Review and Giveaway: Under an Indigo Moon by J L Crosswhite

About the Book

Book: Under an Indigo Moon

Author: JL Crosswhite

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: December 28, 2022

It was supposed to be a fresh start for her…

…He’d never expected to find love again.

Will they find a second chance or will small-town secrets spell disaster?

Former big-city architect and single mom, Carissa Carver, found just enough to hope to begin a new life with her boys in Holcomb Springs. She dropped all her savings into a vacant Victorian in an online auction, hoping to flip it and build a better life.

However, it didn’t take long to learn nothing was as promised, including a chocolate Lab that came with the house, who adopted her son with Asperger’s. Could her boys handle being uprooted one more time?

But when things go missing, her house is vandalized, and she finds human bones in the basement, she wonders what she’s really gotten them into. Is this one more bad decision or something truly dangerous?

Deputy Jonas McCann came to Holcomb Springs to heal after the death of his wife and daughter. The last thing he needs is matchmaking by the meddling librarian, even if Carissa and her boys stir something long dormant in his heart.

As more strange things happen, he is drawn further into his desire to protect her and the boys he’s come to have a heart for. Can he solve the mystery before they get hurt? Does it have anything to do with the missing teenager? Or are those just ghost stories and small-town rumors? Especially the ones about the indigo blue moon.

Author JL Crosswhite will have you on the edge of your seat, unable to turn pages fast enough.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

JL Crosswhite’s favorite thing is discovering how much there is to love about America the Beautiful and the great outdoors. She’s an Amazon bestselling author, a mom to two navigating the young adult years while battling her daughter’s juvenile arthritis, exploring the delights of her son’s autism, and keeping gluten free. Learn more about her adventures and how she gets inspired for her books at JLCrosswhite.com

 

More from JL Crosswhite

It may surprise you, but I actually started writing Under an Indigo Moon about fourteen years ago (my books can germinate for a long time!). It started out as a women’s fiction book called Under the Blueberry Sky. It even finaled in the Frasier contest for first chapters in 2011.

But as I began planning the Holcomb Springs series, I knew I wanted to tell Carissa and Jonas’s story. While there are parts of me in all of my characters, Carissa has a unique place in my heart as the mom of a special needs kid. Her six-year-old son, Jayden, is based a lot on my experiences with my son who’s on the autism spectrum.

Because I had written much of the early part of the book a long time ago when I was closer to those long and difficult days, re-reading and writing those scenes took me back. My son is a young adult now, and I was amazed at how much I had forgotten about the day-to-day challenges of living with someone who sees the world so differently. And now I can look back and see how far he has come.

Jonas McCann was a bit of a mystery to me. Because my original envisioning of this book was as women’s fiction, there wasn’t a romance thread. So I had to create one. I’m fortunate to have law enforcement officers in my family to draw from. But as I got to know Jonas, he became as beloved to me as all of my characters (They feel like my children; I can’t pick a favorite!).

One of the highest compliments I received was from a book-coaching client (my day job) who read Beneath a Star-Lit Sky, the first book in the Holcomb Springs series. Her husband is a small-town sheriff, and she felt I really captured the role. That meant a lot to me. Even though I write fiction, I want my characters to feel like real people with real problems and challenges.

Under an Indigo Moon takes place in a fictional world—Holcomb Springs—that already has a lot of threads and tie ins. It’s book 2 in the Holcomb Springs Small Town Romantic Suspense series, but it ties in with the two previous series I’ve written—Hometown Heroes and In the Shadow. I don’t know about you, but I love seeing characters from previous books pop up again in later books.

You can certainly enjoy the book without knowing about all the “Easter eggs” hidden inside, but isn’t it more fun to be in on the jokes? So make sure you grab Claire and Alex’s story in Inn at Cherry Blossom Lane (grab it here for free) and the short story that introduces us to the Holcomb Springs group in “An Evening to Remember” (grab it here). There are clues in the story that play out in the book.

I hope you enjoy Jonas and Carissa’s journey as much as I enjoyed writing it—a story of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 6

By the Book, April 7

Vicky Sluiter, April 7

Texas Book-aholic, April 8

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 10

Daysong Reflections, April 11

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 12

Book Looks by Lisa, April 13

Lily’s Book Reviews, April 14

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 15

For Him and My Family, April 15

Blogging With Carol, April 16

The Sacred Line, April 17

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 18 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 18

Betti Mace, April 19

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, April 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, J.L. is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/25496/under-an-indigo-moon-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

I enjoyed reading the first book from J L Crosswhite’s Holcomb Springs Series, Beneath a Star Lit Sky, and was excited to have the opportunity to read the second installment Under an Indigo Moon. It was great to take the trip back to the small town of Holcomb Springs. I thought this suspense filled tale was pretty good. I loved getting to know Carissa and her sweet boys, as well as, Jonas. I was instantly intrigued with the mystery to be solved and had to keep reading until I was completely finished reading in one sitting. 

I am giving Under an Indigo Moon five stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean romantic suspense. I am hoping J L Crosswhite will be releasing a third addition to the Holcomb Spring Series to see what could possibly happen next in this small town. 

I received a copy of Under an Indigo Moon from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Beneath A Star-Lit Sky by JL Crosswhite

About the Book

Book: Beneath A Star-Lit Sky

Author: JL Crosswhite

Genre: Christian romantic suspense

Release date: February 21, 2022

Small town girl looking to mend her broken heart…

…Small town boy needing to repair his reputation.

Who knew those simple goals could unearth life-threatening danger?

Holcomb Springs has a wild past, and the wilderness outside its borders hides a treacherous present.

Teacher Ella Sommer is ready to forget about her broken engagement and escape from running into her ex. An overnight hiking trip on the Pacific Crest Trail offers what she needs to clear her head and breathe out under the stars.

Ex-military Reese Vega left Holcomb Springs with a bad boy rep, but has returned wiser, longing for a fresh start in his hometown. His hiking tour business offers that opportunity, especially when he can get into the great outdoors and let his past evaporate into the mountain air.

When Reese and Ella are thrown together on the overnighter, what starts as a simple trek ends up being filled with danger when they stumble across something they weren’t supposed to see.

Can they put aside their history and use their wits to get out of this situation?

Or will it be too late?

You’ll love Beneath a Star-Lit Sky because while the wilderness can’t be tamed, the human heart can.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

JL’s favorite thing is discovering how much there is to love about America the Beautiful and the great outdoors. She’s a mom to two, navigating the young adult years while battling her daughter’s juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, exploring the delights of her son’s autism, and keeping gluten free. A California native who’s spent significant time in the Midwest, she’s thrilled to be back in the Golden State. Follow her on social media to see all her adventures and how she gets inspired for her books!

More from JL Crosswhite

What does writing a book have in common with…

 

Compost?

 

I’ve got a new series with the first book releasing this month. The series is called Holcomb Springs Small Town Romantic Suspense, and the first book is Beneath a Star-Lit Sky. I like how this series and this book show how long the creative process can end up being for me.

 

Before when I’ve talked about where I get my book ideas, I mention that I call it the compost pile. Any of you gardeners know about the magic of compost. You take a bunch of unrelated kitchen scraps—coffee grounds, carrot tops, egg shells, lettuce that went bad, rotten oranges—and throw them in your compost pile. With the magic of decomposition, in about a year you have something wonderful for your plants.

 

The creative process is a lot like that for me. I get bits and pieces of ideas from all over the place—things I’ve experienced, places I’ve visited, a news story that stuck with me—and I toss them in my mental compost pile. When something has come together enough to actually be a story idea, it gets its own file.

 

The germination of Beneath a Star-Lit Sky began at least ten years ago. I remember being on a long drive and talking to my dad on the phone and somehow getting on the topic of criminals in the wilderness, particularly the Sidney Poitier movie, Shoot to Kill. A lot of things can go wrong in the wilderness, and having a bad guy after you just makes it worse.

 

As I was writing and finishing up the previous series, In the Shadow, I had been wanting to write a series set in a small town. I liked the idea of all the characters continuing to run into each other and being a part of one another’s lives, for good or for ill.

 

My previous books had been based in the Southern California beach town of Laguna Vista (which also exists only in my imagination). But if you’ve read any of the In the Shadow books, you might have noticed that they made frequent visits to the Southern California San Bernardino mountains.

 

Since I grew up at the base of these mountains and spent a lot of time up there, I wondered if I might figure out how to create a small town in the mountains. There are some up there, but I like creating my own so I can take liberty with things and not feel like I’m insulting any real town.

 

There was an old gold mining town—Belleville—that used to exist in an area called Holcomb Valley. I imagined what would have happened if that boomtown had continued on to become a resort town similar to Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead. I liked the idea of having a small town on the edge of the wilderness with all of the problems and possibilities it can bring. And it was within driving distance of Laguna Vista, so all of our old friends could come up and visit.

 

So the compost pile came together to truly cause my story idea to flourish and blossom into a full-fledged book! Toss in a few previous characters, and I had a ton of fun thinking about all the possibilities while keeping in touch with old characters who have become like friends. I hope you enjoy what’s to come. It’s going to be an adventure!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 5

Texas Book-aholic, April 6

For Him and My Family, April 7

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 8 (Author Interview)

The Sacred Line, April 8

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 9

deb’s Book Review, April 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 12

Inklings and notions, April 13

Guild Master, April 14 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 15

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, April 16 (Author Interview)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, J.L. is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1c575/beneath-a-star-lit-sky-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

Beneath a Star Lit Sky begins J L Crosswhite’s Holcomb Springs series. I have enjoyed previous books from this author and this one is no different. I thought it was pretty good. It has a lot that I like to read in a book: mystery, suspense, adventure, action and romance. I loved getting to know the people of the town of Holcomb Springs, especially Ella and Reese. I thought they were great as a team. 

I am giving Beneath a Star Lit Sky four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean romantic suspense. I am looking forward to reading the next installment from the Holcomb Springs series, Under an Indigo Moon. 

I received a digital copy of Beneath a Star Lit Sky from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Over Her Head: In the Shadow by J L Crosswhite

About the Book

Book:  Over Her Head: In the Shadow

Author: JL Crosswhite

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release date: June 21, 2021

She’s working on a new start…

…He’s trying a new work venture.

Can they build a relationship that fits their new life?

Fresh out of cosmetology school Jessica and whiz software engineer Austin have been thrown together by mutual friends. They even escaped a wildfire together.

But do they have something more than friendship?

Maybe a singles’ camping trip will make their future clear.

But when they encounter someone who needs their help, the relaxing weekend away becomes anything but. As the danger mounts and the challenges reveal who they truly are, will it pull them together or push them apart… for good?

You will get lost in Over Her Head because the biggest adventure is falling in love.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Jennifer’s favorite thing is discovering how much there is to love about America the Beautiful and the great outdoors. She’s a mom to two navigating the young adult years while battling her daughter’s juvenile arthritis, exploring the delights of her son’s autism, and keeping gluten free. A California native who’s spent significant time in the Midwest, she’s thrilled to be back in the Golden State. Follow her on social media to see all her adventures and how she gets inspired for her books!

More from Jennifer

MacGyver might have come from my family tree. I grew up hearing stories of how my grandpa turned a horse trailer into a travel trailer for camping and how he finagled something out of what he had if he didn’t have the actual thing he needed. I grew up seeing my dad do this. And I’ve been known to do it a time or two myself.

My grandpa grew up during the Great Depression, so I could see how making do with what he had came to him naturally. The rest of us saw the usefulness of it and continued the tradition. Even though there are times I’ve stopped and said, “I should just go by the thing I need instead of trying to make do.” Maybe it would have saved me some time and frustration.

But there is something satisfying about seeing a problem and creating the solution yourself. It’s like solving a puzzle. And for me, writing a book is a lot like that. I start out with various pieces and no idea how they are going to fit together.

When I began Over Her Head, it was the third book of my In the Shadow series. This series explores the idea of what it’s like to grow up in the shadow of a hero. Jessica’s brother, Scott, is a Navy pilot. Their oldest brother died before Jessica was born, so she’s always felt like she’s been in the shadow of her older brothers. How would she become her own person and find the purpose that God has for her?

That was one piece. A big one. But I still needed to find a love interest, a plot, and a supporting cast. I started sorting through what I had, looking for pieces that could fit, could be molded into something new and different. A trip to the hair salon provided a fun conversation with my hair stylist about what a newly graduated cosmetology student might be doing and the politics of working in a salon.

The pieces were coming together. Finally, I decided to set the story around one of my favorite activities: camping. Okay, maybe it’s more like glamping. I like a real bed.  But it is a great way to force a group of people to be close together for a period of time. There’s an element of stress, and even danger, since nature isn’t predictable.

Hopefully the end product looks smoothly finished and not MacGyvered together. But I don’t ever let the rough beginning or different looking pieces discourage me from pressing on with the story. And I think that’s a good lesson for life. What rough spots need a little creativity to bring them to life and smooth them out? Spend some time letting your inner MacGyver play.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 19

For Him and My Family, July 20

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, July 21 (Author Interview)

The Sacred Line, July 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 22

deb’s Book Review, July 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 24

Inklings and notions, July 25

CarpeDiem, July 26

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 26

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, July 27

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 28

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 29

My Journey Back the Journey Back, July 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 30

Texas Book-aholic, July 31

Cats in the Cradle Blog, July 31

Pause for Tales, August 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, J.L. is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10fa8/over-her-head-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

I had the pleasure of reading other books by J L Crosswhite and was excited to have the opportunity to read her Over Her Head: In the Shadow. Since I have not read the first two books of the In the Shadow series, I believe this one can be read as a stand alone. However, it probably would be best to begin with the first book. I enjoyed getting to know Austin and Jessica. I wanted to find out how it would all end for them. It is a quick read that has a good faith element added to it. I liked it. 

I am getting Over Her Head: In the Shadow four stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading Christian romantic suspense. I will be looking to read the first two books in the series, Off the Map and Out of Range. 

I received a copy of Over Her Head: In the Shadow from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Spotlight: Special Assignment by JL Crosswhite

Special Assignment by JL Crosswhite

Tagline:

A brain-injured Navy pilot must work with the woman in charge of the program he blames for his injury. As they both grasp to save their careers, will their growing attraction hinder them as they attempt solve the mystery of who’s really at fault before someone else dies?

Blurb:

She’s trying to save her company. He’s trying to salvage his reputation. Only one of them can be right. 

Vice president of operations Melissa Ellis might have met the first challenge she couldn’t overcome. Her company is hemorrhaging money, and her boss blames her. The deeper she digs, the more trouble she finds. She turns to the one person who can help: the confident and dangerously charming Scott Blake.

Naval aviator Scott “Superman” Blake is recovering from the accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury. Driven to salvage his reputation and regain his career, he must prove it wasn’t pilot error. When Melissa asks for his help, he jumps at the chance to spend more time with her and salvage his name. But if he’s right, he’ll take her company down.

When their investigation turns up a bigger problem than software glitches, Melissa is caught in the crosshairs of their unknown enemy. As they work together, their casual flirtation turns to something much deeper. Can they make a relationship work, or will it crash and burn?

As the stakes rise and the clock ticks, can they figure out who’s behind the danger before someone else dies. Or will they lose everything, including each other?

Special Assignment is book 3 in the Hometown Heroes series, but it can be read as a stand alone. If you like Christian romantic suspense and nail-biting page turners, you’ll love this journey of risk and trust. Buy Special Assignment and jump into the adventure today.

