Category: NetGalley

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The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Bookshop of 99 Doors

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Released: April 7, 2026

Genre: Christian Mystery & Suspense

The manor’s rumored one-hundredth door may conceal secrets hidden as deep as the estate’s bookshelves extend high . . . but the haunted past has a way of ensnaring curious souls. 

In 1888, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the dark superstitions that envelop the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain haunts the house and worried by her father’s rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home’s fraught past in an effort to bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie’s own sanity.

In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss’s dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother’s team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door–a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion–results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to hunt down the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.

An atmospheric dual-time Gothic suspense masterfully penned by acclaimed author Jaime Jo Wright with themes of a Civil War-era ghost, a possible hidden door, and unexplained mysteries at a historic mansion’s bookshop with a troubled past.

Get your copy here!

https://a.co/d/05g3nBdD

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 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

 “I learned to be afraid. That was the way of it. I thought Papa and I would create a new life with new memories. Instead, we entered a nightmare.”

Every sentence of The Bookshop of 99 Doors makes me feel more like I am creeping down a drafty, moldy, critter- infested staircase leading to a forbidden tunnel, unable to stop myself. Jaime Jo Wright is a master of creating spooky atmospheres, and her words suck me in, daring  and enticing me to proceed with the story. 

I enjoy trying to piece together the puzzles that Wright presents in this dual timeline ( because, to me, a dual timeline is like a puzzle, with the author feeding you a piece or two at a time). I have yet to   figure out one of the total mysteries that Wright lays out, but it sure is intriguing to try! I was curious enough to check out her Pinterest boards for help in imagining the characters as she envisioned them. 

In the historical story, Wright transports us to Ambrose Fields, PA in 1888. Spinster Minnie Tipton and her slightly deranged father move to an new home, a mansion that is purported to be haunted by Civil War-era ghosts. Minnie struggles to manage her father’s reputation and her standing as new mistress of the home. She also battles the rumors of a massacre and ghosts in the home, a secret 100th door, and a vagabond ne’er-do-well who begins hanging around. Who has the truth and who will tell it? 

In the present day, Triss Bellamy has secured a new job as bookshop manager for the museum that was Ambrose Fields. He own phantoms from the past rise to pursue her when her brother, Casper, and his best friend, Beck Monroe, show up to film an episode of Haunted Frequencies. Strange things begin to happen. In the mansion and to Casper, team lead. The same rumors from over a century ago surface, and the race is on to find the 100th door. Will finding it bring closure to the eerie, frightening events and healing for Casper, or will its discovery unleash even more evil and chaos? And of course, how will the two storylines be woven together into one connected cord? 

I wasn’t sure what to make of most of the the characters. Did each belong on the villain or the hero side? Often, I just couldn’t determine the truth. I loved that Dexter, whatever the truth about his survival was, exhorts Minnie to look for the truth. He urges her to turn to God. “…give Him your full attention. Because when you have nothing left…He is all you can rely on.” 

What a great story, traversing from eerily spooky to nearly supernatural (not in good way) to faith and logic, showing God’s Power over events and hearts.  And I love the great twists! I liked how Wright shows we don’t have to leave others behind in our pursuit of Truth, even though they may not be at the same stage we are. Probably my biggest takeaway from this story. 

I received a copy of the book from publisher via Netgalley. I also bought my own pb copy for my “trophy shelf.” No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“A door is just an opening. It is what comes through the door that I don’t trust. Whether it goes inside or comes out. Whether spirit or real.” – Dexter

“ It’s the Door!… We need to close the door!! The 100th door!!” – Birdie

“…emotions could be wicked and unreliable. They doomed a person to shame, to assumptions larger than life, and to grief that overtook you. Emotions were not something to be followed or even believed. Emotions led one astray from the truth, from what was right and what was real. They betrayed you. They betrayed others. Just like Mama had betrayed Papa.” – (Minnie)

“…how one views God influences how they view those who have wronged them.” – Dexter

“Perhaps she was truly afraid of four things. The unknown, the unseen, the unexplainable, and the uncontrollable.”– (Minnie)

“If anyone knew anything about paranormal investigating, it was that spirits weren’t always friendly—and they weren’t always the spirits of the dead. Sometimes they were darker, more dangerous, and they could make people sick.” – (Triss)

“He’d have to choose between his life as he now lived it or follow her on her quest to find peace in someone greater. God. Not a god or all things being god, but the God. The Creator.” (Beck) 

“If fear took human form, it would be a ghoulish creature.”- Victor Barringsworth, Esq.

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Superior!! I love this book. Like almost all of Wright’s books, it delivers thrills and chills as it travels from eerily spooky to nearly supernatural (not in good way) to faith and logic, showing God’s Power over events and hearts! Bravo, Ms. Wright!

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, NetGalley, PB, Purchase

Fires of Injustice by Kendy Pearson Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Fires Of Injustice

Author: Kendy Pearson

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: April 15, 2026

She is fighting for the innocent.

 He is fighting for a second chance.

Yakira Mitchell has spent her life rescuing the forgotten from the clutches of exploitation and dreams of one day opening her own mission home for Chinese girls. But that dream is hard fought when she becomes a lightning rod for trouble as anti-Chinese mobs protest, and towns expel immigrants in “peaceful” purges across the West. Her heart is to build a home for the broken, but as revelations about her past erupt, the truth threatens to crumble her own foundation.

Attorney Grant Campbell, the boy who once held Yakira’s heart, returns to San Francisco after a long absence to make amends and seek forgiveness. He is determined to defend Chinese immigrants and to reconcile with his family and Yakira. But as old feelings flare—so do old wounds.

As flames of injustice consume communities, violence rages, and lives hang in the balance. Yakira must face the truth of who she really is—and who God has called her to be. In the ashes of hatred, Yakira and Grant both discover a love stronger than fear and a purpose forged in fire.

A story of resilience, redemption, and love, FIRES OF INJUSTICE blazes with the courage of those who dared to stand against the darkness.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kendy Pearson is a musician and veteran high school teacher who loves to discover a pocket of American history missing from the schoolbooks and turn that pocket inside out. Her novels lead fictitious characters through historical events and settings, engaging with period personalities. And she always includes a romantic thread to warm the heart. Every story is a journey through tragedy, secrets, regrets, and God’s undeniable grace.

She is the author of the award-winning series, West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm. When she finally gets away from her computer, she relishes ice cream, snowy days, fireplaces, and maple trees. Kendy is the mother of four grown children and lives with her sweet hubby and two amusing miniature dachshunds.

More from Kendy

I just love discovering fascinating new pockets of history. For years I taught high school history, and I realize there is a lot of valuable information that didn’t make it into the curriculum. One of those little history pockets spurred the idea for Fires of Injustice.

I grew up in the Midwest learning about Jesse James, the Plains Indian Wars, frontier violence, the Civil War, the Great Depression, and all things Missouri and Mississippi River. Boy, did I get an education when I moved to the West Coast! The first time someone mentioned “Chinese Underground,” I had to find out more.

Six years ago in Pendleton, Oregon, I first learned about America’s Forgotten War and the expulsions that occurred along the West Coast. I knew thousands of Chinese laborers built the western half of the Transcontinental Railroad. But I didn’t know 300,000 Chinese immigrants came to America between 1852 and 1888. Drawn first by gold, then by opportunities in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and the service trades.

And the girls came. “Go‑away girls” were daughters of impoverished families in southern China. Families sent or sold these girls into domestic servitude or, tragically, into trafficking networks that reached as far as America.

What began as the exploitation of vulnerable Chinese girls and laborers soon hardened into a wider climate of fear and resentment. That same prejudice—left unchecked—grew into the mob violence and expulsions that later tore entire communities apart.

This was a dark chapter in American history. But there were those who cared about these girls and wanted to protect them at all costs. A story of resilience, redemption, and love, FIRES OF INJUSTICE blazes with the courage of those who dared to stand against that darkness.

My Impressions

“…you would see that people are people everywhere, regardless of how they look or what they do or from whence they’ve come.” – Yakira

Wow!! Fires of Injustice by Kendy Pearson will light a fire of emotions in your soul. Fire can be a very positive thing, as it motivates one to action. Emotions will blaze high as you read this book. They did for me, both positive and negative. Pearson’s book certainly makes one think about the grave unfairness and injustice of the Chinese expulsions in our country. I could feel the anger and helplessness of Avery, Yakira, Grant, Azalea, and Lara. How I wish we could go back and have a redo at history! 

Fire can make one uncomfortable. And so this book made me uncomfortable, grappling with my emotions. I did feel there were strong inferences to the treatment of immigrants today. The book  seemed designed to point out comparisons between then and our country’s issues with immigrants today. I truly get that we don’t want to repeat history!  I most definitely agree unkindness, hatred, and torture is never right, and cannot be tolerated. What I didn’t like was that the book seemed to emphasize and almost lump all Caucasians together in the horrible atrocities and attitudes, until I was ashamed of being part of that race. I’m not sure that is helpful. But perhaps, Kira and Grant felt that way as well? I will admit, the topic got so heavy, I had to put aside the book for lighter fare for awhile. 

When I returned to Fires of Injustice, I came back realizing that eventually Hope would break through the darkness, because the novel is billed as a story of “resilience, redemption, love.” As I began to look for that Hope, I began to see it emerging, even amid the ashes of the bitter reality of history. I was glad to see a few strong people take up the mantle of faith and to continue to support those in desperate need!  It was amazing to see how hard people like Yakira’s father, Avery, and her aunt, Lara, both Scottish immigrants, worked to help protect the Chinese. And Yakira with her great, burning desire to help Chinese women out of human slavery. As I rehash the story in my mind, I begin to see sparks of Hope in different people, not particularly major characters, throughout the story, that God brings into Kira’s and Grant’s lives. I also began to see how, just perhaps, I can stand against what may be atrocities today without totally giving a free ride to all of any race, just because they are immigrants. 

I was grieved to see some people, pillars in the church, community, or government, determined to do extreme evil to people because they look , speak, and act differently than them! And the sad thing is, that good, churchgoing people turn cruel and malicious as they get caught up in the emotions of the crowd. I read this through many tears. I wanted to pray for the wicked to be stopped and the abused to be saved! 

One aspect I loved about the book. Frequently, when faced with hard decisions, the reply comes back, “We must pray, seek wisdom.” How many times do we fail to pray, or to pray in faith, believing?

So many story threads here. Yakira has been adopted by her parents as they fled China years before. Her cousin, Azalea, is also adopted. But only one girl knows the truth of her parentage. While Yakira has always held her cousin Grant as special in her heart, he loses that respect when he abandons the families when he turns sixteen. Yakira and her widower father work alongside widowed Aunt Lara in ministering to the Chinese in California. Grant had actually secured a job in a similar vein, working as an attorney for Six Companies, representing the Chinese for them. But will Six Companies truly keep the Chinese individual’s interests first? Can Grant ever attempt a return to the family he abandoned in their hour of need? God does give Grant a special, surprising blessing and help! More tension and mystery to the story! Will Yakira ever get the desires of her heart, to run a successful rescue home for s*x trafficked Chinese women who want to escape, plus a love of her own? 

Don’t miss this historical book that will bring to light history that you may never have been taught. It will definitely cause you to evaluate how you think, treat, and support others in desperate need! 

Notable Quotables:

“You are my laotong—we are sworn sisters for life.” – cousin Azalea

“What if God’s plan simply looked different from what she’d always imagined?”

“Curiosity never trumped a person’s right to privacy.”

“God knows your heart, son. ‘Tis what’s important. Turn it always toward Him, and no matter what others see, He will use you.” – Grant’s Mither

“This Home, nae, this ministry belongs not to you, but to our Heavenly Father. He willna see it come to naught, you can trust that.”– Aunt Lara

“An entire population of people is either invisible, or the cause of every problem in Truckee. No in-between. And the newspaper reports only one side of the whole affair. They paint the Chinese as base, thieving, murdering pariahs with no rights-who don’t belong here.” – Charles Crocker

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Superior!! Fires of Injustice will light fires of emotions in you. It will make you wonder how far you are willing to go to protect someone unlike yourself.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 16

Sydney Schmied Books, April 17

Stories By Gina, April 18 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 18

For Him and My Family, April 19

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 20

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , April 21

Guild Master, April 22 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 22

Betti Mace, April 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 25

Connie’s History Classroom, April 26

Holly’s Book Corner, April 27

Fiction Book Lover, April 28 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/zg8t0/fires-of-injustice-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Kregel, Launch Team, NetGalley, PB, Purchase

Sung in the Shadows by Crystal Caudill Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Sung in the Shadows

Series: The Art of Love and Danger, #2

Author: Crystal Caudill

Publisher: Kregel Books

Released: March 17, 2026

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

When past darkness prowls, will stepping into the light lead to a brighter future?

In nineteenth-century Cincinnati, fear keeps Nora Davis caged with secrets and lies. Her true identity as the daughter of a famous opera singer is too dangerous to reveal with her former captors still on the loose. But weekly singing lessons at Longview Asylum—her paranoid mother’s permanent residence—light a flame in Nora, and it’s one she can avoid fanning for only so long.

With his suicidal ma in the asylum, Ezekiel Beaumont’s soul is weary, but Nora’s presence at the asylum intrigues him. As a Pike’s Opera House employee, Ezekiel thinks Nora might be cut out for the stage. He also begins to wonder if Nora’s ma is really the famed Constanza Brisbane, who went missing mid-performance. He’s determined to find out.

Though Ezekiel brings the performance world a little too close for comfort, Nora is drawn to his warm personality all the same. The two of them steadily grow closer, but then Nora begins to fear she’s being watched, and her own paranoia blooms.

As the line between what’s real and false grows fainter, will Ezekiel’s and Nora’s faith and love overcome?

“From the haunting halls of Longview Asylum to the dangerous secrets of Nora’s past, Sung in the Shadowsdelivers a riveting blend of romance, mystery, and redemption.” —Misty M. Beller, USA TODAY best-selling author of the Sisters of the Rockies series

Grab your copy here:

https://mybook.to/OTwvO

About the Author

Crystal Caudill is a tea-drinking, book-hoarding, history nerd. Her award-winning stories are ripe with history, danger, love, and hope. When not writing, Crystal can be found playing board games with her husband and boys, caregiving for loved ones, hiding in a book, drinking copious amounts of hot tea, or connecting with readers. You can connect with her at http://www.crystalcaudill.com or by joining her newsletter crew at bitly.com/CaudillNews.

My Impressions

“FEAR WAS A CAGE, AND it had Nora Davis’s family trapped and hidden beneath a canvas of secrets and lies.”

Crystal Caudill takes us back to the Gilded Age in 1869 New York , then 1881 in Cincinnati. Just as the cities as separated by vast miles and differences, the plight of the Davis family has changed from one extreme to another. In New York, Constanza Brisbane, famed soprano opera singer, is at the height of her career. Suddenly, following the kidnapping of her 11-year-old daughter Eleanora, the little family moves halfway across the country, assumes aliases, and embark on totally different lives. Music, once an integral part of their lives, is forbidden, as is the opera. As we see the little family 11 years later, it is now very dysfunctional. “Mr. Davis” is distant emotionally and often gone, “Mrs. Davis” has been placed in a mental asylum suffering from paranoias and dementia, and “Nora” has tired of her father’s restrictive rules. 

Nora meets Ezekiel Beaumont, a composer and opera stage manager, in her visits to her mother at the asylum. Ezekiel’s mother suffers from her own severe mental health issues, and Ezekiel is at wits’ end how to help her. Surprisingly, Mrs. Beaumont takes well to both Nora and Nora’s mother. She even tries to encourage Nora’s mother’s floundering faith, and her need for forgiveness. But God… can use anybody. He not only uses Mrs. Beaumont in her weaknesses, but He uses the mind of a so-called crazy patient to challenge Mrs. Beaumont! “So God can abandon you, but He cannot abandon me? Are you the exception? Because if you’re the exception to His promise not to abandon, then maybe I’m the exception to forgiveness.” “There are no exceptions to His promises-” 

As Nora and Ezekiel begin to form a bond and work together, of course the protective and rather hilarious Guardians group tries to help along the romance ( read: interfere) When spectres from Nora and Mrs. Davis’s past threaten to obliterate all their hopes for a return to normalcy, will God intervene? 

I absolutely loved the tension of the story, as it builds throughout. I loved the tender love both Nora and Ezekiel hold for their mothers who are struggling. And their realizations help me in my real-life situations, too. “If there is one thing I’ve learned through Mum’s illness, it’s that her choices are hers alone. We can do everything in the world to protect our loved ones—put rules in place, hide them from the dangers posed, shield them from pain—but we were never meant to bear the burden of saving them from themselves. We cannot even save ourselves.” Thank goodness, Nora and Ezekiel begin to realize, as I am, that the burdens we bear for others are never meant to be a strangle-hold of responsibility, but an opportunity to turn that burden over to the One Who truly holds our our loved one in His hands. 

Mrs. Jensen and Tristan are my fave secondary characters. They make me smile. Mrs. Jensen for her soft, witty, reasonable ways. Tristan, because he is sooooo bad and still a comfort to many!

Sung in the Shadows will dwell in the recesses of my mind for a long time, as a particularly great marriage of historical fiction, true tragic events of our pasts, great storytelling, romance, and inescapable Truth! Thank you, Ms. Caudill!!

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via NetGalley. I also ordered my own ebook, plus a pb for the trophy shelf! No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“My souls needs to sing. Music is as much a part of me as it is Mum.”– Nora 

“Keeping secrets from those who loved her wasn’t a protective shield. It was an isolating cage that cast a debilitating shadow of fear, shame, guilt, and distrust over the relationships that mattered most.” ( Nora)

“We can do everything right and it still not be enough. Only God is enough, even though sometimes it doesn’t feel like He is. I don’t understand why He is allowing this. It feels wrong and unjust. I’m angry with Him, and I’m scared of what the future holds. I don’t want this burden He’s given us, but I know it’s not our fault. I know it’s not our job to save them.”– Nora

“Hiding your pain and thoughts doesn’t

make you a stronger person. It makes life lonelier to walk through. “- Ezekiel

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! This novel checks all the boxes for me!

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, NetGalley, PB, Purchase, Revell

Raging Waters by Dana Mentink Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Raging Waters

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release Date: March 3, 2026

As the dam crumbles and water sweeps across the terrain, their battle for justice and survival is just beginning.

When Mackenzie Bardine’s brother Aaron was murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, she started a true crime podcast dedicated to exposing “Bullseye,” the drug kingpin responsible. But her protective heart has never let go of the blame she places on herself and Aaron’s best friend, Gideon Landry. On the run to the wilds of Washington to chase a recent lead, she meets none other than Gideon himself.

While conducting a wilderness survival class in remote Washington, Gideon never expected to cross paths with Mackenzie, and he’s certainly not interested in helping her after he’s already declined to participate in her vigilante podcasting. He carries a mountain of guilt about Aaron’s fatal choices, but not for the reasons Mackenzie suspects.

As killers begin to circle Mackenzie like sharks, it’s clear to Gideon she’s in over her head, and in light of his troubled past with her brother, he can’t bring himself to ignore her perilous situation. Then a flood threatens the town, turning their investigation into a race to escape the raging waters and the wrath of a powerful kingpin who wants to sink them both.

A gripping, clean romantic suspense featuring enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, and high-stakes investigations set in small-town Washington, sweeping readers away on a turbulent wave of thrills and chills. Perfect for fans of forced proximity, wilderness survival, protective heroes, and justice-driven heroines.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the author of over fifty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Poisoned Pen Press.

More from Dana

I’m afraid of deep water. There. I’ve said it. I live in California, famous for beaches sand and surf. If that’s not enough, there are swimming pools aplenty. I should be enjoying the surfing, boating, kayaking, sailing culture, but I’d much rather sit on a deck somewhere and watch others partake. So what’s a gal like me doing writing an adventure that takes place as a dam rupture overwhelms a town? I love to write that type of wilderness story, where stakes are high and the help is scarce. Similar to the previous book, Fire Mountain, the characters will have to dig deep of their strength and faith to survive. And you and I can enjoy it from the safety of our decks! Are you ready? Grab your book and your cuppa and let’s go!

My Impressions

“Being around Mackenzie Bardine was hazardous to a man’s health.”

When Dana Mentink publishes a new Romantic suspense, I run, not walk, for my favorite bookstore! This newest series of hers, Elements of Danger, now includes bk #2, Raging Waters. As someone who has only experienced being on the edges of a hurricane, Mentink’s descriptions of a violent storm, waterlogged earth, and threatened dam break were terrifying. But in a good way. The kind of terrifying of watching a scary movie or choosing a wild ride at the fair. Adrenaline pumping fast, I made sure I was breathing air, not choking on water, as I swiped my pages hoping that MacKenzie ( Zee) Bardine and Gideon (Gid) Landry could learn to get along. Maybe that would make the job of staying alive and out of the enemy’s crosshairs a tad bit easier. 

Unfortunately, MacKenzie, now a cold crimes podcaster, has lost her brother Aaron a few years back. After helping police solve a few other cold cases with her results, Zee takes on her brother’s murder.  She is upset when Gideon won’t help her in her endeavors, as he was Aaron’s best friend.  “Their rapport since Aaron’s death had been at the matches and gasoline type of reactivity level.” Will the secrets that Gideon is hiding protect MacKenzie or will they backfire and leave her ripe for attacks? Fighting the awesome power of nature, some extremely powerful people, their own secrets, plus their attraction for each other…Whew! That’s a lot of conflict that makes for a very fast-moving, nail-biting suspense. Every character they meet is suspect.  Can they trust anyone they meet? Can they trust each other? Most importantly, can they trust God? 

Great twists! I loved the faith arcs, and loved how Gideon chooses to be present for MacKenzie even when he doesn’t feel like she has all the information, and she can treat him like a heel at times. As Gideon tells Zee, “I have a choice in all this, too. I choose to stay.”  Sometimes I thought he was crazy! I was grateful to still be on dry land when the book was done, feeling safe and satisfied with the mystery of the novel worked out. 

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

Notable Quotables: 

“In that moment he knew she was trapped, unable to free herself any more than her brother could from his torment. She was bound to this man by her need for revenge. It would blind her.

It would kill her.” ( Gideon)

“How easy it would be to kiss him properly, to let the feeling seep into her fragile glass heart that hadn’t beat right for a very long time. But there was such a thin coating around that battered organ. One crack, one tiny fissure and it might disintegrate into a pile of useless shards.”

(MacKenzie)

“Whom to trust? The environment might be hostile, but it was nowhere near as dangerous as a human enemy, the kind pretending to be a friend.”

“God will bring justice in this world or the next. In His time, not yours.”- Gideon

“Ugly and vengeful . . . Mackenzie wondered suddenly if that described her too. She shook the thought away. Maybe it had until Gideon convinced her otherwise. She’d let that be her core for way too long. That wasn’t the identity God meant for her, and he’d used Gideon to deliver the message.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!! Sometimes who we think we are and who God shows us we are, are exact opposites!! What a lesson!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 3

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 3

The Avid Reader, March 3

The Sacred Line, March 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 4

She Lives To Read, March 5

Texas Book-aholic, March 5

Leslie’s Library Escape, March 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 6

Lily’s Corner, March 7

Pause for Tales, March 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 7

Devoted To Hope, March 8

For Him and My Family, March 8

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 9

Melissa’s Bookshelf, March 9

EmpowerMoms, March 10

Blogging With Carol, March 10

Just Your Average reviews, March 10

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 11

Simple Harvest Reads, March 11 (Guest Review from Donna)

Lyssa Loves Books, March 12

Blossoms and Blessings, March 12

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, March 12

Cover Lover Book Review, March 13

Labor Not in Vain, March 13

Betti Mace, March 14

Bigreadersite, March 14

Life on Chickadee Lane, March 15

Lights in a Dark World, March 15

Holly’s Book Corner, March 15

Stories By Gina, March 16 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a signed copy of the book!!

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

https://gleam.io/OQ5p4/raging-waters-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, Barbour, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, NetGalley, New-to-Me Author, Purchase

The Caregiver at Wounded Knee by Debby Lee Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Caregiver at Wounded Knee (Enduring Hope Book 4)

Author: Debby Lee

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: February, 2026

Rose Seeks Peace at All Costs

When life seems weighed down by challenges, there are always pillars of enduring hope and love to be discovered.

Rose Rushing Water, an Oglala Sioux trained back East in nursing, is torn between two brothers—one who seeks to appease the government and one who fights to cling to the old ways at all costs. Tribal policeman Nathaniel Gray Cloud struggles to keep peace on the reservation and support his sister, who is also desperate to hold on to family traditions. Can Rose and Nathaniel find a peace that comes only from God, or will they lose their families and their lives as tensions reach a boiling point at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Debby Lee was raised in the cozy little town of Toledo, Washington. She has been writing since she was a small child, and has written several novels, but never forgets home. The Northwest Christian Writers Association and Romance Writers of America are two organizations that Debby enjoys being a part of. As a self professed nature lover, and an avid listener of 1960’s folk music, Debby can’t help but feel like a hippie child who wasn’t born soon enough to attend Woodstock. She wishes she could run barefoot all year long, but often does anyway in the grass and on the beaches in her hamlet that is the cold and rainy southwest Washington. During football season, Debby cheers on the Seattle Seahawks along with legions of other devoted fans. She’s also filled with wanderlust and dreams of visiting Denmark, Italy, and Morocco someday.

More from Debby

A crime against humanity occurred more than one-hundred years ago, a massacre that still resonates, and haunts people to this day. I’m referring to the massacre at Wounded Knee Creek, the slaying of hundreds of men, women and children, their lifeless bodies left on the frozen ground surrounding this small, winding body of water.

In writing my novel, The Caregiver at Wounded Knee, I traveled to the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwest South Dakota. In late April, the grasslands had not yet drank enough water or basked in enough sun to turn themselves green. Even so, I was taken in by the evocative beauty of the land. I noted the rolling hills that seemed to stretch on and on as if they wished to reach out and touch the tip of eternity.

As I drove to the site of the massacre I passed White Clay Creek. My characters, Rose and Nathaniel have a picnic along the banks of this creek. It’s the place where Rose flees to after witnessing the massacre, where she struggles to cope with the traumatic aftermath. Thankfully, Rose and Nathaniel create more happy memories there.

I included two real people in my novel, Doctor Charles Eastman and Elaine Goodale. Dr. Eastman by the way; was a real person, his Indian name being Ohiyesa. He was educated in the east and graduated from medical school. He married Elaine Goodale, a school teacher from Massachusetts. Together they operated a clinic in the community of Pine Ridge and were in many scenes throughout my novel.

When I reached the site where the massacre occurred, I couldn’t help but notice how big of an area the site encompassed. The creek itself surprised me. It wasn’t as deep or wide as I thought it would be and the banks leading to the water were fairly steep in some places. It looked serene and almost peaceful, but I thought, oh if those waters could talk.

I stood on a hilltop where I’m told a Catholic church had once stood and I gazed across the plateau below where the Lakota people were camped. I tried to picture the area where the soldiers were stationed, along with their Hotchkiss guns, which looked like small cannons to me. What went through the hearts and minds of the Lakota people?

I tried to imagine how the stomachs of Rose and those of her tribe were knotted with hunger, how cold they were as the icy wind swept over the land, how frightened they must have been as they were surrounded by soldiers with, Lord knows, what kind of nefarious intentions.

And I cried. I more than cried. I wept. I shed what felt like a gallon of tears for the injustice perpetrated against this tribe, for native people everywhere.

The military was confiscating the Lakota weapons, when gunfire ensued. Hundreds of women and children fell, wounded, dying, or dead. It’s been said they were simply caught in the crossfire.

And yet the body of a woman, who was shot in the back, was found by Dr. Eastman more than a mile from the site. Likely chased down and shot by 7th Cavalry. Eight or nine young schoolboys, who were returning to boarding school, were playing on a slope, nearby. They were no older than ten. They were all were shot dead. An estimated 300 Lakota men, women and children were killed; compared to 31 Army soldiers, many who died from friendly fire.

After the massacre the bodies of the dead were buried in a mass grave at the top of a small hill. I added a scene where Rose and her brother visit the site to pay their respects. It wasn’t easy for her to return to the scene of such trauma, but in her mind, it was necessary.

The long rectangle shaped grave is now outlined with concrete and is surrounded by resting places of many other members of the Lakota tribe. A monument has been placed there, engraved with the names of many of the victims.

There are signs on the Pine Ridge Reservation offering directions to those who want to visit the site. If you’re ever passing through, I recommend a stop there. I know I will be forever changed by the time I spent traversing this hallowed ground.

My Impressions

“A stab of betrayal pierced her. The Lakota culture had been torn from her, and those in authority hadn’t given her a choice. Peter had had the option to retain his culture, like their younger brother had, but he had willingly chosen the white man’s ways. If the Lakota people weren’t careful, many of their traditions, oral histories, and stories would be lost forever. And her brother didn’t seem to care.”

After finishing Debby Lee’s The Caregiver at Wounded Knee, I have to say my feelings are in a jumble. There is no happily-ever-after in this story. Given the magnitude of the loss to the Lakota tribe and their culture, there cannot be. But slowly, there emerges a glimmer of Hope, that can only shine if people choose to let the Light in. 

In 1890, after years away in the East, nurse Rose Rushing Water returns to the Lakota reservation in South Dakota, eager to help her people. She is also eager to reunite with her two brothers, Peter and Kaneenawup. Perhaps just as much, Rose wishes to re-enter into the customs and language of her people that were lost to her while in Boston.

What Rose finds on the reservation is fear, resentment, and hostility. The Lakota are distrustful of the whites who have taken over their land, brought new diseases, and have not shown concern or care for their welfare. The whites are afraid of the Indian dances, particularly the Ghost dance, and have put severe restrictions on the Native Americans to keep them subjugated and assimilated. In between are the Tribal police, Lakota men who are tasked as mediators between the government officials and the tribal people. Peter, Rose’s oldest brother and his best friend, Nathaniel are part of this small group. 

As tensions ratchet, Rose tends to the sick of the reservation along with Dr. Eastman. She also begins secretly meeting with Nathaniel to re-learn the Lakota language, though being caught speaking it could land a person in jail. As Rose and her two brothers walk a tightrope in their relationships with each other because of their views on assimilation, a terrible tragedy for the Lakota stirs up rumors of an uprising. The government uses that as an excuse to come in to the camp at Wounded Knee, and a terrible massacre of mostly women and children takes place. 

Rose has many questions for God. She is attracted to Nathaniel, but he believes God is in control. Rose wants nothing to do with the God that has been forced on her by people who have misused her and her people. Rose asks the age-old question, “How can a loving God allow… I loved how Nathaniel is able to empathize with Rose’s feelings, but separate angry feelings from bitterness and the need for revenge. Finally, Nathaniel lands on a word picture that helps Rose understand. He compares wood and religion. “We don’t blame the creator of the wood that’s used for evil. We blame the person using the wood for evil purposes.” He continues, “In a time when the world seems to be going crazy and there’s so much fighting between people, we can’t allow the evil actions of a few to keep us from enjoying the good things God has to offer us.” We can all mull that one over. 

A heavy read, to be sure, but one that may give most readers a better understanding of the Wounded Knee massacre and the surrounding events. 

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

Notable Quotables: 

“Did his God really snuggle close to those who knew Him, and offer them companionship in the midst of trouble?” (Rose)

“It seemed that everything about her people was being yanked from them and vanishing in the air like the vapor her breath left behind on this bitterly cold winter day.” (Rose)

“We can’t let our righteous anger fester into rage, bitterness, and a thirst for vengeance, no matter how much it hurts.”– Nathaniel

“She pushed her secrets deeper into the recesses of her mind, fearing they would someday fester.”  (Rose)

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I certainly have a better understanding of the events surrounding Wounded Knee!

Blog Stops

Books Less Travelled, February 26

Simple Harvest Reads, February 27 (Author Interview)

Sydney Schmied Books, February 27

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 1

Texas Book-aholic, March 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 3

For Him and My Family, March 4

Connie’s History Classroom , March 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 6

Cover Lover Book Review, March 7

Pause for Tales, March 8

Betti Mace, March 9

Devoted To Hope, March 10

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 11

Holly’s Book Corner, March 11

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/G0Oie/blaze-of-courage-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, Bethany House, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, NetGalley, PB, Purchase

The Bird of Bedford Manor by Michelle Griep

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Bird of Bedford Manor

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction / Regency

Release Date: February, 2026

Bedfordshire, England, 1820: Ruined by the sins of her father, Juliet Finch is cast into a life of self-reliance. Survival is a harsh taskmaster, but she is a quick learner and excels at tracking and snaring wild game to feed herself. Juliet embraces her new identity until the day Henry Russell catches her poaching on his land—a crime punishable by death. Henry, however, has other offenses on his mind: namely, the troublesome stalker who’s making a misery of his sister’s life. To try to put a stop to her torment, Henry charges Juliet with tracking the elusive villain so he can be brought to justice. Using her skills, Juliet hunts down the rogue. . .but may just become the prey herself.

Reader favorite Michelle Griep has penned yet another masterpiece with this page-turning adventure that has it all:

  • swoon-worthy romance
  • clever turn-of-phrase
  • colorfully memorable characters
  • charming British setting
Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: A Tale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at http://www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

More from Michelle

The Waltz: The Dance That Shocked Regency England

Post by Michelle Griep

I’ll be the first to admit it…I can’t dance a lick. Not a jig, not a reel, and certainly not anything that requires turning in rhythm without stepping on someone’s toes. If you ever spot me on a dancefloor, it’s because someone shoved me there or I lost a bet. Which is probably why the waltz both fascinates and terrifies me. A dance that actually expects you to glide gracefully while holding someone close? Absolutely not. And yet in Regency England, it became the talk of the town.

When the waltz swirled onto the dancefloors of England in the 1790s, it caused more shock than delight. Imported from Austria and southern Germany, it was a turning, closely-held dance—far too close for the comfort of polite society. Many called it indecent, warning that no respectable couple should stand chest-to-chest before a room full of onlookers. Some critics even claimed the dance “ignited dangerous feelings” and threatened to erode proper English restraint.

Shocking, right?

But fashions shift, and all it took was the Prince Regent giving the dance his approval in 1814. Overnight, the waltz transformed from scandal to sensation. By the 1820s, it was everywhere.

Here are a few fun bits of waltz trivia from the era:
• Some etiquette books warned that too much turning could cause “disorientation” or “undue excitement.”
• Early chaperones sometimes counted the number of turns, convinced it reflected a couple’s level of impropriety.
• A lady’s hemline was said to act like a “barometer” of a gentleman’s behavior—if it swayed too wildly, he was holding her too tightly.

In The Bird of Bedford Manor, set in 1820, this same world of rigid rules and whispered scandals forms the backdrop for Juliet Finch—resourceful, determined, and driven into the woods by her father’s downfall. When Henry Russell catches her poaching on his land, everything changes. What begins as a crime punishable by death becomes something far more dangerous as he charges her with tracking the stalker tormenting his sister.

Juliet can track anything. But this time, she may become the hunted.

My Impressions

Oh, my stars! It’s amazed I am. The story, the twists, the villians, the red herrings, the faith nuggets plainly on display. 

Michelle Griep’s singular gripping storytelling abilities, married with her ability to authentically transport us back in time to Regency England had me salivating at the first sentences. I had trouble getting through the book, but probably not why you might think. Not only are the characters relatable and endearing, but the linguistic paintbrush Griep employs so beautifully caused me to stop and reread many a sentence. “She was like a caged falcon, barely restrained, her sharp green eyes always moving, calculating, waiting for the right moment to fly away.”  Or “The place was naught but a collection of boards leaning against one another like drunkards, each seeming to hold up the other by sheer accident.” I just had to sit for a while and take in the beauty of that carefully formulated prose!

The story itself is a great one. Caught poaching on manor land, Juliet is offered a solution other than the hangman’s noose. Her benefactor, Henry Russell, pardons her on the condition she hunt for him. He wants Juliet to discover who is terrorizing his sister, Charity. “Who better to hunt for a man than a hunter? And a female one at that?”

Several characters in the novel totally surprised me. I love a mystery that is twisted enough I can’t figure it out, and the personalities involved seem to perform out of character. However, in the end, it all makes sense, even though my deduction skills weren’t equal to the task. Bravo, Ms. Griep! It was such an exciting, fun journey, I don’t think I can read another book because of the hangover from this one! Definitely my fave Griep novel yet!!

Could I ever relate to Henry in his understanding of a childhood event. I wonder how many adults look back at some childhood event with completely different eyes, sometimes not until someone shows us another perspective. 

Don’t miss this fantastic book! I look forward to it to be a 2026 fave of mine. 

I received a copy of the book from Barbour Books and Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I also bought my own copy, because…the Keeper Shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“…tell me why you cannot trust me.” “Because you have the power to undo me.” – Juliet, Henry

 “I am sure you suffer more from my filthy state than I do.” – Juliet -[such well-placed humor!]

“Many a lie is garbled as truism.”– Henry

“Your past- no matter how tragic- does not define who you are.” Henry

“A bull in a china shop only alerts every teacup to its doom.” – Juliet

“Anything good in me—any strength or virtue—comes from God alone. Without Him, I would not even try to do what is right. And that is the thing…“The truth is none of us are good on our own. Every last one of us falls short.”- Henry

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Only because more than five are not allowed. Superior!!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 24

Devoted Steps, February 24

Bizwings Blog, February 25

Book Looks by Lisa, February 25

Where Faith and Books Meet, February 25

Sylvan Musings, February 26

Sydney Schmied Books, February 26

Lily’s Corner, February 27

Melissa’s Bookshelf, February 27

Inspired by Fiction, February 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 28

Texas Book-aholic, March 1

Simple Harvest Reads, March 1 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 2

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 2

For Him and My Family, March 3

The Bookish Pilgrim, March 3

Betti Mace, March 4

Cover Lover Book Review, March 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 5

Blogging With Carol, March 5

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 6

Blossoms and Blessings, March 6

Stories By Gina, March 7 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 7

Holly’s Book Corner, March 8

Pause for Tales, March 8

Vicky Sluiter, March 8

Devoted To Hope, March 9

To Everything There Is A Season, March 9

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/zqeQC/the-bird-of-bedford-manor-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

The Belle of Chatham by Laura Frantz Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Belle of Chatham

Author: Laura Frantz

Publisher: Revell

Releases: Jan. 20, 2026

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

A  tale of courtship & marriage, duty versus desire, faith & forgiveness. 

In 1777, caught in the crossroads of the American Revolution, sisters Maebel and Coralie Bohannon’s quaint New Jersey village becomes a battleground as they house American officers in their home. Rebellion ripples through their family as members take opposing sides–Patriots and Loyalists–causing a deep chasm that fractures their once-unbreakable bond. As Mae’s friendship grows with the American general Rhys Harlow, Coralie continues her liaison with her childhood sweetheart, a British officer stationed in New York. Torn between her growing love for the general and suspicion that her sister is a British spy, Mae leaves the only home she’s ever known for the New York frontier. When betrayal strikes in the heart of the wilderness, she’s forced to take a perilous journey that tests her very survival and those she loves, all in the name of liberty.

Proclaimed wordsmith extraordinaire by Library Journal, Laura Frantz delivers a stirring tale of divided loyalties, sisterhood, and love.

About the Author

Laura Frantz, has been writing stories since age seven. She is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th-century and her novels often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Proud of her heritage, she is also a Daughter of the American Revolution. Though she will always consider Kentucky home, she and her husband live in Washington State. Her bestselling, award-winning novels have been translated into various languages. Visit her website and sign up for her newsletter.

My Impressions

“‘If the love of your country is indeed the governing principle of your soul, you will give up every inclination which is incompatible with it; nor will you cherish in your hearts any rivals of the favorite passion.’”

Hold on to your beaver skin hat, Bleu, you’ve just acquired some serious competition! I thought Laura Frantz could never produce a swoon-worthy hero I would love more than Bleu, but oh, my stars and garters!! Rhys Harlow, the Frantz hero of The Belle of Chatham, certainly is amazing!

Where does one start a review with such a memorable book? Frantz’s writing style holds me mesmerized as she paints mental pictures of the lush or barren landscapes, and produces smells with her word wizardry. These are not pages one can speed-read through!

So many different plot points come together to make this a totally great story! Do I emphasize the romance ( slow-burn, tightly controlled because of the military situations), the family division (so painful), or the Revolutionary War history presented, the strategies and battles well-researched and a teaching point, if you will. And the smallpox inoculation mandate. So much to learn! Plus, the way that Mae and others learn to incorporate their faith in the day-to-day. “…lately I’ve prayed to be the person the Almighty wants me to be. Let challenging circumstances change me for the better.” Mae and others are indeed challenged in this novel, almost beyond endurance. But another quote reminds them that these hard circumstances won’t last forever. “Remember all this is fleeting. We seem to be walking through fire now, but it has an end.” We would all do well to remember this!

Indeed. One of the things I liked most about this book was it didn’t end with the marriage and “Happily Ever After” of the main characters. Instead, our fave two characters find that there are bumps in the road of marital bliss. And their bumps appear as big as the mountains of Rhys’s Virginia. This book is a great reminder that “happily ever after” is a myth. There are foxes, or wolves, and we must choose forgiveness.

Whew! Ready to re-read all over again!! 

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through NetGalley. I also have pre-ordered pb copies for my trophy shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“Sometimes it’s the simplest things that mean the most.” – Rhys

“All of us have wounds. Some scarring you simply don’t see.” – Rhys

“I’d rather hear the truth than lies or empty assurances.” – Mae

“Surely the Lord was teaching her in the waiting and making something more of her than she was.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior!! I am only allowed to give 5 stars. Alas, this book earns so many more!!

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

The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Red Cottage

Author: Hannah Linder

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical / Regency Romance

Release Date: November, 2025

She forgot she loved him.
He would die to make her remember.

Meg Foxcroft has never minded the tattling village gossip or her uncle’s ill-tempered rebukes. After all, she has Tom McGwen—and one day, they will build their own cottage, paint it red, and live a wonderful life.

But then the unthinkable happens. Meg is attacked, her uncle’s apothecary shop goes up in flames, and when she wakes up in the arms of an eloquent lord, she remembers nothing. Not even her own name.

In a frantic race against time, Tom plunges into dangerous water, bent on sheltering Meg from harm and discovering who wants her dead. Even if she despises him. Even if it’s now the handsome lord she casts her smile upon.

As danger swells and truth comes crashing around them, Meg must confront the past and decide who she trusts—and loves—before the enemy makes the final strike.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Hannah Linder resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels filled with passion, secrets, and danger. She is a four-time Selah Award winner, a 2023 Carol Award semi-finalist, a 2023 Angel Book Award third place winner, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Also, Hannah is an international and multi-award-winning graphic designer who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and international bestsellers. She is also a self-portrait photographer of historical fashion. When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments—piano, guitar, ukulele, and banjolele—songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, square dancing, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse.

More from Hannah

We’re made for someone. I think I’ve always believed this—that it was never about proximity, or happenchance, or who you know, or where you are.

But that God, in His infinite wisdom, created a second half for each of us.

Someone who fits in the curve of your neck when you hug.

Who laughs at the things you laugh at.

Who speaks to you in a language your soul understands.

I think that’s why I love The Red Cottage so much. Circumstances would have never mattered with Tom and Meg. They loved each other. They were linked. And even if everything had been different, if they had been born hundreds of years before, they would have found their way back to each other.

If the age was ancient Egypt, and he had been a Pharaoh, and she a slave, they would have discovered each other.

If the year was 1920, and he a factory worker, and she the daughter of an oil tycoon, they would have defied the rules of society.

In any other place, in any other time, in any other way, Tom would have loved Meg. And Meg would have loved Tom. That is the beauty and the mind-blowing magic of real love.

So, when you fall into the pages of The Red Cottage, I hope you aren’t so foolish as to imagine this was an accident. That Tom said the right things, or that Meg felt vulnerable in just the right places, and that their bond—both the first and second time—was a mere hapless stroke of luck.

They would have loved each other anyway.

We’re all made for someone.

My Impressions

“Everything hurt. Her head. Her heart. She was empty, hollow, like a book ripped of all its pages.”

This may be historical gothic regency reading at its best!! Hannah Linder’s The Red Cottage held me spell-bound from the moment I opened the book. How could I not be, when the first line intones, “We shall get murdered for this”?!

So many things make this novel, set in 1828 Cornwall, unforgettable. Amnesia, a love triangle, a mystery that grows deeper and more desperate with each red herring, faith tidbits, and more twists than than a braided rope. Whew! What an amazing story! I wish I had the time to reread it again tomorrow. Just wow!

The main question: the female main character, Meg, develops amnesia following an arson attack on her uncle’s apothecary. Can her best friend and developing love, Tom, find her before she and her uncle are destroyed in a bitter revenge?

By the time poor, disrespected,  fisherman Tom finds Meg, she is ensconced in a well-to-do estate with a young lord and his very sick daughter. Of course, Lord Cunningham falls in love quickly with Meg. Grateful for his care and compassion, not remembering any of her past, Meg is about the accept her benefactor’s suit. A chance visit with her host to her home village to partake of a festivities leads to part of Meg’s past staring her in the face- yet she wants none of what she can’t recall. Which man will convince independent Meg that she is better off with him over the other?

Perhaps, unsurprisingly, a great number of characters have secrets in their pasts that affect their actions or the story’s outcome. 

Usually, I get impatient when a main character’s affections seem to waffle back and forth. Cunningham is very patient with Meg’s indecision and waffling, but he also is more shrewd than he seems. “You have brought Lady Walpoole here to reconcile me with my future.” “In essence, yes.” She braced herself for his disapproval. “I wish to reconcile with my past.” 

The biggest question of the book may be: is one’s past really how they perceive it? Or are lies the only way to succeed? And can one overcome one’s past, or is that person forever doomed to try to make penance for severe mistakes? “Perhaps we do not ever fully recover from our tragedies, but we certainly learn to bury them.” Unfortunately, the ugly truth will need to out before Tom, Meg, and others will find peace. 

I cannot recommend this book enough. A fave genre, so many plot twists, love triangle, and sprinkles of Truth.

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

Notable Quotables:

“She was here to learn about the old Meg Foxcroft. Not become her.”

“We all require friendship.”- Meg

“He didn’t need Papa’s forgiveness, and he didn’t need God, and he sure as brimstone didn’t need Meg Foxcroft. Lord Cunningham had been right.” – ( Tom)

“We shall go to the library, and for a little while we may convince ourselves all is right and well in the world.” – Cunningham

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading this book!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 21

Devoted Steps, November 21

Sydney Schmied Books, November 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 22

Sylvan Musings, November 22

Texas Book-aholic, November 23

Min Reads and Reviews, November 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 24

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 24

Lily’s Corner, November 25

She Lives to Read, November 25

Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 26

For Him and My Family, November 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 27

Stories By Gina, November 28 (Author Interview)

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

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 29

Cover Lover Book Review, November 29

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 30

The Mommies Reviews, November 30

Betti Mace, December 1

Book Looks by Lisa, December 1

Bizwings Blog, December 2

Mary Hake, December 2

Holly’s Book Corner, December 3

Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 3

Pause for Tales, December 4

To Everything There Is A Season, December 4

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, December 4

Giveaway

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

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

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

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, NetGalley, PB, Purchase, Revell

A Hidden Hope by Suzanne Woods Fisher Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: A Hidden Hope

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Amish Fiction

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Supervising two newly minted medical residents might be the toughest challenge Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus has ever faced. Wren Baker, sharp and ambitious, graduated at the top of medical school with a hidden agenda in tow. Charlie King, at the bottom of the class, is determined to succeed–though Dok isn’t convinced he’s got what it takes. Then there’s traveling nurse Evie Miller, whose quiet love for Charlie doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by Wren.

Boarding at Windmill Farm, the trio struggles to balance modern medicine with plain living. Between medical emergencies, cultural misunderstandings, and brewing romantic tensions, Dok finds herself juggling far more than she bargained for. Soon the stage is set in the small Amish community of Stoney Ridge for plenty of professional and personal complications.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a Christy finalist, a Carol and Selah winner, a two-time ECPA Book of the Year finalist, and Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of more than forty books. Her genres include contemporary and historical romances and Amish fiction. Suzanne and her husband live in a small town in northern California. Most friends act a little nervous around her because they usually wind up in one of her novels. She has four grown children and enough grandchildren to keep her young.

More from Suzanne

The Kitchen Garden by Suzanne Woods Fisher

“Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow.” Amish proverb

Whenever I visit my Amish friends, I always make a point of wandering out to their vegetable gardens to see what’s growing. Their gardens, usually not far from the kitchen, are bigger than most people’s backyards. Gardens, for the Amish, are a family affair. Husbands help their wives ready the soil and add the homebrewed fertilizer (ahem, manure), children help their moms plant, weed, and harvest.

Like so many parts of the Plain life, their value of the home garden—for the sake of nutrition, for sustenance, for well-being—is a wonderful example to those of us who weren’t farm-raised. They’ve been living a sustainable life filled with fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables for over four hundred years. The rest of us are just catching on.

One Amish mom told me a story about her daughter, the youngest of seven. “This girl was a born worrier. Whenever she started on her worry loop, I would send her out to weed in the garden. When she came back in, her worries were gone. There’s just something about weeding that helps a soul settle down.”

I could expand that thought a little further. There’s just something about gardening that helps a soul settle down.

So, it’s late on Saturday and I just wrapped up a very long week. I spoke at three book events and finished the first draft (the drafty-draft) of a novel. I can’t stop thinking about the novel. Is it a mess? As tired as I am, tonight I don’t think I’ve got one more word in me—not to speak, not to write. I’m spent! Done. My husband is out for the evening, so I had a few hours alone at home to relax.

What did I do?

I planted in my garden: lettuce and radishes and carrots. As I dug in the spongy soil, I could feel my soul settle. Worry and exhaustion slipped away as I scattered seeds into furrows. Little by little, that wonderful God-given sense of re-creation returned. Tomorrow, I would write again. Time spent in my little garden does that for me. It renews me and gives me a hope for the future.

Or, at the very least, a good salad.

Overnight Blueberry French Toast

On a sunny July morning, we were served this breakfast dish at an Amish friend’s home and my husband couldn’t stop talking about it. You might be shocked at the amount of eggs, but don’t skimp! It’s worth every bite.

12 slices bread cut in 1” cubes

8 oz. cream cheese cut in ¾” cubes

1 ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries

12 eggs

1/3 cup maple syrup

2 cups milk

Place half the bread cubes in a 9×13 baking dish. Top with cream cheese blueberries and the remaining bread. Beat eggs, syrup and milk and pour evenly over bread.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until well done.

My Impressions

“But peace doesn’t come from trying to fix the wrong. It comes from trusting that God will handle it, in his time.”

Another return to Stoney Ridge with Dok Stoltzfus courtesy of Suzanne Woods Fisher? Yes, please! Fisher’s books are now auto-buys for me, and I especially  love this little Amish village and its people. 

In case the reader has forgotten some of the Stoney Ridge characters, or just needs a refresher since the last book, a list of characters with their personality traits is included at the front of the book. Yay!

Dok Stoltzfus has taken the first step towards lightening her workload. She applies for a resident. She gets not one, but two – very Englischer, very wet-behind the-ears doctors, Charlie and Wren. And one traveling nurse, Evie, with enough cultural background to understand the Stoney Ridge community. A battle of cultural sensitivity, professional respect, and emotional attachment ensue. Can any of these characters find the peace they are seeking in this environment? 

A second main thread continued from the  last book is about Annie, Dok’s Amish receptionist, who desperately wants to join her love interest in the EMT field. How I identified with Annie’s ailment! Yet, Annie refuses the obvious solution. Are her dreams and future destined to go up in smoke?

Yet a third intertwined thread deals with an emotional but medical condition, that because of its nature, many faiths, not just Amish, are reluctant to admit to or treat medically. How many people might slip through the cracks under the misguided guise of shaming the suffering individual into performing “normally”?

David Stoltzfus, the friendly, wise, and godly bishop (and brother to Dok) is an important secondary character. He discusses the need for justice when Wren is about to bulldoze her way to obtain it. “True peace can only come with justice.” -Wren “I agree with you,” David said, “but true justice can only come from God. Only he knows what’s in a person’s heart.” David also counsels his doctor sister many times, sometimes as her brother, sometimes as the community leader he is, looking out for his flock. 

Two tertiary characters that help make the novel as great as it is? Both Lapps. Fern for her wisdom: “Holding out hope for too long is one thing . . .Giving up too soon is quite another.”  Then there’s loud Hank! What chaos and humor he provides! 

Discussion questions at the end help prolong the warm, special feels of the book and draw out the deeper themes for examination. Some of those themes: discovering one’s calling, finding true peace and justice, teachability, first impressions, and post-partum depression.

A great twist or two elevates this novel into the superb category. Highly recommended!!

I received a copy of this 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:

“Good thing God doesn’t give up on us”– Charlie

“You have all the tools to be a good doctor, but to be a great one, you need to treat the person, not just the illness.”- Dok

“There’s no good that comes from being half a Christian. If you’re only halfway in, you’re just living burdened by rules, and you’re missing out on the blessings that faith brings. It’s like trying to drive a buggy with only two wheels.” – David

“Practicing medicine here was as much about relationships as treatment.”- Dok

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superb!! I have so enjoyed these Stoney Ridge stories!! I can’t imagine missing a Suzanne Woods Fisher release, no matter the genre!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 7

The Avid Reader, October 7

Maureen’s Musings, October 8

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 8

Simple Harvest Reads, October 9 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 10

Devoted To Hope, October 10

lakesidelivingsite, October 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 12

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 13

Mary Hake, October 13

She Lives To Read, October 14

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 15

Empowermoms, October 15

Texas Book-aholic, October 16

Blossom and Blessings, October 16

Vicky Sluiter, October 17

Little Homeschool on the Prairie , October 17

For Him and My Family, October 18

Holly’s Book Corner, October 18

Cover Lover Book Review, October 19

Blogging With Carol, October 20

Southern Gal Loves to Read, October 20

Giveaway

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d270/a-hidden-hope-celebration-tour-giveaway
ARC, Barbour, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, NetGalley, Purchase

Mistletoe and Mayhem by Janice Thompson Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Mistletoe and Mayhem (The Little Red Truck Mysteries: Book Three)

Author: Janice Thompson

Genre: Mystery/Christian Fiction/Christmas

Release Date: September, 2025

A Wildfire Races toward the Hadley Ranch

Breathe in the nostalgia of everything old red truck in book three of a new cozy mystery series.

It’s less than a week until Christmas in Mabank, Texas, and just a few days away from RaeLyn and Mason’s wedding on Hadley ranch. Unfortunately, a wildfire with mysterious origin is rapidly traveling across several counties and headed right for the Hadley acreage. Fire fighters rush to put it out before the family homestead goes up in flames, taking the business and the old red truck with it. Their perfect wedding may be ruined, and RaeLyn and Mason are determined to find the source of the fire.

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

In the mid-90s, as my children and I drove up to the Mabank area from our home in Houston, we saw smoke off in the distance. The closer we got to my mother and stepfather’s acreage—sixty-three gorgeous acres of cattle land—the thicker the smoke got.

When we arrived on Mom’s street the reality of what faced us was unavoidable. The property across the road, to our left, was in a roaring blaze, flames moving so fast my car could barely get past them on the narrow country road.

We miraculously made it to Mom’s driveway and went inside her home, hearts racing. In that moment, a decision was made to gather in a circle and pray. We offered up a passionate plea for the Lord’s protection then rushed outside to grab hoses to help water everything down.

As I sat to write Mistletoe and Mayhem, my latest cozy mystery from Barbour Publishing, I was faced with the memories of this terrifying trip. Just as you read in this story, firefighters got that massive blaze stopped, right at the edge of her property. And I can tell you as a first-hand witness that not a spark landed on any of us. Whenever I reflect on this event I’m reminded of God’s ultimate faithfulness. He spared us from certain catastrophe.

I can assure you, we as a family never forgot the mercy and grace of God as we faced our Isaiah 43 moment. No doubt you’ve been through a few fires, too. Fear not. The Lord is right there, ready to carry you through. You can trust Him, even in the fiery trials of life.

Blessings on you all,

Janice Thompson

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Isaiah 43:1b-3

My Impressions

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

ISAIAH 43:1–3

Outside the small Texas town of Mabank, RaeLyn Hadley’s life dream of the perfect ranch wedding is about to come true. So we discover in Janice Thompson’s cozy mystery, Mistletoe and Mayhem, #3 The Little Red Truck Mysteries. These books are all quick, rather amusing reads. I would suggest reading them in order to get the best feel for the series and characters. Several secondary and tertiary characters are repeats from the first two books, and I got a clearer picture of them. In fact, the bride-to-be and main character-sleuth is beginning to rub off on me. Just as RaeLyn has an “infamous spreadsheet” for every wedding detail she’s planned, my spreadsheet would show which characters I now put into categories of “like,” “love,” ”don’t like,” or “wish they would change this trait.”

As the wedding approaches, RaeLyn wonders if fiancé Mason is getting cold feet. Their usual communication and time together is tanking. Uh-oh. 

I loved every minute we get to see Aunt Bessie Mae. As unique as her name, she is a blessing and a veritable matriarch of the family, though she has no children.

I did want to give RaeLyn’s mom a good shaking. A parent needs to be willing to let her children mature and fly the coop. Yet RaeLyn’s mom is grasping each grown child by their tail feathers as they strive to make an independent life for themselves. I thought she would create her own Hades on earth! in her efforts to keep anything from changing. 

Even this quiet little town has its share of greed, big corporations, rumors, and disasters. And of course, RaeLyn is neck-deep in it all the week of her wedding, when disaster strikes. Will the ranch survive? The wedding take place?

Miraculously, through it all, RaeLyn manages to look out for others. She has a heart as big as Texas for her ever-expanding family. She encourages her blacklisted sister-in-law. “God redeems every situation, if we let Him. And clearly, you’ve let Him. Now He’s given you the desires of your heart.”

Despite the turmoil and the search for an instigator, RaeLyn clings to her faith. She knows that is how they will all overcome the difficulties. “And pray… That’s the best gift you can give us right now. Pray.”

For those who like cozies with a bit of Texas Blue Bell ice cream, small ranches, changing families, and faith, this is a series to be enjoyed. 

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:

“But there was coming a day when all would be made right.”

“A hug could solve a thousand problems,”

[my personal fave quote, next to Isaiah 43]

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! A clean, faith-based cozy set in Texas.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 3

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 5

Texas Book-aholic, October 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 7

For Him and My Family, October 8

Blossoms and Blessings, October 9 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 9

Leslie’s Library Escape, October 10

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 11

Holly’s Book Corner, October 12

Lights in a Dark World, October 12

Bizwings Book Blog, October 13

Pause for Tales, October 14

Cover Lover Book Review, October 15

Labor Not in Vain, October 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Janice is giving away a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and a copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d26a/mistletoe-and-mayhem-celebration-tour-giveaway