Happy release day to Leslie Kirby DeVooght. Her rom-com Christmas novel, The Heartfelt Formula is now available. If you love Christmas and Hallmark movies, especially Christmas Hallmark movies 😉 , you will definitely want to read this book. When Atlanta lawyer, Hope Elliot decides to make big changes to follow the scripts of TV romances in order to find her forever love, fun follows suit. What can possible go askew if you plan down to the last detail how you are going to end up with the man of your dreams? Plenty! Start the holiday reading out right with this jewel.
She’s got a formula for love… but real life isn’t a Christmas movie.
After another breakup, Atlanta attorney Hope Elliot decides to stop waiting for her happily-ever-after and write it herself. Inspired by her beloved Christmas romance movies, Hope crafts The Heartfelt Formula: a foolproof plan including snowball fights, cookie baking, and a perfectly timed first kiss.
Trading the big city for coastal Georgia, Hope sets out to find her small-town soulmate. But the actors in her carefully plotted scenes keep shuffling—especially when Brennan Taylor, her ambitious co-counsel continues to fill in for Cole Walker, the carefree furniture maker, who Hope cast as her hero.
Between courtroom drama, a mismatched leading man, and a mistletoe mishap, Hope must decide if she’ll trust her formula or accept a plot twist that might leave her all alone, or perhaps, with happiest ending of all.
A faith-filled romantic comedy for anyone who believes love, like Christmas, can still surprise you.
PW Best-Selling Author 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.
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Heartfelt Formula by Leslie Kirby DeVooght, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title: The Heartfelt Formula Author:Leslie Kirby DeVooght Publisher: Lanier Price Publishing Release Date: October 22, 2026 Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction/Romantic Comedy
After another breakup, Atlanta attorney Hope Elliot decides to stop waiting for her happily-ever-after and write it herself. Inspired by her beloved Christmas romance movies, Hope crafts The Heartfelt Formula: a foolproof plan including snowball fights, cookie baking, and a perfectly timed first kiss.
Trading the big city for coastal Georgia, Hope sets out to find her small-town soulmate. But the actors in her carefully plotted scenes keep shuffling—especially when Brennan Taylor, her ambitious co-counsel continues to fill in for Cole Walker, the carefree furniture maker, who Hope cast as her hero.
Between courtroom drama, a mismatched leading man, and a mistletoe mishap, Hope must decide if she’ll trust her formula or accept a plot twist that might leave her all alone, or perhaps, with the happiest ending of all.
A faith-filled romantic comedy for anyone who believes love, like Christmas, can still surprise you.
Excerpt
The Kiss. By far, the kiss was the best part of every rom-com, or for that matter, any movie.
Why couldn’t life imitate fiction?
Why couldn’t my life be like one of these movies? I snatched a handful of tissues and smothered another round of pathetic sobs.
Why couldn’t I, Hope Elliot, get my happily ever after?
With one click, I selected the image on the TV of the happy couple kissing in front of a balsam and holly wreath. It might be counterintuitive to seek solace in sappy romance movies, but it worked for me.
At least my latest breakup happened during the Heartfelt Channel’s annual Christmas-in-July marathon. I needed these movies, these examples of true love happening between unlikely people and against all odds. They gave me hope. Even better when they happened during my favorite holiday—Christmas.PURCHASE LINKS:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
Also Available
About The Author
PW Best-Selling Author 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.
Connect with Leslie by visiting lesliedevooght.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will each receive a Coastal Christmas ornament, plus signed copies of Taking a Second Shot, Stealing Magnolias, and The Heartfelt Formula!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 21, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 28, 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.
When Katherine Armstrong arranges a birthday weekend on her husband’s private island in the Everglades, she plans for everything: the guest list, the menu, the flowers, the careful distance between herself and the dark water beyond the dock.
She does not plan for the storm.
By nightfall, the power is gone, the mainland is unreachable, and something in the mangrove shadows has begun to move. Katherine has spent years building a life that looks flawless from the outside. Now, with her children beside her and the water on every side, she will have to decide what that life was actually worth.
Sixty years earlier, a World War II veteran named Conrad Boone made a decision on these same waters — one that seemed containable, even necessary, at the time. He passed the consequence of that decision to his family. They learned to live with it. And the island learned to keep its secrets.
Until the storm.
