garden, if I guess correctly, sir.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Frederick tapped the cane against the floor and took a step in the direction of the garden door. Then stopped, a sudden sense of dread forming a lump in his stomach. His butler’s response was much too cavalier for an emergency. “Have you seen Lady Astley of late, Brandon?”

“Not since after breakfast, sir.”

“Well, then.” Frederick returned to his office for his own pistol and prayed whatever inspired a gunshot near his home would prove more benign than dangerous. After surviving several near-death experiences over the past Christmas season, Frederick was quite finished with drama for a while. Though drama seemed to follow his new bride in spades.

He met the butler back in the hallway.

“Might I offer an insight, sir?”

Frederick pivoted in his approach to the door and turned back to Brandon. “Insight?”

“Yes, sir.” The man released a deep sigh which pulled his pristine posture into a slight slump. He then sent Frederick a look which somehow inspired a grimace before Frederick even heard the man’s words. “Her ladyship was speaking with Mr. Blake after breakfast, sir.”

“Mr. Blake?” Frederick rolled his gaze heavenward, the tension in his jaw uncoiling into a slight annoyance that manifested in an ache over his right eyebrow. He loved his cousin. There was no man Frederick trusted more. But for some reason, the idea of Blake and Grace together followed by the sound of gunfire did not bode well.

For anyone.

“About pistols, my lord.”

And the answers emerged, along with an increased throbbing in Frederick’s head. “Thank you, Brandon.”

Setting a slower pace, he moved toward the south side of his manor house, another shot reverberating nearer. Within a month since Christmas, his American wife had learned how to drive the car and throw knives, two skills she appeared to excel in more than knowing the fashion of the season or how to address the complicated hierarchy of the aristocracy. His lips almost split into a grin as he recalled her stumbling over addressing the Duke of Westonbridge two weeks ago by calling him “Your Honorable Lord” and then in quick correction, “Your Grace, or at least I hope you are since I fumbled your title so atrociously.”

Of course the duke had fallen under Grace’s spell within five minutes, as everyone else who met her seemed to do since she’d moved to his crumbling Derbyshire estate two months earlier. Well, everyone except the villainess who’d tried to kill them just before Christmas. But that was hopefully a distant story, and their next chapter would be a lovely, peaceful belated honeymoon—he increased his steps at the idea—with a little surprise tagged on for his lovely Lady Astley.

Frederick nodded a good afternoon to the police officer inconspicuously posted near the house so that Frederick’s mother could work out her sentence of house arrest in connection with his father and brother’s deaths. He released a sigh. No, she was no murderess, unless glares and harsh words counted, but she’d harbored information that could have protected others. The law had been gracious with her due to her age and status, merely revoking her freedoms from leaving Havensbrook, so his mother’s life stayed very much as it had since Frederick’s father’s death; however, the added blemish of “criminal” to her reputation ensured she spent her days away from the public eye.

And if the police officer appeared in no great distress over the gunfire, Frederick knew all too well what must be happening.

Just around the edge of the house, a large garden opened to the south, its walls still well intact, though ivy-grown and tangled. Another shot reverberated through the damp air, followed quickly by laughter and his wife’s exuberant exclamation of “I hit it.”

Frederick’s lips pinched into a frown. Why he ever expected his cousin Blake to mind Frederick’s subtle requests was beyond him! The garden gate stood open, welcoming him forward into an even more tangled array of vines and twined greenery, the winter roses, a remnant of the garden’s healthier days, sleeping until spring.

He hadn’t had the means to make things right with Havensbrook before but, with Grace’s wealth and her generous heart, he could now. Another way to make amends for the past, he hoped, though

God had already bestowed on him much more than he deserved.

His cousin stood to the right, hands on the hips of his gray suit jacket, but Frederick’s gaze followed Blake’s focus to the woman in the center of the garden. Her bright auburn hair was twisted up beneath a deep purple hat that matched her coat, both in contrast to her pale skin. Her laughter echoed toward him, so filled with joy and hope. Two things he’d thought lost forever before he’d met her.

