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A Scattering of Light by Lori Benton Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Book Bee Blogger’s Choice Blog Tour with JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Scattering of Light

Series: Crockett’s Landing, Bk #1

Author: Lori Benton

Publisher: Story Architect

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Released: April 13, 2026

A Scottish drover spirited into servitude. A young Quaker woman wounded by loss. Their meeting will leave no heart unchallenged, no life unchanged.

Colonial Virginia 1734

Mourning her wayward brother’s death, Verity Wilde has turned her back on Williamsburg society, striving to live by her notion of true religion: to keep oneself unspotted from the world. But when she boards a ship to claim an indentured Scottish clerk, she’s unprepared to find another Scotsman, starved and gravely ill, left on deck untended. With scarcely more knowledge of the man than his name and place of origin—William Crockett of Skye—pity compels Verity to purchase his indenture too, meaning to provide the compassionate death denied him by the ship’s crew. Only he doesn’t die.

Will Crockett’s survival upends Verity’s carefully circumscribed life, while he awakens to find his world shattered beyond recognition. As they seek to reconcile their broken pasts, bitterness and fear vie with hope to chart their futures. Can they find the courage to trust each other, and a God who scatters light in the darkness?

Grab your copy here!

https://www.amazon.com/Scattering-Light-Crocketts-Landing-Novel-ebook/dp/B0GRG2MC68

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About the Author

Lori’s debut novel, Burning Sky, earned the 2014 Christy Award for First Novel, Historical, and Book of the Year.

Lori Benton was born and raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American and family history going back to the 1600s. Her novels transport readers to the 18th century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history, creating a melting pot of characters drawn from both sides of a turbulent and shifting frontier, brought together in the bonds of God’s transforming grace.

Other Books by Lori Benton

Burning Sky

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn

Many Sparrows

The King’s Mercy

The Pathfinders Series

The Wood’s Edge

A Flight of Arrows

The Kindred Series

Mountain Laurel

Shiloh

The Journey of Runs-Far

Books For Young Readers

Bear Country: A Teddy Bear’s Tale

Larkspur: A Mouse’s Tale

Connect with Lori and sign up for her newsletter at loribenton.com

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My Impressions

“His blessings freely scattered like light—readily seen if one didn’t close her eyes for fear of the darkness.”

If you are a fan of Christian historical fiction by Laura Frantz, Michelle Griep, or Shannon McNear, you will love Lori Benton. I first read her books years ago, but this book, A Scattering of Light, has been percolating for many years. I, for one, am ecstatic to re-welcome Lori Benton back to the historical romance world. 

Benton re-enters with a smash-hit! A young Scotsman ( Will Crockett) is rescued from certain death aboard a slaver ship and his indenture sold to a young VA Quaker woman (Verity Wilde) and her musical, odd father. When Will actually survives, Verity must rethink his place on their small plantation. Will has but one thought on his mind, that of his wife, Jenny, who was conscripted with him, but who is unaccounted for. 

A Scattering of Light is such a rich book it’s hard to know where to begin to describe it! It is full of diverse 18th century characters and their different levels of faith (from deep, hope-filled faith to none at all). The writing itself is both lyrical and dialect- rich. While there is plenty of action, the novel is also very character-driven. Will, with his take on righting wrongs and taking revenge, has to learn that man’s plans are not final. What a different story this would have been if they were. Jenny, kept apart from her husband, but a staunch believer, bids both Will and Verity via letter to trust the Almighty. “If all we ever dreamt for ourselves came true, but God was no’ in it … ’twould prove the worse for us.” Jenny trusts God with an impossible situation. Will retains an anger at God for the longest time. Verity, a professing Quaker, while kind and merciful,holds herself as spiritually superior to any who don’t keep exactly to her rigid beliefs. Again, Jenny with her soft ways and firm belief wears down some of the hardness of Verity’s heart. And, Verity’s friend whom she is constantly writing in the book, reminds her that in her severe observance of being “Plain,” she may be denying herself some of the blessings God has for her. “Was her hesitance not the godly prudence she believed it to be, but merely indication of what Jane cautioned her against? Rejecting God’s good gifts.”

These characters! So many great, noble ones that I loved. Great secondary supporting characters include Verity’s father Christopher, her father’s niece, Lucy Many-Beads, and Judah Looking-Wolf. Each is such a great support to Verity. While Christopher himself shows great growth in this novel, I am hoping for a story that tells more of Judah’s future. 

Do yourself a huge favor and read this book! I bought an ebook and also a paperback for the keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“Will kent the look—the burden of not knowing, a grief not fully embraced, therefore never allowed to heal.” – Will 

“I’d long held the Almighty to account for all I’ve lost, as though he was beholden to do my will, no’ the other way ’round.” – Will

“…my Religion is become a List of Works to perform, and those through more willing Hands, a far cry from what thee possesses, a Faith that shines in the Face of Losses as grievous as my own.” – Verity

“God always makes a way forward—and nearer to Him. Oft ’tis the hard things that work the greatest good in that way.” -Jenny

“Everywhere I turn I see the Almighty’s blessings, and as he never changes, why should the future worry me? Whatever we need, he’ll see it provided.” -Jenny

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Superior! Well-worth the years of waiting!! But, hopefully, the sequels will write themselves much faster! On my Short-List of 2026 Faves!

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $30 gift card (winner’s choice of Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook, or Baker Book House)!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight June 8, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 15, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

Stolen Secrets by S. F. Baumgartner Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Stolen Secrets: A Thriller (Mirror Estate Series Book 7)

Author: S.F. Baumgartner

Genre: Thriller with Christian elements

Release Date: June 2, 2026

An adopted daughter. A vanished teenager. A secret that must stay hidden.

FBI Special Agent Charlie O’Rourke believed adopting Jamie Beth would keep her safe. But when her best friend vanishes during a school band rehearsal, Charlie discovers the threat isn’t random.

As Jamie Beth desperately searches for answers about her best friend’s disappearance, she has no idea she’s next.

To save his daughter, Charlie must choose between protocol and survival.

Perfect for readers who love the layered conspiracies of Daniel Silva, the emotional stakes of NCIS, and the shadow-war tension of The Blacklist.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

S.F. Baumgartnercrafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets and Forgotten Secret—Books 1 & 2 of her Mirror Estate series—named Top Picks in the thriller & suspense categories, respectively, at Killer Nashville, and Tangled Secrets—Book 3 of Mirror Estateseries—won couple of awards in the Christian Indie Awards and the Incipere Awards. When she’s not plotting her next twist, she’s binge-watching crime TV shows, like NCIS or playing with her cats. Fans of James Patterson’s style, especially those who appreciate short, punchy chapters, will find much to love in her work.  And as always, her books are all clean.

More from S.F.

Stolen Secrets is the seventh book in the Mirror Estate series, and for me it represents something I didn’t fully realize when I started writing it: the beginning of the end of the Ghost arc.

When I began the series, I never mapped out a long, eight-book storyline for the Ghost. In fact, I didn’t even think about how long that arc might last until around Book 6, Shadowed Secret. That’s when it started becoming clear that the threads surrounding the Ghost, Dylan, and the larger conspiracy needed more room to unfold. Book 8 will wrap up the Ghost storyline, though the Mirror Estate series itself is far from over. There are still many stories left to tell.

One of the continuing mysteries involves Dylan and the buried treasures connected to Mirror Estate. Whether that storyline concludes in Book 8 or continues beyond it is something I’m still discovering as the story evolves.

Stolen Secrets also includes a bonus story titled “Shadow Extraction.” Writing that novelette was one of the hardest parts of the project. It features Olivia in the middle of a black-ops mission that unfolds at the end of her honeymoon in Italy. The emotional and operational stakes in that story made it especially challenging to write, but it also became one of my favorite parts of the book.

Another element I enjoyed writing in Stolen Secrets involves Jamie Beth and Owen. Watching those two characters work their way through danger and figure out how to escape was incredibly rewarding as a writer. Those scenes capture something I love about thrillers—the moment when characters must rely on their own courage and quick thinking to survive.

Looking back, Stolen Secrets feels like a turning point for the series. Secrets are beginning to surface, alliances are shifting, and the long game surrounding the Ghost is finally moving toward its conclusion.

But even as that arc approaches its end, the world of Mirror Estate still holds plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered.

My Impressions

“Every family had secrets. Probably hers too. She was adopted. That alone meant there was a whole history she didn’t know. A mother. A father. A reason they gave her up.”

I hope I can sleep tonight! I just finished Stolen Secrets, #7 the Mirror Estate series, by S. F. Baumgartner. The novel is touted as a thriller. I had forgotten since the last book just how thrilling, in chilling way. We are following the story of the Ghost, an infamous criminal who is now cooperating with the FBI and CIA. For unknown reasons, the Ghost has decided to help protect 17-year-old Jamie Beth O’Roarke. Jamie was adopted at 5 years old by Charlie and his wife, partly as their answer to prayers and partly as an assignment. “Are you asking me to help you disappear a child?” “I’m asking you to help keep one alive.”

When a friend is mistaken for Jamie and kidnapped, events are set in place that interconnect. Rescue and intelligence-gathering operations are detailed and complicated. And my eyes were absolutely glued to the pages as I read! I could feel the tension, the terror, the confusion, every emotion Jamie and Owen felt as well as those of their parents and all the agents involved in this case. I loved seeing the creativity of Jamie and Owen when the cards were stacked against them.

I was very grateful for the opening pages of the book. Each previous book in the series is summarized. Even better, there is a relationship chart that takes up two full pages. I took pictures and referred back to the charts frequently as I read to get a clearer understanding of all the moving pieces in this story. Plus, there is a map at the beginning of the book. Kudos, Ms. Baumgartner! 

If you love exciting action, multiple characters, rapidly changing scenes, and a complicated mystery, this book and series is for you! I can’t wait for the next book and more of the ongoing mystery to be solved! 

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“He and Charlie weren’t so different, the two of them. Fathers. Willing to sit with devils. For their children, they’d walk through fire.” ( Marco)

“Here was a father who’d spent his whole life running from his family’s shadow, building something clean, something legitimate. And now, for his son, he was sitting at this table with the people he’d tried to leave behind.” (Marco)

“Secrets were the hallmark of his family. And the Ghost’s secrets had a body count.” ( Dylan)

“Welcome to the intelligence community. Everything is compartmented. You only know what and when you need to know.” Fr. Phil

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Superior! I would read the next book immediately if I could! Mesmerizing!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 1

The Lofty Pages, June 1

Simple Harvest Reads, June 2 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 3

Artistic Nobody, June 4 (Author Interview)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 6

For Him and My Family, June 7

Guild Master, June 8 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, June 9

Blogging With Carol, June 10

Fiction Book Lover, June 11 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 11

Because I said so -adventures in parenting, June 12

The Bookish Ledger, June 13 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, June 14 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, S.F. is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/9cIN6/stolen-secrets-a-thriller-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase

The Courting of Miss Cady Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Courting of Miss Cady (Aprons & Veils Book Five)

Author: Grace Hitchcock

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: October 24, 2025

He’s the man of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet.

New York socialite Jane Cady is the envy of the season, and the supposed love of Graham Bank’s life, until news arrives that her father’s last merchant ship has sunk, costing them everything. To avoid scandal, the family disappears to manage a hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Determined to support her family, Jane sets aside her dream of marriage and joins her father in working for the Harvey House, as a waitress. But when her former fiancé strolls into the Castañeda Hotel, the weight of her sacrifice becomes all too real.

Rancher Wade Sterling is well acquainted with hard work and that Miss Jane is one of the hardest working Harvey Girls he’s ever met, besides his sister-in-law. When Jane faints on duty, Wade catches her and upon her awakening in his arms, her passionate kiss nearly knocks him off his feet. She begs him to play along and before he knows it, she tells some dandy that they are happily courting. Jane later begs Wade’s forgiveness, explaining it was an emergency as the man was her former fiancé and their relationship ended poorly. But, when the dandy stays in town, Wade finds himself in a fake courtship and in love with the woman of his dreams. He only needs to convince Jane that he is the man of hers.

The Courting of Miss Cady is a fake dating/forced proximity romance with all the sigh-worthy swoon, but no spice!

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas, including the American Royalty, Best Laid Plans, and Aprons & Veils series. She holds a Master’s in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in South Louisiana with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter in a farmhouse that is always filled with the sounds of sweet little footsteps running at full speed. When not writing, chasing her toddlers, or tending to her chickens and golden and labrador retrievers, she’s baking something delightful and can usually be found with a book clutched in her fist.

More from Grace

Q&A with GRACE HITCHCOCK

Tell us about your new book, The Courting of Miss Cady, in the Aprons & Veils series.

Grace: Thank you so much for having me here today! Book five of my Aprons & Veils series, The Courting of Miss Cady, is a fake-dating insta love romance featuring a jilted knickerbocker turned Harvey Girl! The last thing my heroine, Jane Cady, expects is to fake court a rugged rancher to save face. But as sparks fly and secrets resurface, her love might not be pretend after all!

This book is dear to my heart. I first wrote The Courting of Miss Cady in 2016 after I signed with my agent, Tamela Hancock Murray, when I was trying to break into the traditional publishing world and wrote it with only one POV. It wasn’t the novel that got me my first contract, and I eventually shelved it as I turned my attention to the series that did sell, but it has always been in the back of my mind as I wrote this Harvey Girls series and I knew that this book would be perfect for Jane Cady. I did a massive re-write on this story, given my style has changed over the past 9 years since I wrote it (deleting about 65% of the original work) and added the hero’s POV as well. When I got to know the hero, Wade, I knew his was a true love at first sight for Jane. I’ve always wanted to write an Insta Love and it fit perfectly with the characters.

Q: You mention tropes, what is your favorite trope to read? Which of your books have that trope?

Grace: To name a few, I love stories about marriage of convenience, fake dating, mail-order brides, runaway brides, alpha heroes, and enemies to lovers. In my books, I do have some of those tropes, but I adjust them to fit my story.

My Harvey Girl books by tropes:

Runaway Bride: The Finding of Miss Fairfield

Mail-Order Bride: The Pursuit of Miss Parish

Friends to Lovers/ Fake Dating: The Enchanting of Miss Elliot

Enemies-to-lovers/ Forced Proximity: The Vanishing of Miss Victoria

Insta Love/ Fake Dating: The Courting of Miss Cady

Q: Talk about your writing process, about how long does it take you, do you do all the research before you start writing?

Grace: I usually write the first draft for 8-10 weeks and edit (drafts 2-6) for 12 weeks! The first draft is my favorite!! All the creativity is flowing, and it is so, so fun to see that word count go up! I try not to write on the weekends, but occasionally when the deadline is getting too close, I will have to pull some long hours on the final weekends to get it completed.

With that said, I am writing away on a new super-secret series and have the first drafts of the first three books completed, which nevvver happens in my writing process. I like to finish each book before moving onto the next, but this new series is going to take more weaving of storylines so I needed to make sure I got to know the main characters across the series before editing book 1. A very different approach for me this time around, but it is working!

For the research part, I always start with research, highlight some wonderful “newly discovered” facts that sing to me, and use that as a pivotal part of my plot. Then, while I edit, I research as well to make sure that I don’t miss any historical details.

Q: In case the readers have not read your series yet, tell us who were the Harvey Girls.

Grace: Whenever I tell people I am writing about a Western Harvey Girl Romance, they usually assume the Harvey Girls are associated with an old-time saloon, but nothing could be further from the truth. In the 1890s, there were not many respectable jobs for women, so when Englishman Fred Harvey created his chain of fine dining restaurants along the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroads, single women without an education, or in need of earning their own way, were given a chance to earn an honest wage without the speculation that they offered anything else but food as a service. With Mr. Harvey’s strict rules about the waitress’s code of conduct, the women were given their independence while still maintaining their good name and place in society under the protective, fatherly arm of Fred Harvey. These extraordinary, brave women became known as the Harvey Girls, the ladies who tamed the Wild West with fine china, good pie, and exceptional service with complete propriety.

While Harvey Houses were built to serve the needs of the passengers on the rail to encourage tourism in the west, the railroad workers and local townsmen also dined at the restaurant, but usually at the lunch counter. At a time when men filled towns and women were scarce, inevitably, a railroad worker or townsman would express interest in marrying a Harvey Girl. In order to marry, she would need to fulfill her work contract or risk paying a fine of a month of salary. The fine was set in place to ensure that Fred Harvey would have enough workers and that he wouldn’t simply train a girl to have her shipped to a town of bachelors and leave him without a waitress.

As you can probably tell, such a set up sends an author’s head to spinning with all the romance that could come from a woman venturing out on her own in a land filled with cowboys, bandits, ranchers, and bounty hunters. The possibilities for romance are endless! There is so much more I could write about these fascinating ladies and their contributions to society, but I hope you enjoyed this taste of history on the Harvey Girls!

Q: Can you give us a sneak peek at the next book in the series, The Making of Miss Matthews, which is book 6 in the Aprons & Veils series?

Grace: The story follows a Harvey Girl that readers met in Book One! Dolly Matthews was originally a stinker, but I gave her a good character arc through the series and readers have been asking for her story. This will certainly explain the extraordinary why behind Dolly’s choices in earlier novels in the series and I am soooo excited to share her story that has a shocking twist that readers won’t see coming!

My Impressions

“Love is such a funny word—it can mean so many different things. For instance, I love chocolate and horse riding.”

So says Graham Bank, as he jilts Jane Cady in Grace Hitchcock’s The Courting of Miss Cady. Bk #4 of the Aprons and Veils series, Jane’s story stands on its own. After Jane’s father loses everything, her groom leaves her at the altar. Mr. Cady, once part of the Fortune 400, is forced to moved West and take a job as house manager at the Harvey House in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Because her family is in such dire straights, Jane goes from wealthy socialite to working girl at the Hotel Casteñeda. Ostracized by most of the Harvey Girls there, Jane struggles against their prejudices. To make matters worse, as she is serving a handsome cowboy one day, in walk her ex-fiancé and his best friend. What can Jane do, but grab said horse rancher/breeder and start kissing him? Thus begins her fake relationship with caring, loyal, and kind Wade Sterling, whose heart is made of gold. 

Wade knows he wants the relationship to be real very quickly, but there are so many obstacles in his way, most of them human. Some see him as competition, some as a prize, others as a business pawn. Can he rise above other people’s expectations to enjoy the freedom God has given him, and find a way to share that freedom with Jane?

Speaking of business pawns, Jane is just that in her father’s eyes. My heart hurt for hers as her father repeatedly puts her in untenable positions in order to better himself or the family.  (How thankful I was for a good earthly father at this point!) Jane has to move beyond her fears of being rejected by her father for her “disobedience“ to his directives.She begins to see her father does not accurately reflect God the Father, whose love is unearned. “Lord, thank You for reminding me that I am treasured, You love me and that, because of You, I have worth. Forgive me for placing my identity in my family’s wealth.”

Just as it seems God is working circumstances out for Jane and her cowboy, Jane’s father’s actions threaten to ruin everything yet again. I loved how Jane shows love to her parents, without feeling the need to obey questionable orders. She never washes her hands of her family, which would have been tempting! Through their egregious faults, Jane still is concerned  about their welfare. 

If you enjoy historical fiction, stories of the Harvey Girls,  the Gilded Age and the West, or horse-related novels, this book may be a treasure for you! 

I received a copy of the book from CelebrateLit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“Too long you have been relying on others for your future. My future begins now. The Lord is my father. With Him on my side, surely this will be a grand adventure worthy of Meg’s hopes for me.”  -Jane

“Is this what business is like? Kissing the rings of kings and hoping that they bestow upon you, a mere mortal trying to earn an honest wage, their favor?” ( Wade)

“Losing the family fortune is the best thing that has ever happened to me.” – Jane

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! This series has been so fun. I enjoyed Jane’s story and can’t wait to see Dolly get her own!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 3

Life on Chickadee Lane, June 3

Connie’s History Classroom , June 4

Devoted To Hope, June 5

Texas Book-aholic, June 6

Labor Not in Vain, June 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 8

For Him and My Family, June 9

Book Looks by Lisa, June 10

She Lives to Read, June 10

Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 11

Holly’s Book Corner, June 12

Vicky Sluiter, June 13

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 13

EmpowerMoms, June 14

Books You Can Feel Good About, June 15

Mary Hake, June 15

Sydney Schmied Books, June 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away  the grand prize of a $75 (+ Free Shipping) shopping spree on Grace’s Indie Bookstore!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/T9RHS/the-courting-of-miss-cady-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Just Read Tours, Kindle, New-to-Me Author, Purchase

Sunflowers in Paris by Ashley Rescot Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Sunflowers in Paris by Ashley Rescot, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Sunflowers in Paris
Series: The Strings of Sisterhood #2
Author: Ashley Rescot
Publisher: Rescot Creative
Release Date: April 7, 2026
Genre: Clean Contemporary Split-time Romance

After a career-altering injury, violist Adrienne Pearson digs deep into her French roots. As the second of five sisters, she seeks individuality. But when several of her family members and friends decide to join her on a French excursion, she must navigate old and new relationships while finding her place in a foreign land. Will she rediscover her voice in the home of her ancestors?

Jean-David Béranger, a brooding, reclusive French journalist, finds his life upturned when his eccentric godmother invites an entourage of American students to live with them while studying music at the local conservatoire. Can Adrienne, a beautiful American sunflower girl, dismantle the fortress surrounding his heart and convince him to turn toward the light?

Sunflowers in Paris takes the reader on a journey through the Loire Valley, Versailles, and Paris, the City of Light, weaving elements of historical and contemporary French life with a centuries-old cold case about a real, 18th-century composer.

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

More in This Series

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About the Author

Ashley Rescot is a professional violinist, educator, writer, and Fulbright Scholar. An aficionado of music, pedagogy, family, faith, and language, she writes about her life as a musician. With degrees in both violin performance and French literature, she hopes her stories will inspire the next generation of musicians, encourage music professionals, and educate others about the exciting world of music.

Connect with Ashley by visiting rescotcreative.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

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My Impressions

“Adrienne had always played viola as though it expressed her very soul, her voice. Until the injury took it away from her. The ache and pain had never gone away. Now she, like the doll ballerinas, felt trapped in a world where she could go through the motions, but she’d lost her voice. Would she ever find it again?”

Sunflowers in Paris is a contemporary dual-timeline by Ashley Rescot. A new-to-me author, I picked up the book because I love seeing how authors fit together characters from two different centuries. I also loved the idea of much of the narrative taking place in France. I loved the virtual tour of different locales and the history that went with each. I also enjoyed the extra French phrases, but in some cases, wondered if non-French students would miss out. There is a glossary at the back of the book, but I never go to the back of the book before my reading takes me there, afraid to spoil the ending. Who doesn’t remember seeing pictures of Notre Dame de Paris burning in 2019? I was glad to see this included and the resolution. 

The story itself held me captivated as former viola player, Adrienne Leclaire and some of her sisters find themselves traveling to France to study abroad. They are hosted by their grandmother’s( GiGi) sister, CiCi. I enjoyed seeing the love and camaraderie of the sisters. This contrasts to the fraternal relationships we see in the 300 year-old journal that Jean-David, CiCi’s godson, finds in her ancient home. So many relationships in this story are fraught with peril or, in some cases, rejected as characters strive to stay in their comfort zone. Can Jean-David find and accept the family offered him?

Adrienne is so very empty after her accident that leaves her unable to play her beloved viola. While several of sisters are musical or dancers, Adrienne has had to change her study focus to music history instead of performing. She feels left out. Will the two hearts that feel alone find strength and comfort in each other and ultimately God?

I loved the mystery of Pierre’s family from the past. To make it more tantalizing, Rescot feeds us short snippets from Pierre’s lifetime journal, bit by bit. 

I received a copy of the book from JustRead Tours. I also bought my own copy. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own. 

My fave secondary character has hot yo be CiCi. At 80, she is doing things many 20-year-olds would not! The strength of character, warmth, generosity, and care for those around her, wow. She would be a woman to meet. 

Notable Quotables:

“See, even amidst the darkness, light shines through…I do know who holds the future. God never leaves us truly alone.”- Adrienne

“So, why did you come?” “For Cici.” She shrugged. “That’s what we do for family. Why are you here?”  He smiled. “The same reason.” He extended his arm to her. “For Cici.” – to be discovered

“All he’d ever wanted was to have his family back. But had God really sent Cici, and even the Americans,  to be his family?“ (Jean-David)

“Reading about people is my passion, so reading people is my superpower.” – Louisa

“Tonight, God had brought them to each other at this ancient church, tested by fire, aging, and destruction. And if he had helped Notre Dame rise from the ashes, God would also help them do so as well.” – to be discovered

“I don’t like change. I prefer things to stay how they were, like  the Medieval castles.” “You mean the fortresses?” She frowned. “Guarded and walled off.” – Jean-David, Adrienne

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I will be picking up the first book in the series, as well as future books about these sisters.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive French chocolates and a copy of A Change in Tune and Sunflowers in Paris!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 1, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 8, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

ARC, Barbour, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, Purchase

Not Precisely Mr. Knightley by Carolyn Miller Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Not Precisely Mr. Knightley (The Silver Teapot Series Book Two)

Author: Carolyn Miller

Genre: Romance/Contemporary/Christian Fiction

Release Date: May, 2026

Can the Matchmaker Find True Love?

Emma-Jane (EJ) Bennett and Jordan Knight are longtime best friends who codesigned the immensely successful dating app, Dream Match. Success starts to go to EJ’s head when she gets caught up in the famous and money-hungry social circles and starts dating the son of a TV mogul. But Jordan’s feelings have grown from friendship to more. He determines to protect her by exposing Eric Churchill for the two-timer he is, finally agreeing to attend a function with her at the Sydney Opera House. But his best intentions go awry when EJ is embarrassed and runs for the security of home, small-town roots, and The Silver Teapot Café, feeling like Jane Austen’s chastised Emma—only without her Mr. Knightley.

Don’t miss book 1 in The Silver Teapot series, Not Exactly Mr. Darcy

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational Regency and contemporary romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband, she has pastored a church for ten years and worked as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives.

More from Carolyn

Do you know someone who has found love online?

I do. I have numbers of friends and even a family member who have found love and married thanks to dating apps and the like. This newer form of meeting people is something I’ve referenced in several of my books (including Only You Can Love Me), as several of my characters have used an app called Dream Match, a romance matchmaking app for Christian singles around the world. But when I first mentioned Dream Match years ago I didn’t realise at the time that I’d end up writing a story about how the inventor of Dream Match would finally meet her match.

And it seemed perfect to me that Jane Austen’s Emma Woodhouse, known for her matchmaking skills, should be reflected in a modern day context as being the ultimate matchmaker, EJ Bennett, who is responsible for helping hundreds of people find love online. Even if she doesn’t think she needs or wants love for herself.

Playing with Jane Austen’s characters and putting them in a modern setting is a lot of fun. So not only does Emma Woodhouse become EJ Bennett, but George Knightley becomes EJ’s best friend and app co-designer Jordan Knight, the straight shooter she needs. And Frank Churchill, the man Emma starts to fall for, becomes Eric Churchill, son of a TV mogul squillionaire.

The first book in The Silver Teapot series, Not Exactly Mr. Darcy, also played around with some of Austen’s settings, placing the story in a small town in Australia called Wattle Vale. I had fun further developing the Australian connections by setting other key scenes in iconic places like the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach, which naturally meant I had to visit for “research.”

So I hope readers enjoy this little taste of Australia, and all the fun references to Jane Austen’s Emma. Be sure to check out my website and follow me on social media for more Jane Austen inspiration and fun, and get ready to enjoy Not Precisely Mr. Knightley, a sweet and swoony best friends-to-more romance that shows the path to true love is never smooth – even for the professional matchmaker.

Happy reading!

My Impressions

“I’m not crying.” “You should be, Emma-Jane Bennett,” Jordan said. “Then maybe you’d wake up to yourself and realise what is real and what is a lie and who your real friends are.”

As I shared my excitement over emotional fireworks in this story, one friend called it a great “comeuppance,” as the before-now unlikeable female main character( EJ Bennett) finally gets her “what for!!” I must say, Carolyn Miller has written her two main characters so convincingly in Not Precisely Mr. Knightley, that it is easy not to like the self-absorbed, social climbing, rather money-hungry EJ. 

Such a fun story, that I loved especially because of the main character’s growth. EJ, from a small Australian town, has been best friends forever with her neighbor and now-business partner, Jordan Knight. Both are now living in Sydney. The two start a very successful online dating app, which catches the attention of Gwen, who promises to introduce EJ to rich investors. As EJ begins to follow the path to schmoozing with the rich and famous, her discontent with her former life grows and Jordan becomes concerned. “That’s the thing, EJ. I can’t keep making excuses for you. And as your best friend, I’m supposed to tell you the truth, and if I’m honest, I’m concerned about where all this is taking you.” Yet, EJ wants her taste of the high life. If that means ignoring Jordan and her family, so be it. Since EJ’s new friends scoff at her faith, EJ is careful to keep that under wraps, too. 

As Jordan’s feelings for EJ begin to deepen and he helplessly watches her become a different person, I really began to love him and strongly dislike her. I wanted Jordan to stop pining over EJ and find somebody else. So when the comeuppance scene finally explodes, I was one ecstatic camper. Gentle, kind, and  loyal Jordan finally erupts and tells EJ the truth… not something she wants to hear. Now, from this watershed moment, can EJ and Jordan find their way back to forgiveness, restoration, and the friends-to-more conclusion Miller has primed us to desire?

I fell totally in love with the book when Jordan finally decides “Real friends held each other accountable” and that EJ needs a good dose of reality. There are some great one-liners that are applicable to many relationships. I loved seeing how easily Jordan turns to prayer and recalls Scripture to encourage himself when the path gets tough. 

It is great to see the other Bennett sisters again, as well as the parents and Jordan’s parents. We see some good foreshadowing of the next book and also we see characters that provide grounding for our main characters. Who are we without family and God? 

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit through NetGalley. I also bought my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“Body blows couldn’t hurt more than his words right now.” ( EJ) 

“He didn’t want to be another voice, adding to the noise. He wanted his ears tuned into the One whose voice set the world in motion. Because by listening to that eternal voice, Jordan would hear those words that actually needed to be said, and those would be the words that would truly make a difference.” (Jordan)

“Truth might sting at times, but at least it was honest. Flattery was lovely, but it wasn’t real. Flattery felt like a house of cards, one breath and it would all tumble down.” ( EJ)

“It’s a good thing that God is still in control, huh?” – Ben

“You don’t need to be the Holy Spirit’s little helper, trying to help EJ see the error of her ways.” – Ben 

“Catastrophising” (- a new fave word Miller introduces) 

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Superior! Is “comeuppance” a trope? It should be! This scene makes me award this book a strong five stars!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 28

Book Looks by Lisa, May 28

The Sacred Line, May 29

All-of-a-kind Mom, May 29

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 30

Pause for Tales, May 30

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 31

Stories By Gina, June 1 (Author Interview)

To Everything There Is A Season , June 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 2

Texas Book-aholic, June 3

For Him and My Family, June 4

Lyssa Loves Books, June 5

Wishful Endings, June 5

Fruitfully Planted, June 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys , June 6

Cover Lover Book Review, June 7

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews, June 7

Melissa’s Bookshelf , June 8

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 8

Blossoms and Blessings, June 9

Holly’s Book Corner, June 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carolyn is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/doE7D/not-precisely-mr-knightley-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, JustRead Tour, Kindle, New-to-Me Author, Purchase

Crossbones by C.C. Warrens Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the JustRead Tour for Crossbones, by C. C. Warrens.

