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Welcome to the Blog Tour for Special Target by Jerusha Agen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Special Target
Author: Jerusha Agen
Publisher: SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: March 26, 2026
Genre: Christian Suspense Thriller
She’s trying to save the boy’s life. What if he’s supposed to save hers?
For tough-as-nails Chicago social worker Ashley Sorenson, it’s nothing new to risk her life for hurting children. Seeing innocent kids suffer every day may have made her a little cynical, but she’ll stop at nothing to rescue children from miserable circumstances.
But Ashley faces a special challenge when Matthew Borden, a sixteen-year-old with Down syndrome, is orphaned. Finding a suitable foster home for the boy becomes the least of her problems when someone starts threatening her and Matthew.
The sudden appearance of a mysterious FBI agent confirms Ashley’s growing suspicions that Matthew is no ordinary teen. The boy she thought no one wanted is wanted by many…dead or alive.
Dodging danger at every turn, Ashley races to find the secrets that could save Matthew’s life. When the truth unearths her own dark past and threatens more than their lives, the God Matthew trusts may be her only hope for rescue.
A gripping and gritty standalone Christian suspense thriller from the bestselling author of the Guardians Unleashed Series.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
Also Available
About the Author
Jerusha Agen is a Christy Award finalist who imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats, often while reading or watching movies. Find more of Jerusha’s thrilling, fear-fighting stories at JerushaAgen.com.
Review
Are you looking for a Christian suspense thriller novel that will keep you on your toes? Then Special Target by Jerusha Agen is the book for you.
Ashley is a social worker and finds herself in care of Matthew, who is a 16-year-old boy with Down Syndrome. Both of Matthew’s parents have just died in an accident. Ashley cannot find a foster care placement for Matthew with his special needs and finds herself taking care of Matthew. Ashley has some struggling viewpoints about Down Syndrome. And struggle with this throughout the whole story.
As she is taking care of Matthew, things do not seem right. When her apartment is broken into, and certain strangers start popping up in weird places, Ashley realizes there must be more to Matthew. When the FBI shows up and takes Matthew and Ashley into protective custody, things start falling into place, or so it seems. This story kept me on my toes the whole time.
Jerusha Agen did a great job of intertwining faith throughout the book. It was a great reminder that God can use anyone to share the faith.
If you follow my reviews at all, you know that I do not typically include content warnings, but this did frustrate me, and I almost DNF, but I am glad I pushed through. Ashley’s disdain for Down Syndrome was quite repulsive. I will admit, I wanted to hop through the pages and slap her at times. Ashley held the view that the “humane thing” would have been to abort Matthew because of his Down Syndrome. Her thoughts and viewpoint around this issue were repeated so often that it outright broke my heart. I figured there had to be a ‘root’ to this viewpoint, and I am glad that we get to that and see a change in heart, but it was grating at times.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. A positive review was not required. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Special Target, a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card and a Special Target mug, notebook, and magnet!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 30, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 6, 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.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'll admit there are books I almost DNF too, but I'm so glad that I do finish them. This sounds like a good but tough read!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteI saw this book and wanted to read it
ReplyDelete