Yes, God had given him much more than he deserved, and sometimes, he wondered if God had given him more than he could manage.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 23

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 23

Bigreadersite, February 23

By The Book, February 24

Just Your Average reviews, February 24

Remembrancy, February 24

Sylvan Musings, February 24

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, February 25 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 25

Mary Hake, February 25

Worthy2Read, February 26

Christina’s Corner, February 26

Texas Book-aholic, February 26

Betti Mace, February 27

The Sacred Line, February 27

deb’s Book Review, February 27

Lily’s Book Reviews, February 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 28

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 28

Labor Not in Vain, February 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 1

Cover Lover Book Review, March 1

Daysong Reflections, March 1

Hebrews 12 Endurance, March 2

Wishful Endings, March 2

Melissa’s Bookshelf, March 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 3

Simple Harvest Reads, March 3 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Rebecca Tews, March 3

Connie’s History Classroom, March 4

Blogging With Carol, March 4

To Everything There Is A Season, March 4

Cathe Swanson, March 4

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 5

Artistic Nobody, March 5 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Where Faith and Books Meet, March 6

For Him and My Family, March 6

Holly’s Book Corner, March 6

She Lives To Read, March 7

Splashes of Joy, March 7

Pause for Tales, March 7

Back Porch Reads, March 8

Blossoms and Blessings, March 8

Through the Fire Blogs, March 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Spotlight On Romantic Suspense — Fraser

22 Feb

Fraser JustRead Blog + Review Tour
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Fraser by Susan May Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Fraser

Title: Fraser
Series: The Minnesota Marshalls #1
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: SDG Publishing
Release Date: February 14, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Fraser Marshall is pretty sure his career as a Spec Ops fighter is over. Yes, he’s gone into private security, working for Jones, Inc, but his last gig ended with him wounded and taken captive. And those wounds just won’t heal. The last thing he wants to do is stick around his family’s winery pressing grapes. But what choices does he have?

The answer comes via a panicked phone call from his kid brother, Creed.

Help, Fraser. I’m in over my head…

Yeah he is, because he’s run away with a princess, with her bodyguard hot on the trail. And said bodyguard, Pippa Butler is going to hunt them down, no matter the cost.

Even if she has to join forces with a bossy, arrogant former American SEAL. But Pippa has her own set of lethal skills, and if Fraser gets in the way, she’ll leave him on the side of the road. Still, maybe he’s not a terrible side-kick. He is handsome, and he makes her laugh…

No, no, bad Pippa! She has no room for a man—an American—in her life. And Fraser hasn’t ever considered slowing down. Even if Pippa has him wondering if there is a different future ahead.

But there’s more to the story than a Romeo-and-Juliet runaway romance. Princess Imani has seen a murder, and the perpetrator isn’t going to let her get away. Will Fraser and Pippa find the couple first?

And if they do, can they work together to keep them safe?

It’ll be tough if their hearts get in the way…

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Christianbook | IndieBound | BookBub

EXCERPT

He might be the luckiest guy on the planet. 

Creed Marshall stood at the entrance of Gelato Artigianale, the sounds of the wharf in his ears—the listing of sailboats at anchor, music from a nearby club, electronic hip-hop pulsing into the night. Under the star-strewn sky, the lights of Geneva rippled along the water of the massive lake in colors of red, orange, and purple, adding a techno mystique to the evening. 

Yeah, he wasn’t in Kansas anymore, as the saying went. Or, more accurately, Minnesota. 

He checked his watch, a graduation gift three years ago from his adopted father, Garrett Marshall. 

Where was she? 

They should have stayed at the club, like he’d suggested. Had a good mind to return there, but frankly, the dance floor writhed with bodies. And she’d said she wanted gelato, just a couple blocks away at this place by the lake. 

He saw romance, and he’d gobbled up the idea like…

Like he might be a lucky guy. The kind of guy who’d saved⁠—sorta saved, because they hadn’t been in any real danger⁠—a pretty girl on a wind-roughened gondola.

Her name was Imani. Cool name. Cool girl. Hazel eyes, dark hair, tanned. American. And judging by the giggle and the way she’d held onto him today, even in fear—yeah, she liked him too. 

Or he’d thought so. 

And what was it that his brother Fraser always said—you make your own luck? 

Also Available

Knox Tate Ford Wyatt Ruby Jane


About The Author

Susan May Warren

With nearly 2 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA, and Carol award-winning author of over ninety novels with Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill, and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com, and Christmas novellas. With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. She’s a three-time RITA finalist and an eight-time Christy finalist.

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


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Fraser and $10 Susan May Warren Store gift card!

Fraser JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 21, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 28, 2023. 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!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Spotlight On Romantic Suspense — With Me In The Storm

20 Feb

With Me in the Storm JustRead Blog Tour
Welcome to the Blog Tour for With Me in the Storm by Karen E. Ingle, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

With Me in the Storm

Title: With Me in The Storm
Author: Karen E. Ingle
Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
Release Date: September 19, 2022
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

If she escapes her past, can she survive the storm to come?

Maddie’s California dream-turned-nightmare is a perfect storm of abuse, trafficking, and unwanted pregnancy. She sees only one way out, until a network of strangers offers a solution that could save her life and her baby’s.

But escaping back to Minnesota hinges on Chris, the fiancé she rejected for the drug dealer who now owns her. After all she’s done, is it too much to hope Chris will perform this generous act of love?

And what if love isn’t enough to protect Maddie when a deadlier storm closes in?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound

EXCERPT

Maddie shivered and tried to hug her knees tighter against her bulging tummy. Horror stories crept from the back corners of her mind—Zach’s stories about “taking care” of his previous girls’ pregnancies.

Zach bent and gripped her chin. He hissed in her face, “So, your mistake, your fix. I’m going to make you take care of it. Don’t move.”

She squeezed her eyes shut as he stomped to the back of the house. The closet door opened, there was a pause, then the door closed. She shuddered. For months she had bottled up this fear, ever since she first suspected she might be pregnant. Uncertainty let her keep hoping she was wrong. Finally, she’d secretly asked Tanisha to get her a pregnancy test. Now she wished she hadn’t.


About The Author

Karen E. Ingle

Karen Ingle admires women’s resilience and courage that emerge when faced with a pregnancy that rocks their world. As a freelance writer, she has interviewed such women, met them, and served them. She’s also rubbed elbows with the gutsy people who care deeply enough to support women in their journeys out of dark despair into bright hope. Now Karen is weaving those true stories into the compelling novel, With Me in the Storm, and others still to come in her Rumors of Light series.

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


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback copy of With Me in the Storm, $10 Amazon gift card, notecard, sticker, handmade bookmark, and a packet of “Maddie’s favorite hot cocoa mix”!

With Me in the Storm JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 20, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 27, 2023. 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!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Series Spotlight — Strike To The Heart

29 Nov

Strike to the Heart Series JustRead Blog Blitz
Welcome to the Blog Blitz for the Strike to the Heart series by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOKS

To Stand in the Breach

Title: To Stand in the Breach
Series: Strike to the Heart
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press
Release Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense, Christian

She came to America to escape a workhouse prison, but will the cost of freedom be too high a price to pay?

1933, Wisconsin – Large animal veterinarian Katy Wells takes her patients’ welfare personally, so it’s no surprise when she stands up to angry farmers planning a milk strike or takes in an injured draft horse to save its life.But after a visitor from the past discovers her location and reveals a threat, she must choose between her work and her freedom, and whether to trust a man to keep her safe.

To Stand in the Breach is the prequel novella to A Strike to the Heart, releasing April 2022.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

EXCERPT

He found her.

Desperately clutching the paper, Dr. Katy Wells slipped into the sheltered area between two of the buildings at the center of the small town of Eagle, Wisconsin. She placed a gloved hand on the worn plank wall of Town Hall and squeezed her eyes shut to block out the words on the letter. Fear’s insidious claws sank into her chest. Fourteen years of running, of staying one step ahead of her uncle and other men who wished her harm … and she’d finally found security here, in this town, hidden as it was in the middle of the United States. 

Until today.

Strike to the Heart

Title: A Strike to the Heart
Series: Strike to the Heart
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press
Release Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense, Christian

She’s fiercely independent. He’s determined to protect her.

Wisconsin, 1933―When a routine mission becomes an ambush that kills his team, Craft Agency sniper Miles Wright determines to find the persons responsible and protect the woman he rescued. But the fierce independence that led Lily Moore to leave her family’s dairy business for the solitary life of a dog trainer and the isolation of her farm don’t make that easy. Neither does his unwanted attraction to her. Meanwhile, escalating incidents confirm that she’s far from safe.

Lily fears letting the surprisingly gentle retired marine into her life almost as much as she fears whoever is threatening her. As Wisconsin farmers edge toward another milk strike, one that will surely turn violent, it becomes clear that the plot against Lily may be part of a much larger conspiracy. When the search for her abductor leads close to home, she must decide whether to trust her family or the man who saved her life.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

EXCERPT

Miles Wright pressed his eye to the A5 telescopic sight attached to his Springfield long-range rifle. Instead of being hunkered down in the trenches of Europe or in the humidity of Central America, as he would be if he’d stayed in the army, he flattened himself against the rough branch of a monstrous pine one hundred yards from the ruins of a stone house lost amid the forests of northern Wisconsin.

