Showing posts with label Books for 2025. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books for 2025. Show all posts

9.24.2025

Hannah and the Nightingale ~ Review

Hannah and the Nightingale
Once in a Wood #4
By Sienna Peake

This was a delightful nod to Hans Christian Anderson's The Nightingale. In this Regency retelling we meet Hannah Bell the eldest daughter of the vicar who has a special talent with a violin. Her musical gift charms the Duke of Arlington and his son Rupert. In keeping with the original tale, Hannah is replaced in the Duke's estimation by a young lady of the peerage. 

I loved how various aspects from the original were reworked into a new enchanting tale. Hannah is kind and giving often to her own detriment. I loved how Rupert saw Hannah and her true worth even when expectations were on him making a better "social" match.

This is the fourth release in the Once in a Wood series but is able to be read and enjoyed without reading the previous stories as this a standalone story complete in this one volume. This is a feel-good story that, while short, will leave you with a smile and a lighter heart.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations, but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expresses are my own.

About the Book:

He's the son of a duke. 
She's the daughter of a vicar. 
Will the power of song bring them together?

Hannah Bell is overwhelmed. Her mother passed away two years ago, and her father is constantly busy with his duties as a vicar, leaving her to manage the household and her five younger siblings. Playing the violin is one of her few sources of solace. When two unexpected visitors arrive in the forest, Hannah's life begins to change. Will her music lead her to a brighter future? Will she have the strength to grasp it?

Rupert de Lacy is the only son of the Duke of Arlington, and he knows he must never forget it. His father expects him to be the perfect model of stiff, stern propriety, but Rupert's heart is set on fairy tales and long walks in the woods. When he stumbles upon a new friend at the edge of the forest, he feels safe to be himself for the very first time. But will he have the courage to move forward, even against his father's wishes?

Hannah and the Nightingale is a sweet, clean Regency romance inspired by the fairy tale The Nightingale. It is the fourth book in the Regency fairy tale retellings series Once in a Wood. Each book is a stand alone work, and the stories can be enjoyed in any order.

Once in a Wood series--Where fairy tale forests meet Regency romance


Pearl and the Baker - inspired by Hansel & Gretel

Rosalyn and the Wolf - inspired by Little Red Riding Hood

Guinevere and the Three Brothers - inspired by Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Hannah and the Nightingale - inspired by The Nightingale

9.22.2025

Watch of Wand'ring Love ~ Review

Watch of Wand'ring Love
The Carols of Christmas
By Kendall Hoxsey


Constance Everston is determined to hold onto Star Ranch as she awaits word on her husband Johnny. Johnny is serving in the Mexican-American war and it has been months since Constance has heard from him. She's barely keeping the creditors away and each day she's slipping further behind.

When she finds a wounded man in her barn, Constance nurses him back to health. But this stranger is keeping a secret, a secret that could change Constance's life forever.

Adam McCleary wasn't just wounded in body but in spirit. He is carrying a secret guilt that could turn Constance against him, and he wouldn't blame her. Worse the secret he's keeping has put Constance and her home clearly in the sights of a dangerous foe, who will do anything to break her completely.

Adam and Constance need a Christmas miracle and a reminder of the gift of God's redeeming mercy and love.

Take a step back in time to 1848 with Watch of Wand'ring Love, a lovely and moving novella that is an enjoyable read. This book is part of the multi-author Carols of Christmas series, and is a standalone title celebrating new beginnings, second chances, and triumph over tragedy.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

In the quiet hills of 1848 California, love is both a refuge—and a reckoning.

Constance Everston doesn’t know if her husband, a soldier fighting in the Mexican-American War, is dead or missing. Star Ranch—her home—is surrounded by opportunists, and she can’t run it alone. Haunted by grief, she’s nearly forgotten what it means to hope—until a wounded stranger collapses in her barn.

Adam McCleary carries more than scars from the battlefield. He holds a final message from Constance’s husband... and a dangerous secret that could cost them both everything.
As Christmas nears and old ghosts stir, Constance must decide whether to bury the past—or let love find her again. But when powerful enemies threaten to steal the ranch and lies twist loyalty into betrayal, she and Adam must stand together to protect the land, the truth, and a second chance neither expected.

A story of resilience, romance, and redemption set against the rugged beauty of Alta California, 
Watch of Wand’ring Love is a heart-stirring novella about loving after loss—and the courage it takes to begin again

Western danger with plenty of romance, Watch of Wand’ring Love captures the rugged land and strong souls in nineteenth century California. A tale of heartbreak and hope.
~Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of 
Of Silver and Secrets

Filled with heartbreak, redemption, and hope, 
Watch of Wand'ring Love is a story that explores loss and the unconditional love that can restore the most broken of hearts. A tale to savor and an author to watch!
~Tara Johnson, Christy and Carol award finalist of 
Engraved on the Heart

Watch of Wand’ring Love 
by Kendall Hoxsey is a tender romance that paints a vivid picture of the west in the nineteenth century—a story rich with heartbreak, resilience, and hope. A new author to be watching.
~Ane Mulligan

Kendall Hoxsey shines in this heartwarming Christmas novella. With romance and intrigue, she wraps a delightful story around two wounded hearts. For readers who love Tracie Peterson or Janette Oke, this author is one to watch!
~Publishers Weekly Best-Selling Author, Jaime Jo Wright - 
The House on Foster Hill

9.15.2025

Heir of Light ~ Review


Heir of Light
Blood of Kings: Legends #4
By Jill Williamson and Niki Florica

Heir of Light, the fourth book in the Blood of Kings: Legends series, was such a good read. I've loved each book in the series, and they have to be read in order to fully enjoy and understand what is happening.

In this book, we are brought into Sir Rigil Barak's world. He is the chosen heir of his father's estate and title. But he feels that his mistakes and failings, which are numerous by his count, make him a poor choice for the role. And his biggest failings - he cannot protect those around him. An interesting take on his life, as he is a knight.

When Rigil's latest mission takes him to Land's End, he comes face-to-face with his greatest failing - Sethe, the young woman he thought captured or killed years ago. But Sethe isn't dead, and she needs Rigil's help to escape the man who is determined to use her in his bloodvoicing experiments in an attempt to overthrow those loyal to Arman, Prince Oren and King Gidon. 

But to free Sethe and to protect Armonguard, Rigil will have to trust Arman completely and let go of his feelings of unworthiness, of failure. Which is a big step for anyone, but for Rigil, it seems impossible.

I won't say this is my favorite book in the series. I don't think I could single out just one, but this was really good and up there at the top. It is appropriate for teens and up, in my opinion. 

I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations, but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book:
Sir Rigil Barak came to Land’s End expecting a routine mission: investigate some rumors, spy on some nobles, and above all, play the perfect knight. Instead, he is reunited with his less-than-shining past--the same past that has kept him on the road for years, fleeing his noble father's scorn and grieving the woman he thought dead.

Until now.

Because in Land's End, he sees a face he never thought he’d see again . . . at least, not outside his dreams. And if she's alive, he'll do anything for a second chance to save her.

Years of captivity to a madman left Sethe with a face full of scars and one rule: never be trapped again. Except, to keep that rule, she'll have to ask for help from Rigil, the thief who broke her heart and abandoned her long ago. Now, years later, he shows up to rescue her from Land’s End like a knight in shining armor? Who does he think he is?

And even if the boy from her past has become a real knight with real honor, can she fall for a man who lied to her?

Maybe that doesn't matter now, because Sethe’s old captor is hot on her heels with a new invention that could turn her into something worse than a prisoner. He could turn her into a weapon.

Fortunately, Rigil and Sethe always did know how to pull off a heist--and if they can steal the enemy’s deadly new weapon, they can save the kingdom. For Sethe, this means trusting Rigil without letting him anywhere near her heart. For Rigil, it means a second chance with the woman whose heart he once broke.

And this time, failure could cost them everything.

Dive into this swashbuckling story of second chances, forbidden love, espionage and epic adventure in this fourth book in the Blood of Kings: Legends series.

9.11.2025

An Irish Kiss ~ Review

An Irish Kiss front cover art features a couple kissing in front of a castle
An Irish Kiss
Fairall Romance Legacy #1
By Carolyn Miller

Rory (Aurora) Fairall never thought she would experience the Fairall Legacy - love at first sight. But then she had never met Aidan Quinn. But their first meeting is a bit of an embarrassment, at least on Rory's part. So, first impressions and all, not looking good on Rory or the family's castle turned hotel business. WHOOPS!

Aidan is looking into his own family's legacy; one his grandmother feels was taken from them. And a break from the stress of his work is just the thing. He never expected to have a holiday romance with a fiery Irish redhead. But Rory is unlike anyone he's ever met before. And there is just something about her. 

But when Aidan's search for answers causes him to question the Fairall family and their claim to the land. Well, Irish hospitality only goes so far when castles are in the balance.

This was a cute read. It was sweet and clean while still providing some swoon for those who like a touch of romance mixed into the drama of life. I'm anticipating the next two books in this series and can't wait to see what lies in store for the other two Fairall sisters.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Book is available to purchase at https://books2read.com/anirishkiss

About the Book:
What happens when a quest to find the family castle leads to an unforgettable kiss?

Aurora Fairall—Rory to her friends—loves her jobs working at the village bookshop and the family castle-turned-boutique hotel, even if she sometimes wonders if this is all God has for her life. She knows she has much to be grateful for—her family, her friends, her faith—but she questions whether the special Fairall legacy that sees its members struck by Cupid’s arrow has passed her by. Until she meets Aidan Quinn—not the actor, but an Australian guest on a genealogical mission to discover his ancestry—and sparks fly.

Aidan never thought his visit to Ireland’s west coast would result in meeting a redheaded firecracker with a bewitching smile and pixie-like laughter. But obviously God knew better. And his quest to learn his kin’s history brings him into the warm embrace of this loud and loving family has helped heal his heart and gives hope that his future might be different to what he’d imagined. Until a question about the true ownership of a castle threatens everything he holds dear…

Can these two opposites find a future even though their lives are worlds apart? And just what role does the Fairall legacy have to play in matters of the heart?

9.10.2025

The Recluse's Vindication ~ Review with Book Giveaway

The Recluses Vindication JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 
The Recluse's Vindication by Danielle Grandinetti, 

The Recluse's Vindication
The Recluse's Vindication 
Our House on Heather Wynd 
By Danielle Grandinetti 

Sixteen years agoBenjamin Ford fled Montana, leaving behind his best friend and the only woman he's ever loved. But to protect Eleanor Finch from the man he's afraid he's become - his father, a murderer. No cares enough to learn the hows and whys of George Browns death. No, they would rather blame the young man who is an easy target for their lying tongues, and the young woman he was trying to protect.

But the years he's been gone haven't been idle ones. No, Ben's been attempting to make a difference as Europe as it falls under the ever-growing threat of Hitler's Germany.  

When word of Ben's whereabouts reaches her, Eleanor has no choice but to travel to Scotland and try to bring Ben home. But the threat that drove Ben from his home and family hasn't stopped hunting him. Could she bring the danger to Ben's doorstep?

This was an enjoyable read that is set in 1933 Montana and Scotland. Poor Ben, feeling as those, he is a monster sympathizes with the monster rumored to exist in the Loch Ness. This also gave the story a Beauty and the Beast vibe throughout. I would love to read future books featuring these characters.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                                                           


About the Book

Title: The Recluse's Vindication 
Series: Our House on Heather Wynd 
Author: Danielle Grandinetti 
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press 
Release Date: September 12, 2025 
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense

The Loch Ness Monster isn't the only recluse seeking a Scottish haven. 

Bieldfell. Scotland, 1933—Falsely accused of murder sixteen years ago, American cowboy Benjamin Ford has chosen to hide out in the Scottish Highlands. Reclusive and not afraid to die, he rescues children out of an increasingly dangerous Germany. When his childhood best friend appears at his door, he's not the boy she remembers. 

Eleanor Finch's life ended sixteen years ago. In one horrible day, she lost her dreams, her reputation, and her heart. However, she never gives up the hope of finding her friend, so when she learns of Ben's whereabouts, she leaves all that is familiar to convince him to return home. 

But Eleanor isn't the only person searching for Ben. Hunters follow her trail. The thin veil of gossip and rumor may be their only chance of a future ... unless the Loch Ness Monster is real after all.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author | Amazon

Also Available


Danielle Grandinetti

About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea, books, and the creative beauty of nature. Her stories combine romance, mystery, and suspense against the backdrop of the 1930s to tell the tale of finding home and hope in hard times. With a master’s in communication and culture and a passion for intercultural communication, storytelling has been her heartbeat for as long as she can remember. Married to her hero, Danielle is a second-generation Italian-American, a dairy farmer’s granddaughter, and a boy mom from Chicagoland who now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline.

Connect with Danielle Grandinetti by visiting daniellegrandinetti.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive paperback copies of: The Recluse's Vindication
The Italian Musician's Sanctuary, and The Heart of Beauty,
all by Danielle Grandinetti!

The Recluse's Vindication JustRead Tours blog giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 10, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 17, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

8.29.2025

This I Know ~ Review

This I Know: A Collection of Historical Fairytale Retellings
Fairy Tale Frenzy
By Molly Anderson, Scarlett Clarke, and Issabelle Perry                                                                                                                                                               

This I Know is a delightful collection of faith-based fairy tale retellings with a historical setting. I loved how each of the three stories created a unique non-magical tale that featured characters that were facing difficulties in life. But hope was found once they looked to God rather than "things of this world." 

Experience The Ugly Duckling, Beauty and the Beast, and the Snow Queen from a talented team of writers who have claimed these fairy tales and made them their own. If you are looking for sweet, clean reads that reflect your faith and values look no further.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

This I Know is releasing on September 2, 2025, and can be ordered at https://amzn.to/45oVx1R along with rest of the books in the collection.

About the Book:

Beyond the Bookery invites you to step into a collection of heartwarming, thrilling, and romantic historical fairy tale retellings.

From a missing childhood friend and a search for the courage to begin a life changing journey in a retelling of The Snow Queen. To a duke’s daughter and her yearning for love while fighting for survival in a war she’s unprepared for in a retelling of The Ugly Duckling. And then to a grieving daughter and her enduring hope for a brighter future in a retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Fall in love with this delightful collection of historical fairy tale retellings in This I Know, coming from Issabelle Perry, Scarlett Clarke, and Molly Anderson on September 2nd, 2025.

8.19.2025

Vanished ~ Review and Giveaway

Vanished JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 
Vanished by Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O'Neal, 

Vanished
Vanished
The Vanished Series #1
By Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O'Neal 

Vanished opens with the world in turmoil: pandemics, war, famine, and natural disasters have ravaged it. Covid-19 was only the beginning, each successive world sweeping illness has become harder to tackle, and the newest is seemingly unstoppable. John (Haggs) Haggerty has been tasked with the special military unit to contain it. Haggs see it as a challenge that he must defeat. But when the newest deadly strain is found elsewhere Haggs and his team are sent in to contain it. Yeah doesn't go to plan. Nope natural disaster strikes and those rumors of war? They are no longer  rumors. 

Adding to the professional stress, is Haggs's guilty. Guilt over a death he could have prevented, over his failed marriage, and his non-existent relationship with his now grown daughter. Haggs wants to change but he's not entirely sure where to begin. His family and best friend know that what he needs is to establish a relationship with God, but that means surrendering the control he holds to. But then it happens and control means nothing in the suddenly changed world Haggs finds himself living in.

This book uses current world events to predict a not so distant possible future where everything is more challenging in the ability to survive from day-to-day. Think Left Behind (Jerry Jenkins) meets The Shepherds (Andrews and Wilson) and get an idea of what this book is about. There is an unending intensity that drives the book, and Hagg, to its conclusion. The cover for this book is perfect for what happens - a world in turmoil. This is a page-turner as disaster follows disaster. Almost makes one not want to get out of bed after seeing the news!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.



About the Book

Title: Vanished
Series: The Vanished Series #1
Author: Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O'Neal 
Publisher: Thomas Nelson 
Release Date: June 30, 2025 
Genre:
Christian Fiction

New York Times bestselling author Dr. David Jeremiah's theological insights are already valued by millions of readers. Now he brings that same depth to novels that explore the end of the world...

As leader of a special military unit charged with stopping potential pandemics before they spread, John "Haggs" Haggerty has a front-row seat to the sharp increase in natural disasters that precede the Rapture--including plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars, and rumors of war. And each crisis is becoming more intense. 

Meanwhile, his own world feels like it's falling apart. He's still caught in the grief of messing up his relationship with his ex-wife, and he's trying to keep it together so that he can show up for his adult daughter before she wants him out of her life entirely. As both personal and professional situations push him to the brink, Haggs finds himself stretched further than ever in his desire to be the kind of good person he knows he should be. 

 Just when it seems as if things might turn around, Haggs is forced to decide between his need to find solutions and his need for personal redemption.  

Vanished is Left Behind for a new generation--apocalyptic action and emotion that's infused with Dr. Jeremiah's perspective and compassion.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | DavidJeremiah.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub


About the Author

Dr. David Jeremiah
Dr. David Jeremiah is the founder of Turning Point, an international ministry committed to providing Christians with sound Bible teaching through radio and television, the Internet, live events, and resource materials and books. He is the author of more than fifty books, including The Book of Signs, The Great Disappearance, Where Do We Go from Here? and The Coming Golden Age.

Dr. Jeremiah serves as the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. He and his wife, Donna, have four children and twelve grandchildren.

Connect with Dr. Jeremiah by visiting davidjeremiah.org to follow him on social media and sign up for email updates.


 

(3) winners will each receive a signed copy of Vanished
an NIV Jeremiah Study Bible, 
and a Dr. David Jeremiah Daily Devotional Living in His Light!
Vanished blog tour giveaway JustRead Tours
Full tour schedule linked below. 
The giveaway begins at midnight August 18, 2025 
and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 25, 2025. 
Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway 
and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. 
No shipping restrictions. 
Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

8.15.2025

Girl Lost ~ Review

 

Girl Lost
The King Legacy #1
By Kate Angelo

Girl Lost is an aptly named book. We have a woman who left behind the life she had years ago and lost herself in the process. We have a missing beloved daughter. A runaway. And a mother searching for the daughter she gave up years ago. Somehow, these seemingly random lives are about to cross paths in this explosive series debut.

Luna Rosati is ready to face the past and find the daughter she gave up years ago. But to find her daughter, Luna must meet with Stryker, the man who helped her turn her life around. But when Stryker is kidnapped before Luna's very eyes, she is forced to work with the very people she left behind 18 years ago. Can you say hurt feelings?

Worse, she must work with Corbin King to find Stryker and bring him home. But can she work with Corbin after he not only broke her heart but shattered it into a million tiny shards? For Stryker's sake and the missing young women, she will.

