Spotlight on 'Escape to Passignano' by Normandie Fischer

Hello Bookworms!

On Monday, I celebrated my 13th wedding anniversary with the love of my life. My husband is not the most romantic person in the world (though in the past, he has had his moments), but just slowing down for a day in this extremely busy season of getting our house ready to be put on the market was exactly what we both needed. It reminded me that he is still my best friend and my favorite person to be around, and I also got to dream of our future home as well as eat one of the best spinach chicken wraps I've ever tasted.

This week, I am keeping things light on the reading front and instead highlighting some amazing books complete with excerpts that I know you'll enjoy, starting with a Christian Women's Fiction. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours, and happy reading!

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Escape to Passignano by Normandie Fischer, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Escape to Passignano
Series: Carolina Coast Stories
Author: Normandie Fischer
Publisher: Sleepy Creek Press
Release Date: March 31, 2026
Genre: Christian Women's Fiction

Can dreams be trusted when life feels like a nightmare?

Sophia chose to honor her deceased husband’s wishes by visiting his hometown of Passignano sul Trasimeno in the Umbrian region of Italy. She’s trying to find the peace he promised, really she is, while she studies his language and sips caffè with a view of mountains and lake. Only, things begin to happen involving a red-haired child who speaks of things she cannot know—and the child’s father whose very presence challenges that peace.

Dr. Luca Moretti still wrestles with guilt three years after the death of his wife and older children. Overwhelmed by grief, Luca gave the care of his toddler daughter, Noemi, to his sister. It was supposed to be temporary; it wasn’t. Now, Luca wants Noemi back.

When his sister flees, taking Noemi into hiding, Sophia joins forces with a desperate Luca to piece together dreams and voices and supernatural nudges to retrace Noemi’s steps. It’s going to take trust, though, something in short supply for both Luca and Sophia. They’ll have to learn to trust in one another, and, more importantly, to trust in God—that a God who would allow such pain really does mean to work it all out for good. For Noemi. For the two of them. And for a troubled woman from North Carolina who enters their orbit with her own demons, demons God uses—and dispels—as He wills.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Excerpt

Sophia

Everyone said the first step was the hardest, and by “everyone” Sophia meant all those pushers of advice who’d phoned or shown up at her door or sent her books. Do this, do that, think this, think that, you’ll be fine, you’ll overcome… You’ll be healed.

Yay, her.

Her own firsts had multiplied until she found herself thousands of steps and an ocean away from the then that had ruled her life for so long.

Here in Italy, sunshine baked the streets, the intense heat and humidity a surprising holdover from summer. Of course, even New York could replicate July’s weather in September, which was why Sophia had come prepared with sandals and a broad-brimmed hat. Her dress wicked sweat that trickled down her front and her skirt swished as she wandered the narrow streets of Firenze.

It should have felt perfect, this stroll among her husband’s countrymen, but her thoughts wouldn’t hush. When fatigue swept over her, soft conversations, along with the scent of just-ground coffee beans, drew her to a sidewalk table at a bar/caffè. She took a seat and ordered a cappuccino.

The young waiter slid a cup and saucer across the table, and she spoke a “Grazie,” trying for Pietro’s—Peter’s—lilt. Her husband had to be “Peter” even here.

Sipping, she watched the passersby, not really seeing them as individuals on this very touristy street. Her attention wandered to the heavily carved doors of a stone church and, above them, to a large round window. It wasn’t a fancy church, no stained glass here at the front, nothing to entice visitors, except perhaps for the black-clad woman who stepped from a narrow alley next to the building, a child on her hip.

About the Author

Normandie Fischer had the best of several worlds: a Southern heritage, access to schooling in the DC area (which meant lots of cultural adventures), and several years of sculpture studies in Italy. It might have been better for her if she'd used all these opportunities more wisely, but it's possible that the imperfect and the unwise also add fodder for the artist and the writer.

She writes Christian and Southern fiction as well as romantic suspense from her waterfront base in coastal North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, their two dogs, and a once-feral cat. If only her children and grandchildren lived within hailing distance, life would be just about perfect.

Connect with Normandie by visiting normandiefischer.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive three books of their choice by Normandie Fischer!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 20, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 27, 2026. 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

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