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

MY REVIEW:

Regular viewers of the popular PBS Antiques Roadshow series should be familiar with the importance of provenance. In The Vanished, the latest legal suspense novel by Cara Putman, provenance plays a vital role.

Attorney Janae Simmons, haunted by a costly mistake in a previous case, finds herself back in her hometown, at a crossroads in her career. When the newly appointed director of the local art museum desperately seeks Janae’s expertise in resolving a dispute over two invaluable paintings, she reluctantly agrees to lend a hand. It quickly becomes evident that there is more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye and Carter and Janae find themselves in the midst of what could be a dangerous situation to both them and their families. Additional discoveries at Janae’s grandmother’s home reveals more secrets that make her begin to question everything she thought she knew about her beloved grandfather.

The author has skillfully woven her own masterpiece filled with authentic characters, mystery, danger, and a touch of romance. The unwavering faith that directed the actions and decisions made by Carter and Janae as they wrestled with legalities versus the right thing to do was truly inspiring. Although I am deliberately keeping my details brief in order to avoid spoilers, I encourage readers to pick up a copy for themselves.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by JustReads Publicity. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Title: The Vanished Series: Secrets to Keep #1 Author: Cara Putman Publisher: Kregel Publications Release Date: April 16, 2024 Genre: Christian Mystery & Suspense

Janae Simmons left the small town of Kedgewick, Virginia, ten years ago to pursue her legal career and never looked back–until a professional mistake leads her to her grandmother’s historic carriage house and to the town where her past threatens to find her. The quiet streets echo with her grandfather’s sterling reputation, one that conflicts with fresh questions that claw at Janae, launching her on a reluctant journey to unearth his secrets. When her new job at a local law firm doesn’t live up to expectations, she wonders if coming home was the right decision.

Carter Montgomery starts his art preservation career with the only job he can get–director at the Elliott Museum of Art. At least Kedgewick is a nice enough town to provide him and his nephew with a safe place to grieve the loss of Carter’s sister. But Carter’s calm days disappear when an elderly woman claims two paintings in the museum’s collection were stolen from her family during World War II.

Carter enlists Janae’s help to unravel the legal labyrinth of art ownership, and the peaceful facade of Kedgewick morphs into a hot bed of secrets. When an attorney turns up dead and Janae uncovers another painting, what began as a simple legal issue spirals into a race against time. As the web of intrigue tightens, the duo must confront a looming question: What dark truths lie beneath the surface, waiting to be exposed?

“Putman’s legal expertise shines in this compelling and intricately plotted romantic suspense. Highly recommended!”

—Colleen Coble, USA Today best-selling author

“Cara Putman has once again created an exciting cast of characters. I was immediately drawn in by Janae and Carter’s unique chemistry. This is one story you don’t want to miss.”

—Rebecca Hemlock, award-winning author of Fury in the Shadows

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cara Putman is the award-winning, best-selling author of more than thirty-five novels, including the Cornhusker Dreams series and the Hidden Justice series.

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

TOUR GIVEAWAY:

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of the book, art-themed notebooks, and stickers that inspired the art stolen in the book!

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 17, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 24, 2024. 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.

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

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MY REVIEW:

An installment of the Texas Ever After series by Karen Witemeyer, If the Boot Fits is a western version of the classic Cinderella story. However, readers will find more than one role reversal in the tale and what fun it is! I can always count on this author for a romantic drama laced with humor and often a bit of mystery and suspense. This one has it all.

Samantha Dearing is the daughter of a wealthy rancher. Their relationship has been filled with misunderstanding since the death of her mother and Sam feels unloved and unwanted. When her father plans a ball in her honor and invites all the eligible bachelors in the area, she is convinced he wants to be rid of her.

Asher Ellis is convinced that Eli Dearing has wrongfully evicted his mother and is determined to find evidence while the household is preoccupied with the ball. As luck would have it he is discovered and manages to make a quick getaway. Unfortunately Samantha’s younger brother chases him and falls into the pond. During the rescue, Asher loses one of his distinctive boots and of course Samantha finds it. So thus begins the retelling of Cinderella.

Be ready to put all your preconceived notions of the Cinderella story to rest because Witemeyer has managed to upend them all. Few of the characters are what you expect and their interactions are both heartwarming and fun. Faith plays a strong role also with prayers and scripture featured often. Danger and mystery, forgiveness and reconciliation are all deftly woven together in a delightful tale that will brighten the reader’s day.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. (I also purchased my own copy) A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

One fateful night will change their destinies forever. . . .

Convinced that his stepmother and half brothers have been wrongfully evicted by cattle king Eli Dearing, Asher Ellis uses the cover of an extravagant ball to break into the Three Cedars’ ranch house to search for proof. On the verge of discovery, he flees, but a boy’s cry compels him to make a daring rescue.

Spunky and independent Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting is nothing more than a matrimonial ambush. Taking a break from unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the stranger ends up saving her brother’s life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind–his boot–and resolves to find him herself.

When Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. Asher values family above wealth, a rare trait that opens her heart. Afraid she will discover his past misconduct, Asher tries to keep his distance, but when a series of suspicious accidents befall her, he vows to protect her, even though saving her life could mean losing her love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Voted #1 Reader’s Favorite Christian Historical Author of 2023 by Family Fiction magazine, bestselling and Carol and Christy Award-winning author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She and her husband make their home in Abilene, Texas. Learn more about Karen and her books at KarenWitemeyer.com.

MY REVIEW:

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue had me captivated with its very first line “I CAN HEAR THE DARKNESS.” The author’s ability to create a dark and haunting atmosphere through her poetic writing style is truly remarkable. I found myself turning the pages eagerly, unable to put the book down. This spine-tingling narrative is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a gripping and suspenseful story.

The focus of this dual time novel is the house at 322 Predicament Avenue. In 1910 the abandoned house is rumored to be haunted and is the source of frequent dares by the town’s teens. Effie James and her younger sister have finally worked up enough nerve to visit the house where Effie’s sister witnesses a horrifying possible murder scene that renders her speechless. But where is the victim’s body? A century later, Norah Richman reluctantly operates a bed and breakfast in the house that is still believed to be haunted. The death of a guest raises new speculation and a popular podcaster who is also a guest attempts to help Norah learn the truth about the house.

The past and present collide in this haunting tale that is another fine example of the author’s gift of offering light and hope in the midst of overwhelming darkness. Night Falls on Predicament Avenue is a must read that you do not want to miss.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

As the walls of the house at Predicament Avenue reveal their hidden truths, two women–generations apart–discover that fear and foreboding are no respecters of time.

In 1910, Effie James is committed to doing anything to save her younger sister, who witnessed a shocking murder, leaving her mute and in danger of the killer’s retribution. Effie must prove what her sister saw, but when a British gentleman arrives, he disrupts Effie’s quest with his attempts to locate his wife, Isabelle Addington, who was last seen at the supposed crime scene in the abandoned house at 322 Predicament Avenue. Just as Effie discovers what she seeks, she finds that the blood staining the walls will forever link her to a scandal she couldn’t imagine, and to a woman whose secrets promise to curse any who would expose them.

A century later, Norah Richman grapples with social anxiety and grief as she runs her late great-aunt’s bed-and-breakfast on Predicament Avenue. But Norah has little affection for the house and is committed only to carrying out her murdered sister’s dreams until crime historian and podcaster Sebastian Blaine arrives to investigate the ghostly legacy of the house’s claim to fame–the murder of Isabelle Addington. When a guest is found dead, the incident is linked to Isabelle’s murder, and Norah and Sebastian must work together to uncover the century-old curse that has wrapped 322 Predicament Avenue in its clutches and threatens far more than death.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jaime Jo Wright (JaimeWrightBooks.com) is the author of ten novels, including Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She’s also a two-time Christy Award finalist, as well as the ECPA bestselling author of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau and two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her family and felines.