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

Mail Order Duchess by Misty M. Beller Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Mail-Order Duchess

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Five sons of an English duke, all raised in the Rocky Mountains…

A marriage born of duty. A love neither expected.

When Enoch Balfour’s eldest brother tragically dies, the weight of family responsibility falls on his shoulders. Now this Montana rancher must train for his role as the next Duke of Clarence—and marry the mail-order bride his brother sent for. Hardened by loss, Enoch has no intention of opening his heart to a stranger, but duty demands he produce an heir.

Mandie Beaumont is a desperate young widow fleeing the sinister advances of her brother-in-law. After arriving in the Montana Territory to marry a man she’s never met, an accident leaves her robbed of her recent memories—memories that conceal a devastating secret. When she discovers she’s carrying a child conceived through betrayal and violence, Mandie fears rejection and ruin. Yet, in Enoch, she finds an unexpected protector whose fierce gentleness makes her long to trust again.

Though Mandie’s charm and resilience begin to thaw Enoch’s guarded heart, he struggles with his fear of loss. When Mandie’s past resurfaces, Enoch must risk everything to save her. If he fails, Mandie will be torn from him—and the love they’ve begun to embrace could be lost forever.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a royal family saga featuring a mail-order bride, amnesia, a secret baby, and an aristocratic marriage of convenience…all set in the rugged Montana Territory.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Misty M. Beller is a USA Todaybestselling author with over 1 million books sold. She writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

Raised on a farm and surrounded by family, Misty developed her love for horses, history, and adventure. These days, her husband and children provide fresh adventure every day, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

Misty’s passion is to create inspiring Christian fiction infused with the grandeur of the mountains, writing historical romance that displays God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Sharing her stories with readers is a dream come true for Misty. She writes from her country home in South Carolina and escapes to the mountains any chance she gets.

More from Misty

Hello Reader Friends!

I’m BEYOND excited to share a brand new series with you! This idea has been percolating in my mind for a couple years now—a mash-up of two of my favorite historical romance genres: Regency England and the rugged American West.

In the Lords of the Rockies series, you’ll meet the five sons of an English duke who were sent to the wilds of the Montana Territory for their protection when they were boys. They’ve grown up there, become ranchers and mountain men in their own right.

It’s Regency meets the Rockies as these aristocratic brothers navigate the challenges of ranch life.

I’m especially excited to introduce you to the first book in the series, Mail-Order Duchess!

Enoch Balfour is one of my all-time favorite heroes…so incredibly swoony. He’s the second son, which means he never thought he would have to return to England and take over his father’s role as the Duke of Clarence. But now his eldest brother has passed in an unexpected riding accident. And Enoch has become the heir intended.

Can you imagine how hard that must have been? Suddenly having to leave the only life you’ve ever known to take up the duties of a title an ocean away?

And then there’s Mandie Beaumont, a young widow hoping for a fresh start in Montana. But when she arrives, an accident steals her recent memories, leaving her with no idea why she left her comfortable life in Savannah to travel across the country and marry a rancher she’s never met. Or maybe her previous life wasn’t so comfortable…

Can you imagine waking up one day to find yourself in a strange place with no recollection of how you got there or what you were running from?

I don’t want to give away too much, but let’s just say Mail-Order Duchess has all the ingredients for a story you won’t be able to put down—a marriage of convenience, hidden secrets, and an unlikely romance blossoming in the face of incredible odds. I’m so excited to share this story with you!

I’ve had such fun crafting the unique premise of an English aristocratic family making their way in the American West. Get ready for more heartfelt Western adventures tinged with Regency flair as the Lords of the Rockies series continues!

I pray you love Mail-Order Duchess!

Blessings!

Misty

My Impressions

“William’s bride arrived today.” – Thomas

Such an innocuous statement. If only! Misty Beller successfully sets up another series, this one also a family of brothers needing wives. In her newest series, Lords of the Rockies, Beller combines the Old West mountain frontier with Regency romance. Book one, Mail Order Duchess, introduces us to the five brothers, minus one. William, the one who wrote East for the mail order bride, dies before his intended, Mandie Beaumont, reaches the ranch. Hop down a stair from first brother to second brother, Enoch. Raw with grief, duty-bound to take over his brother’s roles including returning to England as the next Duke, Enoch discovers communication in the West can be faulty. Now, a woman he’s way too attracted to, is staying at the ranch, and as oldest, it’s his duty to make sure Mandie stays safe. Not easy when she arrives with amnesia and secrets. 

I loved getting to know the four remaining brothers a little. Each presents enough that my appetite is ready for their individual story. And of course, Enoch is our main “hurt” hero. He’s lost so many people dear to him, he now has erected walls of bronze around his heart. As Mandie comes to know him a bit, she asks him about his past. ‘It’s in the past. I’ve learned to live with it.’ ‘But you haven’t learned to live beyond it.’ ”

Could a Southern Belle really transplant well into the untamed land of Montana territory? Enoch has his doubts as he first meets Mandie. “This territory didn’t care about grit or good intentions- it chewed up the strong and the weak alike.”

Beller works her writerly magic on the words that flow, beautifully describing the     open sky and mountainous scenery. If I could sketch, I could sketch a drawing of the ranch in different scenes. I could certainly imagine myself as Mandie, in the ranch cabin, laughing with the brothers, talking with Enoch, trying to reason away his resistance. Or being Enoch and trying so hard to keep his heart safe. Can God help these two get beyond themselves before they destroy any chance of happiness together?

Beller also adds in just enough danger and twists to keep the fingers flipping the pages. And at the end, like me, the reader will probably find themselves begging for the next brother’s story already!

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:

“She knew what it was to pretend at normalcy while your heart bled in secret.” 

“Is it really better, though? To hold yourself apart, to never let yourself fully love or be loved, because you’re afraid of the pain?” – James

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Great start to new series mash-up!

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 2

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 3

Texas Book-aholic, December 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 4

Devoted Steps, December 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 5

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 6

Simple Harvest Reads, December 6 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 7

For Him and My Family, December 7

Books You Can Feel Good About, December 8

Lyssa Loves Books, December 8

lakesidelivingsite, December 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 9

Connie’s History Classroom, December 10

Artistic Nobody, December 10 (Guest Review from Donna)

Jeanette’s Thoughts , December 11

Melissa’s Bookshelf, December 11

Holly’s Book Corner, December 12

Mary Hake, December 12

Bizwings Blog, December 13

Cover Lover Book Review, December 13

Life on Chickadee Lane, December 14

Blossoms and Blessings, December 14

Pause for Tales, December 15

Devoted To Hope, December 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Misty is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3e364/mail-order-duchess-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase

Vengeance in Vienna by Sara L. Jameson Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Vengeance in Vienna (Troubled Waters Book 3)

Author: Sara L. Jameson

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: July 16, 2024

A moonlight sail. A sniper on the shore. A terrorist financier determined to kill Jacob and all he holds dear.

Interpol Special Agent Jacob Coulter and his fiancée Riley Williams set out on a moonlight sail, but a sniper turns their idyllic Austrin vacation into a deadly nightmare.

On temporary assignment to the Vienna Interpol office, Jacob must apprehend a notorious terrorist financier and uncover his operations in Austria. But the financier is determined to destroy all Jacob holds dear. And that includes his kid sister and his fiancée, Riley Williams.

Opera singer Riley Williams is tired of dodging terrorist attempts on her life. When she insists on helping Jacob catch the financier and his henchmen, she gets into more trouble than she bargained for.

But the financier’s tentacles of evil reach far deeper into the Austrian economy than Jacob and Riley suspected. What they uncover appalls them. The clock is ticking. Can Jacob find them before it’s too late?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sara L. Jameson won Scrivenings Press’s grand prize publishing contract in January 2021. They released her debut romantic suspense novel, Cruise to Death, in June 2021. Death in High Places, (Book 2 in the Troubled Waters series), released February 2023, followed by Vengeance in Vienna, July 2024. She is currently working on books 4 and 5 of the Troubled Waters series for Scrivenings Press.

In real life, Sara is a multi-published former university professor who has also written non-fiction under her real name and edits book manuscripts for other authors. She also pens WWII historical novels. When not at her computer, she enjoys reading, swimming, cooking, and dog-sitting.

More from Sara

Ever since childhood, I’ve loved to travel. Memories of family cross-country car trips still make me smile. Breakfast and lunch prepped from goodies chilled in the ice chest. Kellogg’s single-serve cereals or cake doughnuts with milk and juice. (Rare treats in our household.) A sandwich prepared at a roadside picnic table for lunch. As an adult, their lack of nutrition makes me shudder.

These days, my tastes have grown more sophisticated. Scrumptious buffet breakfasts in European or Asian hotels make my mouth water. Local dishes creep into my books. And no trip to Antwerp, Belgium is complete without a serious stop at a delectable chocolate shop. Naturally, for the reader’s sake, Sampling these treats for authenticity in the novel is a must, right?

While tempting the palate with sumptuous Viennese pastries at Heiner’s, my favorite Konditorei (pastry shop), Vengeance in Vienna whisks readers through the stunning Austrian countryside with assassins at Jacob and Riley’s backs, and a terrorist financier determined to destroy them. Dehmel’s is another Konditorei readers might want to visit. Both Konditoreien are steeped in history, atmosphere, and Old-World charm. Are you salivating yet?

Better yet, grab a copy of Vengeance in Vienna and curl up for a nail-biting armchair trip to beautiful Austria filled with heart-pounding romantic suspense.

My Impressions

“That verse in Psalm 92, God gives us the ability to stay calm in the time of adversity until the wicked have been caught. Right now, he needed an overdose of Godly calm.”

Kudos to Sara L. Jameson! In her third book of the Troubled Waters series, Vengeance in Vienna, Jameson totally changed my attitude towards the main characters. 

First, a little catch up. Riley, an opera singer, and her fiancée, Jacob, an Interpol agent, are on a-separate-rooms vacation in Austria. But that is also a cover for Jacob’s team to sniff out international terrorist financier Armand and his money laundering businesses. Unfortunately, Armand seems to be one step ahead of Jacob and Riley, and he doesn’t allow betrayers or enemies to survive. Thus, Riley and Jacob race around Vienna and the rest of Austria trying to both elude and capture Armand.

Plus there are a few problems on the home front. Jacob’s jealous coworker, Margot, dislikes Riley and seems determined to get Jacob off the job. Jacob’s parents are not happy with him… and neither is his much-younger teenage sister for whom he is supposedly guardian. And Riley insists on helping Jacob in his cases ( not so bad), but doesn’t listen to his direction ( not so good at all)!

Riley’s attitude became tiresome for me.“My dad is overprotective. He likes to rule the roost, tell us how to think, what to wear, what to do.” She stabbed a scallop. “And not to do.” I could understand it. But it came into play way too often and I wanted to ask her if she’d really considered what effects her attitude and action might have on Jacob’s job? Yikes, for being engaged, this couple has some issues to work through. 

I liked seeing Riley’s character growth arc, especially as she emerges into a spiritual helpmeet for Jacob. 

I did like that Jameson shows their strong faith by their frequent prayers, Bible verse  repetitions at appropriate times, and just crying out to God in times of danger. I did have to laugh- Riley is able to squash many of her fears by recalling a certain Bible story and taking strength from that Biblical hero’s faith. 

Somewhere along the way, the very real social evils that Jameson deals with, and the faith they use to combat it, move her characters from the two-dimensional world into our three-dimensional world. I could barely turn the pages fast enough at that point. 

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:

“Character had to be built, not bought.”

“ ‘Nevertheless, we must forgive others.’ The wetness from her tears dribbled onto his face. ‘And if we don’t forgive ourselves, guilt, shame, and condemnation will destroy us from the inside out.’ “ – Riley

“We’ve prayed about this. We must believe God has a solution.” – Riley

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I was all in this romantic suspense mystery, plus I picked up some Truths for my life today!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 1

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 3

Texas Book-aholic, December 4

Simple Harvest Reads, December 5 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, December 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 6

Happily Managing a House of Boys, December 7

For Him and My Family, December 8

Artistic Nobody, December 9 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, December 10

Betti Mace, December 11

Lily’s Corner, December 12

Fiction Book Lover, December 13 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, December 13

Blogging With Carol, December 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sara is giving away the grand prize of a $75 Amazon Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3e35d/vengeance-in-vienna-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Just Read Tours, Kindle, Purchase

No Plan at All by Denise M. Colby

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: No Plan at All

Series: Best Laid Plans #3

Author: Denise M. Colby

Publisher: Scrivenings Press

Released: November 4, 2025

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

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.

https://denisemcolby.com/

Also available:

My Impressions:

“…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.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! A very fun story with some great lessons!

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

The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Red Cottage

Author: Hannah Linder

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.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 21

Devoted Steps, November 21

Sydney Schmied Books, November 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 22

Sylvan Musings, November 22

Texas Book-aholic, November 23

Min Reads and Reviews, November 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 24

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 24

Lily’s Corner, November 25

She Lives to Read, November 25

Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 26

For Him and My Family, November 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 27

Stories By Gina, November 28 (Author Interview)

Mrs. Ryan Moser’s Book and Movie Reviews , November 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 29

Cover Lover Book Review, November 29

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 30

The Mommies Reviews, November 30

Betti Mace, December 1

Book Looks by Lisa, December 1

Bizwings Blog, December 2

Mary Hake, December 2

Holly’s Book Corner, December 3

Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 3

Pause for Tales, December 4

To Everything There Is A Season, December 4

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, December 4

Giveaway

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3dd06/the-red-cottage-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

The Songbird and the Surveyor by Denise Farnsworth Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Songbird and the Surveyor

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.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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!

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 15

Blossoms and Blessings, November 15

Texas Book-aholic, November 16

lakesidelivingsite, November 17

For Him and My Family, November 18

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 19

Pause for Tales, November 19

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 21

Stories By Gina, November 22 (Author Interview)

Lyssa Loves Books, November 22

Devoted To Hope, November 23

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 24

Books Less Travelled, November 25

Holly’s Book Corner, November 26

The Mommies Reviews, November 26

Cover Lover Book Review, November 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d5a4/the-songbird-and-the-surveyor-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

Shiloh by Jennifer Lynn Cary Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

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.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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!

    Blog Stops

    Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 15

    The Important Things in Life: God, Books, & Chocolate , November 15

    Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 16

    Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 17

    A Reader’s Brain, November 18 (Author Interview)

    Texas Book-aholic, November 19

    A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 20 (Author Interview)

    For Him and My Family, November 21

    Books Less Travelled, November 22 (Author Interview)

    Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 23

    Mary Hake, November 24

    The Mommies Reviews, November 24

    Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 25

    Roads to Everywhere, November 26

    Fiction Book Lover, November 27 (Author Interview)

    Pause for Tales, November 28

    Giveaway

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

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

    https://promosimple.com/ps/3d5a5/shilo-celebration-tour-giveaway
    ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

    Maggie and the Maverick by Erica Vetsch Review and Giveaway

    Babbling Becky L

    About the Book

    Book: Maggie and the Maverick

    Author: Erica Vetsch

    Genre: Christian Historical  Romance

    Release Date: October 13, 2025

    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?

    Click here to get your copy!

    About the Author

    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.

    Blog Stops

    Devoted Steps, November 11

    Pens Pages & Pulses, November 11

    Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 12

    Lyssa Loves Books, November 12

    Fiction Book Lover, November 13 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

    Texas Book-aholic, November 13

    Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 14

    Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 15

    For Him and My Family, November 15

    Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 16

    Devoted To Hope, November 16

    Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 17

    Artistic Nobody, November 17 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

    She Lives To Read, November 18

    lakesidelivingsite, November 18

    Simple Harvest Reads, November 19 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

    Locks, Hooks and Books, November 19

    Book Looks by Lisa, November 20

    Life on Chickadee Lane, November 21

    The Mommies Reviews, November 21

    Cover Lover Book Review, November 22

    Blossoms and Blessings, November 23

    Holly’s Book Corner, November 23

    Vicky Sluiter, November 24

    Pause for Tales, November 24

    Giveaway

    To celebrate her tour, Erica is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

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

    https://promosimple.com/ps/3d59d/maggie-and-the-maverick-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

    His Boss’s Little Sister by Danielle Grandinetti Review and Giveaway

    Babbling Becky L

    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.

    PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | DanielleGrandinetti.com | Amazon | BookBub

    Also Available

    About the Author

    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.

    Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

    Enter Giveaway

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

    BLOG

    Unending Hope by Cindy Kay Stewart Review and Giveaway

    Babbling Becky L

    About the Book

    Book: Unending Hope

    Author: Cindy Kay Stewart

    Genre: Historical Christian Romance

    Release Date: July 29, 2025

    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.

    Click here to get your copy!

    About the Author

    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

    My Rating

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Great! Suspenseful WWII second-chance Romance

    Blog Stops

    Bizwings Blog, November 5

    Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 6

    Texas Book-aholic, November 7

    Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 8

    Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 9

    For Him and My Family, November 10

    lakesidelivingsite, November 11

    Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 12

    The Bookish Pilgrim, November 12

    Connie’s history classroom , November 13

    Stories By Gina, November 14 (Author Interview)

    The Mommies Reviews, November 14

    Books You Can Feel Good About, November 15

    Holly’s Book Corner, November 16

    Mary Hake, November 16

    Cover Lover Book Review, November 17

    Life on Chickadee Lane, November 17

    Pause for Tales, November 18

    Giveaway

    To celebrate her tour, Cindy is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

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

    https://promosimple.com/ps/3d00b/unending-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway

    BLOG

    The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright Review and Giveaway

    Babbling Becky L

    THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL

    by Jaime Jo Wright

    October 20 – November 14, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

    Synopsis:

    The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright

    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.

    Book Details:

    Genre: Dual Timeline Gothic Suspense
    Published by: Bethany House Publishers
    Publication Date: October 21, 2025
    Number of Pages: 336
    ISBN: 9780764243806, paperback
    Book Links: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOKSHOP.ORG | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB | BAKER BOOK HOUSE

    Excerpt:

    Read the excerpt here:

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/12o4zJl4f2A6wOZF5e_vfsGM83JIGIaLB/view?usp=drivesdk

    My Review:

    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.

    Giveaway:

    https://www.promoamp.com/c/the-bell-tolls-at-traeger-hall-by-jaime-jo-wright