Releases August 3, 2019. Click here for the link.

Other books in the series are going on sale to celebrate the release.

The prequel novella, Promise Me, will be 99 cents from July 2-22.

Book 1, Protective Custody will be $1.99 from 7/25-7/29

Book 2, Flash Point, will be $2.99 from 7/29-8/2

JL Crosswhite’s bio:

JL Crosswhite's favorite thing is discovering how much there is to love about America the Beautiful and the great outdoors. She's an Amazon bestselling author, a mom to two navigating the young adult years while battling her daughter’s juvenile arthritis, exploring the delights of her son’s autism, and keeping gluten free. A California native who’s spent significant time in the Midwest, she's thrilled to be back in the Golden State. Follow her on social media to see all her adventures and how she gets inspired for her books!

• 
  
• Twitter: @jenlcross
• Facebook: Author Jennifer Crosswhite
• Instagram: jencrosswhite
• Pinterest: Author Jennifer Crosswhite
• Website: www.JLCrosswhite.com

My Review:

Special Assignment is the third installment from J L Crosswhite’s series, Hometown Heroes. Even though it is part of a series, I believe it can be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed Melissa’s story. Especially, when she teams up with Scott. I loved those two together. I could not predict what would happen to them next.

I recommend Special Assignment for readers who enjoy clean romantic suspense. I am giving it four and a half stars.

I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Review: Flash Point by JL Crosswhite

Flash Point

 by JL Crosswhite

Tagline: 

She’s a directionally-challenged architect who stumbled on a crime that could destroy her life’s work. He’s a firefighter protecting his hometown… and the woman he loves.


Blurb: 

Directionally-challenged architect Sarah Brockman never thought getting lost on the way to a job site would put her life in danger. When the man who helps her out goes missing, Sarah is the last one that saw him. But her attempts to help the police thrust her into a series of events that could cost her—and those close to her—everything.

Fire Captain Joe Romero is navigating personnel problems on his squad as well as a woman from his past who has come back to haunt him. But he has let too many things get in the way of his pursuit of Sarah. And now that she is in danger, he’ll stop at nothing to protect her. Even if it comes with a big price.

With Sarah’s architectural firm and Joe’s career at risk, they must learn to trust each other completely if they want to find the man trying to burn down everything dear to Sarah. But can they discover his identity in time? Or will they lose everything, including each other?

Flash Point is book 2 in the Hometown Heroes series, but it can be read as a stand alone. If you like Christian romantic suspense and nail-biting page turners, you’ll love this journey of trust and survival. Read Flash Point and jump into the adventure today.

Releases January 16, 2019 on Amazon Click here for the link

Other books in the series are also going on sale to celebrate the release.

Promise Me the prequel novella, will be on sale for 99 cents January 24-25.

Protective Custody, book 1 in the series, will be on a Kindle Countdown sale starting January 16 and running through the 21.

JL Crosswhite’s bio:

JL Crosswhite's favorite thing is discovering how much there is to love about America the Beautiful and the great outdoors. She's an Amazon bestselling author, a mom to two navigating the young adult years while battling her daughter’s juvenile arthritis, exploring the delights of her son’s autism, and keeping gluten free. A California native who’s spent significant time in the Midwest, she's thrilled to be back in the Golden State. Follow her on social media to see all her adventures and how she gets inspired for her books!


Twitter: @jenlcross
Facebook: Author Jennifer Crosswhite
Instagram: jencrosswhite
Pinterest: Author Jennifer Crosswhite
Website: www.JLCrosswhite.com

My Review:

Flash Point is the second installment from the Hometown Heroes series by JL Crosswhite. I have enjoyed the previous books in this series and this one does not disappoint. This one is my favorite to date. The mystery and suspense that surrounds Joe and Sarah kept me fascinated and not want to put it down until I was finished in one sitting.

Flash Point gets five plus stars from me. I am hoping there will be more in the Hometown Heroes series in the future.

I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.