Welcome to the Blog Tour for Lovin’ On Red by Mary Pat Johns, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Lovin’ On Red
Series: Romance in Valiant #2
Author: Mary Pat Johns
Publisher: Scrivenings Press
Release Date: April 9, 2024
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

He has everything … except what he wants most.

Rory is a wildly successful contractor with all the right connections. He has everything, except the woman who sees past his missing foot. If only the tiny redhead he’s insanely attracted to would go on a date with him, it could work, but Vi refuses.

Licensed massage therapist Vi Summers needs her childhood home remodeled, and Rory Spence is the perfect man for the job. Only he’s the last person she wants to work with. Despite Rory’s reputation as a flirt, his tender attention to getting her house right helps Vi see into his heart. Too bad her past mistakes prevent a future relationship.

Drawn together like magnets, they navigate trouble with illegal squatters, family expectations, and fire. Will they finally be honest with each other, or will their secrets tear them apart?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

More Books In This Series

My Thoughts:

A safe place to just be who you are is something everyone craves. Lovin’ On Red by Mary Pat Johns is about this need and this desire and how, when it is fulfilled, it makes you a stronger, happier person. Many times we don’t even know we need that safe place because we are so consumed by the fear of something. Mary Pat Johns has done a great job of presenting this idea of a safe place to just be you in this book featuring two red-heads – Rory and Vi.

Rory and Vi are endearing characters that I could relate to. Not because I have experienced anything like what shaped their characters but because everyone has a fear of opening up to others at one time or another. Loneliness, injury, heartache, not really knowing yourself, meeting other’s expectations – these all roll into who Rory and Vi are. Their friends are great at helping them see their path when they stumble off it or are blinded by fear. These are the things that made this an enjoyable story to read.

While this is marketed as a Contemporary Christian Romance novel, I struggle to put that Christian label on it. It is clean but there is a warning for this book for anyone who may have experience physical or sexual abuse or dealt with teenage pregnancy. There are not any explicit details and very little actually talked about for these topics but they could be difficult for someone to deal with. There are almost no references to God or Christianity or the types of things I would expect to deeply form the characters in a Christian novel. It does include a couple of things that are somewhat “Christian” – accountability partners, a few references to praying, a mention of church or two. I do wish that Christianity had played a stronger role in creating these characters, as I really like them and I think it would have deepened the characters a lot.

Overall, this is a clean, enjoyable story about Rory and Vi and the ups and downs of their friendship. I can easily say this is acceptable for adults to read; I would not recommend it for anyone in high school or younger.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are my personal and honest opinions.

About the Author

Mary Pat Johns lives in South Texas with the love of her life and two spoiled dachshunds. You can find her at the gym, on her computer, or reading a book.

Connect with Mary Pat by visiting marypatjohns.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win print copies of Countin’ On Jesse and Lovin’ On Red, plus sea turtle earrings and necklace!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 8, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 15, 2024. 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.

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