Crossbones by C.C. Warrens + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Crossbones by C.C. Warrens, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! Let me tell you, I may have read only book one, but if I could clear off my entire reading calendar and read the entire A Holly Novel series, I'd do it in a heartbeat! It was THAT good! Be sure to check out the story excerpt below and enter the giveaway. The author sent me the book for the JustRead tours.

About the Book

Title: Crossbones 
Series: A Holly Novel #6 
Author: C.C. Warrens 
Publisher: Independently Published 
Release Date: May 15th, 2026 
Genre: Romantic Suspense

"Sticks and stones will break your bones, if you make me hurt you.” 

Some truths are better left buried, but Jace Walker is determined to unearth the skeletons in her family’s closet. Leverage is all she needs to keep her brother alive, and she’s willing to risk everything to save him. 

Even her life. 
But is she willing to risk the lives of her friends? 

Holly and Jordan take on the case, but what should be a simple investigation takes a deadly turn when they stumble onto a murder. Family secrets are the least of their concerns as their path intertwines with a killer intent on remaining hidden. 

He doesn’t want to be found. 
He doesn’t want to be known. 
And anyone who threatens his anonymity dies.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author | Amazon | BookBub

More in This Series

 

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Book Excerpt

Maybe my history was making me overly cautious, but I would rather look paranoid than end up in the trunk of a car.

I backed up a few steps. One of the alleys would take me through to the back side of the agency, and I could come in through the storage room.

As I turned to go back the way I had come, the car rumbled forward.

I quickened my steps to the nearest alley and turned into it. The car engine roared louder as the vehicle sped up before grinding to a stop where I’d been standing a moment before.

My heart jolted, and I broke into a run.

I cut left down the intersecting alley and collided with the first door I saw—a back exit for one of the local businesses. I wrenched at the handle. Locked.

I pounded a hand against the door. “Help!”

A car door closed.

He was coming after me on foot. I stumbled back from the building and searched for a place to hide.

About the Author

Jesus and laughter have brought C.C. Warrens through some very difficult times in life, and she weaves both into every story she writes, creating a world of breath-stealing intensity, laugh-out-loud humor, and a sparkle of hope. Writing has been a slowly blossoming dream inside her for most of her life until one day it spilled out onto the pages that would become her first published book.

If she’s not writing, she’s attempting to bake something—however catastrophic that might be—or she’s enjoying the beauty of the outdoors with her husband. One of the many things she’s learned since she started this journey is that the best way to write a book is to go on a long stroll with her husband. That is when the characters—from their backgrounds to the moments that make them laugh or bubble over with anger—come to life.

Connect with C.C. by visiting ccwarrens.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a grand prize of a signed Crossbones paperback with bookmark, sticker, character art card, and a $10 Amazon gift card!

Up to (5) winners will each receive an ebook of Crossbones, delivered via Bookfunnel!

Up to (4) winners will each receive an audiobook download of Crossbones!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 25, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 1, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for grand prize. 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!

Shipwrecked Faith By Danielle Grandinetti + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Shipwrecked Faith by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I just love Danielle! Her covers are always so stunning, and I can't wait to read her newest release and the start of a new series. Check out the book excerpt below and giveaway. The author sent me the book for the tour!

About the Book

Title: Shipwrecked Faith 

Series: Dawning Sisters #1 

Author: Danielle Grandinetti 

Publisher: Ashberry Lane 

Release Date: May 15, 2026 

Genre: Historical Romance 

Chicago, October 1929—Kellan O’Roark is running on borrowed time. After handing over his cousin’s incriminating bootlegging ledger to the police, he intends to vanish before the mobster exacts revenge. His destination: the SS Wisconsin, a steamer headed for Milwaukee, upon which he’s secured work despite his fear of the water. 

But despite his pressing need for escape, Kellan faces obstacles while leaving Chicago—including one who may break open his heart. Sadie Dawning, desperate to return to her family’s Wisconsin farm and ailing father, escapes a kidnapping attempt at Chicago Union Station when Kellan steps in and offers to smuggle her aboard the Wisconsin. His decision turns nearly fatal when an autumn storm capsizes the ship. 

Washed ashore, the pair arrive at Sadie’s family farm to find new storms brewing on land. While Kellan hides his past to continue evading his cousin, Sadie fights for her place among her sisters while the farm battles the beginnings of the Great Depression. Caught between duty, a dangerous past, and a budding love, Kellan and Sadie must rely on their newfound faith in each other and renewed faith in God to weather the growing storm. 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | WhiteFire Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Also Available:

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Book Excerpt

Holy Father. The prayer came unbidden, an echo of his ma’s prayers beside his bed as a child when fear would keep him from sleep.

His heart hammered as if it competed with the thunder. Oh yes, he was afraid now. He didn’t want to die. He wasn’t ready to meet God face-to-face. He had too much on his conscience. He’d done too little to stop the evil he witnessed.

Forgive me, Father.

Peace, My son.

Kellan raised his eyes to the cutting rain. Something in his chest unknotted, as if his chest could expand for the first time since the last shipwreck. The sense of home that was his ma’s arms, the sense of security that was his da’s hands on his shoulders... If he died tonight, he would see them. The two people who loved him most in this entire world.

They would tell him God loved him more than they could, his da declaring his favorite Irish blessing on him: May all God’s blessings descend upon you, May peace be within you. Go raibh maith agat. Thank you.

From the recesses of memory, his ma’s voice seemed to fall from the swirling clouds, singing lyrics from a folk song he’d thought long forgotten.

I’m just a-going over Jordan.

I’m just a-going over home.

Then a wave, larger than all the others, washed over the deck, jerking his grip from the rigging.

About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti writes award-winning 1930s historical romance filled with mystery, suspense, and hope. She is a second-generation Italian-American rooted in Midwest traditions. Fueled by tea, books, and the creative beauty of nature, her stories explore love and belonging in hard times.

Connect with Danielle by visiting daniellegrandinetti.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of Shipwrecked Faith, paperback journal, and Danielle Grandinetti tote bag!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 19, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 26, 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

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

Now Until Forever by Lisa Phillips + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Now Until Forever by Lisa Phillips, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! This has been such a fun series! I'm definitely not caught up considering the fact that there are 16 books in the series. lol Thanks to JustRead for sending me the print copy. I'll also be hosting the tour on my Instagram early next month so keep an eye out there. Check out Lisa's guest post and enter the giveaway!

About the Book

Title: Now Until Forever 
Series: Brand of Justice #16 
Author: Lisa Phillips 
Publisher: Two Dogs Publishing, LLC 
Release Date: May 6, 2026 
Genre: Christian Thriller with Romance

**The Epic Stand-alone Finale** 

Born into a legacy, Eliana must find her own brand of justice. 

After moving to Chicago to work at the mysterious Shrine museum, Eliana is determined to uncover the family secrets she’s never been told. When she stumbles upon her first ever dead body, everyone around her believes she should try and solve the murder. But taking cases isn’t what she came here for. Despite her plans, things are about to turn far more sinister, and the path she’s on seems determined to drag her back into a nightmare. 

Chicago PD Officer Carlos Ryson was born into a legacy of his own. He’s here to look for his missing sister, Luci, and wants to enlist Eliana’s help. This is a family problem, and only family working together can solve it. But Eliana has never forgotten the way Carlos shredded her heart. If he wants them to team up, he’ll have to confront the damage he did and find a way to repair it. 

While the city around them descends into a chaos that resembles the end times, someone has seized the opportunity to get what they want from the Shrine. Only Eliana stands in their way, but if she’s going to figure this out she’ll need to trust that the people around her have her back.  

Before it’s too late.  

Now Until Forever is the stand-alone finale to the Brand of Justice series, and is set in the near-future. It features a happily ever after romance mixed with high-stakes suspense in this gripping crime fiction story.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

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Guest Post

1. When you started writing this series, did you expect it to be a traditional number of

books - like 3 or 4 - or did you know it was going to have more than anyone could've

expected? How did you decide to continue with the series?

Well, hi! Thanks so much for inviting me to guest post! I’m so excited to be here talking about Now Until Forever and the whole Brand of Justice series.

When I started the series, I actually thought it was going to be 20 books! It ended with 16, and I’m fine with that—it’s better to end early than to drag something out. I still have a few ideas for spin of series’ for later, but for now I decided to wrap up this original series with the ending at 16.

Several of my series are longer – 9 or 10 books, so 16 was definitely a stretch. Personally I like a longer series, because you can really get to know the characters and see them develop. That is certainly the case with Kenna, the original series character.

I just knew Kenna had a significant story to tell, but when I started Cold Dead Night I had no idea she would discover a family and go on the path she did to her happily ever after. I thought they were going to be stand alone crime stories, where she investigated, saved someone, and caught the bad guy. Not that Kenna would go on such an emotional journey, and wind up going up against a dangerous group.

Following her life for 15 books allowed us all to see her journey to faith, her recommitment to the Lord after she falters, and how marriage isn’t the thing that fixes everything – life is still messy! Seeing her at the end of book 16 navigating a dangerous situation and having a baby, choosing to allow God to take her fears, was something I think every reader who has read that far deserves to see.

Now Until Forever is more of a final gift for readers who love this series.

It’s a stand alone and is set 25years in the future. The main characters are Eliana—Kenna and Jax’s baby, all grown up—and Carlos, who is the son of Javier Ryson. The idea came out of a moment in book 15 where Kenna and Javier joked about their children getting together when they’re all grown up. I knew it would be a great

story!

Now Until Forever is about discovering the path God has had in mind for you since the moment you were conceived. He’s a good God who leads us where He has prepared a path for us. 

It’s a reminder that no matter what the world you live in looks like, He is still in control!

Happy Reading!

Lisa

About the Author

Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Lisa is a worship leader, tea aficionado, and dog lover of two crazy Airedales.

Connect with Lisa by visiting authorlisaphillips.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each receive a paperback copy of Now Until Forever and various book merch goodies!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 18, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 25, 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 for print. If winner is outside the US, he/she will receive an ebook instead of paperback, along with some book swag. 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!

Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer

Into a Golden Era

by Gabrielle Meyer

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: Timeless

ISBN: 9780764243035

Every year I eagerly (and impatiently) wait for the next book in Gabrielle Meyer's Timeless series! I absolutely wanted to devour Into a Golden Era once I sat down with it, but life was so crazy when I did that I didn't have a choice but to read it over a 3-day period. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it! Thank you to the author and publisher for sending me a copy of the book.

Summary:

Two eras. One future. An impossible choice that will determine the course of history.

As a time-crosser, Ally lives in two worlds. In 1849, in an attempt to secure her family's future during the California Gold Rush, she finds herself penniless and stranded in San Francisco. Forced to take shelter in a dangerous boardinghouse owned by an infamous gang member, Ally is desperate to escape. But when she discovers that history has changed around her, and it now claims she will do something unthinkable, she must use her time-crossing knowledge to find answers. 

In 1929, Ally is an up-and-coming starlet during the Golden Age of Hollywood, but her family's film studio is on the brink of ruin, and their remaining resources are invested into a production of Little Women. If the endeavor fails, Ally's family will lose everything. To ensure their success, she agrees to stage a fake romance with a notorious Hollywood heartthrob in hopes of using his fame for their movie, but she risks her heart in the process. When history doesn't play by the rules, Ally must decide if she will throw all caution aside and risk everything for the people she loves. But which path will be worth sacrificing to save the other? 

My Review:

What do you do when you love a book so much that you're speechless, but you also need to write a review. On top of having to write a review, you have not give any spoilers. I'm honestly at a loss, but I'll give it a shot.

You may think, book 7 in a time crossing series? Is it possible for any of it to be fresh, new, compelling, etc? If I gave Into a Golden Era a 10 out of 5 stars, would that convince you that the author has done it once again?! There's such an incredible anticipation for "the next book" that when it finally arrives I'm apprehensive to read it. I know it's going to be exciting, I'm going to have opinions on who I think is the best love match, and I'm not going to want it to end, which it always does much too quickly.

Ally lives a completely different life in 1849 than she does in 1929. In 1849 she's at the mercy of others along with her sister and father. In 1849 she lives a life of glamour in Hollywood. I honestly loved her in both timelines. I think either would've worked well for her, but she had no choice other than living in only one at the age of 25.

I had so much hope for the men in this story! I was holding out hope for both of them. Ally was such a strong influence to those around her. 

There were some great twists and turns in the story. One had my jaw dropped! How the author keeps all of the moving parts organized is mind boggling to me. The story is rich in faith, which is such a huge draw for me. Ally's family in 1929 is (mostly) a wonderful support. Her sister got on my nerves throughout the entire story, and appropriately so. She was selfish and self-centered. The way she treated Ally made me want to reach into the pages and give her a shake.

Needless to say, I had pretty strong reactions as I read the story. There were times when my heart was so sad, other times I felt so much compassion for what Ally was going through in both times, and wanted to shake my fist at one of the main characters!

This is a story I absolutely did NOT want to end! I want someone to pull a Men in Black on me so I can read it again like it was the first time! Now, I'm eagerly anticipating book 8!

About the Author:

Gabrielle Meyer is a Christy Award-winner and ECPA bestselling author of the Timeless series. She has worked for state and local historical societies and loves writing fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. She currently resides along the banks of the Mississippi River in central Minnesota with her husband and four children. By day, she's a busy homeschool mom, and by night she pens fiction and nonfiction filled with hope. Sign up for her newsletter at GabrielleMeyer.com.

A Girl's Guide to Having it All by Leslie Kirby DeVooght + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for A Girl's Guide to Having it All by Leslie Kirby DeVooght, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I hope you enjoy Leslie's guest post and be sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book

Title: A Girl's Guide to Having it All 
Series: Magnolia Bluff #3 
Author: Leslie Kirby DeVooght 
Publisher: Lanier Price Publishing 
Release Date: April 30, 2026 
Genre: Contemporary Women's Fiction with Romance

She mastered her career. Finding a husband? Not so much. 

High-powered political lobbyist Carleigh Chastain turns thirty-five with an impressive résumé, a packed calendar, and no love life to speak of. When her longtime friend—and former marriage-pact partner—Lawson announces he’s marrying a woman he barely knows, Carleigh does what any sensible best friend would do: she drops everything in DC and jets to Magnolia Bluff, Georgia, determined to save him from a costly mistake. 

Instead, her plans unravel, forcing Carleigh to confront the choices she’s made—and the ones she’s avoided. 

Meanwhile, Spencer MacDowell, her steady, loyal best friend since law school, is done waiting in the friend zone. 

As faith, friendship, and romance collide, Carleigh wonders if she’s been too busy chasing success to notice where God—and her heart—have been pointing all along. Funny, heartfelt, and romantic, this story asks what “having it all” really means.

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

More in This Series

 

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Guest Post

Of your three books in this series, do you have a favorite FMC? Maybe one you related to more or enjoyed how their story unfolded?

When I consider the FMCs in the first three Magnolia Bluff books, I relate to Carleigh the most. I wouldn’t say she’s my favorite, but as I wrote her story, I realized how much I relate to her. If not for some divine moments in my life, I could’ve ended up very much like her.

Carleigh is a high-powered political lobbyist in Washington DC. In college, I majored in political science, and like Carleigh, I went to law school. I even interned for my congressman the summer before my senior year of college, and like Carleigh, I LOVED it. I really wanted to go to law school in DC and was accepted to American University. But God had other plans, I received a very large scholarship to my back up school and made the very wise financial decision to attend Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Also similar to Carleigh, I wanted to be President of the United States as a child.

But what makes me the most like Carleigh was her desire to move away from her hometown and make something of herself. Whether it was reality or not, Carleigh felt overlooked and disregarded as a teenager. She worked hard and achieved a lot, but no one noticed. As an adult, she intended to change all that.

Similarly, I didn’t have a great teenage experience. If you saw my resume, you’d probably disagree because you’d see varsity cheerleader and student body secretary. But like Carleigh, I was often excluded and ignored. I had no intentions of moving back to my hometown. I planned to move to the big city and be a high powered attorney. But again God had other plans, and while working at home the summer after my first year of law school, I met my husband. When I graduated, we married and lived in my hometown for over a decade.

These moments that sent me in the opposite direction of Carleigh also drew me closer to God and deepened my faith. I read The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry around the time I was planning Carleigh’s book, and I really began to see where her story and my life diverted. But I also realized I’ve been working really hard for a long time to prove to people who don’t care that I am somebody. This revelation really surprised me, but I’m so glad I could learn with Carleigh that slowing down and serving God for his glory is so much better than striving for the world’s approval. Most of all, I know Jesus loves me, and I was fearfully and wonderfully made for a purpose by the good Father who calls me daughter.

Now, I’ve listed a lot of ways Carleigh and I are similar. But here are a few big ways we are different. I am a bubbly, optimistic person, and since I was a cheerleader, I definitely think they are athletes. Also, I’m an introvert, and Carleigh is an extrovert. I wish my hair was naturally red, and I don’t think Carleigh really loves her hair color. And here’s the thing you want to know most, my brothers do not look like Hot Brad, even if one of them thinks he does.

About the Author

Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling author Leslie Kirby DeVooght writes women’s fiction with faith, love, laughter, and a lot of Southern charm. Her stories are inspired by romcoms, coastal Georgia, and fried okra! When Leslie isn’t writing, she’s cheering on her three children, and enjoying date nights with her husband, who loves that she researches kissing.

In addition to writing her own stories, Leslie co-owns Spark Flash Fiction, an online magazine that publishes short, short romance collections four times a year. 

 

Connect with Leslie by visiting lesliedevooght.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a bookish tote bag with all three books from the Magnolia Bluff series (A Girl's Guide to Having it All, How to Sparkle, and Stealing Magnolias)!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 6, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 13, 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

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