“The case grew creepier by the minute, spiraling Aurora deeper into a pit she had vowed to stay out of. A dark dungeon within her mind.”
Wow!! Darlene L. Turner has outdone herself this time, in Coordinates of Death, her second psychological and Inspirational Romantic Suspense book in the Arctic Protectors Series. Having failed to apprehend a sereal ( misspelled on purpose) killer once, Aurora ( Rory) knows that her job, multiple lives, and her own sanity are on the line if she lets the Shadow Box Killer elude her this time in the frozen Yukon wilderness. Unfortunately, the SBK has a sick fascination with Rory and forces her to play a deadly game…in which she is allowed one helper, but it can’t be a Law Enforcement Officer. Aurora chooses Kordell, a former childhood friend whose adoptive family has started their own personal multi-skilled investigation-protection business.
Events of the past cast huge, impregnable shadows over both Aurora and Kordell. Can they work together to solve the mystery, form firmer grounds for faith, and keep themselves and others alive?
Part of the nearly unbearable tension of the book is caused by Turner’s style of writing. Most of the book is in the third person present, while Turner inserts the nefarious thoughts of the killer in first person present. Just creep into my mind, too, SBK!!
When I read a Darlene L. Turner book, I love to pit myself against the author. Can I use the clues to solve the crime before all is revealed? Let me say, I was thrilled with the shocking ending!
I highly recommend this book. There are more members of the Canadian Watcher’s Squad (group Kord is a part of), so I am excited there will be several more books to come!
I received a copy of the book from the author. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“God uses the ashes of life to create beauty.”
“I think we all have some form of darkness within us. Why else would God have sent His Son to save us?”
“…even though we don’t understand why bad things happen, there’s always a reason. The deeper the darkness, the brighter God’s presence shines through.”
“I struggle. There are times I don’t understand what God’s doing and I can’t see His light in all the darkness, but I know He’s there.”
‘‘Son, God doesn’t make junk, only masterpieces, and you are a special boy. I can see that in your eyes.’ … ‘Now you need to believe it.’’
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Coordinates of Death by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
Book Details
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.
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.
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This has got to be Darlene L. Turner’s best book yet! It’s creepier than ever, the mystery more twisty, the ending packing multiple surprises!! I loved it and highly recommend it!
Why would you like to read Coordinates of Death?
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Wanna Win? (Tour Giveaway)
(2) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card!
The Fine Print…just because 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. Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies. Enter 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.
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!)
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.
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.
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.
A burdened earl. A determined ballerina. Saving the theatre was part of their bargain. Losing their hearts wasn’t.
London, 1815
Emmeline Laurent has survived by grace and grit. After her parents’ execution in France, she has learned to live unseen as a humble ballerina instructing young pupils in a small London theatre. When whispers spread that the Danforth Theatre may be sold to an unscrupulous buyer, Emmeline fears not only for her livelihood but for the safety of her impressionable students. With no time and no options, she does the only thing she knows to do: leap into a moving carriage and bargain with the new lord who holds their fate.
Grant Atherton, the Earl of Quincy, has inherited the crushing weight of duty along with a failing theatre, an arranged engagement, two younger sisters to usher into society, and a mountain of his father’s secrets. Selling the Danforth is the only way to save his family from ruin. The last thing he needs is a beautiful, infuriatingly determined ballerina turning his careful plans upside down.
But when Emmeline’s hidden past begins surfacing and the danger circling the theatre proves far deadlier than either of them realized, Grant must choose between the life he planned and the one God may have been preparing all along.
For fans of Roseanna M. White and Jen Turano — a sweeping Regency romance about the grace found in surrender, the courage it takes to trust, and the God who makes a way when every door seems closed.
Lorri Dudley is the bestselling author of The Leeward Island Series and The Agents of Espionage Series. She has a master’s degree in psychology and lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.
Connect with Lorri by visiting lorridudley.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.
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My Impressions
“The happiest people in life aren’t those without problems. It’s those with something bigger than their problems.”
