Double Take – a novel

Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he’s rooming with this good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.

Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it’s not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.

Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who, exactly, is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.

USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason will leave you breathless with this fast-paced first book in a brand-new series.

Wow!  This book really had me wondering what was happening.  I literally could not put it down and did not get anything done until I finished it because I wanted to know how the dead ex-boyfriend could possibly be trying to kill Lanie.  Maybe he had not really died when shot in the neck?  She joins forces with detective James, who just so happens to be the brother of her best friend, and the guy she had a crush on when she was much younger. But, as quick as they figure one thing out, the killer is a step ahead.  This was just so good as the twists and turns do not stop.  I highly recommend this novel!  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Lynette Eason grew up in Greenville, SC. She graduated from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and then obtained her masters in education from Converse College. Author of twenty inspirational romantic suspense books, she is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). In 1996, Lynette married “the boy next door” and now she and her husband and their two children make their home in Simpsonville, South Carolina.”

Double Take was published on January 9, 2024 by Revell.

The Divine Proverb of Streusel – a novel

Shaken by her parents’ divorce and discouraged by the growing chasm between herself and her serious boyfriend, Nikki Werner seeks solace at her uncle’s farm in a small Missouri hamlet. She’ll spend the summer there, picking up the pieces of her shattered present so she can plan a better future. But what awaits her at the ancestral farm is a past she barely knows.

Among her late grandmother’s belongings, Nikki finds an old notebook filled with handwritten German recipes and wise sayings pulled from the book of Proverbs. With each recipe she makes, she invites locals to the family table to hear their stories about the town’s history, her ancestors–and her estranged father.

What started as a cathartic way to connect to her heritage soon becomes the means through which she learns how the women before her endured–with the help of their cooking prowess. Nikki realizes how delicious streusel with a healthy dollop of faith can serve as a guide to heal wounds of the past.

I really enjoyed reading this book – the characters, the setting, the family dynamics, and especially the recipes with the notes about them.  But, I have to confess that the author does not tie everything up in a pretty bow at the end – a little bit like life, which makes the book seem just so real, but not how I like to have a book end.  Nikki is a young adult whose dad has just left the family.  She discovers community and forgiveness and the value of family ties when, after a particularly trying day, she gets in her car and just drives for hours until she reaches the old family farm in Eddner, Missouri.  The more time she spends with her Uncle Wes and gets to know the neighbors who knew her Dad as a kid and her grandparents, the more she learns about herself.  And, although Nikki does not ever meet her Great-Aunt Emma in the book, her delightful letters and telephone conversations with Wes and Nikki cracked me up!  This is a really good book, sort of reminds me of Mayberry meets Christian fiction.  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Author: Sara Brunsvold creates stories that speak hope, truth, and life. Influenced by humble women of God who find His fingerprints in the everyday, she does the same in her life and her storytelling. Sara’s recognitions include the 2020 ACFW Genesis Award for Contemporary Fiction. She lives with her family in Kansas City, where she can often be spotted writing at a park or library.

The Divine Proverb of Streusel was published on January 16, 2024 by Revell.

The Warsaw Sisters – a novel

On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering the world of their youth.

When Antonina’s beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls along with the rest of Warsaw’s Jewish population, Antonina turns her worry into action and becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland’s secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation. But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear the sisters apart–and the cost of resistance proves greater than either ever imagined.

Shining a light on the oft-forgotten history of Poland during WWII and inspired by true stories of ordinary individuals who fought to preserve freedom and humanity in the darkest of times, The Warsaw Sisters is a richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of our deepest ties.

I have mixed emotions about this book. The storyline is good and if this were a secular book, I’d give it 5 stars for the tale of Warsaw during WWII. But the book has very little faith element other than the occasional mention of a priest who gives comfort and maybe a mention of God. There is also premarital sex, which although is not described, is not something I expected in a Christian fiction novel. Instead of finding hope in Christ (who is never mentioned in the book), the characters find hope in things that disappoint, like family relationships, doing good for others, fighting the Germans, and etc. So, although I learned a lot about Warsaw and all it went through during WWII, I found myself disappointed that with such a potential for great faith lessons, there were none. I recommend this book if you are looking for a book without foul language or bedroom scenes, but don’t mind lots of blood and gore, dealing with Nazi occupied Warsaw. It is a hard read. Ultimately, this book was not my cup of tea. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Amanda Barratt is the bestselling author of numerous historical novels and novellas including THE WARSAW SISTERS, WITHIN THESE WALLS OF SORROW, and THE WHITE ROSE RESISTS. Her work has been the recipient of the Christy Award and the Carol Award, as well as an Honorable Mention in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards. Amanda is passionate about illuminating oft-forgotten facets of history through a fictional narrative. She lives in Michigan and can often be found researching her next novel, catching up on her to-be-read stack, or savoring a slice of her favorite lemon cake. To connect with Amanda, visit: www.amandabarratt.net

The Warsaw Sisters was published on November 7, 2023 by Revell.

Shadows at Dusk – a novel

Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can’t help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.

But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition–that he help her track down her friend’s killer.

As the two close in on the answers they crave, they’ll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They’ll have to learn to trust one another–and face the dark secrets of the past–if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice.

Amazing novel!  I think one part that drew me to this book was all the descriptions of the southwest part of Alaska.  But wow did the author draw me in with that first chapter and keep me spellbound the entire book!  Further, it had fun elements in the style of Indiana Jones as Carrie jumps in a plane and flies it without ever having flown that plane, and deals with so many other adventures that I will not mention because I do not want to spoil it.  Such a great book as the detective and pilot search for a missing sister and encounter way more then they expect!  I highly recommend it!  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: With over one million books sold, Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling, award-winning author of over fifty romance novels and counting, including the romantic mystery, THE CAMERA NEVER LIES–a 2011 Carol Award winner. Four of her six Mountain Cove books have been contest finalists. Buried, Backfire and Deception are finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, and Submerged is a Carol Award finalist. A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to home school her children and fulfill her dreams of writing full-time.

Shadows at Dusk was published on October 1, 2023 by Revell.

What a Wave Must Be

From master storyteller Angela Hunt, a powerful story of a family’s journey toward healing and hope after an unimaginable loss. Seventeen-year-old Maddie is left reeling after the unexpected passing of her beloved father. No one has any idea why he betrayed them all so spectacularly, but that’s exactly what his death feels a betrayal. With their world shattered, Maddie’s grieving mother sends her to spend a few months with her grandparents, thinking a change of scenery will do her good. Susan and Frank, Maddie’s grandparents, are heartbroken over the loss of their son, but they welcome Maddie as an addition to their long-empty nest. Maddie settles in and makes friends at her new school, but she still wrestles with why her father took his own life. Then an unexpected twist throws all their lives into fresh turmoil, testing the very fabric of their faith. How Susan helps her granddaughter find hope, even as they both struggle with grief, makes this touching tale of love and recovery a must-read. Contains discussion questions, making it ideal for book groups.

This is a hard book to read but so good!  I felt like I was learning a lot of good ways to deal with situations teens find themselves in without having to attend a lecture or read a textbook.  The characters seem so real that sometimes I just wanted to shout at them!  But I will caution, it is an emotionally hard read which I highly recommend for adults, especially those working with teens, but I do not know that I would let a younger teen read this novel. 

This novel is part of a new fiction line put out by Focus on the Family and spearheaded by Jerry Jenkins dealing with socially hard topics for a Christian.  The faith element is strong and woven throughout the novel.  It is 305 pages. It is written with several different point of views, but I loved how the author ended the story with Susan, the middle-aged grandmother thinking, “Frank and I had lived a charmed life, filled with undeserved blessings, until God planted a lesson in the soil of a difficult season and allowed us to water it with our grief.”  I received a copy of this book from the author. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With over five million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 150 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels.

Now that her two children have reached their thirties, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Turner and Hooch and Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards–one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City. Afterward, the dog gave out pawtographs at the airport.

Angela admits to being fascinated by animals, medicine, psychology, unexplained phenomena, and “just about everything” except sports. Books, she says, have always shaped her life— in the fifth grade she learned how to flirt from reading Gone with the Wind. Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.

In 2006, Angela completed her Master of Biblical Studies in Theology degree and completed her second doctorate in 2015. When she’s not home reading or writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.

What a Wave Must Be was published on November 7, 2023 by Focus on the Family.

Into the Fire – a novel

As a former smokejumper, arson investigator Bri Tucker knows her way around fires. But after a mysterious blaze takes the life of a former colleague, Bri inherits a curious puzzle from him that raises questions about several fiery deaths. Someone, however, doesn’t want her picking up where he left off in search of answers.

When she teams up with ATF Special Agent Marc Davis to solve the puzzle, the danger escalates. But will they manage to track down the person behind the mysterious deaths before their budding romance–and maybe even their lives–go up in flames?

The bestselling and award-winning queen of romantic suspense is back with a brand-new series that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you burn through the pages to discover the truth.

Wow!  What a phenomenal novel!  I had such a hard time putting it down!  One of the things I really loved was that before I could figure out the bad guy, the author lets us know.  And then it was a race for time to see if Bri and Marc can figure it out before one of them is next.  This was a different twist and I really liked it, especially since I did not see that one coming.  The novel has a light faith element and seems a little thicker with 387 pages.  Fortunately, it is the first in a new series by the author called Undaunted Courage so I can look forward to reading the next one!  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Irene Hannon, who writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 60 novels. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romance fiction) and she is a member of that organization’s elite Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Other awards for individual books include National Readers’ Choice, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers Choice, Booksellers’ Best, and Reviewers’ Choice from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.

A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com.

Into the Fire was published on October 3, 2023 by Revell.

On Moonberry Lake – a novel

Cora Matthews has long wondered why her mother stopped taking her to visit her grandparents’ lodge in the small Northwoods Minnesota town of Moonberry Lake. Now, after burying her mother and breaking off her engagement just two weeks before her wedding, Cora has a chance to find out. Once there, she is stunned to learn that the old lodge is her inheritance–with a surprising condition attached. Maybe some time to regroup on the shores of a beautiful lake is just what Cora needs to figure out what’s next for her.

But Cora’s days on the lake are anything but relaxing. The only thing that’s a bigger mess than her own life is the dilapidated building she’s living in. Add a cantankerous handywoman, an angry neighbor, and an elderly woman who spends all her time talking to the “residents” in the cemetery and Cora’s not sure she can stick it out. But if she can, she may find a love she never expected–from the most unexpected people imaginable. This homespun tale of new friendships, sweet romance, and ordinary miracles will have you wishing you could spend a summer (or a lifetime) on Moonberry Lake.

