JustRead Tour Stop and Giveaway: Mistletoe and Malice by Lori DeJong

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Mistletoe and Malice by Lori DeJong, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

My Review:

Are you like me--you are drawn to a book's pretty cover? Mistletoe and Malice by Lori Dejong was just such a book for me. That cover is gorgeous!

Houston Attorney Riley Hudson barely escapes an abduction. She doesn't like the thought of having body guards but after this experience, she agrees to accept her wealthy father's security detail.

Riley's new bodyguard is Colton Blankenship. He just came off of a big assignment and was ready for a vacation when the assignment came in. He made an assumption and thought he would be guarding a spoiled wealthy heiress. However, he quickly learns that Riley is an independent and busy lady. 

Christian readers will like probably that Faith is a big part of this book. Riley has a strong faith. Colton's was shook when he went through some difficulties in the past but he is drawn back to his faith through the plot of the book.

Soon the two are starting to grow closer to each other as they start to have feelings for one another. Then another attempt on Riley's life nearly succeeds. Can Colton continue to protect her amidst his growing feelings for her?  

Mistletoe and Malice is a character driven suspense novel. If you like getting to know your characters in detail, this is the book for you. For me, the details and slower plot weighed the book down so the suspense element wasn't as pronounced for me as it usually is in these types of books. I prefer my suspense books to be more plot driven. Mistletoe and Malice is the start of a new series called Guarded Hearts for this author. 

 

About the Book

Title: Mistletoe and Malice 
Series: Guarded Hearts Series #1 
Author: Lori DeJong 
Publisher: Scrivenings Press 
Release Date: October 21, 2025 
Genre: Romantic Suspense

He’s sworn to protect her life … but guarding his heart may be his biggest challenge. 

After barely escaping an attempted abduction, Houston attorney Riley Hudson is forced to accept her wealthy father's demand for private security. The last thing she wants is a bodyguard—especially one as maddeningly arrogant, bossy … and handsome as Colton Blankenship. Yet as the threat against her escalates, she begins to rely not only on his skills, but his steadfast presence. 

Colton isn’t thrilled about giving up his hard-earned holiday vacation to protect a spoiled heiress. But he soon learns Riley is nothing like he expected. Fierce, independent, and unwavering in her faith, she’s everything he thought he’d left behind after tragedy shattered his own beliefs. As the unknown threat circles closer, the tension between them ignites into something deeper ... and far more perilous. 

When a second attempt on Riley’s life nearly succeeds, Colton faces a terrifying truth. Protecting her means risking more than just his life. Haunted by a past he can't outrun, and a faith he’s all but lost, he must decide if he can trust God again ... before he loses Riley—and his heart—for good.  

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

Also Available

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About the Author

Lori DeJong is a contemporary Christian romance author who enjoys penning stories full of grace and the redemptive power of God’s love that inspire others to hope regardless of circumstance, find joy in the moment, and grow in their faith. She resides in Georgetown, Texas, with her husband and two fur-babies, with a daughter and son-in-love in DFW. Lori's debut novel, Love's True Calling, was the 2022 winner of the ACFW Genesis Award for Romance, a double finalist in the 2024 Selah Awards, and was named the 2023 Scrivenings Press Contemporary Book of the Year. Love’s True Home, Book 2 of the True Calling Series, was a 2025 Selah finalist. Love’s True Measure released in June. Lori's Christmas novella, Jingle Bell Matchmakers, a part of A Match Made at Christmas novella collection, was named a 2025 ACFW Carol Award finalist.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card, a signed copy of Mistletoe and Malice, and a signed copy of A Match Made at Christmas novella collection (released in Oct 2024)!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 3, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 10, 2025. 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!