This was an interesting book. All of Luna's friends from her teenage years were from a mentoring program run by Stryker, to get them off the path to destruction they were all on. The fix? The Warriors Program, which combined MMA (mixed martial arts) and training alongside the local police department.  There were bumps along the way, and mistakes were made, but with Luna's return, they have a chance to repair what was broken and reestablish their broken relationships. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.                                                              
                                                             


About the Book:
Officer Luna Rosati and Special Agent Corbin King are at odds over their failed teenage romance, but they reunite on a mission and must put their past aside. When they encounter a kidnapping, missing bodies, and a murder, the secrets Corbin and Luna keep from one another are only the beginning of the threats they face.

About the Author:

Kate Angelo is an award-winning, bestselling Romantic Suspense author, minister, and public speaker from Southwest Missouri who serves alongside her husband championing stronger marriages and families through their nonprofit.

Her career began in IT as a web developer, programmer, and usability expert, but she left the corporate world to pursue full-time ministry work. Following her passion for story, Kate began writing fiction in 2019. Her 2022 debut novel, Driving Force, is an Amazon Top 100 bestseller written in the storyworld of Lynette Eason’s Elite Guardians series and published by Sunrise Publishing. In 2022, Harlequin selected Kate in the Great Love Inspired Author Search for her novel, Hunting the Witness, a 2023 Publishers Weekly Bestseller. In 2024, Kate received a Selah Award for her novella, Deadly Holiday Hijack.

As Mom to 5 adult children, she’s fluent in both sarcasm and eye rolls. Kate is a coffee aficionado, tech enthusiast, productivity guru, prayer warrior, dog lover, and known klutz—just ask her doctor. Having aged out of foster care, Kate brings a unique perspective to her writing, breathing life into flawed characters who find hope and healing amidst danger. Subscribe to her newsletter learn about her and that pet lion thing at kateangelo.com.


Follow Kate online at:

8.11.2025

Doyle ~ Review

Doyle
Minnesota Kingstons #3
By Susan May Warren

Doyle Kingston is trying to escape the pain of his past, and Tiana (Tia) Pepper is trying to prove she is worth noticing. When they both end up in Mariposa as codirectors of Hope House, they are both more than a little surprised. "Co" was nowhere noted in the job description. Tia takes it as a challenge, and Doyle, well, she's not sure what his take on all of this is, but she can see a disaster in the making.

This is the third book in the Minnesota Kingstons series, and this time we get to know Doyle, who left Minnesota and the family inn behind, as he works on getting his life back together after the tragedy that destroyed it five years ago. (Yes, run-on sentence, but it needs saying.)

Everything is going along fine until Doyle and Tia manage to run afoul of the local gang. Add to that a fundraising event, a treasure hunter, and some unexpected seismic activity, and this story is suddenly ripe for looming disaster. And disaster happens, big time. This actually reminds me of whenever something happens, then everything just dumps at once. 

And poor big brother Steinbeck just can't get a break in his protection detail of Declan Stone. A woman from his past just keeps showing up, and he's pretty sure she's up to no good.  I'm interested in how this story thread develops in the future books.

Lots of suspense and coming to terms with the past and how it has affected their present. A good, quick weekend read.


About the Book:
There's Trouble Up North...

Meet Doyle, who finds peril in paradise in this rivals romance, book 3 in the Minnesota Kingston series by USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren

When love and danger collide, paradise plays by its own rules.

When Tiana Pepper lands on the lush island of Mariposa, she just wants to put her sad past behind her. Her goal is a new beginning as fundraiser and director of Hope House, a local orphanage. Except she’s not the director. She’s co-director, and nobody told her she’d have to work with an impulsive, out-of-bounds, depend on his charm, annoying disaster rescuer, named Doyle Kingston.

She can run this show on her own, thanks.

Doyle Kingston, bearing the weight of his own grief, arrives at Hope House ready to leave behind a history of loss. He hopes to find forever homes for these orphans, and the last thing he expects is to have to work with a woman who thinks she’s the boss of this island paradise.

And yet…they have problems.

Like becoming the target of a local gang.

And boss, Billionaire Declan Stone has invited his fancy friends to the island to see Hope House up close, in hopes they’ll donate and get the orphanage on its feet. So…please, could they work together?

And wouldn’t you know it but among the donors is a treasure hunter who believes a pirate left a stash under Hope House. What-ever.

Then an earthquake rocks the island, kids go missing and Tia and Doyle have no choice but trust each other if they hope to save the children and each other.

Doyle is a pulse-pounding romantic suspense featuring rivals turned rescuers, where opposites attract amidst peril in paradise, are two hearts scarred by tragedy just might find a second chance at true love.

The Minnesota Kingstons
Book 1: Jack
Book 2: Conrad
Book 3: Doyle
Book 4: Austen
Book 5: Steinbeck

8.08.2025

Protecting the Texas Witness ~ Review

Protecting the Texas Witness
Lone Star Defenders #3
By Virginia Vaughan

Isabelle Morris is fleeing from her former employer, after exposing the corruption that she uncovered; she and her daughter have been threatened. A cabin in Texas belonging to her late husband seems the perfect place to hide out until she needs to testify. But they've been discovered, and Deputy Drake Shaw is going to keep them safe.

The deputy who came to her aid reminds Isabelle of her husband, who died ten years ago. Drake insists that he isn't the man Isabelle thinks he is. But there are some similarities that Isabelle can't get past. Is the handsome detective a relative?

Protecting the Texas Witness keeps the suspense ratcheted up throughout as Isabelle fights for her life, her daughter's safety, and justice for those who were hurt by her employer's corruption. There are several mysteries in this one: who betrayed Isabelle, who is Deputy Drake Shaw, and how is her location being revealed?

This was an interesting and easy read. If you like second chances and inspired suspense, add this book to your End of Summer TBR list.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations, except that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own. 


About the Book:
He has a witness to defend...
                    and their future hangs in the balance

Deputy Drake Shaw rescues single mom Isabelle Morris from an assailant's attack, only to be mistaken for her late husband. After exposing the corruption at her health-care company, Isabelle fears danger has followed her and her daughter all the way to their remote cabin. Now Drake must keep them safe long enough for Isabelle to testify against her former boss. But when her child is taken, the stakes are raised. Can they survive to unravel the truth about the present…and the past?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Lone Star Defenders

Book 1: 
Dangerous Christmas Investigation
Book 2: 
Missing in Texas
Book 3: 
Protecting the Texas Witness

8.05.2025

Traitor in the Scottish Isles ~ Review

Traitor in the Scottish Isles
Roxbury Scions #1
By Paige Edwards

This book follows Cairstie Henderson, the youngest daughter in the family, as she deals with the fallout of her ex-boyfriend being caught in a horse racing scandal. No one cares that they broke up before everything broke. Her life as a model and social media influencer is over. And her friends, not so friendly anymore. When a chance at an unexpected inheritance allows Cairstie to escape the scandal and her brother-in-law's friend Sheridan she jumps at the chance to remove herself to a remote Scottish Isle. Now she just needs to figure out how to live without all the amenities she's used to. First up, washing her own clothes and making meals.

When Sheridan turns up on the same island as Cairstie they both have a big problem. Cairstie with Sheridan's role in her recent breakup; and Sheridan because Cairstie knows his true identity, and she could blow his undercover assignment. 

But soon, both are forced to admit that there is more to the other and that their first preconceived impressions just may have been wrong. This actually a very good thing because someone is trying to kill them. And the reason behind all this suspense is because there is a traitor hidden among the locals and they could very well bring Great Britain to her knees if Cairstie and Sheridan canna figure out who is behind these attempts.   

This book had the perfect amount of tension to keep the suspense relevant in this enemies-to-lovers story. I loved seeing how Cairstie changed and grew throughout the story and would love to revisit these characters again.




About the Book:

An intercepted message. Missing MI6 agents. And a traitor hiding in plain sight.

To receive her inheritance and escape a scandal not of her making, wealthy socialite Cairstie Henderson moves to a small town in the Scottish Isles, far from the city lights and runways she frequents. There, she encounters the Irish spy responsible for the public breakup that made her the laughingstock of the Scottish Borders.

Sheridan, a hardened MI6 agent, is on an undercover assignment to locate missing operatives and the mysterious traitor passing top-secret information to the Chinese. Unfortunately, there’s one Cairstie Henderson knows his true identity—and she detests him.

But when Cairstie surprises an intruder, she seeks the one man who can protect her, Sheridan. Over time, these opposites give way to attraction that eventually blossoms into love, but with a dangerous criminal stalking their steps and intrigue around every corner, will Cairstie and Sheridan obtain their happily ever after, or will they end up dead?

Splendor of the Land is Now Available

 

Splendor of the Land is now available. Scan QR code to find your favorite retailer

It's Release Day for Connilyn Cossette's Splendor of the Land, book three in The King's Men series.

Available to purchase at the following online retailers:


7.30.2025

Burning Justice ~ Review

Burning Justice Takeover + Review Blitz
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for 
Burning Justice by Lisa Phillips 

Burning Justice front cover 


Burning Justice 
Chasing Fire: Alaska #6 
By Lisa Phillips 

Fifteen years ago, Maria Sanchez lost her parents, her mother murdered and her father captured. Fifteen years of her father being a pawn, a commodity to be brokered and sold. But now she is so close to getting him back. Of course, she has to do so under the cover of fighting raging wildfires in Alaska.

Kane Foster lost his life saving Marie when she was captured by the enemy, and he's been helping her search for her father ever since. Kane's not a ghost, but he's been declared dead following a betrayal. Now he needs to stop a traitor and help Marie find her father, not so easy when there are Alaskan wildfires to fight and a dangerous weapon to recover. 

Burning Justice packs a wallop in this conclusion to the multi-author Chasing Fire: Alaska series. Danger surrounds them, and it's not only Alaska that's in danger; nope, the entire nation is at risk. But to achieve victory, they'll need to depend on those around them to have their backs because what they are about to face is huge. And they can't let their hearts get in the way of doing their jobs.

To sum this book up in a sentence: Burning Justice is intense, life-threatening action in the face of treasonous betrayal and denied attraction.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own. 

About the Book

Title: Burning Justice 
Series: Chasing Fire: Alaska #6 
Author: Lisa Phillips 
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing 
Release Date: August 5, 2025 
Genre: Romantic Suspense

RESCUE. DANGER. DEVOTION.

THIS TIME, THEIR HEARTS ARE ON THE LINE. 

She's been searching for her father for fifteen years... 

Maria Sanchez has spent her entire career as a CIA operative searching for her father, and she’s not going to let some tough, arrogant former-soldier-turned-hotshot stand in her way. 

His life was upended on a single fateful mission... 

After being betrayed, branded a traitor, and declared dead, Kane Foster has a lot to prove—and he’s not going to let his team—or his country—down. Even if he has to douse the sparks between him and his feisty teammate. Because some things are more important than love. 

Now someone tell that to his heart… 

As the smoke clears on this pulse-pounding series, buried truths will be uncovered and loyalties tested in this sizzling finale to the Chasing Alaska romantic suspense series.

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

More in this Series:

Burning Hearts Burning Rivals Burning Escape

Burning Secrets Burning Truth


About the Author

Lisa Phillips

Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 90 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). As a worship leader for Calvary Chapel churches in her local area, Lisa has discovered a love for mentoring new ministry members and youth worship musicians. Discover the exciting world of Last Chance County at www.lastchancecounty.com.

Connect with Lisa by visiting www.authorlisaphillips.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Burning Justice and a $10 gift card to the Sunrise Shop!

Burning Justice JustRead Giveaway
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. 
Giveaway began at midnight July 30, 2025, and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 6, 2025. 
The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond 
or risk forfeiture of the prize. 
US only. 
Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway


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