I give The Ballerina’s Bargain (The Danforth Theatre, bk#1) by Lorri Dudley a rousing standing ovation. Taking place in 1815 England, forbidden love, familial duty, revenge, fear, protection of innocents, and society double-standards are all topics explored.
Having narrowly escaped the guillotine in France as a child, Emmeline and her ballet mentor, Charlene, hide under assumed names working at the Danforth Theatre. Finding out that the present owner, Lord Quincy, Grant Atherton, plans to sell the theatre to a man who intends to promote “back room rendezvous,” Emmeline challenges Grant not to sell. She loves the little ballerines, ages 6-14, that she teaches and realizes their pending fate under the new owner. Then she promises Grant that she will make sure the Danforth turns a profit. Grant doesn’t want to acquiesce… but prayer is an important part of his life, and he hears God speaking, “Protect my lambs.” But what about his younger siblings’ futures? Must he risk them?
Ooh, la, la!! As Grant reneges on his spoken agreement to sell the theatre, he begins to find he is making enemies left and right. Mr. Harrowby threatens to ruin him, an old Eton bully reappears in his life, the dancers are ready to mutiny, and he has a fiancée he doesn’t want to marry. While Charlene insists troubles come because of the father’s sins visiting the children, Emmeline draws on her faith to reach a different conclusion. “‘We learn from pain.’ Emmeline issued Flora a gentle smile. ‘It keeps us humble and reminds us who’s ultimately in control.’”
I loved how gentle and kind with her young charges Emmeline is. She works very hard to repay her mentor for the years of caretaking Charlene has provided and is loyal to a fault. She is strong as she leans into God for help to get overcome her fears. But is God big enough to help her overcome her biggest fear? As she begins to trust Grant, what will happen when he appears to not be who he presents himself to be?
Grant, bless his heart, is a tortured soul. “Firstborn sons inherited lands, wealth, and titles, but they sacrificed their freedom.” Grant’s every life move has been dictated by his father. How he resents those choices. Grant is constantly praying for wisdom. Can he begin to trust his heavenly Father to guide him aright, where his earthly father did not?
I loved seeing the inner workings of a theatre. The competition with other theatres, all the frantic practices, the theatre preparations, the discord between actors or dancers, and the individual parts of putting together a ballet-opera performance. And it made me sad, of course, to see such a double standard society set up. It is fine and wonderful to attend the opera and be a patron, but it is wrong to befriend or love an actor or ballerina.
This book gets the superior rating from me as it ventures into the final acts before whipping out some really great twists! Memorable!!
I received a copy of the book from CelebrateLit and the publisher through BookFunnel. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“The bang of the door reverberated through her heart like the slam of the guillotine.”
“Fear is like being shackled,”
“We’re all broken people. The Bible says all of us have sinned and fall short, but Jesus’s life and death prove that broken people are worth saving.”
“Perfection is working overly hard for man, but excellence is doing your best for God. Go and give God glory, showing everyone how magnifique He made you.”
“Lord, I want to trust. No. I choose to trust.”
“Our limitations are an invitation to trust God.”
“I’ve found that bravery and fear feel the same. It’s up to us to choose how to respond.”
“Lord, I’m trusting You to make a way where there seems to be no way.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! For the storyline, the Truth nuggets, the twists!
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Your Chance to Win!
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and a prize bundle with reading blanket, socks, and candle!
Fine print😊:
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 8, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 15, 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/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Yikes! I never do a spotlight instead of a review, but there’s a first time for everything! I found I wanted to investigate the book more than I would have if I didn’t take a closer look. Plus, I want to support the author and book and JustRead Tours. So… here goes!! And … Alpacas?!!
Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Lot Like Lavender by B.R. Goodwin, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
Book Description
Title: A Lot Like Lavender Series: Happy in Honey Hill #3 Author: B.R. Goodwin Publisher: Independent Release Date: August 3, 2026 Genre: Closed door romantic comedy
Operating Purple Pastures & Alpaca on my own was not ever in my plans, but neither was becoming a widow and a single mom at twenty-two. Though I love this land and the life I’ve built for myself and my daughter—including the alpacas we adore, the strays we’ve taken in along the way, and the rolling hills of lavender surrounding our farm—all the years of hard work and one-woman juggling since James’ death may not be enough to keep it all together.
In fact, I’m failing. Miserably. At farming, running a small business, managing the wild women of the Honey Hill PTA, and maintaining any semblance of a personal life.
To top off my utter insufficiencies, I’m now being forced to accept help from the last person I ever expected to show his face again, Jordan Love. But—though it pains me to admit—having him around repairing fences, caring for my fur babies, and bonding with Molly is the first time I haven’t felt so alone in all this since I lost my husband.
And most unexpectedly, Jordan’s return to my life feels a lot like mending my heart.
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For ten years, I’ve done a great job working through the grief of losing my best friend and the shame of selfishly walking away from the people we both cared about when I should have stayed. Even still, I knew coming back home to Honey Hill would dredge up regrets for past decisions. But when I see Emory Nelson for the first time since James’ death, I don’t expect the feelings I’ve kept well-suppressed for so long to come bubbling to the surface. Feelings I’ll need to get well under control if I intend to stick around.
I ran away when she needed me most. With a second chance to show up for Emory and her daughter, there’s no way I can walk away again. I’m determined to be someone she can depend on, even if it means forever pretending I don’t want more.
B.R. Goodwin is a Georgia native, married to her college sweetheart, and the mother of three wild animal children she adores.
When she isn’t writing Christian Fiction, she’s reading, hiking, bee-keeping, soccer mom-ing, or planning her family’s next big adventure while drinking copious amounts of tea & coffee. Above all else, the heartbeat of everything she does in life, friendship, and writing is with an eye to sharing the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with everyone she meets. Connect with her at Facebook or Instagram.
Why Am I Interested in This Book?
The beautiful pastel colors on the cover
Alpacas!
Contemporary Romantic Comedy ( I adore these)
JustReads is touring it, so you know it’s gonna be clean, baby!(😊)
Comment below and tell me why you want to read A Lot Like Lavender!
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Wanna Win? (Aka Tour Giveaway)
(3) winners will each receive a signed paperback copy of Grits and Glamor (A Romance on the Menu Christian Romcom) as well as an exclusive swag pack including stickers and character print!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 17, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 24, 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.
Can a jeopardized children’s library program spark a partnership that saves their careers but costs them their hearts?
When children’s librarian Martha Aldridge learns about budget cuts that will not only put her out of a job but also shut down the library’s children’s programs, she’s determined to raise the funds needed to save both. The good news is, she knows just who to ask for a large donation on the library’s behalf. The bad news? She swore she’d never step foot in his office again.
Julien King has been groomed to one day run his family’s publishing empire, and now he must prove he’s ready to take the helm by turning around the company’s languishing children’s imprint. That wouldn’t be a problem, except he doesn’t know the first thing about children’s literature. So when Martha waltzes into his office, he sees an opportunity and makes her an offer she can’t refuse. He’ll give her the money she needs for the library in exchange for her help in acquiring a bestselling manuscript that will resurrect the dying imprint. The longer they’re forced to work together, however, the more they come to realize their jobs may not be the only thing on the line.
Winner of the Holt Medallion and Selah Award, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain’s wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.
My Impressions
“The high-rise linen pants with the bow belt and cream-colored wrap top with a cinched waist make me look the part of a publishing gatekeeper, but really, I’m just a backwoods girl with a love of books and not enough formal education to keep her job.”
Sigh! Finding the storyline of Bookmarked for Love by Sarah Monzon was like finding a lost treasure. I don’t watch many movies, but Bookmarked for Love, as it tells the romance of the third Little Creek, TN, librarian, is a retelling of Sabrina. Be still, my heart!! To make my experience even richer, I tried listening to the book I purchased on Audible along with the kindle ebook I purchased. What a double treat the reading/listening combination was! I navigated through the book at a quick rate, alternating between swooning and laughing.
Julien King was the rich, much older boy next door that the groundskeeper’s daughter, Martha Aldridge, develops a crush on from a distance. Now, years have passed, and Martha has bravely approached publishing giant King Enterprises (where she finds Julien standing in for his father, the elder Mr. King) to support her library children’s programs that are about to undergo budget cuts.
Julien agrees, but on the condition that Martha freelance for him as he tries to salvage Squire, the children’s publishing imprint of King Publishing. As Martha and Julien work together, they are both surprised at the history that crops up between them and try to ignore the draw they feel for the other. “…he seemed powerless to extinguish the spark that ignited whenever they interacted.” Yet, though this is America and not England, there are constant reminders that they belong to different worlds.
I loved that there is a plus-sized female main character who is considered beautiful. I was happy to see that though some couldn’t see beyond the fact that she wasn’t a size 4, Martha has long since realized she can be happy as she is. She is comfortable with her body. Happiness goes beyond a number on the scale.
I loved the pond scene and the bracelets explanation. We begin to see the formation of an easy, deep friendship that has actually had roots in their youth, and lay dormant, waiting years for circumstances to awaken and develop even further.
I also loved how the trio of librarians have become really close and support each other as only best friends do.
What will happen as Martha and Julien face their feelings? Any thoughts of a future between them are met with enough roadblocks to make a high skyscraper.
Monzon does a wonderful job of retelling Sabrina. I also enjoyed the pop-culture references. Discussion questions at the back help make the novel suitable for a bookclub.
I received a copy of the novel from JustReads via NetGalley. I also bought my own ebook and Audible versions. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“He’d been practically carrying around a piece of her for most of his life, and he’d never even realized it.”
“…sometimes looking at a problem from a different angle opens our eyes to avenues we weren’t aware of before.”
“Happily-ever-after isn’t the destination. It’s the journey.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Such a gem of a book! For me, I visualized Sabrina in all its wonder and romance all over again in a fresh setting.
Your Turn
What makes Bookmarked for Love earn a space on your TBR? Tell me in the comments!
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Robber and the Witness by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
It’s time for Christmas in July! I never miss a book in Danielle Grandinetti’s Christmas Cabin series, and am excited to join Just Read Tours in presenting this book and author!
Let’s Talk About the Book
Title: The Robber and the Witness Series: Christmas Cabin Historical Romance Novellas #3 Author: Danielle Grandinetti Publisher: Hearth Spot Press Release Date: July 21, 2026 Genre: Christmas Historical Romance/Mystery
Christmas … a time of reunions and unexpected surprises.
A simple favor, a best friend’s promise, and the end of the line.
Wisconsin, 1931—When Gideon Lundgren agrees to escort his best friend’s sister to Manitowish Waters, plans go awry when she witnesses a robbery. He thinks he’s merely escorting the girl he once knew, but she’s grown into a charming beauty.
Evangeline Whitaker’s older brother always warned that her kind heart would be the death of her. It might at that. First, when she’s an unwitting accomplice to a robber. Second, when her childhood crush becomes her bodyguard.
With a robber on their trail and a tangle of emotions between them, Evangeline and Gideon detour to his boss’s cabin to wait out the ensuing manhunt. However, Evangeline’s Christmas spirit might be the death of them both.
One cabin in the Northwoods … a decade of Christmas miracles.
A sweet 1931 Christmas mystery featuring a closed-door romance between a protective bodyguard and the woman who witnessed too much.
Just a note… you may notice that these covers are new and refreshed to be more unique to the 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
“It’s what Evan is always telling me, that my kindness is going to be the ruin of me. He’s right.”
Poor Evangeline Whitaker! Back in 1931 in a train station in Minnesota, there was no loud speaker such as we have in airports nowadays blaring over the air. “Do not watch the bags of strangers!” Danielle Grandinetti’s female main character in The Robber and the Witness is just too kind for her own good. Her brother Evan says so. The fact that she is stuck literally holding the bag when two policemen come to investigate says so. The only one who doesn’t say so is Deputy Gideon Lundgren, Evangeline’s brother’s best friend and appointed guardian for a Christmas visit to Gideon’s friends’.
I loved the way Gideon smoothly assesses Evangeline’s situation and need and comes to her aid based on his knowledge of her past personality and his friendship with her brother. He is willing to give her the shadow of a doubt she needs in a sticky situation, and provides a great safety net for her. He provides confident leadership.
The train ride in the snowy Christmas atmosphere would have been magical if there weren’t the very real possibility of their being followed. Gideon is very good at assessing people, situations, taking charge, and giving commands to help protect not just Evangeline but the whole group of train passengers.
Evangeline is very brave, stoic, and willing to follow GIdeon’s lead. But…Is she naive, or is she just willing to see the best in people? When her soft heart rises up yet again… will it be the death of her and Gideon and maybe more?!
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher. I also purchased my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
If you like short, nostalgic, Christmas -themed romantic suspense, I recommend this book and series. Each book stands alone, but it is beneficial to recognize characters from previous books.
Notable Quotables:
“The thief was a variable he could not account for.” ( Gideon)
“People don’t always believe me because they think I’m too kind, I think. Maybe. I don’t know. I suppose I don’t really understand why people don’t always believe me. But you do?”- Evangeline
“…he led with quiet confidence and assurance that all would be well, even if he didn’t believe it.”– Gideon
“Don’t not be kind just because other people make bad choices.”- Gideon
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great! Another great addition to this sweet series!
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What’s the Prize (Giveaway)?!
(2) winners will each receive a signed paperback of The Robber and the Witness, a notebook/pen set, and a wooden ornament!
Rules, Regulations, and Fine Print
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 22, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 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 Takeover + Review Blitz for The Light of Stars by Jenelle Hovde, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: The Light of Stars Author: Jenelle Hovde Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Release Date: July 14, 2026 Genre: Historical Romance
An arranged marriage. A powerful company tainted with corruption. Two souls caught between obligation and a longing to find their true calling in this Regency romance set in glittering London ballrooms and Calcutta street markets.
When Kitty Grenville’s grandfather announces her engagement to Sebastian Sinclair, she’s appalled. She barely remembers the boy she met once as a child—and now he’s a man tied to the East India Company, the very organization that tore Kitty and her brother from their mother and home in Hyderabad years ago. Unwilling to relinquish her dream of a love match or her passion for astronomy, Kitty is determined to refuse the marriage and find freedom in her own way.
Sebastian Sinclair carries the weight of duty and regret. To atone for past sins, he complies with his grandfather’s orders to return to England, fulfill a long-standing betrothal, and defend the maligned East India Company before Parliament. Though Kitty makes her disinterest clear, Sebastian is drawn to her intellect and spirit.
As Kitty navigates her first London season, her opinion of Sebastian begins to shift, especially when he shields her from scandal. When he’s abruptly called back to India, Kitty stuns everyone by marrying him and going with him, hoping to escape her grandfather’s control—and to find her mother.
But the challenges that await in India are greater than imagined. Together, Kitty and Sebastian must confront the legacy of family and empire—and discover if a marriage born of obligation can grow into a love strong enough to endure.
Jenelle Hovde, an accomplished illustrator, author, pastor’s wife, and homeschooling mother, ventured off the beaten path when she transitioned from her career as a doctor of audiology to pursue her passion for writing. While her nine novels span different eras—from the ancient worlds to World War II—her favorite genre is sweet Regency romance that enchants readers with tales of love and intrigue set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century England. Drawing inspiration from timeless treasures found in antique stores, Jenelle pens historical romance novels that captivate readers with vivid storytelling and gentle messages of faith. Her stories have garnered impressive showings in multiple writing contests. Often found writing at the Florida beach, she navigates life with her family and manages two saucy cats who insist on interrupting her creative endeavors.
Connect with Jenelle by visiting jenellehovdeauthor.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
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My Impressions
“I’m not afraid of failure. I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.” – William Carey
Book Coma!! Jenelle Hovde’s latest historical romance, The Light of Stars, has left me in a book coma. I am so overwhelmed by this book I don’t know if I can move on. Typically, stories of India, The East India Tea Company, England, and Parliament do not sound exciting to me. But let Hovde get ahold of these threads, and she weaves them together with a marriage of convenience story and faith nuggets into a beautiful work of art!