“We’re all the same.  We all need love, grow from love, search endlessly for love and end up living to feel loved.  That’s what connects us to one another.”  And so, Cora learns about love from her eccentric neighbors at her inherited lodge on a Minnesota lake.  From Widgy, a self-proclaimed repairman, Mr. Wells, the agoraphobic, and Joseph, a neighbor who looks like Jesus, to Kitty and the other tea ladies, Cora is surrounded by mostly loveable but strange people as she learns about loving and being loved.  There is some romance, which is a bonus to all the other relationships.  The faith element in this book was light, and there were some New Age elements in it, which I could have done without.  But I did enjoy the quirky characters and reading the book. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The author: Holly Varni is a native Minnesotan of strong Norwegian and Swedish descent, who was raised in the Lutheran Church that Garrison Keillor made a career depicting. Between the lutfisk, grumpy grandparents, and crazy neighbors who mowed their lawn wearing pajamas, the seed to becoming a storyteller was planted in Holly’s heart. Though she and her husband and their three sons live along the Central Coast of California, her beloved Midwest roots continue to influence everything she writes. She is host and author of the podcast Moments from Moonberry Lake, where more stories of her characters from this sweet small town are shared.

On Moonberry Lake was published on September 26, 2023 by Revell.

A Royal Christmas – a novel

Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She’s been working hard to put herself through law school and now that the end is in sight, she’s determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she has been found through a DNA registry to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V, the ruler of a small Eastern European principality called Montovia. She’s understandably skeptical. This is the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.

Although the pieces of this surprising family puzzle seem too good to be true, curiosity gets the best of her. At the king’s invitation, Adelaide embarks on a Christmas break trip that is chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament–and the chance at a real fairy tale romance with a happily-ever-after ending.

Spend this Christmas with bestselling author Melody Carlson as she whisks you away to a royal holiday you’ll never forget!

I know when I pick up a book by this author, I will enjoy it and this time was no exception!  It was different from her norm with a royal family and more mystery, and I absolutely loved it.  Set around Christmastime in a quaint, tiny European country Adelaide is going from barista to princess in what could only be the dream of many little girls to find out they really are a princess, and as Adelaide remarks, Seriously, this feels like the plot of a Hallmark movie.  The only downside to this novella is it is a quick read at only 167 pages (although that could be an advantage around the busy time of Christmas if that is when you read it) and I wanted it to last longer.  And I loved the faith element woven throughout the book.  If you could not tell by now, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus. She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

A Royal Christmas was published on September 1, 2023 by Revell.

He Should Have Told the Bees – a novel

Beekeeper Beckett Walsh is living her dream, working alongside her father in their apiary, until his untimely death sends her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family business–one who is looking to sell the property. Beck cannot fathom why her father would put her into the position to lose everything they built together.

When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she’s never heard of, she’s not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie’s financial situation rather . . . precarious. She’s sure she has no right to someone else’s farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she’s always craved.

As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets–and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.

What a different book in a most wonderful way!  I loved so many parts to it – from learning so much about bees, to the sweet romances, not to mention the mystery surrounding Callie and the fallout from a substance abusing parent, and finally the precociousness of little Fern.  Both Beckett and Callie are dealing with so many past hurts that really impact their present lives. But what makes the book different is that although it has a small amount of romance, that is not the focus but instead it is the relationship between the two women who have been thrown together without knowing why.  The faith element is present but minimal.  I so enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Amanda Cox is the author of The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, both of which were the Christy Award Book of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in the foothills of Tennesee with her husband and their three children. 

He Should Have Told The Bees was published on August 1, 2023 by Revell.

Countdown – a novel

A stalker who wants to finish what he started. A US Marshal who’s vowed to protect his charge. And one woman who is determined to put the past in the past.


Flight paramedic Raina Price has been running so long it’s hard to stop. To escape a dangerous stalker, she changed her name and disappeared, building a new life with the help of a friend from her time in juvie. It feels good to put her energies into saving people’s lives, but because her stalker was never found, she’s never stopped looking over her shoulder. And one can only run so far before the past finally catches up.

US Marshal Vincent Corelli’s job is to hunt down fugitives and protect those who are assigned to him. When Raina is almost killed right in front of him, he vows to protect her at all costs–whether it’s his job or not. Together they work to solve the mystery of Raina’s past. But someone is out to make sure Raina doesn’t live long enough to do it.

Countdown is the breathless conclusion to USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason’s thrilling Extreme Measures series.

I love when authors make me think the bad guy is one person and then throw me off by it being someone else, and this author does not disappoint!  I was pulled into the story immediately and just could not put it down.  It is nonstop action!

Countdown has clean romance, some faith element, a lot of mystery and suspense and at 284 pages is a quick read.  It is the fourth book in the Extreme Measures series by the author but is completely stand alone.  I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Lynette Eason is the USA Today bestselling author ofthe Extreme Measures, Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master’s degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband. They have two adult children. Learn more at http://www.LynetteEason.com.

Countdown was published on August 1, 2023 by Revell.

Blind Trust – a novel

She’s risking her life. He’s risking his heart. It’s unclear which is more dangerous.

Lyla Fox knows she has a reputation at the SNAP Agency for being impulsive, but when she receives a threatening letter from a man she helped put in prison, she can’t stop herself from going all in to find out why he’s coming after her. Unfortunately, she’s going to need the help of the one person who questions her choices more than anyone else.

Explosives and weapons specialist Nicolás Garcia agrees to help Lyla in order to keep her safe, but her recklessness continues to be a major concern, especially when her investigation into a conspiracy puts a target on her back. Dealing with bombs is dangerous. Working with Lyla is proving to be just as treacherous–to both the mission and his heart.

Once again, I enjoyed reading about the SNAP agency with the zany crew in it!  This novel, with its lots of twists and turns, is the story of Nicolas.  He has been attracted to Lyla but is afraid to love, and Lyla thinks he does not approve of her spy techniques.  I so enjoyed the weaving of the characters as they figured out who the bad guys were and how other people fit into the puzzle.  I really recommend this book if you like suspense!

This novel is the third in the SNAP series, is 299 pages long and takes place in the Washington, DC area.  I loved that although it stands alone, it does have characters from the previous 2 novels included.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Natalie Walter – My world revolves around GIJOE and our three adult (or almost adult) children who keep my life anything but predictable. Our boots hit the ground wherever the Army sends us but home is when we’re all together no matter the zipcode. My passion is writing stories where adventure meets love and share my belief that life rooted in purpose is a story worth telling.

Blind Trust was published on April 11, 2023 by Revell.

The Swindler’s Daughter – a novel

A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever.

Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away–in jail–Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.

When she goes to take possession of her father’s house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye–and has put a target on her back.

To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she’s always dreamed of, she’ll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers–especially Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.

Oh, what a tale!  I really had to chuckle many times as I read this 331-page novel.  Lillian is living a proper life in Atlanta in 1912 when everything she knows about life changes when she discovers that her father has recently died, not years ago, and has left everything to her.  When she goes to Dawsonville, a small remote town to settle her father’s estate, she discovers a lot more than she ever bargained for! Leaving an emotionally distant mother in Atlanta, Lillian finds loving friends who live for God and not society.  She also meets a sweet young man, whose sisters were polar opposites and just made me chuckle. 

Not only did this novel have a sweet romance, it also had a wonderful element of faith and a mystery to solve, complete with some despicable characters.  I really enjoyed this historical Christian romance and recommend it. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Stephenia H. McGee is a multi-published author of stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South. She lives in Mississippi, where she is a mom of two rambunctious boys, writer, dreamer, and husband spoiler. Her novel The Cedar Key was a 2021 Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice award winner. A member of the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), she loves all things books and history. Stephenia also loves connecting with readers and can often be found having fun with her Faithful Readers Team on Facebook. For more on books and upcoming events and to connect with Stephenia, visit her at www.StepheniaMcGee.com.

The Swindler’s Daughter was published on May 2, 2023 by Revell.

The Long March Home – a novel

Jimmy Propfield joined the army for two reasons: to get out of Mobile, Alabama, with his best friends Hank and Billy and to forget his high school sweetheart, Claire.

Life in the Philippines seems like paradise–until the morning of December 8, 1941, when news comes from Manila: the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor. Within hours, the teenage friends are plunged into war as Japanese warplanes attack Luzon, beginning a battle for control of the Pacific Theater that will culminate with a last stand on the Bataan Peninsula and end with the largest surrender of American troops in history.

What follows will become known as one of the worst atrocities in modern warfare: the Bataan Death March. With no hope of rescue, the three friends vow to make it back home together. But the ordeal is only the beginning of their nearly four-year fight to survive.

Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home is a gripping coming-of-age tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of unrelenting hope.

Wow!  What a challenging yet riveting read!  Even though the subject matter was difficult, it was so good!  The authors go back and forth in time between before World War II in Mobile, Alabama and then during the war in the Philippines as they follow the lead character Jimmy and his best friends Billy, Hank, and Claire. When the men arrive in the Philippines they discover a beautiful paradise, which soon changes to a horrific experience.  Yet the heroism and love displayed by the men as they encounter torture after torture is truly amazing.  This is such a compelling novel, and I had such a hard time putting it down as I wanted to know what would happen next.  I know that so very many died in the Philippines during the war, so which of the men would make it home? 

This novel is 384 pages and truly tells some of the horrific stories from Bataan, Philippines.  It is not for those with weak stomachs though because some of the descriptions of the atrocities were, although not dwelt on, truly shocking.  So, while I do very highly recommend this book, I would not recommend it for a younger reader.  There is also very little religious content, even though it is published by Revell and listed as Christian Fiction.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Authors: Marcus Brotherton is a New York Times bestselling author and coauthor dedicated to writing books that inspire heroics, promote empathy, and encourage noble living. His commendations include the Christopher Award for literature “that affirms the highest values of the human spirit.” His newest book, A Bright and Blinding Sun, is the lyrically-written and harrowing true story of a 14-year-old soldier who fought on Bataan and came of age as a POW during World War II. Released May 24, 2022, from Hachette. Heather Morris, #1 Internationally bestselling author of ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz,’ called it ‘Storytelling at its best.’

Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times, IndieBound, and Amazon bestselling author of eleven novels including THE LINE BETWEEN, A SINGLE LIGHT, THE PROGENY, THE LEGEND OF SHEBA, ISCARIOT, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages and been optioned for TV and film. A notorious night-owl, she loves movies, playing football with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband. You can find Tosca at ToscaLee.com, on social media, or hanging around the snack table. To learn more, please visit toscalee.com.

The Long March Home was published by Revell on May 2, 2023.

Wait for Me – a novel

When the darkness closes all around,
Beauty is still there just waiting to be found.

Dawson Huxham blames himself for his sister’s death . . . until he briefly crosses time and discovers she’s alive in the Middle Ages. Hoping to reconnect with her, he searches for the holy water that will help him visit the past for a longer duration. But he realizes he’s not the only one looking for the miraculous water. Terrorists are threatening him and watching his every move.

As Dawson locates holy water from an unlikely source, he crosses fully into the past where he meets a beautiful noblewoman, Philippa Neville, who is desperately trying to escape her uncle’s plans for an arranged marriage. When danger closes in, Dawson agrees to wed her in an effort to thwart her uncle’s schemes. As forces in both the present and past conspire against the newlyweds, will they find a way to be together before the swiftly moving waters of time separate them forever?

I loved this novel!  It is the fourth one in the Waters of Time series and honestly, I thought it was the best one.  I have read the previous books and I think this one would stand alone, since the author writes the story from the point of view of a different character, but I would say you will enjoy all of them so why not start at the beginning.  But why is this my favorite? Well, it seemed like there was a greater emphasis on God.  Then, although I don’t believe in time travel but what if there was?  The author addresses that in the book with the lead character, Dawson, telling Phillippa, when she asks if he thinks that Providence brought them together, “Since God is outside of time and space, I think he can do anything.” 

This novel is a fun way to explore the what-if and to see England in 1382 through the eyes of a modern British man.  I felt a little bad for Dawson – here he is a war veteran in his world but doesn’t know how to use a sword in medieval England.  There were so many instances in the book where I really chuckled at his awkwardness in a time almost 650 years in the past. He also attempts to explain modern conveniences to medieval young woman that he is quickly falling in love with.  Yes, this is definitely a romance novel with lots of clean romance. Altogether, I just loved it and highly recommend it!   I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

THE AUTHOR:Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com. She lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

Wait for Me will be published on May 9th 2023 by Northern Lights Press

Second Time Around – a novel

Who doesn’t love a second chance?

When empty nester Mallory Farrell inherits her grandmother’s run-down tourist shop in Seaport, Oregon, it seems the only sensible thing to do is to sell it. But when her former secret crush, Grayson Matthews, wants to buy the property in order to complete his plans to redevelop the funky town’s business district into a soulless, cookie-cutter outdoor mall, Mallory digs in her heels and decides to renovate the property herself.

With a lot of hard work and a little bit of help, Mallory makes incredible progress turning the store into an eclectic home d�cor shop called Romancing the Home–all while trying to ignore the depressing and decrepit apartment she’s living in on the second floor. When the shop catches the eye of a popular renovation TV show producer, Mallory is thrilled–until it becomes clear that her apartment is to be part of the segment as well.

She’s tempted to abandon her dreams and the town under a cloud of shame. But perhaps there’s more to Grayson than meets the eye. Can he swallow his pride, change his plans, and help Mallory romance her own home–and possibly her life?

What a fun, enjoyable book! One of the things that drew me to this book is that the main character, Mallory, is not a cute, young, twentysomething! Instead, those are her children. Yet she embarks on quite the adventure – leaving almost everything behind to start a home décor shop in her grandma’s old coastal tourist store. Everyone thinks her store will not make it and she is determined to prove them wrong.

This is a contemporary Christian romance with 287 pages. Mallory was a fun character to meet as she struggles with her relationship with her adult children, a move, starting over, renovating an old building and building a business in a new location. Yet, through it all, her relationship with God was central. Anyway, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. The parts where she deals with her children really seemed so relatable – some moments I laughed and then cringed and wanted to slap some sense into her self-absorbed Gen Zers. And the setbacks as she worked on renovating her old building made me just want to give Mallory a hug. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.

She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.

Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

Second Time Around was published on March 1, 2023 by Revell.

Honor’s Refuge – a novel

When she was just five years old, Melissa Braxton watched her father take her mother’s life. Separated from her sister, Lola, at that time, Melissa grew up with a strong desire to help those stuck in abusive relationships. It’s why she became a family therapist and opened a domestic abuse shelter.

After losing a leg to a gunshot wound in the line of duty, Phil Osbourne has felt like a man without a purpose–until he hears Melissa’s story and decides to use his Special Forces contacts to track down her missing sister. He knows what he discovers will break Melissa’s heart. What he doesn’t realize is that helping the women reunite will bring the cartel down on them like the Category 5 hurricane striking Miami.

Bruised yet not quite broken, Melissa and Phil battle the storm and the cartel, calling on strength they didn’t know they had to escape death, save the innocent, and–just maybe–find healing in each other’s arms.

Love the books by this author and this one was no exception as she skillfully weaves a story about a combat veteran and the woman he is afraid to love.  There is open Christianity in the novel, but it seems so natural and flows in the story.  The main characters, Melissa and Phil, each have baggage but again, it seems natural given what they have been through.  This is the third book in the Love and Honor series, and although there are references to the main characters in the previous novels, you do not need to read the previous ones to completely follow the storyline. I loved this book and stayed up way too late to finish it.  It has romance and action and twists: I highly recommend it!  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: With nearly a million book sales, USA Today bestselling author Hallee Bridgeman writes action-packed romantic suspense focusing on realistic characters who face real-world problems. Her work has been described as everything from refreshing to heart-stopping exciting and edgy.

An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky so they could enjoy the beautiful changing of the seasons. Hallee’s oldest daughter is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, her middle son struggles as a hexagonal “autism spectrum” peg in this round world, and her youngest son fills the house with wooshes and bangs as he fights imaginary bad guys while wearing a Spiderman costume and wielding a Ninja sword.

When she’s not penning novels, you will find her in the kitchen, which she considers the ‘heart of the home’. Her passion for cooking spurred her to launch a whole food, real food “Parody” cookbook series. In addition to nutritious, Biblically grounded recipes, readers will find that each cookbook also confronts some controversial aspect of secular pop culture.

Hallee has served as the Director of the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, President of the Faith-Hope-Love chapter of the Romance Writers of America, is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and the American Christian Writers (ACW), and Novelists, Inc. (NINC). An accomplished speaker, Hallee has taught and inspired writers around the globe, from Sydney, Australia, to Dallas, Texas, to Portland, Oregon, to Washington, D.C., and all places in between.

Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her. She prays her work here on earth is a blessing to you and would love to hear from you. You can reach Hallee at hallee@halleebridgeman.com

Honor’s Refuge was published on November 1, 2022 by Revell.

Dangerous Beauty – a novel

Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She’s not a victim, she’s a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she’s determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers in her poor Mexican village. But she can’t stay safely over the border in America–unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.

Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Assessing the situation, he steps in to rescue Liliana from traffickers. If he can keep his secrets at bay, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.

Melissa Koslin throws you right into the middle of the action in this high-stakes thriller that poses the question: What is the price of freedom?

This novel sure is different and I just could not put it down.  It begins with a woman fleeing in the woods, arriving at a truck stop and going into the bathroom.  She does not speak English and she has been on a truck.  As she leaves the bathroom, a man grabs her and speaks to her in Spanish.  He has realized she needs help and wants to rescue her, but she knows nothing about him.  Is she leaving one bad situation to get into another?  Thus, the book begins, and the reader is introduced to the two key characters, Liliana and Meric. From then on, the story twists and turns – why was Liliana abducted and who wants to buy her?  And who is Meric?  This story deals with the problem of human trafficking so it is not for everyone, but yet it is, to recognize the tragedies happening in our own communities. Sometimes the point of view was from Liliana, a woman who is determined to not allow what happened to her to happen to other women.  At other times the point of view is from Meric, who is equally determined to stop the trafficking of women.  I loved reading this book and highly recommend it.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. She and Corey, her husband of twenty years, live in Florida, where they do their best not to melt in the sun

Dangerous Beauty was published on September 6, 2022 by Revell.

The Secrets of Emberwild – a novel

A gifted trainer in a time women are not allowed to race, Nora Fenton prefers horses to men. They’re easier to handle, they’re more reliable, and they never tell her what to do. After her father’s passing, Nora is determined to save her struggling horse farm, starting with entering her prize colt into the harness races at the 1905 Mississippi Fair. If she wins, she may have a chance at independence. But when a stranger arrives and starts asking disconcerting questions, she suspects he may have other motives than unseating her in the training job that is rightfully hers.

Silas Cavallero will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery of his father’s death–even if it means training an unwieldy colt for Nora, who wants nothing more than to see him gone. But when mysterious accidents threaten their safety and circumstances shrouded in secrets begin unlocking clues to his past, Silas will have to decide if the truth is worth risking ruining everything for the feisty woman he’s come to admire.

What a fabulous book for the horse lover!  Taking place in 1905 in Mississippi, it has intrigue and horses and love and basically is a wonderful historical Christian novel.  I will say there were a couple of things confusing for me so I thought I would point them out here so you are not as puzzled as I was.  First, as I mentioned it does take place in Mississippi, yet the lead male character Silas keeps talking about going to or being in Philadelphia.  He is referring to Philadelphia MISSISSIPPI, not the large city in Pennsylvania. Second, I have read other books by this author and they have all been time travel novels.  I kept waiting for the time travel to happen, and it did not.  This book stays in 1905.  But, once I figured out those two minor things, I really enjoyed this book and the dilemmas Silas and Nora encountered.  The nuances of horse racing and the role of women in the early 1900s was very interesting.  I really recommend this book.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The author: Stephenia H. McGee is a multi-published author of stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South. She lives in Mississippi, where she is a mom of two rambunctious boys, writer, dreamer, and husband spoiler. Her novel The Cedar Key was a 2021 Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice award winner. A member of the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), she loves all things books and history. Stephenia also loves connecting with readers and can often be found having fun with her Faithful Readers Team on Facebook. For more on books and upcoming events and to connect with Stephenia, visit her at www.StepheniaMcGee.com.

The Secrets of Emberwild was published by Revell on October 4, 2022.

Code of Courage – a novel

Detective Danni Grace has never met a police officer who wants to face a scenario where pulling the trigger on another person is the only option. When the worst does occur and there’s a police-involved shooting, it leads to riots and calls to disband the entire police force in La Rosa, Danni’s hometown.

After fifteen years on the force, Danni has had enough. Injured in the line of duty when a protester throws a chunk of concrete at her and shaken by the vitriol being shown to the police, Danni realizes for the first time that she’s lost her passion for the job.

While she’s on a leave of absence, though, a community activist in La Rosa is shot and a fellow officer is blamed for his murder. Taking on this case means stepping back into a job Danni’s not sure she can do anymore . . . and working closely with her ex-husband, Gabriel Fox, an investigator for the city prosecutor’s office. Danni will need to tap into her code of courage to uncover the truth, prevent another injustice, and uphold her oath to serve and protect.

This book kept me mesmerized, and I kept turning page after page, wondering when the all to real nightmare of basically defunding the police in La Rosa, California would end.  As event after event transpires, can Danni and her ex-husband Gabriel figure out who is behind all the chaos.

Recent events around the United States have made this scenario all too real.  Fortunately, this one is fiction, but it certainly gives the reader a feel for why police departments are having a hard time staying staffed.  The author is fantastic, and this is a wonderful clean suspense novel which I highly recommend.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: A former Long Beach, California, police officer of twenty-two years, Janice Cantore worked a variety of assignments, including patrol, administration, juvenile investigations, and training. She’s always enjoyed writing and published two short articles on faith at work for Cop and Christ and Today’s Christian Woman before tackling novels. She now lives in a small town in southern Oregon, where she enjoys exploring the forests, rivers, and lakes with her Labrador retrievers, Abbie and Tilly.

Janice writes suspense novels designed to keep readers engrossed and leave them inspired. Crisis Shot is the first title in her latest series. Janice also authored the Cold Case Justice series—Drawing Fire, Burning Proof, and Catching Heat—the Pacific Coast Justice series—Accused, Abducted, and Avenged—and the Brinna Caruso novels, Critical Pursuit and Visible Threat. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.janicecantore.com

Code of Courage was published by Tyndale House Publishers on July 19, 2022.

Untaken – a novel

What would you do? Your husband is missing; you don’t want to be pregnant; you witness a horrific airplane accident, and you learn all babies and young children have disappeared. Twenty-eight-year-old Sarah Colton may think she is in control, but she’s far from the truth, not realizing the Rapture has occurred. Enter the writer’s mind as she deals with this imminent, amazing event. 
* Updated 2022 version of Untakenable published in 2017.

What a gripping novel! I did have a hard time the first chapter figuring out who Sarah was referencing as being in her mind, talking about artificial intelligence and people being able to “get into your brain and read your thoughts.” But, once I got past that I found the book intriguing as it talked about life as I know it post-Covid, but then the added twist of a sudden rapture or departure from earth of all Christians.
The author has done an amazing job of conveying the confusion of the immediate hours after the taking. Accidents, the loss of children, the disappearance of friends, family, and strangers are all covered in this short novel, as well as the realization of what it all means, as seen through the eyes of a self-absorbed, feminist, atheist, millennial young woman. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

The Author: Owning a business for over thirty years, Wyler was born in Southern California, lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest, and enjoys their sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.

Untaken was published by C.O. Wyler on February 13, 2022.

Love and the Dream Come True – a novel

Their faith will face its toughest test yet.

Four years after getting the biggest break of his life, Cameron Lee’s music career has taken a nosedive, leaving him two options: become a sellout or give up on his lifelong dream. He reluctantly returns home for his sister’s wedding, hoping to avoid his past and find his love for music again.

Single mom Lexie Walters has suffered her fair share of tragedies and setbacks, but she has finally scraped together the money to achieve her dream of going into business with her cousin as an interior designer. When Lexie’s life is at an all-time high, she runs into her teenage crush, Cameron Lee.

Lost in the emotional turmoil of failure, Cameron is immediately drawn to Lexie and her infectious smile and optimistic spirit. Moreover, he adores her mouthy, no-holds-barred daughter. But fantasies only last so long, and soon Lexie and Cameron must face the real world, the one fraught with heartbreak, disappointment, and questions that sometimes can only be answered by a leap of faith.

What a long awaited and perfect ending to the three-book series by the author!  But, even though it is part of a series, it does stand alone, however, you really will not want to miss the previous ones so you should, if possible, start with them, Love and the Little White Lie and Love and the Silver Lining.

This novel is a sweet, feel-good romance.  Yes, Cameron and Lexie have the ups and downs and past baggage and even the unusual story and challenges posed by her daughter Morgan, but given it is a typical romance, you just know, you hope, they will have a happy ending.  I so enjoyed reading this clean, spiritually uplifting, romance and highly recommend it.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas, even the erratic weather patterns. Her many true-to-life contemporary romances include 2017 RITA award winning, My Hope Next Door, and 2021 Carol Award winning, Love and a Little White Lie, and show her unending quest to write high quality, culturally relevant stories with relatable and flawed characters.

When not taxiing her three kids to various school and sporting events, Tammy can be spotted crunching numbers as the financial administrator at her hometown church. Writing has given her a platform to combine her passion with her ministry all while sharing the messy, yet remarkable journey that is a faith-filled life.

Tammy L. Gray has lots of projects going on. For all the latest info, visit her website at http://tammylgray.com

Love and the Dream Come True was published by Bethany House Publishers on August 2, 2022

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip – a novel

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she’s been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who’s just entered hospice care. But there’s more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it’s a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that’s just what Mrs. Kip will give her—but she’s going to have to work for it.

I do not know what I expected when I began reading this book, but it completely exceeded anything I expected!  Such a very, very, good book, even as it took place mostly in a nursing home, the Sacred Promise Senior Care Center in Kansas City.  A friend tells me I should always warn when you need to have tissues available reading a book and this is one of those, but you do not leave the book feeling sad but instead wanting to live fully, willing to talk about Jesus to every friend you meet.

Mrs. Kip has not got many days left on earth and the other main character, Aidyn, a young reporter at the Kansas City Star has royally blown it with her boss.  So, her punishment assignment is to write an obituary for Mrs. Kip.  In just days the two become treasured friends as Aidyn learns to listen, to really be still and listen, and to be a friend.

There is no romance, no big mystery or suspense, and no large circle of characters, yet no doubt this is a fabulous, uplifting Christian fiction novel that I highly recommend! This is the debut novel from the author and I look forward to reading more books by her. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Sara Brunsvold creates stories that speak hope, truth, and life. Influenced by humble women of God who find His fingerprints in the everyday, she does the same in her life and her storytelling. Sara’s recognitions include the 2020 ACFW Genesis Award for Contemporary Fiction. She lives with her family in Kansas City, where she can often be spotted writing at a park or library.

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip was published on July 5, 2022 by Revell.

Elysium Tide – a novel

Dr. Peter Chesterfield is one of the Royal London Hospital’s top neurosurgeons. He is also a workaholic, ordered by his boss to take a week off to attend a medical symposium at the luxurious Elysium Grand on the island of Maui. While there, Peter pulls a woman with a skull fracture from the water. Though he is able to revive her in the ambulance, she eventually dies in his arms, leaving him with only one clue to what happened to her: the word “honu.”

Increasingly obsessed with discovering the cause of his patient’s death, Peter becomes entangled in an ongoing investigation of a brazen luxury auto theft. He also becomes a source of deep irritation to detective Lisa Kealoha, who has jurisdiction over the case.
But when the two join forces, they begin to uncover a destructive plot that runs far deeper than either of them could have imagined. And if they’re not careful, they’re both going to end up dead.

Award-winning author James R. Hannibal whisks you away to the deadly beauty of Hawaii for a story of greed, violence, and justice that will leave you breathless.

Could not put this one down! The author kept me guessing the entire way on who did what! And I loved the partnership between the detective, Hawaii native grown Lisa Kealoha, and the British neurosurgeon Peter Chesterfield. Both brilliant yet see clues differently so together they form a formidable team. And is there or is there not a romance? I hope the teaser at the end leads to another book about them.
I also loved how vividly the Island of Maui is described and how different it is from Mainland life. I have read other books by this author (and loved them by the way) and they seem very much like James Bond movies. This book reminded me more of Sherlock Holmes, even though there were some car racing and helicopter scenes, maybe because of the moonlight nights on the beach and the thoughtful hotel doctor Dr. Tuna. This is a great clean Christian suspense novel. I loved it and not only highly recommend it for both men and women, I look forward to reading the next novel by the author. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Former stealth pilot James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. He has been shot at, locked up with surface to air missiles, and chased down a winding German road by an armed terrorist. He is a two-time Silver Falchion award-winner for his Section 13 mysteries, a Thriller Award nominee for his Nick Baron covert ops series, and a Selah Award finalist for his Clandestine Service series. James is a rare multi-sense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells and hears flashes of light. If he tells you the chocolate cake you offered smells blue and sticky, take it as a compliment.

Elysium Tide was published on June 7, 2022 by Revell.

The Way of the Father – Non-fiction!

Grammy Award winner Michael W. Smith’s The Way of the Father offers a deeply personal reflection on his father Paul Smith’s legacy and its profound effect on every area of his life. Through the life and lens of his earthly dad, the multi-platinum selling Christian artist gives glimpses of a Father in Heaven that anyone can approach and experience.
Michael W. Smith, multi-platinum artist, celebrated songwriter, producer, best-selling author, and acclaimed actor, himself a father of five adult children and grandfather of sixteen, calls upon his humble experiences of growing up in a small West Virginia town to share his father’s story. Each chapter identifies a quality and characteristic of his dad that came out of an obedient and sacrificial life, committed to serving his Abba Father, including: ​​
Finding truth in tragedy
Loving unconditionally
Persevering through pain
Bringing righteousness to the world
Influencing and inspiring generations
Discovering identity and approval in Christ
Paul Smith was a familiar face in the crowd at Michael W. Smith’s concerts over the years. A kind and joyful man who would sing, dance, and worship to the singer’s countless number one hits, with his countenance beaming brighter than the spotlights on the stage, Paul would often introduce himself to those nearby and talk about how proud he was of his son. From the artist’s early days as a struggling musician in Nashville to his death in 2015 (the year his son’s album sales surpassed 15 million), Paul was always Michael’s biggest fan.

Michael shares how his dad inspired and encouraged him using biblical principles and virtues. Now, Michael passes on these same truths through stories, testimonies, origins of songs, and personal insights from his family life and thirty-five plus years of touring as a Christian artist. He hopes that by sharing his father’s legacy, readers will come to find that no matter who our earthly parents have been in our lives, our Abba Father will never fail us.
The Way of the Father will likewise challenge readers in their faith journeys so they will one day hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have fought the good fight, run the race, and have been found faithful”–just like Paul Smith heard on the day he was called home to be with his Father. 

I love the music of Michael W Smith and have for years.  So, reading his book was fun because he tells stories from his childhood, from his parents, from his travels as a singer and even behind why he wrote some of his songs.  I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it especially for any Michael W. Smith fans!! The book is easy to read and honestly made me an even bigger fan of the author. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Author: Michael W. Smith, a multi-platinum recording artist, has won three Grammy Awards, forty-five Dove Awards, an American Music Award, and has sold more than fifteen million albums. He has also given back to the global community, having raised funds to battle AIDS in Africa alongside U2’s Bono; started Rocketown, a safe haven for young people in Tennessee to meet and find hope; and has helped to improve more than 83,000 children’s lives through Compassion International. With a career spanning more than four decades, Smith has also starred in two films and written fourteen books, including a children’s book series. He lives with his wife, Debbie, in Franklin, Tennessee. They have five adult children and sixteen grandchildren.

The Way of the Father was published on May 18, 2021 (okay, I’m a little behind on this review!) by K-LOVE

Fatal Code – a novel

In 1964, a group of scientists called the Los Alamos Five came close to finishing a nuclear energy project for the United States government when they were abruptly disbanded. Now the granddaughter of one of those five scientists, aerospace engineer Elinor Mitchell, discovers that she has highly sensitive information on the project in her possession–and a target on her back.

SNAP agent and former Navy cryptologist Kekoa Young is tasked with monitoring Elinor. This is both convenient since she’s his neighbor in Washington, DC, and decidedly inconvenient because . . . well, he kind of likes her.

As Elinor follows the clues her grandfather left behind to a top-secret nuclear project, Kekoa has no choice but to step in. When Elinor learns he has been spying on her, she’s crushed. But with danger closing in on all sides, she’ll have to trust him to ensure her discoveries stay out of enemy hands.

Natalie Walters sucks you into the global race for space domination in this perfectly paced second installment of her SNAP Agency romantic suspense series.

Loved it!  I really did as the author writes this book taking place mostly in the Washington, DC area but then incorporates food and traditions from the Hawaiian heritage of Kekoa.  And the suspense was great – I never knew who the good guys were versus the bad guys, other than the main characters! Ultimately, though, what made this great Christian fiction was how the main characters not just relied on God but realized that some things would never be under their control, and it required faith to trust that God was in control even in the hard stuff.  No sermons, just living life seeking God. 

