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Showing posts with label Second Chances. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Second Chances. Show all posts

11.11.2025

On the Edge of Trust ~ Review

On the Edge of Trust book front cover features woman with dark blond hair blowing across face
On the Edge of Trust
A Logan Point Novel
By Patricia Bradley

Tori Mitchell has avoided home and her father for years. She can't get past the part he played in her mother's death. But when her teenage nephew finds himself on the wrong side of a murder investigation, Tori returns to Logan Point.

Tori is dedicated to finding justice for those she feels were wrongly charged with a crime and found guilty. Over the years, she's ruffled a few feathers. Now she finds the occasional threat has actually become a reality. In addition to helping her nephew, she will also hide out from the person who seems intent on stopping her current investigation. And if her current investigation leads her back home to Logan Point, so much the better.

What she didn't expect was for danger to follow her home and endanger her family. Nor did she expect to reconnect with Scott Sinclair. With her life in danger, Scott is unofficially asked to help protect her, but with an injury that has him unable to use his right hand, Tori is skeptical of his usefulness. But to keep her family safe she agrees to the plan. 

On the Edge of Trust is a page turning read. Yes, this was a late night/early morning read that had me guessing up until the reveal as to the identity of the guilty party. The old adage about webs of lies leading to problems is so true. Adding to this is Tori's unforgiveness and her belief that people cannot change, which has damaged her relationship with her family. Overall this was an engaging and action-filled book. Reading the previous books in the Logan Point series is not necessary to enjoy this book.

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


About the Book:
Sometimes the closer you get to justice, 
the deadlier it becomes


When decorated FBI undercover agent Scott Sinclair suffers a gunshot wound in his right arm, the injury threatens his future career in the field. He is determined to regain his former job by training himself to use his left hand, and failure is not an option--especially when he's unofficially pulled into an investigation.

Tori Mitchell is a passionate crime reporter and podcaster who has dedicated her life to seeking justice. Her relentless pursuit of the truth has freed a wrongfully convicted man from prison, making Tori an enemy of the true killer. When her nephew is accused of a different murder, nothing can stop her from getting involved and clearing his name.

Soon after Tori and Scott reconnect on the case, shots are fired, leaving them to wonder which of them has been targeted. As the investigation intensifies, so do the threats and the sparks between them, but Tori's doubtful if she can extend grace and trust to Scott. They'll have to combine their skills and rely on their growing relationship to outsmart the killer.

Perfect for fans of Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, Elizabeth Goddard, and readers who love faith-based fiction and edge-of-your-seat thrillers, this riveting, clean romantic suspense delivers heart-pounding danger and forced-proximity romance.

11.04.2025

Mistletoe and Malice ~ Review

Mistletoe and Malice JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 
Mistletoe and Malice by Lori DeJong, 

Mistletoe and Malice
Mistletoe and Malice 
Guarded Hearts Series #1 
By Lori DeJong 

Riley Hudson doesn't fit the mold that society expects from her. She isn't a spoiled little rich girl living for her next post going viral. Nope she's an attorney who fights for the wrongly imprisoned, runs various charities, and gives her spare time to serve others. When she targeted in a kidnapping attempt, she thinks it's just a random attack, until it proves to be something more. But why?

Colton Blankenship is looking forward to 12 hours of sleep and then a vacation with his former college buddies. But everything comes to a screeching halt when he gets a new assignment - guarding the daughter of rich client. Oh, joy! NOT!! The last thing wants right now is dealing with a security detail for a society princess. Well, he's about walk into a case that defies his expectations: Riley is more than he expected and she does it well, really well. Now he just has to keep her at arm's length, figure out what's going on with his heart, and keep Riley alive.

Mistletoe and Malice opens with a glimpse into the past. This sets up the rest of the story - giving Riley a case to pursue while dealing with her near abduction. But how does one carry on while dealing with such an attack? That's what Riley has to figure out after being stuck with a team of bodyguards. 

This is a jump into the action and don't stop kind of read. I stayed up way too late and got up way too early because I needed to know what was going to happen next. The is she going to survive this, why is this happening, and who is behind everything kept the intensity on the high end throughout the book. Highly recommended for those who want romance, suspense, and Christian faith to come together in a single well-written reading experience. 

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

About the Book

Title: Mistletoe and Malice 
Series:
Guarded Hearts Series #1 
Author:
Lori DeJong 
Publisher:
Scrivenings Press 
Release Date:
October 21, 2025 
Genre:
Romantic Suspense

He’s sworn to protect her life … but guarding his heart may be his biggest challenge. 

After barely escaping an attempted abduction, Houston attorney Riley Hudson is forced to accept her wealthy father's demand for private security. The last thing she wants is a bodyguard—especially one as maddeningly arrogant, bossy … and handsome as Colton Blankenship. Yet as the threat against her escalates, she begins to rely not only on his skills, but his steadfast presence. 

Colton isn’t thrilled about giving up his hard-earned holiday vacation to protect a spoiled heiress. But he soon learns Riley is nothing like he expected. Fierce, independent, and unwavering in her faith, she’s everything he thought he’d left behind after tragedy shattered his own beliefs. As the unknown threat circles closer, the tension between them ignites into something deeper ... and far more perilous. 

When a second attempt on Riley’s life nearly succeeds, Colton faces a terrifying truth. Protecting her means risking more than just his life. Haunted by a past he can't outrun, and a faith he’s all but lost, he must decide if he can trust God again ... before he loses Riley—and his heart—for good.  

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

Also Available


About the Author

Lori DeJong

Lori DeJong is a contemporary Christian romance author who enjoys penning stories full of grace and the redemptive power of God’s love that inspire others to hope regardless of circumstance, find joy in the moment, and grow in their faith. She resides in Georgetown, Texas, with her husband and two fur-babies, with a daughter and son-in-love in DFW. Lori's debut novel, Love's True Calling, was the 2022 winner of the ACFW Genesis Award for Romance, a double finalist in the 2024 Selah Awards, and was named the 2023 Scrivenings Press Contemporary Book of the Year. Love’s True Home, Book 2 of the True Calling Series, was a 2025 Selah finalist. Love’s True Measure released in June. Lori's Christmas novella, Jingle Bell Matchmakers, a part of A Match Made at Christmas novella collection, was named a 2025 ACFW Carol Award finalist.

Connect with Lori by visiting loridejongwrites.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card, a signed copy of Mistletoe and Malice, and a signed copy of A Match Made at Christmas novella collection (released in Oct 2024)!

Mistletoe and Malice JustRead Tours blog tour giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 3, 2025, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 10, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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

JustRead Publicity Tours

10.29.2025

So, To Honor Him ~ Review

So, To Honor Him
The Carols of Christmas
By Alice Monday

Elizabeth Parks finds her shaky faith tested when her husband dies from yellow fever. Before he is even buried Elizabeth finds that she must determine where her future lies. Does she stay in the South with its ties to slavery or does she move North where slavery is not allowed. But when war divides the nation, she finds herself on the wrong of the conflict.

But she is where God needs her to be when a young drummer boy is injured during the fighting. Samuel needs nursing and Elizabeth is willing to provide it and help him return to his home in the North. Helping Samuel is the first step in the healing she needs, but it also allows her to reconnect with the God she blames for her loss. Could God have an even better future for her than she expected? Elizabeth is about to discover the future she never expected and with it a second chance at love.

Discover the abiding love of God in this Historical Christmas Romance that will take you from sorrow to joy in this moving story.

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



About the Book:
A Civil War nurse’s journey from heartbreak to hope.

Set during the American Civil War, Elizabeth Parks renounces her faith in God in the wake of her husband's sudden death by yellow fever. Feeling lonely and trapped, she throws herself into the nursing of wounded soldiers following the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, and hopes she will find some comfort in helping others. When a gravely injured, drummer boy soldier named Samuel Gordon arrives at Charlottesville General Hospital, Elizabeth finds purpose in nursing the child back to health so that he can make it home for Christmas.

With Samuel’s Christmas wish driving her forward, Elizabeth leaves her home in Virginia to accompany Samuel back to his father’s home in Maryland where he hopes to play his drum for his father, Thomas. Along the way, war and loss continues to threaten them at every turn, but Elizabeth also catches a glimmer of hope against such suffering as Samuel relays Bible stories, including the story of Jesus’s birth, to Elizabeth. When they finally reach Samuel’s father Thomas, Elizabeth’s heart begins to heal. As she helps care for Samuel and spends time with Thomas, Elizabeth questions whether she should remain in mourning or open her heart to new love and embrace the peace that only comes through trusting in His plan.

Inspired by the song, “The Little Drummer Boy,” So, To Honor Him released on October 27, 2025. It is part of The Carols of Christmas, a multi-author series, though it can be read as a standalone novella.

10.22.2025

Snowbound Threat ~ Review

Cover of Snowbound Threat a multi-author collection of Christian Romantic Suspense holiday stories
Snowbound Threat
Do You Hear What I Hear
By Lisa Phillips, Mary Alford, and Jessica Ashley

This collection will keep you up reading late into the night. Each of the three stories has links to the past that cloud the who-dun-it aspects. But investigating the past brings the danger into the present with lives on the line.

In Home a DEA mission gone wrong when traitors frame him, finds Caleb Rourke hiding out at his grandfather's home. What Caleb didn't expect was getting his grandpa and Tessa Langley, the girl next door caught up in his mess. Lives are on the line and long held secrets come to light in this page turner. And there are plenty of secrets. Now I need a story about Caleb's twin brother Noah!

In Silent Snowfall Secrets Charlie Wells comes home following the unexpected death of her grandfather. But what she finds are the ghosts of her past that had her fleeing Pine Haven all those years ago. But some secrets aren't meant to remain buried forever. But someone is determined to do just that. I was definitely kept in the dark as to who was the killer. Let's just say the suspense was kept at a high throughout. 

In Critical Velocity Beckett Wallace has spent the last ten years convinced that her late husband was murdered. With information, new but vague she sets out to discover the truth behind her husband's death. But to do so, she must reach out to Detective Shawn Sampson, whom she battled against in the past. Will Shawn work with the woman he hasn't heard from in years? And was the information she was given legit? And why now after ten years?  Another page turner high in suspense with hints of potential romance.

This is great way to experience the works of three author in one book. Perfect if you need something with plenty of suspense and a pinch or two of romance. Nothing overly graphic in regard to the suspense department to give you nightmares. And the romance is on the sweet side with a touch of angst.

I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are mine own.

About the Book:
Home - Lisa Phillips
Left for dead by a treacherous DEA team, Caleb Rourke returns to his quiet hometown in Montana, seeking to escape his troubled past. When his neighbor, Tessa Langley, discovers encrypted documents hidden in her father's secret safe, Caleb’s return takes a perilous turn. He soon realizes that both his enemies and an enigmatic ally know exactly where to find him. Tessa's family becomes a target for those intent on keeping the truth buried. Determined to protect her, Caleb confronts the secrets his own parents concealed for years. Together, they must rely on their faith, each other, and a God who sees what remains hidden. This Christmas isn’t just about the holiday—it’s about the future they could build together.

Silent Snowfall Secrets - Mary Alford
In the snowbound town of Pine Haven, Colorado, Charlie Wells returns home to settle her uncle’s estate—and stumbles into a chilling mystery. Fifteen years earlier, her best friend Abby vanished during a midnight meeting. Now, someone is determined to keep the past buried at any cost. As a deadly blizzard isolates the town, Charlie and deputy Ryan McCabe race to uncover the truth behind Abby’s disappearance and a string of deadly secrets tied to Charlie’s tragic past. But the closer they get, the more dangerous their search becomes—and the killer watching from the shadows will stop at nothing.

Critical Velocity - Jessica Ashley
Ten years after her husband’s plane crash, Beckett Wallace receives proof it wasn’t an accident. To find the truth, she must team up with Detective Shawn Sampson—the guarded man she hoped never to see again. He hasn’t forgotten the sharp-tongued lawyer who nearly wrecked his last case. Working together is a terrible idea… but their only shot. As danger closes in and sparks fly, the truth might cost them everything. And for Shawn, protecting Beckett may mean risking more than his badge—it may cost him his heart.

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.

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

7.23.2025

Of Sea and Sorrow ~ Release Day Review

Of Sea and Sorrow
Victorians at the Beach
By Heloise C. Kensington

Edith Linton's younger brother, Theo, is ill with consumption, and the only hope for him is the seaside town of Weymouth, although Edith has reservations about its curative qualities and the doctor overseeing his care. 

Dr. Henry Forester's new medical methods are viewed with suspicion. These include opening windows, frequent hand washing, changing linens, and disposing of soiled rags. Henry hopes he can aid Theo, but the long-term outlook is not good due to the length and severity of his illness.

As Henry becomes more involved in the Linton family, friendships form. Edith continues to hold him at arm's length until an accident allows her to see him with new eyes.

This book is a moving story of hopes, broken hearts, and misunderstandings. Both Henry and Edith manage to not share their thoughts when it is most important. Instead, misunderstanding and loss threaten to separate them forever. Edith is very stubborn and is her own worst enemy. She shares one trait with Mr. Darcy; her good opinion, once lost, is not easily changed. But overall, this was an easy read. Fortunately, her brother Theo opens Henry's eyes to the reasons behind Edith's "prickly exterior."

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


About the Book:

Disappointed in love, Edith Linton has given up on her dreams of matrimony and a home of her own. Concerned about her beloved brother’s health, she acquiesces to a summer by the sea after her mother determines it is the only way to improve his health, setting aside her own worries about her future.

Recently returned from the war in Crimea, Dr. Henry Forester hopes to improve medical practices in the seaside town of Weymouth, England. Not everyone is receptive to his new methods, especially his new patient's protective older sister.

Will Edith and Henry find a way to see past their differences? Or will all hope for the future pass before it has a chance to thrive?

Part of Victorians at the Beach, a series of standalone sweet Victorian novellas. Of Sea and Sorrow is a standalone novella in the Victorians at the Beach series, where seaside summers meet sweet romance.

7.21.2025

The Lady of Red River Valley ~ Release Day

Front cover art of The Lady of Red River Valley featuring a man and woman in an embrace
The Lady of Red River Valley
Ladies of the Wilderness #2
By Gabrielle Meyer


For the last three years, Arran MacLean has worked tirelessly to establish a permanent settlement near Lake Winnipeg. If he can hold the colony together for five years, he has been promised one thousand acres of land. However, the colony's enemies have driven the colonists from the land at every opportunity. But Arran holds steady, believing in the dream that brought him to this place.

Lady Eleanor Brooke refused Arran's offer of marriage, not because she didn't love him, but because of her father. Now she has nothing, and the unfamiliar, harsh world that she has traveled to could steal all she has left - her life. Arran is determined to see her gone, but winter and its challenges have tied her to the colony until at least spring. 

This is a story of differences and misunderstanding, where those in power fail to heed the words of wisdom offered by those who see beyond the current situation. Arran sees danger and that more needs to be done to ensure the settlers' safety. He is willing to sacrifice his second chance at love to keep those dear to him safe. However, there are times when all our planning cannot control how life unfolds, and this is just such a time.

This story explores the turbulent history of the Red River Valley in Winnipeg in 1815 and the efforts of those seeking to claim the land as their own. There are several intense scenes that stayed with me long after I put the book down.  I appreciated this glimpse into Canadian history. I've read about the issues surrounding the Hudson Bay Company before, but nothing that brought it to life like this book did.   One can't help but root for Arran and Eleanor to have a chance to be together and to be out of harm's way. This one tugs at the emotions, so you may want a tissue or two nearby.    

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


About the Book:

By 1815, Arran MacLean has been working for three years to build the Red River Colony near Lake Winnipeg. Each year, the colonists have been driven out by disease, hunger, and their enemies, the North West Company. He's thankful that the woman he loved, Lady Eleanor Brooke, had enough sense to turn him down when he asked her to marry him. But her rejection still haunts his memories.

Lady Eleanor Brooke has one regret, not marrying Arran when he proposed to her four years ago. At the time, her father had been in deep financial trouble and needed her to marry well. Now, with her father in Newgate Prison, and a scandal hanging over her head, Eleanor has nothing left to lose. She travels to the Red River Colony as a teacher, hoping to rekindle her relationship with Arran, but quickly realizes that coming to the North American Wilderness was a mistake.

Life in the colony is dangerous and heartbreaking, and Arran doesn’t want Eleanor to suffer. He plans to put her on the first ship back to England in the spring, but his plans are thwarted when their enemy attacks, and they are faced with insurmountable odds. When the worst happens, will they have what it takes to fight for the Red River Colony, and for each other?

7.16.2025

Amidst Ruins and Remembrances ~ Release Day and Review

Amidst Ruins and Remembrances
Victorians at the Beach
By Amy Newbold

Eloise Deighton has gotten over the broken heart Griffith Hastings left her with when he promised to come back for her. He never did. At 26, Eloise knows her days as an eligible lady have come to an end, and she's good with that, really. After several years in London, she has returned to Whitby and its shores. If only she felt as if she belonged somewhere. 

But now Griffith, a widower, is back, and he has brought his young daughter with him. Can the past, with its pain, be overlooked? Can love bloom again? 

My favorite line from the book is: "No one can foresee the future. What you have to decide is this: can you live with it if you never find out the answer?" Eloise and Griffith have a chance at their dream from ten years ago. This was a sweet read that provided a lovely evening of enjoyment

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

About the Book:

Where the ruins meet the sea, can love find a second chance?

Eloise Deighton grew up sharing secret adventures along the shores of Whitby, England, with summer visitor Griffith Hastings. One summer, Griffith declared his love for her and promised to return. He never did, leaving Eloise’s heart in ruins.

Now a widower, Griffith returns to the seaside town he loved as a boy, hoping to forge new, happy memories with his six-year-old daughter.

A chance encounter between Eloise and Griffith causes old memories to sweep in like the tide. Eloise’s resolve to protect her heart is crumbling like the abbey ruins, yet she fears Griffith will abandon her once again. Griffith is determined to win her back, but he will have to convince her that he has changed. Can the sea that once united them bring a second chance at love?

Amidst Ruins and Remembrances is a standalone novella in the Victorians at the Beach series where seaside summers meet sweet romance.

7.13.2025

Perilous Tides ~ Review

Perilous Tides
Hidden Bay #2
By Elizabeth Goddard

When her father disappears, leaving a cryptic message, Jo Cattrel leaves the safety of where she has been hiding. But her fruitless efforts put her in the sights of the very people she's been hiding from for the last three years. What Jo doesn't know is why someone is after her. Is the murder she witnessed tied to her mother's death and her father's disappearance? Or is it merely a coincidence?

When Cole Mercer suddenly comes back into her life, Jo wants to keep him out of it. She doesn't need him to break her heart again, but he's promised to help her find answers and to keep her alive. 

In Perilous Tides, secrets are the prevailing theme. Secrets that Cole is keeping about his abrupt departure, all those months ago. Secrets that her parents kept from her. And the questions she and Cole have dug up. And why is she a target? Is there something from her past that she can't remember?

From the opening chapter, this book jumps right into the action. There were several twists that I didn't see coming, and they really amped up the suspense angle. Cole wants a second chance with Jo, but he needs her to understand his reasons, which is a little difficult when there are secrets between them. Again with the secrets, poor Jo. Overall, a good story with lots of suspense and a major mystery to solve, so a good sequel in the Hidden Bay series.

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:
Three years after her mother's suspicious death, forensic artist Jo Cattrel is in hiding, working at a storm-watching lodge along the Washington coast. When her father sends her a disturbing and cryptic message, Jo leaves the safety of the lodge to find him. But during the ferry crossing, Jo witnesses a murder--and becomes a target.

More surprising to Jo than being in danger is the identity of the person who steps in to protect, none other than her ex, former Green Beret Cole Mercer. Now a private investigator, Cole has been looking into her mother's death. If he can just uncover the truth, maybe Jo can end her self-imposed captivity and the two of them can pick up the pieces and build a future together.

As Cole and Jo search for answers, the past rushes in like a dangerous tide to sweep them away before the truth can be revealed.

In this action-packed thriller, USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard serves up a complex plot and the sizzling romance readers have come to expect.

2.03.2025

The Mouse and the Fairy ~ Review

The Mouse and the Fairy
The Intertwined Tales
By H. Eleanor Long

Hailey's been cursed, and the only way to break her curse is through true love. Well, Hailey's pretty sure true love isn't going to find her as she is a widow and she has been turned into a mouse. The mouse part is a bit problematic when you know you need to break a curse by finding true love. But other than knowing she'll spend the rest of her life as a mouse life is pretty good. She has a dear friend, Egbert, who is cursed to be a mole and a young woman, Thumbelina, whom she views with motherly affection. And then there is the cat, who is also cursed and he wants to eat her. So maybe everything isn't great, but she's resigned to her fate.

But when a fairy prince decides that Thumbelina will be his sweetheart, her life takes another unexpected turn. She needs to help Thumbelina meet all the challenges that will prove her a sweetheart worthy of a fairy prince. Neil doesn't have any expectations of marrying Thumbelina but she is a very pretty and sweet young woman. He also enjoys the time spent with Hailey, and when a substitute sweetheart needs to step in Hailey is a lovely substitute. 

This is a lovely retelling of Thumbelina and The Forest Bride. The weaving together of these two fairy tales is seamless resulting in a unique retelling that entertains and holds the readers attention throughout. I would recommend this book to readers 12 and older without hestitation, as this is a clean read.

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.


Retelling Thumbelina and The Forest Bride


About the Book:

A fairy prince. A mousy widow. A contest of crowns—or hearts?

Hailey’s life has been anything but smooth. From the death of her husband to being cursed into a mouse, nothing has gone right. Her only solace is the kindness of her dear mole friend, Egbert, and the companionship of a sweet girl named Thumbelina. But just as Thumbelina and Egbert get closer, a handsome stranger crashes into their burrow…

Neil has never had any hope of inheriting the throne as the second of three princes. But when his father declares an unexpected contest for the throne, Neil must find a sweetheart right away. When he awakens after crashing in the snow to find a beautiful maiden caring for him, he considers Thumbelina a gift from above. But if fate brought him to Thumbelina, why does his heart beat for her mouse friend?

Retelling Thumbelina and The Forest Bride

The Intertwined Tales is a multi-author series of clean fairytale retellings. Each novella entwines a famous fairytale with a lesser-known story to create one happily ever after. These standalone stories can be enjoyed in any order.


11.25.2024

Dangerous Christmas Investigation ~ Review

Dangerous Christmas Investigation 
Lone Star Defenders #1
By Virginia Vaughan

Deputy Sabrina Reagan is on a mission, and nothing is going to get in her way. She will bring down the man she blames for her brother's overdose, and threats won't stop her. Her grief and anger turned against the man she loved and planned a future with. Now Detective Jake Harris is back in town working undercover to bring down the same man that Sabrina is after.

But there is a little secret between them, a four-year-old son that Jake never knew about. Jake's reaction is understandable - shock, anger, and loss. But if the two of them can't work together and get past their feelings of betrayal, they may not live to see what the future holds for them.

Dangerous Christmas Investigation is the first book in Virginia Vaughan's Lone Star Defenders series. If you have read her in the past, you won't be disappointed in this newest offering. I have to be honest; Sabrina annoyed me. Her whole attitude was just out of proportion concerning Jake. She took risks and allowed herself to be blinded to other matters of importance in her drive to get justice. I do get it: grief made her respond in a certain way, and then she was left to live with the consequences of those moments. Overall, this was good series debut.

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:
An undercover mission…
turns into a fight for survival.

Agreeing to take his late twin brother’s place in an undercover DEA operation reunites detective Jake Harris with a familiar face—and throws him into the line of fire. After he and his ex-girlfriend, Deputy Sabrina Reagan, survive a drive-by shooting, they’ll have to work together to capture a merciless drug trafficker. But when a price is placed on her head, Jake discovers Sabrina has a secret—his four-year-old son. With armed criminals out for blood, can Jake dismantle this drug operation to protect the family he didn’t know he had?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Lone Star Defenders

11.12.2024

Across the Ages ~ Review

 Today, I am thrilled to feature Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer, the fourth book in the Timeless series.

One woman. Two separate lifetimes. A life-altering decision that could reshape her destiny.

This series has an intriguing premise: there are people among us who live in a second time period. Going to sleep finds you living your second life. You don't dream; you live.                                

In Across the Ages, Caroline dwells in 1727 and 1927. In both, she seeks answers about the "curse" she was born with. Could the answers she seeks come from the mother who abandoned her as a baby?

When a series uses a unique split-time scenario, such as this one, one would think it would become stale, but each time, it comes across as fresh and new. And with pirates in one timeline and gangsters in another, it is not boring.        

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. 


Purchase at: 

http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/across-the-ages/422230
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209357000-across-the-ages (or another link with purchase info 

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Series: Timeless #4
Release Date: November 5, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Time-Travel Romance Fiction