Spotlight on Contemporary Romance — Batch of Love

14 Aug

Batch of Love JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Batch of Love by Natasha D. Frazier, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Batch of Love

Title: Batch of Love
Author: Natasha D. Frazier
Publisher: Encouraging Works
Release Date: August 6, 2024
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Nailed It meets You’ve Got Mail in Batch of Love

A small-town baker with dreams of moving out of the mall’s food court and opening her own brick-and-mortar bakery enters a baking competition for a chance to win $25,000. But instead of winning the grand prize, she finds herself in the middle of her ex’s plan to acquire her business for a big box retailer.

Two years ago, Ginger opened a bakery, Ginger’s Goodies, to honor a promise she made to her late mother. Ready to take her business to the next level, Ginger enters a baking competition hosted by big box retailer, Decadent Dough. What she doesn’t count on is running into her high school ex, Brock Pearson, who works for the company.

Instead of joining his father’s firm, The Pearson Group, Brock Pearson was eager to prove he could be successful outside of his father’s shadow and joined the legal team at Decadent Dough thirteen years ago. When his mentor retires, he throws his hat in the ring to become his successor. The job is his if he can find potential acquisitions, one of which is Ginger’s Goodies.

For Ginger, joining Decadent Dough is a hard NO.

However, Brock will not back down easily because now he wants to win her heart again.

And just when Brock and Ginger were at the precipice of sealing the deal of love….

Brock’s boss learns Ginger is the daughter of his college rival. Now, he will stop at nothing to destroy her business. To make matters worse, he convinced Ginger that Brock is part of his scheme. To prove his innocence, Brock may lose his shot at the promotion he’s coveted and the career he’s worked so hard for.

Ginger and Brock’s careers and hearts hang in the balance. Which is more important than the other?

Excerpt

What possessed him to wrap his arms around Ginger? Hugging her had been an impulsive move, one which he almost regretted. But having experienced the fragility of life through the death of friends he’d met in college, Brock understood how precious every breath was. And for that reason, he’d come close to apologizing for his part in their break-up. Although their relationship ended twenty years ago, the pain was real. And just like he’d never truly let go of his feelings for Ginger, he could see in her eyes that she still cared for him, too.

But he couldn’t bring himself to say he was sorry because her actions were what tore them apart. And just as she’d walked away from him twenty years ago, watching her run away from their encounter five minutes ago left him with the same feeling of powerlessness.

No power to convince her to stay.

No power to find the right words to plead his case.

And no power to reel in his emotions for the one woman who had his heart on a hook.



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

About The Author

Natasha D. Frazier

Natasha D. Frazier fell in love with love around the age of twelve because of artists like Babyface, Boys II Men, Whitney Houston, and New Edition. Around sixteen when her mother purchased a romance novel and left it lying around the house untouched, Natasha read it and a spark for the written word had been ignited.

Natasha believes that writing is one of her purposes and contributions to the world. She feels accomplished when she can get a few words written and like blah when life gets in the way. Her hope is that at the end of every novel, readers will feel like they’ve been wrapped in a cozy blanket with a mug of their favorite coffee/tea/warm drink.

When she isn’t reading or writing, she is likely watching movies with her family. Natasha resides in Richmond, TX with her husband, Eddie Frazier, Jr. and their three children, Eden, Ethan, and Emilyn. Her greatest joy and commitment is to her family who she hopes to inspire above all else. One of her many mottos in life is: Faith removes limitations. Natasha and her family attend Parkway Fellowship in Richmond, TX, where she volunteers as a small group leader for elementary students. Natasha is also a member of the Houston Area Alumni Chapter of Jackson State University and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

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

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $25 Amazon gift card!

(1) winner will win a 3 book bundle of backlist titles by Natasha D. Frazier!

Batch of Love JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 13, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 20, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Top 10 Tuesday — Cool Rides!

13 Aug

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is — Planes, Trains & Automobiles/Books Featuring Travel (books whose plots involve travel or feature modes of transportation on the cover/title). My list consists of books with Cool Rides. The mode of transportation that the MCs choose advances the plot and helps define the character. Not all are really cool (one character takes the bus), but I promise that all the books are fun reads.

F0r more transportation lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top 10 Cool Rides!

Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock (taxi)

Dearest Dorothy, Are We There Yet by Charlene Baumbich (1976 Lincoln Continental)

Elvis Takes A Back Seat by Leanna Ellis (vintage Cadillac)

Harriet Beamer Takes The Bus by Joyce Magnin (bus)

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A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell (flying machine)

Miles from Where We Started by Cynthia Ruchti (travel trailer)

The Mother Road by Jennifer AlLee (convertible)

The Preacher Wore Black Leather by Loree Lough (motorcycle)

Romance Rustlers and Thunderbird Thieves by Sharon Dunn (T-Bird)

Your Chariot Awaits by Lorena McCourtney (limousine)

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Spotlight on Historical Romance — Something Borrowed

12 Aug

Something Borrowed JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Something Borrowed by Rachel Scott McDaniel, Allison Pittman, and Susie Finkbeiner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tourst

About The Book

Something Borrowed

Title: Something Borrowed
Authors: Rachel Scott McDaniel, Allison Pittman & Susie Finkbeiner
Publisher: Kregel
Release Date: August 13, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Romance Collection

One Perfect Dress–three different Love stories

In this brand-new novella collection, three renowned Christian historical fiction authors trace generations of wartime romances through a special wedding dress with love sewn into its seams.

“A Heart in Disguise” by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Clara Westlake loves her job as a seamstress in the US “Camouflage Corps,” sewing suits for snipers and contributing to the war effort. But when she overhears a threat against her beloved New York City, the Great War comes too close to home–except no one believes her forewarning. She must recruit Marcus Reeves, a childhood friend searching for his purpose after suffering a devastating war injury. As they search for answers together, they may also uncover a love that lasts.

“A Letter to Eli” by Allison Pittman

Bette and Alice are lifelong friends, trying to make a good life for themselves in New York City while World War II rages. It’s never far away from their thoughts–not with Alice’s fiancé serving at sea, in danger every minute. That’s a worry Bette doesn’t envy. Then a secret letter reunites her with her soldier ex-boyfriend, now wounded and back in the States. But can the innocent love these two had before the war be rekindled in the face of tragedy?

“A Daffodil in the Dress” by Susie Finkbeiner

Kate Becker and Ike Finch have worked together at his family’s bookstore since Kate’s husband died in the early days of the Vietnam War. She has her daughter, Eloise, to take care of and bills to pay, and this job was a godsend. A second love is not in the cards, especially not with the world still teetering on the edge of insanity. But when Ike brings little Eloise special flowers one spring day, Kate begins to look at him as more than an employer. Is falling in love again worth the risk?

Excerpts

“A Heart in Disguise” by Rachel Scott McDaniel

For the sake of the Allied powers, Clara Westlake pretended to be a rock. Not in a figurative sense, as in an emotional slab of strength. No, she’d been ordered to imitate a stone. Her knee itched, and a rogue curl tickled the edge of her ear, but she focused on keeping still. After all, whoever heard of a fidgety boulder?

At least she’d chosen a breathable fabric, which helped, considering her whole person was swathed in her latest creation: an earth-toned camouflage suit. The morning dew seeped through the burlap, making her entire left side damp. This posed new questions. Would a soldier prefer a loose, airy fabric for comfortable breathing or one that would prevent moisture from leaking in? The sogginess could prove miserable over time. Would cotton panels on the sides help? She mused over the possibilities while remaining crumpled on a stretch of land in Van Cortlandt Park. 

Because even though Clara was safely tucked beneath a towering maple tree in the Bronx, New York, the suit she now tested would be shipped overseas to an awaiting sniper. It was her job to make the soldier invisible to the enemy.

“A Letter to Eli” by Allison Pittman

From the corner of her eye, she spotted a fashionably dressed and flawlessly coiffed woman who held the hand of an equally stylish little girl. The child must have been about four years old, and she held her head at an angle identical to her mother’s, looking down her nose as she perused the footwear display.

“No,” Uncle Ray said, anticipating Bette’s next move.

“Come on,” she wheedled.

“You don’t work here.”

Bette gestured broadly. “No one’s working here right now.”

“The girl’s at lunch. I can bring Thea over from Women’s Shoes.”

“I promise to send her over to Thea to make the sale. I wouldn’t have to beg you if you’d just hire me already.”

“I’m already paying one family member I can’t afford.”

“Good thing I’m not family.”

Uncle Ray acquiesced. “Fine. I’ll let you play shopgirl. These rations will be the death of me. Push the galoshes, will you? We’re overrun with them.”

Bette reached out and pinched a bit of his jacket sleeve. “Thanks, Ray.”

“A Daffodil in the Dress” by Susie Finkbeiner

War was a thief. It stole life and beauty and joy. I hated it most of all for stealing Neil from us. And for what purpose?

I was still waiting for God to answer that one. 

Sometimes I wondered if he ever would.

Eloise pouted at the daffodils. That sad face would have broken Neil’s heart, I knew. He would have given her the moon if only to make her smile. She wouldn’t have just had him wrapped around her little finger. She would have had full reign of his heartstrings.

I, however, wasn’t so easily persuaded, and Eloise knew it.

A year before, she might have thrown a small fit. Two years before, a tantrum. This day, though, she pulled in her bottom lip and nodded, even if she hadn’t gotten her way.

My little girl was growing up inch by inch.

“Tell you what. We’ll let these stay here.” I checked my watch. It was almost time for me to be at work. “And we’ll tell Mr. Finch to come see them.”

“Mr. Finch doesn’t like flowers,” she said, giggling. “He’s a man.”

“Oh, plenty of men like flowers.” I smiled. “Especially men who read poetry. Ready?”

She nodded and let me take her hand. We made our way to the other side of the park, leaving the daffodils firmly planted where they were.

Along the way, we stopped for a few seconds to listen to a man playing guitar under a giant elm. I let Eloise drop a couple of dimes into his case. We skipped together for an entire block until we got to the bookstore where I worked.

Spring was waking up, one yellow flower at a time.



PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop

About The Authors

Rachel Scott McDaniel

Rachel Scott McDaniel is an award-winning author of historical romance. Winner of the ACFW Genesis and the RWA Touched by Love awards, Rachel infuses faith and heart into each story. She enjoys life in Ohio with her husband and two kids.

Connect with Rachel at rachelmcdaniel.net to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Allison Pittman

Allison Pittman is the author of multiple award-winning books, including The Seamstress and For Time and Eternity. She is also copresident of a Christian writers group in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

Connect with Allison at allisonkpittman.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Susie Finkbeiner

Susie Finkbeiner is the author of The All-American and All Manner of Things which were both selected as Michigan Notable Books. Her other novels include Stories That Bind Us, The Nature of Small Birds, and the Pearl Spence series. Susie and her husband live in West Michigan with their three children.

Connect with Susie at susiefinkbeiner.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a signed print copy of Something Borrowed and some book-related goodies!

Something Borrowed JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 12, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 19, 2024. 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. Book will be signed by at least one of the authors. 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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First Line Friday — A Fabled Earth

9 Aug

Happy Friday! Today I am sharing Kimberly Brock‘s upcoming release, A Fabled Earth. I was so blessed to receive an ARC of this highly anticipated novel. There is so much to love about it — dual timelines, historical details, family dynamics, and the fabulous setting of Cumberland Island, Georgia! Check out all the details below.

But first, here’s the first line:

The East River, sometimes shining, a mirror to the lucent blue firmament above, was laid out for Cleo Woodbine’s sharp green eyes, with nothing moving over its calm surface on this morning but her, a reeling seabird, a passing fishing boat.

Sometimes the truth is found in a folktale.

1932. Cumberland Island off the coast of Southern Georgia is a strange place to encounter the opulence of the Gilded Age, but the last vestiges of the famed philanthropic Carnegie family still take up brief seasonal residence in their grand mansions there. This year’s party at Plum Orchard is a lively group: young men from some of America’s finest families who come to experience the area’s hunting beside a local guide, a beautiful debutante expecting to be engaged by the week’s end, and a promising female artist who believes she has meaningful ties to her wealthy hosts. But when temptations arise and passions flare, an evening of revelry and storytelling goes horribly awry. Lives are both lost and ruined.

1959. Reclusive painter Cleo Woodbine has lived alone for decades on Kingdom Come, a tiny strip of land once occupied by the servants for the great houses on nearby Cumberland. When she is visited by the man who saved her life nearly thirty years earlier, a tempest is unleashed as the stories of the past gather and begin to regain their strength. Frances Flood is a folklorist come to Cumberland Island seeking the source of a legend—and also information about her mother, who was among the guests at a long-ago hunting party. Audrey Howell, briefly a newlywed and now newly widowed, is running a local inn. When she develops an eerie double exposure photograph, some believe she’s raised a ghost—someone who hasn’t been seen since that fateful night in 1932.

Southern mythology and personal reckoning collide in this sweeping story inspired by the little-known history of Cumberland Island when a once-in-a-century storm threatens the natural landscape. Faced with a changing world, two timelines and the perspectives of three women intersect where a folktale meets the truth to reveal what Cumberland Island has hidden all along.

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Spotlight on Romantic Suspense — Captured in Frame

8 Aug

Captured in Frame JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Captured in Frame by Laura Thomas, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Captured in Frame

Title: Captured in Frame
Author: Laura Thomas
Series: Bite of Betrayal #1
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Release Date: August 5, 2024
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

In an idyllic village nestled in the English countryside, photographer Georgia Brooks is desperate to begin a new chapter in her life. Bramble Cottage was supposed to give her space to heal and hope again after suffering betrayal and rejection by the only man she ever loved. This was Georgia’s chance to rekindle her faith and reconnect with her sisters in a place that held sweet childhood memories—not expose herself to the ugly underbelly of the art world and put her family in danger.

Local pediatric surgeon, Doctor William Hughes, is captivated by the Canadian beauty with a camera over one shoulder and the weight of the world on the other. After suffering his own tragic loss and balancing a demanding career with raising a toddler, he recognizes the heaviness of grief . . . and the burden of guilt.

When Georgia discovers she could be in possession of incriminating evidence to frame a criminal ring, she needs to trust someone. She chooses Will. Postcards, photographs, paintings—something about Bramble Cottage is worth killing for. Can Georgia uncover the truth in time?

Excerpt

Storms didn’t usually bother her, in fact, she enjoyed watching them from the comfort of home. Yet this was far from enjoyable as she squinted in order to monitor every sightline in the wall of glass. Was her vivid imagination playing tricks? Tree branches swung low as the wind picked up. It could be a toy blowing across the patio. 

Eyes wide, she clutched her phone in both hands and clenched her jaw as another rumble of thunder sounded. Maybe I should check on Jack. He wasn’t crying, but he would be scared if he woke to this. Her limbs refused to move as she sat transfixed watching for movement outside.

 She could almost hear her own heartbeat. There. A huge shadow came into view, too dark to make out. Another flash, a scream—her scream—as the shape of a man was illuminated from behind. 

Rain-soaked, the figure stood and stared directly at her. Covered in a hooded oilskin coat, he was massive. She screamed again and he flinched. He pulled back his hood and leered.

It was him.



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

About The Author

Laura Thomas

A published, award-winning Christian author, Laura Thomas writes heartwarming encouragement for your soul—especially in her numerous romantic suspense novels, as well as her teen fiction, marriage, and children’s books. Laura is a hope*writers certified writing coach, a book-loving chocoholic mom and nanny, and is married to her high school sweetheart. Originally from the UK, they now live the empty nest life in Kelowna, British Columbia, with their French bulldog!

Connect with Laura at laurathomasauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $25 Amazon gift card!

(1) winner will win a signed, personalized paperback copy of Captured in Frame, and a Captured in Frame canvas book tote!

Captured in Frame JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 6, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 13, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

JustRead Publicity Tours

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Book Review — On Moonberry Lake

7 Aug

My book club read On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni in July, and we all loved it! Set in a small town where everyone knows your business and is not afraid to comment on it 😉 , the novel is full of heart and wisdom and some seriously quirky characters and LOL scenes. You are going to love it too!

Cora Matthews’s life is a mess. A broken engagement and the unexpected death of her mother have left her wondering if things will ever return to normal. Whatever “normal” is. 

It certainly isn’t what she finds at Moonberry Lake. After she receives her family’s dilapidated lakefront lodge as an inheritance–with a surprising condition attached–Cora finds her life overrun by a parade of eccentric neighbors who all have something to say and something to teach her. 

As Cora works to put her life back together, she must decide if she is willing to let go of the past, open her heart to love, and embrace the craziest version of family and home she could ever have imagined.

Holly Varni is a native Minnesotan of strong Norwegian descent, who was raised in the Lutheran Church that Garrison Keillor made a career depicting. Between the lutefisk, grumpy grandparents, and the crazy neighbor who mowed his lawn wearing pajamas, the seed to becoming a storyteller was planted. She wants to give readers characters they can connect with, admire, laugh at, and most of all love.

She is podcast host of “Moments from Moonberry Lake,” and author of the “Moonberry Lake” series.

In her personal life, she married a University Professor with the same chocolate eyes as her romantic lead. They live on the Central Coast of California with their three sons. The characters of Moonberry Lake and their unique stories came about as she was trying to survive being a boy mom. When not doing laundry or writing, she has the privilege of being a Hospice volunteer, where she sits with the dying and listens to their stories.

My Impressions:

Have you ever wondered if a book that everyone is raving about can live up to the hype? On Moonberry Lake by Holly Varni is that book! My book club read it and absolutely loved it! It has so much to recommend it. The setting is small town, busy-body central — both annoying and charming and completely fun. The characters run the gamut of wise and wonderful to slightly quirky to all-out ridiculous (check out the cashier at the local grocery 😉 ). The writing is excellent, and the themes of home and belonging resonated with all the members of my group. Main character Cora is untethered and has spent her life since childhood searching for belonging. The death of her mother allows her to return to the last place she truly felt at home, yet there are so many questions that she doesn’t know where to begin to find healing. Fortunately, she is embraced by a community that offers love and acceptance — a family she has always wanted. On Moonberry Lake is never predictable in its plot, but it does offer a very satisfying conclusion. There is a second novel due out this fall, and we are all impatiently waiting to return to Moonberry Lake.

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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Top Ten Tuesday — Favorite Series

6 Aug

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is hard! And since my brain has not recovered from a month of helping to care for grandkids and a 9 day vacation 😉 , I am not going to give you my favorite book from a series, but instead the first book in favorite series. Some of these you are probably familiar with, but they are older, so there may be one to discover. You’ll also notice they are all mystery/suspense — I have read a lot of those over the years! It all began with Nancy Drew. 😉 I promise that all the books are fabulous! And if you haven’t read them yet, you have a lot of great binge-reading ahead of you.

For more on-topic bloggers’ lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Favorite Series

Beyond Justice (Hidden Justice series) by Cara Putman

Hayden McCarthy is on track to become the youngest partner in her prestigious D.C. law firm . . . if the case she’s just been handed doesn’t destroy her first.

Hayden McCarthy knows firsthand the pain when justice is not served. It’s why she became an attorney and why she’s so driven in her career. When she’s assigned a wrongful death case against the government, she isn’t sure if it’s the lucky break she needs to secure a partnership—or an attempt to make sure she never gets there.

Further complicating matters is Andrew, her roommate’s distractingly attractive cousin. But Andrew’s father is a Congressman, and Hayden’s currently taking on the government. Could the timing be any worse?

The longer she keeps the case active, the higher the stakes become. Unknown enemies seem determined to kill the case—or her. Logic and self-preservation would indicate she should close the case. But how can she, when justice is still just beyond her reach?

End Game (Capital Intrigue series) by Rachel Dylan

When elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington, DC, FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together to bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately, all evidence points to a Navy SEAL sniper whom Bailey refuses to believe is guilty. 

When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, including a link to a powerful defense contractor, they wonder if there’s a deeper cover-up at play. Then Bailey is targeted, and it becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to keep their dark secrets. 

With the stakes getting higher by the moment in a twisted conspiracy, there’s a rush against the clock to determine whom they can really trust. As allies turn to enemies, the biggest secret yet to be uncovered could be the end of all of them.

Nothing But Trouble (PJ Sugar series) by Susan May Warren

It’s not fair to say that trouble happens every time PJ Sugar is around, but it feels that way when she returns to her home town, looking for a fresh start. Within a week, her former teacher is murdered and her best friend’s husband is arrested as the number-one suspect. Although the police detective investigating the murder—who also happens to be PJ’s former flame—is convinced it’s an open-and-shut case, PJ’s not so sure. She begins digging for clues in an effort to clear her friend’s husband and ends up reigniting old passions, uncovering an international conspiracy, and solving a murder along the way. She also discovers that maybe God can use a woman who never seems to get it right.

A Penny for Your Thoughts (The Million Dollar Mystery series) by Mindy Starns Clark

Mindy Starns Clark delivers a unique spin on inspirational fiction with her Million Dollar Mystery series featuring private investigator Callie Webber. When philanthropist Wendell Smythe is murdered shortly after Callie meets him, she is forced to investigate. Soon she discovers that his family is hiding a few unsightly secrets, and motives for murder are abundant. Only by turning to God can Callie hope to solve this mystery.

Romance Rustlers And Thunderbird Thieves (Ruby Taylor series) by Sharon Dunn

Ruby Taylor is a fiery redhead with an attitude to match. Somehow her mom, a quirky ex-con-turned-Christian, coerces her into helping two women “wronged in love”—Maryanne (who is packing a loaded gun in search of her husband who walked out on her and stole her classic T-Bird) and Laura (whose “good-boy” fiance mysteriously disappeared two weeks before their wedding day). As she helps these two very different women, she must confront the anger over her own past and her deep-seated bitterness toward God. She uncovers a kidnapping and is thrown into a harrowing adventure with helicopters, flying buffalo, and a horse chase thrown in for good measure.

The Stones Cry Out (The Raleigh Harmon FBI Mysteries) by Sibella Giorello

When nobody talks, the stones cry out.

In the searing heat of a Virginia summer, two men fall from a roof, plummeting to their deaths on the sidewalk below. One man was a white cop. The other, a young black boxer with a murky past.

Hundreds of people stood nearby, yet nobody will say what happened.

The FBI wants a quick verdict—with or without the truth—and sends in rookie agent Raleigh Harmon. But between tight-lipped witnesses and secrets hidden among the city’s most powerful families, Raleigh’s forced to use her forensic geology skills to uncover the truth. 

Can she solve this case before the city’s simmering rage burns out of control?
And will her choices bring down everyone involved—including Raleigh herself?

The Trouble with Tulip (Smart Chick Mysteries) by Mind Starns Clark

Josephine Tulip is definitely a smart chick, a twenty-first century female MacGyver who writes a helpful hints column and solves mysteries in her spare time. Her best friend, Danny, is a talented photographer who longs to succeed in his career…perhaps a cover photo on National Geographic?

When Jo’s next-door neighbor is accused of murder, Jo realizes the police have the wrong suspect. As she and Danny analyze clues, follow up on leads, and fall in and out of trouble, she recovers from a broken heart and he discovers that he has feelings for her. Will Danny have the courage to reveal them, or will he continue to hide them behind a façade of friendship?

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Happy Release Day — Between The Sound And Sea

6 Aug

Happy release day to Amanda Cox! Her latest dual timeline novel, Between The Sound And Sea, is now available! And what’s not to love from this must-read author? History, mystery, and a North Carolina lighthouse! I can’t wait to read it. Check out all the details below.

Every family has its secrets. Josephina Harris wouldn’t mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she jumps at the chance to escape her small town to oversee its restoration.  
 
As the work begins, “Joey” discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the old stone walls–pages torn from a lighthouse keeper’s log signed by someone named Mae who recounts harrowing rescues at sea. Fascinated by a woman lighthouse keeper, Joey digs into the past only to discover there’s never been a record of a lighthouse keeper by that name.
 
When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II. As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, what emerges is a love story–one that’s not over yet.
 
Multiple Christy Award winner Amanda Cox is your guide upon the raging seas of young love, heartbreaking loss, and learning to risk it all for a chance at happiness in this timeless novel.

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 Romantic Suspense — Hunted by A Killer

5 Aug

Hunted by a Killer JustRead Blog + Review TourWelcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Hunted by A Killer by Laurie Winter, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Hunted by a Killer

Title: Hunted by A Killer
Author: Laurie Winter
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: July 23, 2024
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Is she the pursuer…

Or the pursued?

When a body was found at the edge of the bayou, police detective Charlotte Reid knew the serial killer who murdered her sister was back. And if she didn’t stop him, he’d kill again. FBI special agent Austin Walsh insisted Charlotte couldn’t do it on her own. But then the murderer gave Charlotte a deadly challenge—catch him, or she’d be his next victim…

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Excerpt

Before following her out, Austin took a minute to look at the photographs of the four victims. He would put up one of Ginny Gerard as soon as they received the photo from her family. “You have not been forgotten.” He spoke to the murdered women like they were standing in the room. In his mind and heart, they were. “Your killer will face justice for what he did.” He turned his gaze to the picture of Ruby, whose resemblance to Charlotte was striking. “And I promise to keep Charlotte safe.” With notebook and pen in hand, he turned off the lights and left the room, locking the door behind him, securing the proof of stolen lives.

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Safeguarding the Witness

About The Author

Laurie Winter

Multiple award-winning author Laurie Winter creates authentic characters who overcome the odds to find true love. She keeps her life balanced with jogging and binge-watching true-crime shows. Laurie enjoys time with her family and two dogs, all of who inspire her every day.

Connect with Laurie at lauriewinter.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $25 Amazon gift card and paperback copy of Hunted by a Killer!

Hunted By a Killer JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 5, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 12, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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First Line Friday — Sour Lemon And Sweet Tea

2 Aug

Julane Fisher, author of YA and MG fiction, will be joining my hometown’s second annual Turning A New Page Book Festival scheduled in January 2025. Today I am spotlighting Sour Lemon And Sweet Tea, one of her MG novels set in a rural Georgia town.

Here’s the first line:

Secrets, bees, and bullies had a lot in common the summer I turned twelve.

For fans of Because of Winn-Dixie, Pippa Park Raises Her Game, or The Lemonade War comes a heartfelt story of courage, hope, and forgiveness.

“A beautiful story about forgiveness and self-discovery, characters are relatable and real.” —Readers’ Favorite

Lille and Ellie Liles are best friends and identical twins. But their plan for summer break is full of opposites. Lillie plans to play baseball on the diamond in the middle of the front yard. Ellie hates being dirty. Lillie wants to be a detective. Ellie thinks Lillie should quit spying. Weeks before their twelfth birthday, their world turns upside down.

Farms in Triple Gap, Georgia face bankruptcy and fueling stations run out of gasoline. Lille must forfeit baseball to feed chickens that peck at her legs, grow vegetables she hates eating, and dodge insults from the richest and snobbiest girl in middle school. Then a stranger comes to town that changes everything.

When Lillie turns her habit of spying into serious detective work, she discovers the stranger harbors a buried secret, one she’s determined to unearth. But nothing prepares her for the truth. Can Lillie unravel the mystery in time to save her home?

Julane Fisher is the author of the award-winning Sour Lemon Series. Sour Lemon and Sweet Tea is a humorous portrayal of life before cell phones and social media, emphasizing positive family values. Her latest novel, The Text, explores a near future where technology not only governs citizens, it controls them. Julane lives in north Georgia with her husband, twin boys, and their two mischievous Labrador retrievers. Be the first to know when she releases a new novel and sign up for her newsletter by visiting http://www.julanefisher.com.

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