In London in December of 1814, unconventional, headstrong English heiress Kitty Grenville greatly resents her “Iron Colonel” grandfather, who treats her as a pawn in his grasp for money and power. Masterminding her kidnapping from a palace in India as a young girl, her grandfather now insists Kitty marry a man he chooses. This man, Sebastian Sinclair, is a grandson of the chairman of the board of The East India Tea Company. Kitty, who studies astronomy diligently, is threatened to have that freedom taken away, plus her inheritance, if she refuses to comply. Already caught with her brother between two worlds, Kitty has two desires: to be controlled by no man, and to find her mother.
Sebastian, after years of wasteful living, has finally found God and returned to his place in his grandfather’s family. Leading the East India Tea Company will one day fall to him, but now he must prove his worth and loyalty by marrying the granddaughter of an old comrade of his grandfather. He must also defend the East India Tea Company before Parliament.
Kudos to Hovde, who helped me understand the politics of the time involving the East India Tea Company, the response of India’s people to the company, and the mission of people like William Wilberforce and William Carey who believe the English heads of the company of great wrongdoing. Slowly, Wilberforce and Carey remind Sebastian of his duty to mankind as a Christian.
“It is the true duty of every man to promote the happiness of his fellow creatures to the utmost of his power,” Wilberforce says. While Carey tells Sebastian, “The gospel is the true means by which the world changes, Sebastian—not these political positions you seek. To belong to Jesus is to embrace the nations with Him.” But can Sebastian be convinced that his precious tea company and his one way to prove his loyalty to his domineering grandfather might be less important than the call of God on his divided heart?
So many times this amazing book plucked at my heartstrings. Two adults desperately looking for approval from grandparents that are hard and overly demanding. Two young adults (not necessarily the same) who, due to their heritage, cannot find acceptance in either society. Again, two adults whose siblings are living lives the former are ashamed of and grieve over. Ah, the romance, the intrigue, the action, the suspense, and the twists! And the astronomy lessons! How fun to have the stars be a focus of the book, yet the happiness Kit would have, should she be allowed to continue her beloved studies, is as unlikely as a new celestial discovery by a woman.
A book for historical fiction lovers, Regency romance lovers, readers of Julie Klassen and Sarah Ladd, plus those who enjoy reading of women in STEM and marriage of convenience stories. I adored it and highly recommended this novel!
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through JustRead Tours via NetGalley. I also bought a couple of paperbacks- one for my trophy shelf and one to share with a friend!
Notable Quotables:
“Yet even in this, I see the hand of Providence. I can trust Him—not only in the doors He opens, but in those He closes as well.” “Could I trust God to chart my path?”– Freddy, (Kitty)
“We do not have to be bound to our family’s curses or their poor choices. We can choose differently, aye?”- Sebastian
“Even those who think themselves uninvolved are often complicit if they do nothing.” -Carey
“We cannot allow our mistakes, nor the evil of others, to define our path or our identity.” – Freddy
“These men had not come to be entertained. They had come to change the world. Or set fire to it, if my grandfather was to be believed.” – Sebastian
“…mercy is a necessity for peace. Perhaps this is why we so desperately need God’s help. To calm the storm.” – Kit
“They’re the same stars. But from here, they feel like a promise…Neither you nor I are lost, not when we see God’s handiwork.” – Sebastian
“Forgiveness changes us,” he had told me once. “A repentant man is no longer defined by his sins.” – Carey
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! The Light of Stars checks all the boxes for me. It is on my shortlist of fave books of 2026!!
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Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $25 gift card to their choice bookstore!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight July 21, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on July 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.
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Eyes of River by Cindy K. Sproles, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: The Eyes of River Author: Cindy K. Sproles Publisher: Kregel Publications Release Date: June 23, 2026 Genre: Historical Fiction
A heart-wrenching Appalachian novel from a best-selling, award-winning author
In the shadowed hollers of the early-twentieth-century Appalachian Mountains, Lizzy Haney is on the run. She’s been falsely accused of murder and is desperate to reunite with her brother, River, whose unforgettable green eyes haunt her. The secret in her past is a stinging wound, but it motivates her toward her goal: freedom.
