Sabotage Games by Danielle Grandinetti Review and Giveaway

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

Book Info

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.

More Books in This Series

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Meet the Author

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.

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My Impressions

“That is not all that women can do. They can be queens and heads of state. Doctors and business women. I think it’s amazing what these female athletes can do here at the Olympics, and we should definitely have more females in sports.”

Such an impassioned speech by Danielle Grandinetti’s main female character, Emma, in Sabotage Games. Ali has sent a couple of the reporters of the all female DiStasio Giornaliste Agency undercover to the Lake Placid Olympics in 1932. Emma and Lena (a political journalist) meet a Federal agent on the train who befriends them and joins them in their adventure. Billeted at the Callahan home because the Olympic Village was not yet created, nor were female reporters well-received in the hotel that housed reporters, Emma meets Ryan, a contender in the men’s speed skating competition.

Whew! Emma is not your usual female. She loves to play baseball, cannot stop talking sports if given the chance to start, and isn’t afraid to pursue the stories surrounding the male athletes. But the times mold people and most refuse to take a female reporter, especially a sports reporter, seriously, casting aspersions and difficulty Emma’s way every chance possible.

I loved Emma and Ryan’s story. I especially love the way Emma sacrifices for and builds up Ryan truthfully, not with platitudes. I love the way Ryan begins to see how beautiful Emma is, inside and out, and supports her as best he can. Each learns to appreciate the other as they see respect being given towards them, in a way unusual from the opposite gender.

When the needed snow doesn’t appear, Ryan remarks that the weather is not the biggest problem the Olympics are having, but it is rather a mysterious illness. Can Emma work with Ryan, Lena, and Noah to find out who is sickening the athletes and why? Or will the character attacks by the other reporters, especially as they begin to notice the time Ryan and Emma are spending together, end any hope of success for either Emma or Ryan?

I loved racing through the pages, trying to get ahead of the plot enough to figure out who was causing the great difficulties and who was actually being targeted. “Sports is a team effort. No one wins or loses because of one person. Okay, maybe one person makes a spectacular play, or a horrible play at an inopportune time. But it is a team of spectacular athletes that wins at team sports.” So says Emma, and she’s right. But it also takes a team of investigators, reporters, family, and friends to dive deep enough into the mystery to uncover the hidden answers. I loved how Sabotage Games is at once a romantic suspense, an inspirational read, a history lesson, and a political lesson as well. So many threads, all well connected, coming together slowly, at just the right time!

We see real-life famous people from the Olympics, a famous politician, real heart attitudes, and real firsts-like the first women’s sports in the Olympics and the first Olympic Village.

Just in case you think your heart is settled when you finish the book, we are given a sneak peak at Lena’s story. And can I say it involves a brother of one of my fave Grandinetti characters? Oh, dear, I’m sure I might see a swoon coming on!!

I received a copy of the book from the author and JustRead Tours. I also bought my own ecopy, and will be purchasing a pb for the trophy shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“We are commodities. People watch us, they place bets on us, and when we don’t perform, they toss us aside or they blame us for losing their paycheck.”

“I found that a wonderful way to discover a story is to be present. Let the story come to me, instead of trying to chase one. Oftentimes, an angle I didn’t expect pops up because I wasn’t looking for it.”

“…I know I am a reporter of integrity and that’s what matters.”

“it’s not about how you do in a race, it’s about who you look for when you cross that finish line.”

“But I cover sports because … perhaps there’s another family out there that needs to know their child is succeeding.”

And the quote that made me want to cry because of its context…

“ The hardware is nice, but when you reach that finish line, it’s who you want to celebrate with that really matters.” (The speaker is a quiet gem!)

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Superior! Danielle Grandinetti once again knocks it out of the park with this story of women sports reporters, the 1932 Lake Placid Olympics, and political intrigue! Run now to get your copy!

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Want to Win? ( Tour Giveaway)

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

The Fine Print

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.

Enter Giveaway

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Get more opinions and chances to win!

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

High Exposure by Kelly Borjas Review and Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for High Exposure by Kelly Borjas, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Book Details

Title: High Exposure
Series: Jagged Edges #1
Author: Kelly Borjas
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: September 15, 2026
Genre: Romantic Suspense

The riveting start to an adventure-driven romantic suspense series from a debut author

Determined travel blogger Julia Stevens is on her final assignment in snowy Silverberg, Colorado. She’s running from her past—and God—but the charm of small-town life brings little comfort when she’s face-to-face with the winter sport that killed her sister: skiing. Upon her arrival in town, she discovers a dead body and is quickly compelled to research the situation, give justice to the man’s story, and kick off her new career in journalism.

Cade Haskins is back home after a failed mission and his subsequent retirement from the DEA. His father’s declining health has pushed Cade to prioritize family, and he helps at the historic Silverberg Hotel on his dad’s behalf. When Julia shows up at the hotel, Cade becomes her local contact. He quickly realizes she has a knack for sniffing around where she shouldn’t, and he attaches himself to her side.

With the local death connected to a meth ring, Julia’s investigation has unknowingly put a target on her back. As the danger increases and she begins to learn more about Cade and his family, she finds herself trusting the God she was running from. And Cade? He doesn’t want to get dragged back into DEA work, but it seems like he may not have a choice if he wants to protect Julia . . . and his growing attraction to her.

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Author Details

Kelly Borjas grew up in Southwest Colorado and later moved to Southern California. She has a degree in communication studies from Biola University and a master’s in leadership and organizational studies from Azusa Pacific University. She is a cohost of the Lit Ladies podcast. Find her at kellyborjas.com.

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My Impressions

“The time had come—to face her past … and her future.”

Why should you pick up High Exposure, Bk 1 of Jagged Edges, from debut author Kelly Borjas? To be honest, covers can make or break a book. This one lets you know you’ll be frozen cold along with the characters before you’re very deep into this great romantic suspense novel. Brrrr! And a travel blogger? Right now, in America, there are some very successful individuals visiting different sites, taking pictures, trying local food offerings, and describing local scenery to invite tourists. And this is exactly what our determined heroine, Julia, is doing for a living. Plus, the locale? A small, obscure town in the wintry Colorado mountains. Yes, please! I want to visit Silverberg! Or maybe not, there may be a little too much tension and cooking going on in that small town, and not the legal kind! Now, attach the Kregel publishing name to a book, and I am convinced I am going to love the book. Last, but not least, Kelly’s literary agent is Lynnette Eason. There’s a very well-known name in romantic suspense that promises this book will be well-worth the read!

And it is! While Julia’s attempt to outrun a tragedy in her past sends her touring the States as a photo-journalist for a travel magazine, her real desire is to become a news journalist. Can her depiction of a dead-in-the-winter Colorado mountain town boost the town’s winter tourism and help the town’s hotel (that Cade’s family owns)? Will that be enough to move her into the realm of serious reporting? Little does Julia know the avalanche that will begin to build slowly when she first enters town to find a very unpleasant surprise in her rental air bnb!

Thanks to his dad’s cancer battle, Cade has recently returned home to Silverberg to help run the hotel. Now, in his dad’s sickness, former DEA agent Cade needs to show newly arrived photo-journalist Julia all the alluring winter possibilities of Silverberg. Unfortunately, getting stalked, threatened, and facing constant danger from an unknown source might put the town in the most positive light. Can Cade run the hotel, protect Julia, protect his DEA association, and protect his heart from the beautiful travel blogger as well?

Borjas quickly got me invested. The town seems so picture-perfect in so many ways. Until Julia’s present begins to unravel, a bit at a time, just as she’s struggling to put it back together. “If she were still a praying woman, she’d ask God for a solution. But she’d abandoned that faith element the day Nikki had died.” Julia convinces a grudging, hot-and-cold Cade to help her investigate the mystery she lands in the middle of. But the deeper they delve into trying to solve the oddities of the town, the more complex their relationship becomes, as both try to keep secrets yet work together.