The Glades moves between a Florida that no longer exists and a Florida that is drowning in its own inheritance, between a man who thought he could manage what he’d done and a woman who never knew there was anything to manage. What lives beneath the water has been patient for sixty years.
It will not be patient much longer.
Excerpt
The Armstrong Island dining room shimmers with crystal and candlelight.
Katherine stands at the head of the table, her pulse pounding in her ears as she does a last- minute check of the presentation. Like a director scanning the stage before the curtain rises, she approves the glowing teak floors, the smooth linen on the table, the dripless candles. Beyond the glass wall, the canal reflects the coral streaks of a Florida sunset.
She has timed this dinner exactly, and Dylan will bring out the food just as the light goes gold.
Happy birthday to her. She smiles. Thirty-five years.
She sits and nods at Flora, who moves first, placing a plate of stone crab claws on each charger. Dylan Cross sweeps in behind her, his black button-down fitted and his hands in motion.
“Ladies.” He dips his head in a bow. “Stone crab harvested yesterday and promptly chilled. Mustard sauce balanced with cream and just enough heat to be interesting. Tell me what you think.”
He steps away, but not too far.
Katherine smiles at her friends, then cracks the first claw. Sweet brine floods her mouth, absolutely perfect. Her shoulders drop an inch. She allows herself one moment of pure satisfaction, no asterisk attached. Appetizer course. A success.
“To our Katherine,” Taylor says, lifting her glass. “Who apparently now hosts birthday dinners
Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly six million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 160 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels and nonfiction.
Now that her two children are grown, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards–one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City. Afterward, the dog gave out paw-tographs at the airport.
When she’s not home writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 13, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 20, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No delivery restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Today is the release day for the latest contemporary romance by Lara Van Hulzen. A Love That Leads Home is the 3rd book in TheNearlake series and features a second-chance at love and a new, hope-filled future for main characters Anne and Chase. If you like small-town, contemporary romance, check it out (and the others in the series).
After graduation, Anne Avery left Nearlake and never looked back. More than happy to get away from an angry, alcoholic father and a small town that she felt did nothing but judge her, she created a life for herself. Her decision meant turning away from her first love, but it was clear she would never be good enough for him anyway.
After her mother falls and is injured, Anne returns to Nearlake for what she believes will be a short visit, but as her life unravels, her past catches up with her.
Chase Coulter, the oldest son of a founding family, is considered the “golden boy” of Nearlake. Content with life, owning and running a Dude Ranch, he finds his world turns sideways with Anne’s return. The one who got away. The one who broke his heart. The one he never should have let go of.
As Chase attempts to come to terms with his feelings while treading carefully with hers, he hopes for a future with Anne.
Writing stories since she was a young girl, Lara Van Hulzen’s dream of being a novelist became a reality with her Men of Honor Series.
An avid reader, she worked as a book reviewer for 18 years with various organizations. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a Masters of Divinity in Chaplaincy.
Lara loves tea, baseball and living in Idaho with her husband and Great Dane.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Coordinates of Death by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:Coordinates of Death Series:Arctic Protectors #2 Author:Darlene L. Turner Publisher: Love Inspired Trade Release Date: October 6, 2026 Genre: Romantic Thriller
A police officer will do anything to catch the serial killer that got away—even if it means playing a deadly game in the icy wilderness.
Sweetwood Falls, Yukon, has seen too much terror for one small town. Corporal Aurora Hunt still blames herself for not catching the Shadow Box Killer before five women lost their lives. The killings stopped two years ago, and her colleagues believe the murderer is dead. But Aurora isn’t convinced.
A chilling discovery on a winter’s morning confirms her fears. The crime scene is all too familiar—a woman’s mutilated body, and beneath it, a box containing a gruesome souvenir. But this time, there’s a special message, daring Aurora to play a game that will lead her into the wilderness to try and save the next victim.
Canadian Watcher Squad survivalist Kordell Greene is part of the past that Aurora has tried to put behind her. He’s also the only person equipped to guide her through this deadly terrain. But somehow, the killer knows all their secrets. Solving cryptic clues as they battle the elements, Aurora and Kordell must confront dark truths they’ve withheld, even from each other. And always, the Shadow Box Killer is one step ahead, drawing them deeper into a twisted game where the slightest mistake may be their last.
