Becky’s Book Reviews with a Bent to Christian Historical Fiction, Biblical Fiction, and Cozies!
Author: Babbling Becky L
I am a first and foremost a follower of Jesus Christ. Having formerly taught elementary school, I am now a retired special education para-pro. I miss our amazing students! I am married with three great young adult children, one married in South Carolina. My husband and I are empty-nesters but share our home with a huge tiger cat and a playful Shih-Tzu, plus often the granddog. More time for my fave past-time now-reading!😊
Sometimes the best life is the one we never planned.
Sarah Anne Baker never wanted to be anyone’s burden. But hours after losing the Godmother who raised her, she faces an impossible choice: marry her late fiancé’s brother—or flee into the unknown. With fear as her only companion, she places her trust in the one man leaving town that night—the enigmatic traveling peddler known only as Mr. Smith.
Alexander Sinclair walked away from his noble title in Scotland to live a quiet, hidden life. Peddling wares from town to town has given him peace, free from the weight of expectation. Until a desperate young woman crosses his path. He can’t turn her away… no matter the cost.
Together, Sarah and Alex set out on a journey through loss, healing, and a bond neither expected to find. But as secrets surface and choices demand to be made, both must decide: cling to the lives they planned—or risk everything to embrace the future God has written for them.
A tender tale of courage, redemption, and love strong enough to change the course of two hearts forever.
About the Author
Passionate about all types of stories—whether they are from songs, theatre, movies, or novels—Denise M. Colby loves history and constantly finds herself contemplating how it was to live in the 1800s.
An avid journal writer, Denise usually can be found with a pen and notepad whenever she’s reading God’s word. Each year, Denise chooses a word to focus on. She shares her learnings about that word throughout the year on the two blogs she writes for.
A wife for thirty years and mother to three boys and daughter-in-love, Denise loves to read, watch movies with her family, sing 80s and musical songs, dance, and spend date nights with her husband.
Writing Historical Christian Romance novels combines her love of learning about history and reading. Visit Denise’s website to sign up for her newsletter or connect with her on her social media.
“…they needed to piece together some sort of plan they both could accept.”
No Plan at At All is a fun historical romance by Denise M. Colby. Young Sarah hitches a ride with a traveling peddler, Alex Smith, in a last- ditch effort to avoid a marriage to a man she doesn’t love.
With no plan in place at all, but simply to escape that unwanted life, Sarah unknowingly puts poor Alex (and herself)in a very compromising position. Two young unmarried persons traveling together.
Sarah finds a way to make herself indispensable to Alex, while still staying out of sight. Their journey is fraught with fear of discovery, constant illness, and a gradual attraction that develops, though secrets unknown will keep the two from being able to act on their feelings.
Alma, a fave secondary character, is a much -needed friendly mother-type figure for Sarah. When Sarah relays her true feelings to the sweet older lady, Alma sagely tells her, “What you feel is real. Sometimes we can’t control the feelings, but we can ask the Lord to help guide our actions.”
I wasn’t sure at first what to think of Will, Sarah’s brother. He certainly is an example someone whose actions may or may not be as interpreted. I did like one piece of advice Will had for his sister:
“Praying is a practice everyone needs to put into motion. You have to work at it. It doesn’t happen automatically. And you have to keep at it.” Always a good reminder!
Tropes of hidden identity and forced proximity together with faith nuggets and historical romance flavored with Scottish influence, make this a fun story. I did keep looking for a wandering rooster, to no avail!
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:
“In the daylight everything was exposed. More pronounced. The sun shone on things that were easy to hide in the dark.”
“You know how the people of the world see things. The perception is much worse than the actual reality.”
“But I also trust God to provide. His ways are better than me own. I can’t go out in the world fearful of things going wrong.”
Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical / Regency Romance
Release Date: November, 2025
She forgot she loved him. He would die to make her remember.
Meg Foxcroft has never minded the tattling village gossip or her uncle’s ill-tempered rebukes. After all, she has Tom McGwen—and one day, they will build their own cottage, paint it red, and live a wonderful life.
But then the unthinkable happens. Meg is attacked, her uncle’s apothecary shop goes up in flames, and when she wakes up in the arms of an eloquent lord, she remembers nothing. Not even her own name.
In a frantic race against time, Tom plunges into dangerous water, bent on sheltering Meg from harm and discovering who wants her dead. Even if she despises him. Even if it’s now the handsome lord she casts her smile upon.
As danger swells and truth comes crashing around them, Meg must confront the past and decide who she trusts—and loves—before the enemy makes the final strike.
Hannah Linder resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels filled with passion, secrets, and danger. She is a four-time Selah Award winner, a 2023 Carol Award semi-finalist, a 2023 Angel Book Award third place winner, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Also, Hannah is an international and multi-award-winning graphic designer who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and international bestsellers. She is also a self-portrait photographer of historical fashion. When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments—piano, guitar, ukulele, and banjolele—songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, square dancing, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse.
More from Hannah
We’re made for someone. I think I’ve always believed this—that it was never about proximity, or happenchance, or who you know, or where you are.
But that God, in His infinite wisdom, created a second half for each of us.
Someone who fits in the curve of your neck when you hug.
Who laughs at the things you laugh at.
Who speaks to you in a language your soul understands.
I think that’s why I love The Red Cottage so much. Circumstances would have never mattered with Tom and Meg. They loved each other. They were linked. And even if everything had been different, if they had been born hundreds of years before, they would have found their way back to each other.
If the age was ancient Egypt, and he had been a Pharaoh, and she a slave, they would have discovered each other.
If the year was 1920, and he a factory worker, and she the daughter of an oil tycoon, they would have defied the rules of society.
In any other place, in any other time, in any other way, Tom would have loved Meg. And Meg would have loved Tom. That is the beauty and the mind-blowing magic of real love.
So, when you fall into the pages of The Red Cottage, I hope you aren’t so foolish as to imagine this was an accident. That Tom said the right things, or that Meg felt vulnerable in just the right places, and that their bond—both the first and second time—was a mere hapless stroke of luck.
They would have loved each other anyway.
We’re all made for someone.
My Impressions
“Everything hurt. Her head. Her heart. She was empty, hollow, like a book ripped of all its pages.”
This may be historical gothic regency reading at its best!! Hannah Linder’s The Red Cottage held me spell-bound from the moment I opened the book. How could I not be, when the first line intones, “We shall get murdered for this”?!
So many things make this novel, set in 1828 Cornwall, unforgettable. Amnesia, a love triangle, a mystery that grows deeper and more desperate with each red herring, faith tidbits, and more twists than than a braided rope. Whew! What an amazing story! I wish I had the time to reread it again tomorrow. Just wow!