Themes running through the novel are family, belonging, faith, secrets, meth, DEA, travel photographer, skiing, and Colorado.

I’m already looking forward to Borjas’s second book, Dark Chasm. I need more of Cade’s family! I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through JustRead Tours via NetGalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“…you don’t have to be all things to all people. You’re human and can ask for help, even if you’ve messed up before.”…

“Especially if you’ve messed up before.”

“He would choose to be thankful today for all that he had. No one ever knew how much time was left. But they had today.”

“Men like to give solutions to problems. Women just want to be heard.”

“As a writer, I work to convey the beauty around me—sometimes it’s in the orthodox; other times it’s in the unorthodox that beauty shines. Most of all, truth and love showcase beauty, shining through despair and lies.”

“Struggles create either endurance or termination. As humans we must decide whether to pursue the challenge or give up.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superb! A very exciting start to an amazing new romantic suspense series from debut author Borjas! More, please!

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Want to Win? (Tour Giveaway)

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of High Exposure, a bookmark, and a $20 Amazon gift card!

The Fine Print… because, of course, it’s necessary!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 15, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 22, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Want more opinions and info?

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

Shadowing You by Robin Patchen Review and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Shadowing You (The Wright Heroes Book 10)

Author: Robin Patchen

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: September 8, 2026

When the wife he believed dead calls from China, an ER doctor races to find her before her enemies silence her forever.

Ethan Wright never recovered from the death of his first love.

Six years ago, Mei Lin discovered evidence linking powerful officials to a human trafficking ring. She planned to smuggle the details out of China and join her new husband in America—but COVID sealed the borders before she could escape. Snatched by the men she’d been investigating, she was wrongfully imprisoned while authorities claimed she had died in quarantine. Now, Mei Lin’s sudden release doesn’t mean she’s free.

Ethan will stop at nothing to get his wife out of China, but he has no idea where she is. He must reach out to his estranged father, a former CIA agent who has powerful connections. With his dad’s help, Ethan begins a desperate search. He finally finds Mei Lin, but she refuses to run without the evidence that could expose the conspiracy—and ensure they’re never hunted again.

Reunited after years apart, Ethan and Mei Lin must rediscover the love they thought they’d lost—while staying one step ahead of enemies who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden.

From a USA Today bestselling author… You’ll love this heart-pounding suspense and gripping romance as Ethan and Mei Lin discover that real love is strong enough to survive anything.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Coventry Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. Working in marketing, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while homeschooling her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. Visit robinpatchen.com/subscribe to receive a free book and stay informed about Robin’s latest projects.

More from Robin

Saying Goodbye to Shadow Cove

When I typed the last sentence of Shadowing You, the final Wright Heroes of Maine book, I was dehydrated from all the tears I’d shed. These Wrights feel like family to me. I can’t imagine leaving them behind.

From about book five, I knew about Ethan, the son his father kept secret. I didn’t know his plot yet, though. When I met Mei Lin and understood where she’d been for the last six years, I couldn’t wait to share their story.

But first, I want you to get to know Gavin.

The Wright family has two branches. Roger Wright and his wife, Peggy, raised six sons on an apple farm in central Maine. Roger was a physician who never put his work ahead of his children. He was steady and present, the kind of man his boys grew up wanting to be.

His brother Gavin is a different story. He was a CIA officer, gallivanting the world while his wife, Evelyn, raised their five daughters. For most of the girls’ lives, he was distant and guarded, always one assignment away from coming home. Even after he retired from the CIA, he started a business that kept him close to DC—and far from his family in Shadow Cove.

None of those girls knew anything about their father’s son.

Ethan was raised by a single mother in Virginia. Gavin supported them but visited on his own terms. Ethan grew up knowing he was his father’s secret, too shameful to share with Gavin’s real family.