About the Book

Title: Crossbones
Series: A Holly Novel #6
Author: C.C. Warrens
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: May 15th, 2026
Genre: Romantic Suspense

“Sticks and stones will break your bones, if you make me hurt you.”

Some truths are better left buried, but Jace Walker is determined to unearth the skeletons in her family’s closet. Leverage is all she needs to keep her brother alive, and she’s willing to risk everything to save him.

Even her life.
But is she willing to risk the lives of her friends?

Holly and Jordan take on the case, but what should be a simple investigation takes a deadly turn when they stumble onto a murder. Family secrets are the least of their concerns as their path intertwines with a killer intent on remaining hidden.

He doesn’t want to be found.
He doesn’t want to be known.
And anyone who threatens his anonymity dies.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author | Amazon | BookBub

More in This Series

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About the Author

Jesus and laughter have brought C.C. Warrens through some very difficult times in life, and she weaves both into every story she writes, creating a world of breath-stealing intensity, laugh-out-loud humor, and a sparkle of hope. Writing has been a slowly blossoming dream inside her for most of her life until one day it spilled out onto the pages that would become her first published book.

If she’s not writing, she’s attempting to bake something—however catastrophic that might be—or she’s enjoying the beauty of the outdoors with her husband. One of the many things she’s learned since she started this journey is that the best way to write a book is to go on a long stroll with her husband. That is when the characters—from their backgrounds to the moments that make them laugh or bubble over with anger—come to life.

Connect with C.C. by visiting ccwarrens.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

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My Impressions

“I survived, and I wouldn’t give the rest of my life over to bitterness. Whatever days I had left were mine, and I would focus on the joy rather than the pain.”

Whew! I have safely survived reading Crossbones, A Holly Novel #6, by C. C. Warrens! I thoroughly enjoyed myself as I journeyed with Jordan, Holly, Sam, and Jace through the dangerous and complex cold case of Jace’s brother, Scott. This is the first C. C. Warrens book I have read. I must say, while I would not suggest most pick up the series this far through, Warrens gives enough backstory that this novel made perfect sense. Will I have spoiled previous novels? Perhaps, but more so, I now need all the deets that I just have an inkling of, in so many cases. So, now I need to go back and read all the Holly series books! 

Jace, a young woman from one of New York’s most affluent families, is suing her mother in court for the power of attorney rights over her comatose brother, Scott. Jace idolizes her big brother, and even though he’s been kept alive by machines for four years, she is certain her mother has an ulterior motives in wanting to pull the plug. So, Jace hires her best friend’s boyfriend’s detective agency to discover her mother’s secret. Time is essential, and Holly, part of the JGH agency, refuses to stand by, as requested, and let her boyfriend, Jordan, investigate by himself. Noble of her, but after reading just a few paragraphs, the reader will be pretty uncertain Holly has the physical prowess to defend herself. 

While headstrong Holly is begged by both her boyfriend and her police officer “dad” to be careful and do nothing on her own, somehow… she sure gets herself into lots of situations that require either a quick escape or a rescue! Holly has a strong faith that she tries to share with her bestie, Jace, as they work the case. “Church is not gonna fix this.” “It’s not about fixing things. It’s about drawing closer to God and letting Him fill you up when the world has drained you dry.” Unfortunately, Jace has been indoctrinated against Christianity from her mother. 

One question is often at the forefront of Jace’s mind, and also Holly’s. What happened that caused Mrs. Walker to turn her back on her son? Why is Mrs.  Walker such a difficult, controlling person? The answers are very shocking! 

Warrens does show a bit more detail of the crimes than some authors. However, no more than one might see on an intense crime show mystery. What I absolutely love about her writing is the way she inserts such humor into very tense situations. I actually laughed out loud many times just after I had bitten my nails down! I’ll never see Chia seeds the same! 

And just when I thought it was safe to peek out from under the covers… Bang! Huge plot twist! Well-played!! 

I received a copy of the book from JustRead Tours. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“I know that, too often, people dismiss the truth because it’s easier to cling to what they already believe, even if that belief is wrong and harmful.” – Holly 

“I’ve seen a lot of people sink so deeply into their anger that it consumes them, and eventually, it’s all they have left. I don’t want that for you.” – Holly

“Before was a concept I knew too well. The life, dreams, and identity that existed before tragedy tore them away and forced a person to start over.” (Holly)

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! Chilling romantic suspense with messages of Hope and Faith. Recommended!

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a grand prize of a signed Crossbones paperback with bookmark, sticker, character art card, and a $10 Amazon gift card!

Up to (5) winners will each receive an ebook of Crossbones, delivered via Bookfunnel!

Up to (4) winners will each receive an audiobook download of Crossbones!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 25, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 1, 2026. 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 for grand prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

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Anchoring You By Robin Patchen Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

(Note: I am late with this post due to a family emergency. I notified Celebrate Lit that this would be late. Thank you for your understanding!)

About the Book

Book: Anchoring You

Author: Robin Patchen

Genre: Christian romantic suspense

Release Date: May 12, 2026

On the glittering waters of the Caribbean, a yacht captain’s fight for survival forces her to rely on a man she swore she’d never trust. 

A fiercely independent yacht captain, Kenzie Wright has spent her life disregarding her family’s expectations. She thrives on freedom, charting her own course, and never staying in one place—or with one person—for long. But when a routine voyage thrusts her into the crosshairs of a deadly drug cartel, her carefully crafted agenda is blown apart. Her last hope to save herself and her crew is the partying playboy, Jaz.

DEA informant Jasper Aylett has spent years hunting the cartel leader known only as “the Phantom.” The mission has cost him everything—his family, his reputation, and his chance at redemption. When a beautiful yacht captain gets caught in the Phantom’s web, Jaz risks his life to rescue her. It’s his last chance to secure the information he needs to take his enemy down—and get his life back.

Kenzie is forced into hiding with Jaz, and now two cartels want her dead. With their lives on the line, Kenzie and Jaz must work together to unravel the Phantom’s network before it’s too late. But the closer they get to the truth—and to each other—the more their past wounds and buried fears threaten to tear them apart, leaving them vulnerable to an enemy who won’t stop until they’re both destroyed.

From a USA Today bestselling author… Don’t miss this heart-pounding suspense and swoon-worthy romance as Kenzie and Jasper discover their fight for survival—and for love—can only be won together.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Coventry Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. Working in marketing, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while homeschooling her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.

More from Robin

Too Far Gone? Writing a Prodigal Hero

When I started writing Anchoring You, I knew the hero was going to be a challenge.

On the surface, Jaz is everything my heroine Kenzie despises: a charming playboy who flits around the Caribbean with a different woman on his arm every week and a drink perpetually in his hand. When he tries to get to know her, she wants nothing to do with him. She’s heard the rumors. She knows exactly what kind of man he is.

Except she doesn’t know the real Jaz. Nobody does.

Underneath the polished persona, Jaz is drowning. A gambling addiction led to crushing debt, which led to a desperate deal with a dangerous man, which led to five years of living undercover as a DEA informant. He’s lost everything that matters—his money, his reputation, his relationship with his brother, Noah, and most painfully, his daughter Charlotte, whom he left with Noah to keep her safe from the criminals who control his life.

Somewhere in the midst of all that, Jaz also lost his faith.

