The Girl Upstairs By Jessica Patch + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! Oh boy... are you all ready for this book? I'm in the Instagram tour for this as well because I can't give enough shout outs to Jessica's writing so I needed to cover my bases. Check out her guest post below and enter the giveaway!

About the Book

Title: The Girl Upstairs 
Author: Jessica R. Patch 
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Trade 
Release Date: April 28, 2026 
Genre: Psychological Thriller

"Jessica R. Patch weaves a dark, twisty tapestry that’s both unsettling and unexpectedly hopeful. Masterful." –New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan

She bought this house to save her marriage. Unearthing its secrets might just claim her life. 

Gwen McDaniel’s life is broken. But she knows the perfect place to fix it. Cold Harbor, Maine, an idyllic small town with views of Acadia National Park, is where she used to vacation with her parents as a child. Here, she and Steven can start over, renovating their cliff-side fixer-upper while patching up their marriage. Soon, everything will be better. 

Except from the moment they arrive, Gwen sees and hears things, and it’s more than just the drafts and shadows that are part of any old house. Steven downplays her fears, warning her not to fixate on problems as she has in the past. But Gwen spent years as a homicide detective, and her instincts don’t lie. Something happened here. Proof comes when she rips up the attic’s carpet to discover a chilling message carved into the wood underneath. 

As Gwen delves into the history of the house and the Cold Harbor community, she begins to piece the fragments together. And gradually, a terrifying picture emerges: A missing girl. A house of horrors. And a dark, decades-old nightmare that is more haunting than Gwen ever imagined…  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

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Guest Post

From Dark Scenes to Daily Life: How I Balance It

So, I’ve just written a scene where someone is buried alive, a killer is circling, and the tension could power a small city. And now… I’m expected to go make dinner or meet a friend for coffee? Yes, that’s the exact kind of writer’s whiplash I live with—and somehow, I survive it.

Here’s my not-so-secret formula. Treat it like a costume change for your soul. Close the document, step away, and remind yourself that the basement, the revenge, and the lingering dread? They live on the page, not in your kitchen that really does need a deep clean. I’ll swap the horror soundtrack in my head for something worshipful or even whimsical—maybe 80s hairbands or Love Shack set on repeat—to reset my mood and to remind me that a tin roof rusted is way scarier than a shiny one. Physical movement helps too. Chopping vegetables with sharp knives, walking the dog down deserted roads, or simply stepping outside to breathe (except in spring because…pollen).

And yes, I do it with a wink. Because the truth is, I spend hours orchestrating human misery for a living. Laughing at the absurdity of shifting from terror to normal life keeps me grounded. Imagining my characters sipping lattes instead of scheming murder? Hilarious.

But here’s the serious part. Even though I dive into darkness on the page, I trust that God equips me for it. When He calls you to something, He gives all the grace, protection, and shielding you need so that the weight of what you explore doesn’t touch you in a destructive way. I can write the horrors, explore the shadows, and still return to light, laughter, and life—because the ultimate safety isn’t in avoiding the dark, it’s in the One who walks with me through it.

About the Author

Jessica R. Patch is a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than thirty novels. Known for her pulse-pounding plots, emotionally charged characters, and signature twists, Jessica’s stories explore themes of justice, resilience, and the unshakable power of hope.

Whether weaving inspirational stories of danger edged with romance or crafting chilling thrillers that probe the shadows of the human heart, Jessica delivers fiction that thrills while shining light in the darkest places. She makes her home in Northwest Mississippi, where she enjoys life with her family, a good cup of tea, and dreaming up her next edge-of-your-seat story usually over tacos and queso. 

You’re invited to join the Patched In community at her website: jessicarpatch.com and receive a FREE short thriller, Nobody Has to Know.

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a signed copy of The Other Sister and a $10 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 27, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 4, 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 for the print copy. 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!

She Reads Truth Spiral-Bound Notetaking Bible + GIVE AWAY

I was looking forward to checking out the new She Reads Truth Spiral-Bound Notetaking Bible, but I didn't realize until it showed up at my house how exciting it was going to be to review it! I mean, I knew it was larger, but didn't realize how large it was, but I'm not sad about it! I'm more thrilled! Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

If you're anything like me, you enjoy taking notes in your Bible. Whether it's when the pastor is preaching on a Sunday, during my quiet time, or when I'm doing my Bible study, you'll find me pen in hand. One of the issues I usually have though is not enough room to write my thoughts or points about the Scripture I've read. Thankfully, this Bible has plenty of space!

Speaking of space, it's not just that there's enough space in the margins with the lines, but the text is spaced well enough that you can highlight, underline, and make small notes within the Scripture. The font size is also perfectly sized.

When B&H Publishing mentions that the CSB® She Reads Truth Spiral-Bound Notetaking Bible will "make opening your Bible every day more enjoyable," they're not kidding. I've been getting so giddy to open this Bible for my daily devotion. I'm also one of those people who likes reading an overview of the book of the Bible I'm reading. Each of the books starts off with:

• On The Timeline so we know who wrote the book, the time period, and where it was written
• A Little Background so we get an idea of what's going on during that time
• Message & Purpose so we can understand why it was written
• Give Thanks For The Book Of ________ so we can grasp the importance of how it applies to knowing God better

Of course, there's the beautifully illustrated key verse to start off each book of this Bible. One of the wishes I have for other Bibles is maps for each book where someone is traveling during significant times, and this Bible does that in most of the books. Some books also have timelines, which I also appreciate because oftentimes I'm wondering when this is happening in relation to another event, and I'm clueless! And don't you love it when there's a breakdown of what you'll be reading in a specific book? Books of the Bible are often broken up by different teachings, but because we're reading it as a whole, we might miss what the focus is in each section. I really like the Outline of the books.

If you don't have a reading plan, the Spiral-Bound Notetaking Bible has a daily reading log where you can keep track of when you've read each chapter of each book! I think this will partner well with my first "read the Bible in a year!" 

There are 5 of these Notetaking Bibles and each is a different color:

• Pentateuch: the first five books of the Old Testament—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
• Historical: the historical books of the Old Testament—Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1–2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings, 1–2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
• Wisdom & Poetry: the wisdom and poetry books of the Old Testament—Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.
• Prophets: the prophetic books of the Old Testament—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
• New Testament: every book of the New Testament—from Matthew to Revelation.

I'll be honest that when I saw how much each of the Bibles are, my jaw dropped! I easily expected it to be $50+, but to see they're only $34.99 each was shocking. There's just so much to enjoy and appreciate about this Bible that the cost isn't prohibitive at all. I think the next one I want to get will be the Prophets because we're going to be a series through the minor prophets at church this spring and summer!

Order your copy today wherever books and Bibles are sold:

https://utm.io/um0R6

Giveaway: 1 GRAND PRIZE giveaway of the Five-Volume Hardcover set of the She Reads Truth Spiral-Bound Notetaking Bible (retail value of $149.99) Giveaway winners must be a US resident.

To enter: Entrants must fill out THIS FORM (there’s no other way to enter) by 5/6!

Escape to Passignano by Normandie Fischer + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Escape to Passignano by Normandie Fischer, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! This sounds like such an interesting read! Be sure to check out her Guest Post below and enter the giveaway as well!

About the Book

Title: Escape to Passignano 
Series: Carolina Coast Stories 
Author: Normandie Fischer 
Publisher: Sleepy Creek Press 
Release Date: March 31, 2026 
Genre: Christian Women's Fiction

Can dreams be trusted when life feels like a nightmare?

Sophia chose to honor her deceased husband’s wishes by visiting his hometown of Passignano sul Trasimeno in the Umbrian region of Italy. She’s trying to find the peace he promised, really she is, while she studies his language and sips caffè with a view of mountains and lake. Only, things begin to happen involving a red-haired child who speaks of things she cannot know—and the child’s father whose very presence challenges that peace. 

Dr. Luca Moretti still wrestles with guilt three years after the death of his wife and older children. Overwhelmed by grief, Luca gave the care of his toddler daughter, Noemi, to his sister. It was supposed to be temporary; it wasn’t. Now, Luca wants Noemi back. 

When his sister flees, taking Noemi into hiding, Sophia joins forces with a desperate Luca to piece together dreams and voices and supernatural nudges to retrace Noemi’s steps. It’s going to take trust, though, something in short supply for both Luca and Sophia. They’ll have to learn to trust in one another, and, more importantly, to trust in God—that a God who would allow such pain really does mean to work it all out for good. For Noemi. For the two of them. And for a troubled woman from North Carolina who enters their orbit with her own demons, demons God uses—and dispels—as He wills.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

More in This Series

 

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Guest Post

How do you take a heavy topic like the death of a spouse, or in this case two spouses,

and turn it into a story of hope and possible romance?

None of us escapes death, but for those in Christ, losing a spouse—or a child—often feels harder than facing our own mortality. Sometimes that loss becomes the catalyst for a crisis of faith, especially if we know God as the Healer Who chose not to heal our beloved. Or, in the case of Luca, what do you do with faith in a God Who didn’t intervene to stop Luca’s unhappy wife from running off with his older children,

precipitating the accident that killed them all.

Both Sophia and Luca are overwhelmed by grief, but Luca also carries a huge dose of guilt. Sophia’s prayers weren’t answered; Luca was too busy to know he needed to pray—and intervene--for his wife and so lost his beloved children. Thus, grief and guilt become the mechanism by which both struggle with their faith, knowing they need God but not knowing how to find their way back to Him. And both put bandages on their pain—Sophia initially by closing herself off from life in her NY apartment, and Luca by

spending even more time at his clinic or the hospital. Now, his guilt spills into his neglect of his youngest child who has disappeared. What happened to Luca and Sophia becomes the excuse for their choices, and they need a path forward. That’s hard for any of us. For Sophia as well as the miserable Deborah, Italy provides the backdrop for challenges that propel them toward new choices, forks in the road that will lead to a positive or a negative outcome.

I write to explore hearts and lives, the things we experience and what those experiences do to us and in us, and to explore interactions that help us find our way to God and His healing. As a prayer minister, I hear a lot of personal stories that inform my desire to see people delivered and healed, which often means finding a place in the arms of Jesus as the hurting learn to trust Him for the first time--or again.

My own walk has not been easy, but I learned early that the love of God transcends the momentary suffering of this world and that He can take any situation and turn it to good. Each character in my books has the opportunity to learn this in one way or another—through the forgiveness they find or the assurance of love.

When my unbelieving stepfather was entering the last stage of his cancer battle, I cried out to the Lord for him, begging God to see his kindness and love and to introduce him to Jesus. I heard in my spirit these words: “When he and Jesus meet face to face, they will recognize each other because love cannot exist without the God Who is Love.” Now, did that mean Peter would definitely find salvation before he died? Or that some form of a works-based salvation existed? No. Absolutely not. Salvation only comes through

Jesus Christ, from his shed Blood in the Atonement. But those words brought me peace because they reminded me that I could trust my Savior with that dear man’s soul.

The words also reminded me that romance, true romance, has its roots in the love of God for His people. True love cannot exist apart from God, and everything we call love that doesn’t include Him is rooted in something less. My desire is for my characters to find Him and find each other as they rub against the hard bits that come with living. These aren’t romances; they are love stories. The focus is always on healing, and healing often leads the wounded to a new experience of love.

About the Author

Normandie Fischer had the best of several worlds: a Southern heritage, access to schooling in the DC area (which meant lots of cultural adventures), and several years of sculpture studies in Italy. It might have been better for her if she'd used all these opportunities more wisely, but it's possible that the imperfect and the unwise also add fodder for the artist and the writer.

She writes Christian and Southern fiction as well as romantic suspense from her waterfront base in coastal North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, their two dogs, and a once-feral cat. If only her children and grandchildren lived within hailing distance, life would be just about perfect.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive three books of their choice by Normandie Fischer!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 20, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 27, 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!

The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner by Susan L. Tuttle + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner by Susan L. Tuttle, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! We read and enjoyed the first book in this series and I can't wait to finish it now that book three is out! Check out the excerpt and giveaway below! Thanks to JustRead and the publisher for sending me a copy of the book.

About the Book

Title: The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner 

Series: Treasures of Halstead Manor #3 

Author: Susan L. Tuttle 

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

Release Date: March 24, 2026 

Genre: Mystery & Suspense / Romance 

Will the key unlock more than a vault filled with treasure? 

Brooke Sumner has been carefully avoiding Storm Whitlock ever since he betrayed her trust. When he joins Caspar's mysterious treasure-hunting group, she steps away to focus on her antique shop and keep herself busy. Then Caspar invites her back for one final assignment, and Brooke is torn. Returning to Halstead Manor to help the team find the second half of a key is intriguing. It also means she'd be working with Storm. But she doesn't trust his motives, so she reluctantly rejoins to keep him in check. As they dive into their expedition, Brooke finds her heart softening toward those she'd once held at arm's length. And is it possible she misunderstood Storm's betrayal of their friendship? 

"In this friends-to-more romance, we get to see the beauty of being known, being loved, and finding the people who want to walk alongside us." —Toni Shiloh, Christy Award-winning author

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

More Books from this Series:

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Book Excerpt

. . . Gertie had some strong points, ones Brooke couldn’t ignore. The balance began to tip toward her return. She still had questions. “Has Caspar said what it is he needs to find?”

“Not in great detail. Though we know the first step is tracking down something that pairs with what we found tucked into the spine of Alice’s Adventures Under Ground.”

She’d known about the book, but not that it secretly held something. “Which was?”

“Half of a key.”

Curiosity welled. “How does one make half a key?”

“I supposed the same way one makes a whole key, except they create it in pieces that can be split apart,” Gertie said.

“I suppose,” Brooke mimicked Gertie’s carefree tone. Then she scooted forward, forearms across her knees. “Did he mention what this key unlocks should we possess both pieces?”

“He did not.” Sunshine spilled over Gertie and Burt, shining off their gray hair. “We have another meeting tomorrow, which is why I came tonight. Caspar knows where his father kept the other half, but he’s lost its hiding place. Seems it was in a painting.” Her cloudy eyes locked on Brooke as if she could clearly see her. “The Just Judges.”

Brooke straightened. That was the painting Storm had referred to? Countless hours speculating about its disappearance hardly covered their onetime fascination with the piece.

“From the Ghent Altarpiece?”

The panel had been missing from Belgium since 1934. An irreplaceable and priceless piece of artwork that vanished into thin air. All leads died right along with the supposed thief, Arsène Goedertier, when he passed away at the end of that year. He claimed to have stolen the panel and, with his final breath, promised he alone knew its location.

Gertie nodded. “The exact one.”

About the Author

Susan L. Tuttle is a pastor’s wife, mom, and the director of women’s ministry at her church near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her previous writing includes The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton, The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry, the Along Came Love series, and the Carol Award–finalist Love You, Truly.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner 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 April 15, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 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 the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

The Bookshop of 99 Doors By Jaime Jo Wright

The Bookshop of 99 Doors

by Jaime Jo Wright

Publisher: Bethany House

ISBN: 9780764243813

I'm ALLLLLL about Jaime Jo's books! I've read them all and have enjoyed each one. I always eagerly anticipate every new book of hers. This one may be one of my favorite covers! Thanks to the author & publisher for my copy.

Summary:

The manor's rumored one-hundredth door may conceal secrets hidden as deep as the estate's bookshelves extend high . . . but the haunted past has a way of ensnaring curious souls. 

In 1888, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the dark superstitions that envelop the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain haunts the house and worried by her father's rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home's fraught past in an effort to bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie's own sanity.

In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss's dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother's team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door--a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion--results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to hunt down the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.

An atmospheric dual-time Gothic suspense masterfully penned by acclaimed author Jaime Jo Wright with themes of a Civil War-era ghost, a possible hidden door, and unexplained mysteries at a historic mansion's bookshop with a troubled past.

My Review:

Once again I've thoroughly enjoyed one of the author's books in The Bookshop of 99 Doors. The story starts with traveling to the past where we meet Minnie and her father. They've moved into Ambrose Fields Manor and things immediately feel... off. 

In the current day, we're introduced to Triss, who's taken a job as a librarian at Ambrose Fields, which is no longer lived in full-time, but has a bookshop and they give tours. Triss is trying to keep her past in the past, but her brother and his team show up just as she's getting settling in, and throws her life into a tailspin. 

I'll say, I was invested in both timelines! I just loved Minnie. She's incredibly sweet and devoted to her papa. The mystery surrounding what happened in the house during the Civil War and then more recently with another family in the area brings a lot of the mystery. I will say that I had some great "spooky" moments, but it didn't help that I was reading at bedtime. Mrs. Pickston was questionable throughout the entire story. It was easy to believe she was guilty... of something! lol

I was surprised in a variety of ways in the more current timeline with Triss. Her brother's odd behavior and  her previous love interest make things incredibly complicated! Weird things are happening and it's hard to know what's going on spiritually and physically. I appreciated Triss's search for truth and how the spiritual world was one not to be trifled with.

This is one story that I don't think had a strong faith thread like many of the author's other stories. I didn't feel like the spiritual part of the story really pointed to God, demons, etc. So, it was a bit of a hanging chad for me. I'm just used to more in her stories, which I always appreciate.

About the Author:

Jaime Jo Wright is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifteen novels and three novellas, including Christy Award-winner and ECPA bestseller The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill, Christy Award-winner Night Falls on Predicament Avenue, and Carol Award-winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines. Learn more at JaimeWrightBooks.com.