Excerpt
Kordell set the thoughts aside and followed her up the partially snow-covered chipped-stone stairs past the warped wooden sign declaring the new name of the institution that held dark secrets too. Gravenstone. The haunting name seemed to fit perfectly, the word carrying weight as if etched in stone from the grave.
The building loomed tall, stone walls mottled with age, windows reminding him of hollow eyes—eyes that watched the forest intently. The roof’s peak stood stark against the snowy mountain backdrop.
Kordell’s gut told him to flee. Escape from the clutches of what lay ahead, clawing at them from the shadows, to enter the Gravenstone Institute.
Darlene L. Turner is a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 6, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 13, 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.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Sanctuary and Sabotage by Lori DeJong, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title:Sanctuary and Sabotage Series:Guarded Hearts #2 Author: Lori DeJong Publisher: Scrivenings Press Release Date: September 15, 2026 Genre: Romantic Suspense
The greatest threat isn’t the enemy outside—it’s the secrets between them.
Protection Specialist Trevor Paxton returns to his Texas hometown carrying the weight of a mission gone wrong. Seeking sanctuary at his family’s ranch, he never expects danger to follow him into the life of Dr. Kinsley Talbot, the once-freckled tomboy now fighting to save her family’s land and the veterinary clinic that is her future.
When Kinsley’s clinic is sabotaged and her barn goes up in flames, Trevor’s instincts tell him she’s in danger. But Kinsley refuses his help, determined to protect her family’s legacy without revealing the secret that could bring it all down.
As threats close in and old feelings rekindle, Trevor makes a quiet choice that could cost him her trust. To save Kinsley, he’ll have to expose his own subterfuge—and convince her that love sometimes means standing guard, even from the shadows.
Excerpt
“What do you mean you’re not accepting this?” Trevor hesitated before taking the letter his boss held out to him across the desk. “With all due respect, Blankenship, you don’t have a choice.”
With a sigh, Colton perched his hands on his hips. “You might be right. But, with all due respect, I still refuse. What happened Wednesday is still too fresh. Too raw. Not a good time to make a life-altering decision. Like quitting a job you were made for.”
“Apparently not.” Trevor stuck the resignation letter in the inside pocket of his suit coat. The letter he’d penned yesterday on the way to Houston from Nashville on the company plane. “I got a fellow operative killed. Why aren’t you firing me?”
Colton gestured for Trevor to take a seat in front of the desk while he took his own behind it. “Mack and I discussed Wednesday’s unfortunate outcome, and we both agree you’re not to blame. Neither of us considered terminating your employment. You’re a top-notch protection specialist. Great instincts. Intelligent. Cool under pressure.”
Trevor’s gut clenched, and the bowl of cereal he’d forced down that morning churned in his stomach. He hadn’t slept much after accompanying his co-worker’s body to the morgue last night … and holding on to a distraught newly minted widow after the sight of her husband on a cold, stainless-steel table.
Lori DeJong (pronounced DeeYung) is an award-winning contemporary Christian romance author who enjoys penning stories full of grace and the redemptive power of God’s love that inspire others to hope regardless of circumstance, find joy in the moment, and grow in their faith.
Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Lori arrived in Texas in 2005 and dug those roots right in. She currently resides in beautiful Georgetown, north of Austin, with her husband of thirty years. Other than their two fur-babies, their nest is empty, as their daughter and son-in-law are settled in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
Lori loves to write about love and romance with a touch of suspense, with a firm foundation of faith. Clean but sassy, sparkly, and even goose-bumpy romance, with God in the middle and characters seeking and learning and changing, couldn’t be more heartwarming or spine-tingly.
Lori is an ACFW Genesis Award winner, four-time Selah Award finalist, two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist, has been awarded an Angel Award, and placed second in the FHL Reader’s Choice Awards. She’s also a member of several organizations, including ACFW, Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers, Novel Academy, CenTex Christian Writers, among others. You can visit Lori at https://loridejongwrites.com and sign up for her newsletter for writing updates, book recommendations, a monthly giveaway, and more.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card plus a signed copy of both Mistletoe and Malice and Sanctuary and Sabotage!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 5, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 12, 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.
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.
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!
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.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Magic City Murder by Bruce Hammack, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
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.
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!
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.
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Sabotage Games by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
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.
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!
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.
Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Whim and a Prayer by Julie Lessman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
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.”
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!
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.
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