Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Crossbones by C.C. Warrens, hosted by JustRead Publicity 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
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.
More in This Series
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.
Author Interview
Q: What inspired you to write Crossbones?
I knew I was going to write a sixth Holly Novel, but I wasn’t sure what it would be about. Then I remembered that I never fully explained what happened to Jace’s brother, who is in a coma. I wanted to bring some closure to that storyline, and I also wanted to bring more depth and insight Jace and her family. The story is from Holly’s perspective, but the story isn’t about Holly. It’s about Jace and her family.
Generally, it takes about six to seven months to write the first draft of one of my novels, but this one took nine months. Part of that is because we had some loss and grief to deal with, but also because the plot of this one is fairly complex, and there was a lot of re-writing and weaving storylines together.
Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?
I wouldn’t say anything surprised me, but I did base the villain off an actual case. I can’t give you any details without spoiling it, but I had heard about this particular case on social media, and I did some research into it, and I knew he was the perfect disturbing villain for this story.
Q: Crossbones is the sixth novel in the series. Is it necessary to read the books in order?
Crossbones is a complete story on its own; it doesn’t rely on any of the previous book plots to make sense. That said, there is a lot of backstory and character development in those previous books, and reading them in order will create a richer experience.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Crossbones?
“I looked down at our intertwined fingers. I wasn’t comfortable with anything more than this, but as my therapist regularly reminded me, even baby steps were forward movement.”
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
I loved writing from around the age of twelve, but the idea of becoming an author was unimaginable to me. I wrote my stories for my friends and for me. I never considered sharing them with the world until my husband suggested it around 2015. Then I began to dream of being an author and not just a writer.
Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?
Most people watch my videos on Facebook or Instagram and think I must be full of energy and extremely extroverted, but if you ever meet me in person, you will quickly realize I’m the opposite. I’m always afraid readers will meet me and think I don’t like them, when it’s really just that I’m extremely introverted. I’m more comfortable quietly observing than engaging in a lot of socializing. And if there’s more than four people, my social battery drains extra fast, and I need to go hide for a while!
Q: What are you currently reading?
I just finished Huntress by Carrie Cotton, and now I’m listening to Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
Suspense and thriller (not psychological thrillers) are my favorite. I love the tension and action—preferably with some natural humor mixed in. I also enjoy the occasional fantasy or dystopian book.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
That depends on my mood. I love digital design, which I use to make bookmarks and stickers and such for my readers. I also love to paint, though I’m not terrific at that. And I love wood crafts—giving new life to something old by sanding it down and re-staining it or building something entirely from scratch.
Q: What is your favorite season and why?
Fall is my favorite, because in Ohio, the trees turn the most stunning colors. I am a color addict. You will not find a beige, cream, or white wall in my house, and my décor is bright and cheerful. I also love fall because the temperature starts to cool, and I can be outside more often. Spring is my second favorite because the dullness of winter is replaced by bright and fragrant flowers.
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.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
