Author Interview: Ribbons of Guilt by Laura Thomas

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Ribbons of Guilt by Laura Thomas, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Ribbons of Guilt 
Series: Bite of Betrayal #3 
Author: Laura Thomas 
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink 
Release Date: July 5, 2026 
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

A marriage in crisis. A betrayer in the wings. A life at stake. 

Harriet Duval has it all—a handsome French husband, a delightful young daughter, a successful career as a professional ballerina behind her, and a beautiful future in a charming village in the English countryside. Even her beloved sisters can’t see the painful truth she hides beneath her perfect mask… 

Successful businessman Leo Duval is at a breaking point physically, emotionally, and spiritually as he is forced to harbor secrets in Paris while his marriage in England dissolves before his very eyes. 

The magnetic pull of Harriet’s old dancing life and the shocking murder of a Swan Lake ballerina causes her to question everything: faith, future, family. When the killer begins targeting the Duval family, Leo and Harriet’s vulnerable marriage is tested by an unimaginable traumatic event. Will the guilt they carry divide them when they need each other most?  

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

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Book Excerpt

“Leo, do you trust me?”

His forehead wrinkled. “I do.”

“Remember when we first met and you said I was born for the stage?”

“Yes.”

“When you used to say I was a performer who could play any part and dance whatever was required of me?”

“Absolutely.”

Her pulse quickened as she devised a plan. Betray the betrayer.

Leo tucked her windswept hair behind her ears and nodded. “I used to tell you that all the time. I’m glad you still remember. You were amazing. Always.”

“Thanks.” Harriet stretched her spine as long as possible and lengthened her neck. “It’s time.”

“Time for what?”

“I need to put the mask in place for the performance of my life.”

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More in This Series

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About the Author

A multi-award-winning Christian author, Laura Thomas writes heartwarming encouragement for your soul—especially in her numerous romantic suspense novels, Christmas novellas, teen fiction and children’s books, as well as her non-fiction writing.

Laura is a certified writing coach, a book-loving chocoholic mom and nanny, and is married to her high school sweetheart. Originally from the UK, they now live the empty nest life in Kelowna, British Columbia, with their French bulldog! 

Connect with Laura by visiting laurathomasauthor.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 Ribbons of Guilt?

Laura: Ribbons of Guilt is Book 3 in the Bite of Betrayal series of Christian romantic suspense, where each sister has featured in a book. This time it was Harriet’s story and because I had already introduced her in the previous books as being married to Leo, I knew I would need to create some kind of marriage crisis as well as danger and faith between husband and wife—and I was totally up for the challenge! My husband and I are passionate about marriage ministry in real life, and so creating a romantic suspense story where a fractured marriage was given hope and healing was all the inspiration I needed.

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

Laura: It took about six months to write, give or take. It helped that I already had a lot of research done from previous books in the series, but a trip to England while I was in the mist of writing this one was hugely beneficial.

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

Laura: I was surprised and delighted by The Royal Opera House in London, England. It’s always fun to return to my homeland, and when I can work in a research trip and see my UK family at the same time? Bonus. As Ribbons of Guilt has some significant scenes set inside The Royal Opera House, I enlisted my sister to join me on a fantastic backstage tour and was able to ask the poor, unassuming guide a gazillion questions relating to security and such. However, I was truly surprised by the sumptuous décor of the theater and the breathtaking costume room with its “costume bibles”, and the cherry-on-top delight was watching an impromptu Romeo and Juliet ballet rehearsal in the bowels of the building.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Ribbons of Guilt?

Laura: “Leo cupped her cheek. “I’m not one to spout wisdom after everything I’ve done, but what I do know in my heart is that God gives grace.”

She nodded. “Grace over guilt…””

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

Laura: I dreamed of being a picture book author when I was a little girl living on the South Coast of England—I was an absolute bookworm and obsessed with Beatrix Potter. However, I told not a soul and somehow managed to keep it a secret for 25 years until my husband and I were on a coffee date talking about having dreams for the future. I casually mentioned my secret dream of writing a book one day(!), he recovered from his initial shock (how did he not know this as we had been together since I was 14 years old?), and then encouraged me to act upon it the very next day. The rest, as they say, is history… and now we are celebrating my thirteenth book.

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

Laura: I took ballet classes for ten years as a child and had a phase where I created 3-ring binders of research and pictures as I desperately wanted to be a professional ballerina. (Clearly, this was not meant to be, but now I get to write about one instead!)

Q: What are you currently reading?

Laura: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, an early copy of When the Silence Breaks by Elizabeth Goddard, and I’m listening to The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh.

Q: What is your favorite genre to read?

Laura: I honestly enjoy reading most genres other than horror and fantasy and I do try to mix it up, but I’m especially drawn to WWII fiction, Christian romantic suspense, literary fiction, children’s books, and an occasional classic.

Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Laura: Can I say reading? That’s my every day, all-season favorite thing to do—but in the summer I love boating and kayaking on the lake with my husband.

Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Laura: At the start of each season I declare it to be my favorite, but if I had to choose one it would be summer. Give me all the sunshine and cloudless blue skies, long warm evenings for extra reading, and quiet mornings out on the perfectly still lake.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and an ebook copy of Captured in Frame!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 13, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 20, 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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