The main question: the female main character, Meg, develops amnesia following an arson attack on her uncle’s apothecary. Can her best friend and developing love, Tom, find her before she and her uncle are destroyed in a bitter revenge?
By the time poor, disrespected, fisherman Tom finds Meg, she is ensconced in a well-to-do estate with a young lord and his very sick daughter. Of course, Lord Cunningham falls in love quickly with Meg. Grateful for his care and compassion, not remembering any of her past, Meg is about the accept her benefactor’s suit. A chance visit with her host to her home village to partake of a festivities leads to part of Meg’s past staring her in the face- yet she wants none of what she can’t recall. Which man will convince independent Meg that she is better off with him over the other?
Perhaps, unsurprisingly, a great number of characters have secrets in their pasts that affect their actions or the story’s outcome.
Usually, I get impatient when a main character’s affections seem to waffle back and forth. Cunningham is very patient with Meg’s indecision and waffling, but he also is more shrewd than he seems. “You have brought Lady Walpoole here to reconcile me with my future.” “In essence, yes.” She braced herself for his disapproval. “I wish to reconcile with my past.”
The biggest question of the book may be: is one’s past really how they perceive it? Or are lies the only way to succeed? And can one overcome one’s past, or is that person forever doomed to try to make penance for severe mistakes? “Perhaps we do not ever fully recover from our tragedies, but we certainly learn to bury them.” Unfortunately, the ugly truth will need to out before Tom, Meg, and others will find peace.
I cannot recommend this book enough. A fave genre, so many plot twists, love triangle, and sprinkles of Truth.
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:
“She was here to learn about the old Meg Foxcroft. Not become her.”
“We all require friendship.”- Meg
“He didn’t need Papa’s forgiveness, and he didn’t need God, and he sure as brimstone didn’t need Meg Foxcroft. Lord Cunningham had been right.” – ( Tom)
“We shall go to the library, and for a little while we may convince ourselves all is right and well in the world.” – Cunningham
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading this book!
Author: Denise Farnsworth writing as Denise Weimer
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: November 3, 2025
A marriage of protection. A past full of pain. In Georgia’s wild gold country, love might strike when it’s least expected.
Genevieve Gillbard knows she’s no longer safe in the rough-and-tumble gold rush town when she overhears her controlling guardian’s plot to steal gold from a local mine owner. It takes every ounce of her courage to escape, and now she’ll do anything to keep herself safe, even accept a temporary marriage of convenience from a man who clearly wants nothing more than his independence.
After losing his first wife, surveyor Jesse Holden swore never to let anyone close enough to need him again. But when he discovers the woman he knows as the Songbird of Auraria injured and unconscious in the woods, he can’t abandon her, not with the memory of his failure to protect his wife hanging over him. He’ll keep this woman safe until she’s out of harm’s way, even if it means doing the one thing he swore he’d never do again.
As Genny recovers under Jesse’s care, she discovers he’s nothing like the manipulative men of her past. But can she trust him with her heart—knowing he plans to leave as soon as her guardian is brought to justice? And even then, she fears the sham marriage might not be enough to keep her safe from her guardian’s long reach.
North Georgia native Denise Farnsworth has authored around twenty traditionally published novels and a number of 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 mother of two wonderful young adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.
More from Denise
A Gold Rush…in Georgia?
Celebrate Lit Blog Post for The Songbird and the Surveyor by Denise Farnsworth
(writing as Denise Weimer)
Did you know there was a gold rush in Georgia that began twenty years before gold was discovered in California? That Georgia gold was purer than any found in the country? Comment below if you did. And I tip my hat to you. I come across many native Georgians who are unaware of this major event in their state’s history.
My first series, The Georgia Gold Series, touched on the Georgia Gold Rush. In the ten years since its release, I’ve written novels set between the Revolutionary War and contemporary times. (I also recently got married. Thus, the name change from Denise Weimer to Denise Farnsworth. I hope you’ll look for my future novels under my new name!) The period of the 1830s is one largely untouched in American history by fiction writers. I always knew I might revisit that decade in more detail. Thus, The Twenty-Niners of the Georgia Gold Rush was born.
Gold was first discovered by white men on Coker Creek in 1827, but it wasn’t until fall of 1828, when Benjamin Parks found a nugget as he returned from filling his cattle’s lick log west of the Chestatee River, that the mining industry exploded in North Georgia. The area was flooded by prospectors who clashed with the native Cherokee people. The land was soon taken from them and divvied up in a lottery of ninety-two districts, with farming plots set at a hundred and sixty acres and gold lots at forty acres. By June of 1832, almost six hundred surveyors from across Georgia were hard at work.
The gold belt stretched from Clarkesville to Canton (the setting of book two), with major concentrations near Dahlonega (the setting of book three). Auraria, located on the mountain ridge between the Etowah and Chestatee rivers, was one of the boom towns that lingered into the twentieth century, although now only a few abandoned buildings remain. Think Wild West before the west went wild. Into this setting I dropped the story of a guilt-haunted surveyor with a dangerous streak of wanderlust and an orphan who’s learned to sing for her life.
Genevieve Gillbard’s neglectful father has died and left her in the care of her guardian, a volatile saloon owner with unwholesome intentions. When she overhears a plot that implicates Charles Martin and one of his employees in a scheme to kidnap her and siphon off a local miner’s gold, Genevieve flees…right into the arms of another man she surely can’t trust.
Blaming himself for the death of his wife, Jesse Holden wants nothing less than being saddled with the wounded songbird he rescued from a drunken miner on his first trip to Auraria. But when he learns that Genny’s guardian is the same man responsible for his wife’s death, he agrees to shelter her to give his sheriff friend, also his former brother-in-law, time to entrap Charles. Neither of them expect to be forced into a marriage in name only—at least until Genny reaches her majority. Despite his efforts to hold his heart at bay, Jesse was raised by his minister-father to treat women right—something so new to Genny, it crumbles her walls. But will the emotional price of trusting Jesse prove higher than the risk to her physical safety?
Although set near raucous boom town of Auraria, The Songbird and the Surveyor is a story of quiet healing and second chances. Of rescues and God’s miraculous redirection. Of learning to spot the real among the counterfeit…and hold onto it for all you’re worth.
My Impressions
“God is our true north, Genny. Long as we keep our bearing on Him, we can’t go astray.”
We’ve all heard of the “fortyniners,” but this new series by Denise Farnsworth ( formerly Weimer) begins to tell the tale of the Georgia “twenty-niners.” The Songbird and the Surveyor starts with a chance rescue of a young, beautiful singer whose opportunistic guardian forces her to sing in a tavern in the booming Georgia mining town of Auraria. Drunk, uncouth miners get out of hand and Jesse, a young, engaged surveyor steps up when Genny’s own guardian doesn’t.
Fast forward a few years. Genny is beginning to realize that Charles, her guardian, may not have her best interest at heart as she overhears rumors of him leaving to marry another-while controlling her through emotional manipulations and expectations. Jesse himself has married his fiancée, Emma, sister of his best friend, Wade. Miserable in the marriage, working as an accountant and living in town when his heart belongs to the wide open areas, he escapes to Mississippi and the surveying world he left upon his marriage. Then tragedy strikes, and he returns back to Georgia.
Both prisoners of their pasts, can Ginny and Jesse find their way to safety and freedom in an arranged marriage? Or will they discover that their efforts to protect their hearts act like porcupine quills to the other’s and find God has a plan for them- if they listen?
I appreciated the history of the Geogia twentyniners, a new subject for me. I also appreciated Farnsworth pointing out several times how the Cherokees were forced from their land, first promised recompense below value, then forcibly removed, though this is not the focus of the story. I do wonder if somewhere in the series we will see a Cherokee descendant as a main character, though.
Themes of trust, betrayal, faith, God’s unconditional love, loyalty, hypocrisy, and greed run throughout the book. When will Jesse stop running from his pain and stay to confront those things or people that cause it?
“She was a commodity, just as her father had said. Her mind, her spirit, her will were of no consequence.” Will Ginny be able to see herself as valuable in God’s eyes, when almost no one in society deems her worthy? Who can she trust?
I enjoyed this historical romance about the Georgia twenty-niners. I recommend this book for those who love history, those looking for lesser known history, and those who wonder about their own purpose and self-worth.
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:
“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
“She needed more than promises from him in order to trust him.” – ( Genny)
“‘You almost make me believe it’s possible.’ ‘What’s possible?’ She had to whisper it, her throat had gone so dry at his nearness. ‘Love.’”– Jesse, Genny
“How could he think of the future until he’d dealt with the demons of his past?”
“‘…do you reckon God knows what He’s doing?’ ‘Um, well…yes.’ Genny hid her uncertainty behind a hesitant sip of tea. “‘Seems to me, He’s put you right where you need to be.’” – Mrs. Paschal, Genny
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent! Farnsworth (formerly Weimer) has much to teach us about Southern US 1800s history! I look for her books as an informative, entertaining way to learn this!
Book: Shilo: A Sweet, Quirky, Romantic Muddle (The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue: Book 7)
Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary
Genre: Sweet Romantic Comedy
Release Date: May 1, 2025
From Breck Girl to Hippie to Jesus People…
…It’s been a long journey back home
But can her heart truly find peace where it all began?
When free-spirit Shilo Anderson inherits two million dollars with an unexpected condition—marriage—she refuses to be bound by her grandfather’s will. Until her beloved aunt faces cancer with no insurance to cover chemotherapy.
She won’t marry for money for herself, but to save her aunt’s life? She’ll make that sacrifice in a heartbeat.
Maybe.
Jesse Franklin never forgot his first love. When her grandfather’s will brings Shilo back to their hometown, he discovers his love for her has only deepened with time. Offering to marry her to help save her aunt, no problem.
Keeping it a marriage of convenience, that might be a problem. More like impossible.
As their feelings grow stronger, Shilo faces her greatest fear: revealing the truth about her past decade. Can she make Jesse see she doesn’t belong on anyone’s pedestal?
Return to 1973 Kokomo, Indiana, where faith shapes the journey and the legend of the cardinal in the sycamore still proves true love endures all seasons.
You will enjoy this sweet, quirky tale of second chances, because sometimes the rough patches prepare us for the wildly wonderful.
Historical Christian Romance author and three-time Selah Award nominee, Jennifer Lynn Cary, likes to say you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can’t take the Hoosier out of the girl. Now transplanted to the Arizona desert, this direct descendant of Davy Crockett and her husband of forty-plus years enjoy time with family where she shares tales of her small-town heritage and family legacies with their grandchildren. She is the author of The Crockett Chronicles series, The Relentless series, and The Weather Girls trilogy, as well as the stand-alone novel, Cheryl’s Going Home, her novella Tales of the Hob Nob Annex Café, and her split-time novels The Traveling Prayer Shawland The Forgotten Gratitude Journal. Her current spin-off series, The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue, contains standalones with a common thread.
More from Jennifer
The story for Shilo has been fermenting in my brain for a long time. I had always loved Neil Diamond’s song of the same title and could see his characters playing out their parts and thought what would happen if the girl came back after ten years?
However, what I didn’t catch was that Shilo in the song was a boy, an imaginary boy who’d been a friend to a lonely boy.
In my brain, I missed the importance of him turning to his only friend in his mind.
Instead, I had a little girl moving in next door—she was Shilo—and they went from being friends to first loves, but something called her away and though he understood, he called her name like before hoping she’d return.
Okay, so not what Neil Diamond had in mind, but it became Jesse’s back story.
Then I had to ask, what was so important that she had to leave? That’s when I remembered Breck Girls. Do you remember them?
There was a time as a child that I thought one of the Breck Girls on the back of a magazine was so beautiful, I said, “She’s prettier than Mom.”
I was quickly (verbally) chastised by my dad who made sure to inform me that no one was prettier than my mom. I never thought of it as an insult. My mom was the high standard for beauty, and for someone to be even prettier, they were definitely a looker. However, I learned to keep those types of opinions to myself if my Dad was around. Mom understood and didn’t take offense—in fact, as I meant it, she thought it was a compliment that I found her so pretty.
All that to say that Breck Girls were a part of my growing up years, into the seventies. I wondered how Breck Girls were chosen, and if Shilo could/should be one. I learned there’s even an exhibit at the Smithsonian dedicated to Breck Girls and those lovely pastel portraits.
So, when (my) Shilo told Jesse she had to go before he could tell her that he loved her, it was because she’d been chosen to be a Breck Girl. Now I had a framework to start building the story.
I hope that when you read Shilo: A Sweet, Quirky, Romantic Muddle, you will be transported back to 1973 with many of your own memories.
Abundant blessings,
Jenny
My Impressions
“A legend’s been handed down for many generations, some believe all the way from the Native American days, concerning the sycamore tree in our backyard and a cardinal. They say if a couple kisses beneath its branches, and a cardinal lights above them, then theirs is a true love destined for a long and happy marriage.”
Kokomo, here we come again! Shiloh by Jennifer Lynn Cary is the 7th book in the loosely connected series, The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue series. This series is a hoot! After this many books, how Cary keeps coming up with fresh 70s references that delight me and cause me to remember things like Kreske’s, is beyond me. The many time-related references kept me eagerly reading the story, just as the storyline did.
Two former childhood friends, Shilo and Jesse, separated by 10 years of silence, are suddenly thrust back together by a will. Shiloh has returned to small-town Kokomo from California, to find her former dear friend much more serious, competitive, and spineless than ever. On the outside, Jesse is doing well, a successful lawyer at his grandfather’s firm. However, Jesse’s biggest fault may be that he no longer ventures out like when he followed adventurous Shilo, but rather kowtows to his totally overbearing, demanding grandfather.
Shilo is everything that Jesse remembers. Beautiful, compassionate, and unafraid. Except… she now has joined the Jesus people and has a real relationship with Him, living her life differently because of her beliefs.
Shiloh’s compassion leads to a marriage of convenience. While this marriage has benefits for both, both hold secrets that could destroy any renewed relationship Shilo and Jesse are attempting. As Shilo worries and informs Jesse, “‘if you put me on a pedestal, I’m going to disappoint you…you have to see me as I really am.’‘And what’s that?’ ‘A messed-up chick who God chased down and dragged out of a never-ending spiral.’”
This is one of those stories when I wanted to shout at the characters, “Communicate!” But how many times do doubts or fears of what others might think of us hold us back from saying things we know need to be said? These two are blessed to have forces like Aunt Sarah (“Just talk to each other. Always. It’ll make the difference, or at least be one thing that will.” ) and Viv in their lives. Maybe less blessed to have Grandfather and Eli!
One quote that I loved, because it illustrates how quickly Shilo turns her problems to God. “‘What haven’t you told me, Jesse? Something I should know?’ Dread tasted like bile in her throat. Oh, she needed to get somewhere where she could pray and talk with Jesus.” THIS!! Because Shiloh’s first panic reaction is prayer!! How many times do we first attempt to reason things out, complain, discuss them with others, then finally turn to prayer as a last resort?
A sweet little 5-year-old recovering in the hospital is my third choice after Aunt Sarah and Viv for fave secondary characters.
Next up in the series is Bernadette, which I am more than eager to read. These Kokomo 70s faith-filled romances are quite addicting!!
I received a copy of the novel from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy of the book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Their marriage wouldn’t be genuine until he saw her, the imperfect but redeemed ragamuffin, now a daughter of the King.” -(Shilo)
“Believing something doesn’t make it true. It’s true whether anyone believes it or not. Nothing changes the truth.” – Shilo
“God remained here with her. Even if Jesse let go of her hand, He never would.”
– (Shilo)
“And when one gives up their backbone at an early age to please the one in power, it’s mighty difficult to grow another.” – (Jesse)
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magnificent! These characters are becoming so real with each successive book, you may find me searching Kokomo on my next visit for the Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue!
A jaded lady marshal and a stage driver with a past—bound by duty, tested by lies, and drawn to a love that could change everything.
A wary lady marshal and a reformed stage driver—entangled by secrets, shadowed by danger, and tempted by a love neither dared to trust.
U.S. Marshal Maggie Davis has learned the hard way not to trust men with charming smiles and winning ways. Her reticence makes her the perfect undercover investigator for a string of daring stage robberies. When the case leads her to stay with a local family, she finds herself drawn to Cal McConnell, the handsome stage driver who could either be her greatest ally or her prime suspect.
Cal has worked hard to put his wild past behind him and build an honest life as a stage driver. When a mysterious new lady comes to town selling ladies’ garments, he’s instantly captivated by her beauty and fierce independence. But as stage robberies escalate and murder enters the picture, Cal must decide if he can trust this woman who seems determined to keep him at arm’s length—even as his heart tells him she could be the one.
When the line between truth and deception blurs, will they cling to caution—or risk everything for something real?
Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetschloves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.
More from Erica
Did you ever watch the movie Stagecoach? The movie that launched John Wayne’s career? My father introduced me to the movie when I was young, and that sparked my interest in westward expansion, cowboys, and stagecoaches.
When I was a teen, I read a book called Six Horse Hitch, by author Janice Holt Giles. In the book, she goes into all the details of stagecoach driving, stations across the west, the coaches, the passengers, the US mail delivery, and more. I was enthralled.
Stagecoach drivers (sometimes called Jehus) were a breed apart. Brave, resilient, and bold. Heroic.
Which meant, when I became an author, I wanted to create a hero who was a stagecoach driver. Enter Cal McConnell in Maggie and the Maverick. He’s the third of three sons, with a dry humor, and a bit of a jaded outlook on life.
Truthfully, I patterned him after Heath Barkley, a character on the 1960’s TV show, The Big Valley, played by Lee Majors. Even down to the light brown/dark blond hair and blue eyes.
One thing that is important when writing romance is to ensure that the heroine is worthy of the hero and vice versa. So I imagined what kind of a woman would be a great life partner for Cal. She would have to be spunky, smart, and compassionate.
Maggie Davis, an undercover agent, fit the bill. Her guise was that of a ladies’ unmentionables saleswoman, and that job leads to a memorable encounter upon meeting Cal for the first time.
I’m so thankful that Maggie and the Maverick is getting a new release out into the world through Wild Heart Books. I hope that you enjoy this rollicking western with a stage driving hero and undercover agent heroine.
My Impressions
“Agents who worked secretly for the U. S. Marshal’s office couldn’t afford to let anyone that close. Which made Maggie the perfect candidate for this type work. She didn’t trust anyone anyway.”
Erica Vetsch has re-released her series The Brides of Money Creek, as part of The Brides of the West series with Wild Heart Books. Maggie and the Maverick is the third book in the Brides of Money Creek sub-series.
A historical romantic fiction novel set in the Old West, Maggie and the Maverick has a bit of an unusual premise. The stage has been robbed multiple times near Silver Creek, and US Marshalls are secretly sent in to discover who the thieves are. One undercover Marshall is Maggie Davis, who is to ride the stage back and forth, posing as a salesperson for ladies’ unmentionables. A very amusing incident occurs as Maggie meets our hero, stage driver Cal McConnell for the first time.
Both Maggie and Cal have had very hard knocks in life that have caused them to be slow to trust. As Cal realizes, “Trust is built up slow.” If only he knew just how slow!
While both try to guard their hearts, what will happen when they both prove untrustworthy? It’s like hearing the Oregon Trail disaster music playing, this time not only for any romance between Cal and Maggie, but for their bruised hearts as well.
Fave secondary characters are Georgia, Jack, and Angus. Georgia for her loyalty and willingness to listen to people who have messed up. Jack, because he’s not very brave or confident, yet he’s a wild card. Who will he help when the chips are down? He’s a great catalyst to story action. And Angus. Stinkin’ drunk, no- good, tavern vermin Angus. Maybe no one is beyond redemption.
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:
“It’s been my experience that people who are suspicious of everybody are usually hiding something.” – Cal
“I’ve been paying lip-service to trusting God and not being afraid of what men can do to me, then turning back to do things my way.” – Maggie
“I don’t think Cal will survive much more of you doing your job.” – Alec
“Her experience told her once a scoundrel always a scoundrel, and it was the ones who pretended to change that needed watching the most.” – (Maggie)
“She played you like a fiddle, and you danced like a trained bear.”– Powers
“Both of them taught us how much we needed God’s love and forgiveness.” – Cal
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great! Fun historical romance set in the Old West.
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for His Boss’s Little Sister by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: His Boss’s Little Sister Series: Apron Strings Tea Tales Author: Danielle Grandinetti Publisher: Hearth Spot Press Release Date: November 18, 2025 Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense
Broken hearts, underground smuggling, and a meddling family … one Wisconsin Teehaus offers a love of more than sweet treats.
November 1931—Needing a new start, Samantha Martins escapes the happily-ever-afters of her hometown to take a waitressing position at a German Tea House. But all is not as it appears beneath the pretty trappings. When she discovers illegal oleomargarine on the premises, which could shut down the cafe, and thus cost her job, she goes searching for the source.
Samantha’s old beau, Kyle Docherty, returns to Crow’s Nest a changed man, both inside and out. An apology burning in his heart, he finds she’s left home. However, with trouble on her trail, Samantha’s brother hires Kyle to be her bodyguard. But will she even speak to him? And if not, will she at least allow him to protect her, even without the arm he lost in a logging accident?
When the breadcrumbs lead them into a trap, putting Kyle’s life in danger, Samantha faces an impossible choice: listen to Kyle and run for help, or stay a captive and outwit a criminal. If only the ticking bomb were on their side.
A touch of fairy tale, a spoonful of history, and a teacup of hope.
His Boss’s Little Sister is a stand-alone novella in the Apron Strings Tea Tale multi-author series, and a 1930s historical romance retelling of Hansel and Gretel.
Fans of the Harbored in Crow’s Nest series will enjoy revisiting familiar characters and discovering the HEA of the hero’s little sister from Confessions to a Stranger.
Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea, books, and the creative beauty of nature. Her stories combine romance, mystery, and suspense against the backdrop of the 1930s to tell the tale of finding home and hope in hard times. With a master’s in communication and culture and a passion for intercultural communication, storytelling has been her heartbeat for as long as she can remember. Married to her hero, Danielle is a second-generation Italian-American, a dairy farmer’s granddaughter, and a boy mom from Chicagoland who now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline.
Connect with Danielle by visiting daniellegrandinetti.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
My Impressions
“…she’d trust him with everything except her heart.”
Le Sigh! The above quote, from Danielle Grandinetti’s The Boss’s Little Sister, is so poignant. While this book is part of the Apron String series, all books are loosely connected, involving tearooms and Mrs. Canfield’s Cookery Book. However, this book is very closely tied to The Harbored in Crow’s Nest series. You will want to have read all of that series to understand the backstory of the Martins family ( Samantha -Sam- and her brothers David and Patrick), plus Kyle’s backstory. Sam had thought herself in love with Kyle, but Kyle had gone away to a lumber camp, then out West, refusing to communicate with Sam or acknowledge her expressed feelings. Honestly, neither Sam nor Kyle was very likeable in previous books. So I really enjoyed watching each of them prove their maturation in this book. But, oh, the trials they go through to prove their mettle!
I have rarely wanted to truly live in a time period or place of a book setting. But 1930s Wisconsin?! Yes, please! Grandinetti has done her research and the danger in this book revolves around “The Oleo Wars” in Wisconsin. (How I wished I could have lived in a state that outlawed oleo growing up!!😂) Grandinetti’s writing caused me to do my own research into the Oleo Wars. I always consider a book that causes me to leave it long enough to research its topic on my own, a great book.
And the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel connection? I was like, I don’t see it! I didn’t see the culprit until I, too, would have been trapped! Love those kind of mysteries, where the clues are there, but there are enough red herrings that it is easy to be fooled by the ending!
I received a copy of the book from Just Read Tours. I also bought my own copy, and will be buying one for my trophy shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“The day’s weariness crashed into her like a Lake Michigan wave, catching her about the knees and knocking her off kilter.” – Sam
“Margarine was outlawed from being served in restaurants, but margarine that had been turned yellow to look like butter? That was a serious offence here in Wisconsin.”
“We can’t force people to choose help, to choose love over bitterness and hate. All we can do is pray and show them compassion.” – David
“Trouble shakes out all the excess to leave only what’s true behind.”- Sam
“that’s why, when you have questions, you need to ask what’s really going on so you can learn the truth.”– Sam
“This was a mistake. The whole plan was a mistake. He shouldn’t have listened to Marian Ward Cox urge his return to Crow’s Nest. He shouldn’t have agreed to Detective O’Connor’s request to keep his niece safe. He shouldn’t have accepted David’s job offer. And he sure as foolin’ shouldn’t have let Patrick convince him that forgiveness was possible.” – Kyle
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! I haven’t met a Grandinetti story I haven’t loved, but between the characters’ growth arcs, the fairy tale retelling, and the history of the WI Oleo Wars, this is a standout!!
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will each receive a paperback copy of Confessions to a Stranger & Escape with the Prodigal!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 10, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 17, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
As WWII expands across Europe, members of the Circle of Hope are drawn deeper into the struggle to survive in the face of overwhelming adversity.
April 1940. Nazi Germany carries out a devastating invasion, trapping Americans David Jensen and Natalie Thompson in Norway. Determined to use their medical skills to aid the Norwegians, David and Natalie embark on a harrowing journey to treat the injured and evade the Nazis.
Natalie, a dedicated Red Cross worker, values deep relationships. Fearful of settling for a shallow marriage, she broke off her engagement to David several years before. But she never stopped loving him and spending time working together in Norway plays havoc with her heart.
David, a charismatic and confidant doctor with the Red Cross, desires to advance his career and rekindle his relationship with Natalie. Even though she once rejected him, he believes she is the only woman for him. But years of keeping others at arms’ length guarantees that winning Natalie back will be the biggest challenge he’s ever faced.
The saga introduced in Abounding Hope continues in this inspiring second installment of courage and devotion.
Readers of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Lee Jackson’s After Dunkirk series will love this book.
Cindy Kay Stewart, a retired high school social studies and special education teacher, writes stories of hope, steeped in love, and anchored in faith. Passionate about revealing God’s handiwork in history, Cindy loves to research until she uncovers hidden gems to share with her readers. She resides in North Georgia with her college sweetheart. Her daughter, son-in-law, and four adorable grandchildren live nearby.
More from Cindy
Those who love learning about bygone eras through fiction, will enjoy escaping to WWII Norway and France in Unending Hope, Book 2 in the Circle of Hope series. This novel follows the adventures of former boarding school classmates who vowed to come to each other’s aid in times of crisis, and WWII provides plenty of trouble for these diehard twenty-somethings to work through. Abounding Hope, Book 1 in the series, is a friends-to-lovers romance, and Unending Hope is a second-chance romance. The novels are sequential to the timeline of WWII.
As well as struggling to safely navigate their responsibilities, the major characters in both novels seek answers to their needs and problems, which can only be found by embarking on a spiritual journey that’s just as climactic as their physical adventures.
I love to research and dig up true stories I’ve never heard about or seen before and then share the most interesting ones through the lives of my characters. Bringing history to life is an adventure for me, and keeping my stories historically accurate is a goal I always strive to meet.
My Impressions
“If only he could go back several years and change their last months together, Natalie would be his wife now instead of his ex-fiancée.”
Unending Hope by Cindy Kay Stewart is the second in the Circle of Hope Series. A Christian high school in Paris is the meeting place for many friends who years later gather in Norway for the wedding of Anne to Erik, a Norwegian banker. Unfortunately, just two days after the wedding, the Nazis invade Norway, trapping six friends in the country.
While we follow the side stories of newly-weds Erik and Anne, and also newlyweds Irena and Jonathan, David and Natalie are the main focus of this book. Having once been engaged, Natalie had broken it off with David a few years ago. Unable to see his own self-absorption, David doesn’t understand the cause of their breakup, and he continues to carry a torch for Natalie.
With the Luftwaffe swiftly moving into the Norwegian airspace, there is plenty of danger to test the mettle of all three couples. Twining all three escape stories together makes for a tight and tense story and more chances to see the advance of the German army as it happened in Norway’s history.
I think this book would be especially good for someone who likes stories about WWII and also might be trying to figure out God’s will for their lives, especially as regards one person who may not be a dedicated believer. David claims to be a believer, but he has no interest in praying, reading his Bible, or following God’s will. Stewart sets up some surprising tertiary characters who show David there is a difference.
Stewart liberally uses Scripture throughout the novel, and includes short prayers of her characters. We see where each is spiritually. Interestingly enough, even the one that seems the most spiritual finds roots of sin to be weeded out of their heart. A reminder to us all to be careful of judging others as we harbor sin. One of Natalie’s wise friends reminds her, “…unforgiveness always destroys a person’s soul. Don’t close off your heart because of the past.”
With bombs aplenty, air raid sirens frequently going off, fires from said bombs, rush to stay one or two cities ahead of the Nazi invasion and ensuing chaos of war, I feel a little off-kilter. I could almost smell the fires, and I definitely cringed imagining the sirens. Reading of the death and destruction the characters faced, but continued to work in the midst of, wow! We need to be reminded of that bravery and loyalty.
Unfortunately for the reader, Stewart sets herself up nicely for the need for book three. Once again, we’ll be watching the skies from behind blackout curtains!
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:
“true love grows in proportion to our love for the Lord.” Mme. Chappelle
“I became a Christian by believing in Christ, but I’m becoming a disciple of Christ by obeying Him.” -Richard
“‘Love isn’t enough, is it?’ ‘…if you’re talking about a giddy feeling, then no, it’s not enough. But if you’re talking about a willingness to sacrifice your own desires, wants, and needs to meet those of the one you cherish, then you have a start. But it needs to be mutual.’”- Mme. Chappelle
An abandoned estate encased in stagnant darkness . . . A haunting legacy intent on silencing all within reach . . .
In 1890, the ominous tolling of the bell announces that death has come to Traeger Hall, leaving orphaned Waverly Pembrooke to piece together the puzzle behind her uncle’s and aunt’s murders. Bound by the terms of her uncle’s eccentric will, Waverly finds herself alone in a manor shrouded by death and questioning the reasons for her uncle’s paranoia. A madness hovers over Traeger Hall, and Waverly–as well as the people of nearby Newton Creek–are ill-prepared for the woe that has descended.
In present day Newton Creek, whispers of a family curse still cling to the century-old, abandoned property of Traeger Hall. When Jennie Phillips takes possession of the estate after her mother’s passing, she is intent on solving the mystery of the Traeger murders. Yet a modern cold case suggests that untimely deaths and mysterious occurrences still plague the property. And as thorny truths surface, Jennie realizes the dark legacy threatens not only the town and the Traeger descendants . . . but also, chillingly, Jennie herself.
Jaime Jo Wright and Bethany House Fiction team up to bring us a very timely release for the Halloween season, The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall. Wright’s works are infused with great spooky settings, without being supernatural, which is something I greatly appreciate. Poe-like touches are added to Traeger Hall with the deceased’s will commanding corpses to be guarded in the house for seven days. Other Poe whispers include a boarding up of the abandoned mansion, a cat inclusion, and a bell “tolling!” The mansion itself is described in Poe-esque language: “Its suppressed heartbeat had thudded quietly for decades, and now it seemed it was coming back to life.”
“Come, know my secrets.”
Jennie Phillips is a former art student and enthusiast who bonded over masterpieces with her deceased mother. Now, she finds herself heir to a decrepit mansion that according to a codicil, she can’t open. What mysteries lie inside the ominous Traeger Hall of old, and how will any exploration she does affect the handsome, neighbor Zane and his loving, neurodivergent son? How will Wright successfully bring the two story strands together into one whole story? This is the beauty of a well-told, dual-timeline, and Wright excels at it, as well.
I loved this Wright book and highly recommend it for those who like eerie vibes that work out reasonably and scary stories told with faith as their bedrock. I received a copy of the book from Partners in Crime Tours via NetGalley. I also bought my own copy for my trophy shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
I was happy to see discussion questions and author’s notes included at the back. These are always important to understanding the book better!
Notable Quotables:
“I believe God helps those of us who experience trauma so we can discover the path to keep going in spite of the pain. To have faith and find strength outside of ourselves and hopefully”—Zane’s gaze dropped to meet Jennie’s—“find beauty again.” Zane
“When you tried to fight a monster, they always came back stronger. It was better to hide under the blankets.” – Jennie
“even after someone had passed from the earth, their voice still echoed in the hearts of the ones who loved them the most.”– Jennie
“I have found that the unlikely often becomes the likely, whale the likely often never sees the light of day.” -Waverly
My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! Jaime Jo Wright’s dual-timeline mysteries are always an eerie pleasure to read. The inclusion of a lovable, neurodivergent little boy makes the book all the more poignant.
