Author Interview: Sunflowers in Paris by Ashley Rescot

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Sunflowers in Paris by Ashley Rescot, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Sunflowers in Paris 
Series: The Strings of Sisterhood #2 
Author: Ashley Rescot 
Publisher: Rescot Creative 
Release Date: April 7, 2026 
Genre: Clean Contemporary Split-time Romance

After a career-altering injury, violist Adrienne Pearson digs deep into her French roots. As the second of five sisters, she seeks individuality. But when several of her family members and friends decide to join her on a French excursion, she must navigate old and new relationships while finding her place in a foreign land. Will she rediscover her voice in the home of her ancestors? 

Jean-David Béranger, a brooding, reclusive French journalist, finds his life upturned when his eccentric godmother invites an entourage of American students to live with them while studying music at the local conservatoire. Can Adrienne, a beautiful American sunflower girl, dismantle the fortress surrounding his heart and convince him to turn toward the light?  

Sunflowers in Paris takes the reader on a journey through the Loire Valley, Versailles, and Paris, the City of Light, weaving elements of historical and contemporary French life with a centuries-old cold case about a real, 18th-century composer. 

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

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Book Excerpt

Jean-David sighed as he drove in search of a parking place, which was nearly impossible in Paris, especially on a holiday. Several blocks down, he finally found one next to the Seine River. A glance at his watch showed he’d better hurry. Cici had chosen the late afternoon service so that everyone could still admire the stained glass windows before it grew dark.

The previous night, he’d re-read his article about his last visit to Notre Dame, the day of the fire. The images still blazed in his memory. How could they have rebuilt it in five years?

His steps slowed as the 800-year-old cathedral rose in front of him. Wow, it looked incredible. The west rose window glistened in the afternoon light between the majestic towers. The bells of Notre Dame chimed, calling parishioners to join in the Christmas Eve concert and mass. People poured inside, and yet he stood, rooted to the spot. Could he brave the memories?

“Amazing, isn’t it,” a vaguely familiar voice sounded behind him. He turned around to see an elderly woman. At first glance, she looked like Cici; their features resembled each other.

“Gigi,” he gasped.

She nodded. “It’s been a while. You’ve grown up.”

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More in This Series

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About the Author

Ashley Rescot is a professional violinist, educator, writer, and Fulbright Scholar. An aficionado of music, pedagogy, family, faith, and language, she writes about her life as a musician. With degrees in both violin performance and French literature, she hopes her stories will inspire the next generation of musicians, encourage music professionals, and educate others about the exciting world of music.

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

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Author Interview

Q: What inspired you to write Sunflowers in Paris?

I love French and music, so a story about French music is my favorite! The first time I visited France, I sang with my high school choir in Notre Dame. It was an incredible experience! Later, I studied abroad and loved our tour of the Loire Valley, especially the castle of Blois with its unusual architecture. Finally, I moved to Paris for a year where I taught English and played music with friends.

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

I released my previous novel in 2021. I always planned there would be more to The Strings of Sisterhood Series, with each sister taking the lead in her own story. However, this second novel took me several years of picking away at it. I was focused on reviving the music program at my children’s school after Covid. Fortunately, in 2025, the book finally started flowing again, and I wrote the second half in just a few months.

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

I am not usually a murder mystery girl, but I really enjoyed adding the mystery part about the real 18th-century French composer, Jean-Marie Leclair, whose cold case was never solved. His life was interesting to research, and his music was fun to record! This was my first time to write a split-time story.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Sunflowers in Paris?

I really enjoyed researching: “Out of the Ashes- The Comeback of Notre Dame” from the NBC News. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8p2hKnu-C0&t=30s It inspired my favorite quote from Sunflowers in Paris:

“Tonight, God had brought them to each other at this ancient church, tested by fire, aging, and destruction. And if he had helped Notre Dame rise from the ashes, God would also help them do so as well.”

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

My grandmother was a musician, composer, poet, and children’s book author, so she taught me how to write at an early age. Her daughter, my mother, is also a musician. She always encouraged my music and writing talents, as both a child and an adult, which I really appreciate. My focus is still music, but I write whenever the muse hits!

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

Since I am heavily auditory as a musician, I hear the dialogue in my head. Unfortunately, I am not good at visualizing. As a result, most of the places are taken from real life. I really did live in a tiny, bizarre Parisian apartment exactly as it was described in the book, with the bathroom in the kitchen. And my family really was kicked out of their hotel, and six of us had to stay in the tiny studio apartment together. Real life is stranger than fiction!

Q: What are you currently reading?

Right now, I am listening to Jen Turano’s novel In Pursuit of Civility with my Middle School daughter. She loves it because the heroine is a teacher, which my daughter wants to be when she grows up, and they share the same name and love of animals. I am also ready for summer, enjoying Fiona Baker’s women’s fiction series Rosewood Beach.

Q:What is your favorite genre to read?

I enjoy romance that also features a strong family thread, or women’s fiction. I like to hop back into the world of a family and listen to siblings taking turns telling their own stories. (For example, Becky Wade’s Bradford Sisters and Sons of Scandal series.)

Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Making music with my family and friends, traveling, and Scouting with my husband and kids!


Q: What is your favorite season and why?

As a Midwestern girl, I love the changes of seasons. Each of my Strings of Sisterhood books will feature a different season. The first, A Change in Tune, featured fall, and Sunflowers in Paris highlights Springtime in Paris. However, my personal favorite season is summer, because I love to travel and hang out with my family all the time!

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive French chocolates and a copy of A Change in Tune and Sunflowers in Paris!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 1, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 8, 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!

Author Interview: Home No Matter Where by Nancy Naigle

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Home No Matter Where by Nancy Naigle, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Home No Matter Where 
Series: A Shell Collector Novel #3 
Author: Nancy Naigle 
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (Penguin Random House) 
Release Date: May 5, 2026 
Genre: Contemporary Sweet Romance/Women's Fiction

Three generations of women confront their pasts and discover it's never too late for new beginnings in this heartwarming novel of second chances and unconditional love—from the bestselling author of The Shell Collector. 

“In Home No Matter Where we travel to beautiful Whelk’s Island, where a close-knit community puts us right at home. Along the way we meet compelling characters caught in realistic storms and learn faith-filled lessons about weathering them.” —Denise Hunter, bestselling author of More Than Friends 

Nina is at her wit’s end with her teenage daughter, Kendra. Still dealing with her own wounds of divorce, Nina hopes a change of scenery will help. She and Kendra head to the serene coastal town of Whelk’s Island to spend a restorative summer with Nina’s mother, Rosemary—bringing three generations under one roof for the first time in years. Amid the island’s charm, old wounds begin to heal, and as new friendships bloom—especially with the steady and enigmatic Fisher—light begins to break through the cracks of Nina’s tightly controlled life. 

Kendra’s reckless behavior continues but Fisher’s intervention during a critical moment for Kendra sparks a sense of hope in Nina that she thought was lost. Still, change is never easy. 

As the women navigate the tides of forgiveness, growing up, and letting go, healing begins and new love brings surprises. While Whelk’s Island may not hold all the answers, it has a way of reminding people that moving forward doesn’t follow a set path—it requires the bravery to start anew. 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Penguin Random House | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

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Book Excerpt

Arriving on Whelk's Island

Finally, the highway signs listed Whelk’s Island among the beach destinations. The road narrowed as they approached the three-mile Wright Memorial Bridge, the only road into Whelk’s Island from the north. The waters of the sound shifted between blue and gray, catching the sunlight in a dance of fleeting glimmers.

The salt air drifted in through her open window, mingling with the faint scent of coconut from the hand lotion Kendra had spilled in the console weeks ago.

Her daughter slouched, earbuds in, eyes fixed on the endless scroll of her phone. Nina’s heart ached, the weight of these past three years pressing hard against her chest. The drawn-out divorce and the loss of Nina’s father had really taken a toll on both of them.

“You okay over there?” Nina asked softly, hoping for something more than a shrug.

Kendra didn’t look up. “Fine.”

That word had become Kendra’s shield. Nina reached over, squeezing her hand. “We’re almost there, sweetheart.”

Whelk’s Island felt like a promise. In Nina’s mind, this bridge was the path passing from one world into another, leaving the chaos behind.

She slowed the car as they crossed onto Whelk’s Island. The narrow road wound past a bait shop with a carved-wood pelican out front, an ice cream stand already gearing up for the summer rush, and expanses of scrubby dunes that felt more foreign than familiar. There was no nostalgia here—just a quiet hope that maybe this place, her mother’s new home, could offer the fresh start they both so desperately needed.

“Look at that big old oak,” Nina said, nodding toward a gnarled tree with branches stretched wide. “Your grandma was telling me that it’s one of the oldest trees on the island.”

Kendra barely glanced at the tree. “Its branches are all twisted up funny, like a dancer’s arms.” She lifted her own arms, striking a wobbly ballerina pose, tongue stuck out like some kind of wild little creature. “Looks kinda creepy, if you ask me.”

Nina bit back a sigh, searching past the attitude to find the sweet girl she knew was still in there somewhere. She gave her daughter an encouraging grin, holding tight to hope. “Looks like it’s trying to give the whole road a big ol’ hug to me.”

“If you say so,” she mumbled, her voice as flat as a pancake.

But Nina wasn’t ready to give up—not on the mood, not on this trip, not on her daughter. “I do. And I’m hoping that’s how we’re going to feel this summer. Like we’re right where we’re meant to be.”

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More in This Series

Download a free short story about Tug & Rosemary's Valentine date here!

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About the Author

ECPA and USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle crafts small-town love stories full of heart. She began her contemporary romance series, Adams Grove, while juggling a successful career in finance and life on a seventy-six-acre goat farm. Now happily retired, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, cooking, and the occasional spa day with friends. Several of Nancy’s novels have been adapted to the television screen, airing on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Her novel The Shell Collector was adapted into the first Fox Nation original movie. A native of Virginia Beach, Nancy now calls Franklin, Virginia, home.

Connect with Nancy by visiting nancynaigle.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates. While you're there, spin the wheel and see what your special shell message is!

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Author Interview

Q: What inspired you to write Home No Matter Where?

Nancy: When I wrote The Shell Collector, I honestly never imagined it becoming a series. That story was so centered on grief, healing, and finding hope again, and in many ways it felt complete on its own.

But sometimes characters have more to say.

Readers really connected with Tug, and I found myself wondering what his own second chance at love might look like. That story led me to Rosemary, and through her, a whole new layer of family, history, and heart opened up.

By the time I reached Home No Matter Where, it just felt right to tell Nina’s story and explore what happens when three generations of women, each carrying their own hurts, hopes, and life experiences, find themselves under one roof on Whelk’s Island.

What I love about this series is that while each book stands on its own, together they show how lives intersect, how healing can ripple through families and communities, and how sometimes one story naturally leads to another in ways you never planned.

That’s really what inspired Home No Matter Where, the realization that there were still stories waiting to be told, and this one, with all of its family dynamics, forgiveness, love, and second chances, felt like exactly the right next chapter.


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

Nancy: People are often surprised to learn that while a book may take a few months to write, the story is usually living in my heart and imagination much longer than that.

With Home No Matter Where, the roots of the story were growing with each book even though it wasn’t intentional. So, by the time I sat down to write Nina’s journey, I knew there was a beautiful family story waiting to be told. Then came the writing, revising, editing, and polishing that turn an idea into a finished book.

A book may begin with one story, but it takes many layers to bring it all the way to life.

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

Nancy: One fun surprise was falling down a research rabbit hole on driftwood sculpture.

Fisher has an artistic side in the book, and while it’s only a small part of the story, I ended up learning far more than ever made it onto the page. I gathered oodles of information no reader will ever see, but that’s part of the fun of writing. I’ve always loved arts and crafts, so I probably should have expected that one.

What surprised me even more, though, was something I discovered while writing, not researching.

I assumed the grandmother would naturally be the wise, comforting anchor for Kendra as she struggled through all the changes in her life. But Tug and Fisher, these strong, steady male characters, ended up carrying a lot of that emotional support in ways I didn’t fully expect.

It was such a delight to watch those softer, nurturing sides come out and see how these men showed up for an angsty teenager who was hurting and trying to find her footing.

Sometimes as a writer, my characters surprise me too.


Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Home No Matter Where?

Nancy: This one!



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

Nancy: Honestly, I didn’t.

I never grew up dreaming of becoming an author or thinking that would be my path. I just had one story on my heart and a simple thought: What if I could write one book for one person to help them through one hard day?

I sat down to tell that story, and by 2014 I had a few books already published when I lost my husband and my lift shifted, I realized I wasn’t just writing books, I’d found my calling. It was then that I took an early retirement and began writing full time.


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

Nancy: Sure. Something that surprises people is that I once juggled writing books while working full-time in corporate America and living on a seventy-six-acre goat farm, which sounds like a story all by itself.


Q: What are you currently reading?

Nancy: The advanced reader copy of Denise Hunter’s Falling Into Us. Y’all! It’s fabulous. She’s an auto-buy for me anyway, but I was so excited to be asked to blurb this one.


Q: What is your favorite genre to read?

Nancy: Women’s fiction.


Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Nancy: Antiquing! I like imagining the stories behind the things that grab my attention.


Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Nancy: I love them all, and I think that’s the beauty of living in a place where you get to enjoy all four.

Spring feels hopeful, summer brings beach days and sunshine, fall is all about cozy sweaters and football weather, and Christmas… well, that one probably has a little extra sparkle for me.

I guess if I had to choose, my favorite season is whichever one I’m in, because each one brings something special.

Thank you so much for inviting me to join your readers.

With gratitude,
Nancy

Thank you, Nancy, for taking time to join us on the blog!

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Tour Giveaway

(1) grand prize winner will receive a Shell Collector Summer Escape Box which includes a Nancy Naigle book tote bag, a shell set + message, coastal candle, beachy bookmark set, lighthouse charm, signed bookplate and a little surprise swag plus copies of Sand Dollar Cove and Dear Santa!

(3) other winners will each receive a Shell Gift Set of a handprinted shell with a message, beautifully printed message card, small drawstring bag, signed bookplate and a bookmark!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 26, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 2, 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!

Author Interview: Crossbones by C.C. Warrens

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

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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.

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More in This Series

 

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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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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.

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

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.” 

I love this quote because when we’re healing from emotional wounds, we often feel like we’re not healing fast enough or the way that we had hoped. But healing isn’t always giant leaps forward; healing can be the little things that we’re tempted to overlook and dismiss. Healing is a long journey, and there are a lot of steps in that journey. Every step forward, no matter how small, how hesitant, moves us closer to healing.


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.

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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!

Book Spotlight: The Deep End of Love by Christina Suzann Nelson

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Deep End of Love by Christina Suzann Nelson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Deep End of Love 

Author: Christina Suzann Nelson 

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

Release Date: May 19, 2026 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

A refreshed and updated novel on the power of motherly love 

When Izzy's pregnancy comes to light during her junior year of high school, her future sinks like a stone and leaves waves of uncertainty in its wake. And suddenly three women are pulled into the undertow. A mother desperate to protect her child but battling hurt and fear from her past. A newcomer with empty arms and a deep longing. And a broken heart trying to survive amid grief. 

An unborn baby growing closer to his unknown future brings together these four women with four completely different stories. Masterfully told in woven points of view, The Deep End of Love explores how one decision exposes shame, fear, and hope—and how grace surfaces in the least expected places. 

Christy Award-winning author Christina Suzann Nelson draws readers in through this emotionally engaging and inspirational novel, now revised and updated. 

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

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Book Excerpt

I’ve seen him out there before, a figure masked by darkness, sneaking to my daughter’s window. And I didn’t stop him because I was afraid of how our different feelings about Travis were tearing our relationship apart. I was scared I would be alone again, without a mother or a daughter.

Instead of dealing with the issue directly, I gave them a few minutes, then made noises in the hall. He always disappeared.

Anger licks my cheeks and lights a bonfire in my chest.

I should have slashed his tires, smashed his precious windows.

I choke on a sob and my regret.

Can’t Izzy’s situation be just another one of my nightmares?

These memories have been packed away and hidden in the basement of my mind. It’s where I put them to rest, and where they were supposed to stay. But, like it was yesterday, the moment from twenty-t hree years earlier crawls out of its box and attacks.

My pain is true and real, but now, through the heart of a mother, it burns deeper, spreads wider, takes over every cell in my body. It’s too late. The carefully covered wound is torn open, and my shredded heart is vulnerable to the flames.

There’s no way out.

No escape.

My mother told me I had a choice, but it was a choice she made for me. It wasn’t a moment of empowerment but of handing over my independence. She did this to me, and I can never forgive her.

I can tell myself lies all night, but they won’t blur the pictures that scald my mind every time my eyes close. Izzy’s thin figure didn’t cover the telltale rounding in her abdomen, the slight curve over the tips of her hip bones. How have I missed the signs?

We taught her better than this, but what can we expect from a boy like Travis Owens, son of a drunken father, brother of a criminal. And a mighty fine actor.

Biting my lower lip, I scold myself for falling for his show. I’d believed he cared for my daughter, believed he might be different.

How could he do this to my Izzy?

The light switches on behind me. Grabbing my robe, I pull it tighter around my chest.

“There you are. I’m about packed. You ready for bed?” Garrett’s duffel bag drops by the front door with an all too common thud.

Turning, I glare at the camo sack and military boots. Another of his monthly Guard weekends. They creep up and attack at the worst times.

“I know.” He pulls me into a hug, the warm scent of Irish Spring clinging to his body. “It’s only two nights, then I’ll be back. At least I’m not deployed.” His chin taps the top of my head as he nods. “Could be worse.”

I pull back. Could it really? My mouth opens and I try, really try, to tell him everything, to unload years of lies and the new sorrows, but the gentle curve of his mouth, that look of a proud father who hasn’t yet been shot with the truth . . . I can’t destroy him tonight. There’s no harm in waiting until he comes home. Until I’ve confirmed what I already know.

Until I can’t shove the past into the closet any longer.

There’s no harm in a secret.

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Also Available:

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About the Author

Christina Suzann Nelson is an inspirational speaker and the award-winning author of several novels, including If We Make It Home, More Then We Remember, What Happens Next, and the Christy Award-winning The Way It Should Be.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Deep End of Love and $20 Amazon gift card!

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 27, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 3, 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!

Book Spotlight: The Targeted by Cara Putman

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Targeted by Cara Putman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Targeted 

Series: Secrets to Keep #3 

Author: Cara Putman 

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

Release Date: May 19, 2026 

Genre: Romantic Suspense 

Can she protect her gym students before her past catches up? 

When Chloe Ainsworth's older sister reappears after fourteen years, she brings with her the news that Chloe's abuser is back in town. Chloe is a coach at her childhood gym and fiercely protective of her young gymnasts. She won't allow them to suffer the way she did, but she's desperate for an ally—one who can help her make her case. 

 Law student Dare Shepherd works at the local legal clinic, where he meets Chloe and hears her out. He believes her case but can't get the clinic director on board. As he learns more about her story, he finds himself bound by a deepening personal care for Chloe. 

They band together in search of answers, and suddenly the stakes skyrocket. It's clear they're onto something, but will they be able to find the answers before it's too late? 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop

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Book Excerpt

The questions lingered and multiplied.

The conversation with Mayor Lawson hadn’t unveiled anything, making Chloe wonder if she really understood what had happened to Libby at the gym.

Who else could Chloe talk with who would know?

She hadn’t pushed Margeaux yet. Margeaux had been closest to Libby by age, so maybe she had picked up on details and signals that Chloe missed. And maybe she could think of other people for Chloe to talk to. Anything would be better than guessing in the dark.

Chloe started her search of the locker room. If Alex did like pictures of girls, Chloe wasn’t going to take any chances that he’d added cameras in the locker room. She wasn’t certain where to search—the story of her life right now—but search she would. If she found something, then she could get the police involved and let them identify who had planted them.

It was time to be proactive with what she could control.

An hour later she’d searched each girl’s locker and tried to pretend she hadn’t violated their privacy.

Then she dragged a bench over so she could scan the top of the lockers. That was where she spotted something out of place. It was small, but it was enough that she placed a call to Janae, who connected her with a detective she trusted. Another thirty minutes later, Detective Brian Althaus arrived.

“What can I help you with?” He was average height and unassuming but with a presence that said you could rely on him. He’d testified in Margeaux’s trial and had been the police officer who was aboveboard.

“I think I found a camera in the girls’ locker room. And neither Cindy, the coach who was murdered, nor I put it there.”

“All right. Show me what you found.”

Chloe walked him back to the locker room. The man wore khakis and a department polo. He stood a head taller than Chloe, but that wasn’t hard, with her gymnast’s build. Even with his size advantage, he wasn’t intimidating. As he listened to her concerns, she felt heard and seen. A moment later he was standing on the bench, as if it was the next right thing.

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More Books from this Series:

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About the Author

Cara Putman is a professor, an attorney, and an award-winning, best-selling author of more than forty novels, including the Cornhusker Dreams series, the Hidden Justice series, and The Vanished.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Targeted and $20 Amazon gift card!

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 20, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 27, 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!

Book Spotlight: Shipwrecked Faith by Danielle Grandinetti

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Shipwrecked Faith by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

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

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Book Excerpt

If Sadie didn’t survive the night, would her parents and sisters ever learn what happened to her?

A shudder of fear shook her cold body. Kellan was the only person who knew she was on this boat. She wasn’t on a crew list or passenger list. No one had seen her board. For all Mrs. Whistshire knew, Sadie had caught a train to Milwaukee. Only, there would be no record of that either.

If Sadie died, her family never would have closure.

She planted her feet. Well, she’d just make sure that never happened. As if she had a say in the hour of her death. Lord, please?

A deafening crack rent the darkness. She jumped out of the Packard, peering through the inkiness for the cause. Was the ship tearing apart?

Water soaked her shoes and pant legs. She held onto the automobile as the ship listed to one side, nearly sending her tumbling. Were they tipping over?

Fear pounded her ribs.

She couldn’t stay in the hold one more minute. Who knew if Kellan was still alive or whether he’d be able to rescue her if she were trapped in this dark cavern?

She needed to go above deck. Even if the crew saw her, she needed to see what was going on.

Icy water fought her, pouring down from the hatches and rapidly rising around her ankles. No, her knees. Shivering, she forced herself to keep moving, to find her way through to the top deck. Light from the hallways—or whatever they were called aboard a boat—helped her navigate. It also illuminated the amount of water that had filled the ship. There was no way they couldn’t sink. Not with this much water. Right?

Please, please save us, she prayed.

Then the lights went out.

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Also Available:

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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!