Love and Baseball By Jaime Jo Wright with Chloe JoAnne and The Cinderella Plot By Pepper Basham + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Love & Baseball by Jaime Jo Wright (with Chloe Joanne) AND The Cinderella Plot by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I'm SO excited that these books are out in the world! YA girls need more books like this and I'm so thrilled to share them with you! Be sure to check out the book excerpts below & enter the giveaway!

About the Books

Title: Love and Baseball 
Author: Jaime Jo Wright with Chloe JoAnne 
Publisher: MadLit Publishing 
Release Date: February 10, 2026 
Genre: Young Adult Romantic Comedy

She needed a boyfriend. AI came to her rescue. But then her fake boyfriend showed up at school. 

Brielle has never wanted a boyfriend. She's happy with her book boyfriends--purely fictional, right? Easy to maintain. She's also not a huge fan of sports, except baseball. Not playing it. No. Again, books and cozy afternoons are her thing. But Brielle can get into baseball with the best of them when it comes to watching, repeating stats, and wearing her favorite jerseys. But apparently, that's not enough in life. At least according to her four nosy aunts, who all think she needs a boyfriend, people at school who are convinced Brielle is a closet serial killer because she's happier with her books, and yeah. Valentine’s Day is on the calendar. 

There is a purpose for AI, and Brielle decides the genius thing to do is make a fake boyfriend. Complete with deepfake photos, Brielle creates the perfect boyfriend, and no one needs to know he's entirely fictional. They just need to believe she met him over summer vacation, and he lives somewhere in North Carolina. Only he doesn't. When baseball catcher, Brooks Mason shows up at high school, a lookalike to Brielle's AI boyfriend, her entire world becomes a dog-eared, bent pages book nightmare. 

Brooks is getting sick of all the girls at school wanting to date him. He wants to play ball and hang out. So, yeah. It makes sense to help Brielle out. Fake date? Why not? But once together, dating for show becomes an act that both Brielle and Brooks aren't quite prepared for, and dealing with unexpected attraction, complicated situations, and interfering aunts and bffs?  

It's a grand slam of problems just waiting to happen, plus a game-changing shot at a championship home run at love.  

** CLEAN YA Rom-Com Fiction you can read without skipping a page **

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Title: The Cinderella Plot 
Author: Pepper Basham 
Publisher: independently published 
Release Date: March 19, 2026 
Genre: Young Adult Romantic Comedy

Paisley Harper is invisible. 

Not in a superpower way. More like the people-look-right-through-you-in-the-hallway kind of way. 

She’s the girl with the oversized cardigan, random book knowledge, and the uncanny ability to tutor the school’s star quarterback without actually being seen as anything more than helpful. Meanwhile, her aunt and uncle’s beloved small-town bookstore is under threat from a shiny corporate chain, her best friend keeps giving her looks that feel suspiciously loaded, and Homecoming is looming like a glittery reminder that senior year is running out…and she’s never been kissed. 

Enter The Cinderella Plot—a wildly popular self-help book promising total transformation in five easy steps. New hair. New confidence. New life. Maybe even… a date. 

With nothing to lose (except her dignity), Paisley decides to follow the plan. Because if fairy tales have taught her anything, it’s that invisible girls don’t get happy endings unless they change something first. 

But as Paisley starts stepping into the spotlight, she has to ask herself an important question: 

What if being seen comes at the cost of being herself? 

Full of heart, humor, bookish charm, and small-town magic, The Cinderella Plot is a romcom about friendship, first love, faith, and discovering that sometimes the greatest transformation isn’t becoming someone new—it’s realizing you were worthy all along.  

** CLEAN YA Rom-Com Fiction you can read without skipping a page **

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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Love and Baseball Book Excerpt

“WHAT?” Lia’s voice stripped all hearing from my ears. It was so high-pitched and so emphatic that I winced.

Then I joined in. “I KNOW!” 

“WHAT THE WHAT?” She half-laughed, half-squealed.

“I KNOOOW!” I replied.

Then we just stared at each other through our phones until I collapsed on my bed, letting my phone fall next to me. But I could still hear Lia, and that was all that mattered.

The events of today were beyond extraordinary, and not necessarily in a good way extraordinary. They just weren’t ordinary. 

“So you are dating Brooks, then?” Lia clarified.

“I guess!” I laughed. I wanted to cry. I was mortified. I was horrified. I was terrified. I was pretty much any word that ended with ‘fied and that didn’t even seem enough. “Fake. It’s all fake,” I added.

The Cinderella Plot Book Excerpt

I love this part of the day. Before school, before drama, and, most recently, before I have to think about Logan or Homecoming or being invisible. Just me and Chris and the trail and the comfortable rhythm of our footsteps.

“I need your opinion on something very important,” Chris says after we’ve been running for about five minutes.

“More important than whether Han shot first?”

“Obviously he shot first. This is about Disney princes.”

I laugh, nearly stumbling. “Oh no. Not this again.”

“Yes, this again. It’s important.” He’s completely serious now in that way that makes his ridiculous debates even funnier. “Which Disney prince is the most useless?”

“Chris—”

“I’m going with Prince Florian. From Snow White.”

“The one who kisses unconscious girls?”

“Exactly!” He’s getting animated now, hands gesturing as he runs. “She’s literally in a coma and he’s just like, ‘This seems like a good time for romance.’”

I’m giggling now, my breath coming harder from the combination of running and laughing. “Okay, fair. That’s pretty bad.”

“Right? But Molly says I’m wrong. She says it’s Prince Charming from Cinderella because he can’t remember what the girl he danced with all night looks like.”

“She has a point.”

“She does not have a point.” Chris is fully committed to this argument now, running backward so he can face me while he talks. Show-off. “Okay, yes, the shoe thing is weird. But at least he’s trying. He’s going door to door with that shoe. He’s committed to finding her.”

“He literally can’t recognize her face without the dress,” I counter, falling into our familiar rhythm. “What kind of guy spends an entire evening with someone and then can’t pick her out of a lineup the next day?”

“It was a masquerade situation! There was magic involved! The lighting was bad!”

“It was a ballroom.” I’m laughing so hard now I have to slow down a little. “There were chandeliers everywhere. And she didn’t even wear a mask—that’s a common misconception.”

“Okay, fine, but—” He stops mid-sentence, still running backward, and points at me.

“Wait. Are you defending Florian, the unconscious-girl-kisser?”

“No! I’m just saying Charming is also pretty useless.”

“They’re all useless. That’s my point.” Chris grins, and there’s something in his expression that catches my attention.

An intensity or something.

What was that? I think Uncle Jasper’s weirdness is rubbing off on me.

“These guys fall in love with a voice, or a dress, or a magical moment,” he continues. “And then they can’t recognize the actual person when she’s standing right in front of them without all the sparkles.”

He’s looking at me when he says it. And I’m looking back, trying to figure out if there’s something more in his words than just a Disney prince debate.

“So what’s the moral of the story, Professor Benson?” I can’t seem to pull my eyes away from his. What’s that about?

His expression shifts. More serious. “The moral is that if someone can’t recognize you without the costume, they don’t deserve you with it.”

We’re still running, but everything feels slower somehow. Like the world has narrowed down to just us and this moment and the morning light filtering through the trees like our own personal spotlight.

Chris is still running backward, still watching me with those blue eyes that have flecks of gold when the light hits them right, and I’m not sure why my heart is suddenly pounding harder than the running can account for.

About the Authors

Jaime Jo Wright is a multi-award-winning author of gothic historical mystery novels that weave suspense through dual timelines. Her debut novel, The House on Foster Hill (2017), won both the prestigious Christy Award and the Daphne du Maurier Award, establishing her as a compelling voice in inspirational fiction. An ECPA and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author, Wright specializes in chilling mysteries stained with history's secrets, drawing readers into haunting tales set primarily in turn-of-the-century Wisconsin. Her work has earned praise from Publishers Weekly for skillfully wrapping intricate mysteries around dual timelines with enough surprises to captivate lovers of gothic fiction. When she isn’t writing mysteries, she co-authors YA RomCom with her teenage daughter, Chloe JoAnne, with a passion to provide sweet and witty romance for teenagers with no apologies needed. Residing in Wisconsin's rural woodlands with her husband and their two children, Wright is a self-proclaimed coffee enthusiast and lover of all of her rescued felines.

Connect with Jaime Jo by visiting jaimewrightbooks.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of southwestern VA, where she is the wife, mom to five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a prize pack of Brielle's Faves (an signed copy of Love & Baseball, a copy of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, a Milwaukee Brewers lanyard, and a Brewers Christian Yelich baseball card) and Paisley's Faves (a signed copy of The Cinderella Plot, a Cinderella carriage jewelry holder, and a beautiful copy of Emma by Jane Austen)!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 2, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 9, 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!

Mists over the Channel Islands By Sarah Sundin

Mists over the Channel Islands

by Sarah Sundin

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 978-0800741877

If you've followed my blog for any time now, you know I'm an avid reader of Sarah Sundin. If she writes it, I will read it. Very thankful to Revell and the author for my review copy of the book!

Summary:

Behind enemy lines, adversary and ally become impossible to distinguish. 

The German invasion of the British Channel Islands shatters Dr. Ivy Picot's peaceful world, forcing her to shoulder the weight of her father's medical practice and hold together a family unraveling under the strain of war. As conditions worsen in Jersey with the arrival of thousands of forced laborers, Ivy's quiet allegiance to the Allies compels her to risk everything by providing medical aid to escaped workers--even as danger closes in.

Dutch engineer and resistance member Gerrit van der Zee volunteers to build fortifications for the Germans so he can secretly send maps and diagrams to the Allies. On his arrival in the Channel Islands, he crosses paths with Ivy, who shows him contempt for the uniform he wears. As tensions mount and their missions grow increasingly dangerous, Ivy and Gerrit must confront the cost of courage, the meaning of sacrifice, and whether love can survive in the shadow of war. Will their covert efforts turn the tide--or will they pay the ultimate price for defiance?

Renowned WWII fiction author Sarah Sundin crafts a compelling historical romance featuring enemies-to-lovers, wartime resistance, and medical intrigue--a tale of loyalty, resilience, and courage when love and duty collide.

My Review:

I just finished Mists over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin and it was excellent, which is no surprise to me! Her books are usually 4 or 5 star reads and as soon as I finished the story, my immediate thought was, "This is definitely a 5-star read!"

If you enjoy stories that make you emotionally connected to the characters, having the POV of a character that another character doesn't, and conflicted with how you feel because of what you know as a reader, this story will be right up your alley!

Dr. Ivy Picot stays on Jersey during the German invasion to take care of the medical needs of the residents. She lives with her little brother Charlie (I adored his character) and older sister, Fern. Fern... I have a LOT of words for her, but you read the story and you'll understand the whole, "If you can't say anything nice..."

Gerrit van der Zee poses as a volunteer for the Germans in order to pass maps back to the resistance, but only his best friend who joins him, knows the truth!

The entire story will have you gripping your book because it's a tense ride until the very end! I couldn't imagine being in Ivy's shoes. Trying to take care of her father's clinic, watching over her siblings, helping her community even as they slowly pull away from her through no fault of her own is exhausting and she is kind and gracious each step of the way.

Let me tell you, I had NUMEROUS moments where I wanted to yell at a particular character! Ha ha ha My boys was boiling! Thank goodness for Charlie whose tenacity, wits, and youth make him one of the heroes of the story!

Go grab this new release and you'll thank me later!

About the Author:

Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of Mists over the Channel Islands, Midnight on the Scottish Shore, Embers in the London Sky, The Sound of Light, and Until Leaves Fall in Paris, as well as the popular World War II series Sunrise at Normandy, among others. She is a Christy Award winner and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Sarah lives in Southern California. Visit SarahSundin.com for more information.

Tracing a Kidnapper's Trail by Katy Lee + GIVE AWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Tracing a Kidnapper's Trail by Katy Lee, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! Who can resist a book that has a dog on the cover? Most definitely NOT me! lol Check out the story excerpt and giveaway below!

About the Book

Title: Tracing a Kidnapper's Trail 
Series: K-9 Search and Rescue #18 
Author: Katy Lee 
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense 
Release Date: February 24, 2026 
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Solving an abduction case  

means a relentless K-9 manhunt… 

When search and rescue worker Hunter Shelton and his bloodhound Libby are called to a crime scene, he discovers his ex-fiancée murdered and her young daughter missing—and he's attacked. Soon, he realizes the little girl may have been taken by drug runners, and could possibly be his own child. With no one else to turn to, Hunter teams up with DEA Agent Marlee Price and her narcotics K-9, despite their rocky history. As they face escalating threats and uncover a rising body count, an old enemy from Marlee's past resurfaces. Will they be able to rescue the child and bring dangerous criminals to justice before time runs out? 

 From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub | Other Places to Buy

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Book Excerpt

Bark exploded from the tree into flying bits… The echo of a gunshot bounced between the canyon walls.

“Get down!” Marlee yelled. She shoved Hunter and her K-9 down as bullets whistled over their heads. They were open targets, unprotected. With each blast around them, she felt her body tense. Her gun arm trembled like never before. She was always a sure and steady shot.

What was going on with her?

Hunter sprawled low beside Marlee and the concern in his eyes told her he saw it, too. She wanted him to stop looking at her like that…like something was wrong with her.

The rapid beat of her pulse echoed through her head and she forced her breath to slow. She became aware of her erratic breathing.

“Marlee, talk to me,” Hunter said, glancing around, bracing for the next shot. The sniper was still around.

Yet she couldn’t respond…

“Do you always react this way to gunfire?” he asked.

The words formed on her lips, but two did in her mind. I’m ruined.

About the Author

#1 Publishers Weekly, best-selling author Katy Lee writes character-driven romantic suspense that thrills and inspires her readers, keeping them coming back for more. She is a multi-award winner and nominee for the Rita Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award, Holt Medallion, and Selah Award, celebrating excellence in mystery and suspense. Katy lives in Utah's beautiful, rugged mountains and is also a special education teacher. She runs a literary nonprofit called Story Haven Writers, helping people write their healing stories from trauma. Keep up with Katy and her latest news, including her monthly newsletter, "Novel Ideas" at www.KatyLeebooks.com.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 VISA gift card with a plush Bloodhound and a matching signed bookmark!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 24, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 3, 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!

Beyond the Clouds By Elizabeth Camden

Beyond the Clouds

by Elizabeth Camden

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: The Women of Midtown

ISBN: 978-0764241734

I have enjoyed getting to know the ladies in the previous two books in the series and I was looking forward to this one! I am grateful to the publisher for sending my review copy.

Summary:

They lost each other once before; now the clouds of war may give them a second chance.

As teenagers, Delia Byrne and Finn Delaney fell in love while flying kites and dreaming of a future together--until betrayal tore them apart. Now, as America enters World War I, Delia works for peace as a paralegal and pacifist. Her values forbid her from supporting the war effort, but she volunteers for a relief organization trying to save millions of lives in famine-stricken Belgium. 

Returning to America as a decorated war hero, Finn is eager to get back to the front but is assigned to use his fame to raise funds instead. To his surprise, this mission will bring him face-to-face with Delia, the only woman he ever loved and once hoped to marry. As their shared mission draws them together, old sparks of romance begin to stir--until duty sends them behind enemy lines in occupied Belgium. Will the greatest danger be the conflict raging around them--or the possibility of falling in love again?

My Review:

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the next lady in the Midtown series, Beyond the Clouds! Delia is a pacifist and the boy (now man) she fell in love with is returning from the war an injured hero. Finn on the other hand loved flying his plane and can't wait back to get overseas.

Poor Delia! How does someone who doesn't agree with war live in a country and time when the heroes who are celebrated and men/women are ready to do their part? I really felt like Delia stood strong in the face of opposition... literally all around her! On top of that, the man she has feelings for is as wishy washy as they come. I'll be honest, I liked him initially.

And Finn, while I liked him overall, I could understand why Delia was afraid of his impulsiveness. Having both grown up as orphans, she wanted a life that was steady and predictable. Finn didn't seem to understand the concept. This is most definitely a second chance love story. I loved recounting where they came from and what they were living through.

With Finn back, he and Delia were able to make a difference while raising money for the CRB! I had never heard of this and to find out the incredible connection at the end to one of our presidents was so incredible to read about. I love stories like this where you learn about a true history!

There are harrowing moments as well as times I was heartbroken for the characters! Overall, a wonderful story that rounds out wonderfully with Delia's story!

About the Author:

 Elizabeth Camden is best known for her historical novels set in Gilded Age America, featuring clever heroines and richly layered story lines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have won Christy, Carol, and RITA Awards and have appeared on the ECPA Bestsellers list. She lives in Citrus County, Florida, with her husband, who graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books. Learn more at ElizabethCamden.com.

The Sentinel By MaryLu Tyndall

The Sentinel

by MaryLu Tyndall

Publisher: Ransom Press

Series: Legend of the King's Ring

ISBN: 979-8989604654

I'll be honest and say it's been an age since I've ready a book by MaryLu Tyndall, and I'll also say that it's a crying shame! To say I was obsessed with her stories is putting it mildly. So, after reading the first book in her new series, I was questioning my sanity! Why hadn't I been keeping up with her stories? Needless to say, I binged 5 of her books in a row! That includes the ebook ARC I was sent for review.

Summary:

Two worlds. One destiny. A love that defies the tides of time.

Modern-day treasure hunter Desi Starr has spent her life searching for lost shipwrecks—and for meaning in a life scarred by tragedy. But when she discovers an ancient ring in the depths of the Caribbean, she is thrust back in time—into a world of cannon fire, treachery, and the arms of Captain Caleb Hyde, a privateer haunted by his past and hunted by his enemies.

Caleb has fought for his crew, his ship, and his soul, but nothing prepared him for the mysterious woman who appears from the sea like a living dream. Caught between two timelines and hunted by enemies in both, Desi and Caleb must protect the Ring of Solomon, a relic of unspeakable power, from falling into evil hands.

Past and present collide in a powerful battle between light and darkness as Desi, torn between two worlds, faces an impossible choice. Yet both she and Caleb must learn to trust God’s plan to protect a love that shouldn’t exist—and a Ring that could change the course of history forever.

My Review:

What a thoroughly fun story! Reading this series has reminded me how much I a) love MaryLu's books and b) how enjoyable pirate stories are.

The Sentinel was a time travel story which I wasn't expecting (I don't read book summaries)! Desi is doing a dive when she finds King Solomon's ring and travels back through time to 1718! Imagine showing up there in scuba gear.

On the flip side, imagine being the captain of a ship when a woman appears on said ship dressed the way Desi was. Captain Caleb Hyde and his crew were beyond freaked out to say the least. hahahaha

I loved Desi and her commitment to her sister... a sister whose health is precarious. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, her time spent with Caleb draws her to his time, which is away from her sister. Talk about conflict of the heart!

Caleb on the other hand struggles with everything the ring represents to him and his family! He needs to destroy it, but there's also a lot of power in that ring. Both of them have to keep the ring of out of the wrong hands in both timelines and it's fascinating when their worlds collide. 

Needless to say, I couldn't get enough of the faith element in the story. It's always so strong in the author's books and I couldn't appreciate it more.

About the Author:

Award winning and best-selling author, MaryLu Tyndall dreamt of pirates and sea-faring adventures during her childhood days on Florida's Coast. After obtaining a degree in Math and working as software engineer for 15 years, she decided to test the waters as a writer. With now more than thirty books published, she makes no excuses for the deeply spiritual themes embedded within her romantic adventures. As a follower of Christ, her stories often reflect her own journey and walk with God. Her hope is that readers will not only be entertained but will be brought closer to the Creator who loves them beyond measure. In a culture that accepts the occult, wizards, zombies, and vampires without batting an eye, MaryLu hopes to show the awesome present and powerful acts of God in a dying world. MaryLu makes her home with her husband, six children, four grandkids, and several cats on the California coast, where her imagination still surges with the sea.