Written in Secret By Crystal Caudill + GIVE AWAY

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Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I'm SO excited to dive into this story. I loved Crystal's first series and this one sounds just as wonderful. I received the book as part of the tour. Check out the book excerpt below!

About the Book

 

Title: Written in Secret 

Series: The Art of Love and Danger #1 

Author: Crystal Caudill 

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

Release Date: March 11, 2025 

Genre: Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance 

What happens when fiction becomes reality? In the corruption-infested Queen City, danger lurks in every shadow, but Lydia Pelton refuses to stay silent. She writes under a pseudonym, E. A. Dupin, crafting crime novels to exact justice and right the wrongs she sees in society. When a serial killer decides to be the sword to her pen, Lydia is confronted with the consequences of her words. Four men are dead, and the city blames her. 

With murders on the rise, Officer Abraham Hall's only lead is Lydia's fiction, and he is thrust into an investigation with the "Killer Queen of Romance." Despite his misgivings about the woman, he realizes that even with his reputation for catching elusive criminals, he needs her help. But his unexpected attraction to Lydia proves as difficult to manage as the woman herself. 

As the mystery unfolds, Abraham and Lydia race to rewrite the ending, not only for Cincinnati's citizens, but for their own hearts too.

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

Also Available

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Book Excerpt

“I could make you the hero of my next romance novel if that’s not threat enough. Oh! And I’ll

make the heroine a criminal of the worst sort."

Abraham folded his arms. “I thought you weren’t going to use this case as story fodder."

“If you’re insinuating that I’m casting myself as the heroine, you are mistaken. I’d make a better

villain with what I put my characters through. That being said, I think it best if I take my leave,

Abraham.” Her eyes sparkled in a way that made him nervous. “I’ve just had the most brilliant

idea for an actual story.”

“I’m afraid to ask.”

“You should be.” As she rose from her seat, her demeanor sobered.

“Thank you. You’ve given me hope that I’m not beyond redemption.”

“All I’ve agreed to do is be your friend.”

“‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.’ You have already

proven a greater friend than many by speaking truth even when it was not welcomed.”

She nodded to take her leave, and all Abraham could do was watch her walk out the parlor door

to the kitchen. He wasn’t sure what had just happened, but he was certain this case had just taken

an interesting turn.

About the Author

Crystal Caudill is the Christy Award–winning author of “dangerously good romance,” including the Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age series. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Caudill can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio.

Connect with Crystal by visiting crystalcaudill.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 Written in Secrets and a $25 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 March 12, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on March 19, 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 the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

Darkness Calls The Tiger By Janyre Tromp

Darkness Calls the TIGER

by Janyre Tromp

Publisher: Kregel

ISBN: 9780825448508

Can I say that people who say Christian fiction never tackles hard topics or gets gritty in their storylines hasn't read CF lately! I have been loving books that have been publishing lately that dive into deep storylines, and when I heard about Janyre's book Darkness Calls the Tiger was coming out, I HAD to get onto her team! She sent me her book for review.

Summary:

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Imperial Japan devours the southern portion of Burma, intent on taking over mainland Asia. Unaware of the coming darkness, Kailyn Moran drifts in her role as the only daughter of a widowed missionary.

As whispers of war snake through the Kachin mountains, Kai's father is convinced God will protect the mission. He entrusts the village to her and the kind yet inexperienced new missionary, Ryan McDonough, while he makes routine visits to neighboring villages.

War descends like a tempest upon the mountain peaks, and an unbreakable bond forms between Kailyn and Ryan as they unite to provide solace to both villagers and the flood of refugees. Despite their tireless efforts, a brutal enemy shatters almost everything they love, pushing Kailyn to embark on a path of unrestrained vengeance.

Afraid he's losing the woman he loves, Ryan fights to protect Kai from the deadly consequences of her choices. But in the face of destruction, can he convince her of the power and freedom of forgiveness?

My Review:

Where to begin to share my thoughts on this deep and powerful story. I couldn't even have imagined what I'd read in Darkness Calls the Tiger had I tried. Yes, it's set during WWII, but not the WWII you'd be thinking of.

I will say that this story isn't an easy read. War stories typically aren't, but this one is next level. It's raw, and dark, and gives you a clear understanding as to why people have PTSD to the nth degree! I "enjoy" war stories because they remind me of the resilience of human beings, people overcoming the odds, overcoming death. Thankfully, reading them with a Christian worldview, there's hope infused into those stories. Like Moran Kai, sometimes people have to dig deep (deeper than we could ever imagine) to find and hold onto that faith.

We meet Kai as a wide-eyed little girl. Then, everything changes. Her entire world is turned upside down. She and her parents are living as missionaries in this small village in Burma. Years later, she and her father are still in the village when the Japanese start to infiltrate the Kachin Mountains. Ryan shows up to come alongside them as a missionary. Not long after, Kai's father heads into the jungle and leaves them to take care of the villagers.

It's so interesting how the author weaves in their beliefs and understanding of God together, but also how they're still somewhat attached to their former ways. Kai has been around these people all her life and she has learned their ways. Many of the people don't trust her because of reasons I won't reveal, but it has a profound impact on her when the villagers have to flee for their lives.

What Kailyn goes through for the entirety of the book is absolutely traumatizing, but when is war not? Nothing is left out in this story. Horrific things happen left and right. YET, there's always this underlying faith that stalks Kai like a tiger. Will she give in to the light or to the darkness? Ryan, despite all of his effort, can't keep her safe, but the choices she makes for so many painful reasons, leads them on a journey that's treacherous and filled with destruction.

I'll admit that this story isn't going to be for everyone, but it certainly was for me. It's not an easy read, but there's a force that pulled me to keep going. It's heavy, but the people endure. It's dark, but there is always a spot of light drawing the characters to keep doing the "first thing's first". My heart was twisted and wrung out by the time I finished the story, but like spring shoots of green begin to sprout and a teeny tiny ray of sunshine begins to unwind it.

I hope you'll give this story a chance because I think you'll find it powerful and gives hope in the end!

About the Author:

Janyre Tromp is a developmental book editor who has worked in the publishing industry for more than twenty years, spending time in both marketing and editorial. When she isn’t writing, she’s a Bible study leader, writers conference speaker, ACFW member, wife, and mom of two kids and their menagerie of slightly eccentric pets. Visit her at janyretromp.com.

Hero Debut By Angela Ruth Strong

Hero Debut

by Angela Ruth Strong

Publisher: Kregel

Series: Love Off Script

ISBN: 978-0825447938

I have been impatiently waiting since Husband Auditions came out to read book two, Hero Debut!! That's a good thing and it showed up just in time! You don't want to rush a good thing... and this story was a VERY good thing. I received the book for review!

Summary:

Gemma Bennett is the leading lady of her own life, and her true love is writing
screenplays. With her trusty pink notebook in hand, she signs up for the Citizen’s Safety Academy to research her newest blockbuster hope, a rom-com with a police officer as the hero. And the fact that the handsome and heroic Lieutenant Karson
Zellner is the one leading the training? Well, who can blame her for wanting to spend evenings with the man she swooned over months ago when he responded to a call at her apartment?

Karson already has his fair share of problems before Gemma shows up, and he’s not exactly a fan of the ditzy blonde who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. The last thing he needs is a damsel in distress to rescue; there are plenty of people in real need of his help. The fact that she seems to think his job makes him a superhero is just one more strike against her. This isn’t a movie, and he feels like the furthest thing from a leading man.

Gemma can’t seem to stop doing the worst, most embarrassing things at just the
wrong time. And as time goes on, Gemma begins to realize that the scripts for a perfect screenplay and a real-life happily-ever-after are two very different things. Can she step out of her own way to find the hero her story needs?

My Review:

I have been looking forward to Hero Debut since book one, Husband Auditions! That was my "book of the year" in 2021!! This book lived up to its predecessor and I loved it!!

We meet all of the main characters in the first book: Charlie, Kai, Gemma, and officer Karson. Karson had been called in to "save" Gemma, who actually didn't need saving. Now, she's doing research for her screenplay where Karson is her hero.

To say that this story is only hilarious would be to take away the incredibly powerful and deep parts of this story. The author has this innate ability to make us laugh hysterically and then dropping a strong truth right in the middle of it. One that makes us stand back and think deeply. There's a deeper message on how others perceive us, forgiveness, reconciliation, and a strong faith message.

Gemma, that poor girl. So many times I wanted to wrap my arms around her and tell her she's loved. Not for how she looks or anything she's done (or hasn't done), simply because she's fearfully and wonderfully made. I loved, loved, loved her insight to Karson (with her evil twin's help). Don't even get me started on Jewel! hahahaha

Kai and Charlie add so much comic relief to the story, I really appreciated them being in this one as well. The mishaps that Gemma finds herself in are hilarious, but you can sort of see why Karson looks at her with a side eye and not much appreciation. 

This will absolutely be one of my top books of the year! Now, for Charlie's story...

About the Author:

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first romance novel in 2009, and her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been a finalist for the Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon bestsellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky released as a movie in 2022. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she blogs for Inspy Romance and My Book Therapy. Get to know her even better at www.angelaruthstrong.com.