The Prodigal Who Doesn’t Come Home

We all know the parable of the prodigal son. He squanders his inheritance, hits rock bottom, and returns to his father’s open arms.

But what happens when the prodigal believes he’s wandered too far, done too much, burned too many bridges to ever find his way back?

That’s Jaz’s life when we first meet him. He tells Kenzie at one point, “I’m not sure if I left Him or if He left me, but God and I haven’t had a relationship since I was a teenager.”

Jaz isn’t angry at God. He’s not wrestling with doubt. He’s just disconnected. Numb. He made choices that spiraled out of control. People got hurt, and somewhere along the way, he decided that men like him shouldn’t expect grace.

I think a lot of people can identify with Jaz, even if their circumstances aren’t as dramatic as his. It’s not always a crisis of faith that pulls us away from God. Sometimes it’s shame, the quiet belief that we’ve disqualified ourselves. We believe grace is real, just not for us.

A Faith That Doesn’t Preach

Kenzie could have lectured him or quoted Scripture at him. But Kenzie, a strong believer, doesn’t preach. Instead, she lives her faith, acting on what she believes. In one quiet conversation, when Jaz confesses how far he’s fallen, she offers him truth without judgment:

“There’s no such thing as too far, Jasper. Not with God.”

Kenzie’s relationship with God is evident in how she treats people, how she handles fear, how she extends grace to a man the world has written off. Kenzie’s witness begins to crack Jaz’s defenses.

Writing Broken Heroes

I’m drawn to characters who carry weight—who’ve made real mistakes with real consequences, not just minor flaws designed to make them “relatable.” Jaz gambled away half his family’s estate. He slept around. He abandoned his daughter—even if it was to protect her. He spent five years lying to everyone he met.

These aren’t small things. I didn’t want to minimize them or sweep them under the rug in the rush to make him likable.

I believe in redemption. I believe people can change—not by willpower but by the power of God.

Jaz doesn’t have a dramatic conversion moment in the middle of the action. His journey back to faith starts with prayer, the gentle testing of God in moments of crisis.

And God answered, protecting and guiding him through the most difficult time of his life. When it was over, Jaz realized God had been there all along.

That’s the heart of the prodigal story, isn’t it? The father doesn’t chase the son down the road. He doesn’t force him to come home. But when the son finally turns around, the father is already running to meet him.

Jaz spent years believing he’d gone too far. Kenzie helped him see that there is no “too far” for God.

Because if grace only works for people who haven’t messed up too badly, it’s not really grace at all.

My Impressions

“But I know God is big enough for my mess, no matter how ugly it is. Which means He’s big enough for yours too. The question isn’t whether He’ll take you back. It’s whether you’ll let Him.”

What an exciting, fast-paced romantic suspense novel Anchoring You by Robin Patchen is! We have arrived at the fourth and last daughter of Gavin Wright, in the Heroes of Maine series. Kenzie has fled her father’s overprotective cocoon tendencies and has established a yacht-running business in the Caribbean. She loves the freedom of the water, and she enjoys her Caribbean life until the day her life is upended. 

Pirates attack Kenzie’s boat. Determined to protect her crew and herself, Kenzie puts on a brave front, but is rescued by an island playboy, Jaz, she had met the night before. Then the struggle begins as Jaz tries to protect her, and Kenzie strives to retain her hard-earned independence. 

Kenzie discovers that Jaz’s carefully cultivated wild reputation is a front so he can work with the DEA. He has his sights on a very big fish in the ocean, indeed! But his methods require Kenzie to trust him. Kenzie has long ago decided that no man should be in charge of her future or her choices. In a world of fast living, fast guns, and the seemingly omnipresent evil bent on their death, Kenzie’s trust in Jaz is vital. But, can Kenzie relinquish control of her life to someone else?

Kenzie slowly begins to see past Jaz’s playboy persona to his deep longing for redemption. Jaz has lost everything, and is quite sure God cannot forgive the man he has become. Once upon a time Jaz had faith. But now, he’s turned too far away, done too much to ever be good enough. Kenzie gently reminds him, “Grace is a gift. Even when you don’t feel lovable, even when you think you’ve gone too far, God is right there, loving you, holding grace out to you, waiting for you to accept it.” Another time, she builds on that and challenges him to view himself and his past with more grace. “Maybe you need to quit thinking you’re smarter than God and start seeing yourself the way He sees you.” 

I loved the high-action story and the romance that seems like it cannot go anywhere. Both main characters and a secondary one show significant growth in their lives as the book progresses. But what really stood out to me? It was Kenzie’s prayers. They were real, every day conversations with God. Neither super short nor long, just matter-of fact, here’s the issue, we need help. Plus, Kenzie is also an example of praying God’s Word back to Him. We know God’s Word is powerful. I loved those reminders of great prayers!

By the end of the book, I was so connected with the characters, I felt their cold, their terror, their confusion, and their astonishment as they finally figure out the surprising identity of the cartel! 

Another Robin Patchen book you’ll not want to miss!

I received a copy of the book from CelebrateLit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables: 

“He’d lived on the edge of a sword for so long he was starting to feel the stab, the dripping blood—his own and everyone else’s.” ( Jaz)

“She’d spent years on the water because it was the only place she felt safe. She’d built a business so she could control her own life, just to wind up a pawn in somebody else’s elaborate scheme.” ( Kenzie)

“She didn’t mind being known as Jesus’s girl. She wouldn’t mind being known as Jaz’s girl either.” ( Kenzie)

“What do you see? What can you use? Don’t just react. Think. Your greatest weapon is your mind.”- Kenzie’s dad

“She’d more than “do.” She looked…she looked like the kind of trouble that could blow up his whole life.” 

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! I always love each installment in this series, and seeing how they all fit together!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 25

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 26

lakesidelivingsite, May 27

Texas Book-aholic, May 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 29

For Him and My Family, May 30

Cover Lover Book Review, May 31

Book Looks by Lisa, June 1

Blogging With Carol, June 2

Fiction Book Lover, June 3 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 3

Holly’s Book Corner, June 4

Pause for Tales, June 5

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, June 6

The Bookish Ledger, June 7 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of Capturing You!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/XXPAN/anchoring-you-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Just Read Tours, Kindle, Kregel, Purchase

The Targeted by Cara Putman Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Targeted by Cara Putman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Targeted
Series: Secrets to Keep #3
Author: Cara Putman
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: May 19, 2026
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Can she protect her gym students before her past catches up?

When Chloe Ainsworth’s older sister reappears after fourteen years, she brings with her the news that Chloe’s abuser is back in town. Chloe is a coach at her childhood gym and fiercely protective of her young gymnasts. She won’t allow them to suffer the way she did, but she’s desperate for an ally—one who can help her make her case.

Law student Dare Shepherd works at the local legal clinic, where he meets Chloe and hears her out. He believes her case but can’t get the clinic director on board. As he learns more about her story, he finds himself bound by a deepening personal care for Chloe.

They band together in search of answers, and suddenly the stakes skyrocket. It’s clear they’re onto something, but will they be able to find the answers before it’s too late?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop

More Books from this Series:
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About the Author

Cara Putman is a professor, an attorney, and an award-winning, best-selling author of more than forty novels, including the Cornhusker Dreams series, the Hidden Justice series, and The Vanished.

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

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My Impressions

“‘I am always alone.’ He will never leave me or forsake me…

It didn’t matter if people would leave her or let her down. God never would. He promised that, and his promises were true. Always.”

This review may well be one of the hardest I’ve ever written. Because The Targeted by Cara Putman, contains such sensitive and trigger-inducing content that I may have ever read. The legal drama, book three of the Secrets to Keep series, tells the story of the last of three young women involved in the legal world. 

Very well executed and written with an obvious knowledge of the law, this fictional story becomes very relatable and painful to read. Plus, a second trigger  was lying in wait in the form of Cloe’s mom, as we see her fading in and out of reality with her early-onset dementia. 

Putman shines a light on how easily abuse can occur between a minor and a trusted adult. Her character, Cloe, is a great example of a groomed victim who, because of age, trust in adults, and negative reaction when she tries to share bits of her story, stuffs it all inside. Without her once-beloved older sister, Ginny, who left fourteen years prior, and her mother’s dementia clouded mind, Cloe has learned to become an island onto herself. 

Roadblocks occur when she attempts to bring her abuser to justice. Sometimes, Cloe herself is the issue. Sometimes it is others. Can 2nd year law student Dare help her file a complaint years after the event? What happens when the abuser is closer than Cloe is comfortable with? Will she use the community of friends and law resources around her, or will she quietly run away from her memories and hurt?

There’s hope in this story! I could keep reading, hard as it was to be confronted with truths and memories of the past, as I realized Cloe would fight not for herself but for the new crop of gymnasts. She is determined to make a difference. The hardest question keeps her going: “What if by not trying, by staying silent, we’ve all been complicit? We’ve all allowed him to continue his behavior because none of us have taken the risk of saying it has to stop?” Ooh. Rough. Time to take action!

While needing to stay unattached as her legal counsel, Dare realizes his attraction to this brave, strong-though-wounded young gym coach. He looks for ways to help, and prays for her. I loved this line…

“How was it possible that the man morphed more into her hero each time he showed up? It wasn’t so much big, heroic actions as the small, consistent moments of showing up again and again.” That’s how these two and their team hope to win at this terrible loop life has thrown them… start with the small steps, complete each task step by step, until they have solved this case and won. Unfortunately, a big twist occurs and the action becomes very urgent! 

In summary, expect a very well-written read with potentially difficult subject matter. I wish there had been a trigger warning at the front of the book. But… knowing what kind of fiction this author writes, I did know she would show how God can bring good out of bad. That makes a hard story worth reading! 

I received a copy of the book from JustRead Tours. I also bought my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“He couldn’t change her history, but he could create a different future.” (Dare)

“Remember that sometimes God simply asks us to take the next step. He rarely tells us every part of the journey that’s coming.” – Janae

“Before, this was about me and the past. Now, it’s about the present and protecting my girls, today’s gymnasts.” – Clie

“‘What could I do as a junior man on the team?’ ‘Speak up. Believe them. Validate their experience.’” – Dare, Cloe

“Life demanded a decision. Everyone else had to move on, even if she didn’t.” ( Cloe)

“She needed the possibility of more, even if she chose to stay. What she really wanted was the illusion of choice.” (Cloe)

“She knew her strength at one level, but at another level, she was still the girl who had allowed bad things to happen to her.” ( Cloe)

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! For legal drama lovers, those who have endured abuse, or those who need to understand victims of abuse and how to help them.

Tour Givaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of The Targeted and $20 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 20, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 27, 2026. 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 the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, Purchase, Revell

Chase the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Chase the Light (National Parks Summers Book 2. It can be read as a stand alone.)

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Contemporary

Release Date: May 5, 2026

When Acadia National Park ranger Scout Johnson discovers a weathered note near a remote lighthouse, she never imagines it will expose a century-old mystery. The cryptic message points to a forgotten shipwreck, a vanished treasure, and a lighthouse keeper’s suspicious death. Seeking answers, Scout enlists Naki Dana, a thoughtful man whose Penobscot heritage provides crucial insights. As they venture deeper into Acadia’s rugged wilderness, their unlikely partnership begins stirring feelings Scout didn’t expect to find. But they aren’t the only ones searching.

Chase Fletcher, a charming local journalist, sees this treasure hunt as his last opportunity to save his failing paper–and finds himself increasingly drawn to the ranger leading the search. With pressure mounting and loyalties tested, Scout must navigate a winding path between history and justice, truth and betrayal . . . and determine who–and what–deserves her trust.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author, Christy finalist, Carol and Selah winner, and two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, with over forty books to her name. She writes contemporary, historical and Amish novels. Suzanne lives in California with her husband, where life (and friends) inspire her stories.

More from Suzanne

If a trip to Acadia National Park isn’t already on your bucket list, it should be—and when you go, don’t miss warm popovers on the lawn at the iconic Jordan Pond House.

The Unofficial-but-Close-Enough Jordan Pond Popover Recipe*

Back in 1895, Nellie and Thomas McIntire bought a Maine farmhouse overlooking the clear waters of Jordan Pond. On their wide green lawn, they served tea and towering popovers to well-to-do summer travelers. In 1928, J. D. Rockefeller purchased the land and later donated it to Acadia National Park. The lawn remains. The view remains. And the popovers? Still iconic.

While the original recipe is famously guarded, this version comes deliciously close.

Makes 6–8 large popovers.

What You’ll Need

  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Pinch of baking soda
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

Let’s Make Them

  1. Start with a hot oven (and a hot pan).
    Preheat your oven to 425°–450°F. Place your popover pan (or a muffin tin) in the oven while it heats.
  2. Whisk the batter.
    Beat the eggs for about 2–3 minutes until slightly frothy. Slowly pour in the milk, then add the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix just until combined. The batter should be smooth but not overworked.
  3. Fill the cups.
    Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and grease it generously with butter or spray. Pour the batter into each cup, filling them about halfway to three-quarters full.
  4. Bake.
    Bake at 425°–450°F for 15 minutes. Then, without opening the oven door, reduce the temperature to 350°F and bake another 15–20 minutes. The high heat creates the lift; the lower heat helps them set inside.
  5. Resist the urge to peek.
    Do not open the oven door while they bake. The steam inside is what makes them puff and keeps them tall.

Serve immediately with plenty of butter and strawberry jam.

A Few Tips for Sky-High Popovers

  • Room temperature matters. Cold eggs or milk will slow the rise. Let them sit out a bit before mixing.
  • Heat is your friend. A properly preheated pan jump-starts the puff.
  • No peeking. Steam is everything here. Let the oven do its work.

*Recipe adapted from Weston Table.

My Impressions

“The best stories are the ones God unfolds in his perfect timing. It’s always best when we let God write our story.” 

Suzanne Woods Fisher. Another auto-buy       paperback for the trophy shelf author! While Chase the Light, a novel about Acadia National Park,  is a stand-alone, I would highly recommend reading book one first, as several relationship groundworks are set up. 

I love that Fisher includes a list of characters in the front of the book and a description of each. With a year between books, the reminder of who’s who is helpful. We see returning characters like Chief Ranger Tim Wilson, his manipulative 15 yr-old-granddaughter Maisie, clueless 18 yr-old Frankie, and a few tertiary characters who momentarily step up for short, but notable contributions. We are also re-introduced to FMC Scout Johnson, a dedicated park ranger who has worked her way up to her dream job, interpretive ranger in Acadia National Park. 

Frankie and Maisie with their self-absorbed, centrisic attitudes cause quite a ton of problems. But they also step forward to become central secondary characters. They add so much color to the story, instigating (by carelessness!) the discovery of the 170-year-old park secret. 

At first, I was #TeamChase. He seemed like a very nice man, good looking, church -going, newspaper owner, passionate about his work, and fun to be around. Good match for Scout, right? (Oh, did I say Frankie is clueless? Chase can be, too! He sure doesn’t read relationships well! Sometimes, I was left just shaking my head at his interpretation of events!!)

But, as the story went on, another man, Wananaki Dana, a Penobscot Native American policy maker whose side passion is Maine shipwrecks caught my eye (and Scout’s).  A fun line inserted repeatedly- “Naki will do.” His passion is to help his people out of generational poverty, alcoholism, lack of education, and other issues that plague a people forced onto a reservation. And does he understand Acadia National Parks! He just might be a tad bit tall and a tad bit swoony, too! But as Chase’s mother once communicated to him, “…a person’s looks became subjective the moment you got to know them. They grew more attractive, or less.” Which man, by his very different choices in the difficult circumstances that arise following the lighthouse discovery, will end up showing a solid character?

With themes such as family relationships, forgiveness, moral character choices, found family, second chances, and even maturation, this novel is a must read. Great for National park lovers, Maine lovers, shipwreck lovers, those who love to see how choices can make or break a character. Plus, the mystery, the romance, the faith. Nearly something for everyone in an easy-flowing readable style! Pretty sure this one will be pulled for a re-read!!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own pb for the keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“A family is like a big house. Each person peers into it from a different window and sees a different view.” – Naki

“…it dawned on her that she might be guilty of projecting that same disappointment onto God. Not entirely trustworthy. Not dependable when it really mattered. She’d never put it into words before, but now it sat in her mind like a truth she couldn’t ignore. That wasn’t the right way to think about God. He’d been there, all along.” -(Scout)

“‘On the truth that the ultimate unity is the body of Christ. If we could only see people through God’s eyes, we would be the model of what the world is desperately longing for.’His gaze moved to the sea in front of them.  ‘I wish my people could understand that God made them the way they are for a purpose.’” – Naki

“Forgiveness and trust shouldn’t be confused.” – Naki

“Coincidences weren’t something she believed in—not in her job, not in her life. God had his plans, and while they might be mysterious, they were never accidental.” – (Scout)

“His faith steadied him, a constant reminder that he didn’t need to have it all mapped out—only to take the next step.”

-(Tim Rivers)

“To turn a beacon of safety into a tool for destruction—it felt like a betrayal, not just of duty, but of something deeper.” -( Scout)

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior!!

I foresee myself pulling this book out for a reread! Sooo good!!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 16

Lyssa Loves Books, May 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 17

Texas Book-aholic, May 18

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 19

The Avid Reader, May 19

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 20

Lakesidelivingsite, May 20

For Him and My Family, May 21

Holly’s Book Corner, May 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 22

EmpowerMoms, May 23

Pause for Tales, May 23

Blogging With Carol, May 24

Lily’s Corner, May 25

Devoted To Hope, May 25

She Lives to Read, May 26

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 27

Cover Lover Book Review, May 27

Simple Harvest Reads, May 28 (Guest Review from Donna)

Lights in a Dark World, May 28

Wishful Endings, May 29

Mary Hake, May 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/f01pi/chase-the-light-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Just Read Tours, Kindle, Launch Team, Purchase

Shipwrecked Faith by Danielle Grandinetti Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Shipwrecked Faith by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Shipwrecked Faith
Series: Dawning Sisters #1
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Ashberry Lane
Release Date: May 15, 2026
Genre: Historical Romance

Chicago, October 1929—Kellan O’Roark is running on borrowed time. After handing over his cousin’s incriminating bootlegging ledger to the police, he intends to vanish before the mobster exacts revenge. His destination: the SS Wisconsin, a steamer headed for Milwaukee, upon which he’s secured work despite his fear of the water.

But despite his pressing need for escape, Kellan faces obstacles while leaving Chicago—including one who may break open his heart. Sadie Dawning, desperate to return to her family’s Wisconsin farm and ailing father, escapes a kidnapping attempt at Chicago Union Station when Kellan steps in and offers to smuggle her aboard the Wisconsin. His decision turns nearly fatal when an autumn storm capsizes the ship.

Washed ashore, the pair arrive at Sadie’s family farm to find new storms brewing on land. While Kellan hides his past to continue evading his cousin, Sadie fights for her place among her sisters while the farm battles the beginnings of the Great Depression. Caught between duty, a dangerous past, and a budding love, Kellan and Sadie must rely on their newfound faith in each other and renewed faith in God to weather the growing storm.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | WhiteFire Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Also Available:

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About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti writes award-winning 1930s historical romance filled with mystery, suspense, and hope. She is a second-generation Italian-American rooted in Midwest traditions. Fueled by tea, books, and the creative beauty of nature, her stories explore love and belonging in hard times.Connect with Danielle by visiting daniellegrandinetti.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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My Impressions

“She was a vulnerable, naive, beautiful soul. And he was a streetwise snitch of an orphan. Could someone like him take on the responsibility of getting someone like her home?”

Le Sigh! Instant love. Not the characters. Me for this book, Shipwrecked Faith, by Danielle Grandinetti. The first of a new series about a family of Irish immigrants, we find ourselves plunged into mystery and intrigue in the first sentence. What is Kellan O’Rourk up to? We quickly find out there is a betrayal going down, between Kellan and his older gangster cousin, Tiernan. “Family was complicated, yet family didn’t betray one another.” Especially not in October 1929 in crime-infested Chicago. Now, he must flee. 

Our heroine, Sadie Dawning, has just received a telegram summoning her home from her city job. She is desperately needed to help care for the family farm and her near- death father. 

As Sadie enters the Union Station to catch a train, she finds herself accosted by thugs. A stranger rescues her, then whisks her away through the streets of Chicago. Once they realize Sadie also needs a way home that no longer includes a train ticket, Kellan convinces Sadie to disguise herself and stow away with him on the SS Wisconsin. You’ll have to read the book to find out why that method of travel is the one Kellan is sure will keep Tiernan from discovering his whereabouts. 

I want to research this shipwreck now. One hears much more about shipwrecks on Lake Superior than Lake Michigan, and it’s easy to forget that Michigan has also buried her boats and victims. How terrifying a time Kellan and Sadie have. Can Kellan keep his promise to Sadie to deliver her safely home? “‘I’ll get you home, Sadie. I promise.’ Determination laced his tone. ‘I have my own penance to observe.’” In throes of imminent death, Kellan considers the faith of his mother. “What was he thinking? How could he consider giving his new life to God? With his past, what good could he do?” But God is at work through Mr. Downing. He reminds Kellan, “God sees the heart, and there is always hope for mercy and grace when you put your faith in His son.”

I love the many layers of this story. The physical dangers of the lake. The running from the low-level gangster. The questioning of one’s past making one unacceptable to God. The sister rivalries. Ooch, one sister tries to shoulder all responsibility in her own way, another misinterprets her sister’s intentions and holds resentment. Plus, tries to solve the family’s problems her way. Yet, another feels unseen with the badly ailing father, the “favorite” daughter (as sisters view it), and the disastrous plans of another sister. Surely she is not needed. ( I hear fodder starting for more books! I love these foreshadowed hints!) And, still more trials to surface! 

Mr. Downing, with his sickness, is a fave character as he works hard to be intentional with his daughters and now with Kellan. It’s as if he can see to Keegan’s soul.  When Kellan dodges the question of what his intentions are for Sadie, he states they haven’t known each other long. While agreeing, Mr. Dawning sees what Kellan can’t- that trials also reveal character and feelings. “Love, the kind that makes a marriage, takes time and work to deepen. Trial—the type that leaves one’s wife unable to walk without crutches or a husband unable to take care of his family—it reveals what type of love is between you.” 

I love everything that Danielle Grandinetti’s writes. Shipwrecked Faith is a great chance to get in on a new historical romantic suspense series at the beginning. Highly recommended!

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher and JustRead Tours. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

 “The more friction and trial that love sees, the faster and hotter the love burns. It might not look pretty, but hard times can prove love that lasts. If you can place your faith in someone to love you when the world falls apart and it strengthens that bond, then you can trust them through anything.” – Mr. Dawning

“Nothing for it but to put one foot in front of the other. To trust God to work out the future while being faithful in the here and now.”

“The words worked themselves past his pride, cracking open a place in his heart he had never planned to unbury.” ( Kellan)

“He’d read her like a book, and she had no way to hide the truth from him.” (Sadie)

“He’d never been a hero before and, right now, he felt like one.” – (Kellan)

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! I always exit a Grandinetti novel with deep satisfaction, but deep regrets that it’s over. Shipwrecked Faith continues in that wonderful tradition!

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of Shipwrecked Faith, paperback journal, and Danielle Grandinetti tote bag!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 19, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 26, 2026. 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 the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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