He breathed deeply, the smell of decaying leaves filling his nose even as the action calmed his heart. Dusk had come, but he could still spot the shadows of his four fellow retired soldiers darting from tree to tree toward the stone structure where Lily Moore’s kidnappers likely stashed her. His team was tasked with a simple rescue and had yet to meet any resistance. Miles’ job was to keep it that way.

As Silent as the Night

Title: As Silent as the Night
Series: Strike to the Heart
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press
Release Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense, Christian

He can procure anything, except his heart’s deepest wish. She might hold the key, if she’s not discovered first.

Chicago, 1933―Lucia Critelli will do anything for her ailing grandfather, including stand in a breadline to have enough food to make him a St. Nicholas Day meal. When she catches the eye of a goon who threatens her grandfather, she discovers the end of Prohibition doesn’t mean the end of the mafia’s criminal activity.

Retired Marine Scout Giosue “Gio” Vella can find anything, especially if it helps a fellow Italian immigrant, so he has no doubt he can locate his neighbor’s granddaughter, who has gone missing from a local church. Keeping her safe is another matter. Especially when he chooses to hide out with his Marine buddy in Eagle, Wisconsin, the site of a barely-held truce among striking dairy farmers.

Will Christmas bring the miracle they all need or will Gio discover there are some things even he can’t find, particularly when he stumbles upon the most elusive gift of all: love.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

EXCERPT

Lucia tugged on her coat, a threadbare one that had seen too many winters. Gio slid his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. She didn’t balk; in fact, she seemed to tuck in closer.

Buon compleanno, Lucia. Happy birthday.” He lowered his chin so he could see her, but as he spoke, she raised her face to his, bringing her lips within a hair’s breadth of his.

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t move. A white puff of breath wisped between them. Cold stiffened his extremities, and he flexed his fingers. So many reasons to put space between them, but he had no desire to entertain them. He ran his gaze over Lucia’s olive skin, dipped to her lips, then up to her warm, brown eyes. They searched his own, neither pushing forward nor retreating, letting him decide whether he was done denying the truth to himself.

Si, this woman, she was special to him. He slid his hand down Lucia’s back, drawing her nearer until her lips touched his. Si, si. More special than any other.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Danielle Grandinetti

Danielle Grandinetti is author of the Strike to the Heart series and a book blogger at DaniellesWritingSpot.com. Her short stories have appeared in several publications and her writing has won the University of Northwestern Distinguished Faith in Writing Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Danielle especially loves quiet mornings served with the perfect cup of tea.

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


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of the Strike to the Heart series and a tote bag featuring a dairy cow.

Strike to the Heart JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 29, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on December 6, 2022. 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 HERE


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

Spotlight On The 2022 Christy Awards!

3 Nov

The Christy Award Finalists 2022 JustRead Blog Blitz

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for The Christy Award Finalists organized by ECPA and hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! We extend our sincere and enthusiastic congratulations to The Christy Award 2022 Finalists!

The Christy Award Finalists 2022

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

All That Really Matters Bookshop by the Sea Husband Auditions

All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter (Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong (Kregel Publications)

FIRST NOVEL

All That Is Secret Recorder Sugar Birds

All That Is Secret by Patricia Raybon (Tyndale House Publishers)
Recorder by Cathy McCrumb (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom (She Writes Press)

GENERAL FICTION

The Letter Keeper The Secret Keepers Old Depot Grocery Under the Magnolias

The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson Publishers)
The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
Under the Magnolias by T. I. Lowe (Tyndale House Publishers)

HISTORICAL

Between The Wild Branches Drawn By The Current The Widows Of Champagne Yours Is The Night

Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Drawn by The Current by Jocelyn Green (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
The Widows of Champagne by Renee Ryan (Love Inspired)
Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

As Dawn Breaks Hope Between The Pages Shadows Of Swanford Abbey Until Leaves Fall in Paris

As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham (Barbour Publishing)
Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)

MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER

Aftermath On The Cliffs Of Foxglove Manor The Barrister And Letter Marque

Aftermath by Terri Blackstock (Thomas Nelson Publishers)
The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)