All Ethan ever wanted was a family of his own, which might be the reason that, when his girlfriend finished nursing school and returned home to China, he followed her and proposed. They were married the same week. But after the honeymoon, Ethan had to return to the States, and Mei Lin had to stay in China until her visa came through.

It should have been a matter of weeks, maybe a couple of months at most. But the pandemic hit. And then Mei Lin disappeared. A few months later, Ethan and her parents got word that she’d contracted the disease and died.

But Mei Lin isn’t dead. Six years ago, she uncovered a human trafficking ring and started gathering evidence against the man in charge. She didn’t know he was on to her until she was arrested and thrown into prison. Nobody came to visit her, not her parents, not her brother, and not the husband who’d promised to love her forever. A few years into her imprisonment, she lost hope that she’d ever be freed. And then, after six torturous years, she was released—just like that.

She might be out of prison, but her enemy can’t let her escape from China. Mei Lin calls the husband who left her to rot, not asking—or expecting—anything from him except some money to help her get to safety.

She certainly doesn’t expect him to fly around the world to find her.

But Ethan hasn’t forgotten Mei Lin. Now that he knows she’s alive, he’ll do everything in his power to get her to safety, including rushing into a country he barely understands. And reaching out to the father he rarely speaks to.

But Gavin isn’t the only one who jumps in to help Ethan and Mei Lin escape China. I won’t spoil it for you, but I know you’ll enjoy seeing some old friends in this story.

Thanks for spending your valuable time in Shadow Cove. Enjoy one last story before you move on to your next destination.

As for me, I’ll be just up the coast in Briar Bay, Maine, where three castaway children…

Well, we’ll talk about that one next time.

My Impressions

“The Lord sees you. The Lord knows you. The Lord loves you.”

These words, first spoken by an old lady in prison to Mei Lin, find purchase all the way through Robin Patchen’s last book of The Wright Heroes of Maine, Shadowing You. How long will it take these words of positive, Biblical affirmation to break through the negative words planted in Mei Lin’s mind early in life by her grandmother?

Freed from prison China after 6 years, but realizing she has a mortal enemy, Mei Lin contacts her American husband, Ethan Wright. Ethan is stunned to hear from Mei Lin, whom he was married to very briefly before he left China. While waiting for her visa to come through, he was informed six years ago that she contracted the plague and died during the pandemic.

From one stunning connection to another, Ethan reaches out to his estranged father, Gavin Wright, for help in locating Mei Lin in China and getting back out again.

Expect the usual high adventure, constant movement, imminent danger, and romantic suspense built around faith that Patchen weaves into all of her stories. Because this is the series wrap-up, we get to see the hidden son (Ethan) decide whether or not he is an accepted part of the Wright family, plus character growth in the patriarch of this branch of the family, Gavin Wright. And we see a beaten-in-spirit woman. Can she ever recover who she was originally? To understand all the moving pieces and players, this book needs to be read as the last of its series. Otherwise, I believe one might be overwhelmed by the huge number of Wright family members who populate the novel’s pages.

Words that come to mind to describe the book might be control, worthy, seen, trafficking, mistake, found family, betrayal, assumptions,and loved.

If you dare open this book, try to read fast. The tension will force you to race your thundering heartbeat and the action to discover if Ethan and Mei Lin and their allies can indeed escape China and be safe from those who will stop at nothing to hide their secrets. We say goodbye to the Wrights, but Patchen holds out an ocean of hope for a new series, starting with The Castaways in January. I’m there!!

I received a copy of the book from the author through CelebrateLit via BookFunnel. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“You can be right about everything,” his mother used to say, “or you can be happy. You get to choose.”

“Our God is a God of miracles, sweetheart. There’s no heart He can’t reach.”

“You’re priceless, so obviously, you can’t be more trouble than you’re worth.”

