“The case grew creepier by the minute, spiraling Aurora deeper into a pit she had vowed to stay out of. A dark dungeon within her mind.”
Wow!! Darlene L. Turner has outdone herself this time, in Coordinates of Death, her second psychological and Inspirational Romantic Suspense book in the Arctic Protectors Series. Having failed to apprehend a sereal ( misspelled on purpose) killer once, Aurora ( Rory) knows that her job, multiple lives, and her own sanity are on the line if she lets the Shadow Box Killer elude her this time in the frozen Yukon wilderness. Unfortunately, the SBK has a sick fascination with Rory and forces her to play a deadly game…in which she is allowed one helper, but it can’t be a Law Enforcement Officer. Aurora chooses Kordell, a former childhood friend whose adoptive family has started their own personal multi-skilled investigation-protection business.
Events of the past cast huge, impregnable shadows over both Aurora and Kordell. Can they work together to solve the mystery, form firmer grounds for faith, and keep themselves and others alive?
Part of the nearly unbearable tension of the book is caused by Turner’s style of writing. Most of the book is in the third person present, while Turner inserts the nefarious thoughts of the killer in first person present. Just creep into my mind, too, SBK!!
When I read a Darlene L. Turner book, I love to pit myself against the author. Can I use the clues to solve the crime before all is revealed? Let me say, I was thrilled with the shocking ending!
I highly recommend this book. There are more members of the Canadian Watcher’s Squad (group Kord is a part of), so I am excited there will be several more books to come!
I received a copy of the book from the author. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“God uses the ashes of life to create beauty.”
“I think we all have some form of darkness within us. Why else would God have sent His Son to save us?”
“…even though we don’t understand why bad things happen, there’s always a reason. The deeper the darkness, the brighter God’s presence shines through.”
“I struggle. There are times I don’t understand what God’s doing and I can’t see His light in all the darkness, but I know He’s there.”
‘‘Son, God doesn’t make junk, only masterpieces, and you are a special boy. I can see that in your eyes.’ … ‘Now you need to believe it.’’
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Coordinates of Death by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
Book Details
Title: Coordinates of Death Series: Arctic Protectors #2 Author: Darlene L. Turner Publisher: Love Inspired Trade Release Date: October 6, 2026 Genre: Romantic Thriller
A police officer will do anything to catch the serial killer that got away—even if it means playing a deadly game in the icy wilderness.
Sweetwood Falls, Yukon, has seen too much terror for one small town. Corporal Aurora Hunt still blames herself for not catching the Shadow Box Killer before five women lost their lives. The killings stopped two years ago, and her colleagues believe the murderer is dead. But Aurora isn’t convinced.
A chilling discovery on a winter’s morning confirms her fears. The crime scene is all too familiar—a woman’s mutilated body, and beneath it, a box containing a gruesome souvenir. But this time, there’s a special message, daring Aurora to play a game that will lead her into the wilderness to try and save the next victim.
Canadian Watcher Squad survivalist Kordell Greene is part of the past that Aurora has tried to put behind her. He’s also the only person equipped to guide her through this deadly terrain. But somehow, the killer knows all their secrets. Solving cryptic clues as they battle the elements, Aurora and Kordell must confront dark truths they’ve withheld, even from each other. And always, the Shadow Box Killer is one step ahead, drawing them deeper into a twisted game where the slightest mistake may be their last.
Darlene L. Turner is a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.
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This has got to be Darlene L. Turner’s best book yet! It’s creepier than ever, the mystery more twisty, the ending packing multiple surprises!! I loved it and highly recommend it!
Why would you like to read Coordinates of Death?
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Wanna Win? (Tour Giveaway)
(2) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card!
The Fine Print…just because Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 6, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 13, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies. Enter Giveaway
While all of London waits for snow, an orphanage in need holds holiday cheer, sparks of love, and secrets waiting to be discovered.
When Ebeneezer Scrooge’s former fiancée, Belle Beaumont, unexpectedly inherits a struggling London orphanage, she dreams of giving the children of Haven House the most splendid Christmas they’ve ever known. But her vision of snowflakes and merriment quickly collides with reality: Fire damage has rendered part of the building unsafe, and the paperwork is years behind.
Barrister Rafe Munro is fighting to clear an innocent man and searching for a child, who may be his relative. His pursuit leads him to Haven House, where Rafe offers to help Belle sort through the chaotic records that might lead to the missing child. Amid the mayhem of running an orphanage full of mischievous children and eccentric staff, will Belle and Rafe find love and the answers they seek this holiday season?
With characters from Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, this festive historical romance Christmas novella of family and second chances from Michelle Griep is set in Victorian England and perfect for fans of Julie Klassen and Mimi Matthews.
Michelle Griep is an award-winning author known for her captivating historical romances. With a keen eye for detail, she pens tales that transport readers to the past where they’ll experience romance, adventure, and unforgettable characters. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her garden scaring away armadillos.
More from Michelle
Why I Gave Scrooge’s Belle Her Own Christmas Carol
Guest post by Michelle Griep
I’ve always been suspicious of characters who appear just long enough to break your heart and then vanish without so much as a forwarding address. Belle from A Christmas Carol is one of those.
Scrooge, of course, gets the full treatment. Ghosts. Doom. Moral terror. A dramatic overnight transformation. Turkey delivery. The works. And yes, yes, it’s all very moving. But Belle? Come on. All she gets is one aching goodbye and then is shoved neatly into Scrooge’s past. So, excuse me, Mr. Dickens, but I have questions.
What became of the woman who loved Ebenezer before greed got to him? Did she regret walking away? Did Christmas ever sting? Did she build a fine, sensible life or did some little corner of her heart still ache for him or not? That wondering became Belle’s Christmas Carol.
In my story, Belle Beaumont unexpectedly inherits Haven House, a struggling London orphanage with fire damage, muddled ledgers, eccentric staff, and children who are more than rambunctious. Naturally, Belle decides she will set everything to rights and give the children the most splendid Christmas imaginable because—like me—apparently the woman has never heard of pacing herself.
Then along comes Rafe Munro, a handsome barrister searching for a missing child, and Belle’s tidy plans start to change. Oh, did I mention he’s single? That’s because I wanted Belle to be more than Scrooge’s lost love. I wanted her to have grit, flaws, hope, purpose, and a future all her own.
Because sometimes the story doesn’t end with goodbye. Sometimes that’s where the real story begins.
My Impressions
“Sometimes love looks like staying. Other times it looks like letting go because it’s the only way to keep a loved one safe.”
This is my opening quote for Belle’s Christmas Carol by Michelle Griep, because it could actually apply to more than one person in the story, and, in one character’s case, in a few different ways.
Oh, la! Did this Dickens-based novelette have to end? That was my biggest disappointment about the book. I wanted to stay in Belle’s and Rafe’s world quite a bit longer than wordsmith Griep allows. But the story itself is a cup of Christmas wassail (assuming that tastes good) perfection. As I am oft wont to do with a Griep book, I had to read slowly. Not only is the story itself a thing of beauty, but the phraseology a thing to be admired, to be read, and re-read, before moving on.
A meet-cute? In a Regency Christmas book? That was my first thought as Rafe initially meets our heroine, Belle, who has just inherited an orphanage of seven children. What the orphanage doesn’t have in numbers of children, it has (in spades!) of crazy caretakers, damage to the building, and out-of-control children. Turf and Thunder! What has Rafe walked into, looking for a relative?
I loved both Belle and Rafe. Both strong characters with plenty of hurt and disillusionment in their pasts. Belle is still haunted by the looming shadow of the failure of her engagement to Ebenezer Scrooge, ten years past. Not only is she struggling to maintain and “right” the orphanage, but she fights her attraction to Rafe, afraid he will be just another rich man whose main concern is himself and his money. “What if, beneath his warmth was another tortured soul who prized appearances over people?”
Rafe fights his own demons. He searches for one relative, has lost another, and is in danger of losing a third. His personal life is out of whack and his professional life is going up in smoke as he takes on the justice system that doesn’t care about truth. Rafe is spending a lot of time with Belle and the orphans, and one little orphan in particular, Cricket.
Cricket is such a loveable little character. But his size and demeanor make him an easy target for the other children to bully.
Children can be so cruel… and the victims don’t realize bullies are in the very same boat as themselves! Rafe is very drawn to the 5-year-old Cricket, assuring him of his worth in his and God’s eyes.
“That’s what Christmas is about, you know. God’s love for us. You see, Cricket, God didn’t wait for us to deserve Him. He came to a cold, untidy world and gave everything, not because we were perfect, but because we were precious. So when I tell you that you are loved, it’s not just my word. The whole Christmas season says so.”
What this book meant to me: besides being a new favorite Christmas story, I am taking away several truth nuggets. The biggest might be that God doesn’t call most of us to save the world through what we do, but he does call us to love those around us through what we do. God is in control. I can relax and have peace.
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher. I also purchased my own pb copy for a friend. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“I am coming to believe that maybe the Almighty didn’t place us here solely to set the world aright. Rather, to love amidst the ruin. Even when it grieves us— or perhaps most when it does. For love may accomplish what justice, in all its forms, cannot. “
“Promise me you won’t get so caught up in the daily management of things that you lose sight of the fact that it is God who is in charge. For you, my darling dear, have a way of carrying the world on those shoulders. You are neither Atlas nor the great Creator. Make use of those He sends your way.”
“…sometimes a storm us just what is needed to wash away the dirt of the past.”
“And I believe God smiles when He sees things like this too. Not because it’s perfect, but because you made it. God made you as different from anyone else as this snowflake is from the other children’s. And rest assured, my boy, that when He looks at you, He sees His own work, made with care, called by name, just like He made the stars.”
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Superior!! This book changed the way I do my job! Thank you, Ms. Griep for the reminder straight from God about what truly matters!!
Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Heir’s Beloved by Rhonda Dragomir, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
Book Details
Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Heir’s Beloved by Rhonda Dragomir, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
Book Details
Title: The Heir’s Beloved Series: The Ravenwood Chronicles #1 Author: Rhonda Dragomir Publisher: Dragomir Group Publishing Release Date: September 30, 2026 Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Torn from his mother’s arms after a deadly fire and spirited away to Scotland, Liam’s past refuses to remain buried. On his twenty-fifth birthday, he learns he is the rightful Duke of Ravenwood. His ancestral English estate is now ruled by the usurper who murdered his family in the fire and stole his inheritance.
The knight’s plan to reclaim Ravenwood and exact revenge hinges on secrecy—but a chance meeting with a courageous, kindhearted lass threatens to unravel everything. Ella would risk anything to protect a ragged band of orphaned children, and when her violet-eyed beauty draws the villain’s lecherous attention, Liam is forced to choose. Will he risk discovery and death to save the woman who has captured his heart? Or will saving Ella require him to surrender his thirst for vengeance and embrace God’s higher calling?
( Don’t miss this debut novel by Dragomir. I absolutely loved it!!)
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Get to Know the Author
Rhonda Dragomir is an award-winning novelist and multimedia creative who treasures her fairy tale life in Central Kentucky. She insists her home is her castle, even if her prince refuses to dig a moat. Known for richly researched historical fiction, she weaves romance, faith, and redemption into the lives of unforgettable characters. Her newest novel, The Heir’s Beloved, launches The Ravenwood Chronicles, an Elizabethan historical romance series set along the Anglo-Scottish border.
Barbour Publishing released her award-winning debut novel, When the Flames Ravaged, in March 2024. Her work has also appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul®, Guideposts, and other anthologies and periodicals. Bible studies she co-authored are used by more than 10,000 women each week around the world. Rhonda’s writing has earned awards in both fiction and nonfiction, including being named 2019 Writer of the Year by Serious Writer, Inc. She was also a finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest for historical romance in both 2020 and 2022. Learn more about Rhonda at rhondadragomir.com.
My Impressions
“What do the problems of an English duchy have to do with a Scotsman like me?” ““Ye’re nae a Scot.”
What a 25th birthday present for Liam! So begins his journey to retake his rightful position as an English duke in The Heir’s Beloved by Rhonda Dragomir. I don’t usually read medieval novels. The whole concept of medieval novels has always been a turn-off for me, but Dragomir may have single-handedly opened my mind to a new genre! (Win for both of us!)
Strong and braw, and a trained warrior, Liam begins to understand his legacy and the loss to himself personally and the kingdom. But how can he defeat an evil usurper with his large contingent of malevolent minions? Bent on revenge for grievous wrongs done him and his family, will Liam look to his own understanding in the end or listen to God’s voice?
One of Liam’s best allies is a woman. And I don’t refer to the lady he falls in love with, but the one who has loved him for a lifetime. Wheest, but Betha is a complicated character. Fiercely loyal, with a vocabulary to embarrass a sailor, she can scheme and plan with the best. Will her advice prove true? Or will her prickly character drive off the very prize Liam most wants to win?
I loved Ella, but does she come with baggage. Her baggage has names, empty tummies and abused souls. Will Ella be able to continue to support her beloved orphan friends if she doesn’t acquiesce to the hated acting duke? How long before Ella realizes she may have sold her soul to the devil?
My fave character is John. He is meekness and power wrapped together in kindness and a thirst for the right. What have those qualities cost him n the past, and will helping Liam cost him more than the evil duke has already extracted?
Bottom line, I loved this book. If you like historical fiction at all, I urge you to give it a try. You can turn to the glossary in the back for help with unfamiliar Scottish or old English terms, or Google them. Enjoy Elizabethan England with its religious upheaval, castles, feuding, and pageantry!
I received a copy of the book from the author. I also bought my own pb for the keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Nobility is in someone’s soul, not their parentage.”
“When strength is nearly gone, the mind is the best weapon.”
“Honor was a virtue. But it might become a weakness.”
“God alone is judge. When He renders a verdict, He ensures justice is meted out. When self-appointed men judge, it often devolves into revenge. Retribution then arises from the heart of man, not the will of God.”
“…effective prayer is not a matter of mumbling meaningless words you’ve memorized. It’s not mere words from the lips God hears, but the prayers of the heart. Speak to Him, and He will listen.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior
Dragomir has convinced me I’m missing out on a whole sub-genre I’ve been snubbing for years! I would encourage any historical fiction lovers to read this book!
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Wanna Win? (Tour Giveaway)
(3) winners will each receive a print copy of The Heir’s Beloved and When the Flames Ravaged, plus a $15 Amazon card!
Fine Print… just because…
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 29, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 6, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
In this witty historical murder mystery set in a San Francisco hotel, an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths must uncover a killer before another guest checks out for good.
In 1905, the Grand Mallard Marquee is well known for its iconic style, as well as its daily duck parade. For Saul Niffler, a reformed jewel thief, working at the luxurious hotel offers a much-needed second chance. Staying out of trouble and in gainful employment is essential. Which makes seeing a body plummet from a penthouse window extra complicated.
Except…did he see it? There’s no body to be found, and Saul knows he should concentrate on his new duties as “Duck Commandant” rather than meddle. If only Kitty Rossi, a persistent young guest yearning to be a Pinkerton detective, would leave well enough alone. Kitty has already roped in Henry, the elevator man, to investigate suspicious goings-on around the hotel. And against his better judgment, Saul feels compelled to join them.
Between the mystery of Saul’s missing predecessor and a grisly discovery in a drain, all signs point to murder most fowl. And with a cold-blooded killer roaming the Marquee’s lavish corridors, keeping his job may be the least of Saul’s problems…
Dana Mentink is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and the recipient of a Holt Medallion for excellence in mystery/suspense. She was honored to receive the Author of the Year award from West Coast Christian Writers. A California native, she’s written over sixty titles for the general and Christian markets in the suspense, lighthearted romance, and mystery genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense and Revell.
More from Dana
Ice cream or pie? Cake or cookies? Beach or mountains? The answer for me is always, “Yes!” I’m a restless soul, I suppose, but I’ve never been able to choose one delight over the other. I’m that way with writing too. I started my career in mystery and sidestepped to suspense. It’d be so much easier to stick with one genre but no. Dana Mentink has to write both, it seems. I attended a Harlequin anniversary celebration in Toronto a couple of years ago and listened to the editors discuss their futures wishes. Tina James mentioned she’d like to see an “Only Murders in the Building” type book or maybe a historical mystery. Whammo! The idea hit me like a train. What about both? An Only Murders in the Building/Downton Abbey type mashup? The series idea was born. Lots of twists and turns? Check. Humor? Check? An unlikely crime solving trio? You bet! I’m truly thrilled to have been allowed to step back into mystery land. I hope you’ll enjoy the results!
My Impressions
“Murder, mayhem, and mallards. Who could conceive of such a thing?”
Only Dana Mentink, on a quest to develop a zany cozy mystery, Murders in the Marquee! Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the imaginary Grand Mallard Marquee Hotel in San Francisco is actually patterned to a degree after a famous hotel in another part of the country! I was already prepared to laugh by the ridiculousness of the prestigious 1905 San Francisco hotel’s name. And a duck parade through the lobby twice a day? Complete with a duck commander?
But this is where things get a little hairy. The prominent hotel’s duck commander has disappeared. The hotel manager, desperate to impress one particular guest he believes to be scouting city hotels for a famous literary guest, well, he doesn’t read Saul Niffler’s resume very well. “Shady Saul” as I might refer to him finds himself the bewildered leader of 12 prized ducks, about which he knows nothing.
As Saul acquaints himself with his duties via journals left behind, he is amazed to find himself in partnership with a famous tenor’s young adult daughter, Kitty, and the young elevator man, Henry. “‘You were an eyewitness, Saul.’ The paleness of his face blanched to bone white. ‘An eyewitness to what?’ ‘That’s exactly what Henry and I want to know.’ She skewered him with her hardest detective stare. ‘And I’m not leaving here until you come clean.’” Oy, vey. Kitty wants to be a Pinkerton, not a socialite. Henry dreams of becoming a juggler, performing in shows. Saul, in his 30s, checkered past, just wants to keep his past hidden, his nose clean, and be able to woo his estranged wife back.
This book had me in stitches with the unlikely trio’s escapades, attempts to unmask the visitor who isn’t all he claims, and the wealthy widow who is behaving oddly. Could there actually have been a murder at the hotel, and a cover-up to boot?
Kitty is young, used to getting her own way because of her wealth, and trying out her wings as much as possible. She is a darling, but quite excitable and easily swayed from one theory to the next.
Henry is also young, has a secret, and needs a bit of guidance. Plus, he may be sweet on a forbidden character.
And now, somehow Saul is not only leading the duck parade but this impossible group as they secretly defy given instructions and work hard to prove what none of them saw.
Great twists and use of side characters!
Uncle Joe is one of my fave characters.
If you like historic, twisty cozy mysteries, I highly recommend Murders in the Marquee. I am ready for book 2!
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. I also pre-ordered my own paperback. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“A woman reasons by telegraph, and a man’s stage-coach reasoning cannot keep pace with hers,”– Saul’s paraphrase of quote by Dr. Mary Walker
“You did bad things, Saul. We all have. God forgives,” Henry said. “He forgives. You’re gonna mess up and do more bad things still, but only He can tell how you’re being polished up.”
“The chaplain…insisted that God was doing a new thing to Saul’s crusty, battered soul. With ducks? That was a novel way to go about it.”
“Opera singers are like roosters. They each believe there’s only room enough for one in the flock.”
“He heard the voice of the tiny chaplain. God’s doing a new thing in you, Saul. A new thing? It sure felt like he was about to step in a boiling vat of trouble and that was nothing new at all.”
“Choices. That was all she really wanted, to be able to make them for herself.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! I love cozies and this had all the elements to waddle its way right into my heart!
A hidden identity. A relentless marquess. And a summer where love could expose everything.
When Cleveland society parades debutante Sylvie Bryce before another string of unsuitable suitors, she secretly claims the one thing no one can arrange for her—a life of her own. Hidden beneath a green velvet hood and emerald mask, she becomes the mysterious Lady Robin, a daring trick-shot archer who captivates the crowds at Cedar Point resort. It’s the one place where Sylvie answers to no one. The last thing she needs is a charming English marquess threatening to unravel everything she has worked so hard to build.
Miles Wentworth didn’t come to Ohio looking for love. He came to study insects, escape the shadow of a devastating scandal, and prove that a man can build a life on his own terms. But a chance encounter with a boldly independent woman—first in a glittering ballroom, and then behind the mask of a legendary archer—upends every carefully laid plan. Determined to protect her, even from himself, Miles steps into a dangerous game of secrets and deception—one that draws them closer with every anonymous letter and stolen moment…even as the truth has the power to ruin them both.
A richly atmospheric Gilded Age romance brimming with wit, hidden identities, and the tender courage it takes to love without pretense—a tale of a sharp-shooting socialite, a science-minded lord, and the summer of secrets that will change them both forever. Perfect for fans of Jen Turano and Roseanna M. White.
Abbey Downey started writing inspirational romance stories during naptime when her kids were babies and found she couldn’t stop. A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in central Indiana with her husband, two kids, and one rather enthusiastic beagle. She loves watching her middle schoolers in all their activities and fixing up a 125-yar-old farmhouse with her husband.
More from Abbey
“Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be impressed and entertained by the marvelous skill of Lady Robin, our own famed archer. Reminiscent of Robin Hood of old, she performs feats with a bow that are only dreamed of by most masters. Now, please, sit back and enjoy the show.” – The Marquess’s Masked Archer
Why do fictional characters hide? They might keep their entire identity hidden under a costume, their face covered with a mask, or just parts of who they are kept behind a confident act, but secrets are often an element of the conflict in books we love. And it’s for the same kinds of reasons all of us have tried to hide aspects of ourselves at one time or another. Fear. Shame. Protection. Freedom. Survival.
Characters in fiction reflect the truth of our human existence. Most of us probably aren’t dressing up as a female Robin Hood to perform archery trick shots or writing secret admirer letters to win a love interest, like my characters do in The Marquess’s Masked Archer. But the reasons Sylvie and Miles choose secrecy are all too relatable.
Sylvie’s goal in hiding behind a green hood is to give herself a taste of freedom. Her high society world is prescribed and controlled. There are very few opportunities for her to make choices in life. And while she longs to have more freedom, she also worries that if she were to get the independence she so desires, she would fail miserably and be forced to return to her parents in shame. Isn’t it relatable to want something desperately but at the same time be terrified that we can’t actually handle getting it?
In a different way, Miles hides behind a new life for protection. After false accusations in his youth left him disgraced in England, he wrestles with his purpose. His passion for medical entomology has given him hope for a normal life, but he also feels the constant weight of expectations due to his noble title. He’s certain people only see what they want to when they look at him, so he hides away doing his research, hoping no one will look at all. How truly human is that? We hide so much of ourselves out of worry that people won’t understand or will immediately jump to conclusions about who we are based on one glimpse.
But God didn’t create us for secrecy. The tension of hiding makes it difficult for Sylvie and Miles to fall in love, in spite of their interest in each other from the beginning. Every step forward brings new worry that they’ll be found out and their plans will be destroyed. Each romantic moment comes with the discomfort of knowing they aren’t being completely genuine with each other. Even Sylvie and Miles’s first kiss is shrouded in questions about whether the other knows that they meant it.
In the end, Sylvie and Miles’s story is also about what happens when they’re forced to take off the masks. It takes trust in each other and in God for them to finally get to the moment of happily ever after that we all love so much. Just like in fiction, when we trust God with those secret parts of ourselves, we can start to see how living in truth offers more freedom than hiding.
Do you enjoy a hidden identity or secret admirer trope? What’s your favorite book that includes one of those?
My Impressions
“In a world that denied them the ability to choose most things for themselves, the occasional chance to determine their own fate was worth fighting hard for.”
This statement. It epitomizes the motivations of many of the actions of our MCs, Sylvie Bryce and Miles Wentworth. While Abbey Downey has set her Gilded Age historical romance, The Marquess’s Masked Archer, in the early 1900s in the Lake Erie playground of the Ohio rich and famous, you don’t have to be rich or famous to identify with these two MCs! How many of us have either fought against society’s expectations, overly controlling parental expectations, or unfair gossip that ruined a reputation while the Truth doesn’t matter? Oy, vey!!
Sylvie is in her “third season” and her high-society mother is determined to make her a match before Sylvie gets passed over again. Problem is, Sylvie doesn’t have any desire to be the compliant socialite wife that would fit in her social circle. She wants one thing. “All she wanted was to be allowed to choose her own companion for that future, but even that was more than anyone believed she could manage. In their eyes, obedience was all she was capable of.”
When her mother chooses Miles as the best prospect because of his English title, Sylvie decides he is the last man possible she will marry… even as she is inexorably drawn to his unique character qualities of seeing her as a real person with valid wishes, hopes, and dreams for the future.
But…secrets play a huge part in this story. Miles’s past in England is something he fights hard to keep hidden as he comes to America, attempting to re-invent himself as who he wants to be- a successful entomologist, uninterested in the society ladies his best American friend introduces him to.
This is a novel to be read not for the surprise of the ending- because it’s one you know where it’s headed- but how will Downey get you there? How much angst will she put her characters through? ( A lot.) Inability to figure out what other key players may be thinking or planning is key. And let’s face it. Mind reading of others, especially ones we love or are in conflict with, can be hard! So we see questions about Miles and Sylvie’s motivations , Sylvie’s mother’s and another society debutante’s machinations, and society’s approval of Sylvie’s archery show. And, I must say, I love the Mr. Kinsey thread. He is a fave character, even though I’m not Team Kinsey! ( Maybe next book, Ms. Downey, please?!)
Woven into this book is the slow, subtle realization of just Who God is, and how He cares for His own. What does His protection really look like? Did he fail Miles in England when he allowed tragedy after tragedy? Is he failing Sylvie when she can’t seem to break free from her parents’ bondage? Read this story for the historical romance, but consider the God implications for your own life! The best kind of story!
My thanks to CelebrateLit for a copy of the book via BookFunnel. I also purchased my own ebook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“But we tend to fight against growth. Would you have made the effort to change if it wasn’t pushed on you?”
“Fear and worry had a way of pressing someone into actions they didn’t want to take.”
“Would he ever be free from the assumptions people made about him? Would he ever be able to release the past and move forward?”
“After facing tragedy followed by a life-altering ordeal, the idea of a God who reached out to take care of individual believers didn’t match his experience. But it couldn’t hurt to take his longings to the only one who might have the power to influence the way they turned out.”
“Assumptions always worked the same way. No amount of protesting would change someone’s mind once it was made up.”
“In England, Miles had faced responsibilities and expectations he wasn’t ready for and didn’t want. The judgments of others had been enough to suffocate him. Where was the God who cared about creatures as tiny as these insects then?”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Magnificent!
Read this story for the historical romance, but consider the God implications for your own life! The best kind of story!
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Sabotage Games by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
Book Info
Title: Sabotage Games Series: Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency #2 Author: Danielle Grandinetti Publisher: Hearth Spot Press Release Date: September 22, 2026 Genre: Historical Romantic Mystery
Who will pay the ultimate price for Olympic Gold?
LAKE PLACID, N.Y., 1932—Sports journalist Emma Hancock is determined to claim her place in the press box, despite the male colleagues who slam the door in her face. But when a mysterious illness begins systematically sidelining athletes, Emma’s gift for spotting patterns reveals a plot far more sinister than mere competition.
With the Games in his own backyard, Olympic sprinter Ryan Callahan laces up his speed skates to compete in his first winter games. He has no time for distractions—especially not the inconvenience of the beautiful female journalist staying as a guest in his family’s crowded home.
But when the pattern of sabotage deepens, Emma and Ryan must work together to follow the threads before they become the next targets to fall.
La Verità con Integrità. Truth with Integrity. The Legacy of a (Girl) Stunt Reporter.
A 1930s Historical Romantic Mystery
This page-turning novel offers a sweet, slow-burn romance mixed with cozy suspense. Set during the historic III Olympic Winter Games—the first year women’s speed skating was featured—it unfolds against the snow-covered, high-stakes press boxes of Lake Placid, New York, in 1932. Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and J’nell Ciesielski looking for an inspirational read.
Danielle Grandinetti writes award-winning 1930s historical romantic mystery and suspense. She is the 2026 Holt Medallion winner and a second-generation Italian-American. Fueled by tea and nature, she crafts hope-filled historical romance novels exploring immigrant heritage, found family, and cozy Midwest traditions. Find her at daniellegrandinetti.com.
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My Impressions
“That is not all that women can do. They can be queens and heads of state. Doctors and business women. I think it’s amazing what these female athletes can do here at the Olympics, and we should definitely have more females in sports.”
Such an impassioned speech by Danielle Grandinetti’s main female character, Emma, in Sabotage Games. Ali has sent a couple of the reporters of the all female DiStasio Giornaliste Agency undercover to the Lake Placid Olympics in 1932. Emma and Lena (a political journalist) meet a Federal agent on the train who befriends them and joins them in their adventure. Billeted at the Callahan home because the Olympic Village was not yet created, nor were female reporters well-received in the hotel that housed reporters, Emma meets Ryan, a contender in the men’s speed skating competition.
Whew! Emma is not your usual female. She loves to play baseball, cannot stop talking sports if given the chance to start, and isn’t afraid to pursue the stories surrounding the male athletes. But the times mold people and most refuse to take a female reporter, especially a sports reporter, seriously, casting aspersions and difficulty Emma’s way every chance possible.
I loved Emma and Ryan’s story. I especially love the way Emma sacrifices for and builds up Ryan truthfully, not with platitudes. I love the way Ryan begins to see how beautiful Emma is, inside and out, and supports her as best he can. Each learns to appreciate the other as they see respect being given towards them, in a way unusual from the opposite gender.
When the needed snow doesn’t appear, Ryan remarks that the weather is not the biggest problem the Olympics are having, but it is rather a mysterious illness. Can Emma work with Ryan, Lena, and Noah to find out who is sickening the athletes and why? Or will the character attacks by the other reporters, especially as they begin to notice the time Ryan and Emma are spending together, end any hope of success for either Emma or Ryan?
I loved racing through the pages, trying to get ahead of the plot enough to figure out who was causing the great difficulties and who was actually being targeted. “Sports is a team effort. No one wins or loses because of one person. Okay, maybe one person makes a spectacular play, or a horrible play at an inopportune time. But it is a team of spectacular athletes that wins at team sports.” So says Emma, and she’s right. But it also takes a team of investigators, reporters, family, and friends to dive deep enough into the mystery to uncover the hidden answers. I loved how Sabotage Games is at once a romantic suspense, an inspirational read, a history lesson, and a political lesson as well. So many threads, all well connected, coming together slowly, at just the right time!
We see real-life famous people from the Olympics, a famous politician, real heart attitudes, and real firsts-like the first women’s sports in the Olympics and the first Olympic Village.
Just in case you think your heart is settled when you finish the book, we are given a sneak peak at Lena’s story. And can I say it involves a brother of one of my fave Grandinetti characters? Oh, dear, I’m sure I might see a swoon coming on!!
I received a copy of the book from the author and JustRead Tours. I also bought my own ecopy, and will be purchasing a pb for the trophy shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“We are commodities. People watch us, they place bets on us, and when we don’t perform, they toss us aside or they blame us for losing their paycheck.”
“I found that a wonderful way to discover a story is to be present. Let the story come to me, instead of trying to chase one. Oftentimes, an angle I didn’t expect pops up because I wasn’t looking for it.”
“…I know I am a reporter of integrity and that’s what matters.”
“it’s not about how you do in a race, it’s about who you look for when you cross that finish line.”
“But I cover sports because … perhaps there’s another family out there that needs to know their child is succeeding.”
And the quote that made me want to cry because of its context…
“ The hardware is nice, but when you reach that finish line, it’s who you want to celebrate with that really matters.” (The speaker is a quiet gem!)
Superior! Danielle Grandinetti once again knocks it out of the park with this story of women sports reporters, the 1932 Lake Placid Olympics, and political intrigue! Run now to get your copy!
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Want to Win? ( Tour Giveaway)
(2) winners will each receive a paperback copy of Undercover Wish & Eyewitness Sketch!
The Fine Print
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 22, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 29, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
A burdened earl. A determined ballerina. Saving the theatre was part of their bargain. Losing their hearts wasn’t.
London, 1815
Emmeline Laurent has survived by grace and grit. After her parents’ execution in France, she has learned to live unseen as a humble ballerina instructing young pupils in a small London theatre. When whispers spread that the Danforth Theatre may be sold to an unscrupulous buyer, Emmeline fears not only for her livelihood but for the safety of her impressionable students. With no time and no options, she does the only thing she knows to do: leap into a moving carriage and bargain with the new lord who holds their fate.
Grant Atherton, the Earl of Quincy, has inherited the crushing weight of duty along with a failing theatre, an arranged engagement, two younger sisters to usher into society, and a mountain of his father’s secrets. Selling the Danforth is the only way to save his family from ruin. The last thing he needs is a beautiful, infuriatingly determined ballerina turning his careful plans upside down.
But when Emmeline’s hidden past begins surfacing and the danger circling the theatre proves far deadlier than either of them realized, Grant must choose between the life he planned and the one God may have been preparing all along.
For fans of Roseanna M. White and Jen Turano — a sweeping Regency romance about the grace found in surrender, the courage it takes to trust, and the God who makes a way when every door seems closed.
Lorri Dudley is the bestselling author of The Leeward Island Series and The Agents of Espionage Series. She has a master’s degree in psychology and lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.
Connect with Lorri by visiting lorridudley.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.
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My Impressions
“The happiest people in life aren’t those without problems. It’s those with something bigger than their problems.”
I give The Ballerina’s Bargain (The Danforth Theatre, bk#1) by Lorri Dudley a rousing standing ovation. Taking place in 1815 England, forbidden love, familial duty, revenge, fear, protection of innocents, and society double-standards are all topics explored.
Having narrowly escaped the guillotine in France as a child, Emmeline and her ballet mentor, Charlene, hide under assumed names working at the Danforth Theatre. Finding out that the present owner, Lord Quincy, Grant Atherton, plans to sell the theatre to a man who intends to promote “back room rendezvous,” Emmeline challenges Grant not to sell. She loves the little ballerines, ages 6-14, that she teaches and realizes their pending fate under the new owner. Then she promises Grant that she will make sure the Danforth turns a profit. Grant doesn’t want to acquiesce… but prayer is an important part of his life, and he hears God speaking, “Protect my lambs.” But what about his younger siblings’ futures? Must he risk them?
Ooh, la, la!! As Grant reneges on his spoken agreement to sell the theatre, he begins to find he is making enemies left and right. Mr. Harrowby threatens to ruin him, an old Eton bully reappears in his life, the dancers are ready to mutiny, and he has a fiancée he doesn’t want to marry. While Charlene insists troubles come because of the father’s sins visiting the children, Emmeline draws on her faith to reach a different conclusion. “‘We learn from pain.’ Emmeline issued Flora a gentle smile. ‘It keeps us humble and reminds us who’s ultimately in control.’”
I loved how gentle and kind with her young charges Emmeline is. She works very hard to repay her mentor for the years of caretaking Charlene has provided and is loyal to a fault. She is strong as she leans into God for help to get overcome her fears. But is God big enough to help her overcome her biggest fear? As she begins to trust Grant, what will happen when he appears to not be who he presents himself to be?
Grant, bless his heart, is a tortured soul. “Firstborn sons inherited lands, wealth, and titles, but they sacrificed their freedom.” Grant’s every life move has been dictated by his father. How he resents those choices. Grant is constantly praying for wisdom. Can he begin to trust his heavenly Father to guide him aright, where his earthly father did not?
I loved seeing the inner workings of a theatre. The competition with other theatres, all the frantic practices, the theatre preparations, the discord between actors or dancers, and the individual parts of putting together a ballet-opera performance. And it made me sad, of course, to see such a double standard society set up. It is fine and wonderful to attend the opera and be a patron, but it is wrong to befriend or love an actor or ballerina.
This book gets the superior rating from me as it ventures into the final acts before whipping out some really great twists! Memorable!!
I received a copy of the book from CelebrateLit and the publisher through BookFunnel. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“The bang of the door reverberated through her heart like the slam of the guillotine.”
“Fear is like being shackled,”
“We’re all broken people. The Bible says all of us have sinned and fall short, but Jesus’s life and death prove that broken people are worth saving.”
“Perfection is working overly hard for man, but excellence is doing your best for God. Go and give God glory, showing everyone how magnifique He made you.”
“Lord, I want to trust. No. I choose to trust.”
“Our limitations are an invitation to trust God.”
“I’ve found that bravery and fear feel the same. It’s up to us to choose how to respond.”
“Lord, I’m trusting You to make a way where there seems to be no way.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! For the storyline, the Truth nuggets, the twists!
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Your Chance to Win!
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and a prize bundle with reading blanket, socks, and candle!
Fine print😊:
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 8, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 15, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Author: Denise Farnsworth writing as Denise Weimer
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: August 18, 2026
A Cherokee lieutenant, a colonel’s daughter, and a desperate fight to protect both land and love.
Sam Hicks may be the educated son of a Cherokee chief, but his command of multiple languages and diplomatic skills can’t erase the prejudice he faces as a mixed-blood warrior. When he’s tasked with guarding Colonel Moore’s spirited daughter, Susanna, at a wilderness fort, he never expects to lose his heart to a woman he can never have.
Susanna Moore dreams of making her own way on the frontier like her Cherokee stepmother. The last thing she wants is an arranged marriage to the fort’s stuffy doctor—especially after she meets the noble and intelligent Sam Hicks. When she’s captured by a turncoat warrior during a Creek uprising, Sam risks everything to save her.
Their shared values and growing love give them hope—but with the Creek War raging and cultural pressures mounting, can a Cherokee lieutenant and a colonel’s daughter overcome the loyalties and prejudices set against them?
North Georgia native Denise Farnsworth, formerly Denise Weimer, has authored over twenty traditionally published novels and novellas—historical and contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and time slip. As a freelance editor and Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books, she’s helped other authors reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two adult daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.
More from Denise
The seed idea for A Contrary Betrothal came from another author a number of years ago. She proposed a collection of stories in which the heroes were all Native Americans who served their country in different wars. I still love the idea even though it never came to pass! In fact, I loved it so much, I went ahead and wrote my story. And that story became Bent Tree Bride, first published with Smitten Romance. Now, it’s joining my Scouts of the Georgia Frontier series as book six.
Many people are unaware that the Cherokees fought alongside American troops under Andrew Jackson during the Creek War or Red Stick War, a portion of the War of 1812 that occurred in present-day Alabama. The Creek people were allied to the British, as the Cherokees themselves had been during the American Revolution. The motivation for this was, of course, to keep their land. Their warriors were so valuable to Jackson that they broke the ineffective cannonade on the town of Tohopeka, swimming across the river from behind and making the victory possible that ended the war at Horseshoe Bend.
Sam Hicks, the hero of A Contrary Betrothal, is a mixed-blood Cherokee lieutenant with the head of a scholar and the heart of a warrior. His struggle to intermingle the old ways and the new ways proves reflective of the metamorphosis of his people. Even though he’s been educated as the wealthy son of a chief, he knows his white colonel’s daughter, Susanna Moore, is out of his reach. But when he’s assigned to guard her and her little brother at a wilderness fort, he can no longer deny his attraction to the feisty young woman who’s determined to convince her father she can survive on the frontier as well as her Cherokee stepmother.
A Contrary Betrothal will resonate with readers who enjoy stories by authors like Laura Frantz, Shannon McNear, Michelle Griep, and Lori Benton. The forbidden love and fish out of water tropes create plenty of angst, and the battlefield scenes echo Last of the Mohicans. When people have asked me which of my books would translate well onto the big screen, in fact, this is one I think of. I invite you, dear reader, to be swept away by the action and romance of my final book of the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier.
My Impressions
“‘Not yet.’ ‘Soon.’ ‘Almost.’” George picked up a pine frond and examined it carefully. “Seems like a lot of things not happening.” “That is the way of it for our people, George.”
An obscure quote? Perhaps. But I find it very accurately describes the frustration of the Cherokee people in the time of this book, A Contrary Betrothal, by Denise Farnsworth. ( Which, though book #6 in this series, Scouts of the Revolution, this was originally published as Bent Tree Bride. Fair warning to those who don’t like to buy a new book only to discover they have already read it!)
I think I could wax eloquent and write a whole book about my thoughts on this novel. At the very least, I would love to discuss the political intrigue and double standards presented between the Caucasians, the Cherokee, and the Red Stick people (who I was motivated to research on my own). If I were still teaching upper elementary, this book’s facts (delineated with historical figures mentioned and separating fact from artistic license) along with the very real political climate would help provide background into my lessons. Farnsworth makes me feel deeply the angst of the Cherokee people and the Red Sticks, both who realize the precariousness of their possession of the Tennessee-North Carolina mountain forest land. Each tribe must choose a side of the War of 1812 to side with- the British or the Americans- and pray that their side wins, and that said government will keep the promises they make to their Native American partners.
It is into this massive backdrop of confusion that Farnsworth places her two star-crossed lovers. One, Sam Hicks, is a mixed-blood Cherokee and Caucasian. Which means, he fights for his place in either world. Trained in both, he has the skills of a Cherokee warrior, but is ridiculed because he doesn’t follow all their tortuous customs, having learned about Jesus from missionaries. His ultimate questions: can he fight like a Cherokee and restore his lost honor? Will his mixed blood mean he must relinquish his love for Susanna which grows as he is assigned by her double-standard enforcing father to be her body guard?
“The man who’d captured her imagination from a single day’s meeting was a Cherokee. White women did not marry Cherokee men.” Poor Susanna! Her powerful Caucasian father, himself married a second time to a wonderful Cherokee woman, insists Susanna can only marry a Caucasian man, esp. his choice, Dr. Hawkins. The whole book, I was rather violently seething with Susanna at her father’s total inability to see his double standards. Unfortunately, it is one I see exhibited by people today, some very close to me. How can you honestly love a spouse and denounce or hold prejudice against their people? What about ourselves? Do we say we don’t have prejudices, but they linger in big and small ways? Our faith speaks to that!!
I think what makes this book one of true sadness for me, is that we have the perspective of history behind us. We know how the greed for land and gain in this area affects the Native Americans. But I would be a liar not to be grateful that this land is part of our country now where we can travel, visit,or live freely. Farnsworth shows both the underbelly of all three cultures, and those who are honestly trying to, through faith in God, and following human kindness, make the best of trying times. Keep your eyes open for important historical figures (one I didn’t recognize!) that are included in this emotional, faith-filled, romantic book!
At the risk of running on too long, when I saw the list of comparable Christian historical authors, I understood immediately why I loved this book. Here they are: Michelle Griep, Shannon McNear, Laura Frantz, and Lori Benton. *Le Sigh*
I received a copy of the book from CelebrateLit, the author and Wild Heart Books via BookFunnel. I bought my own ecopy and I’m off to buy a pb copy for trophy shelf. No positive opinion was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“She was most definitely not in control. But she believed in Someone who was. And if she believed His goodness, she also must believe He had a good future for her.”
“To be without a clan is to be without an identity.”
“Then you cannot fight this war to prove yourself to the colonel. That is fighting from a position of weakness. You are sure to lose. Instead, you must forgive the colonel. If you fight, it must be what you believe is right before God, asking Him to come alongside you to help our people. That is fighting from a position of strength.”
“Is it ever a just cause to turn brothers against each other? Do we deceive ourselves that the English won’t take the land of the Creeks if they win this war, then turn on us for ours?”
“Save your anger. To show restraint is wiser than to engage a fool.”
“I want the two wolves to lie together inside. In peace.”
“He’d fallen to quoting scriptures in his head after that. By the time they crossed Chockelocko Creek, he’d restored some semblance of inner peace.”
“Sam saw the way forward in words, not wars.”
My Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superior! I believe this is one of Farnsworth’s best! Whether I remember the names of the characters a year from now, I will never forget the accurate depiction of the swirling vortex of cultural clash, greed, and those who strove to leave a mark of love for their fellow man, regardless of skin color!
Her Family, Her Home, Her Future—All Leveled in One Thunderous Explosion
When life seems weighed down by challenges, there are always pillars of enduring hope and love to be discovered.
Three days ago, Pearline Campbell’s family was whole, and Oliver Hamilton still loved her. But upon returning to Halifax disfigured and shellshocked, Oliver ended their relationship. Then came Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the Halifax harbor was leveled by a tremendous explosion. . .and Pearline fears nothing will ever be whole again. Her parents are dead, her brother is missing, and her sister refuses to speak. Pearline must fortify herself to open her home to needy orphans, including an unidentified baby. Where can she find the strength for each new day as misery grips the city?
Terrie Todd is a Canadian author of nine historical and split-time novels and one nonfiction book. Her work has earned numerous Word Awards from The Word Guild, the 2018 Janette Oke Award from Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship, and the 2022 Braun Book Award. She is also a Carol Award Finalist. From 2010-2024, she wrote a weekly “Faith and Humor” column for her hometown newspaper, and since 2021, a monthly column for the Heroes, Heroines, and History blog. Terrie lives with her husband, Jon, in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, where they raised their three children. They are grandparents to five boys.
More from Terrie
It wasn’t until I was interviewing a friend for a newspaper column that the Halifax Explosion of 1917 began to interest me. My friend, Gene, had gone blind from macular degeneration, and I wanted to write a series of columns about what it was like for him to lose his sight and now live with blindness. One of the books Gene mentioned as having inspired him was the true story of Eric Davidson. At the time of the explosion, Eric was a toddler, playing with his toy car on a windowsill in his Halifax home. The glass exploded, permanently blinding Eric. The north end of Halifax was destroyed, and roughly two thousand residents died. Nine thousand more were wounded, including hundreds blinded or partially blinded by flying glass. The mass blinding helped birth the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). Eric’s daughter, Marilyn Davidson Elliott, wrote the book The Blind Mechanic about her father.
I found Eric’s story fascinating. When given the opportunity to try for a spot in Barbour’s series of books about historical disasters, I decided to write one about the Halifax explosion. The more I researched, the more I wondered why we didn’t learn about this in school, and the harder it was to imagine the devastation that the city and its people survived. This was during a world war and only five years after being highly involved in the recovery of the Titanic’s victims and survivors, a disaster that helped prepare them for this one. Story after story, many revealing the incredible determination of the stalwart people of Nova Scotia and the Bostonians who came to their aid, moved me to tears. It was difficult to choose which experiences to borrow for my characters. I was thrilled to visit Halifax in 2025, a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Naturally, the book includes some blind and partially blind characters. I so appreciate the input from my two blind beta readers, Alexandra Banwell and Leanne Merren. One of my favorite things to do with each book I launch is to choose a charity to which I give a portion of the proceeds from my local book launch. For this book, I’ve chosen the CNIB’s Guide Dog program.
Although my book never became a part of that series, Barbour decided it would be a good fit for their “Enduring Hope” series. The rest is, literally, history. I’m thrilled to be part of this series and have enjoyed the first five immensely. I hope you read them all!
My Impressions
“Fires erupted every few minutes, and the air was filled with racking, bubbling coughs, cries of devastation, alarm bells, and sirens. Surely she was in hell.”
And so we are given in vivid clarity a recounting of the horrible harbor ship explosion of 1917 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I am enjoying this series, Enduring Hope, by Barbour very much. Each stand-alone book tells the story of an American ( including Canadian) disaster that many have never learned from history class. Terrie Todd brings the WWI setting and Halifax tragedy to unforgettable life in her novel, The Reluctant Healer of Halifax.
One of the main characters is an injured soldier, Oliver Hamilton, who returns from the European front minus an eye and with internal emotional scars. Certain his bright future is over, he breaks things off with his almost-fiancée, deciding he will not saddle her with a lifetime married to a freak. Heartbroken, Pearline shares with her wise parents. Her mother thoughtfully responds,“Sounds like whatever’s hiding under Oliver’s bandages is not nearly as bad as what’s deep inside him right now.”
But, will Pearline ever get a chance to show Oliver that she loves him for his character, not his face? Or has his character been marred as badly as his face?
Soon, Pearline, the female main character, must put aside her broken heart to deal with the incredible shock and tragedy of the harbor explosion. What starts as a ship collision turns into a disaster of epic proportions as a ship with wartime cargo explodes, raining death, destruction, blindness, and literal Hell down upon the town. Search for family and friends becomes her consuming passion. What will Pearline and her hired hand, Daisy find in their quest for answers? How will their lives change from normal to “normal isn’t coming back,” how do we deal with our new reality?
I loved how there was great cooperation between American (particularly Bostonian)people and the people of Nova Scotia. We can be good neighbors!!
Emotional, heart-rending, with God-incidences, great character growth arcs and historical fact all presented so compellingly. I couldn’t close this book, once opened, until I’d devoured the final word!
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:
“No one could ever love me. I can never ask Pearline to marry me now; it would be cruel. I can never teach again. God’s punishing me for not wanting to follow Pop’s career. I deserve this. Like machine-gun fire, nefarious notions had pounded his brain.”
“God had already given her the strength to survive the unthinkable. He’d provide for this too, if she leaned into Him and followed His purposes for her.”
“He’d grown much through the challenges, the losses, the trauma. Why had it not occurred to him that Pearline would have matured, too?”
“Bringing buried things to the surface can feel painful.” “Like digging up a dead dog. Why would I want to do that?”
“I’ve been doing extra studies in the areas of plastic surgery and the psychology of shell shock. The more patients can tell me, the more honestly they share, the more we learn how to help.”
“God, make me more aware of others. Open my eyes—or my eye, I suppose—to the significance of the lives around me before they’re gone and it’s too late.”
