Book Spotlight: Sabotage Games by Danielle Grandinetti

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Sabotage Games by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Sabotage Games 
Series: Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency #2 
Author: Danielle Grandinetti 
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press 
Release Date: September 22, 2026 
Genre: Historical Romantic Mystery

Who will pay the ultimate price for Olympic Gold? 

LAKE PLACID, N.Y., 1932—Sports journalist Emma Hancock is determined to claim her place in the press box, despite the male colleagues who slam the door in her face. But when a mysterious illness begins systematically sidelining athletes, Emma’s gift for spotting patterns reveals a plot far more sinister than mere competition. 

With the Games in his own backyard, Olympic sprinter Ryan Callahan laces up his speed skates to compete in his first winter games. He has no time for distractions—especially not the inconvenience of the beautiful female journalist staying as a guest in his family’s crowded home. 

But when the pattern of sabotage deepens, Emma and Ryan must work together to follow the threads before they become the next targets to fall. 

La Verità con Integrità. Truth with Integrity. The Legacy of a (Girl) Stunt Reporter.  

A 1930s Historical Romantic Mystery This page-turning novel offers a sweet, slow-burn romance mixed with cozy suspense. Set during the historic III Olympic Winter Games—the first year women’s speed skating was featured—it unfolds against the snow-covered, high-stakes press boxes of Lake Placid, New York, in 1932. Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and J’nell Ciesielski looking for an inspirational read.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Danielle Grandinetti's Shop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

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Excerpt

Emma shook her head. “If you two want to talk about politics and world domination, feel free. I would prefer to discuss the latest hockey scores. Football would be another possibility, though now that the season’s over, there really is no point. Baseball. Baseball’s coming up in just a couple months. How about we talk about baseball? I foresee over the next few weeks—”

“Emma,” Lena muttered.

“What?” Emma said, her temper at Lena’s constant correction snapping her patience. “If you don’t want to talk about baseball, we can talk about the Olympics. Speed skating. Women’s speed skating. The American women and the Canadian women are competing in the first exhibition races, and if it goes well we could actually see another female winter sport. Figure skating is all we have right now. Of course we have the Norwegian darling of the ice, Sonja Henie. We also have the American, Maribel Vinson. The USA has an opportunity to medal, you know. But figure skating is all the women have in the Olympics, so of course I’m going to be paying attention. And did you know—”

“Emma!” Lena snapped her fingers.

Emma blinked. “What? It’s exciting.”

Lena sighed. “I know it is, but you get carried away.”

Emma sat back. “I know.” She could feel the flush on her face. She always got carried away when talking about sports, and it seemed no one else wanted to discuss it with her.

Thankfully, Noah bumped her shoulder. “It’s alright. We all have our passions that get us excited.”

Emma nodded. Nobody understood why she got so excited about sports. But that’s because nobody knew why she played baseball. And that was a story she had no plans to tell anyone.

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More in This Series

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About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti writes award-winning 1930s historical romantic mystery and suspense. She is the 2026 Holt Medallion winner and a second-generation Italian-American. Fueled by tea and nature, she crafts hope-filled historical romance novels exploring immigrant heritage, found family, and cozy Midwest traditions. Find her at daniellegrandinetti.com.

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a paperback copy of Undercover Wish & Eyewitness Sketch!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 22, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 29, 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!

Book Spotlight: A Whim and a Prayer by Julie Lessman

Welcome to the Blog Tour for A Whim and a Prayer by Julie Lessman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Whim and a Prayer 
Series: The Cousins O'Connor #4 
Author: Julie Lessman 
Publisher: Independent 
Release Date: September 8, 2026 
Genre: Historical Romance

She’s a former orphan desperate to protect her heart. 
He’s a best friend who protects her from the start. 
Till prayer protects them both from a true love torn apart. 

Discarded like so much trash on the steps of an orphanage at age two, seventeen-year-old Winifred Dennehy thinks God has it out for her. Abandoned by abusive parents and born cross-eyed to boot, she spent the first four years of her life battling bullies and verbal abuse. Deliverance came in the form of one Beckett Campbell, the ten-year-old orphan who became her best friend and guardian angel for life, along with an orphanage volunteer by the name of Mrs. D. When Mrs. Charity Dennehy adopts Winnie into her family, has her crossed eyes fixed, and secretly arranges for Beckett to be fostered and then adopted by elderly neighbors down the street, Winnie figures her luck has changed. But instead of attributing it to God like Beckett does, she’s inclined to believe it’s her own grit, charm, and spontaneity that has paved the way. 

From the moment twenty-four-year-old Beckett Campbell saw the tiny, cross-eyed orphan who reminded him of the sister he lost, he wanted to love and protect her forever. Best friends from the start despite over five years apart, Winnie’s naïve spontaneity for wild hairs and whims keeps Beck’s mature responsibility busy and happily so. Until the little girl he wanted to protect suddenly becomes the young woman he wants to love. When Winnie insists on protecting their friendship from the fear and risk of anything more, Beck has a decision to make. Friendship forever … or a life apart from the best friend he loves. Praying that Winnie will change her mind, Beck doesn’t hold out much hope for that day. But when an unexpected turn of events alters both of their lives, it puts “a whim and a prayer” on a collision course that just might make a way.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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Excerpt

And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape those awful feelings, Winnie … not until I finally turned to the One who lifted them from my shoulders to His, nailing them to the cross once and for all.”

Tears burned beneath Winnie’s lids. “But, Mama, I don’t know how to do that, or even where to begin …”

“I didn’t either, sweetheart, until your Uncle Brady showed me how. You see, we were good friends at that time, before he and Aunt Lizzie even dated, and trust me, the man doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to living for God.”

“So, what’d he say?” Winnie asked, her curiosity piqued despite her disdain for the subject.

“Well, prior to all of this, he’d taught me to pray and read the Bible, of course, but I hadn’t really taken it seriously, you know? I was just going through the motions”—Winnie jumped when her mother gave her a pinch—“kind of like you, young lady, when you go to church with Julia, Daddy, and me.” The tease in her voice faded considerably. “But after the assault, Brady called me on it. Said even though I prayed and read the Bible, I wasn’t fooling anybody, least of all God, because I had never really invited Him in.”

Winnie squinted up at her. “What on earth does that mean?”

Her mother’s smile was tender. “It meant that I had never really given my life to God, darling. Oh, I danced around it plenty, Brady said, but I had never really made a decision to live for God instead of myself. You know, no more doing things my way, out of selfish motivation? Brady flat-out told me that if I wanted God’s blessings in my life, I had to obey Him. ‘Deuteronomy 30 in the flesh,’ he called it, ‘choosing life instead of death,’ or in simple terms, choosing God’s way instead of the world’s.”

Another shudder rippled through Winnie. “Sounds pretty hard.”

“Oh, it is—if you try to do it on your own. But Brady said there was only one way any human being could ever hope to make an attempt at obeying God, and that was to make Him Lord of their life.”

Winnie tipped her head. “How?”

Her mother gave a lift of her shoulders. “‘Invite him in,’ Brady said, ‘Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, to live in my heart and be the Savior of my soul.’ So I did, and you know what happened?”

The breath stilled in Winnie’s lungs. “What?” she whispered.

“I started doing things His way, not mine. I took it one step at a time, with God’s Word as a lamp unto my feet, looking to honor Him instead of myself in everything I said, thought, or did. It didn’t happen overnight for sure, but it did happen just like Brady said—I became ‘a new creature in Christ Jesus,’ who could finally say no to sin and yes to God.” Her mother paused to deliver a wide grin. “And you know what happened then?”

“What?” Winnie said, her voice a breathy whisper.

“Brady told me I’d better duck my head and look out.”

Winnie blinked. “What? Why?”

“Because the blessings of God were going to overtake me, overloading me with the desires of my heart.”

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More in This Series

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About the Author

A lover of all things Irish, Julie Lessman writes close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together. Award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, Silver Lining Ranch, and The Cousins O’Connor series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 24 Romance Writers of America and other awards.

Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards, Julie also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-2021, 2023, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. 

In addition, Julie has written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets, and What’s the Story, Morning Glory: A Memoir Devotional with a “Novel” Approach to Practical Christianity. Contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 21, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 28, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

Book Review: Twelve Days and Twelfth Night by Sarah Sundin

About the Book:

She needs a star for her wartime Christmas show. He needs a second chance. Together they stage a production neither expected.

World War II USO director Maggie Oliver faces an impossible task: orchestrate a Christmas show in San Diego for thousands of sailors, with dwindling resources and a quickly approaching deadline. To star in the show, she enlists Prescott Duke, a former Hollywood heartthrob whose career ended in flames after an accident left him scarred and adrift. He eagerly accepts Maggie's invitation and seizes the chance to reclaim what war has stolen from him.

Inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and "The Twelve Days of Christmas," Maggie and Prescott craft a show at a Shakespearean theater that promises to lift spirits. But as rehearsals progress, Maggie discovers a secret that could transform her production into something unforgettable. With opening night approaching and unexpected feelings complicating everything, Maggie must decide how far she'll go to rewrite not just her show but the outcome for everyone involved.

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My Thoughts:

In Twelve Days and Twelfth Night, Sarah Sundin created a story that celebrated both Christmastime nostalgia and new beginnings.

For the Christmas element, the story had ample references to the traditional Christmas song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and was set in the late-fall-to-early-Christmas period. Holiday cheer and festivities amid a season of war lightened the story for both the servicemen, the main characters, and the reader.

Regarding the theme of new beginnings, Prescott Duke’s journey toward writing a new story for himself was the depth that this story needed. His burns and scars have damaged far more than the physical. Most of my favorite quotes came from his dealing with self-image and his future.

Twelve Days and Twelfth Night will likely appeal to readers who have enjoyed Sarah Sundin’s other works. It would be a fun selection for a book club Christmas party as the novella held depth without feeling heavy (good for discussion) and Christmastime elements that could be incorporated into games or music. Four stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher. My review reflects my honest opinion.

Author Interview: High Exposure by Kelly Borjas

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for High Exposure by Kelly Borjas, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: High Exposure 
Series: Jagged Edges #1 
Author: Kelly Borjas 
Publisher: Kregel Publications 
Release Date: September 15, 2026 
Genre: Romantic Suspense

The riveting start to an adventure-driven romantic suspense series from a debut author. 

Determined travel blogger Julia Stevens is on her final assignment in snowy Silverberg, Colorado. She's running from her past—and God—but the charm of small-town life brings little comfort when she's face-to-face with the winter sport that killed her sister: skiing. Upon her arrival in town, she discovers a dead body and is quickly compelled to research the situation, give justice to the man's story, and kick off her new career in journalism. 

Cade Haskins is back home after a failed mission and his subsequent retirement from the DEA. His father's declining health has pushed Cade to prioritize family, and he helps at the historic Silverberg Hotel on his dad's behalf. When Julia shows up at the hotel, Cade becomes her local contact. He quickly realizes she has a knack for sniffing around where she shouldn't, and he attaches himself to her side. 

With the local death connected to a meth ring, Julia's investigation has unknowingly put a target on her back. As the danger increases and she begins to learn more about Cade and his family, she finds herself trusting the God she was running from. And Cade? He doesn't want to get dragged back into DEA work, but it seems like he may not have a choice if he wants to protect Julia . . . and his growing attraction to her.

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

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Excerpt

“You.” Her brows rose.

Man, he was a sucker for the dark-hair and blue-eyes combo. “What?”

“You’re the one who rescued me earlier today.”

He hadn’t recognized her without her hat on, but now the truth hit him full force. The woman from the field. He should apologize, but what could he say? It was still a stupid decision, one that could’ve had dire consequences.

They stared at each other for a long moment. The air around them crackled, and Cade forced himself to take a breath. Did she feel this instant attraction? Or was it friction after their earlier meeting? He blinked, reining his thoughts. He couldn’t afford any distractions. And one drop-dead-gorgeous travel writer might turn out to be just that. A distraction.

“I’m Cade. Bruce’s son. He’s . . . unavailable. I’ll be your contact.”

She plopped a leather tote bag on the floor and pulled a pen from the bun in her hair, offering a view of her slight blush. “Should we get started?”

Maybe she wanted to avoid discussion of their earlier meeting as well. “Sure.”

Julia set a camera on the table, then grabbed her laptop and a leather-bound notebook from the bag by her feet. Clad in dark jeans and a button-down shirt, she crossed her legs, the embodiment of prim and proper.

“Tell me how this job of yours works.” He leaned forward.

“I’m employed by Adventures Through America magazine. I work my way through a location—the restaurants, coffee shops, tourist attractions—and get to know the culture of each place I visit, learn local stories. I post to my socials as I go and publish to my online newsletter, The Traveling Truthteller, then write a full article for the magazine at the end.”

“So you’re like a travel blogger.”

Her face flushed. “I blog about traveling, yes, but I’m a paid writer for a magazine, not just a blogger. Besides, we don’t really call them blogs anymore.” She straightened, passion flowing out of her eyes.

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About the Author

Kelly Borjas grew up in Southwest Colorado and later moved to Southern California. She has a degree in communication studies from Biola University and a master's in leadership and organizational studies from Azusa Pacific University. She is a cohost of the Lit Ladies podcast. Find her at kellyborjas.com.

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Author Interview

Q: What inspired you to write High Exposure?

Kelly: I grew up in Colorado and thought it would be the perfect setting for a romantic suspense story! I wanted an adventurous heroine and a protective hero. Once I started piecing together the adventures I wanted for Julia, the rest came to fruition: the meth ring, the DEA background, the family hotel. 

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Q: How long did it take to write this book?

Kelly:  The first draft took probably 4-5 months. However, I have written and rewritten this book more than any other story! It’s been living on my computer for eleven years! (In that time I’ve taken breaks, written other books, etc., but I kept coming back to this one).

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Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?

Kelly:  I gained such a respect for the DEA. It’s not a branch of law enforcement I had paid much attention to over the years, but I truly appreciate the mission and work the DEA does. I also appreciate how law enforcement agencies work together for successful operations. There is so much that goes on “behind the scenes” of real law enforcement, and I am so humbly grateful for the work these agencies do to protect citizens.

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Q: Do you have a favorite quote from High Exposure?

Kelly:  I love this realization Julia comes to: “The opening of her soul was like pouring salt into an open wound. It might heal, but not without pain racking her body first.” Sometimes it hurts to heal, but the end result is worthwhile.

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Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Kelly:  When I was younger I tried to write a novel a couple different times, but didn’t know how to do it. I first began a version of this story after a voracious stint in reading. I’ve always written in one form or another, but I finally put a book down and realized: if all these other authors could write stories, I could try writing a novel, too. That’s when I seriously began the endeavor of starting and completing a full-length novel.

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Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?

Kelly:  I’m so clutzy! I wish I could be as capable as Julia, my heroine, but the reality is I’m not very athletic or coordinated.

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Q: What is an upcoming fiction release are you looking forward to?

Kelly:  Kate Angelo’s Fatal Pattern is on my TBR!

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Q: What are you currently reading?

Kelly: Just finished Susan Tuttle’s The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton (fiction), and Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund (nonfiction).

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Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Kelly: Aside from reading and writing (my two favorite hobbies!), I love to be outside. Walking, running, hiking, or lake days.

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Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Kelly: Summer: I love the long days, sunshine, time outside and at the pool, extra time with my kids, and the freedom of adventures.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of High Exposure, a bookmark, and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 15, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 22, 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!

Author Interview: The Ballerina's Bargain by Lorri Dudley

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Ballerina's Bargain by Lorri Dudley, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Ballerina's Bargain 
Series: Danforth Theatre #1 
Author: Lorri Dudley
Publisher: Wild Heart Books 
Release Date: September 8, 2026 
Genre: Historical Regency Romance

A burdened earl. A determined ballerina. Saving the theatre was part of their bargain. Losing their hearts wasn't.  

London, 1815 

Emmeline Laurent has survived by grace and grit. After her parents' execution in France, she has learned to live unseen as a humble ballerina instructing young pupils in a small London theatre. When whispers spread that the Danforth Theatre may be sold to an unscrupulous buyer, Emmeline fears not only for her livelihood but for the safety of her impressionable students. With no time and no options, she does the only thing she knows to do: leap into a moving carriage and bargain with the new lord who holds their fate. 

Grant Atherton, the Earl of Quincy, has inherited the crushing weight of duty along with a failing theatre, an arranged engagement, two younger sisters to usher into society, and a mountain of his father's secrets. Selling the Danforth is the only way to save his family from ruin. The last thing he needs is a beautiful, infuriatingly determined ballerina turning his careful plans upside down. 

But when Emmeline's hidden past begins surfacing and the danger circling the theatre proves far deadlier than either of them realized, Grant must choose between the life he planned and the one God may have been preparing all along.  

For fans of Roseanna M. White and Jen Turano — a sweeping Regency romance about the grace found in surrender, the courage it takes to trust, and the God who makes a way when every door seems closed.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Wild Heart Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

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Excerpt

One corner of his mouth twitched into a sardonic grin. “If your plan is to accost me and make off with my purse, you should probably show your weapon.”

“Weapon?” She’d only seen the theatre owner from behind, but he was more handsome than she imagined, with a firm aristocratic jaw, light eyes, and thick waves of dark brown hair that curled at the ends. His appealing looks only aided in unnerving her.

“Was someone chasing you?” His smile fell and he twisted to peer out the back window. “Were you being accosted?”

Emmeline also shifted to look but couldn’t explain why. She knew no one pursued her. “No.”

“Do you speak English?”

She inwardly groaned. This was going beyond poorly. “Indeed.”

His gaze hardened. “Then, are you mad?” The muscle twitching in his jaw signaled his frustration. “Whatever were you thinking, jumping into a moving carriage?”

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Also Available

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About the Author

Lorri Dudley is the bestselling author of The Leeward Island Series and The Agents of Espionage Series. She has a master’s degree in psychology and lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.

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

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Author Interview

Q: What inspired you to write The Ballerina’s Bargain?

Lorri: A childhood dream of mine was to become a ballerina who floated across the stage with graceful movements. That dream never came to fruition, but when I began writing The Ballerina’s Bargain, I discovered the next best thing. I could live that dream through my characters.

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Q: How long did it take to write this book?

Lorri: It took me approximately nine months to research and write the rough draft. Self-editing is done in fast sprints after that for another three months, along with marketing. The birthing of a book includes some of the emotional phases of a pregnancy (definitely not the same but bear with me): dreaming about what the book and its characters would be like, lumbering through the awkward, muddy middle, and then the doubts and fears of imposter syndrome as the release day draws closer. Have I done enough? Do I have what it takes to produce a good novel? This is my eleventh novel, and my nervousness before a release hasn’t lessened. Then there’s the joy of celebrating a new release, which is always a delight.

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Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?

Lorri: Two things shocked me.

A law from 1736 required theatres to be patented to perform, and the patents were granted by the lord chamberlain. The law was enacted after playwright Henry Fielding wrote a satirical play bashing the prime minister, Robert Walpole. Only two theatres held the required patents during the Regency era: The Royal Theatre, Drury Lane, and The Royal Theatre, Covent Garden. Smaller theatres got around this obstacle by performing pantomimes or musicals, and a combination of the two was the opera-ballet.

I was also shocked (and horrified) at how patrons used to support young ballerinas. Wealthy men could become what was known as a ballerina’s “protector,” offering gifts and financial assistance in exchange for the dancer’s exclusive attention and companionship. A pair of ballet slippers, ribbons, jewelry, or other small trinkets were luxurious gifts to a young woman whose family had little money. Behind the applause, these arrangements could leave a vulnerable young ballerina with very little power of her own, and the word protector appears to be a misnomer. Becoming in a family way (or with child) brought a devastating end to her career. A dancer who could no longer perform might find herself without an income and facing the additional burden of supporting a child. For a family already struggling financially, the consequences could be heartbreaking. The darker side of Regency ballet forms the premise behind The Ballerina’s Bargain. Yet I didn't want the novel to dwell upon the most sordid aspects of backstage life. Instead, the story focuses on two people’s heroic determination to spare the young ballerinas from the so-called “protectors” and a wretched fate by those who’d take advantage of their innocence. Still, the danger is always there, lurking backstage.

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Q: Have you ever taken ballet lessons or attended a ballet?

Lorri: Even though I loved dance, we lived too far out in the boonies in Illinois where I grew up for me to do dance other than a very basic ballet class put on by the church we attended. We eventually moved to Lancaster, PA, and in high school I did dance theatre, but at Hempfield High, Dance Theatre was a big production that packed the house for three performances. I was so grateful to be a part of it and to experience all sorts of dance forms: lyrical ballet, jazz, modern, Caribbean, Irish step dancing, and African dance. Being part of these amazing productions ignited my passion for dancing. I even made my husband take ballroom dancing lessons. He returned the favor by having me take rock climbing lessons, but it turns out we loved both.

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Q: Do you have a favorite quote from The Ballerina’s Bargain?

Lorri: “Laurent’s do hard things.” This quote has a backstory. Usually, I would choose a funny quote. Olivia, the youngest sister, provided a lot of comical relief, like when Luke asks Grant when he bought Olivia a hamster, and Grant replies, “I didn’t,” and they’re both wondering if her pet is actually a mouse. 

The inspiration of “Laurent’s do hard things” struck me because of a conversation I had with a Christian school principal, who said how after Covid, it became a challenge to get the young kindergartners to leave their parents and come into the school. She persuaded the students to say goodbye and come inside by reminding them they could do hard things. In that moment, I needed the reminder that I could do hard things too. Jesus said, “In this life we will have trouble but take heart for I have overcome the world.” Emmeline struggles with the fear of falling and not being able to do the lifts required of a prima ballerina. She believes it’s her trust in Grant that helps her overcome her fear, but in the end she learns she needs to put her trust in God's protection.

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Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Lorri: I’ve always been creative, and I’ve had a passion for romance books since I happened upon the book Savannah in a Scholastic newsletter in the fourth grade. Since then, I’ve used plotting books to occupy my mind when I couldn’t sleep or was bored, like when I was pushing my kids on the swings. It wasn’t until my husband started playing in the church band and needed to practice that I sat down to type up some of the scenes running through my head. It wasn’t until after I’d finished writing a second full novel in 2014 that I thought that it might be good enough to publish and I could potentially become an author. Funny thing is that I kept writing and ended up getting my fourth novel published, which is now The Duke’s Refuge. I wrote five more books in the Leeward Island Series before returning to the second and third novels, and after many edits, those stories became the first two books of my Agents of Espionage Series: Revealing the Truth and Reclaiming the Spy.

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Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?

Lorri: I’ve also written a futuristic romance that was a finalist in the Genesis Contest and Touched by Love contest called Beacon Hill. After becoming traditionally published with Wild Heart Books, I stopped pursuing publication of that particular novel, simply for lack of time. At this point, some of the futuristic items in the story have come true, and in my mind it now seems more like a contemporary romance. Who knows, now that all three of my boys are in college, I may have more time and can come back to it or put Beacon Hill on Book Funnel as a freebie.

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Q: What are you currently reading?

Lorri: Because I always feel guilty that I should be writing, I binge-read books when on vacation. I’m right now on the last book, The Songbird, of Carrie Cotton’s early Nordic Christianity series that starts with The Huntress. It’s a different genre than I typically read, but I’ve enjoyed the intensity of the series. Carrie does an amazing job weaving “The Christ” (as her characters call Jesus) and spiritual elements into her stories.

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Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Lorri: I’m definitely a summer girl. In New England, winters are long, but summers are delightful, with so many places for weekend trips or vacations. Plus, my boys come back from college, and the house and my heart feel full.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and a prize bundle with reading blanket, socks, and candle!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 8, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 15, 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/CAN 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!

Author Interview: The Gentlewoman Apprentice by Emily Opal

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Gentlewoman Apprentice by Emily Opal, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Gentlewoman Apprentice 
Series: The Gentlewoman Series #5 
Author: Emily Opal 
Publisher: Independently Published 
Release Date: September 3, 2026 
Genre: Historical Romance

Every seam hides a secret. Every valentine reveals the truth.  

When Margaret Cooper departs the slums of East London for an apprenticeship in a quiet market town, she topples the established order—and no one feels it more than Peter Sloan, the handsome tailor forced to teach her his trade. 

Margaret is steeled to prove her worth in a man’s world and has no leisure for courtship. But when anonymous Valentines begin to arrive, each with gifts and words that pierce her heart, she feels truly known for the first time. If only she could unmask the hand that distracts her from her aspirations. 

Burdened by a failing business and an ill father, Peter has no patience for a female apprentice who upends his orderly life. Yet through a reckless wager, he finds himself sending Valentines to none other than Miss Cooper. What begins as halfhearted duty blossoms into admiration—and dangerous longing.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

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Excerpt

He stepped into his mother’s still room and closed the door, shutting out the conversation filtering from the parlor. Dust floated across a stream of light. He inhaled the scent of herbs and fruit, bitter and sweet. The shelves lay nearly bare, with a few bottles of apricot ratafia and sage-rosemary wine. On a ledge, once replete with sweetmeats, sat a glass jar, sparkling crimson. He dusted the parchment seal and ran his thumb over his mother’s faded scrip: “Sour Cherry Preserves.”

He collected butter biscuits from the kitchen, grabbed another teacup, and entered the parlor. With some ceremony, he removed the seal from the cherry preserves and glanced at Miss Cooper. He wanted her to understand the significance of the gift, meant for her.

“I brought a treat.” He slathered jam on two slices of bread, gave one to Father, sat beside Miss Cooper, and offered her the second.

She took it and muttered, “Bread and jam do not make up for your failing your duty.”

Peter winced. Miss Cooper did not understand the weight of what he offered, but his father licked a cherry from his thumb, a dribble of joy straight from the hand of his beloved Deborah. It was foolish to have imagined anyone but Father could have appreciated the gesture.

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More in This Series

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About the Author

Emily Opal spent her childhood reading, having tea parties, and imagining she existed in another century. While pleased to live in a time when chamber pots are obsolete, she loves researching a bygone world full of hardships both foreign and relatable. Fortunate to find a spouse equally afflicted with wanderlust, Emily and her husband travel whenever and wherever they can. They live with their children and Labradoodle in Utah, where she enjoys mountain views and hiking but pretends to love skiing.

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

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Author Interview

Q: What inspired you to write The Gentlewoman Apprentice?

Emily: I learned that in Europe tailors (all male, as women could not join the guild) manufactured women’s clothing until 1675 when Louis XIV created a guild for female dressmakers. The history is nuanced, but this tidbit caused me to wonder about the women who forayed into this male profession. I also really love the movie You’ve Got Mail, so when I discovered that people used to exchange anonymous valentines, I had my story.

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Q: How long did it take to write this book?

Emily: About a year, including edits.

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Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?

Emily: On a personal note, writing is therapeutic, and I often find my own concerns falling onto the page. This time, it was Meg’s relationship with her younger sibling, Samuel. She feels responsible for him in a way that is impossible for her fulfill. As my own children are striking out on their own, Meg’s sentiment is mine. Ultimately, I trust God to find them, hold them, and bring them home.

The most surprising bit of research is that demand for chintz or printed cotton was instrumental in the industrial revolution. Colorful stamped and painted cotton came in from India and was so popular, it threatened British wool and silk industries. Calico Acts outlawed its purchase to the point that women risked having their chintz gowns torn off them by angry wool workers. But women wanted cool, easy-care cotton, so industrialists figured out how to make it quickly and cheaply.

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Q: Do you have a favorite quote from The Gentlewoman Apprentice?

Emily: “Were I a queen, an empress, or in possession of a great treasure, I would learn dressmaking. Even if I must do it alone, I will master the craft—if it takes ten years, if it takes a lifetime.”

I like this expression of Meg’s determination, an ambition which does not always serve her well. Her single-mindedness makes her blind to certain truths, and she almost misses out on love.

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Q: Is it necessary to read the prior books in this series before reading The Gentlewoman Apprentice?

Emily: No, but if you do, some characters will mean more to you.

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Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?

Emily: I can’t remember why I chose mid-18th century as my era. There was a very specific bit of trivia involved that I simply forgot. But I love it. The more I learn, the more fascinating it is.

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Q: What are you currently reading?

Emily: I am re-reading the Emma M. Lion series.

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Q: What is your favorite genre to read?

Emily: I read every genre. If I had to choose, I’d say literary fiction and classics. And romance. And women’s fiction. See? I can’t choose.

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Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Emily: Reading. But I have recently taken up crochet, so listening to a book while crocheting is my favorite.

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Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Emily: Summer! I love having less of a schedule. I love sun. I love green trees. I love watching different flowers in my yard grow and expire over the months.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each receive a book box with 18th century bits and bobs and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 7, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 14, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only for gift card. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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