“You’re priceless because Jesus says so. And I happen to agree. I would sacrifice all that I am and all that I have for you.”

“One step at a time. Okay?” She put her hand in his. “But we do not know the steps.” “We’re going to have to trust God to lead us.”

“Why grieve a storm before it happens?”

“He liked to believe he was in control. China had torn that fantasy to shreds.”

“And love didn’t weigh a person to decide whether she was worth the cost. It simply gave everything it had. It wasn’t about what she was worth or he was worth. Love was worth the sacrifice.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! Loved the story, the character growth, the family warmth.

Blog Stops

Book Looks by Lisa, September 9

lakesidelivingsite, September 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 10

Texas Book-aholic, September 11

For Him and My Family, September 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 13

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 15

Blossoms and Blessings, September 16

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 17

Mary Hake, September 17

Holly’s Book Corner, September 18

Cover Lover Book Review, September 19

Pause for Tales, September 20

Devoted To Hope, September 21

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, September 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of Anchoring You!!

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

https://gleam.io/VphI6/shadowing-you-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sparks of Hope by Avrie Swan Review and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Sparks of Hope

Author: Avrie Swan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: September 1, 2026

A woman rebuilding after tragedy and a grieving father searching for hope discover that the past isn’t finished with them.

After the Peshtigo Fire reduces her teaching dreams to ash, Willow Deeran refuses to let the flames win. She pours her last hope into an audacious plan: opening an orphanage for the children left homeless by Wisconsin’s deadliest wildfire. All she needs is funding—and a partner she’s never met.

Violin maker Valentine Ashardt has spent the year since the fire hiding behind his grief, haunted by the daughter he lost in the blaze. Helping Willow build the orphanage offers more than purpose. As silent co-owner, he’ll have access to every child who comes through its doors. Surely, one of them will be his Mary.

As anonymous threats mount, old accusations resurface, and a mysterious little girl with no memory arrives on their doorstep, Willow and Valentine must decide if their dreams might not look different than they’d once hoped. Because sometimes God’s plan looks nothing like what we imagined. And sometimes the family we’ve been desperately searching for has been standing beside us all along.

For fans of Joanna Davidson Politano and Jody Hedlund—a tender story of faith renewed, purpose rediscovered, and love rising from the most unexpected ruins.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Avrie Swan is a Christian author and avid reader with a love for all things historical. Having grown up exploring antique stores and museums, she eventually decided to combine her interest in history with her love for writing and began working on her first full-length novel at the age of fourteen. She especially enjoys writing stories that focus on themes of family, faith, and growth through difficult times.

When Avrie is not writing, she is watching old movies, collecting antique books, and hunting for agates. A native Wisconsinite, she enjoys spending the cold winters indoors with her cat on her lap and a good book in her hand.

More from Avrie

Hello, folks!

It’s hard to believe Sparks of Hope is the third and final entry in The Peshtigo Fire Chroniclesseries. Writing this book was bittersweet… but also undeniably exciting. Willow and Valentine’s story took me some time to develop, and the result is a book with a lot of heart. Their tale explores themes of found family and growth while also rounding out Carina and Charlotte’s journeys. I hope you enjoy the conclusion to their stories!

One of my favorite elements in Sparks of Hope is Valentine’s occupation as a luthier. My family has always enjoyed music, and since I took violin lessons for several years when I was younger, I thought it only fitting to include a violin maker in one of my stories. I didn’t know much about the process of building violins when I started my research for the book, but I soon discovered it’s a fascinating and detailed craft. I have the utmost respect for the skilled people who shape the instruments enjoyed by so many.

While music plays a small role in Sparks of Hope, the story’s central theme is purpose. Have you ever wondered what God’s plan was for your life? That question weighs heavily on Willow’s mind after a disaster ruins all her carefully laid plans. She finds herself needing to choose a new path and pursue a different dream…although achieving it may not be quite as simple as she hopes.

In honor of the upcoming release of Sparks of Hope, I thought it would be fun to do a “this or that” game featuring some elements from the book. Which options do you prefer? Pick your favorites and then head over to my Instagram (@avrieswanwrites) or website (avrieswan.com) to share your choices!

Scarf or shawl
Griddlecakes or fresh bread
Cottage or townhouse
Sleigh ride or autumn walk
Frozen harbor or snowy forest

Blessings,

Avrie Swan

My Impressions

“purpose is a strange thing. It doesn’t always align with what we expect, nor does it follow our rules. And things don’t always turn out exactly the way we think they will.”

When the raging inferno of the October 8, 1871, Peshtigo, WI, devours the town and destroys more lives than the great, well-known Chicago fire of the same day, how can any hope of recovery rise from the ashes of utter devastation? Avrie Swan’s main characters, Willow Deeran and Valentine (Val) Ashardt of her third book in The Peshtigo Fire series, will have to dig deep within themselves, their relationships and their faith to find Sparks of Hope.

Willow’s life-long dream is to start a school for the children of Peshtigo. A big dream for a young woman whose family’s poverty precludes even enough education for her to be able to read and write. Then the fire. Her body survives, but partial amnesia and a loss of everything they own destroys that dream. What would change if she could just recall events surrounding the fire? Could it help with the new purpose that God has seemingly placed in her lap, as soon as she prays? (Isn’t this just like God to answer a prayer before the words are hardly out of our mouths?)

But this new purpose creates great problems. Financial. Safety. Familial discord. ( Can I say I was so disappointed that Ma isn’t very supportive of this new dream, while Da is just the opposite personality, warm, loving, and affirming at every possible turn? )

And the financial help for her new orphanage idea comes from the most unexpected source. Val’s best friend Quincy, a newspaper reporter, is actually who Willow approaches for help. Val who is a talented stringed instrument carver and a social recluse is visiting his friend at the office. Overhearing the need, Val offers to be a silent partner. Quincy objects! “You don’t even know this woman.” “No, I don’t. But I respect a good deed when I see one.”

And so an unlikely, socially inappropriate relationship between two single, different classes (yes, America had them and still manages to have them!) begins! And so does the tongue wagging! Some of it is busybody stuff, some is reactionary and funny(!), and some is conniving and terribly damaging.

The antagonists in this novel are beautifully drawn. Not beautiful, mind you, just well fleshed out, needy, selfish, and can’t see beyond their own needs to understand the hurt in others’ lives.

Fave characters? I have several. Mary. So sweet, so adorable, so cracks open more than one hard heart! Da, for his genuine love and unconditional love and support of his daughter. ( Unfortunately, perhaps some of that is missing in his relationship with his son, though it would be much more difficult?) And a “bad guy.” I actually loved Hattie. Not what she does, but she is rather hilarious in her overbearing, obtuse ways and is the pefect catalyst. Well done!

Trigger warnings for those who want them: fire scenes, grave mental health issues.

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through CelebrateLit via BookFunnel. I also bought my own copy. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“God has a plan for us all, Willow. He has known what we will do in life since the very beginning. But that plan isn’t always what you expect.”

“There was no saving what had been lost. Not then, and not now.”

“The best way to handle rumors is to let them run their course. People will eventually find something else to focus on.”

“Nothing in life is predictable, Willow. There are risks at every turn.“ … “What’s important is facing the risks and continuing.To give up now, when you’ve come this far, would defeat everything you’re trying to accomplish.”

“…if he remained trapped in the past for much longer, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to truly live in the present.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! You will travel the gamut of your emotions with this novel. Highly recommended!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 12

Books Less Travelled, September 13

lakesidelivingsite, September 14

She Lives to Read, September 15

Simple Harvest Reads, September 15 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

For Him and My Family, September 16

Texas Book-aholic, September 17

Betti Mace, September 18

Holly’s Book Corner, September 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 20

Cover Lover Book Review, September 21

Pause for Tales, September 21

Devoted To Hope, September 22

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 23

Connie’s History Classroom , September 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 24

Blossoms and Blessings, September 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Avrie is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://gleam.io/qaNE5/sparks-of-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway

Letters to the Editor by Paul Michael Garrison Review and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Letters to the Editor

Author: Paul Michael Garrison

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

Release Date: November, 2019

Writing is hard. Editing is murder.

