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.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Danielle Grandinetti’s Shop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
More Books in This Series
******************************************
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.
******************************************
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!
******************************************
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.
*****************************************
Get more opinions and chances to win!
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions 