Crestwood Ranger

 

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

Christian Romantic Suspense is one of my favorite genres. Check out this book that will be published  February 22, 2027.  

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.

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Ready to see the cover?

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

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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. You can find out more about her on her website.

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Tour Giveaway

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

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.

Enter Giveaway

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

The Stand-In

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Stand-In by Kit Hawthorne, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

I loved this story of secrets and redemption. I am sure you will love it too.

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.

My Review:

Halverson Ramsay Ford (HRF) is a brilliant, arrogant scientist who is a self-made billionaire, but cares little for people. When he has a terrible accident, his cousin is recruited to help him. Will what they have devised work or will it backfire and fail?

I loved how Hal helped Tamryn out of her depression and find joy once again. I also liked that Hal took a situation where he could have really taken advantage of the circumstances and found a way to make life better for others. 

I really enjoyed the story and recommend reading it if you like clean romance with a bit of suspense and a message of hope. 

I received a copy of the book from Just Read Tours. I was not expected to give a positive review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

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

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About the Author

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.

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Tour Giveaway

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

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.

Enter Giveaway

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

Dockside Secrets

 

About the Book

Book: Dockside Secrets

Author: Terry Overton

Genre: Christian Cozy Mystery

Release Date: October 17, 2025

When Finley Burke moves to the peaceful lakeside village of Sunset Cove, she’s looking for a fresh start-not a mystery. But when a violent storm washes a strange tackle box onto her dock, she discovers more than fishing lures inside. Hidden within are antique jewels and secrets that link to a long-buried family feud and a suspicious death. As Finley digs deeper, she finds herself tangled in a web of

lies that threaten the calm of the cove- and her own safety.

With the help of her quirky but loyal neighbors, a sharp-eyed detective, Finley must uncover the truth before the past catches up to her.

Full of Southern charm, close-knit friendships, and suspense that keeps you turning the pages. Dockside Secrets is a heartwarming cozy mystery that proves it’s never too late to start over or to solve a mystery.

 Review: 

Finley Burke thinks she has found a small quiet town to retire to, but he areas stumbles upon a mysterious tackle box that gets tangled up with her house’s dock. She quickly finds a group of friends who help her investigate and solve the mystery. 

I loved the retirees and the way their knowledge and skills were employed for the mystery. I look forward to reading more mysteries with Finley and her new found friends.

I received a copy of the book through Celebrate Lit with no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Terry Overton is a retired university professor of educational and school psychology. She has an Ed.D. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology.

Her professional experience includes teaching public school, teaching at the university level, and being a college dean.

She has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

Her previous writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She now seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals.

Over the years, Terry’s books have won the Mom’s Choice Award, Christian Indie Award, Firebird Book Awards, American Writing Winner Awards, Bookfest Winner Awards, Pencraft Award, Reader Views Silver Reviewers Award, and International Book Award Finalist. Her writing examines real world events with a Christian worldview. She enjoys writing for young children, middle grade readers, YA fiction, and adult level novels.

More from Terry

I must admit I have probably watched and read just about every Hallmark cozy mystery I have come across! I have become addicted to mysteries lately! I don’t limit it to just the cozy mysteries. Lately, I have been watching plenty of true crime. The attraction for me is the puzzle. I mean, really, who can resist a “whodunit?” I prefer more of the gumshoe approach, but I also watch several crime scene investigations.

It started out with a curiosity about why people do such actions. What motivates people to commit these crimes and then try to cover them up? In many cases, criminals just aren’t that bright. But there are some cases that remain puzzling.

I decided to give it a go. Dockside Secrets is my first cozy. It was fun to write this mystery in the little community outside of a big city. We moved to this new little cove on a lake, Sunset Cove, and this is where the characters live. The large city in the book, Sagebrush Bend, is in reality, Fort Worth, Texas. Plenty of changing landscapes here, and these appear in the story.

Grab this cozy and meet the quirky cast of characters: a retired forensic psychologist, a very proper southern lady, a nutty and loud best friend, and a middle-of-the-road peacekeeper join a fumbling local sheriff and a handsome detective to discover what really happened at Sunset Cove.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 7

Holly’s Book Corner, October 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 8

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 9

Texas Book-aholic, October 10

Lights in a Dark World, October 10

For Him and My Family, October 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 12

She Lives to Read, October 13

Sylvan Musings, October 13

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 14

The Avid Reader, October 14

Fruitfully Planted, October 15

Vicky Sluiter, October 16

Avid Reader Nurse, October 17

Book Looks by Lisa, October 18

Simple Harvest Reads, October 19 (Guest Review from Donna)

Mary Hake, October 19

Leslie’s Library Escape, October 20

Lily’s Corner, October 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Terry is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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

https://gleam.io/55lW2/dockside-secrets-celebration-tour-giveaway

An Accusing at the Old Bailey

The thrilling finale to the highly rated Regency romance series

Sir Bertrand Thorndike is on another mission-this one in the scientific community. But when a simple game of espionage becomes a murder investigation and Bertie's friend Rhynwick Davies is the accused, Bertie enlists the help of his pseudo-fiancée Philippa Cashel to spare Rhynwick from the gallows.


Together, they delve into poisons, passions, and peril. With the true killer still on the loose, Bertie must balance proving Rhynwick's innocence with his plans to persuade Philippa to make their false engagement real.

Review: 

What began as a scientific symposium to use as a cover to discover an enemy of the Crown became a murder of one of the scientists, with Bertie and Philippa are right in the center of it. There is much to untangle in this story of espionage and discovering the culprit before it is too late for their wrongfully accused friend, Rhynwick Davies.

Philippa has a lot to overcome in her feelings of shame and worthlessness. Bertie, friends and family are so supportive in reminding her that the past has made her be compassionate and aware of the plight of others, but it doesn’t define who she has become.

Tropes and Tidbits:
fake engagement
forced proximity
Eleos students
danger
agents for the Crown
Bow Street Runners
faith thread

This is the third book in the Cloak and Dagger series, and I recommend you read the other two books since the characters from previous stories are an intricate part of the plot. I’d recommend this book to older readers due to mature content. I have enjoyed this series with its plots of danger, but also the development of many of the characters throughout these books.

CW: s3xual assault mentioned, but not described

I received a copy of the book from Kregel and NetGalley. I was not expected to give a positive review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

1 like

A Noble Gentleman

Lord Donald Bradley has always done what is right, noble and honorable. So when his parents pressure him to marry, he forces himself to look beyond his own desires, and do what he can to measure up to the dream they have for him. But what they don't realize is that his heart was stolen long ago, and he has no idea how to give it to another.

Madelene Curtis has lived not one life, but two. Now going under an assumed name and hiding from those who might wish to throw her into the gaol, she works in the quiet and obscure life of a lady's companion. But when she is confronted with her past in the most intimate of ways—in that of a handsome future marquess she once loved—she is now forced to battle between her old wants and desires, and what will keep her safe.

Can two loves, suddenly separated, find a way back together?

Review: 

Donald Bradley had only one true love, so he is extremely reluctant to look for a bride. I loved seeing Madelene come back into his life, and Donald was so fortunate to have a friend help him with his courtship.

Tropes and Tidbits:
second chance romance
close proximity
dual timeline
library meetings
archery lesson

This is the second book in the Bradley Brothers series. There are more brothers with more stories to come. :)

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

To Educate an Earl

For those swept away by The Gilded Age and The Sound of Music.

In 1886, when a scheming suitor threatens her family’s fragile reputation, Adeline Ranier is sent to England under a false name to pose as a governess for the Earl of Torrington’s five motherless children. Stripped of her title and fortune, she steps into a world of quiet sorrow and stubborn resistance—and discovers a household aching for joy.

George Stafford, the Earl of Torrington, has buried his heart along with his late wife. His children have driven away every governess, and he has no hope that Miss Ranier will be any different. But Addie’s unconventional charm, fierce loyalty, and refusal to give up begin to awaken something long forgotten in all of them—including George.

As laughter returns to Raven Hall, Addie finds herself falling for the children—and for their father. But secrets from her past threaten to unravel everything, especially when George chooses a wealthy heiress to be his bride. Torn between duty and desire, Addie must decide whether to protect her heart or fight for the family she’s come to love.

Review:

This is a delightful retelling of the Sound of Music. Adeline Ranier seems to always unwittingly find herself in societal predicaments. She becomes entrapped with a fortune hunter who will stop at nothing to marry her. So, off to England she is sent to be a governess to the Stafford children while her mother works on how to solve the problem of Adeline. :)

I absolutely loved seeing George Stafford thaw and learn to love again with the help of Adeline and his wonderful children. There are references to parts of the Sound of Music that were used, and it was so fun to read and see in a new light. 

Tropes and Tidbits: 

secret identity 

forced proximity

opposites attract

literary references to classics

the children!

Gilded Age

I highly recommend reading this third book in the Dollar Princess series to young and mature audiences. It can be read as a standalone, but it was fun to see previous characters from the other books be in this story. You also don’t need to be familiar with The sound of Music to read the book. 

This complimentary copy was provided by the author. I was not required to give a positive review, the opinions stated are my own.

After We Fall

Self-sufficient Penelope Reid has her life completely mapped out—a necessity after surviving foster care. Now she’s on a mission to prove that she’s capable of managing a halfway house at Twelve Bluebells Ranch. The last thing she needs is hindrance from the charming Luke Granger, who asked her to dance three years ago, then disappeared before the music began.

Luke lives a nomadic lifestyle as a security specialist. He’s never found a reason to put down roots until he’s reunited with the bossy brunette and her generous heart. When vandalism strikes the ranch neighboring Twelve Bluebells, securing the area is just another gig for him before he hits the road. But as Luke and Penelope work alongside each other and care for the ranch’s halfway house residents, his restless heart finds reasons to stay, and her careful walls begin to crack.

When crisis threatens everything Penelope has built and tragedy pulls at Luke’s wandering heart, they must decide if it’s worth the risk to lower their guards for a love that could give them the home they’ve always longed for.

Review: 

Meredith has deep woundings from the foster care system that she was raised in. She is fiercely loyal and one of her coping mechanisms is being serious and extremely organized. Nothing is going to happen at Twelve Bluebells Ranch without her approval. But, when a potential threat occurs, and Luke Granger is called in to provide security, Meredith’s carefully planned world begins to unravel.

This was much more than just a love story. I learned about brain injuries and the therapies used to help heal them. I found it fascinating and have more sympathy for those who experience trauma like this. Through this difficult circumstance we see what a thoughtful and caring man Luke is.

Watching Meredith and Luke share their difficult childhood experiences and make steps towards healing was one part of the story I enjoyed. I felt Meredith really grew in knowing her worth. Even when she was shaken, she was able to continue and be stronger than she thought was possible.

Tidbits and Tropes:

women’s fiction

brain injury

foster care system

emotional healing

opposites attract

This complimentary copy was provided by the author, Haven, and Great Reads Book Promotions. I was not required to give a positive review, the opinions stated are my own.