The Last Noel ~ Review

The Last Noel

A Romantic Suspense Christmas Collection

By Sarah Hamaker, Jayna Breigh,
      and Kimberley Woodhouse

This was a book filled with suspense and second chances set at Christmas time. I loved how all three stories have titles that ask, "Do you...?" 

In the first story, Sarah Hamaker gives us Do You See What I See? which finds Oakleigh Wright on the run from an unknown danger at the behest of her foster sister with said sister's two children. But when Oakleigh finds herself in desperate need she reaches out to the man she thought she would one day marry. It's the season of miracles and Oakleigh needs one pronto. 

Next up is Jayna Breigh's Do You Hear What I Hear? which finds Elise Sinclair's job as a trial lawyer crushing her Christmas plans which brings her face-to-face with the fiancé who broke her heart over the opportunity of a lifetime that didn't go so well. With a tight timeline Elise has to rely on Jack to help her find proof that a company knowingly hid important details that caused life-altering damages. Could this search help Elise forgive the man she still loves? Maybe if he can own up to just how wrong he was.

The final story is Kimberley Woodhouse's Do You Know What I Know? which finds Faith Thibodeaux recovering from a horrible accident that was one more betrayal in her life. But Faith is making a name for herself in Alaska with her authentic Cajun-style food truck. When her ex-boyfriend shows up in Alaska let's just say it becomes a newsworthy event and finds them in a Gumbo cookoff. This story has a tie in to the author's previous Alaskan romantic suspense series which made this a fun read - though intense.

Each story is clean reading Romantic Suspense set during the Christmas season which gives warm fuzzy feelings unless your hoped-for love interest dumps you before showing up to throw Christmas into a jumbled mess of feelings and hoped for second chances. Of course, there needs to be a bit of sleuthing before hopes of a happily-ever-after can be explored. This is a great way to discover a new author with this 3-in-1 book.

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

About the Book:

Christmas novellas from three award-winning suspense authors
The Last Noel is a riveting Christmas novella collection with suspense, intrigue, and second-chance romance.

Do You See What I See? by Sarah Hamaker
Oakleigh Wright's estranged foster sister reappears late one night desperate to hand off her children. Oakleigh agrees to bring them to their aunt out of state, but her travels are intercepted by a ruthless gang. She turns to her ex, Joseph, for help. Will they rekindle their love as they uncover what the gang seeks?

Do You Hear What I Hear? by Jayna Breigh
Trial lawyer Elise Sinclair resigns herself to a lonely Christmas reviewing legal documents—until her renegade fiancé, Jack, reappears. He is jobless, broken, and seeking forgiveness. Can two battered hearts overcome secrets and restore their love?

Do You Know What I Know? by Kimberley Woodhouse
When Faith Thibodeaux returns to her Cajun-style food truck in Alaska after an accident, the last thing she expects is to find out that her ex-boyfriend is the executive chef of a new restaurant. When they return to their hometown over the holidays to fundraise, will the "friendly" competition restore their love or rip them apart forever?


"This Christmas collection delivers everything readers love about the season―hope, healing, and love that refuses to let go."
―Jenelle Hovde, author of No Stone Unturned and The Light of Stars

Shield of Honor ~ Cover Reveal

I'm thrilled to take part in 
Sunrise Publishing's Cover Reveal
for

Shield of Honor 
Blood of Kings: Legends #8
Jill Williamson presents Andrew Swearingen

Title: Shield of Honor

Series: Blood of Kings: Legends, Book 8

Authors: Jill Williamson and Andrew Swearingen

Publisher: Sunrise Publishing

Pre-order sale price: $4.99 (ebook)

Retail price after release: $7.99 (ebook)

Release date: January 5, 2027

Available in ebook, print, & coming to audiobook

at Sunrise Shop: https://sunrisepublishing.myshopify.com/collections/blood-of-kings-legends

or at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shield-Honor-invented-marriage-feelings-ebook/dp/B0H5ZLSN6C

SYNOPSIS

She invented a husband to save him. She didn't expect him to take the job so seriously.

Squire Derby Wenk has one goal: sail south to his sick mother.

The last person he expects to find on a merchant ship full of ruffians is Lady Lathia Livna — cousin to the queen, daughter of the house he serves, and the last woman in ErRets who should be traveling alone.

She's clearly hoping he'll pretend he didn't see her.

Not a chance. His duty is plain: see her safely home.

But Lady Lathia isn't turning back. She came to Land's End to help her best friend — and to finally live on her own terms. She didn't plan on Derby following her off the ship. When thugs close in and the black knights come to detain Derby, she blurts out the only thing that can save him: "He's my husband!"

Derby is the squire she spent years outmaneuvering, dismissing, and deliberately mispronouncing his name just to watch him flinch. Now she's trapped inside Volstone Castle, in a fake marriage, trying to help her best friend survive a treacherous courtship.

Except Derby is not who she thought he was. He swears the Shield Oath — a warrior's vow to stand between her and all harm, freely given, when nothing requires it. He's kind. He's steady. He would give his life for her.

And the lie she invented to save him keeps growing inconveniently real.

But someone wants control of Land's End — and they'll burn everything in their path to take it. When Lathia is caught up in danger, she'll have to trust the one man she never wanted to rely on…her husband.

She came here to disappear. She never planned on being found.

An epic story about a runaway noblewoman who stopped believing in rescue, a loyal man who can't stop showing up, and a God who keeps standing in the gap.

Now for the cover!

Blood of Kings: Legends

Book 1: Squire of Truth
Book 2: Lord of Winter
Book 3: Lady of Shadows
Book:4: Heir of Light
Book 5: Queen of Reckoning
Book 6: Son of Embers
Book 7: Guardian of Hope
Book 8: Shield of Honor

About the Authors:

Jill Williamson is a multi-passionate creative who loves the arts. She’s written over two dozen books for readers of all ages and is best known for her Blood of Kings fantasy series, two of which won Christy Awards and made VOYA magazine’s Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror list. She produces films with her husband and teaches about writing at conferences. Visit her at jillwilliamson.com.

Andrew Swearingen is a speculative fiction author who loves writing epic tales of courageous heroes, pulse-pounding adventures, and the occasional sea monster just to keep things interesting. In his nonwriting time, Andrew enjoys hiking in the Shawnee National Forest with his wife, building sprawling Lego cities with his son, and searching for his next favorite nerdy board game. For more information, visit him at AndrewSwearingen.com.

Additional information and suggested posts

Primary Tropes

Fake marriage

Runaway noblewoman

Loyal squire / protective hero

Forced proximity inside an enemy castle

She falls second (he falls FIRST)

The Shield Oath (a warrior's vow, freely given)

Political conspiracy

Slow-burn romance that earns every page

A faith that keeps standing in the gap

Clean. No spice.

READERS WILL LOVE…

• A fake-marriage romance that starts as a desperate lie and becomes inconveniently, beautifully real.

• A loyal squire hero who keeps showing up—long after duty requires it—and swears to stand between her and all harm.

• A runaway noblewoman who stopped believing in rescue—and the man who can't stop proving her wrong.

• Forced proximity inside a foreign castle, a political conspiracy closing in, and a faith that keeps standing in the gap.

• Clean fantasy romance. Big stakes. No spice. A slow burn that earns every page.

Cover Reveal for Of Slippers and Sacrifice

It's time for a Cover Reveal!

Katherine Weda's Of Slippers and Sacrifice, 

a Fairy Tale Fantasy retelling of 

the Wild Swans 

AND 

the 12 Dancing Princesses, 

is coming January 2027!

Preorder from Amazon

and be sure to add it to your 

Want to Read list on GoodReads.

The cover was designed by author Madisyn Carlin 

of Mountain Peak Edits and Design.

Safehouse Under Siege ~ Review

Safehouse Under Siege

Lone Star Defenders #5

By Virginia Vaughan

Four years ago, Emily Matthews' life was changed when she witnessed her fiancé murder before her very eyes. Since then, she has been hidden away from the life she had before. But someone is determined to silence her, and they won't let WITSEC's anonymity stop them.

Four years ago, Wyatt Briggs lost his brother and the woman who brought so much to their lives. When a fellow US Marshal reaches out to let him know Emily's identity has been compromised and that a mole exists within their organization, Wyatt vows to do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

But first he has to find her in a small town called Mercy, Texas, with no resources he can call on to help him get her to safety before it is too late.

After four years of living as someone else, Emily is not ready to just pack up and run. What's to stop the man hunting from chasing her for the rest of her life? She's got friends in Mercy and people she trusts to help keep her safe. But can she convince Wyatt that they need to stand firm in Mercy? Or will they flee in the night, leaving questions in their wake?

Safehouse Under Siege is the fifth book in Virginia Vaughan's Lone Star Defenders series. This a clean romantic suspense from the Love Inspired Suspense collection. You can expect twists, community, found family, clean/wholesome romance, non-graphic violence, second chances, and near escapes. And there may be a HEA or HFN to cap off the book, but you'll have to get your own copy to find out if Wyatt and Emily can escape an enemy who has no fear of the law or justice thanks to his deep pockets and lack of compassion. 

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

 

Deep in the heart of Texas,

he’s her only chance for survival.

US Marshal Wyatt Briggs will risk his life for his job—but when Emily Matthews’s WITSEC identity is compromised, keeping her safe becomes personal. Once engaged to Wyatt’s deceased brother, Emily is like family, yet now she means even more. Both find themselves targets on a drug kingpin’s revenge list, forced to flee from one compromised safe house to another. With a mole lurking in the Marshals Service, Wyatt and Emily must risk everything to protect each other. Emily’s testimony brought the criminal down once, but now they’ll have to work together to deliver justice again, all while staying one step ahead of deadly threats.

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
Book 4: Target for Abduction
Book 5: Safehouse Under Siege

Her Reluctant Amish Heart ~ Review

Her Reluctant Amish Heart

Humble Blessings #3

By Pamela Desmond Wright

Elam Muller pulled away from his Amish roots following the death of his parents. He sought a feeling of belonging, and he thinks he's found that in the Englisch world and his love of fixing automobiles. But when he makes a decision that could have cost a young man his life, Elam's life is upended, and he finds himself doing community service on the very farm of the young man who was hurt. 

Anika Glick's life is a mess. After a tragic accident changed everything, the last thing she needed was for her younger brother to be injured when a former Amish young man makes a selfish decision. When Elam Mueller shows up at her door to work off his community service hours, well, she is not pleased. 

But as Elam helps out, Anika comes to realize just how much her life has changed in the last couple of years, of how much she has lost. And Elam discovers how much he gave up when he left the faith and beliefs that guided him before he lost his way. But can he give up the outside world, the excitement, the cars, the racing for a simple life?

This was a good read that showed how loss affects people differently. Both Anika and Elam respond differently, but at the root of both their reactions is pain and grief. As they work together, their lives begin to change, and their hearts open up to new possibilities. But can they truly break free of the shackles of their old destructive choices? If you're a fan of sweet romance, second chances, and Amish fiction, I would recommend this book, which can be read as a standalone title. And as this is a Love Inspired title, you can be assured of a clean read, wholesome level one romance, and a satisfactory ending with a happily-ever-after in their future.

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

About the Book:

Can her guarded heart

find its way to love and redemption?

When a reckless street race injures her brother, Anika Glick wants nothing to do with the man responsible—especially when he’s sentenced to help her family. But Elam Muller is desperate to prove he’s changed. As they work together on her family farm, Anika finds herself drawn to Elam’s remorse and kindness. But when they're presented with one last risky race that could secure their future or destroy it all, everything they’ve built is put to the test. Will their growing love survive the pull of the past—or will it all come crashing down?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Cover Reveal ~ Guardian of Hope

Today I am thrilled to take part in the 

cover reveal for 

Guardian of Hope 

by Jill Williamson and Megan Gerig

Title: Guardian of Hope

Series: Blood of Kings: Legends, Book 7

Authors: Jill Williamson and Megan Gerig

Publisher: Sunrise Publishing

Pre-order sale price: $4.99 (ebook)

Retail price after release: $7.99 (ebook)

Release date: November 3, 2026

Available in ebook, print, & coming to audiobook

About the Book:

She needed a fresh start.

He needed a second chance.

But the past isn't finished with either of them.

Grendolyn Hoff returned to Sitna with a baby on her hip and a plan: build a life for her daughter, alone, on her own terms. She doesn't need anyone. She especially doesn't need the reformed troublemaker who spent years trying to be worthy of her love while she spent years making sure he knew he had no place in her life.

But her late husband Riga's secrets have a way of surfacing. And when those secrets point straight to a conspiracy threatening the throne itself, the people behind it don't care that she had no part in it.

Harnu Poe isn't standing aside while danger circles Gren and her daughter. Even if it means facing everything from the past he fought so hard to leave behind.

The conspiracy won't stop until they're both silenced. And when they stand together against the shadows, Gren will have to face the truth she's been running from: she can't lose him.

But can she let her wounded heart trust him before it's too late?

A stand-alone, faith-forward romantasy set in Jill Williamson's beloved Er'Rets—for readers who love slow-burn second-chance romance, protective heroes who keep showing up, and a faith that pursues even the most wounded hearts.

Blood of Kings: Legends

Book 1: Squire of Truth

Book 2: Lord of Winter

Book 3: Lady of Shadows

Book:4: Heir of Light

Book 5: Queen of Reckoning

Book 6: Son of Embers

Now for the cover reveal

Preorder from

Sunrise Shop: 

https://sunrisepublishing.myshopify.com/collections/blood-of-kings-legends

Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/Guardian-Hope-husbands-conspiracy-threatening-ebook/dp/B0H472XC9L

About the Authors: 

Jill Williamson is a multi-passionate creative who loves the arts. She’s written over two dozen books for readers of all ages and is best known for her Blood of Kings fantasy series, two of which won Christy Awards and made VOYA magazine’s Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror list. She produces films with her husband and teaches about writing at conferences. Visit her at jillwilliamson.com.

Megan Gerig is a lover of tea who’s obsessed with autumn days in her backyard—her own version of Rivendell. When she’s not chasing her hobbit sons around the house, she’s dreaming about stories of mystery and magic and sneaking bites of cookie dough from her stash in the freezer. Megan, her husband, and her sons live on a mini-farm where they live out their homesteading dreams. For more information, visit her at megangerig.com.

Additional information and suggested posts

Primary Tropes

Reformed troublemaker hero

Single mother heroine 

Slow-burn second-chance romance 

He's been waiting for years 

She keeps saying no 

He falls first (and keeps falling) 

Dead husband's secrets 

Conspiracy threatening the throne 

Forced proximity through shared danger 

Dual faith arc 

A God who never stopped pursuing them 

Clean. No spice.

The Robber and the Witness ~ Review

The Robber and the Witness

The Christmas Cabin #4

By Danielle Grandinetti

Okay, I totally love The Christmas Cabin series by Danielle Grandinetti, which is set in 1930s Wisconsin. Of note, you do not have to read the books in order to enjoy them, but it is fun to do so, as there are references to previous Christmases and characters who found their way to love there.

This time we are introduced to Evangeline (Eva) Whitaker, whose older brother needs to be away over Christmas. Now Eva is known for her kind heart, and Evan doesn't trust her not to get in trouble because of this compassionate quality. So he has their old family friend escort her to another home, to strangers, to spend the holiday in their company.

Evangeline doesn't mind that Gideon Lundgren will be escorting her. Nope, she secretly had a childhood crush on him. But it's been years since they have seen one another. Of course, in the few minutes between Evan's train leaving and Gideon's arriving, Eva does exactly what Evan feared she would do. She helps out a stranger and finds herself tangled up in a robbery!

Now with a winter storm threatening their travel, Gideon outside of his deputy jurisdiction, and the robber desperate to retrieve the money he stole, Evangeline is about to have a Christmas unlike any she has ever experienced. And maybe she'll get the Christmas gift she is wishing for.

Yes, this was a sweet historical romantic mystery. Perfect for readers who want their romance and mystery closer to a G rating than an R. If you want romance that doesn't cross any lines and mysteries that don't rely on profane language or graphic violence, you will want to experience this newest addition to the Christmas Cabin series. Highly recommended and appropriate for the youngest romance reader.  

About the Book:

Christmas … a time of reunions and unexpected surprises.

A simple favor, a best friend's promise, and the end of the line.

Wisconsin, 1931—When Gideon Lundgren agrees to escort his best friend's sister to Manitowish Waters, plans go awry when she witnesses a robbery. He thinks he's merely escorting the girl he once knew, but she's grown into a charming beauty.

Evangeline Whitaker's older brother always warned that her kind heart would be the death of her. It might at that. First, when she's an unwitting accomplice to a robber. Second, when her childhood crush becomes her bodyguard.

With a robber on their trail and a tangle of emotions between them, Evangeline and Gideon detour to his boss's cabin to wait out the ensuing manhunt. However, Evangeline's Christmas spirit might be the death of them both.

One cabin in the Northwoods … a decade of Christmas miracles.

A 1930s Historical Romantic Mystery

This page-turning novella offers a slow-burn romance mixed with cozy suspense. Set during a December 1931 manhunt, it unfolds against the backdrop of a secluded Wisconsin cabin. Perfect for fans of Laura Frantz and Rhys Bowen looking for an inspirational read.

The Robber and the Witness Tropes:

Best Friend’s Sibling
Bodyguard/Protector
Forced Proximity
Grumpy/Sunshine
Holiday Romance

Christmas … a time of reunions and unexpected surprises.