But nine-year-old River, sent through the US Post Office to their late mother’s friend in Knoxville, never arrived. Lizzy’s dream of finding him and starting a new life away from their alcoholic and abusive father is ripped away.
Her hope rekindles as she happens upon an unexpected friend to help her dodge the law and save the missing youngin’. As she finds herself trusting him, she discovers the accuracy of the old adage her momma repeated: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Cindy K. Sproles is a speaker and best-selling,award-winning author of several novels, including Mercy’s Rain, Liar’s Winter, and Coal Black Lies. She is the executive editor for Christian Devotions Ministries and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. She also mentors and coaches new writers with Write Right Author Mentoring Services. She is an Appalachian-born-and-raised mountain girl who now lives in East Tennessee.
Connect with Cindy by visiting cindysproles.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
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My Impressions
“The truth shall make you free. The truth shall make you free. I kept repeatin’ the words, tryin’ to convince myself it was true. All the while, the memory of River’s eyes scorched my soul.”
Whoo, boy! I feel just a little numb after reading this Appalachian novel, The Eyes of River, by Cindy Sproles. Writing with her unparalleled mountain voice, Sproles transports the reader back in time to 1913 Tennessee, south of Chattanooga.
There we meet rough, but spirited Lizzy Haney, 17. After watching her deadbeat drunk father kill her mother, Lizzy believes her father’s threats to kill her younger 9 year-old brother, whose deep-green eyes “could bore a hole through your soul.” Her father can’t stand the judgment of those innocent, discerning eyes. Believing herself River’s only protection, Lizzy mails him off to her mother’s friend in Chattanooga. Things progress from bad to worse when her cruel father sets Lizzy up to take the wrap for murders he commits. Soon on the run, with her plans in ashes, will Lizzy accept help from others? Will she find the truth that can set her free?
I love Alton for his patience with Lizzy. He has loved her for a long time, but Lizzy has looked no further than first impressions and appearances. Alton offers to help guide Lizzy in the mountains, at a risk to his own life, but Lizzy can’t stop depending on her own wisdom and insisting they do things her way. Alton finally rebukes her, “Lizzy, you need to learn to hush. Be quiet. You need to understand you don’t know everything, and sometimes folks is just trying to help you.” Somehow, Alton has become a mature, wise man when Lizzy wasn’t noticing.
Lizzy finds this journey not only dangerous but frustrating and full of self-discovery (“ye shall know the truth”), but often that truth is painful. As the Sheriff tells Lizzy, ( and so does Alton!) “You do have a problem with doing what you’re told.” If the rescue of River will depend on Lizzy being quiet and doing what she’s told, there could be some huge snags!
I loved the variety of people that populate the secondary character stage. They are well-drawn, some heart-ugly, some beautiful from within, but all compelling and great catalysts for action. Jerelene and Joe are wonderful encouragers and “growth prodders” for Lizzy. Lizzy’s daddy and Yeager are worthy undesirable criminals who need caught!
If I could hear a single song playing as the soundtrack in the background as I read this book, surely it would be Foreigner’s “I wanna know what love is. I want you to show me.” Lizzy wants desperately to know what love is. From some characters, she gets very skewed ideas or imperfect love. From others, like Alton, the Wileys, or Tilda, she sees true love, but as I said above, a love that cares enough to tell the truth. Will she connect with the Source of perfect Love?
I received a copy of the book from the publisher. I also ordered a paperback for my keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“…real love don’t care what or who you are. It just cares that you are.”
(what Lizzy learns from Jerelene)
“You can’t change what you are, no matter how you scrub the hide. Instead you learn to accept it and change from the inside.” – Jerelene
“At that moment I began to understand what it meant to trust. Trusting someone meant having no doubt they would do what they said they would do.” – ( Lizzy)
“A body doesn’t have to ask questions. He just has to listen. You learn a lot when you listen.” – Sheriff Mosley
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! Capturing the raw Appalachian life from the early 1900s, Sproles has captured the essence of that era and voice. She shows how hardship forces a young girl to mature and find truth and love. Highly recommended!!
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Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Eyes of River and a $20 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight June 24, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on July 1, 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.