She stumbled onto a deadly secret. The man she once wronged is the only one who can keep her alive.
Cecilia “Cici” Wright has built a life she loves as a jewelry appraiser. But when her latest find—a priceless ruby necklace—links to decades-old murders in her hometown of Shadow Cove, Cici becomes the target of ruthless killers. Forced to flee for her life, she must rely on the man she humiliated in the most shameful moment of her life.
Asher Rhodes puts his Navy SEAL training to good use as a bodyguard for high-paying clients. Keeping his emotions locked away is the secret to his strength. But Cici Wright isn’t just a client—she’s the girl who scorned him, the last woman in the world he ever wanted to see again. Having her close churns up all the reasons he once loved her. Protecting her means facing not just the killers chasing them but the wounds she left behind.
Cici and Asher find themselves in a deadly game of cat and mouse, where trust is their only weapon and attraction their greatest vulnerability. With time running out, they must overcome their painful history and work together to defeat their enemies—before it’s too late.
Don’t miss Defending You, book 7 in Robin Patchen’s Wright Heroes of Maine series. Packed with heart-pounding suspense, sizzling romance, and unforgettable characters, you won’t be able to put this one down.
Robin Patchenis 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
Meet Cici Wright: The Relatable Heroine of Defending You
There’s nothing I love more than crafting a heroine who feels like a friend—someone to root for, cry with, and cheer on as she faces impossible odds. In Defending You, the seventh book in my Wright Heroes of Maine series, that heroine is Cici Wright. She’s a jewelry appraiser with a sharp eye for gems, a heart full of courage, and a quiet struggle that I think many of us can relate to: the need to prove she matters.
A Woman on a Mission
Cici Wright is the middle daughter of five girls, and if you’ve read the earlier books in the series, you know her older sisters, Alyssa and Brooklynn, have come through some difficult times—and proved themselves not just capable but heroic.
When we meet Cici in Defending You, she’s doing what she loves: traveling from city to city and gazing into some of the world’s most precious gems. But beneath her confident exterior lies a woman who feels the weight of her sisters’ accomplishments and wonders if she’ll ever measure up.
Who hasn’t felt the pressure to prove themselves—whether to family, friends, or even their own inner critic? Cici’s journey begins when she discovers a long-lost necklace tied to a decades-old crime. Her decision to protect it sets off a chain of events that thrusts her into danger, forcing her to confront not just external threats but her own insecurities.
Strength in Vulnerability
What I love most about Cici is how her strength shines through her vulnerability. She’s a woman who loves beauty, who finds joy in the sparkle of a well-cut diamond, and who’s suddenly caught in a deadly game with rules she’s never learned. Despite her lack of training, Cici manages to keep herself alive long enough to get help.
Cici’s resourcefulness proves that heroism doesn’t always come from training or experience; sometimes, it’s born from sheer determination and a refusal to give up.
Enter Asher Rhodes, the bodyguard tasked with keeping her safe. Their history—his high school crush was crushed by the most humiliating moment of his life—adds layers to their dynamic. I loved writing their reunion, which is filled with tension, a little humor, and a slow-burn romance that I hope will leave you swooning.
Cici’s not afraid to call Asher out when he’s being overbearing—which she thinks is pretty much all the time. But she learns to trust him…for the most part.
A Journey We All Understand
For Cici, the story is about more than surviving danger; it’s about discovering her own worth. She starts desperate to distinguish herself, to be seen as more than the other Wright sister. By the end, she’s learned that her value doesn’t come from outshining others but from embracing who she is—flaws, fears, and all. It’s a journey I think many of us can relate to, whether we’re chasing a career goal, navigating family expectations, or simply trying to find our place in the world.
As I wrote Cici’s story, I thought about the readers who’ve told me they see themselves in my heroines. Cici’s not perfect—she’s stubborn, a little impulsive, and sometimes lets her pride get in the way. But she’s also fiercely loyal, quick-thinking, and willing to risk everything for what’s right. She’s the kind of heroine who reminds us that courage doesn’t mean being fearless but acting despite the fear.
Join Cici’s Adventure
Defending You is a story of heart-pounding suspense, a romance that sparks amidst danger, and a heroine who discovers her own strength when it matters most. If you’ve ever felt the need to prove yourself or wondered if you’re enough, Cici Wright’s journey will resonate with you. And if you love a good mix of action, mystery, and a love story that grows through trust and second chances, I think you’ll fall for Cici and Asher as much as I did.
My Impressions
“He wasn’t here to win her approval. He was here to keep her breathing. That was the job. That was all that mattered.”
Robin Patchen is one of the authors who has had a great influence in convincing me that romantic suspense is a genre I truly like! The Wright Heroes of Maine is such a great series! Each book details the story of a different Wright family member and his or her Romance amidst much danger. While each, including book 7, Defending You, can be enjoyed as a standalone, I am glad to have read each of the previous ones in order, as they do build. Especially this book builds on the characters and events of the book immediately preceding it.
Cici Wright, a jewelry appraiser, is witness to a murder. On the run for her life from the jewelry thieves, she finds herself in the company of the last person she would have selected to be her bodyguard- Asher Rhodes. Currently working for the Green Beret Protection Agency, Asher was once a shy, geeky high school classmate of CiCi’s, and one whom she had cruelly humiliated.
Both Asher and CiCi have some healing and growing to do. CiCi feels the need to excel in such a way that she will standout from her sisters and be noticed at long last by her dismissive, high-ranking father. Asher feels the need to prove himself at the agency in order to secure his job as well as to show CiCi that her rejection didn’t scar him- if only that were true!
To protect his heart as he protects her safety, Asher treats CiCi with disdain and as if she is an underling to be commanded. CiCi, with her sense of needing to prove herself and having a bit of entitlement, insists on having much more a say in the protection plans Asher leads them into. “She laughed, though the sound held zero humor. “Look, I get that you’re better than I am in dangerous situations, but that doesn’t make me stupid. My opinion counts. I’m not your soldier or your lackey.”
The action is intense, steady, and addictive! The couple are both flawed, and it took me a while to at least like Asher. He is a one man- no questions asked- show.
I felt most deeply for CiCi, so desperate to do something notable, in an effort to secure her father’s love. I was happy to see Asher finally able to open up and help CiCi realize that her earthly father’s failings didn’t represent how her Heavenly Father felt about her. “You do know what He’d”[ her Heavenly Father] “say. That you’re the person He created you to be, and He adores you. So…not that it’s easy or anything, but I guess my point is, who cares what Gavin Wright thinks when you have the King of the whole universe pleased with you?” – Asher
Patchen does a great job of keeping the suspense high, throwing in truth nuggets, and surprise twists that make the story resonate! Highly recommended!
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:
“I’ve spent so much time trying to prove I matter that I forgot to actually live the life God gave me. To choose what I want instead of what I think will make other people happy.” – CiCi
“…That’s why it’s better not to have anyone you care about…Love is a liability.” – Gagnon
“You can’t judge someone’s character by their bank account.” – CiCi
“To live is to risk. Security is an illusion.” – Asher
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Superior! I’m very glad there are a couple more books left in this series!
Book: The Daughter of Shiloh (Enduring Hope Book Three)
Author: Terri J. Haynes
Genre: Christian Fiction / Romance / Historical Fiction
Release Date: October 1, 2025
A Stampede Tramples Hopes
Collect a series of six historical romances. When life seems weighed down by challenges, there are always pillars of enduring hope and love to be discovered.
Lealie Bevard, a determined Tuskegee Institute student, attends the Shiloh Baptist Church convention in Birmingham on September 19, 1902, to request a scholarship for continued education at Harvard. But a beautiful gathering turns tragic when a stampede breaks out and Lealie is injured. While convalescing at the home of fellow Tuskegee student Milton Rafferty, Lealie’s concerns for her future are set aside to help Milton uncover a mystery revolving around missing church funds and a possible murder. Perhaps a pause in Lealie’s well-laid plans can be used for good and lead to love.
Terri J. Haynes, a native Baltimorean, is a homeschool mom, writer, prolific knitter, freelance graphic artist and former Army wife (left the Army, not the husband). She loves to read, so much that when she was in elementary school, she masterminded a plan to be locked in a public library armed with only a flashlight to read all the books and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. As she grew, her love for writing grew as she tried her hand at poetry, articles, speeches and fiction. She is storyteller at heart. Her passion is to draw readers in the story world she has created and to bring laughter and joy to their lives.
Terri is a 2010 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest finalist, and a 2012 semi-finalist. She is also a 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarterfinalist. Her publishing credits include: Cup of Comfort for Military Families, Crosswalk.com, the Secret Place Devotional, Urbanfaith.com, Vista Devotional, and Publisher’s Weekly.
Terri holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, a Master’s degree in Theological Studies and a certificate in creative writing and graphic design, meeting the minimal requirements of being a geek. She and her husband pastor a church where she serves as executive pastor and worship leader. Terri lives in Maryland with her three wonderful children and her husband, who often beg her not to kill off their favorite characters.
More from Terri
Growing up in inner-city Baltimore as the fourth daughter of five, money was always tight. Each school year, my mother paid for one field trip because that was all she could afford. With only one shot, I had to pick wisely.
I choose museums every year.
Some years, it was the Walter’s Art Gallery. Others, The Baltimore Museum of Art. I passed up the amusement parks and sports games to go walk through history. My history walking hasn’t changed now that I’m an adult. If I’m traveling, I’m always checking to see what museums are nearby.
History, for me, isn’t just about learning about old things. It’s about learning about old struggles, victories, and modern applications of those things. When I first learned about the Shiloh Baptist Church disaster, it struck me as horrifying and hopeless. As I began to research, however, I saw that this moment in history had a lesson to teach.
The Shiloh Baptist Church stampede is a story of resilience. It gives a snapshot of people, in the worst moment of their lives, figuring out how to move forward. I was moved by the community coming together to care for the victims, many of them total strangers. How local business owners donated to the care of strangers or to cover funeral costs.
History walking informs. It showed me, from a young age, strength and hope. It taught me lessons from ancient texts that helped me through the dark days I encountered in my personal life while writing this book. I wrote this book informed by history that I could face hard times because others did decades ago.
So if you are feeling like there are hard days ahead for you, do a little history walking. Hit the museums or the books. Learn history’s lessons. They are rich and priceless.
My Impressions
“you are their beloved daughter, and I am their troublesome son.”– Milton
The Daughter of Shiloh by Terri J. Haynes is a story of conflict, opposing opinions, and people uniting to work together despite their differences. Herein lies the hope of a story that recounts years of prejudice, discrimination, and a true tragedy of that occurred in a Birmingham church. I was somewhat uncomfortable reading of some of the prejudice that I cannot correct. Yet the story needs told, and I was thankful that the characters looked beyond their problems ( not denying them) to find Hope in following Jesus.
Lealia Bevard is highly intelligent, beautiful, and does exceptionally well at Tuskegee. She is on the fast track for a scholarship to Howard. She believes this is her and her family’s path out of poverty. She agrees to accompany Booker T. Washington to the Baptist convention in Birmingham at her former home church, Shiloh Baptist Church, because there she will be awarded the scholarship. A wise friend tells her, “I know you have hopes of how things will go in Birmingham, but remember, God may have other plans. His ways are not our ways, you know.”
Not if Lealia has anything to do with said plans!
Milton Rafferty, our other key player, is also a product of Shiloh Baptist Church. But his is not a love story. A continuously drunk father, an ill-timed event, and wagging tongues conspire to make Milton and his mother pariahs. The same people who are blessing Lealia are cursing Milton. As Lealia slowly gets to know Milton, she begins to see what a rock-steady nurse and man of character he is, because of his faith. Lealia is attracted to Milton, even as he hides his secret from her, and she becomes more and more involved in Shiloh Baptist Church.
What will it take for Lealia to shake off her arrogance and personal ambition to align with God’s will? What will it take for the members of Shiloh to accept Milton back into their midst? Can Lealia and Milton work together to help a hurting community and keep a church from being decimated in a totally different way?
One of my fave characters is Milton’s mom. She sloughs off insults like water off a duck’s back. She understands that “People who are afraid can sometimes act in very cruel ways.” Mrs. Rafferty still speaks kindly of the Shiloh people and treats them with respect. “You can’t change other people’s fears, Milton. But you can change yours.” (However, she also recognizes a quack!)
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:
“That’s why it’s called faith. Sometimes you don’t know if something is going to work or if you’re going in the right direction. You have to trust that God has a bigger plan for you than where you are right now.” -Mrs. Rafferty
“The Talented Tenth will show the way to the future.” -DuBois
“Going back to Shiloh was going to hurt. He could feel it.” – Milton
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent! Food for thought in many ways, plus an excellent example of how people who may not agree can still work together in unity!
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions 