Category: ARC

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The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater by Jaime Jo Wright Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Genre: Dual Timeline, (Historical, Contemporary), Mystery, Suspense

Release: October 10, 2023

It promises beauty but steals life instead. Will the ghosts of Barlowe Theater entomb them all?

Barlowe Theater stole the life of Greta Mercy’s eldest brother during its construction. Now in 1915, the completed theater appears every bit as deadly. When Greta’s younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta engages the assistance of a local police officer to help her unveil the already ghostly secrets of the theater. But when help comes from an unlikely source, Greta decides that to save her family she must uncover the evil that haunts the theater and put its threat to rest.

Decades later, Kit Boyd’s best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. Then television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher joins Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater’s history. Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of finding her missing friend. As the theater’s curse unravels Kit’s life, she is determined to put an end to the evil that has marked the theater and their hometown for the last century.

About the Author

Jaime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author–including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards–is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes – providing an exhilarating amount of chaos.

Visit her at: http://www.jaimewrightbooks.com and listen to her podcast MadLit Musings on your favorite podcast player or at http://www.madlitmusings.com

My Impressions

“Secrets are meant to stay that way or old curses come to life. Nobody wants that.”

Wow! So many different moving pieces to this puzzle, The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater, by Jaime Jo Wright.

1. What do you need to know, in a nutshell?

This is a dualtime, occurring in 1915 Kipper’s Grove, Wisconsin, and in present time, same place.

2. The first line is a killer, and will draw you in. “Sometimes death came quietly.”

3. The main characters in the past are Greta Mercy, a poor girl, who has been befriended by wealthy socialites Eleanor Boyd and her brother, Oscar. Greta is struggling to keep herself and her brothers out of the poor house, when she falls under the curse of the theater.

“Barlowe Theater was not a place that brought joy and entertainment, as was its supposed purpose. No, it had already taken lives in the construction of it, tortured the ones who dared stand in its way, and now it was hunting those innocents who had happened into the shadows of its deadly interior. The theater was cursed.”

4. Have your blood pressure medicine ready. The stress, the angst, the wondering how many family members might be lost due to the theater’s curse!

5. In the present day, the main characters are Kit Boyd, a food pantry liaison, and Evan Fischer, a dissenting critic for a psychic TV show. Evan took a while to grow on me! Kit and Evan are searching for Madison, who disappears on a tour of the theater.

6. Only Jaime Jo Wright can take so many mixed-up creepy cards from two different stories, shuffle them thoroughly, deal them seemingly randomly, and produce a thoroughly satisfying end result, minus the fear. One you won’t see coming! One which includes not just suspense, romance, and creepiness, but God’s Truth coming to light.

Run out and get your copy of The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater now!

I received a copy of this book from Early Readers on Library Thing via NetGalley. I am also waiting for my purchased paperback copy for my keeper shelf to arrive. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“But in truth, hope was too terrifying a thing to lose to reach out and grasp it. It was easier to function without it—without expectations. Then, when loss visited, it was a familiar silence.”

“Love, loyalty, and heroism came with expiration dates. It was only a matter of time.”

“You can line up all the facts, but at some point you have to step out in faith too.”

“True loyalty isn’t based on a scale.”

“Anyone who puts all their faith in another person is bound to get hurt.”

“That was how loyalty began, though, wasn’t it? Walking through trials together and then coming out the other side of them . . . together.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Absolutely Jaime Jo Wright’s best yet!!

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, PB, Purchase, Revell

Lost and Found by Suzanne Woods Fisher Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Lost and Found

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Amish Romance

Released: September 2023

Trudy Yoder shares a passion for birding with Micah Weaver–and she has an even greater passion for Micah. Their friendship is finally turning romantic when Micah abruptly grows cold. Worse still, he wants to leave Stoney Ridge. 

Micah Weaver thought he was over Trudy’s older sister. A year and a half ago, Shelley had broken his heart when she ran away from Stoney Ridge to pursue a singing career in Nashville. Then, out of the blue, she’s started to leave distressing phone messages for him. 

When the bishop asks for volunteers to scout out a possible church relocation in Tennessee, Micah is the first to raise his hand. Despite scant details, he’s confident he can find Shelley. After all, his reputation as a field guide is based on finding birds that don’t want to be found. 

What Micah doesn’t know is that what you’re looking for isn’t always what you find.

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher loves stories worth telling about people worth remembering. With over a million copies of her book sold worldwide, this bestselling, award-winning author of more than 30 books is always on the lookout for the unsung hero with an untold story.

Readers are invited to stop by Suzanne’s website at: http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

My Impressions

“We’re all on a spectrum of our own perceptions.” While this thought belongs to David Stoltzfus, the more I think about it, the more I think it sums up all the different characters in this wonderful book, Lost and Found, by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Many families are leaving the Stoney Ridge district so their children don’t join more the more permissive Beachy Amish, which has recently moved into area. With church and school attendance down, Bishop David Stoltzfus has to decide how to handle to crisis for his Old Order district.

Just as Trudy believes she and Micah are becoming close, a voice from the past threatens to undo any developing relationship. And speaking of developing, a big development may change life for many. Can it be stopped?

So much to love about this story! Trudy, the patient, plain girl is about to snag her dream man. Or so it seems. Micah is finally coming to his senses, until… ( you’ll have to read to find out!) And the birds!! I had my bird app and Google open as I read and really enjoyed all the different bird references(wow!) I have always loved seeing how carefully and lovingly David Stoltzfus handles his flock in this series. I even wished I could get a glimpse or listen of loud, obnoxious Hank Lapp who brightens each book. Not so long ago, an author asked what book we’d like to live in. This one for me! To be able to interact with all these great characters and take a birding tour with Micah, besides!

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads through NetGalley. Plus I bought my own paperback for the keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“When you’re Amish, family was everything.”

“The future of this church hinges on how you lead everyone, how you hold it all together. You know how that old saying goes. Aller Mann fer sich un der Deiwel fer die Iwwriche. “Everyone for himself and the Devil takes the rest.”

“What the Englisch referred to as nature, like it was all happenstance, Jesus knew only as creation, a work of God. Even better, the Bible described the entire cosmos as a temple, full of the glory of God. An unending outdoor cathedral. That was why he loved his work. It felt like holy work.”

“Jesus noticed the sparrows. And the widow’s mite. And the lilies in the fields. He welcomed little children that the disciples shooed away. Nothing was too insignificant for Jesus. So why shouldn’t we take every concern to him?”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I loved my time spent with the folk of Stoney Ridge! Another Fisher masterpiece!!

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, Thomas Nelson

The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Letter Tree

Author: Rachel Fordham

Genre: Historical Romance

Release: October 31, 2023

Romeo and Juliet meets You’ve Got Mail in 1920s New York when hidden letters change everything for two lost souls and the community around them.

Seven years ago, a letter left inside a tree brought Laura Bradshaw an anonymous friend who helped her navigate the tragic loss of her mother and gave her something to look forward to despite the overbearing hand of her father. Life would be far bleaker, if not for her beloved Letter Tree, her dear friend, and her secret trips to the Buffalo Zoo. But even these rays of light are threatened when her father decides to play matchmaker in order to further his business goals.

When Isaac Campbell learns that his letter friend is destined to court another, he balks at the suggestion and begs her to break her rule of namelessness and meet him. Her words have endeared her to him, he’s ready to fall at her knees and beg her to choose him—that is until he sees her face. The stranger he’s become so attached to is not a stranger . . . but the only daughter of his family’s sworn enemy.

Can the grown children of feuding parents bridge the chasm between them? Or is the divide too deep—and too wide?

• Historical romance with a forbidden love story

• Stand-alone novel set in the 1920s

• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

About the Author

Rachel Fordham is the author of Where the Road Bends, A Lady in Attendance, A Life Once Dreamed, The Hope of Azure Springs, and Yours Truly, Thomas. Fans expect stories with heart and she delivers, diving deep into the human experience and tugging at reader emotions. She loves connecting with people, traveling to new places, and daydreaming about future projects that will have sigh-worthy endings and memorable characters. She is a busy mom, raising both biological and foster children (a cause she feels passionate about). She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington. Learn more at rachelfordham.com; Instagram: @rachel_fordham; Facebook: @rachelfordhamfans.

My Impressions

“the children of the feud.”

“She stepped closer to the maple that was, in many ways, more than a beloved tree. It was memories. It was comfort. It was hope.”

Rachel Fordham spins a Christian historical romance novel that is at once warm, engaging, entertaining, and filled with truth for today. Her latest novel, The Letter Tree, is a mashup of You’ve Got Mail and Romeo and Juliet with touches of Rapunzel and Cinderella mixed in.

I was a little confused at first as to where “B,” NY is. Eventually, we are told it is Buffalo, and we are there in the year 1917, when we see young Laura Bradshaw lose her mother in an accident. Ten years later, we see the effects the accident had on her father, Stanley Bradshaw, owner of a successful shoe company, and by extension, on Laura. Laura’s activities have become very restricted by her father, and she is nearly a recluse. Her one friend is a pen pal whose responses she finds in a branch of a tree at the zoo.

The magic of this story lies in the mystery of who Laura’s pen pal is; when we find out, and the two letter writers find out, what will they do with that knowledge? It could be the key to re-chart their lives or to doom them to destruction. They and their families.

There is just enough mystery, romance, truth, emotion, and suspense to make this a very enjoyable, feel-good read.

Obviously both Laura and Isaac’s characters have decisions to make that will cause or delay their growth. As the reader, we’re unsure which path each will choose.

My favorite secondary character, though, is Mrs. Guskin. The Bradshaw’s housekeeper is so much more to Laura. Her presence and advice is invaluable. She is the treasure map that helps the young people find gold in this story. How I loved her wise ways!

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“You are not a game piece. And you are not responsible for your father’s choices.”

“Even apart, we battle together.”

“The dream, like all dreams, faded, replaced by reality—and the truth was, she missed her friend already.”

“The children joined ranks with their parents, dutifully rallying for a cause they didn’t understand.”

“the avenue of if only led to nowhere but the land of aching hearts.”

“Hiding from the past wouldn’t change it.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I love the easy flow of a Rachel Fordham novel, and this one is no exception.

ARC, Biblical Fiction, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Publishers, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

She’erah’s Legacy by Naomi Craig Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: She’erah’s Legacy

Author: Naomi Craig

Genre: Historical fiction, Biblical fiction

Release Date: August 15, 2023

As tragedy ravages the camp, can She’erah step up and complete the outpost?

She’erahs is a woman trying to leave her mark in a man’s world. Her vision and ability surpasses her father’s, yet she remains second-in-command as they are tasked to build Pharaoh’s outposts in Canaan. She knows she is worthy of the task, but her clan is skeptical

The last place She’erah expects support is from her charioteer, but Lateef is the lone voice of encouragement. His integrity and steadfastness is a plumb-line in She’erah’s life and she can no longer deny her growing feelings for him.

Acts of sabotage threaten the construction and the shaky foundation of She’erah’s pride. It’s up to She’erah to break generations of rivalry, distrust, and jealousy—if she can learn to rely on the strengths and abilities of those around her to help.

Will she learn to trust God and others before her life’s legacy comes crumbling down around her?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, pastor’s wife, Naomi loves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church,  trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes or convincing her rescue dog, Freeway, to be cute on command for Instagram reels, you’ll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee. Naomi co-hosts #BehindTheStory with Naomi and Lisa, an author interview show on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice.

More from Naomi

A woman architect in ancient times?

She’erah’s family is mentioned in five verses in 1 Chronicles 7:20- 24. In this brief detour from the list of genealogy, we learn some interesting facts.

She’erah is the granddaughter of Joseph (yes that Joseph with the coat of many colors, vizier to Pharaoh)

Two of her brothers get themselves killed for cattle rustling.

Her father, Ephraim, goes into deep mourning  for his sons.

There is a late-in-life baby (as a result of dad’s mourning)

and She’erah built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen She’erah.

Then we are right back to the begats.

Wait, hold on. That’s all we get? What is the story behind her building these towns (two of which are still standing today)? What was the reaction of those around her?

Something I find helpful to remember is that when you know about someone’s family, you in a way know the person. With her grandfather being Joseph, suddenly we have opened a whole new world of what we know. She’erah and the clan would have had access to all of Egypt’s knowledge and resources. Where she still might have gotten backlash from her more Hebrew clan, Egyptian women had more independence, managing their husband’s estates, or even their own.

We also know the generational legacy that was passed down of the younger sibling being favored above the older. Ephraim over Manasseh, Joseph over his ten elder brothers, Jacob over Esau, Rachel over Leah, Isaac over Ishmael. I’m sure sibling rivalry could have been present.

So now we can see She’erah’s picture a little more clearly. A brilliantly minded woman determined to prove herself and her abilities. Raised in Egyptian courts, yet also Hebrew. A strange mix of cultures and dynamics that shape She’erah and nurture her gifts.

She’erah’s legacy is not only the towns she builds for  generations to come, but also how she starts the work of unearthing the deep-seated rivalry that is entrenched in her family.

I pray you’ll enjoy She’erah’s adventures, as she learns to trust the Lord and those around her.

Best Regards

Naomi

My Impressions

“Wasn’t that just like Elohim? A juxtaposition of strength and gentleness, judgement and compassion, that compelled His people to Him.”

A woman builder in the time of the patriarchs? (I’d never noticed!) Women are mentioned rarely in Biblical genealogies, but when they are, you can be sure they were significant. While there is only one verse in the Bible that mentions She’erah, Naomi Craig does a masterful job of imagining what her life may have been like in her novel, She’erah’s Legacy.

I loved how Craig shows us that family issues that began with Esau and Jacob kept repeating through the generations. How sad that this is so often true even in today’s world, and what consequences it brings to Ephraim’s family as well. Now I am rewriting the story in my head, what-“ifing”: the story might have gone so differently if Manasseh and Ephraim had a better relationship.

She’erah has a highly intelligent mind and a very exacting plan for the towns she builds. Unfortunately, she fails to remember that just as she excels in this area, she equally needs her team who have strengths she doesn’t, and no one needs a micromanager.

Equality. Quite the buzz word all around in this book. Between male and female. Between siblings. Between workers. Between free and slaves. She’erah thinks she practices equality, and does so admirably in some instances. Like most of us, she has a few blind spots that only the Lord can smooth out. Sometimes He uses Lateef, sometimes her brother, but even sometimes those like Aleph who are in opposition against her.

So many scenes to love in this book! One of my faves is when She’erah discovers that she, in fact, decides to make Elohim her personal God. “Speak to me. Let the truth of Your promises penetrate my being. You have been the God of my family, but this day I choose You as my God. “

This novel has it all. Romance, family issues, work issues, equality, psychology, drama and intrigue, plus a ton of Biblical TRUTH for living !

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

Notable Quotables:

“I would ask nothing from you but that you live in wisdom and integrity. That your work ethic is as strong as your wills.”

“The mind doesn’t have any bearing over who the heart will choose.”…“The heart is the plumb line that squares you up to the one your soul chooses, not the mind.”

“He was a plumb line holding her straight and true.”

“Anything the Lord asks of you will have opposition. But if He is in it, all the pain and enduring that happens before you see it come to fruition is put there to reach His end.”

“Look up…Elohim is not dethroned because you took your eyes off Him.”

“The family of Joseph does not succumb to trials.” “When we are hindered, we look up and trust that Elohim is still working His plan. Even if it means we don’t see the results for years upon years.”

“You are still learning something. Sometimes Elohim uses our messed-up areas to show us we need to rely on His greater plans.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Naomi Craig as an author who recently caught my attention. Now she is one I am trying to catch up with and follow closely!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 28

Texas Book-aholic, September 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 30

The Book Club Network, October 1

Connie’s History Classroom, October 2

Artistic Nobody, October 3 (Author Interview)

The Book Nook, October 3

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 5

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 6 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, October 7

Simple Harvest Reads, October 8 (Author Interview)

Christina’s Corner, October 8

By The Book, October 9 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, October 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Naomi is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/282a4/she-erah-s-legacy-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, Bethany House, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, Purchase

The Secrets Beneath by Kimberley Woodhouse Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Secrets Beneath

Series: Treasures of the Earth, Bk 1

Author: Kimberley Woodhouse

Genre: Historical Romance

Some secrets can only stay buried for so long. . . .

Anna Lakeman has spent her life working alongside her paleontologist father, drawing intricate sketches at every dig. When they find dinosaur bones near their home in Wyoming Territory, they’re given the opportunity of a lifetime and are swiftly caught up in the competitive era of the Bone Wars. But after her father becomes sick and Joshua Ziegler, an old beau, returns for the summer, Anna’s world is upended, and the practical, orderly life she has made for herself shatters.

Medical student Joshua Ziegler left his hometown to forget Anna, the one woman he truly loved and deeply hurt. But when he returns, time hasn’t erased the feelings they’ve always had for each other. After Joshua’s nephew goes missing–just like his sister did years ago–and Anna’s job is threatened, tensions mount and dangerous secrets are unearthed.

“Kim has long been a favorite author of mine, and her book The Secrets Beneath is no exception. This book is full of intrigue and adventure, twists and turns.”–TRACIE PETERSON, USA Today bestselling author

Pre-order from Baker Book House and receive the book at 40% off, plus two magnets and a signed book plate!

https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/516377

About the Author

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than two dozen books. She is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 2,000 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years including ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER, The Hour of Power, The Harvest Show, and over 1,000 other TV appearances and radio interviews. She lives and writes in the Poconos with her husband of thirty years. kimberleywoodhouse.com

Find Kim on twitter and facebook:

twitter.com/kimwoodhouse

author fan page Kimberley Woodhouse

My Impressions

“The garden—his garden—was alive with color today, while the inside of him was black as death.” With this ominous opening sentence, I could see The Secrets Beneath would be quite different from other historical fiction books Kimberley Woodhouse has written.

While Woodhouse’s books are on my “buy first, ask about content later,” list, Woodhouse has elevated her historicals to include psychological suspense, channeling Jaime Jo Wright or Janyre Tromp. This may be one of my best reads of 2023!

I had never heard of the Bone Wars of 1877-1892. I actually looked them up. Woodhouse meticulously researches these, and weaves a beautiful, intricate story of a Wyoming archaeologist, Peter Lakeman, and his daughter, Anna, an aspiring archaeologist. Anna has a few regrets about young men from years ago that come back to play important roles in her present life. I stayed up way too late to finish this book, as the mystery and romance held me enthralled and unable to escape.

I loved Anna’s father for his wisdom, quiet observations, and clear assessments of situations as well as parental love for his daughter. His example shows how a child will later better understand the one True Father. When one has a father more like the neighboring Julian Walker has, comprehending the love of a good Father can be very difficult.

Every chapter starts with a quote from Earl Douglass. Historical notes are always a pleasure to read, separating fact from fiction. I love the well-woven spiritual truths that are hidden within the book, as well.

Because of all the emotions evoked, the surprises, and the choices characters make, I would highly recommend The Secrets Beneath for a book club.

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

Notable Quotables:

“But if people could see him differently . . . that would help him to be a better person.”

“If only faith and science could be reconciled. Why couldn’t the two come together?”

“Isn’t it dangerous to believe and rely on love changing a person here on this earth?” Dad shook his head. “The only love that can truly change anything or anyone is God’s love. His is supernatural. Our love here on earth fails. It falters. It isn’t enough. We shouldn’t love someone based on the idea that they will change. That’s wrong thinking.”

“You don’t need kindness—although that’s nice isn’t it? You don’t even need a friend. But you do need to see God’s love. He’s the only one who can restore you.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!! Ready for book 2!! (Yesterday)☺️

Giveaway

For those who leave a comment on this post between today, September 16, and Tuesday, September 26, I will put your name in a hat and draw one winner to receive a paperback copy of Kimberley’s book, The Secrets Beneath. Be sure to include your email so I can contact you if you win!

ARC, Biblical Fiction, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Publishers, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

She’erah’s Legacy by Naomi Craig

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: She’erah’s Legacy

Series: Yahweh’s Legacy, #3

Author: Naomi Craig

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Releases: Aug 15, 2023

As tragedy ravages the camp, can She’erah step up and complete the outpost?

She’erah is a woman trying to leave her mark in a man’s world. Her vision and ability surpasses her father’s, yet she remains second-in-command as they are tasked to build Pharaoh’s outposts in Canaan. She knows she is worthy of the task, but her clan is skeptical.

The last place She’erah expects support is from her charioteer, but Lateef is the lone voice of encouragement. His integrity and steadfastness is a plumb-line in She’erah’s life and she can no longer deny her growing feelings for him.

Acts of sabotage threaten the construction and the shaky foundation of She’erah’s pride. It’s up to She’erah to break generations of rivalry, distrust, and jealousy—if she can learn to rely on the strengths and abilities of those around her to help.

Will she learn to trust God and others before her life’s legacy comes crumbling down around her?

Get your book here:

About the Author

Stories of Belonging

Download your free novella at http://www.naomicraig.com

Naomi writes Historical Fiction set in Bible times.

She lives in a small town in the south-eastern mountains of Arizona

She is an avid reader, Pastor’s wife, and homeschool mom.

Naomi co-hosts the #BehindTheStory Author Interview Show over on youtube, and Biblical Fiction Aficionados Facebook Group.

My Impressions

“Wasn’t that just like Elohim? A juxtaposition of strength and gentleness, judgement and compassion, that compelled His people to Him.”

A woman builder in the time of the patriarchs? (I’d never noticed!) Women are mentioned rarely in Biblical genealogies, but when they are, you can be sure they were significant. While there is only one verse in the Bible that mentions She’erah, Naomi Craig does a masterful job of imagining what her life may have been like in her novel, She’erah’s Legacy.

I loved how Craig shows us that family issues that began with Esau and Jacob kept repeating through the generations. How sad that this is so often true even in today’s world, and what consequences it brings to Ephraim’s family as well. Now I am rewriting the story in my head, what-“ifing”: the story might have gone so differently if Manasseh and Ephraim had a better relationship.

She’erah has a highly intelligent mind and a very exacting plan for the towns she builds. Unfortunately, she fails to remember that just as she excels in this area, she equally needs her team who have strengths she doesn’t, and no one needs a micromanager.

Equality. Quite the buzz word all around in this book. Between male and female. Between siblings. Between workers. Between free and slaves. She’erah thinks she practices equality, and does so admirably in some instances. Like most of us, she has a few blind spots that only the Lord can smooth out. Sometimes He uses Lateef, sometimes her brother, but even sometimes those like Aleph who are in opposition against her.

So many scenes to love in this book! One of my faves is when She’erah discovers that she, in fact, decides to make Elohim her personal God. “Speak to me. Let the truth of Your promises penetrate my being. You have been the God of my family, but this day I choose You as my God. “

This novel has it all. Romance, family issues, work issues, equality, psychology, drama and intrigue, plus a ton of Biblical TRUTH for living !

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

Notable Quotables:

“I would ask nothing from you but that you live in wisdom and integrity. That your work ethic is as strong as your wills.”

“The mind doesn’t have any bearing over who the heart will choose.”…“The heart is the plumb line that squares you up to the one your soul chooses, not the mind.”

“He was a plumb line holding her straight and true.”

“Anything the Lord asks of you will have opposition. But if He is in it, all the pain and enduring that happens before you see it come to fruition is put there to reach His end.”

“Look up…Elohim is not dethroned because you took your eyes off Him.”

“The family of Joseph does not succumb to trials.” “When we are hindered, we look up and trust that Elohim is still working His plan. Even if it means we don’t see the results for years upon years.”

“You are still learning something. Sometimes Elohim uses our messed-up areas to show us we need to rely on His greater plans.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Loss, Love, Betrayal, and Surrender all wrapped in TRUTH!!

Now I must hurry back and pick up the two books that come before this, Rahab’s Courage and Ezekiel’s Song! Bound to be equally good!!

ARC, BLOG, Kindle, Purchase

The Visitor Catches a Bouquet by Marji Laine Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Visitor Catches a Bouquet

Series: The Visitor Mysteries

Author: Marji Laine

Genre: Christian, Mystery, Suspense

Releases: August 11, 2023

Click below to get your book!!

https://www.amazon.com/Visitor-Catches-Bouquet-Contemporary-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0BQX3M49Y

About the Author

Marji Laine is a graduated home-schooling mom of four with her twin girls staying in the nest for a little while longer. She and her hubby of thirty-five years also share their North Texas home with a rescue pup named Rosie and their daughter’s newest addition, a shepherd-husky mix named Anastasia.

When Marji isn’t editing or publishing the books for her authors at Write Integrity Press, she indulges in penning her own mystery, suspense, and romance novels. She can also be found supporting a local ministry with its publishing needs or helping other authors through her freelancing.

She loves acting in musical comedy, has directed many stage productions, leads a ladies’ Bible study, and sings alto in her church choir. She prefers mountains to beaches, dogs to cats, NASCAR to football, Tex-Mex, Magnolia pie, white roses, all shades of blue and green, and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.

You can find her at her website: MarjiLaine.com

My Impressions

“I have decided that until this matter has been resolved in a satisfactory manner, we will postpone the wedding.”

Last in The Visitor series, The Visitor Catches A Bouquet by Marji Laine is a light mystery and quick read. The books can stand alone.

I appreciated Mackenzie Chastain and her aunt Connie. I like how they are kindred spirits. They are also independent, curious, must-get-to-the-bottom-of-the-matter people.

That said, I was very discouraged that Mac’s Grandmother was allowed to rule her life.

Grandma is not only controlling, but she’s mean. While Grandma is not physically active in the book, her attitudes and directives affect much of the book. When Mac’s fiancé is arrested for murder, Grandma doesn’t choose to support Mac and Eric. Why does Mac’s family not intervene?

I found the mystery picked up speed and had twists in the second half. For me, the book was as much about relationships with irregular people as it was about the whodunit.

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

Notable Quotables:

“I suppose you know that your idol is nothing more than a common convict this morning.”

“What you build up inside all of your life sometimes comes out at times like these.”

“His voice had all the charm of a television disclaimer and with a dose of gruffness and a scowl that spoke of irritable bowel syndrome.”

“We can’t judge her heart… God can forgive even a murderer who is repentant. Look at the Apostle Paul.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great! A fun, light mystery that focuses on family relationships.

Other books by Marji

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

Rebecca by Shannon McNear Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Rebecca

Author: Shannon McNear

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical Romance

Release Date: July, 2023

A Native Princess Follows Her Heart

Immerse yourself in the “what if” questions related to the Lost Colony of Roanoke when a native princess meets an English widower.

Born the daughter of a Powhatan chieftain and a woman of unknown origins, Matoaka enjoys a carefree life. When strange men from across the eastern waters appear near her home, she regards them at first as a mere curiosity. Soon, though, she finds herself torn between friendship with one of their leaders and the opinions and politics of her elders. Drawn to a young Englishman, John Rolfe, who has lost a wife and baby daughter, she shares his griefs. . .and perhaps something more. Could she have a future among the English of Jamestown, accepting their ways and even changing her name? Could her fate be a part of the lasting legacy of the Lost Colony of Roanoke?

Author Shannon McNear portrays history with vivid authenticity.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in Charleston, South Carolina, Shannon McNear loves losing herself in local history. She’s a military wife, mom of eight, mother-in-law of three, grammie of two, and a member of ACFW and RWA. Her first novella, Defending Truth in A Pioneer Christmas Collection, was a 2014 RITA® finalist. When she’s not sewing, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies. Connect with her at www.shannonmcnear.com, or on Facebook and Goodreads.

More from Shannon

Daughters of the Lost Colony—how are we at book 3 already? I’m both excited and nervous about this one, which features Pocahontas and the original Jamestown. Why did I choose her, and this place, when the overall series is about the Lost Colony?

Among their various other aims, the Jamestown colonists were charged with finding the Roanoke Colony. John Smith’s own reports reference this, and one can sense his discouragement and frustration over their inability to find answers on the fate of those who came to the New World before them. William Strachey, early secretary to the colony, stated that Powhatan (that is, the paramount chieftain often called by the same name as his people group) had slain the last known survivors of the Roanoke Colony. But nowhere is that claim substantiated.

There were no solid historical connections between the Lost Colony and Pocahontas—so I created a plausible fictional one in the form of Emme Merrimoth, a historically documented member of the Roanoke Colony who in book 1, Elinor, experienced the fictional adventure of being carried captive to the Powhatan nation. Where Strachey lists the names of the paramount chieftain’s favored wives, I put Emme in the place of the real-life Winganuske.

I knew the research would be challenging on this one. What I didn’t expect was to find Emme’s aspect of this story so compelling—or to fall in love with Wahunsenecawh, the great Powhatan himself. The name alone is intimidating, but you can find sound clips of how to pronounce it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q_10PYf_0U and here: https://www.nameslook.com/wahunsenacawh/ (ignore the weird stuff and click on the little red arrows for different voices). There are at least five or six documented ways to spell it, and the one I picked is probably the most obscure. I had a year to get used to saying it, but repeat after me, slowly:  wah-HUN-senacoh. Or wah-HOON-senacah, depending upon which rule you use for the U in Algonquian pronunciation, and how you interpret that “wh” at the end.

Names overall were an issue with this story. A few reviewers have already mentioned this difficulty. The thing is, in Native culture, especially what we know of the Eastern Algonquian-speaking peoples, a name wasn’t simply a casual identifier—it defined a person’s entire identity. We don’t know what most of the names recorded from that time meant, but we can be sure they weren’t chosen lightly, and they were valued by those who held them. Indeed, a change of name often accompanied a change of purpose. It has even been suggested that if the English had been paying attention, they’d have realized when Opechancanough changed his name shortly before the great attack of 1622, it signaled a critical shift in his attitude toward them.

So when you read this story, you may find it helpful to keep a finger in the cast list—or to place a bookmark on that page if you’re reading the Kindle version. Thank you so much, again, for taking this journey with me!

My Impressions

Rebecca, by Shannon McNear, is a very intellectual and scholarly novel of Pocahuntas, daughter of the highest Powhatan chief. McNear ties Rebecca to Roanoke and her Daughters of the Lost Colony by a rather surprising, seemingly unlikely, but possible connection. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I am glad to have read Elinor and Mary first.

I found reading this novel challenging, but I was glad I persevered! The overall thought and story arc are beautiful! I must admit, McNear includes so many Native American names that are difficult to pronounce. The John Smith segment especially felt like reading a textbook rather than a novel. However, like assigned high school Shakespeare, one feels enlightened and much better informed afterwards. I was eager to find out the resolution to Pocahuntas’s decisions and the how relationship between the colony and the Natives would evolve.

I did appreciate how McNear alternates between the English POV and the Native POV. She does a great job making the reader feel sympathetic and understanding towards one way of thinking, than showing the reasonableness of the other view. Neither nation appeared totally good or bad, but rather as two opposing people grappling to find their way as they are suddenly in the same land.

The author notes before and after are extremely important to the understanding of this novel. Please don’t skip them!

The story of Jesus and His sacrifice is told very clearly and slowly as part of Pocahuntas’s religious education at Bermuda Hundred. It flowed very naturally as part of the story. I love Pocahuntas’s ( Rebecca’s) proclamation: “I have seen the spirits, but I have also seen your Christ, presenting Himself as the greatest of the spirits.”

Indeed, Rebecca realizes this is more than just a history of two nations sorting out ownership of a land. “Of a certainty, as she had suspected, this was more than one people sailing across yapám and making towns upon Tsenacomoco. It was one god supplanting another in a land where all had been settled for time out of mind.”

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

Notable Quotables:

“Her real name—she had shared her real name with him. He knew the significance of such a thing.”

“It is my wish—my hope—to bring word of your Christ to my people, so they may also know. And perhaps it was for that very thing I was born and chosen.

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great!! It took quite a while to get into, but McNear has given me a much better understanding of the people of this time.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 27

Texas Book-aholic, July 28

Cover Lover Book Review, July 29

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 30

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 31

Alena Mentink, July 31

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 1

Connie’s History Classroom , August 2

For Him and My Family, August 3

Mary Hake, August 3

Holly’s Book Corner, August 4

Sylvan Musings, August 4

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 5

Pause for Tales, August 6

Betti Mace, August 7

Books Less Travelled, August 7

To Everything There Is A Season, August 8

Lights in a Dark World, August 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/26d59/rebecca-celebration-tour-giveaway
ARC, Barbour, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, Purchase

Every Dog Has His Day by Janice Thompson Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Every Dog Has His Day

Author: Janice Thompson

Genre: Christian Fiction / Cozy Mystery

Release Date: July, 2023

A Large Reward Is Offered for a Missing Dog

Kick back with your faithful companion and relax with a small-town mystery in book 5 of the Gone to the Dogs series.

Lone Star groomer, Isabel Fuentes, adopts a feisty rescued dachshund, and the two are inseparable. . .until Texans quarterback, Corey Wallis, announces a large reward for his missing female dachshund. Suddenly all of Houston are on the lookout for the MIA pooch that bares a strong resemblance to Isabel’s new pup. Isabel contacts Corey, but soon Ginger goes missing and Isabel is convinced Corey and his agent took her for a publicity stunt. Then there is a reporter who could be trying to manufacture a great story or a cameraman seeking the big reward. Can there be a happy ending for Ginger?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Janice Thompson, who lives in the Houston area, writes romantic comedies, cozy mysteries, nonfiction devotionals, and musical comedies for the stage. She is the mother of four daughters and nine feisty grandchildren. When she’s not writing books or taking care of foster dogs you’ll find her in the kitchen, baking up specialty cakes and cookies.

More from Janice

The Story Behind the Story

For years now, I’ve been in the dog rescue business. I’ve fostered close to 50 dogs—some from the local shelter, some from an amazing dog rescue organization called My Chi and Me, and some directly from the streets of Houston.

About a year ago, (around the same time I set out to write Every Dog Has His Day) I was given a tiny red dachshund to foster. If you know anything about me at all, you know that I’m head-over-heels in love with dachshunds, especially red ones. I had a female red dachshund named Sasha who lived with me for 15 years. She passed away in 2017, just after my mom died.

When this tiny red doxie came to stay at my house last year, I was tempted to keep her. But I’ve already got three dogs of my own. So, she went to my grandchildren, who live about 30 minutes away.

Here’s the fun part: I got to name her. I gave her the name Ginger because of her color. (Interesting irony: I’m allergic to ginger. Can’t touch the stuff!)

Now that she’s been in the family a year or so, she’s become my favorite grand-dog. Ginger stays with me a lot—when the family is vacationing, when she needs to socialize with my dogs, and when I’m lonely for her.

I love this little girl. She’s an absolute doll. Okay, she’s naughty as can be, but she’s a doll.

So, when I got ready to write Every Dog Has His Day, I decided to include Ginger as part of the story. Trust me when I say the real Ginger is a runner, just like the fictionalized one! If I opened the front door, she would run right out. And, just like the dog in the book, she probably wouldn’t come back.

Our Ginger doesn’t have a white patch on her paw. (Most doxies, other than dapples, are solid color.) But I needed to give my fictional Ginger a distinguishing mark so that the two characters (her rescuer and her owner) could end up squabbling over her.

As is the case in most of my stories, my characters end up romantically involved. Hey, dogs aren’t just great companions; they’re wonderful matchmakers, too! As of yet, the real Ginger hasn’t brought a love interest into my life. (Here’s hoping!)

I hope you enjoy Every Dog Has His Day. As you read about that tiny mischievous doxie, just know that she’s a very real little dog—one who climbed up on my kitchen island just yesterday and got into some carefully-wrapped treats I’d made for the grandkids.

Sometimes life really is stranger than fiction!

My Impressions

“Dogs were like that. They kidnapped pieces of our heart and kept them forever.”

Every Dog Has its Day by Janice Thompson may not be true-to-life, but it is a lot of fun and has all the elements that make me love it. Like its predecessors, Every Dog Has Its Day is clean, faith-based, set in a vet- combination rescue setting, and is hilarious. Plus, the book and series focus heavily on dogs and the people who love them. I’m in cozy heaven!

Isabel(Izzy) Fuentes narrates this book in first person POV. She is the clinic’s groomer, who fosters a lost dachshund. Trouble begins when the new pro quarterback in town , Corey Wallace, shows up to claim the dog, who isn’t microchipped and doesn’t like the man.

As the clinic-rescue gains notoriety for not releasing the pup to its alleged owner, can Isabel and Corey reach a compromise without harming the clinic’s reputation or clientele? As Corey and Isabel get to know each other, an attraction develops, but will their different social statuses stand in the way? Or an unforeseen crime?

I loved being back in Brenham, Texas with the Lone Star Clinic crew. One of the neat things about this series is that, while it focuses on one couple’s story, other couples from previous books are highlighted and their stories move forward nicely.

And Grandma Peach and Hector, her terror of a cat, are a hilarious big part of this novel, too. So much fun!

One of the neat elements of this book is the relationship between generations, related or not. I could feel the love oozing out from Carmela, every time she cooked and turned on the football game.

If you love hilarious animal-based cozies, don’t miss this book!

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

Notable Quotables:

“I knew this side of him, the happy, healthy side. But I also knew the other side. . .and it scared me to death.”

“When you loved someone, you did everything you could to bless them.”

“It’s easy to be believable when you’re telling the truth.”

“Grief was a fickle friend. It left its mark. But it also bonded you with others who were walking through it as well.”

“That’s what you heard with your ears,” I said. “But it’s what you hear with your heart that matters.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!! Dogs, a rescue, a vet clinic, a humorous cozy with faith, I’d be hard-pressed not to like this one!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 25

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, July 25

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 26

Bigreadersite, July 26

Tell Tale Book Reviews, July 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 28

Texas Book-aholic, July 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 30

Blogging With Carol, July 30

Cover Lover Book Review, July 31

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 2

Mary Hake, August 2

She Lives To Read, August 3

Lily’s Book Reviews, August 4

The Book Nook, August 4

For Him and My Family, August 5

Holly’s Book Corner, August 5

Splashes of Joy, August 6

Pause for Tales, August 7

Labor Not in Vain, August 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Janice is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/26d51/every-dog-has-his-day-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Kregel, NetGalley, PB, Purchase

Hero Debut by Angela Ruth Strong Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Hero Debut

Series: Love Off Script, #2

Author: Angela Ruth Strong

Genre: Christian Rom-com

Releases: Aug 29, 2023

“Another sparkling feel-good romance, brimming with perfect doses of heart and heat!”– Bethany Turner, award-winning author of The Do-Over

Gemma Bennett is the leading lady of her own life, and her true love is writing screenplays. With her trusty pink notebook in hand, she signs up for the Citizen’s Safety Academy to research her newest blockbuster hope, a rom-com with a police officer as the hero. And the fact that the handsome and heroic Lieutenant Karson Zellner is the one leading the training? Well, who can blame her for wanting to spend evenings with the man she swooned over months ago when he responded to a call at her apartment?

Karson already has his fair share of problems before Gemma shows up, and he’s not exactly a fan of the ditzy blonde who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. The last thing he needs is a damsel in distress to rescue; there are plenty of people in real need of his help. The fact that she seems to think his job makes him a superhero is just one more strike against her. This isn’t a movie, and he feels like the furthest thing from a leading man.

Gemma can’t seem to stop doing the worst, most embarrassing things at just the wrong time. And as time goes on, Gemma begins to realize that the scripts for a perfect screenplay and a real-life happily-ever-after are two very different things. Can she step out of her own way to find the hero her story needs?

Click below to get your copy!

https://www.amazon.com/Hero-Debut-Novel-Angela-Strong/dp/0825447933

About the Author

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first romance novel in 2009, and her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been a finalist for the Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon bestsellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky released as a movie in 2022. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she blogs for Inspy Romance and My Book Therapy. Get to know her even better at http://www.angelaruthstrong.com.

My Impressions

“He’d become my hero when he came to my house to protect me…Is what brought him to me also going to separate us?”

Strong knocks it out of the park with Hero Debut!! The sequel to her popular rom-com Husband Auditions, this novel tells the tale of Barbie-like Gemma Bennet. Gemma enters Citizen’s Safety Academy looking for her screenplay hero, but she learns a lot in her disappointing search. Will her hero eventually emerge? Will she be prepared, or will they both cling to baggage of their perceived emotional pasts that threatens to draw the curtain early? I loved the title with its double entendre.

Written in 1st person POV, alternating mostly between Gemma and Karson Zellner, we traipse through a few weeks in the happy, but incident-prone life of Gemma. You’ll laugh uproariously all the way through this faith-based rom-com that delivers serious truths. You will benefit from the lessons, whether single or married for many years.

I loved that Strong shows us that even the protagonists we are rooting for, are not perfect. Perceptions of the past affect relationships, and two people going through the same event can experience it differently. Bravo for pointing that out!

Gemma’s roommates Kai and Charlie are present as a great foil, as are some special children. Then there’s Karson’s jovial former partner, Drew Harris. “He’s his own spotlight.”

Chock-full of quotes I will remember for a long time and pop references aplenty, I appreciated Strong’s outlook on life and even the rom-com category. She set the bar high for herself, then exceeded it, “Because the best romantic comedies have depth and meaning that make the humor poignant.”

I can’t wait for Charlie’s story, coming next as Fiancé Finale!

I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher. I also received an ebook copy via NetGalley. Plus I pre-ordered my own copy to give away. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“If you’re going to write about police, don’t romanticize our job. We give out tickets, we arrest people, and we use our firearms when needed. We’re the ones who show up after a crime has been committed. Nobody wants to see us. Though we risk our lives to protect the public, they often attack us for doing our jobs.”

“We find what we look for… And I prefer to look for the beauty and joy in life. It’s out there.”

“There are three types of people in this world. Sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs.”

“Her eyes are on me, scratching the itch of my heart.”

“Nobody is a hero all the time. We’re just all in training.”

“I don’t know if you believe in God, but His love is the only perfect love. It’s the kind that redeems when the love we’d hoped to get from other people lets us down.”

“I’ve never been in this much trouble before. I make Ramona the Pest look good.”

“I really like this thing called gratefulness. It not only helps us endure situations we never would have planned for ourselves, but it enables us to turn our sorrows into joy.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such an excellent, fun rom-com! Strong writes some of the best!!