Editor Nathanael Carver has made a career out of exposing corruption and publishing people’s dirty secrets. From his hate mail, it seems one of his high-profile enemies wants revenge. But the person with murder in mind may be someone closer to home.

Carver enlists the help of Kate Baxter, a police detective with problems of her own: disapproving parents, sexist coworkers, and a smoking habit she can’t seem to kick. The support of her tribe and ample time at the gun range help to keep her sane. As her personal life and the case bleed together, Kate gains insight into Carver’s world, keeping her eye on those closest to him. Kate is on the cusp of progress when Carver, against her advice, drops the case—only to be viciously attacked. Now it’s Kate’s turn to drag everyone’s dirty secrets into the light, but not before at least one body hits the floor.

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About the Author

Originally from the Midwest, Paul Michael Garrisonhas spent roughly half his life in Upstate South Carolina. His published novels include Letters to the Editor and its sequel, The Lies People Publish. He holds degrees in publishing, theater, and creative writing (MFA). He has written for the stage, and his short fiction has appeared in The Windhover, Quantum Fairy Tales, and Heart of Flesh. Paul Michael frequently performs with the Greenville Shakespeare Company. Whether on stage or in writing, he enjoys the art of becoming someone else.

More from Paul Michael

The Creation of Kate Baxter: Meeting the Detective of Letters to the Editor

How do you come up with your characters?

It’s one of the most frequent questions I (and probably a lot of authors) get at book events. Some authors talk about their characters as creations, while others insist their characters come to them fully formed, gradually revealing themselves to the writer. As with most writing philosophies, I personally tend to fall in the middle.

But I can tell you that Detective Kate Baxter in her trademark trench coat did not spring from my imagination fully formed like Athena from the mind of Zeus. Several thoughtful factors came into play during her creation.

The Mystery Came First

For many novelists, the character comes first, but Letters to the Editor began with the mystery. I imagine that’s common for mystery writers. It was an idea I’d had for some time, just simmering in the back of my brain.

It wasn’t until I signed up for a novel-writing class that I decided to actually flesh the mystery out and put it down on paper. So, if I was going to write a classic mystery, I was going to need a detective.

The Professional Detective

Cozy mysteries can be great fun, but in a series (and they usually end up as series) I find the trope of the amateur detective who constantly stumbles into one mystery after another a bit strained. Requiring a high suspension of disbelief, it works best in comic, here-we-go-again scenarios.

I wanted to create a world that felt more grounded and to leave the window open for my detective to come back (which she did in The Lies People Publish). And that’s one reason Kate serves on the Fulton Springs Police Department.

The Girl Next Door

I recall feeling bombarded at the time by burned-out detectives, whether in literature, film, or television. The investigator whose life is an unholy shambles, who’s nursing a substance abuse problem (usually alcohol), whose family or private life is completely shattered. I kept seeing these broken-down characters, and they just depressed me. I struggled to relate to them in any way. With their addictions and psychological damage, I questioned how legitimately they could function in everyday life, let alone track down murderers and other criminals.

I wanted a more relatable detective, not a beleaguered trainwreck nor a genius human computer of the Sherlockian variety. I wanted someone who, even if you couldn’t relate to her directly, you could imagine her living next door.

When an interviewer referred to Kate as a bit of a hot mess, I must admit I got defensive for a moment. And then I realized that she probably is—the way all of us are in the right light. She struggles with her relationships and goals and with living out her values and beliefs as most thoughtful people do.

When I began the novel, I had a female friend who was a police officer. Kate is not based on her, but I won’t deny that my friend (and her stories) inspired some of Kate’s characteristics, her tribe of friends, and even a few anecdotes that worked their way into the story.

Midwestern Woman of Faith

While I live in the South, I grew up in the Midwest. At the time of writing, I felt I could more accurately capture the Midwestern sensibility than a Southern one, both for Kate’s character and the setting in general. Plus, my publishing background (I was a book editor at the time) was going to inform the novel’s setting, and the Chicago metro area seemed a more likely representative of that world.

My writing instructor called Kate “a church-going detective,” which made me laugh a little. If, in forming Kate, I was reacting against the broken-down detective, I was also reacting against the portrayal of Christians in the arts. There seemed to be two extremes: in Christian fiction, the Pollyannaish Christian who lived a sanitized version of life, and in mainstream literature, religious hypocrites and wackadoos. I realize that may be a tad reductive, but that’s how it felt. Why couldn’t we have something a little more authentic, more fair, more nuanced?

While not necessarily tackling a spiritual journey, I wanted to show Christians in real-world, everyday contexts. I know some readers may find Kate’s faith alienating, but no reader is going to agree or sympathize with every character they read. That’s only natural. But as I researched the genre, I found mainstream novels with detectives with all kinds of worldviews, so why not a mainstream novel with a Christian detective?

Introducing Kate Baxter

These influences formed the initial skeleton of Detective Kate Baxter, but they don’t begin to paint the entire picture of the character she developed into—the insecurities and challenges she faces as a single woman; her love for her friends, her pets, and classic literature; or her belief that the best therapy is found at a gun range. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of Letters to the Editor and meet her yourself.

My Impressions

“…there are secrets that don’t do anybody good to know…But then there are secrets that if you keep them, they will swallow you up whole.”

Letters to the Editor by Paul Michael Garrison is a mainstream fiction book with a detective who struggles with her faith as she and her partner investigate threats against a local editor. A crime mystery, thriller, and detective novel with a bit of psychological suspense thrown in, this book is not my usual reading fare. It did snag my interest. As the Detective Kate’s and Detective Potter’s (of Fulton Springs-Olivet police department) list of suspects shrinks, the suspense becomes more palpable. The action and storyline are quite believable. Expecting a more sanitized story, after reading the author’s notes about his purposes, I could better see why he used the descriptions, language, and situations he did.

The question is: who is after book editor Nate Carver? Is the apparent threat serious? What is Amelie Carver hiding? Nate Carver has made a career out of exposing others’ secrets. Now we see not only him, but the players in his life around him being stripped bare and exposed of their secrets. Whose secret will be fatal to someone? Whose secrets will ruin a career or careers? And do real people struggle with their faith and emerge with an intact faith, or does life demand a shedding of that faith? Can the reader figure out the answers before all is slowly, torturously, revealed?

I received a copy of the book from the publisher and CelebrateLit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“‘It sounds like a coping mechanism.’ Danny held up the pack. ‘You turn to these for comfort, instead of turning to God.’”

“The answers are easy; accepting them is not,”

“‘We just have to trust that God’s timing is perfect.’ ‘Even when it doesn’t feel that way.’ ‘Yeah, even when it doesn’t feel that way.’ ‘That’s most of the time, you know?’”

“Maybe it’s not always best for the truth to come out. Some secrets bear no profit when revealed, right?”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 10

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 10

Leslie’s Library Escape, September 11

Vicky Sluiter, September 12 (Author Interview)

Book Looks by Lisa, September 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 14

Texas Book-aholic, September 15

For the Love of Literature, September 16 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, September 17

Life on Chickadee Lane, September 18

For Him and My Family, September 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 20

Lily’s Corner, September 21

Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 22 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, September 22

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 23

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Paul is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of the book and its sequel!!

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

https://gleam.io/XImFE/letters-to-the-editor-celebration-tour-giveaway