SHORT FORM

A Texas Christmas Carol False Pretense Mr Nicholas

A Texas Christmas Carol (in Under the Texas Mistletoe) by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Mr. Nicholas: A Magical Christmas Tale by Christopher de Vinck (Paraclete Press)
False Pretense by Heather Day Gilbert (WoodHaven Press)

SPECULATIVE

A Time To Seek Dark Intercept Recorder Windward Shore

A Time to Seek by Tracy Higley (Stonewater Books LLC)
Dark Intercept by Brian Andrews & Jeffrey Wilson (Tyndale House Publishers)
Recorder by Cathy McCrumb (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Windward Shore by Sharon Hinck (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)

YOUNG ADULT

A Gentle Tyranny Realms of Light Shadow

A Gentle Tyranny by Jess Corban (Wander, an imprint of Tyndale House Publishers)
Realms of Light by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Shadow by Kara Swanson (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive print copies of The Christy Award finalist titles from one category of their choice!

The Christy Award 2021 Finalists 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 November 3, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on November 10, 2022. 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 HERE


REGISTER FOR THE CHRISTY AWARD 2022 EVENTS

Art of Writing on November 17, 12:30-5 pm at Lipscomb University in Nashville $99
A conference for writers, storytellers, and publishing curators.

The Christy Award Gala on November 17, 7-9 pm at Lipscomb University in Nashville $89
Celebrate this year’s finalists and winners with authors, editors, publishers, and readers!

Bundle the Art of Writing Conference & The Christy Award Gala $139

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


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

Book Spotlight — The Secrets of Emberwild

19 Oct

The Secrets of Emberwild JustRead Takeover Blitz

I’m excited to feature The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H. McGee, touring with JustRead Publicity Tours! McGee’s contemporary romance/women’s fiction novel, The Cedar Key, was a hit with my book club. I think they’d like this one as well. Check out all the details below.

The Secrets of Emberwild

Title: The Secrets of Emberwild
Author: Stephenia H. McGee
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: October 4, 2022
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

A gifted trainer in a time women are not allowed to race, Nora Fenton prefers horses to men. They’re easier to handle, they’re more reliable, and they never tell her what to do. After her father’s passing, Nora is determined to save her struggling horse farm, starting with entering her prize colt into the harness races at the 1905 Mississippi Fair. If she wins, she may have a chance at independence. But when a stranger arrives and starts asking disconcerting questions, she suspects he may have other motives than unseating her in the training job that is rightfully hers.

Silas Cavallero will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery of his father’s death–even if it means training an unwieldy colt for Nora, who wants nothing more than to see him gone. But when mysterious accidents threaten their safety and circumstances shrouded in secrets begin unlocking clues to his past, Silas will have to decide if the truth is worth risking ruining everything for the feisty woman he’s come to admire.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Christianbook | BookBub

EXCERPT

Arrow snorted and pranced. The stallion, two years old last month, was as high-strung as he was beautiful and brimmed with potential. A few more weeks of training and he’d be ready for his first qualifying race—just in time for the fair. 

She hoped.

If only she could work with him longer each day. Father’s insistence that a woman had no place training horses hadn’t waned as his illness worsened, and the stable hands still thought they were doing her a favor by thwarting her efforts. Mother, for her part, seemed to think it her duty to carry on Father’s archaic ideals with a fervor. As though doing so would smother Nora’s modernized way of thinking and suddenly turn her into the pristine lady they’d both somehow failed to produce. 

Nora swatted a thick seed head. She’d show them. Her methods worked faster and better than any of the stable hands’, but none of them would admit it. 

She smirked. They wouldn’t have a choice if she got Arrow ready on her own. 

If she could prove to Mother that women were capable of more than just tending home and hearth, then perhaps she could convince Mother to entertain her other ideas for the farm. Father wouldn’t get better, and they needed to prepare. Arrow was the key to her independence.


Stephenia H. McGee

Stephenia H. McGee is the award-winning author of many stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South. When she’s not reading or sipping sweet tea on the front porch, she’s a writer, dreamer, husband spoiler, and busy mom of two rambunctious boys.

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


TOUR GIVEAWAY

Wow! What a great giveaway! One (1) winner will receive a print copy of The Secrets of Emberwild and $25 Barnes & Noble gift card! Enter today!

The Secrets of Emberwild 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 October 19, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 26, 2022. 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 the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

A Quilt For Christmas Blog Blitz!

14 Oct

A Quilt for Christmas JustRead Takeover Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Quilt for Christmas

Title: A Quilt for Christmas: A Christmas Novella
Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: September 6, 2022
Genre: Christian Romance

Recently widowed Vera Swanson is having a hard time getting in the Christmas spirit in her new town. When asked to make a quilt for an ailing neighbor, she pulls together a diverse circle of quilters, including freespirited Tasha Ellison. The group becomes stitched together through shared stories, trust, and a little romantic weaving.

Christmas should be celebrated with family. But for Vera Swanson, that’s not an option this year. Widowed and recently relocated, she is lonely in her condo-for-one–until little Fiona Albright knocks on her door needing help. With her mother seriously ill and her father out of town, Fiona enlists Vera’s help, and when she finds out her new neighbor is a quilter, she has a special request–a Christmas quilt for Mama.

Vera will have to get a ragtag group of women together in order to fulfill the request. Between free-spirited artist Tasha, chatty empty nester Beverly, retired therapist Eleanor, and herself, Vera has hopes that Christmas for the Albright family will be merry, after all–and she may find herself a new family of friends along the way.

Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson invites you to cuddle up this holiday season with this cozy story of giving, forgiving, and a little bit of romance.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Christianbook | BookBub

EXCERPT

So Vera would be alone for Christmas—not that she planned to acknowledge the holiday. Who was there to celebrate with anyway? After five months in Fairview, she hadn’t made a single friend. She’d heard that as one got older it grew more difficult to make new friends. Perhaps her loneliness was proof of that. 

A loud knocking at her door brought Vera’s little pity party to a halt. Hurrying to see who was pounding so urgently—since no one ever called on her here—she suddenly remembered she was still in her pajamas and robe. She cracked open the door with a cautious hello? but could see no one. 

“Please, please, can you help me?” a small voice pleaded from down below. 

Vera blinked at the small child who stood on her doorstep. With two messy blond pigtails, bare feet, and widened blue eyes, the little girl looked somewhat lost and confused. And like Vera, the child was dressed in sleepwear, except hers was a thin, summery nightgown that looked none too warm.

“Wh-what?” Vera fumbled to unlatch the chain and fully open the door. “Who are you?” 

“I’m Fiona,” the girl reached for Vera’s hand and, grasping it tightly, tugged. “We live right there.” She pointed to the opened door across the hallway. “Mama is sick. Please help me!” 

“Oh my!” Leaving her own door wide open, Vera let the child lead her across the hall and into the condo.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melody Carlson

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 250 books with sales of more than 7.5 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, her novel All Summer Long was made into a Hallmark movie, and the film version of The Happy Camper is soon to be released. She and her husband live in central Oregon.

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


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of A Quilt for Christmas, a $10 Starbucks gift card, and quilted coasters!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 12, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 19, 2022. 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 HERE


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

Book Spotlight + Giveaway! — The Dark Guest

12 Oct


Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Dark Guest by Sarah Hamaker, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Dark Guest
Series: The Cold War Legacy #1
Author: Sarah Hamaker
Publisher: Seshva Press LLC
Release Date: May 15, 2022
Genre: Christian, Romantic Suspense

The Cold War is over, but The Wolf is still at the door.

When Violet Lundy isn’t cleaning rooms at Happy Hills Assisted Living Facility, she loves spending her free time with resident Rainer Kopecek. Hearing his stories of the dangerous life he led behind the Iron Curtain in East Berlin makes her own life seem more tolerable. But when Rainer is found dead and his room in disarray, Violet suspects foul play.

Dr. Henry Silverton lives among his books, teaching and writing about the Cold War. A letter about an East German traitor known only as “The Wolf” propels Henry out of academia and into Violet’s life. Together, they embark on a perilous quest to uncover the truth about Rainer’s death and the traitor’s identity.

Can Violet and Henry uncover the secrets of the past before one of them ends up as The Wolf’s next victim?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound

EXCERPT

“No matter what happens to me, the truth must come out.” He squared his shoulders and tapped his chest with his forefinger. “I withstood the best the Stasi could throw at me. If I would not break then, I will not now.”  

Violet hid the uneasiness that crept up her spine by squeezing his hand to express her support. Mr. Kopecek had hinted that his life in East Berlin had its dark side, but he had never revealed anything more troubling than stories about soap shortages. “Tell me what you need.”


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Hamaker loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s written romantic suspense novels and nonfiction books, as well as stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes. As a writers coach, her heart is encouraging writers. She’s a member of ACFW; ACFW Virginia Chapter; and Faith, Hope and Love, as well as the president of Capital Christian Writers Fellowship. Her podcast, “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” can be found wherever you listen to podcasts. Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, four teenagers, a preschool foster child and three cats.

Visit her online at sarahhamakerfiction.com.


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a copy of The Dark Guest (print or ebook, winner’s choice), a 20 oz Wolf Tumbler-Stainless Steel Travel Mug With Lid And Straw, a Wolf Wristlet Keychain, an assortment of specialty teas, a The Dark Guest tote, and The Dark Guest notebook.

(1) additional winner will receive an ebook copy of The Dark Guest, a Wolf Wristlet Keychain, an assortment of specialty teas, and The Dark Guest notebook.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 11, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 18, 2022. 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 HERE


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

Book Tour + Giveaway! — Bookshop of Secrets

8 Oct

The Bookshop of Secrets Just Read Blog Tour
Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Bookshop of Secrets

Title: The Bookshop of Secrets
Author: Mollie Rushmeyer
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Release Date: October 25, 2022
Genre: Contemporary Inspirational Romance

A collection of lost books holds the clues to her family’s legacyand her future.

Hope Sparrow has mastered the art of outrunning her tragic past, learning never to stay anywhere too long and never to allow anyone control over her life again. Coming to Wanishin Falls in search of her family’s history already feels too risky. But somewhere in the towering stacks of this dusty old bookshop are the books that hold Hope’s last ties to her late mother—and to a rumored family treasure that could help her start over.

Only, the bookshop is in shambles, and the elderly owner is in the beginning stages of dementia and can’t remember where the books lie. To find the last links to the loved ones she’s lost, Hope must stay and accept help from the townsfolk to locate the treasured volumes. Each secret she uncovers brings her closer to understanding where she came from. But the longer she stays in the quaint town, the more people find their way into the cracks in her heart. And letting them in may be the greatest risk of all…

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

EXCERPT

The strangest thing about The Histories of Women: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Female Life and Mind was that it wasn’t a book at all. When Hope had opened it last night, handwritten words greeted her inside. A woman named Grace Holloway seemed to have had the book created to use as her journal. Hope became taken with the woman’s writing and the woman herself. The journal was a fascinating glimpse into her 1895 life. 

On the inside cover, Grace had inscribed in slanting, elegant script: 

This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.” Psalm 102:18. 

The birds welcomed Saturday morning with their songs despite the cold, as though willing the weather to match the date on the calendar. Tomorrow would be May. Mags had given Hope the day off since she’d be home with Ulysses. Plus, Hope had worked the full week through. 

In celebration of finding her grandma’s book and her first week of work, she told them she’d make a special dinner that night. She’d already gone to the grocery store and couldn’t wait to test some literary-themed dishes on them—some potential menu items for the mobile café she dreamed of. But the meal prep could wait. 

The chill of the ice-cold boulder beneath her leached into her skin, her bones. A shiver disturbed the gigantic diary balanced on her lap. From her spot on the lakeshore, Dusty Jackets was behind her and up the hill, and the whole of Arrowhead Bay was spread out to either side. 

She’d found the bay mesmerizing yet disconcerting at times, with the hollowed rock “face” of Lost Lover’s Island sneering back at her. And with the water always doing as it pleased. Sometimes fierce, pummeling the rocks so hard it sounded like a thunderstorm. Sometimes gentle with barely a whisper against the pebbled shore. It took orders from no one. Today, the waves lapped quietly at her feet, white foam gathering at the edges like the world’s largest bathtub. 

Tendrils from the braid she’d twisted into a bun tickled her cheeks as she read in Grace’s journal.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mollie Rushmeyer

Mollie Rushmeyer writes contemporary romantic fiction with a blend of modern settings and fascinating historical elements. A born and bred Midwestern gal, Mollie makes her home in central Minnesota with her husband and two beautiful daughters. She is not only a bibliophile (the dustier the better, in her opinion), she’s a true Britophile at heart. Tea and coffee fuel her travels, by Google maps at least, and her passion for the written word.

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


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

The Bookshop of Secrets JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 4, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 11, 2022. 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. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


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

JustRead Publicity Tours