I also really enjoyed the characters, from geeky Elinor to sweet and humongous Kekoa, and all the other SNAP team members.  This is the second book in The SNAP Agency series.  I confess, I read them out of order and did not feel like I missed anything by doing so but definitely read the first one too!  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Natalie Walters – My world revolves around GIJOE and our three adult (or almost adult) children who keep my life anything but predictable. Our boots hit the ground wherever the Army sends us but home is when we’re all together no matter the zipcode. My passion is writing stories where adventure meets love and share my belief that life rooted in purpose is a story worth telling.

Fatal Code was published by Revell on May 3, 2022

Photipar’s Wife – a novel

The drama of the Old Testament comes to life as one of the Bible’s most infamous women longs for Joseph, her husband’s servant, in this riveting novel from the award-winning author of Isaiah’s Legacy.

Before she is Potiphar’s wife, Zuleika is a king’s daughter on the isle of Crete, where the sisterhood of women rules in the absence of their seafaring husbands. Now that she’s come of age, Zuleika knows she will soon be betrothed. Her father believes his robust trade with Egypt will ensure Pharaoh’s obligation to marry his daughter.

But Pharaoh refuses and gives her instead to Potiphar, the captain of his bodyguards–a crusty bachelor twice her age, who would rather have a new horse than a Minoan wife.

Abandoned by her father, rejected by Pharaoh, and humiliated by Potiphar’s indifference, Zuleika years for affection. But when her obsession with Joseph, the Hebrew chamberlain with the face and body of the gods, goes terribly wrong, she discovers the truth: Only the God of Joseph can heal her wounded heart. 

Such an outstanding book!  If you have read anything about Joseph from the Bible, you know what Potiphar’s wife did to Joseph but what was her story?  Why did she try to entrap him?  I know this is a fictional account by the author but how I loved it!  Zuleika, Potiphar’s wife, becomes a character who I had sympathy for but at the same time, not.  I was completely drawn into the story, wondering what would happen next, even as I knew the story.  I loved the historical nuances woven in the story and appreciated all the research done by the author. I further loved the references to God as Elohim and El Roi and how Joseph faithfully shared about his God, the one true God.  So much to love about this Biblical fiction novel and I especially appreciated the epilogue, made me leave the book feeling so content!  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Author: MESU ANDREWS is the Christy Award-winning author of Isaiah’s Daughter whose deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for readers. Andrews lives in North Carolina with her husband Roy. She stays connected with readers through newsie emails, fun blog posts, and frequent short stories. For more information, visitMesuAndrews.com. 

Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell, 2011, the story of Job) won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year for a Debut Author. Love’s Sacred Song (Revell, 2012) relates the poetic Song of Solomon in story form, and Love in a Broken Vessel(Revell, 2013) sets the story of Hosea and Gomer in biblical Israel. In the Shadow of Jezebel (Revell, 2014) displays God’s sovereignty over Jezebel’s daughter, Queen Athaliah. The Pharaoh’s Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2015), unveils Moses’ early years, and Miriam (2016) introduces Yahweh’s prophetess during the ten plagues and the Exodus. Isaiah’s Daughter (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2018) introduces readers to the prophet Isaiah’s captivating daughter, and its sequel, Isaiah’s Legacy (Waterbrook/Multnomah, 2020) , provides the redemptive end to her life and her son Manasseh’s reign. To follow Yahweh’s progression toward the Messiah, By the Waters of Babylon (August 2018) continues the story of the prophets and kings through the exile, and Of Fire and Lions (Waterbrook/Multnomah 2019) tells Daniel’s compelling story. And The Reluctant Rival: Leah’s Story tells of Leah, Jacob’s neglected wife, and how God used her to change the course of history. And when Joseph’s brothers sell him into a life of slavery in Egypt, Jacob’s favorite son encounters one of the Bible’s most infamous bad girls in, Potiphar’s Wife  (Waterbrook/Multnomah 2022).

Potiphar’s Wife was published on May 24, 2022 by Waterbrook Press.

Malicious Intent – a novel

Dr. Ivy Collins, founder and CEO of Hedera, Inc., is ready to begin clinical trials of her company’s cutting-edge prosthetic. Her work has been heralded by government, medical, and advocacy groups and everyone hopes the device will be a success. Well, almost everyone. Someone is trying to sabotage Hedera and the launch, but to what purpose–and how far will they go to get what they want?

Meanwhile, U.S. Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon can’t believe he’s finally been reunited with Ivy, his childhood best friend. Now that he’s found her again, Gil intends to spend the rest of his life with her. But it will take all his skill to uncover the truth in time to save Ivy’s life’s work, her own life, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.

Perfectly balancing chilling suspense and uplifting romance, award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn delivers a story of revenge, greed, and overcoming that you won’t want to put down no matter how late it gets. 

Wow!  This is the second novel in the Defend and Protect series and it was outstanding!  Romance, bullets, kidnapping, torture, grenades, extortion – it is all there!  The only question is who is behind all the problems Ivy Collins is having and what do they want?  There are so many twists and turns and incredibly fast action that this novel really reminded me of a roller coaster.  I just could not put it down!  As far as the faith element, the characters rely on God and go to church.  At one point Ivy prays and “The Lord did not answer audibly.  She knew he heard her, but she didn’t feel better.” So, the faith element is present, but not preachy.  I highly recommend this book as an amazing suspenseful novel!  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!

Lynn’s titles have won the Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award. Her newest series kicked off in March 2021 with Unknown Threat, Book 1 in the Defend and Protect series.

She is a frequent conference speaker and has taught writers all over the country. Lynn lives in South Carolina with her true love and their three children. You can follow her real life happily ever after by signing up for her newsletter at LynnHBlackburn.com and @LynnHBlackburn on Bookbub, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Malicious Intent was published on March 1, 2022 by Revell.

Shadowed Loyalty – a novel

Sabina Mancari never questioned her life as the daughter of Chicago’s leading mob boss until bullets tear apart her world and the man she thought she loved turned out to be an undercover Prohibition agent. Now she sees how ugly the underworld can be. Ambushes, bribes, murder, prostitution—she thought her beloved Papa was above all that, but clearly he isn’t. What does that mean, though, for her and their family? Maybe Lorenzo, the fiancé who has barely paid her any attention in the last two years, has the right idea by planning to escape their world.

All his life, Lorenzo’s family assumed he would join the Church, but he has different ideas—marrying Sabina and pursuing a career in the law. But despite his morals, he knows at the core he isn’t so unlike his father and brothers, which has always terrified him. Has he, in trying to protect Sabina from his flaws, in fact harmed her? It sure seems that way when he realizes he all but forced her into the arms of the Prohibition Agent now bent on tearing her family apart at all costs. But how can they rebuild what has so long been neglected…and do it in the shadow of the dark empire of the Mafia?

Shadowed Loyalty, set amid the glitz and scandal of the Roaring Twenties, examines what love really means and how we draw lines between family and our own convictions, especially when following the one could mean losing the other.

Words fail me as I try to describe this book!  It is so many things – a sweet romance, a look at the roaring 20’s in Chicago, a picture of the mafia there, a glimpse at the world of prostitution in 1922, and a book you won’t want to put down.  I honestly enjoyed it, even with the occasional pool of blood, and I wasn’t even sure of which love Sabina would end up with, her new love Roman or her childhood sweetheart Enzo. 

There is quite a bit of a faith element in this book, but it is largely of a catholic nature as the book is about a Chicago mafia family in the early 1920’s.  So, it is somewhat expected but more than I thought there would be.  Also, as a caveat, however much I loved reading this book, I would not recommend for a young reader as the topics of mistresses, bordellos, paying for certain illicit things and so on may not be appropriate.  I received a copy of this book from the author. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

Shadowed Loyalty was published by Chrism Press on May 2, 2022.

The Catch – a novel

After a harrowing attempt on a judge’s life at the courthouse, Deputy US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are tasked with finding a missing woman and an endangered child in connection to the murder of the judge’s wife. What seems like a fairly straightforward case becomes hopelessly tangled when the marshals discover that the woman they are searching for is in witness protection and the Amber Alert put out for the missing child has put two lives in danger.

Madison and Jonas are forced into a race to find the woman and the child before the men who want her dead discover her location. And in a final showdown that could cost her everything, Madison will come face-to-face with the person who murdered her husband.

USA Today bestselling author Lisa Harris concludes her thrilling US Marshals series with this breathless tale of secrets kept, lies exposed, and ultimately, justice prevailing.

What a fabulous ending to the three book series US Marshals!  I loved it!  It is the third book in the series so, although you could read it out of order, I would recommend reading the books in order.

Madison and Jonas fell in love in a previous book, but Madison keeps pushing him away, afraid that he will meet the same fate as her murdered husband.  “How was it that she could risk her life chasing down fugitives but not stop whoever had killed her husband and shot her?”

The action does not stop as Jonas and Madison try to find a missing baby, the killer of the wife of Judge Saylor and the person who murdered Luke, the husband of Madison.  Such a great book if you like clean, suspenseful books and I recommend it.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom, Vendetta, and Port of Origin, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times.

She has almost forty novels and novellas in print. She and her family work as missionaries in southern Africa. Lisa loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. Visit Lisa’s website to learn more.

The Catch was published by Revell on April 5, 2022

The Lady of Galaway Manor – a novel

In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy’s father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family–descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring.

Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family’s jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the ÒliesÓ the Claddagh Ring promises.

Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the “other side” isn’t quite as barbaric and uncultured as they’d been led to believe–and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner’s fire.

Travel to the Emerald Isle for another poignant and romantic story from the enchanted pen of Jennifer Deibel

I was drawn to this book by the synopsis because I had never read much about the war for Irish Independence. And this book did not disappoint! I felt like I was visiting Ireland 100 years ago and I actually googled the Claddagh ring.
The DeLacy family came to Ireland as a posting from the Crown for the father to be landlord of Galway Parish. It is quite a different and simpler way of life for Annabeth and her sister Emmaline. The whole family originally has quite a prejudice against the Irish and Anna is even told that the “Irish need our help…They don’t know any better than to cheat, steal, drink and fight. It (is) up to us to show them the cultured and sophisticated way of life. God’s way.”
So, I loved how attitudes changed, both of the DeLacy family and the Irish who come to know them. I also loved how the love of Christ shines through Anna as she loves her sister, her family, her mentor Seamus and ultimately Stephen (it is a romance book, after all!). Great book!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at http://www.jenniferdeibel.com.

The Lady of Galaway Manor was published by Revell on February 1, 2022

To Treasure an Heiress – a novel

Beth Tremayne has always been drawn to adventure. During her childhood, she fed that desire by exploring every inch of the Isles of Scilly. As an adolescent, she dreamed of love in London’s ballrooms. Now, stumbling across an old map on her family’s property, she’s found more adventure than she ever craved in the hunt for pirate treasure. Unfortunately, Beth can’t escape the attentions of her family’s guest, Lord Sheridan.

Sheridan has spent years pursuing whatever archaeological interests caught his imagination. And when he discovers that Beth’s search connects with one of his favorite pirates of history, he can’t help getting involved. Plus, he finds her irresistible, even though she insists he stole a prized possession of hers.

As they work together following different clues and drawing closer to danger, they start to piece together a story of tragic love and piratical adventure. But the true surprise is the treasure they discover in each other.

Pirates and treasures and adventures, oh, my!  This is the second book in the series, The Secrets of the Isles, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a very hard time putting it down. I do recommend reading the books in order, though.

Taking place in 1906 on the islands of Scilly off the shores of England, the key characters in this novel are now Beth Tremayne and Lord Sheridan.  She is obsessed with finding the pirate treasure and he loves archeology.  But as they seek the earthly treasure, they also realize they need to seek God and heavenly treasure.  Ainsley, the manservant of Sheridan, at one point preaches beautifully about the value of a pearl.   

I know when I read a book by Roseanna White that I will always enjoy it.  I highly recommend this one.  It will make you want to go to the Scilly islands and explore.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

To Treasure an Heiress was published by Bethany House Publishers on January 4, 2022.

Never Leave Me – a novel

In the last stages of a genetic disease, Ellen Creighton has decided to live out her remaining days at the estate of her longtime friend Harrison Burlington. Harrison cares deeply for Ellen, but as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, he’s never allowed himself to get serious in a relationship. However, he’s desperately trying to save her by finding the holy water that is believed to heal any disease.

When he locates two flasks, Ellen refuses to drink one of them because she believes the holy water killed her sister and father. In an effort to convince her to take it, Harrison ingests the contents first, and when Ellen witnesses the effects, she can no longer deny the power of the substance in the bottles. Dangerous criminals are also seeking the holy water, and Ellen soon learns they will go to any lengths to get the powerful drug–including sending her back into the past to find it for them.

Bestselling and award-winning author Jody Hedlund plunges you into the swiftly flowing river of history in a race against the clock in this breathtaking, emotional second Waters of Time story.

Such a great book to read! It is the second in the Waters of Time series and I certainly recommend reading them in order.  As a time travel novel, it occurs in the present time and also in 1382 England.  The author does an amazing job of portraying the differences in society and everyday items between then and now, so I loved it. The first book is about Marian and this one is about her sister Ellen and her English friend Harrison.  Ellen inherited Von Hippel-Lindau disease from her mother; and now she is dying.  Her mother has already died from it and her sister and father died trying to find a cure for her, or are they still alive in another time?  Thus begins another race in time; can the holy water heal and can enough be found to heal her?

I found this book enjoyable fiction, knowing that there is no time travel or magical holy water.  However, much as I really enjoyed it, I will caution that it seems like a lot of (clean) romance and little Christianity so I heartily recommend to those who love romance and hesitantly recommend to those looking for a historical, and not romance, book. I wish there was going to be another book in the series since I would love to read more about the Creighton sisters.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Jody Hedlund is the author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

Never Leave Me was published by Revell on January 4, 2022.

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery – a novel

Present Day. After tragedy plunges her into grief and unresolved anger, Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home determined to finally follow her long-denied dream of running Old Depot Grocery alongside her mother and grandmother. But when she arrives, her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that the store is closing. Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a pact to save the store, but Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons–but she’ll certainly never reveal the real one.

1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she’s pregnant with her deceased fiancé’s baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve the family reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.

This dual-timeline story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of a mother-daughter dynamic, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth.

The story of three generations of women, each strong yet also broken in parts, but afraid to admit their weaknesses and secrets to each other. This novel keeps the story very interesting by telling it through the perspectives of the women at different times of their lives.  I really enjoyed it as the heart of the novel is a story of love.  Each woman deals with different things and in unique ways.  I loved watching their story unfold. 

This is the second book the author has written and now I want to go back and read her first novel.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.  I very much recommend this novel.

The Author: Amanda Cox is a blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, but her first love is communicating through story. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers.

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery was published by Revell on September 7, 2021.

Love and the Silver Lining – a novel

Darcy Malone’s dreams of mission work are dashed on her eve of fulfilling them: The Guatemalan school she was to teach at has closed. Devastated because she’s already quit her job and given up her apartment, she also loses the perfect escape from the aftermath of her parents’ divorce. Stuck in her worst-case scenario, Darcy takes an unexpected offer to move in with Bryson Katsaros’s little sister, despite the years of distrust that’s grown between her and Bryson, the lead singer in her best friend Cameron’s band. As she meets those close to him, Darcy realizes that Bryson is more than she believed.

Struck with the need to find a purpose, Darcy jumps at the chance to care for and train a group of dogs, with the aim of finding each a home before their bereaved owner returns them to animal control. But it’s Darcy herself who will encounter a surprising rescue in the form of unexpected love, forgiveness, and the power of letting go.

Can men and women be “just friends”?  Darcy’s been friends with guys for years and as her mission trip falls apart, completely upending her plans for the next year, she must come to terms with the men in her life.  Along the way she goes back to training dogs, and the author does such a wonderful job of describing it: challenging but doable.  I really wish she could train my dog!  The complications of relationships, the hardships of balancing jobs and living situations, yet the joys of life and the need for God are all woven together in a delightful novel. 

This novel is the second in the State of Grace series and although there are references to the previous characters it pretty much stands alone, although one might prefer to read them in order.  I really enjoyed this book and recommend it!  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas, even the erratic weather patterns. Her nine modern and true-to-life contemporary romances include 2017 RITA award winning, My Hope Next Door, and show her unending quest to write high quality, culturally relevant stories with relatable and flawed characters.

When not taxiing her three kids to various school and sporting events, Tammy can be spotted crunching numbers as the financial administrator at her hometown church. Writing has given her a platform to combine her passion with her ministry all while sharing the messy, yet remarkable journey that is a faith-filled life.

Tammy L. Gray has lots of projects going on. For all the latest info, visit her website at http://tammylgray.com

Love and the Silver Lining was published by Bethany House Publishers on August 3, 2021 and is 368 pages.

Hostile Intent – a novel

Ava Jackson entered the military shortly after high school, but her mother’s illness has forced her to request an early discharge. She already lost her father while deployed, and there’s no way she’s going to let her mother die alone. But after a visit to the nursing facility where her mother lives, Ava is attacked walking back to her car. Fortunately, FBI Special Agent Caden Denning arrives in time to help fight off her attacker.

Caden reveals to Ava that she may hold the key to the murders of three families, and he needs her help before anyone else is harmed. The hits show a pattern, and clearly the killer has an agenda. But if Caden and Ava can’t discover what it is, Ava may be next on the hit list.

Bestselling author Lynette Eason concludes her latest suspense-filled series with a bang as secrets are revealed and the guilty are brought to justice.

Awesome!  What a riveting novel!  I loved so many aspects of it from the intense mystery of trying to find the bad guy before he killed another innocent family to the Christian element (not preachy but present) and finally the romance!  So good!

This is the fourth in the Danger Never Sleeps series by the author and although previous characters are mentioned, they are not crucial to the storyline and the book absolutely can be read as stand alone.  There is reference to bloody scenes and torture so I’d not recommend for super squeamish people, but otherwise it fabulous and I highly recommend it!  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Lynette Eason grew up in Greenville, SC. She graduated from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and then obtained her masters in education from Converse College. Author of twenty inspirational romantic suspense books, she is also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). In 1996, Lynette married “the boy next door” and now she and her husband and their two children make their home in Simpsonville, South Carolina.”

Hostile Intent was published by Revell on August 3, 2021 and is 316 pages long.

The Chase – a novel

US Marshal Madison James may not be sure who shot her three months ago, but she does know one thing–it’s time to get back out into the field. When her partner, Jonas Quinn, receives a message that a federal warrant just came in on a man connected to a string of bank robberies, Madison jumps at the chance to get back to work. What she and Jonas find is a bank robbery in progress that’s gone wrong–and things are about to get worse.

For these bank robbers, it’s never been just about the money. It’s about taking risks and adrenaline rushes, and getting caught is not part of the game. When the suspects escape, Madison and Jonas must hunt them down and bring them to justice before someone else–someone close to them–gets hurt . . . or worse.

From Seattle to the San Juan Islands, bestselling author Lisa Harris takes you on a nonstop chase where feelings are complicated and failure isn’t an option.

Phenomenal book!  It is the second book in the US Marshals series by the author and it picks up where the previous book ended.  And it certainly leaves you wanting more!  I really enjoyed this book as the action does not stop as once again US marshals Madison and Jonas try to capture the bad guys, some bank robbers in this case.  Taking place near Seattle, it is a clean suspenseful novel.  The characters briefly mention wrestling with where God is when loved ones die, but overall the book is not preachy.  There is also the cold case woven from the previous book and through this one of who killed the husband of Madison 5 years earlier.  I really enjoyed it and cannot wait for the next one to come out.  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Author: Lisa Harris – below is the official blub about Lisa but my bookclub recently got to chat with her over zoom – it was fun to hear how she writes and how she usually uses only her imagination to weave these fascinating books. We also found out that although some authors have so many more words for their stories and have to cut with editing, Lisa has to add!

USA Today and CBA bestselling author LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom and Vendetta, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times. She has sold over half a million books. She and her family have spent over sixteen year working as missionaries in Africa where she runs a small non-profit organization that works alongside their church-planting ministry. The ECHO Project promotes Education, Compassion, Health, and Opportunity and is a way to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” (Proverbs 31:8)

When she’s not working she loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in Africa visit her website at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com

The Chase was published on July 6, 2021 and is available at all major retailers.

The Shell Collector – a novel

From USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle, The Shell Collector is a touching novel of a friendship that crosses generations, and learning how even the smallest gifts can change a life for good.

Two years after her husband’s death, Amanda Whittier has two children to raise alone, an abandoned dream of starting a business, and a fixer-upper cottage by the sea. She has no room in her life for anything else and little interest in moving on after losing the man she loved.

Paul Grant is a relative newcomer to the area, and his work with former military dogs needing rehabilitation has been good for the town. Though he loved once before, he’s convinced he’s not suited for romance and is determined to find meaning–alone–through his work and role in the community.

Widowed Maeve Lindsay was born and raised on Whelk’s Island. Spirited, kind, and a little mischievous, she pours her life into the town. But she carries a secret that shapes her every move.

Together, these three souls find encouragement in the most mysterious places and discover a love that’s bigger than their pain, healing their wounded hearts in ways none of them could have hoped for or expected.

What a sweet, wonderful book!  Full disclosure – have tissues ready when reading this one!  There were so many parts I loved about this book; I loved the wonderful relationship formed between Maeve and Amanda, multigenerational and so precious.  I loved the beach descriptions.  And the mystery of the shells that randomly showed up.  Although there is some sweet romance, it did not seem like a romance book to me but rather a book on seeing people as they are, where they are.  I loved it and highly recommend it.   I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Author:

USA TODAY Bestselling author, Nancy Naigle, writes love stories from the crossroad of small town and suspense.

With a career spent on the cutting edge of technology in the banking industry, she never let go of her dream to write. Now she works full-time writing stories that are a calming blend of community, family, and the simple things in life. She writes the kind of stories she hopes will provide an escape from the hectic day-to-day in the make believe worlds she creates.

Aside from writing she enjoys hunting for treasures in junk and antique shoppes, and getting crafty no matter what the medium from painting and digitizing embroidery designs, to weaving pine needle baskets. She also enjoys horseback riding on her palomino, Tooter.

A Virginia native, and spending most of her life in the Tidewater area, she now calls North Carolina home.

The Nature of a Lady – a novel

1906
Lady Elizabeth “Libby” Sinclair, with her love of microscopes and nature, isn’t favored in society. She flees to the beautiful Isles of Scilly for the summer and stumbles into the dangerous secrets left behind by her holiday cottage’s former occupant, also named Elizabeth, who mysteriously vanished.

Oliver Tremayne–gentleman and clergyman–is determined to discover what happened to his sister, and he’s happy to accept the help of the girl now living in what should have been Beth’s summer cottage . . . especially when he realizes it’s the curious young lady he met briefly two years ago, who shares his love of botany and biology. But the hunt for his sister involves far more than nature walks, and he can’t quite believe all the secrets Beth had been keeping from him.

As Libby and Oliver work together, they find ancient legends, pirate wrecks, betrayal, and the most mysterious phenomenon of all: love

High society Britain in 1906, when a lady should be just a pretty ornament, is not a comfortable place for botany and microscope loving Libby Sinclair.  When she flees to the Isles of Scilly for the summer, intrigue begins.  First, I had to Google where the Isles of Scilly are and they are off the very southern, western most part of England, extremely near Lands End and Penzance.  It is about a 3 hour ferry ride from Penzance. 

I really enjoyed this book as the mysteries unraveled, who and why the first cottage occupant left suddenly, who was searching for treasure and even what was the mysterious treasure.  I found the descriptions of the islanders fun.  Oliver is the vicar for the islands and has a personal relationship with God.  Libby, on the other hand, is a scientist and more leaning towards the teachings of Darwin.  She chafes at the restrictions placed on her by society.  Yet she and Oliver are drawn to each other as they work to solve the mysteries of the island.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com

Between The Wild Branches – a novel

Ten years ago Lukio fled Kiryat-Yearim, where he’d been adopted by the Levite family who guarded the Ark of the Covenant. Feeling betrayed by everyone, he returned to his birthplace in Philistia to become a famous fighter. Now the champion of Ashdod, Lukio has achieved every goal with the help of his ruthless cousin. But just as he is set to claim the biggest prize of all, the daughter of the king, his past collides with his present in the form of Shoshana.

After a heartbreaking end to her secret friendship with Lukio, Shoshana thought to never see the boy with the dual-colored eyes and the troubled soul again. But when she is captured in a Philistine raid and enslaved in Ashdod, she is surprised to find that the brutal fighter known as Demon-Eyes is Lukio himself.

With explosive secrets and unbreakable vows standing between them, finding a way to freedom for both may cost them everything.

The author, Connilyn Cossette, always amazes me with how wonderful her books are!  This is the second of two books about siblings who escape from the Philistine city of Ashdod to a Hebrew town.  It occurs during the early years of the prophet Samuel.  I recommend reading To Dwell Among the Cedars, the first book in The Covenant House series, before reading this one.  Lukio, or Natan, is the younger of the two siblings and has become a renowned, wealthy, Philistine fighter, the Champion of Ashdod.  As his fame increases, he becomes more and more aware of the discrepancies between life with the Hebrews, which he ran away from, and the life of the Philistines.  Adoption, kindness, forgiveness, and compassion are all part of this novel, yet there are also examples of the extreme cruelty and violence that the Philistines were known for. 

I enjoyed reading this story as it really portrays what the Hebrews were up against as they fought to hold on to their promised land.  And I thought the struggles Lukio encounters as he tries to be honorable in a depraved society were great. But I would not recommend this for a younger reader, although I highly recommend for the mature reader.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Between the Wild Branches was published by Bethany House Publishers on July 6, 2021

The Author: Connilyn Cossette is a Christy Award and Carol Award winning author whose books have been found on both ECPA and CBA bestseller lists. When she is not engulfed in the happy chaos of homeschooling two teenagers, devouring books whole, or avoiding housework, she can be found digging into the rich ancient world of the Bible to discover gems of grace that point to Jesus and weaving them into an immersive fiction experience. Although she and her husband have lived all over the country in their twenty-plus years of marriage, they currently call a little town south of Dallas, Texas their home. Connect with her at www.ConnilynCossette.com.

Never Miss – a novel

Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile’s life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him–and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.

With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there’s no one they can trust–except perhaps each other.

Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out.

Truly a fantastic book!  It was filled with suspense and the action never let up.  There were also some twists that totally caught me off guard.  This is a debut novel and I look forward to reading more by the author. 

In the first chapter Kadance saves the life of Lyndon, which brings up so many questions, to include how she knew to save Lyndon and why was there an attempt on his life in the first place.  Not until the very end do all the puzzle pieces fit together as they race to stop a bioterrorist, and the reader learns more about their pasts.  What a thrilling novel that has assassins, and attacks, and biological weapons.  However, there was not much Christianity in the book and there was also a word used that I do not think should have been in a Christian fiction book.  But, having said that, I enjoyed the book and do recommend it if you like thrillers and suspense.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own. Never Miss was published on May 4, 2021 by Revell.

The Author: Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. She and Corey, her husband of twenty years, live in Jacksonville, Florida, where they do their best not to melt in the sun.

Come Back to Me – a novel

The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? Crazy.

That’s exactly what research scientist Marian Creighton has always believed about her father’s quest, even if it does stem from a desire to save her sister Ellen from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them. But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life, Marian must question all of her assumptions. He’s left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he’s crossed back in time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories and finds herself in the Middle Ages during a dangerous peasant uprising.

William Durham, a valiant knight comes to Marian’s rescue and offers her protection . . . as his wife. The longer Marian stays in the past, the more she cares about William. Can she ever find her father and make it back to the present to heal her sister? And when the time comes to leave, will she want to?

Bestselling author Jody Hedlund is your guide down the twisting waters of time to a volatile era of superstition, revolts, and chivalry in this suspenseful story.

I so enjoyed this novel!  Unfortunately, for me, I finished it way too fast and now have to wait for the next one.  This is the first in the Waters of Time series by the author Jody Hedlund.  I found it so interesting as Mariam first flirts with time travel and then actually takes the plunge back to 1381.  She is ill-equipped for the times – imagine the loss of electricity and Google and cars and air conditioning and bathrooms and so very much more!  Even the place in society for a woman is vastly different, she discovers. 

Because of the scientific experiments and discoveries of Marian’s father, Marian is in a race to figure out what is going on and solve the clues her father has left her.  But will she be able to before it is too late?  I also liked the love story the author weaves in the book, and not just a romantic love but that between two sisters.

What a fantastic novel!  I loved the historical portrayal of the times, especially as seen by someone from my times.  I so highly recommend this book.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Jody Hedlund is the author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

Present Danger – a novel

Former FBI Special Agent Jack Tanner is working as a detective in Montana when he comes across a body in the national forest during a search and rescue mission. He’s committed to finding the killer, even if it means working alongside his old flame, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors.

When Terra discovers that the murder victim had ties to a powerful and dangerous trafficker of archaeological artifacts, the investigation takes a deadly turn–one that hits too close to home. As Terra fears she lacks the courage to face what comes next, Jack is more determined than ever to protect her. But he’s failed her before. And if he fails this time, it will cost them far more than just their hearts.

Join bestselling and award-winning author Elizabeth Goddard as she plunges you into a web of deceit made of hidden crimes, open threats, and long-buried family secrets in this gripping first book of an explosive new series.

This is the first book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series – but if does bring in a few of the characters from the Uncommon Justice series, which is fun if you have read those books but not important to this book.  However, like all the books written by the author, this one is a page turner.  You will not want to put it down as not only do you want to find out what will happen next, there are also a lot of surprises.  I loved the thrilling nature of the book but wish faith had been a greater part although Terra did pop up some small prayers when the going got really tough.  I loved this book and look forward to reading the next one.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: With over one million books sold, Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling, award-winning author of over fifty romance novels and counting, including the romantic mystery, THE CAMERA NEVER LIES–a 2011 Carol Award winner. Four of her six Mountain Cove books have been contest finalists. Buried, Backfire and Deception are finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, and Submerged is a Carol Award finalist. A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to home school her children and fulfill her dreams of writing full-time.

To get book news sign up for her newsletter at her website: http://elizabethgoddard.com

All That Really Matters – a novel

Molly McKenzie’s bright personality and on-trend fashion and beauty advice have earned her an impressive social media following, as well as a big paycheck each month. When her manager-turned-boyfriend says she has an audition to appear as a host on a makeover show that nominates underprivileged youth, her dream of further fame seems to be coming true. There’s just one catch: she has little experience interacting with people in need.

When her manager-boyfriend convinces her to partner with a local organization, she begins volunteering with a summer youth program. The program’s director, Silas Whittaker, challenges her at every turn, but she swiftly grows more attached to the kids–and him–every day.

As Molly experiences an acceptance unlike anything she’s known, she wrestles with the lies she’s been believing about herself for years. She thought she knew what mattered most in life, but maybe she’s had it wrong this whole time, and there’s more to being truly seen than what she’s built her entire life on.

I could not put this book down!  I loved it!  When a wealthy, “Sparkling is my favorite sport”, web influencer gal who loves all things pink and glittery meets a bunch of aged out of the foster system, disenfranchised foster kids with nothing, her perspective on life changes.  Throw in a hunky guy and you have this book!  I loved how real the author made the people and how the online version of people can be very fake, yet in person people can hide things too.  The author also highlighted the need for young people to have caring older people in their lives and how we all need friends.  I genuinely loved this book, even though there were aspects that were very sobering.  I highly recommend it.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Nicole Deese is a Carol Award winner and a RITA and INSPY Award finalist. When she’s not working on her next contemporary Christian romance novel, she can usually be found reading one by a window overlooking the inspiring beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She lives in small-town Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two rambunctious sons, and princess daughter with the heart of a warrior. Find her online at http://www.nicoledeese.com.

All That We Carried – a novel

Ten years ago, sisters Olivia and Melanie Greene were on a backcountry hiking trip when their parents were in a fatal car accident. Over the years, they grew apart, each coping with the loss in her own way. Olivia plunged herself into law school, work, and a materialist view of the world–what you see is what you get, and that’s all you get. Melanie dropped out of college and developed an online life-coaching business around her cafeteria-style spirituality–a little of this, a little of that, whatever makes you happy.

Now, at Melanie’s insistence (and against Olivia’s better judgment), they are embarking on a hike in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In this remote wilderness they’ll face their deepest fears, question their most dearly held beliefs, and begin to see that perhaps the best way to move forward is the one way they had never considered.

Michigan Notable Book Award winner Erin Bartels draws from personal experience hiking backcountry trails with her sister to bring you a story about the complexities of grief, faith, and sisterhood.

Confession – for some reason, the first few pages did not grab me, so I put this book down and read another.  But then I thought I ought to read a few more pages – and then I could not put it down!  It was so good!  Olivia and her sister Melanie embark on a hiking trip; Olivia has researched all things and Melanie appears to be going for the ride, even though she suggested the hike.  They have not spoken in years and in some ways, it was funny with all the disasters they faced.  But it was also engrossing to see, as they trudged along, how their attitudes to so many things change.  I really enjoyed the questions they posed to each other, and those from Josh, a person they encounter on the trail.  Great book to think about why you believe what you believe.

I highly recommend this book!  I am so glad I picked it up again because it is so worth it!  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: ERIN BARTELS is the award-winning author of We Hope for Better Things–a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, winner of the 2020 Star Award from the Women’s Fiction Writers Association in both the debut and general fiction categories, and a 2019 Christy Award finalist–The Words between Us–a 2020 Christy Award finalist–and All That We Carried (coming January 2021). Her short story “This Elegant Ruin” was a finalist in The Saturday Evening Post 2014 Great American Fiction Contest. Her poems have been published by The Lyric and The East Lansing Poetry Attack. A member of the Capital City Writers Association and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, she is former features editor of WFWA’s Write On! magazine and current director of the annual WFWA Writers Retreat in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She lives in Michigan, where she is never more than six miles away from a body of water. She grew up in the Bay City area waiting for freighters and sailboats at drawbridges and spent her college and young married years in Grand Rapids. She currently lives with her husband and son in Lansing, nestled somewhere between angry protesters on the Capitol lawn and couch-burning frat boys at Michigan State University. And yet, she claims it is really quite peaceful.

You can find her on Facebook @ErinBartelsAuthor.

Dreams of Savannah – a novel

Cordelia Owens can weave a hopeful dream around anything and is well used to winning the hearts of everyone in Savannah with her whimsy. Even when she receives word that her sweetheart has been lost during a raid on a Yankee vessel, she clings to hope and comes up with many a romantic tale of his eventual homecoming to reassure his mother and sister.

But Phineas Dunn finds nothing redemptive in the first horrors of war. Struggling for months to make it home alive, he returns to Savannah injured and cynical, and all too sure that he is not the hero Cordelia seems determined to make him. Matters of black and white don’t seem so simple anymore to Phin, and despite her best efforts, Delia’s smiles can’t erase all the complications in his life. And when Fort Pulaski falls and the future wavers, they both must decide where the dreams of a new America will take them, and if they will go together.

I have read other books by the author so was interested to read one taking place in a location and era so different from her previous ones.  Although those differed, the excellent writing and great story did not!  From the beginning I was completely engrossed with the tale and had a hard time putting it down.  I so enjoyed reading this book! 

Dreams of Savannah is the story of a young Southern Belle at the beginning of the Civil War and how her eyes open to what slavery really means.  The author took pains to not only show the bad slave owners but also the good ones, but yet how even the good ones were not good enough, as freedom is a priceless commodity.  She also wove in details about life in pre-civil war Savannah as well as a sweet romance.  I found myself cheering on the good guys and hoping the bad guy would get what he deserved. I highly recommend this book and hope my book club reads it soon.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

Depending on You – a novella

Can the joy and hope of Christmas restore their love before it’s too late?

Leah Whitsett’s life was ideal until the disastrous day she nearly died because of her husband’s deceit. When he returns home weeks before Christmas, she knows the best gift she can give him is forgiveness, but how can she relinquish her hard-won independence knowing he plans to turn their family’s life upside down again?

Bryant has always known his wife was a gift he’d never deserved, but how can he provide for her in a town that no longer wants anything to do with him? He longs to atone for the misery he’s put his loved ones through, but when he brings a family member home for the holidays, he and Leah may end up even further apart.

With emotions high and their marriage at stake, will the season bring the hope they need…or are their rifts too large to mend?

Such a wonderful love story!  And one of the neat things is it is between an older married couple.  Although it takes place in Wyoming in 1884, the circumstances Leah and her husband Bryant find themselves in could so easily occur now.  After a 7 month separation while Bryant was in jail, can Leah forgive him?  Especially with Christmas coming?  There is also the tug of war in her heart between being a good mom to her adult children and being a good wife to her husband.  What real struggles!

This novella is a quick read with only 122 pages.  It is the third and final book in the Frontier Vows series but as it deals with different characters it certainly can be read alone.  I enjoyed reading it and recommend it.   I received a copy of this book from the author. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Much to her introverted self’s delight, award-winning author Melissa Jagears hardly needs to leave her home to be a homeschooling mother and novelist. She lives in Kansas with her husband and three children and can be found online at http://www.melissajagears.com, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

To Dwell among the Cedars – a novel

Eight years ago, when the Philistines stole and then surrendered the ark of the covenant back to the Israelites, Eliora left her Philistine homeland to follow the ark to the community of Kiryat Yearim. There, the family she was adopted into has guarded the ark at the top of a mountain in seclusion. 

Ronen is a Levite musician determined to secret away the ark to a more fitting resting place, watched over by priests who would restore the Holy of Holies. He never expected that the Philistine girl he rescued years ago would now be part of the very family he’s tasked to deceive.

As Ronen’s attempts to charm Eliora lead them in unexpected directions, betrayal leaves Eliora with strained family ties and Ronen questioning his own loyalties. Ultimately, Eliora and Ronen are caught up in the battle for the soul of Israel and its future under the leadership of Samuel, the last judge before the era of the kings begins.

I absolutely love how Connilyn brings the Bible to life! This book is just fascinating! To be sure, it is fiction but certainly much is historically accurate, from either archeological finds or Biblical record. It takes place during the time of Samuel in the Old Testament and is the first book in a new series, The Covenant House. I look forward to reading the following the future ones. It was fun to see a couple of tiny glimpses of characters from the previous series.

More than just nonfictional writing about ancient people of Israel and Philistia, this novel is also the story of two young children, Eliora and Natan, adopted into a family. Eliora loves the family but looks different and subconsciously feels she must work hard and serve well to keep from being rejected. Natan’s struggles manifest themselves through anger and rebellion. Will they realize that adoption is forever, and true love is unconditional?

I LOVED reading this story and wish I could give it more than 5 stars. For those who are squeamish about ancient pagan practices or bloodshed, this might not be for you but for everyone else, I so highly recommend this book! I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author: Connilyn Cossette is a Christy Award and Carol Award winning author whose books have been found on both ECPA and CBA bestseller lists. When she is not engulfed in the happy chaos of homeschooling two teenagers, devouring books whole, or avoiding housework, she can be found digging into the rich ancient world of the Bible to discover gems of grace that point to Jesus and weaving them into an immersive fiction experience. Although she and her husband have lived all over the country in their twenty-plus years of marriage, they currently call a little town south of Dallas, Texas their home.

The Escape – a novel

US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are thrust into a high-profile case when they are called on to transport two prisoners across the country on a private plane. But when the plane experiences engine trouble en route from the Pacific Northwest to Colorado, the pilots crash-land the aircraft deep in the heart of the sprawling Salmon-Challis National Forest.

When Madison and Jonas regain consciousness, they find both pilots and one prisoner dead–and one fugitive on the run. They’ll have to negotiate the rugged and remote backcountry through Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado while tracking a murderer who is desperate to disappear–and will do anything to stop them.

This high-octane game of cat-and-mouse from bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris will have your heart pumping as you try to catch a fugitive with nothing to lose.

I know this is fiction, but I am so thankful that I am not a US Marshall and can sit on my comfy sofa and read about their adventures as they chase the bad guys.  I could not put this book down as no sooner does one crisis end; another begins.  Madison James and her new partner Jonas Quinn have a relatively easy assignment to transport some prisoners on a small, private plane.  But things quickly go bad when the plane crashes in the remote wilderness with a murder on the loose.  The action continues through the book, even to the very end!  I cannot wait to read the next one in the series and I highly recommend this book!  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Author:

LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom and Vendetta, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times.

She has almost forty novels and novellas in print. She and her family work as missionaries in southern Africa. Lisa loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. Visit Lisa’s website to learn more. http://www.lisaharriswrites.com/

Point of Danger – a novel

Radio talk show host Eve Reilly is used to backlash from her pot-stirring on-air commentary and interviews, but now it seems a disgruntled listener is resorting to more than angry words to express their displeasure. When a suspicious package arrives on her doorstep, Eve turns to law enforcement for help.

Police detective Brent Lange can’t find any evidence to link the string of unsettling incidents that follows, but he’s convinced they’re connected. As the harassment grows more menacing, it becomes clear someone wants Eve’s voice silenced–permanently. 

But unless he can track down her foe, fast, the gutsy woman who is willing to take risks for what she believes–and who is swiftly winning his heart–may not survive.

Bestselling author and three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon is back with a heart-stopping new series that will have you turning pages well into the night.

Riveting novel!  Eve is a radio show host who is not afraid to call a spade a spade.  Yet there are people who would like to silence her – for many reasons.  Figuring out who was so interesting, especially as there were lots of choices!  And ultimately, I was clueless who the bad guy was!

From a bomb scare to threatening notes and more, there is a race to find out who is behind the malice.  Yet these continued threats bring Eve and Brent (the detective assigned to the case) together.  I really enjoyed watching them learn to work things out.  This book is the first in the Triple Threat series and I look forward to reading more in this series as I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense novels.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Point of Danger was published by Revell on October 6, 2020.

The Author: Irene Hannon is the best-selling author of more than 35 novels. Her books have been honored with the coveted RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, the HOLT Medallion, the Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine and the Daphne du Maurier Award for mystery/suspense. Irene and her husband make their home in Missouri, USA. Irene invites you to visit her at her website, http://www.irenehannon.com

The Christmas Swap – a novella

All Emma Daley wants this holiday season is a white Christmas. But the young teacher and struggling musician sure can’t find that in sunny Arizona. Luckily, there’s someone living in a perfect mountain home in the Colorado Rockies looking to make a vacation trade this year.

Tyler Prescott is an in-demand songwriter and talented musician who put his own singing career on hold to write songs for celebrity acts to perform. When his mother convinces him to do a vacation trade for Christmas, he never imagined one of the houseguests would be so sweet–or so strikingly pretty. Naturally, he decides to stick around, and, to get better acquainted, he poses as the house’s caretaker. But when Emma’s friend Gillian discovers his true identity and sets her sights on him, things

get . . . messy.

Fan favorite Melody Carlson is back with another delightful Christmas tale to warm your heart on those cold winter evenings. 

What a sweet, magical Christmas romance!  I loved it and so recommend it if you are looking for just a entertaining, feel-good Christmas romance.  Emma, the underdog, is spending another Christmas with her wealthy friend and her family because she really has no where else to go for the holiday.  It is not ideal for her, but it is the best she has got.  But, because of the house swap their family has planned with another family, all sorts of things happen so at points I laughed, and groaned, and cheered Emma on and hoped that true love would find a way, especially at Christmas! It is sappy and delightful and fun and, at only 163 pages, a quick read!  Curl up with a mug of tea and enjoy! I highly recommend it! I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review – all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Christmas Swap was published on September 1, 2020 by Revell Publishing.

The Author: Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.

She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.

Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.