English

11.03.2026

Guardian of Hope ~ Review

Guardian of Hope
Blood of Kings: Legends #7
By Jill Williamson and Megan Gerig 

Grendolyn Hoff is now a widowed mother of a baby girl, she's trying to break free from her husband's family. She's return to her previous profession of wielding a needle as a seamstress. But the fresh start she's looking for is out of her reach when something her late husband did has made her a target. Gwen is determined to find whatever it is that has caused her to be brought to the attention of those who have nefarious de nm,,.signs for the kingdom.

Is Harnu Poe a hinderance to her desire to free herself from the past? Or is he the key to claiming the future she's long desired?

If Harnu has his way, Gwen will discover the love he's long carried for her, but only if she can see the changes within him and not the man he once was. 

As with all the books within the Blood of Kings: Legends series danger abounds and redemption is available to those who are ready to change themselves and the world. Intense and captivating read will be in your feature if you are willing to join Gwen and Harnu as they fight for a future greater than either of them, where plunging a kingdom into the darkness it has shaken off could happen.

This series must be read in order to fully enjoy (and understand) as each book builds upon the previous books. Guardian of Hope is the seventh book in the Blood of Kings: Legends series and tenth in the Blood of Kings world. Thirteenth if you throw in the Kinsman prequel series and then there is the spin-off series The Kings Spies. Okay you can read them out of order if you really want to.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

She needed a fresh start. 
He needed a second chance. 
But the past isn't finished with either of them.

Grendolyn Hoff returned to Sitna with a baby on her hip and a plan: build a life for her daughter, alone, on her own terms. She doesn't need anyone. She especially doesn't need the reformed troublemaker who spent years trying to be worthy of her love while she spent years making sure he knew he had no place in her life.

But her late husband Riga's secrets have a way of surfacing. And when those secrets point straight to a conspiracy threatening the throne itself, the people behind it don't care that she had no part in it.

Harnu Poe isn't standing aside while danger circles Gren and her daughter. Even if it means facing everything from the past he fought so hard to leave behind.

The conspiracy won't stop until they're both silenced. And when they stand together against the shadows, Gren will have to face the truth she's been running from: she can't lose him.

But can she let her wounded heart trust him before it's too late?

A stand-alone, faith-forward romantasy set in Jill Williamson's beloved Er'Rets — for readers who love slow-burn second-chance romance, protective heroes who keep showing up, and a faith that pursues even the most wounded hearts.

READERS WILL LOVE…
• A reformed troublemaker hero who spent years becoming worthy of the woman who won't let him in.
• A single mother heroine carrying her late husband's secrets — and the weight of a conspiracy she never chose.
• Slow-burn second-chance romance: he's been waiting. She keeps saying no. The danger stops asking.
• Forced proximity through shared danger, a conspiracy that threatens the throne, and a faith arc that runs deep.
• A God who never stopped pursuing them both — even through grief, past mistakes, and a heart that forgot how to trust.
• Clean fantasy romance. Big stakes. No spice. A love that's waited long enough.

A Bookshop for Christmas ~ Review with Giveaway

A Bookshop for Christmas JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 
A Bookshop for Christmas by Heidi Chiavaroli, 


A Bookshop for Christmas
A Bookshop for Christmas 
By Heidi Chiavaroli 

The Chilton family is fractured, and they have been for years, but with the sudden and unexpected death of their grandparents, the Chilton cousins are given an opportunity to fix what is broken. 

Seven cousins, six related by blood, two single mothers, one widow, and a whole lot of baggage and regrets follow them into the lawyer's office, where they learn what's coming next.

When it's revealed that the seven cousins are to work together to turn an old church into a bookstore, they are not pleased. Except for Brooke and Jeremiah, the rest are less than thrilled at the prospect of the work and the time commitment.

This is a chance to reconnect with the values they were raised with, to let go of the past, to seek forgiveness, and to seek out God's will as they go forward. There are bumps along the way that could further destroy what they are seeking to rebuild, or these bumps could be an opportunity to grow closer and stronger together. 

This book deals with several sensitive/trigger issues, including a recovering alcoholic, teen pregnancy, loss of a spouse, and an affair - all of which I was unaware of before reading A Bookshop for Christmas. But this book focuses on forgiveness, second chances, and hope for what is to come. Everything comes to a head just in time for the planned Christmas opening when the past and the present collide, long-held secrets and resentments are confronted, and nature's wintry presence makes itself known. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book

Title: A Bookshop for Christmas 
Author:
Heidi Chiavaroli 
Publisher:
Hope Creek Publishers 
Release Date: October 20, 2026 
Genre:
Christian Women's Fiction

Seven estranged cousins. 
           One ambitious project. 
                        A hundred ways it could all go very wrong. 

When Brooke’s beloved grandparents die unexpectedly, their final wish brings her scattered family back to Hope Creek, including Jeremiah, the boy she once loved—the same boy who abandoned them when the Chilton clan disintegrated years ago. Despite the long-held grudges and awkward secrets that kept them all apart, Brooke and Jeremiah convince the Chilton cousins to help honor their grandparents’ last request: to take the old church they saved from destruction and turn it into a bookshop that will serve their beloved community. 

And to do it all before Christmas. 

But repurposing the church building may be easier than healing the deep wounds that tore their family apart. Secrets, both old and new, threaten to destroy Brooke and Jeremiah’s hope that this project could be a new beginning for all of them. With the bookstore’s opening day fast approaching and everyone’s lives upended, each cousin must discover for themselves that the greatest inheritance their grandparents left behind wasn’t a building—it was the gift of forgiveness, the power of second chances, and the enduring hope of Christmas.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Author's Website | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

Where Grace Appears


About the Author

Heidi Chiavaroli

Heidi Chiavaroli is the award-winning author of several books, including Freedom’s Ring, The Orchard House, The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast series, and the bestselling Draw Close to Jesus: 40 Encounters with the Savior for the Sacred Season of Lent. She makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and their two sons.

Connect with Heidi by visiting heidichiavaroli.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of A Bookshop for Christmas and a $75 Amazon Gift Card!

A Bookshop for Christmas blog tour giveaway JustRead

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 3, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 10, 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


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

10.28.2026

Griffy, The Golf-Loving Gopher ~ Review

Griffy, The Golf-Loving Gopher
By Francesca Falcetta Morrell
Illustrated by Claudia Gadotti

Griffy loves golf and watches local golfers play from the sidelines hidden from sight in the bushes. Not unheard of until you hear that Griffy is a gopher!

Now Griffy is not just an observer of golf, nope his love makes him determined to play the game. This was a cute book about determination to be the best that one can be and not allowing others to keep you from achieving your goal.

The illustrations are sweet and well-done, a perfect complement to the story. This is a fun way to introduce young readers to golf while promoting early literacy with an engaging read that will have you cheering for Griffy to succeed.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:
What if your biggest dream was different from everyone else's?

Griffy, The Golf-Loving Gopher follows a small gopher with an outsized dream of playing golf. He prepares in secret, practices by moonlight, and then finally steps up to the tee—only to be laughed at and told he doesn't belong. What he does next teaches young readers that a setback isn't the end of a dream and that courage often means trying again. Told in playful rhyme with warm watercolor illustrations, it's a gentle lesson in perseverance, self-belief, and looking past first impressions.

Perfect for children ages 3–7, golf families, grandparents, teachers, librarians, classrooms, and junior golf programs, Griffy, the Golf-Loving Gopher is a delightful read-aloud that children will want to hear again and again.

10.27.2026

Cold Case Arson Investigation ~ Review with Giveaway

Cold Case Arson JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 
Cold Case Arson Investigation by Kerry Johnson, 

Cold Case Arson InvestigationCold Case Arson Investigation 
Forest Ranger Rescuers #4 
By Kerry Johnson 

When a mission went tragically wrong, Clay Reiger walked away from the woman he loved. He was a failure and she was too good for him. But now Autumn Jennings is back in his life and a serial arsonist from the past (or a copycat) has set his (or her) eyes on Clay. As the attacks become more targeted and deadly in their intent, Clay and Autumn must confront their past and use their skills to determine who is behind these blazes.

As this story unfolds one is left wondering why Clay and Autumn are targets of this arsonist. Yes, their job description clearly marks them as investigators who are out to stop the perpetrator, but it almost seemed focused on them really early on as if it was a game.

And then there is this secret that is between Clay and Autumn, one that has been there nearly as long as Clay disappearing from her life. (You may be able to guess it, but the fact that it is not mentioned in the blurb it shall remain unmentioned here.) But since leaving, Clay has made efforts to change his life around, trying to put his less-than-ideal childhood behind him and finding hope in God.

This is story of second chances, found family, and redemption. Sometimes the most difficult act of forgiveness is that of oneself, and one I feel is Clay's biggest obstacle in finding the true peace he has accepted into his life. There are some definite moments of drama throughout, and as someone who has experienced the devastation and tragedy that fire can cause I can so empathize with the various individuals who are faced with this powerful element that can be both beautiful and deadly. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book

Title: Cold Case Arson Investigation 
Series:
Forest Ranger Rescuers #4 
Author:
Kerry Johnson 
Publisher:
Love Inspired Suspense 
Release Date:
October 27, 2026 
Genre:
Romantic Suspense

A decades-old crime.  
            A secret ready to explode. 

Trapped in a burning barn, fire ranger Clay Reiger barely escapes with his ex-girlfriend, fire marshal Autumn Jennings, as the inferno rages out of control. Soon a chilling pattern emerges—fires eerily similar to those set by a serial arsonist who disappeared years ago. As the past resurfaces, the danger becomes impossible to ignore. With their lives under attack and a long-buried secret threatening to reignite old wounds, Clay and Autumn must confront their shared history. Can they unravel a deadly mystery and stop a vengeful criminal before more lives are lost?

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

More in This Series

Abducted in the Woods Targeted in the Swamp


About the Author

Kerry Johnson

Kerry Johnson spent a magical childhood in New England roaming the woods, climbing mossy boulders, and reading everything she could get her hands on. She moved to Florida as a teen, reluctantly exchanging dirt for sand and snow for sunshine. Kerry lives on the sunny, stormy west coast of Florida with her patient engineering husband, two college-aged sons, and her teen niece. Their busy home also includes a lazy boxer, one very temperamental sun conure, a spotted leopard gecko, plus any stray cats who need food and TLC. (She still dreams of owning a horse one day.) She’s a longtime member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and FHLCW (Faith Hope Love Christian Writers). Her stories have won two ACFW Genesis Awards (2017 & 2020), RWA-Georgia’s Maggie Contest (Unpublished, 2019), and a First-Place Selah Award for Romantic Suspense (2025). She writes for Harlequin/Love Inspired Suspense, and you can find her list of books on her Amazon page Amazon.com: Kerry Johnson: books, biography, latest update

Connect with Kerry by visiting kerryjohnsonbooks.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of all four books in the Forest Ranger Rescuers series (Hunted in the Forest, Abducted in the Woods, Targeted in the Swamp, and Cold Case Arson Investigation) plus a scripture bookmark & tea bags!

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

Cold Case Arson Investigation blog tour giveaway JustRead

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 27, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 3, 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.

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10.23.2026

The Stand-In ~ Review with Giveaway

The Stand In JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 
The Stand-In by Kit Hawthorne, 

The Stand-In
The Stand-In 
By Kit Hawthorne 

It took a bit for me to actually get into this story and what was going on. Things like why Tamryn was so opposed to seeing anything beyond her bedroom walls, her barely suppressed anger at her mother, and such. Now don't get me wrong, I could easily disappear from the outside world and be content hanging with my dogs, but I'm not seeing Tamryn chilling out with pets, nope she stuck in a hole of depression and anger. 

Enter mom with a plan, a plan that brings Halverson (call me Hal now) Ramsay Ford back into Tamryn's life when mom organizes a pool party for an informal high school reunion/get together to hopefully knock her daughter back into life from her self-imposed prison of solitude, dark bedroom, and noise cancelling-earphones. (Yup that was one wordy sentence.) But guess what? Mom knows best, as you'll soon discover, at least in getting Tamryn to acknowledge that there is something worth exploring beyond the walls of her room.

This book then takes us on a discovery about who we are and can one reinvent oneself following tragedy or a life changing event. How do we know when this change in others is honestly who they have become or a carefully constructed mask? Can hurts and betrayals of the past keep us trapped in the past, the familiarity of pain more comforting that the possibility of something better? These are the questions that Hal and Tamryn must face as they navigate the new and unfamiliar path before them set in motion by a concerned and loving parent.

This was an interesting read that falls into the realm of contemporary romance with all its confusion of questions and emotions what should I do, what do I want? 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book

Title: The Stand-In 
Author:
Kit Hawthorne 
Publisher:
Highsmith Books 
Release Date:
October 13, 2026 
Genre:
Contemporary Romance

He reinvented himself. Now the truth could cost him everything. 

For years, Halverson Ramsay Ford cultivated a reputation for brilliance and reckless arrogance. But after a devastating accident leaves him with a permanent limp, the notorious biotech genius disappears from public view…and emerges as a very different man. 

Intelligent, sensitive, and scarred by a past betrayal, librarian Tamryn Page has no interest in falling for a charming billionaire—especially one with Hal’s history. Yet the man she comes to know is thoughtful, vulnerable, and kind, with a love of history and literature to match her own. 

But the relationship is built on a lie. And when the truth comes to light, it threatens to destroy not only the future of Hal’s company, but the trust of the only woman who has ever truly seen him. 

Now Hal must choose whether to step out from behind the identity he created—or lose the woman he loves forever.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | KitHawthorne.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub


About the Author

Kit Hawthorne

A lifelong resident of the American South, Kit Hawthorne lives on a Texas farm that’s been in her husband’s family for two centuries. She used to play in a Celtic folk band, and the only sport she understands is Highland games.

Connect with Kit by visiting kithawthorne.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a copy of The Stand-In and a $30 Amazon gift card!

The Stand-In blog tour giveaway JustRead

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 19, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 26, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Crestwood Ranger ~ Cover Reveal

Crestwood JustRead Blog Cover Reveal Tour

Welcome to the Cover Reveal Blitz for
Crestwood Ranger by Jessica Ashley,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Crestwood Ranger 
Series: Ridge Defenders #1 
Author: Jessica Ashley 
Publisher: B.A.D. Publishing, LLC (self) 
Release Date: February 22, 2027 
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

A wounded Ranger. 
        A mother on the run. 
                                            One cabin, 
        and nowhere left to hide. 

 Norah has run as far as she can. With an abusive ex-husband hunting her, and a blizzard swallowing the mountain, she carries her five-year-old son toward the only light for miles. But the man who opens the door just wants to be left alone. Former Army Ranger Theo Dancer lost his unit to betrayal and has spent every day since refusing to forgive himself for surviving. Determined to die alone in the mountains like he should have in that desert, he lives completely secluded from everyone. And then she shows up. Battered, broken, and carrying a little boy with bright eyes and a heart full of hope. The last thing Theo wants is a complication. But when it becomes clear that Norah isn’t just running from a storm, he jumps back into the fight. Keeping her alive means trusting her. But trusting anyone means opening a door he nailed shut the day he lost his brothers.

Ready to see the cover?

PREORDER LINKS: Goodreads | Author's Website | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub


About the Author: 

GRITTY READS FULL OF GRACE.
Jessica Ashley
is a three-time award winning author of faith-filled stories where swoony romance meets edge-of-your-seat suspense. Her stories serve as a reminder that even in the darkest moments, God's love shines through with hope, healing, and redemption. When she's not writing, she's homeschooling her three kids, baking homemade bread, or sneaking in quiet moments with her husband in their New Hampshire home. 


GRITTY READS FULL OF GRACE.

You can find out more about her on her website.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $20 gift card to the author's website shop 
and a signed copy of SEAL of Courage!

Crestwood Ranger JustRead cover reveal blitz giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 23, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 30, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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10.20.2026

The Talent Throne ~ Cover Reveal

 Today I'm thrilled to share the cover for
Nadine Brandes' upcoming release
The Talent Throne!


Did you read Wishtress when it came out in 2022? Have you ever wondered what else happened in Winterune? Wonder no more when The Talent Throne releases in May 2027. 


About the Book:

Seven years ago, time stopped. Cairden “Runt” Vorst has been trapped in the Stillness ever since.
 
When he finally unlocks the Talent to get time moving again, the crown of Winterune is within his reach. But Winterune law says that before he can become king…Cairden must marry. In ten days.
 
Lieve deWindt has no intention of becoming a bride. In fact, she has quite a different goal: putting an arrow in Cairden Vorst’s heart. Unfortunately, sneaking into the schloss to end his life lands her among the twelve women competing to become his queen.
 
War is coming to their shores in ten days’ time. Lieve is the only one who knows, and she’s determined to deliver a murdered prince as a peace offering. But it turns out assassination is not as simple as it sounds, especially when her Talent bonds with Cairden’s.
 
Together, they may be the only way to save the kingdom…if they can manage not to kill each other first.


This is a no-spice Young Adult royal fantasy where a prince has to choose a bride…but the girl he chooses is tasked to assassinate him to stop a war.


THE TALENT THRONE is available to pre-order today on Kickstarter only!

To Win a Wager ~ Release Day

It's Release Day!

   To Win a Wager
Best Laid Plans #3
Grace Hitchcock

As the third and final book in the series, one would think that Tess would have an easier path to finding love than her friends, but hers just might be the most fraught with danger. It seems the truths she's always accepted about herself are about to be turned over all topsy-turvy, her father's life is in danger, and she is on the run. And her only hope at setting things right is slipping away.

Okay, this book keeps building danger and feelings of betrayal on top of each other as Tess grapples with who she really is and her feelings regarding Jamie Malcom the former spy who has tracked her escape and who may be her only hope for the future, a future neither of them expected or wanted-at first.

To Win a Wager is filled with the unexpected, though not necessarily in a bad way. But when tragedy strikes, they must discover who is behind it if they have any hope for a future. 

Okay, I got such mixed feelings about Tess's father from concern to well-he-got what-was-coming and back again through the cycle. And then Jamie's cousin, totally ugh! While Jamie, even while hunting Tess, came across as someone with integrity, with lines that wouldn't be crossed. 

This was a good read and one that could be enjoyed without reading the first two books in the series. I recommend it to fans of clean, no/low spice romance, who want faith elements driving their main characters. Overall, a good and enjoyable read.

I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.
 


About the Book:

A Regency-era enemies-to-lovers romance set in the magnificent Scottish Isles

Tess Hale has always been taught to fend for herself, but she never needed to until the night bounty hunters come knocking. It’s 1813 in Great Britain, and Tess’s best laid plans crumble when her father sends her alone in the dead of night to an island cottage to escape them. She finds herself in a world of warring clans she didn’t know existed.

After a decade as a spy separated from his clan, Jamie Malcom has a duty to fulfill as next in line as chief—but his absence means he must earn his people’s loyalty. He pursues a treasure stolen from his clan long ago, and it leads him straight to Tess.

As Tess grapples with her past, Jamie vows to protect her future—but lies revealed shatter the trust they had been building. For purposes beyond themselves, they are thrust into a marriage neither of them wanted . . . at first.

In the finale to the Best Laid Plans series, Grace Hitchcock invites readers to the sweeping Highlands and beautiful Scottish Isles with a romance guaranteed to delight.

Available to purchase at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook 

About the Author:

Grace Hitchcock
is the award-winning author of the Best Laid Plans series and other historical novels and novellas. She holds a master’s degree in creative writing and a bachelor of arts in English with a minor in history. She lives near New Orleans with her husband, sons, and daughter. 
Connect with her online at gracehitchcock.com.

10.15.2026

The Beastly Curses have been revealed!

Beastly Curses have been revealed!
The covers are not to be missed. 
(Full disclosure: as one of the authors, I am biased)

What are the Beastly Curses?
The Beastly Curses were each written as part of an Arista Challenge (organized by Kendra Ardnek), and each belongs to the author's own series and world. They're connected by one thing only: they're each retellings of Beauty and the Beast, and they will be released one day at a time at the very end of December!

Featured books are:

The Beastly Cinderella by Kendra Ardnek @fairytalearista December 28, 2026.
Bound by a Rose by Meagan Myhren Bennett @bloomingwbooks December 29, 2026.
Bride of the Jackal by Wyn Estelle Owens @wordsmithofwhimsy December 30, 2026.
Blossom, Beauty, Beast by Sarah Pennington @sarah.taleweaver December 31, 2026.

You can request to review these books via the following form: https://forms.gle/Van5vUjAn52yV7ra








10.13.2026

The Christmas Courier ~ Review

The Christmas Courier
By Roseanna M. White

For Madeleine (Mado) Perrin, Christmas this year will be very different. Her father's death has marked her family, and she wants to be there for her mother, so the time off from teaching will allow them to be there for one another. And it will allow her to pass on information to the French Resistance in the papers she has managed to smuggle home hidden in the essays she needs to grade. 

But when childhood friend Daniel Raymond shows up in her family's apartment seeking help, Madeleine and Daniel have a second chance at a future together. But in occupied France, second chances are hard to come by with betrayal lurking just around the corner. And Daniel's Jewish heritage and ties to the Resistance make him the perfect target for betrayal.

With the future she has long dreamed of about to be stolen away, Madeleine, along with her family, plots the perfect way to rescue Daniel and the future that is slipping away. 

The Christmas Courier is a quick read and one that, if you are like me, will keep you reading. This book is set at Christmas, which gives it an added attraction. The fact that it is based on true events from World War Two added a historical factor that I loved. This book gives a rollercoaster of emotions as Madeleine and Daniel navigate the world in a state of chaos, hate, fear, and hope. Determination drives them to right the wrongs that have come upon them. I loved the faith elements that were present throughout and the importance of waiting on God's timing in all things. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
1943. 
Lyon, France. 

After bidding her students farewell for the holidays, Madeleine Perrin is looking forward to a quiet, simple Christmas at home with her mother. With the war raging on and rations tight, she knows it will be up to her to make the day festive and find special ways to remember the papa she lost and honor his love for Christmas. But first, Madeleine must smuggle secret messages hidden in her students’ essays to the Resistance network. She never expects the person waiting to receive them is her childhood best friend, the man who broke her heart.

Daniel Raymond has thrown himself into his work as a courier for the Resistance, carefully concealing his Jewish ancestry that, if discovered by the Nazis, could put his life at risk. Haunted by regret about the day Madeleine professed her love, and he turned her away, Daniel longs to make things right. When he sees her again, he dares to hope for reconciliation―and realizes the love he once denied has only grown deeper.

As Christmas nears and Daniel recovers from a wound sustained in a courier run, forgiveness and romance soon blossom between Daniel and Madeleine, and the two begin planning a future together. But when a mission goes wrong, and Daniel is captured by the Gestapo, Madeleine must turn to her Resistance allies―and a centuries-old law―to attempt a dangerous rescue before it’s too late.

10.11.2026

Boots and Roses ~ Review

Boots and Roses
: A Retelling of Puss in Boots and Beauty and the Beast 
The Roumaterra Chronicles #6
By Erin Halbmaier
Narrated by Elaine K. Schultz

The Roumaterra Chronicles are best enjoyed by reading or listening to them in order. You don't have to, but some aspects of the story make more sense if you do. Boots and Roses is the sixth book in the series and is an enjoyable mashup of Beauty and the Beast and Puss in Boots. This book covers much of the same time period as book five Trials and Command and these two stories are definitely intertwined (not saying more in case you haven't read it).

Liesl thought Tobias had feelings for her and was interested pursuing a relationship with her, but then he left without revealing his heart in search of a missing princess (from book 4 Arrows and Gems). Tobias's only companion was a black cat, whom he talks to, constantly.

When Liesl finds herself separated from her travel companions, she is thrust into a world cut off from everyone and everything she knows. At least Tobias's beloved cat, Puss is still at her side. But there is a murderous ogre called Beast, a village of suspicious people, and a magical barrier keeping her trapped in this valley.  But Liesl is determined to think positive thoughts-- Tobias isn't dead, Beast isn't as violent as the villagers think, and she will escape this valley.

Beast has been told he murdered all the men in the village 20 years ago, but his memories of the past are hard to recall. When Leisl stumbles into the valley she brings a change with her. She is not frightened of him, well not very frightened, and he'll do anything to keep her and her cat safe.

This was an enjoyable retelling of Beauty and the Beast that gave a unique twist by adding in the retelling of Puss in Boots. The two interwoven stories blended into the Roumaterra Chronicles story world in an altogether satisfying way. These books are definitely ones for the reread/relisten to shelf. Yes, they are that good and there are always little hints one has missed in the past that afterwards, I'm like, "Oh!" And comparing Liesl to her older sister Katy (book 2 Songs and Spun Gold and book 3 Spirits and Pacts) it is obvious they are sisters.  So maybe you should read the previous stories first to fully enjoy the experience of Boots and Roses.

I also enjoyed this book as an audiobook (purchased) and the audio was so good, The narrator does the voices so that one can recognize the different characters. I did listen at 1.25 times so it better matched my reading speed, but even at the slower speed of 1.00 it did not drag. Excellent and highly recommend for those commuting or suffering from eye fatigue after a day at the computer.

I was provided a complimentary advanced copy of the digital book. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
Liesl is determined to find the man who broke her heart. 
Getting trapped in a cursed valley with a dangerous ogre isn’t part of the plan.

Tobias gave Liesl a reason to hope when he offered her the rose from his waistcoat, but then he volunteered to search for the missing princess he’d been half-heartedly pursuing. Liesl refuses to admit she cares, but when she learns he’s vanished without his beloved cat, concern overrides her hurt. Something is wrong, and she’ll track him down to ensure he’s safe – and to demand the answers she deserves.

Beast has no memory of who he is, only the desperate need to complete a task the valley’s magic won’t let him leave to finish. When Liesl appears with a familiar cat at her heels, eerily realistic dreams begin to trouble him. They feel like memories, but they can’t be. Because in the dreams, he’s human.

Liesl struggles to believe the villagers’ claims that Beast is violent, but she has a reason for ingratiating herself to him: she believes he knows something about Tobias. He isn’t averse to her company, but the mission Beast can’t recall doesn’t allow for a future with Liesl. And if he could remember, he wouldn't confess the reason.

Because some secrets must be kept. Even if his silence costs him the woman he loves.

Fans of K.M. Shea and Melanie Cellier will love this clean fantasy romance retelling of Puss in Boots x Beauty and the Beast, where quiet connection, magical mysteries, and impossible choices take you on an emotional journey. Pick up Boots and Roses and fall into a cursed valley where the truth can be dangerous – and love demands everything.

Available from Amazon 

10.09.2026

Coordinates of Death ~ Review with Giveaway

Coordinates of Death Just Read Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 
Coordinates of Death by Darlene L. Turner, 

Coordinates of Death

Coordinates of Death 
Arctic Protectors #2 
By Darlene L. Turner 

Corporal Aurora (aka Rory) Hunt's past is about to become part of a serial killer's twisted game of cat-and-mouse. Her deepest-held secrets are about to be held against her, taunting her, wounding her all over again. She is determined to get the person who eluded her two years ago. But she needs help, so she reaches out to childhood friend Kordell (aka Kord) Greene, as part of the Canadian Watchers Squad for assistance.

Kord has his own painful past, one filled with secrets, foster homes, and time as a teen runaway before he was adopted by Maxwell Greene. (I'm not sure how Rory reconnected with him or what his former last name was.) But he is determined to do what needs to be done to help her and keep her safe. The feelings they felt as teens are given a chance to be revisited after years of separation, and when a serial killer has you in their sights, that is not a good thing.

I found this book to be much darker than I had anticipated. The murder scenes had some definite eww factors, nothing overly graphic, but still disturbing, which may or may not have been made worse as I was suffering from a nauseating headache during the reading (full disclosure here).  And the killer, yeah, truly sick. (Can't say more because it would be a spoiler even if subtle.) Would not recommend reading right before bed; aim for daylight hours and go outside for breaths of fresh air and sunshine.

This book was decidedly twisted, delving into past pains, manipulating people, and just plain evil on the part of the villain. And the climax definitely played into creepy vibes as Aurora, Kordell, the Watcher Squad, and the Sweetwood Falls police force work to outsmart a killer who is more than two steps ahead of them in this twisted "game" of revenge.

There are potential triggers in this book that I was unaware of before I agreed to read it that you may want to be aware of: (in the past, various characters experienced) rape, miscarriage, kidnapping, abuse, and death of a loved one.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book 

Title: Coordinates of Death 
Series: Arctic Protectors #2 
Author:
Darlene L. Turner 
Publisher:
Love Inspired Trade 
Release Date:
October 6, 2026 
Genre:
Romantic Thriller

A police officer will do anything to catch the serial killer that got away—even if it means playing a deadly game in the icy wilderness. 

Sweetwood Falls, Yukon, has seen too much terror for one small town. Corporal Aurora Hunt still blames herself for not catching the Shadow Box Killer before five women lost their lives. The killings stopped two years ago, and her colleagues believe the murderer is dead. But Aurora isn’t convinced. 

A chilling discovery on a winter’s morning confirms her fears. The crime scene is all too familiar—a woman’s mutilated body, and beneath it, a box containing a gruesome souvenir. But this time, there’s a special message, daring Aurora to play a game that will lead her into the wilderness to try and save the next victim. 

Canadian Watcher Squad survivalist Kordell Greene is part of the past that Aurora has tried to put behind her. He’s also the only person equipped to guide her through this deadly terrain. But somehow, the killer knows all their secrets. Solving cryptic clues as they battle the elements, Aurora and Kordell must confront dark truths they’ve withheld, even from each other. And always, the Shadow Box Killer is one step ahead, drawing them deeper into a twisted game where the slightest mistake may be their last.  

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

More in This Series


About the Author

Darlene L. Turner 

Darlene L. Turner is a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.


Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card!

Coordinates of Death blog tour giveaway JustRead

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


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

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10.06.2026

Sanctuary and Sabotage ~ Review with Giveaway

Sanctuary and Sabotage JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 
Sanctuary and Sabotage by Lori DeJong, 

Sanctuary and Sabotage
Sanctuary and Sabotage 
Guarded Hearts #2 
By Lori DeJong 

Guilt over a failed mission finds Trevor Paxton returning to his hometown of Bandry, Texas, but when an emergency finds him reconnecting with a childhood friend after sixteen years, he's more than shocked at the changes in her life. Kinsley Talbot has taken over her late father's veterinary practice, turning it into a world-class operation. She's no longer the pigtailed tomboy who tagged along with her big brother Eli, and Trevor's best friend.

When a series of suspicious incidents start occurring at Kinsley's clinic, Trevor suspects someone has nefarious intentions and is targeting Kinsey or her clinic. The question is who and why. Soon Trevor has a list of possible suspects who have motives, but can he convince Kinsey to let him help her with what he does best?

Sanctuary and Sabotage is the second book in the Guarded Hearts series and is as good as the first book, but it can be enjoyed without reading the first book. This is one book I kept reading wanting to get the end just to find out who was trying to hurt or destroy Kinsey. And then waiting for Kinsey and Trevor admit to each other what was weighing so heavily on their hearts and minds, I was like, "Just say something, it's obvious that they know you are not admitting what is really bothering you." But overall, this was a good read that I'm pleased to recommend if you are looking a new Romantic Suspense option to add to your TBR pile.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book

Title: Sanctuary and Sabotage 
Series: Guarded Hearts #2 
Author:
Lori DeJong 
Publisher:
Scrivenings Press 
Release Date:
September 15, 2026 
Genre:
Romantic Suspense

The greatest threat isn’t the enemy outside—it’s the secrets between them. 

Protection Specialist Trevor Paxton returns to his Texas hometown carrying the weight of a mission gone wrong. Seeking sanctuary at his family’s ranch, he never expects danger to follow him into the life of Dr. Kinsley Talbot, the once-freckled tomboy now fighting to save her family’s land and the veterinary clinic that is her future. 

When Kinsley’s clinic is sabotaged and her barn goes up in flames, Trevor’s instincts tell him she's in danger. But Kinsley refuses his help, determined to protect her family’s legacy without revealing the secret that could bring it all down. 

As threats close in and old feelings rekindle, Trevor makes a quiet choice that could cost him her trust. To save Kinsley, he’ll have to expose his own subterfuge—and convince her that love sometimes means standing guard, even from the shadows. 

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

More in This Series


About the Author

Lori DeJong

Lori DeJong (pronounced DeeYung) is an award-winning contemporary Christian romance author who enjoys penning stories full of grace and the redemptive power of God’s love that inspire others to hope regardless of circumstance, find joy in the moment, and grow in their faith.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Lori arrived in Texas in 2005 and dug those roots right in. She currently resides in beautiful Georgetown, north of Austin, with her husband of thirty years. Other than their two fur-babies, their nest is empty, as their daughter and son-in-law are settled in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. 

Lori loves to write about love and romance with a touch of suspense, with a firm foundation of faith. Clean but sassy, sparkly, and even goose-bumpy romance, with God in the middle and characters seeking and learning and changing, couldn’t be more heartwarming or spine-tingly. 

Lori is an ACFW Genesis Award winner, four-time Selah Award finalist, two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist, has been awarded an Angel Award, and placed second in the FHL Reader's Choice Awards. She's also a member of several organizations, including ACFW, Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers, Novel Academy, CenTex Christian Writers, among others. You can visit Lori at https://loridejongwrites.com and sign up for her newsletter for writing updates, book recommendations, a monthly giveaway, and more.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card plus a signed copy of both Mistletoe and Malice and Sanctuary and Sabotage!

Sanctuary and Sabotage blog tour giveaway JustRead

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 5, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 12, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours