Can a jeopardized children’s library program spark a partnership that saves their careers but costs them their hearts?
When children’s librarian Martha Aldridge learns about budget cuts that will not only put her out of a job but also shut down the library’s children’s programs, she’s determined to raise the funds needed to save both. The good news is, she knows just who to ask for a large donation on the library’s behalf. The bad news? She swore she’d never step foot in his office again.
Julien King has been groomed to one day run his family’s publishing empire, and now he must prove he’s ready to take the helm by turning around the company’s languishing children’s imprint. That wouldn’t be a problem, except he doesn’t know the first thing about children’s literature. So when Martha waltzes into his office, he sees an opportunity and makes her an offer she can’t refuse. He’ll give her the money she needs for the library in exchange for her help in acquiring a bestselling manuscript that will resurrect the dying imprint. The longer they’re forced to work together, however, the more they come to realize their jobs may not be the only thing on the line.
Winner of the Holt Medallion and Selah Award, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain’s wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.
My Impressions
“The high-rise linen pants with the bow belt and cream-colored wrap top with a cinched waist make me look the part of a publishing gatekeeper, but really, I’m just a backwoods girl with a love of books and not enough formal education to keep her job.”
Sigh! Finding the storyline of Bookmarked for Love by Sarah Monzon was like finding a lost treasure. I don’t watch many movies, but Bookmarked for Love, as it tells the romance of the third Little Creek, TN, librarian, is a retelling of Sabrina. Be still, my heart!! To make my experience even richer, I tried listening to the book I purchased on Audible along with the kindle ebook I purchased. What a double treat the reading/listening combination was! I navigated through the book at a quick rate, alternating between swooning and laughing.
Julien King was the rich, much older boy next door that the groundskeeper’s daughter, Martha Aldridge, develops a crush on from a distance. Now, years have passed, and Martha has bravely approached publishing giant King Enterprises (where she finds Julien standing in for his father, the elder Mr. King) to support her library children’s programs that are about to undergo budget cuts.
Julien agrees, but on the condition that Martha freelance for him as he tries to salvage Squire, the children’s publishing imprint of King Publishing. As Martha and Julien work together, they are both surprised at the history that crops up between them and try to ignore the draw they feel for the other. “…he seemed powerless to extinguish the spark that ignited whenever they interacted.” Yet, though this is America and not England, there are constant reminders that they belong to different worlds.
I loved that there is a plus-sized female main character who is considered beautiful. I was happy to see that though some couldn’t see beyond the fact that she wasn’t a size 4, Martha has long since realized she can be happy as she is. She is comfortable with her body. Happiness goes beyond a number on the scale.
I loved the pond scene and the bracelets explanation. We begin to see the formation of an easy, deep friendship that has actually had roots in their youth, and lay dormant, waiting years for circumstances to awaken and develop even further.
I also loved how the trio of librarians have become really close and support each other as only best friends do.
What will happen as Martha and Julien face their feelings? Any thoughts of a future between them are met with enough roadblocks to make a high skyscraper.
Monzon does a wonderful job of retelling Sabrina. I also enjoyed the pop-culture references. Discussion questions at the back help make the novel suitable for a bookclub.
I received a copy of the novel from JustReads via NetGalley. I also bought my own ebook and Audible versions. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“He’d been practically carrying around a piece of her for most of his life, and he’d never even realized it.”
“…sometimes looking at a problem from a different angle opens our eyes to avenues we weren’t aware of before.”
“Happily-ever-after isn’t the destination. It’s the journey.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Such a gem of a book! For me, I visualized Sabrina in all its wonder and romance all over again in a fresh setting.
Your Turn
What makes Bookmarked for Love earn a space on your TBR? Tell me in the comments!
Book: The Bachelor Spy (A Freddie and Grace Mystery Book 5)
Author: Pepper Basham
Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction
Release Date: July, 2026
Spies Infiltrate Havensbooke Hall. . .and Another Mystery Adventure Begins
Stephen Blake’s life goal is to protect people, especially those closest to him, but war in 1914 England doesn’t follow any rules. When Blake is informed that a noted German spy may have taken up residence at Havensbrooke Hall—his cousin Lord Astley’s estate, which is being used as a convalescent war hospital—he’s sent there to uncover the plot.
Lady Grace Astley has become a force to be reckoned with while Frederick is out on the war front. With Havensbrooke as a hospital, she’s shocked by the devastation the war is bringing home; but ever hopeful, she is determined to help these weary soldiers find some relief. However, not everything is as it seems inside Havensbrooke. Precious items soon start disappearing. . .and not just the kind that are worth a lot of money.
Through a case of mistaken identity, a comedy of errors, a kidnapping, and a race for time within the crumbling subterranean passageways beneath Havensbrooke, can Blake and Gracie work together to root out the criminals, thieves, and spies before time runs out?
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroadsand Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.
Excerpt
Prologue
May 7, 1915
Stephen Blake had been trailing the presumed spy most of the voyage—first to secure his target, and then. . .to strike. Every clue pointed to the fact that the gregarious businessman Donald Leaman was none other than Albert Stein, a German informant ferrying English war secrets straight to the fatherland.
Unfortunately, every opportunity Blake had found to confront the man had been thwarted: too many watchful eyes, too much pomp and luxury for a clean cornering. With the Lusitania’s transatlantic voyage ending in less than a day, his time to complete this mission was slipping away.
Worse, he couldn’t shake the feeling he was being followed himself. Only a limited few knew of his operation to uncover a ghostlike informant who’d used their “ordinary” position to gain extraordinary intelligence—from transfer stations, casualty clearing posts, even a general’s bunker at the Western Front. The spy had proven madden-ingly elusive, slipping through every trap British intelligence laid
with almost theatrical flair.
But what did they know? Stein was the spy’s last contact. And Blake was tasked with finding out what he knew.
The Lusitania was hardly Blake’s first ship, but certainly it was the grandest. It felt as though Claridge’s, the famous hotel in London, had taken to the sea, complete with its extravagant marble floors and its crystal chandeliers, with champagne in the air and ease all around. Just after luncheon, Stein had excused himself early and started down the grand staircase toward the lower decks. An odd choice for a first-class passenger, especially so near the end of the trip and with
his companions urging him to remain for cards.
So, of course, Blake followed.
Deck by deck, corridor by corridor, until the music and chatter faded into the deep measured thrum of the engines.
Occasionally, Stein cast a look behind him but never appeared concerned enough to stop his descent. This was certainly a planned meeting.
The elegance of the upper floors gave way to simpler decor, narrower corridors. Second-class accommodations. Stein stopped before a cabin door. His knock held an unnatural rhythm—three quick raps, a pause, two more. After only a beat of silence, a murmur from within responded.
Stein’s immediate whispered answer? “Octavia.” A code word, no doubt.
The door opened. Stein slipped inside, but before the door could click shut, Blake rushed soundlessly forward and caught it with his fingertips.
Perfect.
He released a self-satisfied grin and then pressed himself against the corridor wall, listening through the crack over the hum of the ship’s engine.
The cabin was small—voices carried easily in the confined space—and the faint scent of cigarette smoke drifted through the opening. “You’re late.” A man’s voice, crisp and impatient. Something about the cadence nagged at Blake’s memory, but he couldn’t place
English, certainly. Kentish?
Blake frowned. He could overpower Stein easily—the man was more socialite than combatant, the sort who’d probably never thrown a proper punch in his life. But this unknown fellow, clearly in charge and confident enough to smoke a cigarette while conducting treason? That suggested either experience or exceptional stupidity. Blake hoped for the latter but suspected the former.
“It was difficult to get away without raising suspicion,” Stein replied, his accent thickening into full German. “Blake is on this ship.”
Blake’s pulse quickened. So Stein knew he was being followed. “I know.” The other man’s tone didn’t waver. A long exhale
followed, as if he were breathing out smoke. “We’ve been watching him to ensure he didn’t wreck things.”
We? Who?
Blake’s mind raced through the passenger manifest, through his team members, through every face he’d seen on this voyage. That voice. . .
“But with that in mind, we need to move quickly,” the Englishman continued. “What do you have for me?”
A rustle of papers. “The Midnight Angel’s next assignment. She’s to embed herself in a convalescent hospital—but not in France this time. There is too much interest in her there.”
Blake’s breath caught. She was called the Midnight Angel? The informant they’d been hunting for months. And she was a woman.
“Italy, then?”
“Nein,” Stein answered simply. “A place much closer to your front door, mein Herr.”
England? A convalescent hospital in England?
“Perfect,” the Englishman murmured. “Wounded officers talk too freely around nurses they think are angels of mercy.”
“Clever, no?” Stein’s voice held a note of pride. “No one suspects the nurses. They’re invisible, really. Moving between stations, tending to generals and privates alike. She’s already proven invaluable.”
“This is excellent information, Stein.” A pause. “And you’ve given
it so freely. Too freely, I’m afraid.”
Blake froze. He knew that tone—the shift from curiosity to finality. The Englishman was finished with Stein. The German had served his purpose, been found wanting, and now. . .had become a liability.
He couldn’t wait any longer. Stein had to be taken alive—had to be questioned, catalogued, and wrung dry of every detail about the Midnight Angel and her network before—
He drew his revolver and pushed through the door. The scene materialized in a horrifying instant.
Stein stood near a narrow desk, documents scattered before him. And holding a gun already drawn, already aimed at Stein’s head with casual confidence, stood Evan Montgomery.
Blake’s breath squeezed closed in his throat.
Montgomery? His colleague. His friend. The man he’d trained with in Scotland, shared terrible army rations with in the trenches, trusted with his life on half a dozen missions across the Channel. The man whose sister Blake had been half in love with for six months but was far too professional to mention. The man who was, apparently, a traitor.
My Impressions
“That’s what family does, Grace. We muddle through the terrifying bits together and hope for the best.”
The. Perfect. Wrap-up! Well-done, Ms. Basham. Pepper Basham’s The Bachelor Spy is everything that we readers were anticipating! A light-hearted whimsical mystery, plenty of action, several different storyline threads, “new” characters, faith strengtheners, and romance! And insight into Freddie’s past as well.
Most books have twists in the second half of the book, if not near the end. The Bachelor Spy starts with a twist that sets up the uncertain mood of England during WWI. We begin with Stephen Blake, (cousin of Freddie’s) on board the ill-fated Lusitania in 1915. Uncertain relationships, treacherous dealings, and the search for a mole within the British spy system. Plus, the search for The Midnight Angel, a very dangerous and clever spy for the Germans who has eluded capture, resulting in many British deaths.
Soon, the action switches to reveal Freddie and Grace’s estate, Havensbrooke. Freddie has been recalled to service in the army. Grace, needing to fill her time and feel useful, turns the house into a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers. The secrets under that roof! Blake arrives wounded, but Grace is sure something’s off with their relative and beloved friend. Blake recognizes Grace has a secret, yet to be discovered, and he tries to hide his own identity, especially as a few of the nurses seem sharper than warranted. One nurse had my suspicions up, then another, till I suspected them all.
Through it all, Grace traipses through life with her humor-filled, adorable but childlike approach. When thievery begins, Grace throws herself and the household staff into full-on mystery-solving mode. Instructing the staff, Grace says, “we all ought to increase our mystery reading….“If our minds are already attuned to sleuthing, I imagine it will only make us more aware of clues and suspicious behavior.” Smiles from me, eyerolls from the staff!
When Grace’s secret is revealed, it ignites a latent fear in her heart. A character reminds her, “I hope you will remember that God is in this very moment, as well as the ones you cannot even see yet.”
Another time, when asked why she shows unusual mercy and grace, Grace replies, “Because we all need second chances,” Grace said with a soft laugh. “Sometimes third. Or fourth.” Her faith comes back to buoy her. It’s a good thing it does, because there are plenty of twists, surprises (other than an orange cat causing mayhem 😊), and danger yet to come!!
I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“One simply does what needs doing for those in one’s … family.”
“The mission had grown substantially more dangerous. The Midnight Angel wasn’t just passing along intelligence about troop movements, patterns, and locations. She was building a kill list.”
“When she couldn’t see the future and didn’t understand all the reasons, if she believed He loved her as much as He promised, she could trust His timing.”
“…we all could do with a bit of kindness with all the very difficult things going on in the world.”
“…she was acting as if she didn’t trust God’s love at all! Even when hard things happened, didn’t He always promise to be the strength she needed for whatever the task?”
”Not enjoying reading certainly had to give the woman a dreary outlook on the world. Especially a world at war.“
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! Well-done, Ms. Basham. It’s hard to keep a series going this strong for this many books, but each Freddie and Grace Mystery has been just as good, if not better, than the one before it. So long, little Zahra. You are one of my fave characters, along with Brandon in this book.
From award-winning author Katie Powner comes a funny, feel-good novel about a woman discovering her second chance at life.
This charming and heartfelt story is perfect for readers who loved Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame.
Fifty-two-year-old Meredith McGillicutty is not having a midlife crisis. She’s just ready for a change of pace, that’s all. The fact that she lied to get into a retirement community has nothing to do with being passed over for a promotion at work or her recent breakup with the only man she’s ever loved.
Nothing.
Meredith only wants some peace and quiet. To sit on a porch in elastic-waist pants and mingle with other mature individuals who value a life of serenity. But the residents of the Peaceful Pines retirement community have other plans for her. These quirky and endearing neighbors seem to know her better than she knows herself, and they decide Meredith’s life is only just beginning.
Blending humor and tenderness, The Second Chance Trailer Park will appeal to fans of Fredrik Backman and Lenora Worth.
Purchase link:
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About the Author
Katie Powner is an award-winning author who lives in Montana, where cows still outnumber people. She writes contemporary fiction about everyday people, filled with humor and heart, including the Christy Award-winning novels Where the Blue Sky Begins and The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass. Katie is a mom to the third power (biological, adoptive, and foster) who loves candy, Jesus, and red shoes…not necessarily in that order.
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My Impressions
“A person must be fifty-four and a half or married to someone who is to apply to live in Peaceful Pines Trailer Park for Seasoned Adults, the form began.”
“Meredith McGillicutty was neither.”
Ooh, wee!! Bingo!! When Katie Powner starts off her newest novel, The Second Chance Trailer Park, I’m already busting a gut! It could only get better from here! And it does. Tired of the rat race that she chooses to leave behind, deciding she will identify as an old soul, Meredith worms her way into a trailer for senior citizens. What I found hilarious was that the person who is living the biggest lie can ferret out all kinds of trailer park rule violations and turn her neighbors in for them. “Out, out, bleepity log!” I wanted to yell at Meredith as she picks at the motes in others’ eyes!
You would think life in a senior citizen’s trailer park is dull. Not so this one. At least, certainly not after Meredith moves in. Between her nosiness, her bossiness, and shenanigans that could only occur in a place where people have lost a few inhibitions, wow! I was laughing almost every other minute. Uproariously. Trying to be quiet, but I probably woke any nearby neighbors.
Oh, yes… Team Patrick or Team Rowdy? I couldn’t decide which to choose, and kept flipping sides throughout the novel.
As we progress through the book, we begin to see some of the residents, including Meredith, beginning to get a clearer look at themselves through the faithful mirror of friends and loved ones. I loved these character arc growths. Maybe there will be a second chance for Meredith…
If you like to laugh, you NEED to read this book.
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“But she didn’t really know who she was these days, apparently. Only who she was trying to be, which was someone like Lois.” ( Meredith)
“We’re going to grow blind and deaf and stubborn as mules together, I promise.” – Meredith [saving this one!!]
“She wanted to want people in her life, but she didn’t want to need them.” ( Meredith)
“Their minds never grew up enough to get a driver’s license. But they’re happy people, as long as their cats are okay.”- ( an amusing couple)
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! One of my top two comedy reads so far this year!! I would recommend it to anyone!
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Have you read this book? What did you think? What books are high on your comedy list for this year?
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Robber and the Witness by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
It’s time for Christmas in July! I never miss a book in Danielle Grandinetti’s Christmas Cabin series, and am excited to join Just Read Tours in presenting this book and author!
Let’s Talk About the Book
Title: The Robber and the Witness Series: Christmas Cabin Historical Romance Novellas #3 Author: Danielle Grandinetti Publisher: Hearth Spot Press Release Date: July 21, 2026 Genre: Christmas Historical Romance/Mystery
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 sweet 1931 Christmas mystery featuring a closed-door romance between a protective bodyguard and the woman who witnessed too much.
Just a note… you may notice that these covers are new and refreshed to be more unique to the series!
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Meet the Author
Danielle Grandinetti writes award-winning 1930s historical romantic mystery and suspense. She is the 2026 Holt Medallion winner and a second-generation Italian-American. Fueled by tea and nature, she crafts hope-filled historical romance novels exploring immigrant heritage, found family, and cozy Midwest traditions. Find her at daniellegrandinetti.com.
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My Impressions
“It’s what Evan is always telling me, that my kindness is going to be the ruin of me. He’s right.”
Poor Evangeline Whitaker! Back in 1931 in a train station in Minnesota, there was no loud speaker such as we have in airports nowadays blaring over the air. “Do not watch the bags of strangers!” Danielle Grandinetti’s female main character in The Robber and the Witness is just too kind for her own good. Her brother Evan says so. The fact that she is stuck literally holding the bag when two policemen come to investigate says so. The only one who doesn’t say so is Deputy Gideon Lundgren, Evangeline’s brother’s best friend and appointed guardian for a Christmas visit to Gideon’s friends’.
I loved the way Gideon smoothly assesses Evangeline’s situation and need and comes to her aid based on his knowledge of her past personality and his friendship with her brother. He is willing to give her the shadow of a doubt she needs in a sticky situation, and provides a great safety net for her. He provides confident leadership.
The train ride in the snowy Christmas atmosphere would have been magical if there weren’t the very real possibility of their being followed. Gideon is very good at assessing people, situations, taking charge, and giving commands to help protect not just Evangeline but the whole group of train passengers.
Evangeline is very brave, stoic, and willing to follow GIdeon’s lead. But…Is she naive, or is she just willing to see the best in people? When her soft heart rises up yet again… will it be the death of her and Gideon and maybe more?!
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher. I also purchased my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
If you like short, nostalgic, Christmas -themed romantic suspense, I recommend this book and series. Each book stands alone, but it is beneficial to recognize characters from previous books.
Notable Quotables:
“The thief was a variable he could not account for.” ( Gideon)
“People don’t always believe me because they think I’m too kind, I think. Maybe. I don’t know. I suppose I don’t really understand why people don’t always believe me. But you do?”- Evangeline
“…he led with quiet confidence and assurance that all would be well, even if he didn’t believe it.”– Gideon
“Don’t not be kind just because other people make bad choices.”- Gideon
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great! Another great addition to this sweet series!
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What’s the Prize (Giveaway)?!
(2) winners will each receive a signed paperback of The Robber and the Witness, a notebook/pen set, and a wooden ornament!
Rules, Regulations, and Fine Print
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 22, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 29, 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.
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Light of Stars by Jenelle Hovde, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: The Light of Stars Author: Jenelle Hovde Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Release Date: July 14, 2026 Genre: Historical Romance
An arranged marriage. A powerful company tainted with corruption. Two souls caught between obligation and a longing to find their true calling in this Regency romance set in glittering London ballrooms and Calcutta street markets.
When Kitty Grenville’s grandfather announces her engagement to Sebastian Sinclair, she’s appalled. She barely remembers the boy she met once as a child—and now he’s a man tied to the East India Company, the very organization that tore Kitty and her brother from their mother and home in Hyderabad years ago. Unwilling to relinquish her dream of a love match or her passion for astronomy, Kitty is determined to refuse the marriage and find freedom in her own way.
Sebastian Sinclair carries the weight of duty and regret. To atone for past sins, he complies with his grandfather’s orders to return to England, fulfill a long-standing betrothal, and defend the maligned East India Company before Parliament. Though Kitty makes her disinterest clear, Sebastian is drawn to her intellect and spirit.
As Kitty navigates her first London season, her opinion of Sebastian begins to shift, especially when he shields her from scandal. When he’s abruptly called back to India, Kitty stuns everyone by marrying him and going with him, hoping to escape her grandfather’s control—and to find her mother.
But the challenges that await in India are greater than imagined. Together, Kitty and Sebastian must confront the legacy of family and empire—and discover if a marriage born of obligation can grow into a love strong enough to endure.
Jenelle Hovde, an accomplished illustrator, author, pastor’s wife, and homeschooling mother, ventured off the beaten path when she transitioned from her career as a doctor of audiology to pursue her passion for writing. While her nine novels span different eras—from the ancient worlds to World War II—her favorite genre is sweet Regency romance that enchants readers with tales of love and intrigue set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century England. Drawing inspiration from timeless treasures found in antique stores, Jenelle pens historical romance novels that captivate readers with vivid storytelling and gentle messages of faith. Her stories have garnered impressive showings in multiple writing contests. Often found writing at the Florida beach, she navigates life with her family and manages two saucy cats who insist on interrupting her creative endeavors.
Connect with Jenelle by visiting jenellehovdeauthor.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
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My Impressions
“I’m not afraid of failure. I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.” – William Carey
Book Coma!! Jenelle Hovde’s latest historical romance, The Light of Stars, has left me in a book coma. I am so overwhelmed by this book I don’t know if I can move on. Typically, stories of India, The East India Tea Company, England, and Parliament do not sound exciting to me. But let Hovde get ahold of these threads, and she weaves them together with a marriage of convenience story and faith nuggets into a beautiful work of art!
In London in December of 1814, unconventional, headstrong English heiress Kitty Grenville greatly resents her “Iron Colonel” grandfather, who treats her as a pawn in his grasp for money and power. Masterminding her kidnapping from a palace in India as a young girl, her grandfather now insists Kitty marry a man he chooses. This man, Sebastian Sinclair, is a grandson of the chairman of the board of The East India Tea Company. Kitty, who studies astronomy diligently, is threatened to have that freedom taken away, plus her inheritance, if she refuses to comply. Already caught with her brother between two worlds, Kitty has two desires: to be controlled by no man, and to find her mother.
Sebastian, after years of wasteful living, has finally found God and returned to his place in his grandfather’s family. Leading the East India Tea Company will one day fall to him, but now he must prove his worth and loyalty by marrying the granddaughter of an old comrade of his grandfather. He must also defend the East India Tea Company before Parliament.
Kudos to Hovde, who helped me understand the politics of the time involving the East India Tea Company, the response of India’s people to the company, and the mission of people like William Wilberforce and William Carey who believe the English heads of the company of great wrongdoing. Slowly, Wilberforce and Carey remind Sebastian of his duty to mankind as a Christian.
“It is the true duty of every man to promote the happiness of his fellow creatures to the utmost of his power,” Wilberforce says. While Carey tells Sebastian, “The gospel is the true means by which the world changes, Sebastian—not these political positions you seek. To belong to Jesus is to embrace the nations with Him.” But can Sebastian be convinced that his precious tea company and his one way to prove his loyalty to his domineering grandfather might be less important than the call of God on his divided heart?
So many times this amazing book plucked at my heartstrings. Two adults desperately looking for approval from grandparents that are hard and overly demanding. Two young adults (not necessarily the same) who, due to their heritage, cannot find acceptance in either society. Again, two adults whose siblings are living lives the former are ashamed of and grieve over. Ah, the romance, the intrigue, the action, the suspense, and the twists! And the astronomy lessons! How fun to have the stars be a focus of the book, yet the happiness Kit would have, should she be allowed to continue her beloved studies, is as unlikely as a new celestial discovery by a woman.
A book for historical fiction lovers, Regency romance lovers, readers of Julie Klassen and Sarah Ladd, plus those who enjoy reading of women in STEM and marriage of convenience stories. I adored it and highly recommended this novel!
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through JustRead Tours via NetGalley. I also bought a couple of paperbacks- one for my trophy shelf and one to share with a friend!
Notable Quotables:
“Yet even in this, I see the hand of Providence. I can trust Him—not only in the doors He opens, but in those He closes as well.” “Could I trust God to chart my path?”– Freddy, (Kitty)
“We do not have to be bound to our family’s curses or their poor choices. We can choose differently, aye?”- Sebastian
“Even those who think themselves uninvolved are often complicit if they do nothing.” -Carey
“We cannot allow our mistakes, nor the evil of others, to define our path or our identity.” – Freddy
“These men had not come to be entertained. They had come to change the world. Or set fire to it, if my grandfather was to be believed.” – Sebastian
“…mercy is a necessity for peace. Perhaps this is why we so desperately need God’s help. To calm the storm.” – Kit
“They’re the same stars. But from here, they feel like a promise…Neither you nor I are lost, not when we see God’s handiwork.” – Sebastian
“Forgiveness changes us,” he had told me once. “A repentant man is no longer defined by his sins.” – Carey
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! The Light of Stars checks all the boxes for me. It is on my shortlist of fave books of 2026!!
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Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $25 gift card to their choice bookstore!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight July 21, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on July 28, 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.
Authors: Sherry Shindelar, Denise Farnsworth, Susan F. Craft
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: June 30, 2026
Three remarkable women find themselves caught between two worlds on the American frontier. A captive of the Comanche must choose between escaping to white society or her growing feelings for a rising war chief in 1850s Texas. A Georgia judge’s daughter flees an unwanted betrothal during the War of 1812, only to be captured by Creek warriors but protected by a mysterious brave. And in 1754, an English lady traveling the Great Wagon Road to become a music teacher discovers her carefully planned future may not survive her attraction to a protective frontiersman.
From quaint civilized towns to treacherous mountain passes and wilderness villages, three couples navigate cultural divisions, overcome past wounds, and face deadly dangers to discover that love knows no boundaries. But as war clouds gather and ancient tribal alliances shift, will their newfound relationships survive the coming storm? Or will the clash of worlds tear them apart?
Three unforgettable romances prove that God’s greatest blessings often come disguised as our greatest challenges, and that true love can bridge any divide.
Originally from Tennessee, Sherry loves to take her readers into the past. A romantic at heart, she is an avid student of the Civil War and the Old West. When she is not busy writing, she is an English professor working to pass on her love of writing to her students. Sherry is an award-winning writer: 2025 Maggie winner, 2023 Genesis finalist, Maggie finalist, and Crown finalist. She currently resides in Minnesota with her husband of forty-one years. She has three grown children and three grandchildren. Connect with Sherry at sherryshindelar.com.
North Georgia native Denise Farnsworth, formerly Denise Weimer, has authored over twenty traditionally published novels and novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.
Nationally acclaimed writer of inspirational historical romance, Susan F. Craft retired after a 45-year career in communications. A widow who was married 48 years to her high school sweetheart, she has two adult children, one granddaughter, and a granddog. A history nerd, she enjoys painting, singing, and sitting on her porch watching chipmunks dine from her bird feeder. She recently learned how to play the ukulele. Soli Deo Gloria
More from the Authors
Imagine a time when the U.S. not far from the coast was unsettled wilderness. Where brave settlers faced the challenges of isolation and nature as they established a toehold of civilization. Where multiple nations clashed in battle as they vied for control of land and waterways.
This setting seeded with inherent danger and wild beauty calls to those of us who write frontier historical romances from the 1700s and 1800s. Three of us from Wild Heart Books—Sherry Shindelar, Denise Farnsworth, and Susan Craft—came together to pen a trio of novellas, Freed by the Frontier. Each of our stories connects to one of our previous series, but each novella can be read independently. We invite you to journey with us back to rugged mountains, wagon roads, and frontier settlements.
Wichita Path Sacrifice by Sherry Shindelar
The frontier has always captured my imagination. It is a place of hope and hardship, new beginnings and trials, dreams and risk, and in my stories, a place where love is forged. My novella is the prequel to Texas Forsaken, Book One in my Lone Star Redemption series. Wichita PathSacrifice tells the love story of captive Maggie Logan (Eyes-Like-Sky) and Dancing Eagle, a renowned Comanche warrior. The story is set in Comancheria in the 1850’s when the Comanches ruled the southern Plains and settlers entered the Texas frontier at their own risk. Years ago, the real-life story of Cynthia Ann Parker broke my heart. Cynthia was captured by Comanches at age nine, and lived with them for twenty-four years, married, and had children. When she was eventually recaptured by cavalry and Texas Rangers, she wanted nothing to do with the settlers’ world. Her heart belonged to the Comanche and her husband and children who were lost to her. Cynthia’s story had a sad ending that haunted me. I wanted to write a captive story with a happier ending, and that desire led to Texas Forsaken. The prequel, Wichita Path Sacrifice, inspired by the real-life stories of Cynthia Ann Parker and her cousin Rachel Plummer, is an enemy-to-lovers story of love blossoming in the midst of trials, when it seems all hope is gone. It’s a story of choices between paths. Love requires sacrifice. Eyes-Like-Sky and Dancing Eagle must decide how much they’re willing to let go of and risk if they are to claim the dreams of their heart.
Ofuskee Trail Surrender by Denise Farnsworth
Keturah Caldwell disappeared from A Counterfeit Betrothal, the first book of my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier series. Pledged to wed the hero of that novel, the daughter of a Georgia judge was abducted by thieves and sold to a war party of Creek braves. One of them, known as Wildcat, quietly protects her on the journey to his village in present-day Alabama. Keturah soon learns she has more in common with the adopted son of the micco than she would ever have guessed. When his cruel stepbrother turns his sights on Keturah and her younger sister, Keturah is forced to trust Wildcat in a marriage of convenience, though she vows to convince him to help them escape. They grow from enemies to lovers amid the War of 1812, as she learns that sometimes, greater blessings can come from abiding than from escaping.
Keturah also meets another captive, Susannah Moore, heroine of A Contrary Betrothal(formerly released as Bent Tree Bride), coming August 18 of this year.
Wagon Road Serenade by Susan F. Craft
An enemies-to-lovers historical romance, this novella is set in1754 on the Great Wagon Road spanning from Philadelphia, PA, to Augusta, GA. I wrote this novella as a complement to my three-novel Great Wagon Road series.
Elizabeth Stanton, her reputation marred from an injustice in London, seeks a second chance as a music teacher for a women’s academy in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She joins a wagon train, but scarred from her past, she vows never to rely on a man again. James Morgan, a widowed trapper, hears a vile rumor about Elizabeth and regrets agreeing to drive one of the academy’s wagons. To Elizabeth, James is another charming scoundrel. To James, Elizabeth is a tainted woman to be avoided. Both resist a growing attraction. James admires her willingness to help others. Her soft soprano voice fills the nights with a melancholy sweetness. Had he received false information and misjudged? Elizabeth tries to remain indifferent, but when he saves her and an orphan girl after Indians kidnap them, her heart softens.
Will his gentle treatment erase her misgivings? Can she trust him? Will their hearts reject discord and blend into a serenade of love?
My Impressions
Freed by the Frontier, by familiar authors feels like I’m coming to a visit with three friends, as I recognize author names whose historical fiction I love to read in this compilation. Sherry Shindelar, Denise Weimer, and Susan F. Craft have collaborated to show us that culture can be appreciated without dividing, and seeing the heart is more important than any outer appearance or speech. As I finish the set, I am comfortably sated, full of historical stories of the frontier and times of two people of widely different backgrounds finding common ground and love as they grow in faith.
I loved Sherry Shindelar’s Wichita Path Sacrifice as I recognized a character from another book she has authored, Texas Forsaken. In this prequel to the latter, Shindelar gives us the background of Eyes-Like-Sky and how she becomes a part of the Comanche tribe. I love how brave Eyes-Like-Sky is, in standing up for herself when no one else would. Oddly, it is that moment that becomes a turning point for Eyes-Like-Sky. I must admit, when this book ended, I was sad, having read its sequel. I wanted the story world that had finally found peace, to stay that way.
Notable Quotables:
“Sometimes courage takes a charging bull to give it fire.” – Dancing Eagle
“Is that why he’d survived? Did the Creator of the wind, moon, and sky notice him?” – Dancing Eagle
“You are my spring, Eyes-Like-Sky, and it has been winter too long.”- Dancing Eagle
Denise Farnsworth pens another story titled, ”Ofuskee Trail Surrender.” As we meet spoiled, rich Keturah Caldwell, her family has been abducted by Creek Indians. While two young warriors of the tribe desire Keturah or her sister, the safety of the girls relies of a marriage of convenience. How long will Keturah look only for escape back to her former way of life? Can she accept her unwanted marriage and learn to trust her new husband and God Himself? Will Keturah understand she doesn’t have the resources in herself to make her iwn way in life?
“Where had her beauty, her education, and her spirit gotten her? Defenseless and alone in enemy territory.”
I especially love how Wildcat recignizes a kindred spirit in Keturah and gives her the name he himself bears. Plus, he realizes, as he considers his past and her situation, they are not so different. “Tears he could never show burned behind his eyes. They had more in common than she would ever guess.” Of course, he eon me over with his gifts!
Notable Quotables:
“‘You set your course in life by how you rise to hardship.”- Mrs. Foote
“Had God sent the Caldwell women to remind him of who he had been? Of an identity he had given up? To find out who he might have become?”
Lastly, but just as historically and romantically enticing is Susan F. Craft’s novella, Wagon Road Serenade. Craft explains the history briefly of the great wagon train road, which is helpful. A young woman, Elizabeth Stanton, has suffered shame in England, and now travels on the wagon train to South Carolina to teach in a girls’ school. The wagon driver is a single trapper, James Morgan, who is returning to the town, Graniteville, where the school is located. Elizabeth proves herself kind, puts others first, and is very courageous (as well as musical and beautiful. How can James reconcile this personality with the rumors he hears of her in Pennsylvania? Many tense adventures await these two as they slowly discover the other’s real person and their lives become enmeshed with others surrounding them. Loved it!
Notable Quotables:
“Divorce. Adultery. Betrayal. He knew the bitterness of betrayal…Honesty and loyalty meant everything to him.” – (James)
“Have courage, little one. God is with us no matter what happens. Keep hope and pray without ceasing.” – Elizabeth
“How many times have I fallen to my knees and asked You for forgiveness, and how many times have You answered me with grace?”-James
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.
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! Each story was everything I’d hoped for from that author, tying in with other books of theirs that I have previously read.
Mabel plans to bring the joys of volunteering to the masses…if she doesn’t fall victim to an ancient curse first.
Mabel has previously encountered dead bodies while volunteering—but she never imagined she’d run afoul of a legendary curse. Until now…
A university archeology team has come to excavate an old privy on the grounds of the Thompson estate, home of Medicine Spring’s first white settler. They hope to retrieve items of historic interest, but rumors of lost treasure and dark curses swirl around the project.
Mabel has joined the dig as a volunteer, despite her reluctance to touch anything collected from the ancient outhouse pit. It doesn’t take long however, before she realizes a few dirt-encrusted artifacts are the least of her worries.
She doesn’t believe in curses, but accidents and misfortune plague team members—including Mabel herself. She begins to wonder if there might be some truth in the old stories. When a body turns up on the site, it appears the curse has transformed from local legend to deadly reality. Will Mabel be its next victim?
Susan Kimmel Wright began her life of mystery in childhood, with reading. That led her to writing kids’ mysteries and eventually to Medicine Spring with Mabel. A longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, Susan’s also a prolific writer of personal experience stories, many for Chicken Soup for the Soul. She shares an 1875 farmhouse in southwestern PA with her husband, several dogs and cats, and an allegedly excessive stockpile of coffee and tea mugs.
More from Susan
I suspect it takes a somewhat warped sense of humor to write a book called Mabel and the Privy of Doom. In fact, I’m afraid this entire series may someday be Exhibit A when my kids decide I need a guardian—but meanwhile I’m having fun!
Mabel and the Privy of Doom was a joy to write, combining my love of mysteries, screwball humor, American history, lost treasure, and ancient curses. It all started when I first learned about historic outhouses or privies.
I discovered the Homewood privy (c. 1801) in Baltimore on a walkabout near Johns Hopkins University. Part of the Declaration of Independence signer John Carroll of Carrollton estate, this handsome brick building has been well maintained over the centuries and has its own historic plaque! (No, not “John Carroll Sat Here!”) Yet another high-profile privy excavation has been performed in patriot Paul Revere’s back yard in Massachusetts in recent years.
Archeologists often learn a great deal from excavating old outhouses, just from examining objects thrown away or accidentally dropped in the privy pit. Even privy pits on humble farmsteads or in modest back yards reveal a lot about family circumstances and daily life. Artifacts such as old bottles, coins, and broken pottery commonly surface.
Growing up, I was fortunate(?) enough have an outhouse on our rural, western Pennsylvania family property. My father, a carpenter and cabinetmaker, built our house himself after returning from World War II. Because the work took a long time, he also built an outhouse for use during the construction period, before plumbing was connected.
My father (perhaps I got my wacky sense of humor from him) added a “Sanitary Inspected Restroom” sign on the door. It now graces the wall of our powder room.
The outhouse survived for most of my childhood. Because our water supply came from a spring that occasionally went dry during a summer drought, we were occasionally forced to resort to the old privy. Luckily, these occasions were rare and typically brief, but I’ll admit I prayed fervently for rain.
My Impressions
Susan Kimmel Wright has penned such a clever, funny, clean cozy with her Mysteries of Medicine Spring series. I have now thoroughly enjoyed all five, the last being Mabel and the Privy of Doom.
You really do want to read these books in order to meet Mabel and her friends and enemies in Medicine Spring. I find Mabel hilarious as she re-invents herself as a writer describing volunteering activities for seniors. Turns out hapless, frumpy Mabel isn’t very good at any job she attempts, and volunteering at a privy dig just stinks! Seriously, while there is no smell, there is plenty of animosity from the townspeople who don’t want the “sacred ground” disturbed, or those who want it preserved for posterity.
Kimmel relates her tale with a light-hearted, sarcastic look at a fifty-year-old sleuth who just can’t stay away from a mystery or trouble. And her friends are just as bad. Either like Lisa, dreaming up mystery possibilities that must be explored, or like the township supervisor, Nita, whose job is on the line if the dig goes south.
My fave characters have got to be the 90-ish old ladies, Miss Katherine Ann and Miss Birdie. Friends of Mabel’s deceased grandmother, they take Mabel on as an honorary granddaughter. But, oh, the gossip and hilarity they bring wherever they go!
Wright actually threads at least three, maybe more, mysteries into her novel as we try to figure out identities, treasures, and whodunit. A dangerous book to read if you are reading late at night and cannot wake sleeping people with sudden bursts of laughter! Mabel always leaves me smiling! Highly recommended cozy!
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:
“Sometimes you’ve gotta act like a turtle and stick out your neck to get anywhere.”
Mabel’s grandmother Mabel
‘A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth can get its boots on,’” John
“How can you ‘desecrate’ an outhouse?”- Lisa
“You can’t get blood out of a turnip now, can you?” “Or gold out of a privy,” – Karl, Mabel
To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of the book of the winner’s choice from my series, Mysteries of Medicine Spring!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Sixteen-year-old Eliza has accepted life as a Hebrew slave in Egypt, never to be seen, heard, or loved. After all, she has it good, working alongside her sister for the wealthy Ameneten family. Though unworthy of love, she is free to love others, and she loves her master’s oldest son, Seti (unbeknownst to him).
Only when Moses returns to the land of Egypt to free his people is she emboldened to pray to the ancient God her mother used to speak of, and she prays for the love of Seti, but only if he first rejects his gods and falls for the Hebrew God.
As the God of gods hardens Pharaoh’s heart, He softens Seti’s and pursues him with a love Seti has never known, while also shining His face on Eliza who learns she is indeed worthy of love.
This is the Exodus as told from both Eliza and Seti as a love story between God and His people, God and Seti, and Seti and Eliza.
EJ Ashmore, a mother, wife, and a nurse, only wrote for fun as a teenager. Once babies and college got in the way, she stopped, but she also no longer wanted to write unless it was for God. When her son was 15 and trying to grapple with why God would harden Pharaoh’s heart, then punish him, she took to writing again. Best to show him rather than explain it. But then Joel Richardson’s SINAI TO ZION came out, and she fell in love with how the whole exodus and wilderness scenario was God’s love story- from pursuit, winning the love of the people, to betrothal, complete with a wedding supper which has yet to happen. It’s a literal play-by-play of the ancient Jewish wedding customs, but so is Christianity. Not only that, but human marriage was designed to reflect God’s desired relationship with His people.
This became EJ’s passion: to demonstrate this in a story for young people, as is to reach the average teenager who feels unworthy of God’s (or anybody’s) love.
FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE comes from Exodus 9:16 and is EJ’s debut novel.
More from EJ
When Lisa Phillip’s son was 15 and trying to grapple with why God would harden Pharaoh’s heart, then punish him for it, she took to writing. Best to show him rather than explain it. But then Joel Richardson’s SINAI TO ZION came out, and she fell in love with how the whole exodus and wilderness scenario was God’s love story—from pursuit, winning the love of the people, to betrothal, complete with a wedding supper which has yet to happen. It’s a literal play-by-play of the ancient Jewish wedding customs, but so is Christianity. Not only that, but human marriage was designed to reflect God’s desired relationship with His people.
This became Lisa’s passion: to demonstrate this in a story for young people, as is to reach the average teenager who feels unworthy of God’s (or anybody’s) love.
FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE comes from Exodus 9:16 and is Lisa’s debut novel. Since there is already a well-known author by the name of Lisa Phillips, a pen name was chosen.
My Impressions
“Who was she to talk to this ancient God? She had nothing with which to sacrifice or gain His favor. Nothing but herself.”
For This Very Purpose, (a story of the Exodus) by EJ Ashmore, is so engrossing and suspenseful, I had to give it five stars! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started Ashmore’s debut novel. I was sure happy to find a list of characters at the front ( that always makes me happy). I take a picture of those lists and put them in my notes to refer back to as I read, if necessary. The book is what it purports to be: a love story between God and His people, God and Seti, and Seti (an Egyptian priest-in-training) and Eliza (one of his family’s slaves.)
Eliza is a young 16-yr-old slave who develops a crush on the master’s slightly older son. A forbidden relationship if ever there was one. Seti is arrogant, selfish, and cruel, finding ways to humiliate the young slave in front of his friends. But when Eliza becomes fed up with the Egyptian family’s cruelty, her actions that bring calamity may create room for something new. I was amused to realize that both Seti and Eliza tend to jump into things and think about consequences later, but these tendencies make for a very tense novel!
Seti has an enormous growth arc throughout the story. He starts out cruel, except to his closest friends and family, and arrogant (names places after himself- “My Mesa,” “the S-Curve”). Seti doesn’t believe slaves can have thoughts worthy of sharing, and even when with Sabu, his best friend, he doesn’t realize a relationship is a two-way street, with both parties being equal.
But I loved seeing his growth from worshipping the gods of Egypt, which is truly his heritage as a priest, to considering the claims of the God of the Hebrews. As each plague strikes Egypt, Seti puzzles and agonizes over why the particular god of Egypt doesn’t respond to save the Egyptian people. In one desperate appeal to a god, Seti, in his brash, entitled way, breaks a law that threatens to unravel his whole life. Which gods or God will look upon him with favor? The ones he’s dedicated his life to, or the Hebrew God who Eliza claims keeps promises to His people, who uses difficulties to turn them back to him?
“The Hebrew God cares for his people. He fights for them and loves them. Our gods don’t love.”
Wow! The plagues themselves are so well described. I would have hated to be in total darkness. And with the darkness threatening the sanity of creatures? Oy! I could smell the stench of the dead fish of the Nile, the dead frogs (after the 3 days of frogs everywhere!), the deafening roar of the locusts. The horrors felt very real, and go on and on.
I felt the book does a good job of explaining the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. I would not recommend this book for “young adults” on the lower end of the age range due to subject matter including the detail and discussion of the priestessess’ duties and circumcision. Still, in the mature reader’s hands, a very impactful book.
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:
“His God proclaimed He raised up Pharaoh for this purpose, and that He will display His power over him. That’s why Pharaoh won’t listen. The Hebrew God isn’t finished displaying His power yet. Pharaoh is a son of the gods, right? The spirits of Isis and Osiris are in him. This is a war between gods, and the Hebrew God wants us to witness it.”– Seti
“…nothing would return to normal. The damage had been done, and the end result would be either a heart of stone or of flesh.” – [the chills of this statement, applicable to so many in the story!]
“You want to guard your heart from ungodly things as well as ungodly patterns of behavior, speech, and thoughts. They become who you are otherwise. It’s kind of like hardening your heart toward those ungodly things. But hardening your heart can manifest as stubbornness, an unwillingness to let God change you for the better and protect your soul.” – Aharon
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! I felt like I was there, as both an Egyptian and a Hebrew, to see the plagues take place! I had to feel like I would have certainly been convinced to follow the God of the Hebrews-if I had been an Egyptian!!
ometimes God’s best plan is the one we never expected.
California, 1870. Pastor William Baker has built his life on faith, routine, and safe choices—until Lydia Spencer walks in and turns everything upside down.
Independent, outspoken, and guarded, Lydia is unlike any woman he’s ever known. She has no interest in church… and no intention of revealing the truth she’s hiding.
Because Lydia isn’t just a schoolteacher.
She’s a Pinkerton detective, sent west to track a dangerous crime boss—and she’ll do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even if it means keeping her distance from the one man who sees straight through her defenses.
But when unexplained thefts shake their quiet small-town rural community, and a desperate boy appears with ties to a deeper mystery, Will and Lydia are forced into an uneasy partnership.
As danger closes in, so do their hearts.
What begins as a reluctant alliance soon becomes a forced proximity neither of them expected—and neither can ignore.
Yet the very things that draw them together may be the ones that tear them apart.
Lydia’s life is built on secrets. Will’s is built on truth.
And when her past catches up with her, they’ll have to decide what matters most—holding on to their own plans… or trusting the One who sees the bigger picture.
Because sometimes surrender is the only way to find the life you were meant to live.
Set against the backdrop of the American West, A Whole New Plan is a heartfelt story of faith, courage, and a strong woman learning to trust again—woven with threads of mystery and hope.>
If you enjoy western Christian romances with elements of intrigue and heart, you’ll love A Whole New Plan—perfect for fans of Misty M. Beller and Mary Connealy.
Step into a story of courage, trust, and unexpected love—grab your copy today.
Denise M. Colby writes historical romance sweetened with faith, hope, and love. She finds history fascinating and contemplates often how it was to live in the 1800’s.
Her debut novel, When Plans Go Awry, is a 2025 Carol Award finalist and placed 3rd in the Historical Romance category of the OCRW BBB contest.
She treasures the written word and the messages that can be conveyed when certain words are strung together. An avid journal writer, she usually can be found with a pen and notepad whenever she’s reading God’s word.
Every year Denise chooses a word to focus on. For 2025, her word is FLOURISH! Sign up for her newsletter at her website denisemcolby dot com or you can follow Denise on facebook or instagram.
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My Impressions
“If he knew she lied for a living, he would call her a hypocrite. And he would be correct.”
I have to admit, ever since I vicariously visited Denise M. Colby’s small town of Washton, CA, in the latter half of the 1800s, I’ve been wanting to go back. So, I jumped at the chance to read Colby’s third book of the Best-Laid Plans series, A Whole New Plan. We have many of the characters from before, plus a few new ones. And, the one I was especially hoping to see making an appearance, the town mascot, Bert! What a hoot Bert is!
Lydia is a Pinkerton who comes to Washton to protect her friend, Jenny, from danger from a previous encounter with a mob. Most people in town are not privy to Lydia’s real identity, including young pastor Will, who is beginning to feel the need for a wife. ( And if he doesn’t pick his own, the townspeople will be happy to assist!) He becomes interested in convalescing Lydia, though it soon becomes apparent she is hiding something.
I liked Will as a male main character. He is such a good listener, and always seems to know how to counsel people and guide them. He actually does a great job of helping Lydia think through various situations, and he knows how to insert Truth without becoming preachy. He is not afraid to risk himself for others. I loved the way he meets the need of young Ollie, who is the most lovable, sad waif. While he wishes to meet Lydia’s needs as more than a friend, he realizes there are huge obstacles in the way. She neither shares her mysterious past nor is she interested in his God or his faith.
Lydia, herself, starts to develop an interest in Will, but she realizes how much he detests lies. Her life is based on lying. Also, her philosophy of life is much different from his. “When plans don’t go the way I want them to, I reassess. Will prays. It will be interesting to see which method works better.” (- from Lydia’s journal, which we are given peeks into at the beginning of each chapter.) Lydia had a very rough childhood and can’t believe that anyone who truly sees her could love her. Can Will convince her that both he snd the Heavenly Father see her, and love her as she is? Can he keep her safe as she dives back into her past, so he can get the chance to tell her?
This is a great book for historical fiction fans who like Misty M. Beller or Mary Connealy. Also, slow-burn, inspirational romance, small-town settings, and unique characters.
I received a copy of the book from JustRead Tours. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“The one thing they had was God. And it was time to trust Him completely.”
“God sees you as His precious creation. You don’t have to prove anything to Him because you are good enough in His eyes. “- Will
“You do know God is orchestrating all of this, right? He brought us together initially and continues to intertwine our lives. Helping us find our purpose. Where we belong.” – Olivia
“Having faith in someone is almost as important as having faith in God. We all need someone to believe in us.” – Will
“If we talk with God first, then listen, the enemy’s lies don’t reach us as much. And when they do, we can see them for the lies they are more clearly.”– Will
“Where some people fall away from God during tragedy, I turned to Him. And He carried me through. I found strength and solace, grace and patience. And I wanted to share that with others.” – Will
“The enemy likes to taunt us with our fears. Tell us we are not enough. Make us doubt our decisions.” – Will
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! This book earned its stars for its unique characters, including Ollie & Bert. Also for the great amount of Truth Nuggets to be mined, plus unexpected suspense.
Book: The Girl from Tomorrow’s Town (Enduring Hope Book 5)
Author: Naomi Musch
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Release Date: June, 2026
Past and Present Collide on the Railway
When life seems weighed down by challenges, there are always pillars of enduring hope and love to be discovered.
Lily Mae Dodge flees Wyoming by night to find her mother, who sent her west on an orphan train ten years ago. After she’s arrested in Chicago, help comes from a man with a rare vision impairment whom she only just met on a train. Francis Basnett is a roustabout for the famous Hagenbeck-Wallace circus, where he helps Lily gain employment. Their friendship grows into more, and it seems Lily is closer than ever to finding her mother. . .until the night a rogue troop train slams into the stalled circus train, killing dozens and splintering hope.
Naomi Musch is an award-winning author who writes from a deer farm in the pristine north woods of Wisconsin, where she and husband Jeff live as epically as God allows near the families of their five adult children. When not in the physical act of writing or spending time loving on her passel of grandchildren, she can be found plotting stories as she roams around the farm, snacks out of the garden, and relaxes in her vintage camper. Naomi is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Wisconsin Writers’ Association, and the Lake Superior Writers. She loves engaging with others and can be found all around social media or at her site.
More from Naomi
Did you ever dream of running away with the circus? I must admit, it was never something I imagined doing, but like most kids of my generation, my wonderment did soar the first time I stepped foot beneath a “big top”. Some of those sensory memories stayed with me through the decades since, and of course, made their way into my novel. Nowadays, the trains or wagons no longer roll into town. There are very few circuses still around.
I grew up in the region not far from Barnum and Bailey’s Circus World in Wisconsin, but when traveling circuses were at their peak (much earlier than my day, I will add), there were nearly 100 of them traversing the country, nearly a third of them by rail. One of the largest was the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus based in southern Indiana. (Originally northern Indiana, but they transitioned to a warmer location where they wintered their animals.) They traveled in two trains—one that hauled the animals, laborers, and roustabouts, and the other that hauled the performers with their families and other work staff.
The circus was a city within itself, and more importantly, it became like family to most of the performers. Into this world is where my cast of characters gathers in The Girl from Tomorrow’s Town. Lily Mae Dodge is in search of just such a place to call home and people she can think of as family while she searches for her mother, lost to her when she was sent west on an orphan train as a child.
I never imagined myself writing a circus story, but when I learned about the real-life history of the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus, and tragically, the terrible circus train crash that stands as the most devastating in history, I needed to get to know some of the performers and people who worked there. I also wanted to add my own characters in a way that would bring this historic circus family to life. To tell the story of the crash, it was important to me that I do it in a way that would honor the lives and memories of those who were involved.
“Tomorrow’s Town” is a circus phrase referring to the place of the next show. The traveling circus season was a busy one, and sometimes performers who were already looking ahead to the next show simply referred to the next location as “tomorrow’s town.” While The Girl from Tomorrow’s Town is set in 1918 during WWI when the tragedy took place, it is primarily a story of hope, dreams, love, healing, and found family.
I hope you enjoy Lily and Francis’s story, and that you’ll settle into dazzling discovery with the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus!
My Impressions
“He might not see well, but everything about Lily was perfectly clear. She was searching for home, possibly for the mother who had never returned to claim her.”
The Girl from Tomorrow’s Train by Naomi Musch is a five-star read for me! Published by Barbour as part of its loosely connected series Enduring Hope, this is book #5. Sent West on an orphan train at nine years old, Lily Mae Dodge escapes a life of enforced slavery with her adopted family. Traveling East on a train, she meets Francis Basnett, a young man whose curious eye condition prohibits him from joining the War efforts in 1918.
This novel is so many things. It is a historical romance. It is a story of an American tradition- the orphan train- that helped many, but harmed just as many, while adults turned a blind eye to children’s suffering. It is the tale of a young woman searching for the acceptance and love that she was denied as a child, her soul searching for answers.
We also see a young man whose eye disease makes him the object of unaware society’s scorn. A young man who thinks his inability to see reflects on his ability to be the man God made him to be. Musch presents the historical Hagenbeck-Wallace circus train wreck of 1918, the largest and most disastrous circus train wreck in history. More than that, we are treated to a slice of life under the Big Top, backstage with the workers who become family for each other. Faith shines through in the dark of the tragedy, and hope is born again.
Francis quickly falls for Lily, but feels himself unworthy. He realizes how much Lily is winging her every decision, and invites her to join him in working for the circus. He often encourages her in her faith, with sayings like this: “He’s a big God. There’s no telling what He’ll accomplish through your prayers. The charge to pray might seem simple yet be bigger than you know.” How I loved that reminder for my own life. And, he is so kind, so patient, and thoughtful of Lily. I was always rooting for the two of them, but Francis about “slew” me when he spoke a certain phrase to Lily, in a voice she couldn’t hear, but in the pattern in which she often speaks aloud to herself!
Lily grabbed my heart from the get-go, in her suspenseful escape, her cautiousness, and her need for someone to love her. Yet, she opens her heart to the people around her: first, Jenny; then Alice and Leslie. She looks for ways to help in the search for survivors among the train wreck and to offer aid. And finding Suzie, Lily recognizes and fills a big need. I also loved the way Lily helps Francis as she acts as his eyes, whether alighting from the train, or reading the news to him. Then…how do you describe colors to someone who had never seen them? “Pink is the first breeze on a summer morning, tingling up your arms with the dawn.” No wonder Francis falls hard!!
One paragraph made me especially think.
“People happily came to see the shows and delight in the thrills, but many believed that the folk who lived and worked with the circus were mostly freaks and shysters. At best, they viewed them as a peculiar lot and not meant to associate in pubic life.” THIS MAKES ME SO SAD!! But it is such a true statement of how we as society pass easy judgment, often ignoring the fact we’re guilty on the other hand of promoting an activity or (particpating in one) we claim is wrong.
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:
“It’s not ridiculous to want to go home.” A puff of air escaped her lips. “Is there such a place?” – Francis, Lily
“I can’t give up on the future. I must cling to hope if it takes my last breath.”- Lily
“God didn’t promise to remove our suffering while we’re here, but He promises to be the lap we can climb into while we go through it. He will hold us and love us through. He’ll give us peace.” – Francis
“A still, small voice whispered into her ear that this was how it should be, that something good could come of her own hard past.” -( Lily)
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! I love these stories of historical fact woven into fiction, where I learn so much while being entertained and built up in my faith at the same time. The romance doesn’t hurt!😁😮
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions 