Taken Without a Trace ~ Review with Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 

Taken Without a Trace by Hope Welborn, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Taken Without a Trace 
By Hope Welborn

When GBI Special Agent Cash Brenner literally runs into the "ex from his past that he's regretted ever since," it isn't a happy reunion. Nope not even close. But Cash's cold case and Maya Reid's missing sister just might be linked. Can you say "Danger!"? Because both Cash and Maya fear what might be next when someone decides they need to be eliminated.

Taken Without a Trace definitely kept me guessing as to who the criminal mastermind was. And can we just say there were times I was like, "Don't do it!" But did the characters listen to me, nope.

But overall, it was a fairly good read with just the right amount of suspense.

Did it keep me reading too late? Um, yeah. But this was a fairly quick read. This was a book of second chances (if they can get past their pasts) and family. It is a Love Inspired Suspense offering so the romance tends more towards sweet, and the violence is kept in the non-graphic category.

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

About the Book

Title: Taken Without a Trace 
Author: Hope Welborn 
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense 
Release Date: August 25, 2026 
Genre: Romantic Suspense

A missing person case…  

or a deadly cover-up? 

Georgia Special Agent Cash Brenner gets an anonymous tip on a cold case that’s haunted him for years—but following the lead has him walking into a deadly ambush. He’s saved by his ex, private investigator Maya Reid, who is on a mission to find her missing sister. As eerie similarities between their investigations emerge and Cash grapples with memory loss from the attack, they must put their rocky past aside to find answers. With danger lurking at every turn, Cash and Maya need to act quickly to solve the case and locate Maya’s sister—or risk losing everything they hold dear.  

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.  

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

Also Available

---

About the Author

 Award-winning author Hope Welborn writes spine-  tingling suspense, sprinkled with romance, and saturated with faith. By day, she masquerades as a digital content marketing technology specialist, and by night, she stays up too late putting words on the page. Hope is also co-owner and design/technology manager for Spark Flash Fiction and a member of the Suspense Squad. She has two indie published works, and her next novel will release from Love Inspired Suspense in August 2026. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

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

---

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Taken Without a Trace, a copy of both Hidden and Trail of Danger (also by Hope Welborn), and a $15 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 24, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 31, 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!

The Last Noel ~ Review

The Last Noel

A Romantic Suspense Christmas Collection

By Sarah Hamaker, Jayna Breigh,
      and Kimberley Woodhouse

This was a book filled with suspense and second chances set at Christmas time. I loved how all three stories have titles that ask, "Do you...?" 

In the first story, Sarah Hamaker gives us Do You See What I See? which finds Oakleigh Wright on the run from an unknown danger at the behest of her foster sister with said sister's two children. But when Oakleigh finds herself in desperate need she reaches out to the man she thought she would one day marry. It's the season of miracles and Oakleigh needs one pronto. 

Next up is Jayna Breigh's Do You Hear What I Hear? which finds Elise Sinclair's job as a trial lawyer crushing her Christmas plans which brings her face-to-face with the fiancé who broke her heart over the opportunity of a lifetime that didn't go so well. With a tight timeline Elise has to rely on Jack to help her find proof that a company knowingly hid important details that caused life-altering damages. Could this search help Elise forgive the man she still loves? Maybe if he can own up to just how wrong he was.

The final story is Kimberley Woodhouse's Do You Know What I Know? which finds Faith Thibodeaux recovering from a horrible accident that was one more betrayal in her life. But Faith is making a name for herself in Alaska with her authentic Cajun-style food truck. When her ex-boyfriend shows up in Alaska let's just say it becomes a newsworthy event and finds them in a Gumbo cookoff. This story has a tie in to the author's previous Alaskan romantic suspense series which made this a fun read - though intense.

Each story is clean reading Romantic Suspense set during the Christmas season which gives warm fuzzy feelings unless your hoped-for love interest dumps you before showing up to throw Christmas into a jumbled mess of feelings and hoped for second chances. Of course, there needs to be a bit of sleuthing before hopes of a happily-ever-after can be explored. This is a great way to discover a new author with this 3-in-1 book.

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

About the Book:

Christmas novellas from three award-winning suspense authors
The Last Noel is a riveting Christmas novella collection with suspense, intrigue, and second-chance romance.

Do You See What I See? by Sarah Hamaker
Oakleigh Wright's estranged foster sister reappears late one night desperate to hand off her children. Oakleigh agrees to bring them to their aunt out of state, but her travels are intercepted by a ruthless gang. She turns to her ex, Joseph, for help. Will they rekindle their love as they uncover what the gang seeks?

Do You Hear What I Hear? by Jayna Breigh
Trial lawyer Elise Sinclair resigns herself to a lonely Christmas reviewing legal documents—until her renegade fiancé, Jack, reappears. He is jobless, broken, and seeking forgiveness. Can two battered hearts overcome secrets and restore their love?

Do You Know What I Know? by Kimberley Woodhouse
When Faith Thibodeaux returns to her Cajun-style food truck in Alaska after an accident, the last thing she expects is to find out that her ex-boyfriend is the executive chef of a new restaurant. When they return to their hometown over the holidays to fundraise, will the "friendly" competition restore their love or rip them apart forever?


"This Christmas collection delivers everything readers love about the season―hope, healing, and love that refuses to let go."
―Jenelle Hovde, author of No Stone Unturned and The Light of Stars

Safehouse Under Siege ~ Review

Safehouse Under Siege

Lone Star Defenders #5

By Virginia Vaughan

Four years ago, Emily Matthews' life was changed when she witnessed her fiancé murder before her very eyes. Since then, she has been hidden away from the life she had before. But someone is determined to silence her, and they won't let WITSEC's anonymity stop them.

Four years ago, Wyatt Briggs lost his brother and the woman who brought so much to their lives. When a fellow US Marshal reaches out to let him know Emily's identity has been compromised and that a mole exists within their organization, Wyatt vows to do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

But first he has to find her in a small town called Mercy, Texas, with no resources he can call on to help him get her to safety before it is too late.

After four years of living as someone else, Emily is not ready to just pack up and run. What's to stop the man hunting from chasing her for the rest of her life? She's got friends in Mercy and people she trusts to help keep her safe. But can she convince Wyatt that they need to stand firm in Mercy? Or will they flee in the night, leaving questions in their wake?

Safehouse Under Siege is the fifth book in Virginia Vaughan's Lone Star Defenders series. This a clean romantic suspense from the Love Inspired Suspense collection. You can expect twists, community, found family, clean/wholesome romance, non-graphic violence, second chances, and near escapes. And there may be a HEA or HFN to cap off the book, but you'll have to get your own copy to find out if Wyatt and Emily can escape an enemy who has no fear of the law or justice thanks to his deep pockets and lack of compassion. 

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

 

Deep in the heart of Texas,

he’s her only chance for survival.

US Marshal Wyatt Briggs will risk his life for his job—but when Emily Matthews’s WITSEC identity is compromised, keeping her safe becomes personal. Once engaged to Wyatt’s deceased brother, Emily is like family, yet now she means even more. Both find themselves targets on a drug kingpin’s revenge list, forced to flee from one compromised safe house to another. With a mole lurking in the Marshals Service, Wyatt and Emily must risk everything to protect each other. Emily’s testimony brought the criminal down once, but now they’ll have to work together to deliver justice again, all while staying one step ahead of deadly threats.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Lone Star Defenders

Book 1: Dangerous Christmas Investigation
Book 2: Missing in Texas
Book 3: Protecting the Texas Witness
Book 4: Target for Abduction
Book 5: Safehouse Under Siege

Her Reluctant Amish Heart ~ Review

Her Reluctant Amish Heart

Humble Blessings #3

By Pamela Desmond Wright

Elam Muller pulled away from his Amish roots following the death of his parents. He sought a feeling of belonging, and he thinks he's found that in the Englisch world and his love of fixing automobiles. But when he makes a decision that could have cost a young man his life, Elam's life is upended, and he finds himself doing community service on the very farm of the young man who was hurt. 

Anika Glick's life is a mess. After a tragic accident changed everything, the last thing she needed was for her younger brother to be injured when a former Amish young man makes a selfish decision. When Elam Mueller shows up at her door to work off his community service hours, well, she is not pleased. 

But as Elam helps out, Anika comes to realize just how much her life has changed in the last couple of years, of how much she has lost. And Elam discovers how much he gave up when he left the faith and beliefs that guided him before he lost his way. But can he give up the outside world, the excitement, the cars, the racing for a simple life?

This was a good read that showed how loss affects people differently. Both Anika and Elam respond differently, but at the root of both their reactions is pain and grief. As they work together, their lives begin to change, and their hearts open up to new possibilities. But can they truly break free of the shackles of their old destructive choices? If you're a fan of sweet romance, second chances, and Amish fiction, I would recommend this book, which can be read as a standalone title. And as this is a Love Inspired title, you can be assured of a clean read, wholesome level one romance, and a satisfactory ending with a happily-ever-after in their future.

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

About the Book:

Can her guarded heart

find its way to love and redemption?

When a reckless street race injures her brother, Anika Glick wants nothing to do with the man responsible—especially when he’s sentenced to help her family. But Elam Muller is desperate to prove he’s changed. As they work together on her family farm, Anika finds herself drawn to Elam’s remorse and kindness. But when they're presented with one last risky race that could secure their future or destroy it all, everything they’ve built is put to the test. Will their growing love survive the pull of the past—or will it all come crashing down?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Cover Reveal ~ Guardian of Hope

Today I am thrilled to take part in the 

cover reveal for 

Guardian of Hope 

by Jill Williamson and Megan Gerig

Title: Guardian of Hope

Series: Blood of Kings: Legends, Book 7

Authors: Jill Williamson and Megan Gerig

Publisher: Sunrise Publishing

Pre-order sale price: $4.99 (ebook)

Retail price after release: $7.99 (ebook)

Release date: November 3, 2026

Available in ebook, print, & coming to audiobook

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.

Blood of Kings: Legends

Book 1: Squire of Truth

Book 2: Lord of Winter

Book 3: Lady of Shadows

Book:4: Heir of Light

Book 5: Queen of Reckoning

Book 6: Son of Embers

Now for the cover reveal

Preorder from

Sunrise Shop: 

https://sunrisepublishing.myshopify.com/collections/blood-of-kings-legends

Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/Guardian-Hope-husbands-conspiracy-threatening-ebook/dp/B0H472XC9L

About the Authors: 

Jill Williamson is a multi-passionate creative who loves the arts. She’s written over two dozen books for readers of all ages and is best known for her Blood of Kings fantasy series, two of which won Christy Awards and made VOYA magazine’s Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror list. She produces films with her husband and teaches about writing at conferences. Visit her at jillwilliamson.com.

Megan Gerig is a lover of tea who’s obsessed with autumn days in her backyard—her own version of Rivendell. When she’s not chasing her hobbit sons around the house, she’s dreaming about stories of mystery and magic and sneaking bites of cookie dough from her stash in the freezer. Megan, her husband, and her sons live on a mini-farm where they live out their homesteading dreams. For more information, visit her at megangerig.com.

Additional information and suggested posts

Primary Tropes

Reformed troublemaker hero

Single mother heroine 

Slow-burn second-chance romance 

He's been waiting for years 

She keeps saying no 

He falls first (and keeps falling) 

Dead husband's secrets 

Conspiracy threatening the throne 

Forced proximity through shared danger 

Dual faith arc 

A God who never stopped pursuing them 

Clean. No spice.

The Robber and the Witness ~ Review

The Robber and the Witness

The Christmas Cabin #4

By Danielle Grandinetti

Okay, I totally love The Christmas Cabin series by Danielle Grandinetti, which is set in 1930s Wisconsin. Of note, you do not have to read the books in order to enjoy them, but it is fun to do so, as there are references to previous Christmases and characters who found their way to love there.

This time we are introduced to Evangeline (Eva) Whitaker, whose older brother needs to be away over Christmas. Now Eva is known for her kind heart, and Evan doesn't trust her not to get in trouble because of this compassionate quality. So he has their old family friend escort her to another home, to strangers, to spend the holiday in their company.

Evangeline doesn't mind that Gideon Lundgren will be escorting her. Nope, she secretly had a childhood crush on him. But it's been years since they have seen one another. Of course, in the few minutes between Evan's train leaving and Gideon's arriving, Eva does exactly what Evan feared she would do. She helps out a stranger and finds herself tangled up in a robbery!

Now with a winter storm threatening their travel, Gideon outside of his deputy jurisdiction, and the robber desperate to retrieve the money he stole, Evangeline is about to have a Christmas unlike any she has ever experienced. And maybe she'll get the Christmas gift she is wishing for.

Yes, this was a sweet historical romantic mystery. Perfect for readers who want their romance and mystery closer to a G rating than an R. If you want romance that doesn't cross any lines and mysteries that don't rely on profane language or graphic violence, you will want to experience this newest addition to the Christmas Cabin series. Highly recommended and appropriate for the youngest romance reader.  

About the Book:

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 1930s Historical Romantic Mystery

This page-turning novella offers a slow-burn romance mixed with cozy suspense. Set during a December 1931 manhunt, it unfolds against the backdrop of a secluded Wisconsin cabin. Perfect for fans of Laura Frantz and Rhys Bowen looking for an inspirational read.

The Robber and the Witness Tropes:

Best Friend’s Sibling
Bodyguard/Protector
Forced Proximity
Grumpy/Sunshine
Holiday Romance

Christmas … a time of reunions and unexpected surprises.

Seeds of Hope ~ Review with Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 

Seeds of Hope by Teresa Wells, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Seeds of Hope

The Truitts of Texas #2 

By Teresa Wells

Two wounded hearts. 

One fragile hope. 

A love that dares to take root.

Blooming Grove, Texas, 1896

Deputy Rabb Truitt is good at his job; he is well-liked, and his dedication is noted. But when his lack of reading allows a criminal to go free, he feels like he failed the people of Blooming Grove. There's nothing else to do but resign. But with cattle rustlers about, the sheriff isn't about to let him go. Nope, Rabb's got a job to do, and the sheriff needs him.

When Sallie Parker learns that Rabb is thinking of quitting, she reaches out to him, offering him encouragement and a chance to learn how to read. Well, being sweet on Sallie but feeling unworthy of her, he accepts her offer of help. He encourages her as she recovers from injuries she sustained last year. And when a teaching position opens up, Rabb encourages Sallie to seek it out.

Soon things in Sallie's school and Rabb's search for rustlers begin to get all topsy-turvy and mixed up. Could there be a connection? Or is it just happenstance that is driving Rabb's suspicions?

This was an engaging and interesting read. I have not read the first book in this series, but had no problems with following the book and where it took me. Though I now want to read book one and find out what I missed about the Truitt family. I enjoyed the historical aspects of the story and found the characters engaging. I loved how Rabb and Sallie had such caring hearts and reached out to those in need in their community. Both had secret pains that constrained them, but throughout this book, they faced and worked to overcome them. 

I would recommend this book to those who love historical fiction and want a thread of faith in it, not as a thrown-in tidbit but as an active, natural undercurrent to the story.

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

About the Book

Title: Seeds of Hope 
Series: The Truitts of Texas #2 
Author: Teresa Wells 
Publisher: Scrivenings Press 
Release Date: 07/14/2026 
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Two wounded hearts. One fragile hope. A love that dares to take root. 

Blooming Grove, Texas, 1896 

Deputy Rabb Truitt has sworn to protect Blooming Grove. But when a clerical error sets a criminal free, Rabb blames himself. He should’ve admitted he can’t read, and now he must resign. If he failed the town once, he could fail it again. 

A recent survivor of a devastating fire, Sallie Parker refuses to let Rabb give up the job he loves. She helps him make sense of letters on the page, and as his knowledge grows, so do their feelings for each other. 

When a series of mysterious events surround Sallie’s school, Rabb fears a connection to cattle rustlers he’s pursuing. Each day without arrest, the demands for mob justice increase. Rabb races to protect the town and the woman he loves. But is he too late? 

Perfect for fans of Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, and Jody Hedlund, Seeds of Hope is a faith-based historical romance filled with small-town danger, friends-to-lovers tenderness, found family, courage, and the promise that God can grow hope in even the hardest places.

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

More in This Series

---

About the Author

Award-winning author Teresa Wells writes stories threaded with hope and redemption. She loves meeting people, touring old homes, and studying the Bible. She lives with her husband of 45 years outside of Dallas, Texas. 

Her debut novel, What Brings Us Joy (Scrivenings Press, 2025), is a double winner for the 2026 Holt Medallion Award. Seeds of Hope, Book 2 in The Truitts of Texas series, releases in July of 2026. 

You can find her online at teresawells.com

---

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a signed copy of Seeds of Hope, items related to the book, and a $25 Amazon gift card!

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

The Preacher's Promise ~ Review

First off, I have to say I have very mixed feelings about this book.

Read my review and judge for yourself if it is for you.

The Preacher's Promise

Men of Midas #2

By Victoria Bylin

Reverend John Leaf is not proud of his past, but a stint in prison was just what he needed to turn his life around. Unfortunately, a heart washed clean by the gift of salvation can't erase the sins of the past, and John Leaf's past has come to Midas in the form of Abbie Windsor, the woman he loved and left years ago.

Abbie has a problem; her teenage daughter Susanna has run away in search of her father. The father who did not know she existed, and this unknown, missing daughter is John's greatest fear come true. He knows he isn't father material and he should never be one; he knows the darkness that lives within him.

Now this book came with a content warning of references to past domestic violence. In my opinion, it is a little more than that, as it actually occurs to another character in the book's real time. It is also a major factor throughout the book because Abbie is still dealing with the scars mentally, physically, and emotionally through the majority of the book. Which, unfortunately, is how real life happens: one doesn't just survive abuse and move on as if nothing traumatic occurred. It shapes one's future interactions and is evident in how Abbie deals with those people in her life and defines her feelings and reactions to John.

This book definitely left me with mixed feelings. I had to take this book slowly and was not able to read through it quickly as I often do.

Was it well-written? Yes.

Were the characters engaging? Yes.

Would I recommend this book to others? Yes and no.

I feel this book would help those who haven't suffered abuse to get a glimpse into what friends or family who have might be silently experiencing. So yes, but with a warning that it could be unsettling to the reader.

What I did not like:

The main characters engaged in premarital relations, which resulted in an unplanned pregnancy. This in turn led to Abbie's marriage to her abusive husband.

Too much physical intimacy for my tastes or comfort level.

Nakedness of Abbie, which I realize was to drive home the extent of the abuse she suffered under her husband.

This is a story of redemption, forgiveness, and second chances. It is a glimpse into the mercy of God in allowing one to accept the healing power of Salvation. Of working through hidden pains.

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

About the Book
Title: The Preacher's Promise
Series: Men of Midas #2
Author: Victoria Bylin
Publisher: Independently published
Release Date: June 4, 2026
Genre: Western Historical Christian Romance

Because Love is Worth the Risk

Reverend John Leaf wasn’t always the man he is now—a fact driven home when a letter arrives from a fifteen-year-old girl claiming to be his daughter. What John fears most in this world is passing on his bad blood to a child. But if the letter from Susanna Windsor is true, he’s already done exactly that.  

His fears are confirmed when Abigail Windsor, once Abbie Moore, arrives in Midas. Widowed and accompanied by her incorrigible son, Abbie needs John’s help. Her daughter Susanna has run away from her Washington, DC home and is searching for him—not in Midas but in Bitterroot, Wyoming, where John’s most feared enemy has sworn revenge on him.

Susanna is in danger.  So are John and Abbie for entirely different reasons. Only love can heal past hurts and the emotional wounds left by Abbie’s violent marriage. But with love comes risk—and danger in the form of Ben Gantry, a man determined to exact revenge on John and his family.

https://www.amazon.com/Preachers-Promise-Second-Chance-Romance/dp/B0H452MG8T/

Available in Kindle Unlimited

Content Note: past domestic violence referenced

When the Silence Breaks ~ Review

When the Silence Breaks

Mercy Ridge #1

By Elizabeth Goddard

When a decades old secret is revealed, Sarah Ellison's life is changed forever. Her late grandfather revealed a secret that Sarah feels is directly related to her brother's death--a death she is convinced is murder. With what's left of her family in hiding, Sarah goes searching for answers on a mountain within the Cascade Mountains--a mountain that is even now looming large and deadly--threatening her search for the truth.

But to uncover that truth, Sarah needs Ryder Goodwin's help to get up the mountain. But going up the mountain is the last thing Ryder wants to do; to him it is the site of his greatest failure, and all signs are pointing to danger and a growing threat. 

Prepare yourself for betrayal and unexpected twists. Who will live? Who will die? My lips are sealed and my fingers are off the keyboard. 

If you have never read this author before this is a perfect time to introduce yourself as this is the first book in a new series Mercy Ridge which also happens to be the location of the book. If you like suspense, mystery, danger, decades long secrets, and romance with nothing graphic or overly descriptive thrown in, this is the book for you.

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

About the Book:

A deathbed confession. A decades-old secret. A mountain that holds the answers--and danger closing in.

When intelligence analyst Sarah Ellison learns of her grandfather's deathbed confession connected to her brother's murder, she's determined to protect her remaining family. After further investigation, she discovers the disclosed information points to a decades-old government secret buried deep in the Cascade Mountains. With this knowledge, she looks for a guide who knows the terrain like the back of their hand.

After his father's death in a tragic mountain accident, former Navy SEAL Ryder Goodwin no longer guides for the family business. At first, Ryder refuses to help Sarah, but he sees the trouble chasing her and can't stand by while someone brings danger to his small-town mountain community.

Ryder and Sarah gear up to climb the mountain in a race against time and a looming storm. When the danger escalates, their search for answers shifts to a survival mission. Their only chance to make it through involves trusting each other and confronting the truth no one wants them to find.

This gripping romantic-suspense thriller set in the Pacific Northwest from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard is a series opener that will sweep you away in a rush of adrenaline.

Twilight Tactics ~ Review

Twilight Tactics
Soldiers in Shadows #1
By Lynette Eason

When their latest safehouse is compromised, FBI agent Sully Sullivan decides to move their witness to the only place he knows is safe - his cousin's ranch. But it soon becomes clear that the mob has found them yet again, and Ollie Callahan is still in danger. Is there a leak or is the mob that good?

When evidence points to a nearby prepper community as having targeted the ranch, survival expert and former community resident Elena Thompson decides to reach out to the community and seek answers. Yeah, like that will go well, but she has ties with the community, or she did years ago before she escaped it.

With the mob and the preppers surrounding them, one has to wonder if the timing is random or if something more sinister is at work? 

This is an intense, don't-let-down-your-guard read. And, yes, it will keep you reading into the late hours of the night. And the whole who is in danger thing definitely will keep you flipping through the pages, because readers want to know these things. Because how can one put down the book and get a good night's rest when the future of the main characters is in doubt? I suggest weekend reading or a vacation day. I did just that because stopping mid-chapter so I'm not late for work is not an option.

This is the first book in the author's newest series Soldiers in Shadows but there were characters from previous works who made an appearance. Reading the author's earlier works is not required to enjoy the suspense in this book.

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

About the Book:

He came to protect a witness. She came to teach survival skills. Now they're targets with an enemy who won't let either of them walk away.

FBI agent Sully Sullivan arrives at Broken Chains Ranch with Ollie Callahan--a foster teen and sole witness to a mob hit. The ranch, started by Sully's cousin to provide a trauma recovery facility for veterans, should be a place he can keep Ollie safe until the trial. But what was meant as a peaceful haven becomes a battleground when armed attackers surround the property.

Survival expert Elena Thompson teaches wilderness skills at the ranch and coaches Ollie in self-defense. As the series of attacks on the ranch escalates into a full siege, the question becomes who the attackers are after: Ollie, the young witness? Or Elena, with her mysterious past? With communications down and help out of reach, Sully and Elena fight to keep everyone alive as secrets and danger close in.

A gripping romantic suspense thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason, full of action and danger and set on a remote ranch. Forced proximity, surprising twists, and a race against tech-savvy enemies make this a pulse-pounding read for fans of Irene Hannon, Dani Pettrey, and Elizabeth Goddard.

Ondine and the Soldier ~ Review

Ondine and the Soldier 

Once by a Shore 

By Sienna Peake 

Captain John Hubert is not a sailor, but his mother insisted that he retrieve her possession from a ship that has partially sunk. Well, things being what they are, he's less than thrilled about the whole thing. He's recovering from a wound and really should not be doing this errand she insisted upon. But while on this errand, a storm comes up, and non-sailor that he is (plus a small boat), it does not go well.

Ondine has always loved the sea, and when the weather gets stormy, she loves the wind and the waves. But when she finds a man washed ashore, she finds herself in a new friendship with this stranger who has lost all his memories. The only thing he has to call his own is the clothes he was wearing, much too fine for a common fisherman. 

Romance seems possible, but what if his past holds unexpected surprises or danger? 

This was a fun and delightful read. One that I recommend for tweens and up who are looking for wholesome romance but don't expect the journey to be all lollipops and roses. I love that this is a read-in-any-order series with the sea being the binding theme throughout.

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

About the Book:

Get swept away in this seaside, fairytale romance

Captain John Hubert is home from war, sent to retrieve a mysterious parcel from a wrecked ship along the coast of Cornwall. When an unexpected storm arrives, John suffers an injury that causes him to lose his memories. After he is discovered by the kind daughter of a fisherman, he finds a new life and new love. But when his memories at last return, will he lose all that he has gained?

Ondine Kellow was discovered as an infant and raised along the Cornish coast. She has often dreamed of adventure, and it arrives in the most unexpected form--a strange man washed ashore. After Ondine and the stranger form an attachment, new discoveries arise that threaten to tear them apart. When she at last adventures beyond the borders of Cornwall, will she find the love she has long been seeking?

Ondine and the Soldier is the first book in the Once by a Shore series of Regency fairy tale retellings inspired by water-based fairy tales. The stories in the series are clean and wholesome and can be enjoyed in a single afternoon. Each story is a stand-alone work and may be read in any order.

Available on Amazon.com

Bookmarked for Love ~ Review

Bookmarked for Love

Checking Out Love #3

By Sarah Monzon

Okay full disclosure here, when I'm not reading books for enjoyment or to post my opinion about them or writing them, I work in a library and have for many years. So, I had to read Bookmarked for Love when given the opportunity, because Hello? Library! Publisher! Wanna-be-published Writers! I am so in.

This was such a cute idea a publishing heir who needs help making the children's imprint viable and a children's librarian on a mission to save the library's children's department working together to help one another out. Well, as this book is a Rom-Com you know what's going to happen in the end or have a really good chance of having a rough idea. But it's the getting of here to there that will have you turning the pages. 

But it isn't all fun as the stress of trying to get his dad to slow down and step back starts to get to Julien King. It's up to Martha Aldridge to help Julien see stress and fear are turning him into someone he doesn't want to be. But how to get him to listen is the issue with time a major factor in Julien succeeding and for Martha to get the money the library so desperately needs.

Delightful blend of humor, levity, honesty, and romance and perfect for your Summer TBR.

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

About the Book:

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.

"With a uniquely heartfelt message, lovable characters, and laugh-out-loud moments, Sarah Monzon's novel is a delight!"--MELISSA FERGUSON, bestselling author on An Overdue Match

"This charming rom-com won me over from page one."--BECCA KINZER, award-winning author on Hearts in Circulation

In her charming rom-com style, Sarah Monzon delivers a bookish novel brimming with forced proximity, workplace romance, a curvy and plus-size heroine, the silver fox trope, and middle-age romance. For fans of Pepper Basham, Courtney Walsh, and Becky Wade.

The Light of Stars ~ Review with Giveaway

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Light of Stars by Jenelle Hovde, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

The Light of Stars 

By Jenelle Hovde 

Kitty Grenville's life was altered when she and her brother were taken from their home in India. Forced to hide her Indian heritage from the English society, Kitty resents that she must deny who she was or risk her grandfather's ire.

When she discovers that she is expected to marry Sebastian Sinclair, she is less than happy at the arrangement her grandfather has made on her behalf. Kept hidden away at her grandfather's country estate, Kitty has longed for the day she would go to London for a season. But London is denied her except for the means of securing her marriage to Sebastian.

Sebastian has been ordered home to England to marry Kathleen Aurora Grenville. If he doesn't, he will lose his inheritance, and his younger brother will be in charge of the Sinclair family's influence over the East India Company and he will deal harshly with the people under him.

Both Sebastian and Kitty are trapped by the expectations of their grandfathers. But perhaps the best way to throw off the chains that are holding them back is to do the expected - marriage to one another. For Kitty it is a chance to return to India and discover what happened to her mother all those years ago. For Sebastian it is a chance to rectify the mistakes of his past and protect the people of India. But at what cost will their marriage come?

I loved this glimpse into two people who long for something different in the life they have been given. And one often hears about the East India Company and the power they wielded over much of the world, this book offers an intriguing glimpse into the company itself, and the work of William Wilberforce and William Carey. I highly recommend this book to those who love Historical Romance and interesting family dynamics.

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

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. 

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

Also Available

   

---

About the Author

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.

---

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.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

---

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