Book Spotlight: His Boss's Little Sister by Danielle Grandinetti

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for His Boss's Little Sister by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: His Boss's Little Sister 
Series: Apron Strings Tea Tales 
Author: Danielle Grandinetti 
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press 
Release Date: November 18, 2025 
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense

Broken hearts, underground smuggling, and a meddling family ... one Wisconsin Teehaus offers a love of more than sweet treats. 

November 1931---Needing a new start, Samantha Martins escapes the happily-ever-afters of her hometown to take a waitressing position at a German Tea House. But all is not as it appears beneath the pretty trappings. When she discovers illegal oleomargarine on the premises, which could shut down the cafe, and thus cost her job, she goes searching for the source. 

Samantha's old beau, Kyle Docherty, returns to Crow's Nest a changed man, both inside and out. An apology burning in his heart, he finds she's left home. However, with trouble on her trail, Samantha's brother hires Kyle to be her bodyguard. But will she even speak to him? And if not, will she at least allow him to protect her, even without the arm he lost in a logging accident? 

When the breadcrumbs lead them into a trap, putting Kyle's life in danger, Samantha faces an impossible choice: listen to Kyle and run for help, or stay a captive and outwit a criminal. If only the ticking bomb were on their side.  

A touch of fairy tale, a spoonful of history, and a teacup of hope. 

His Boss's Little Sister is a stand-alone novella in the Apron Strings Tea Tale multi-author series, and a 1930s historical romance retelling of Hansel and Gretel. 

Fans of the Harbored in Crow’s Nest series will enjoy revisiting familiar characters and discovering the HEA of the hero's little sister from Confessions to a Stranger.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | DanielleGrandinetti.com | Amazon | BookBub

---

Also Available

---

Book Excerpt

The man tapped the butter dish with the flat of his knife. “I didn’t say it was bad butter, miss. I said it was not butter. I have a finely tuned palate, miss. This is oleomargarine.”

Sam’s stomach twisted. This man had to be mistaken. Margarine was outlawed from being served in restaurants, but margarine that had been turned yellow to look like butter? That was a serious offence here in Wisconsin. One that could result in jail time for Frau Becker, or maybe even Sam, since she was the one who’d served it. She didn’t know how these things worked, nor did she know what to do.

The man smiled, easing her tension. “I doubt you knew, miss. I do not blame you. Might you, though, bring me the real thing?”

Tears pricked Sam’s eyes as she nodded and accepted the dish from him. “Th-thank you, sir.”

She set a controlled pace back to the kitchen. Should she tell Frau Becker? No. Not without proof. Proof whether this indeed was a forgery—she swiped a finger in it and tasted it, her stomach falling. Okay, so it was yellow oleomargarine. But without proof of who switched real butter with this fake stuff, she wouldn’t say a word.

She would, however, keep her eyes open. If the police caught wind that Das Teehaus Café served contraband, Sam might lose her job, and she didn’t want to go back to Crow’s Nest. She wanted to be an independent woman, like Frau Becker, and going to jail over margarine wasn’t in her plan.

---

About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea, books, and the creative beauty of nature. Her stories combine romance, mystery, and suspense against the backdrop of the 1930s to tell the tale of finding home and hope in hard times. With a master’s in communication and culture and a passion for intercultural communication, storytelling has been her heartbeat for as long as she can remember. Married to her hero, Danielle is a second-generation Italian-American, a dairy farmer’s granddaughter, and a boy mom from Chicagoland who now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline.

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

---

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a paperback copy of Confessions to a Stranger & Escape with the Prodigal!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 10, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 17, 2025. 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

---

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

Book Review: The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin

About the Book:

Copenhagen, 1940

When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden. American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research--her life's dream--and makes the dangerous decision to print resistance newspapers.

As Else hears rumors of the movement's legendary Havmand--the merman--she also becomes intrigued by the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse. Henrik makes every effort to conceal his noble upbringing, but he is torn between the façade he must maintain and the woman he is beginning to fall in love with.

When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech . . . or in silence.

Read an excerpt from The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin on the publisher's website.

---

My Thoughts:

With The Sound of Light, Sarah Sundin has cemented herself as the queen of WWII Christian Fiction in my mind. This novel held my attention throughout and never felt too dark despite the Nazi occupation in Denmark. When things worsened in the plot, I put the book down as necessary and reminded myself that Sarah Sundin’s books always have a happy (or hopeful) ending.

Sarah Sundin expertly tied together the romance, character development, and themes in The Sound of Light. Else and Henrik’s journey offered many things to think about as these two characters learn and grow in wisdom and resilience. A few of the important topics addressed in The Sound of Light: women’s equality in the workplace, coexistence of virtues and faults, setting healthy boundaries, forgiveness, sacrificing to help others, and the power of words/silence. Reading this complex novel of resistance and heroism was a pleasure.

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin is a standalone novel, but characters from Until Leaves Fall in Paris and When Twilight Breaks cameo or are mentioned occasionally. I recommend this book to Christian fiction readers who enjoy a story with strong themes, historical details, and suspense. Five stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: The Brilliance of Stars by J'nell Ciesielski

About the Book: 

Amid the chaos of the Great War, two elite assassins learn precisely how dangerous it is to have something—or someone—worth losing.

Washington, DC, 1914. Ivy Olwen knows how to survive on the streets without two coins to rub together. Then destiny thrusts her into the nest of a covert agency of assassins sworn to drive back the world’s darkness, and she acquires a new set of lethal skills. Her education—from explosives to etiquette, sharpshooting to sabotage—is as far reaching as the organization’s missions. But it’s the hours she spends among the towering bookshelves in the library and stargazing on the roof with Agent Jack Vale that make her heart fly.

Jack knew plenty of hardship before the agency refined his rough edges, transforming him into the man who never misses. But he didn’t know the feeling of home until Ivy entered his world. Now Jack’s heart drums with a singular purpose: he will fight for her, fight alongside her. No matter the cost.

When the pair is sent on a seemingly simple mission to take down Russia’s newest and most dangerous arms dealer—a soulless man using the Great War as an opportunity to further his own depraved agenda—they discover that no amount of training could have prepared them for a manhunt that takes them across the frozen tundra, to the Crimean Peninsula, and along the Trans-Siberian Railway . . . only to discover that there is evil in the world they will never understand.

The first book of an epic duology from bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski, The Brilliance of Stars incorporates her signature blend of thrilling adventure, glamorous espionage, and sweeping romance.

---

My Thoughts:

The Brilliance of Stars by J’nell Ciesielski starts off the Jack and Ivy Duology with a story of camaraderie and a quest to defeat evil. The novel hooked my interest early on as Ivy transitioned from homeless teen to educated, elite assassin. There was no lack of action, but once Jack and Ivy’s team traveled to Russia, things heated up and kept me flipping pages. Somewhere around the 60%-70% mark, the story slowed and grew darker. I knew to expect a cliffhanger, but this one wasn’t bad. It was more open ended rather than stopping at the pinnacle of suspense. It’s the type of cliffhanger I can live with although I am eager for book two.

I enjoyed Ivy and Jack’s relationship from beginning to end, even when only the barest hint of romance existed. Gradually, their romantic relationship grew, and I adored the way that Jack loved Ivy. I wish every man loved his woman that way. There was a fade-to-black bedroom scene with more detail than I was comfortable with. However, the novel still stayed in the “clean” romance category.

Speaking of categories, The Brilliance of Stars by J’nell Ciesielski contains some Christian undertones, but is largely general fiction, making it appealing to readers of both genres. I recommend this novel to fans of historical romantic suspense.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.