Category: Purchase

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

Up from Dust by Heather Kaufman Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Up from Dust: Martha’s Story -(ARC)

Series: Women of the Way

Author: Heather Kaufman

Releases: January 23, 2024

“A biblical story with a heart for today’s world, pulling out an array of joy and hope, sorrow and loss.”–Mesu Andrews, award-winning author

“Taking us on an intriguing journey through heartbreak and healing, Heather Kaufman leads her readers directly to the joy of the empty tomb.”–Connilyn Cossette, award-winning author

Martha of Bethany is no stranger to adversity. After her mother’s untimely death, Martha shoulders the responsibility of raising her siblings–quiet and studious Lazarus, and wild and rambunctious Mary. She finds solace in friendship and the beginnings of first love, but just as Martha begins to imagine a new future, hardship strikes again and her dreams crumble into dust.

Ten years later, Martha’s friend pleads for the new teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, to come and heal her husband. When Martha discovers that the carpenter-rabbi is connected to her past, she’s not sure she can trust him with her future. But as he continues to perform miracles, the invitation to believe becomes harder to resist, renewing Martha’s hardened heart, even as she faces an unknown future.

About the Author

Heather’s passion for storytelling started at an early age, from scribbled poetry at age six, to a full-length novel by sixteen. Over the years, her love of writing grew, eventually leading her to earn a BA in English from McKendree University and an MA in English, Writing Studies from the University of Missouri—St. Louis.

 

Heather is the author of The Story People (Concordia Publishing House, 2016) and Loving Isaac (Concordia Publishing House, 2018). Her debut novel with Bethany House Publishers releases January 2024.

 

She is married to Andrew and together they have three adorable children and one persnickety dog. When not reading, writing, editing, or accumulating mounds of books, Heather can be found exploring new parks with her family, enjoying yet another cup of coffee, or working on a home improvement project. She and her family make their home in St. Louis, Missouri.

Connect with Heather at

https://www.hmkstories.com/

My Impressions

“How can I begin to tell of the many things I have found? Or of the One who found me? I see His hand in my story like a weaver’s shuttle through the warp, steady and sure, pulling here, loosening there, doing the work necessary for beauty. How do I tell of His capable hands, the ones that rescued me?”

“Before I can share the many ways I was found, I would have to begin with the day I was lost.”

And so, in the prologue, ( I hope you read prologues!) we have the reason for Heather Kaufman’s imagination of Martha’s life long before she ever met Jesus. As with other great Biblical fiction, Kaufman utilizes a few verses and passages we know of a Biblical individual. These are not changed from Scripture. But where Scripture is silent, the author suggests possible life events that send Martha, Mary, and Lazarus on their different life trajectories until they encounter Jesus. “Maybe she or he reacted this way because…” In the meantime, Kaufman’s Martha becomes so real, so human, you will sympathize, you will judge, you will hold your breath as you hold her secrets, and you will wonder how she survived growing up in her father’s house. You will begin to understand a woman’s plight in Jewish society in the first century. Kaufman presents challenging relationships well. Some romantic, some familial, some friend-based. You will sigh, you will cry, you will ask, “Why?” But hopefully, when all is said and done, you will turn to the Biblical story to check out what truth we do know, and you’ll never view Martha or her siblings as 2- dimensional again!

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

Notable Quotables:

“Yahweh keeps providing beacons of light in your life to guide you when you need it most.”

***

“None of us is worthy. We are all naked and undone before the holiness of God.”

“Who can stand before this holy God?”

“Those who align themselves with His Son.”

***

“Sometimes love engulfs us suddenly, like a consuming fire.”“…Other times it comes over us slowly, like a sunrise.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve found another new-to-me Biblical fiction author well-worth following!

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase

Tangled Lies by Carol McClain Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Tangled Lives

Author: Carol McClain

Genre: Women’s fiction

Release Date: July, 2023

Two sisters and one man. Both women love him, but only one is meant for him.

Crystal Snow struggles with the paralysis caused by her biological parents’ drug use. She convinced herself no one will ever love her. Roxie, devastated by chronic childhood rejections, knows anyone who loves her must be intrinsically flawed. Both want only what is right for their sister who is also their best friend.

Dreams upend careers. Destroy friendships. End love.

When searched out by their biological grandmother, the past tangles with the present. Issues the girls wished to forget resurrect and threaten their dreams.

Who gets the man and career of her dreams?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Carol McClain is the award-winning author of five novels dealing with real people facing real problems. A fifth book will be out next summer.

She is a consummate encourager, and no matter what your faith might look like, you will find compassion, humor and wisdom in her complexly layered, but ultimately readable work.

Aside from writing, she’s a skilled stained-glass artist, a budding glass fuser. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband who finally gave into her dreams. They own five goats—three of them does who she milks from which she makes yogurt and cheese and butter. She’s raising bunches of chickens.

More from Carol

Have you ever:

  1. Had a crush on your sister’s boyfriend?
  2. Loved your sister beyond measure?
  3. Hated your sister beyond measure?
  4. Been confused about your career?
  5. Waylaid by your past?

If your life’s been tangled, you’re not alone. You laugh at, root for, and not be able to put Tangled Lives down.

My Impressions

“Crystal’s school-girl crush was more than infatuation. She loved Jesse too. The minx. Roxie would make sure Crystal understood, Jesse was the real deal. Her real deal.”

Wow! Carol McClain’s Tangled Lives is a realistic, somewhat gritty look at two sisters’s complicated relationship with each other, then those around them.

Sisters Roxie and Crystal love each other deeply, but both are damaged by their past and their circumstances. Roxie will always feel like she can never attain her goals, only come in second best. Crystal is hampered by her fear of rejection, causing her to be a people-pleaser. What will it take for the girls to see themselves as God does, and value themselves accordingly?

I found Crystal very easy to like with her sweet, compassionate ways. I would love to hear her fiddle! On the other hand, Roxie is mercurial and abrasive, and I didn’t like Jesse much better. I wanted to put those two in separate corners many times.

I appreciated that all of the main characters are Christians, but I was disappointed by how often they don’t find living out their faith important. If you are looking for a women’s fiction book that shows lots of temptations and how the characters deal with them, you will like this book very much. I would have preferred some temptations not be so well described.

This could possibly be a good book club choice. I know I have a lot of thoughts about different events or actions in the book that it would be fun to get others’ opinion on.

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

Notable Quotables:

“Boors don’t understand that beneath crutches or skin or mental status, we’re all the same. All important to God.”

“She…was fearfully and wonderfully made, created from the womb to be who she was. Being best was nothing but pride. “

“Seemed God valued people no matter how often they fell. Could I …?”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! Raw look at the complicated relationship of two sisters.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 12

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 14

Artistic Nobody, January 15 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 16

Guild Master, January 17 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 19

For the Love of Literature, January 20 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, January 21

For Him and My Family, January 22

Beauty in the Binding, January 23 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, January 23

JESUS in the EVERYDAY, January 24

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, January 25 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carol is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and an eBook copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/2958e/tangled-lives-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Seamstress of Acadie

Author: Laura Frantz

Genre: Historical Romance

Releases: January 9, 2024

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through NetGalley. I also ordered a paperback copy for myself and a friend. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

(As part of the Launch Team, I am reviewing an ARC of the book.)

As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada’s Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family–French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral–are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. Amid preparations for the celebration of Noël, the talk is of unrest, coming war, and William Blackburn, the British Army Ranger raising havoc across North America’s borderlands.

As summer takes hold in 1755 and British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William’s, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

About the Author

Bestselling, award-winning 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.

According to Publishers Weekly, “Frantz has done her historical homework.” With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California. Foreign language editions include French, Dutch, Spanish, Slovakian, German & Polish.

Readers can find Laura Frantz at http://www.laurafrantz.net

*Subscribe to Laura’s seasonal newsletter and receive new release information, news about contests, giveaways, and reader events, sneak peaks and teasers, signings and appearances, and more! To subscribe, copy and paste this into your browser’s address window:

http://laurafrantz.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7614118e6260a9d0224905ecf&id=f2301c63f8

My Impressions

“The evil had come. It pulsated all around her, thick and black and unruly as a horde of gray wolves with no restraining hand.”

All Sylvie Galant and so many of her fellow Acadians wanted was to be neutral, uninvolved in the land grab in the “New World” between England and France. The Acadians just want to go on living life in their beautiful, productive land as they have for generations. But that right is ferociously torn away from them by the English governor, who vanquishes them all from the land of their dreams to exile in the English colonies… if they survive to arrive. While all Acadians know Bleu Galant, Sylvie’s half-brother, fights for them and the French, they also know that the man responsible for rounding up the Acadians is Le Diable Blanc (the White Devil), Le Loup ( the Wolf).

Laura Frantz, winner of the Christy for historical fiction in 2023, has written yet another novel, The Seamstress of Acadie, equally deserving of a Christy.

No one has a way with words like Laura Frantz. Frantz writes so beautifully, I can almost hear music or see art accompanying her words. I could certainly see Acadie in all its beauty, then its denudation of its people and prosperity. Frantz makes you feel like you are on those transport ships of death. I could feel the rise and swell of the waves in the storm, smell the odors of sickness and fear, feel the terror of the hurricane, taste the loss of dreams and faith.

Still, people that go through the same horrific circumstances can come out different on the other side. Frantz points the reader to the fact that this is because some, like Sylvie, devastated, turn to their faith to bolster them and provide a purpose for their lives. Others continue to stew in their hatred, with disastrous results.

Some, like Sylvie, attempt to share the bit of light they find. “God Himself collects our tears and stores them in a bottle…God takes note of our suffering. It is no light matter to Him. I find that . . . comforting.” Yet few are willing to see that God can be present in and allow horrible circumstances and still be directing a person’s path. “There is no bottle big enough for Acadie’s weeping.”

Sylvie battles fear, loss of family, loss of homeland, prejudice, and finally her own treacherous heart, falling for the one man she should hate.

With a map, glossary, and short historical note at the front, the reader is well-prepared for this both painful and beautiful journey. In The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz, I found a new book to reread for her rest of my life!!

Notable Quotable:

“Perhaps the Lord was leading her in ways she hadn’t planned or preferred, but still he leadeth.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Beyond Magnificent!! But read The Seamstress of Acadie for yourself. You decide.

BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Kregel, PB, Purchase

Mini-Reviews/Spotlights for “Squeezed in” Books of 2023,

Babbling Becky L

Mini Reviews/Spotlights on These Books

I purposely left much of December open because of our schedule. Much to my delight, I found time to read these three books, all paperbacks (a rarity for me.) I met two of the authors, Crystal Caudill ( We Three Kings) and Carrie Turansky (The Legacy of Longdale Manor) at ACFW StoryFest in St. Louis in August.


I loved Crystal’s servant heart. She is so sweet! She writes sweet, Christian historical fiction. I have yet to meet Angela Ruth Strong, but hoping that will be soon. She is a hoot, and one should never miss her rom-coms!! Carrie Putman is a history professor who brings WWII times to life. The good, the bad, the redemptive!

I talked to Carrie Turansky for several minutes about the American Orphan Train and the British equivalent. ( Did you know there was such a thing?) Carrie is a historical wealth of knowledge on that subject!! I could have talked to her all day!!

Maddie Day ( who has a few aliases ) has written a clean cozy series that struck a chord in my heart A County Story Mystery series. I like to say they are about the “near South,” as a Northerner. Series takes place in the hills of Southern Indiana, not far from Bloomington.

The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky

Two women–a century apart–embark on a journey to healing, faith, forgiveness, and romance.

In 2012, art historian Gwen Morris travels to England’s Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. While at Longdale Manor, she meets David Bradford–the owner’s handsome grandson–who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd’s staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she’s left searching for answers.

In 1912, after her father’s death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte’s grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.

Praise for The Legacy of Longdale Manor

“This novel will stir your faith–and your desire to visit England’s Lake District!”–JULIE KLASSEN, bestselling author

“Turansky opens the door of Longdale Manor and invites readers to explore the secrets hidden inside.”–MELANIE DOBSON, award-winning author

“A beautiful book to warm and lift the heart.”–CATHY GOHLKE, Christy Hall of Fame author

CARRIE TURANSKY is the award-winning author of more than twenty inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Holt Medallion. She loved traveling to England to research her latest Edwardian novels including No Journey Too Far, No Ocean Too Wide, Across the Blue, and The Highland Hall series. Her novels have received stared reviews from Christianbooks.com and Library Journal. They have been translated into several languages and enjoyed by readers around the world. Connect with Carrie on her website: http://carrieturansky.com/, and on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I loved this book detailing a painful failure, distant relationships with those one needs affection and love from, add in one reluctant romance, plus a generous, no questions asked acceptance from a non-family member. How God works in our lives through both good and bad to bind up our deep-seated wounds!

***********************************************

We Three Kings & The Legacy Of Longdale Manor -photobombed by my daughter’s attention-seeking dog!!

We Three Kings by Crystal Caudill, Cara Putman, and Angela Ruth Strong

In this Christmas collection, Weise men still seek Jesus–and love

Best-selling romance authors Caudill, Putman, and Strong follow three generations of the Weise family in this third collection of Christmas novellas from Kregel that will prove just as popular as the previous award-winning volumes.

1. “Star of Wonder” by Crystal Caudill

The Christmas-themed maiden voyage of his family’s grand steamer ship was supposed to be Aldrich Weise’s chance both to instill investor confidence and to romance Celestia Isaacs. Instead, he must foil a criminal and leave his lady love behind forever.

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.

2. “Beauty Bright” by Cara Putman

Lieutenant Charles Weise served as a Monuments Man after World War II and now works to restore stolen art to rightful owners. Captain Lillian Thorsen pairs up with him not only to return treasures but also to fix the war-torn lives around them.


Since the time I could read Nancy Drew, I have wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 I attended a book signing at my local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, is history. There I met Colleen Coble. With prompting from my husband, I shared my dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, I’ve been writing award-winning books with the count currently climbing to 40 published and more in the works.

In addition to writing, I am a mom of four, attorney, Clinical Assistant Professor at a Big Ten university who also runs a center, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, my husband, and my kids. I graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School, and Purdue University’s MBA program. You can learn more about my books at http://www.caraputman.com. And if you’d like a copy of my legal suspense novella, Dying for Love, simply connect with me here (http://www.caraputman.com/contact/) , and I’ll send you the link.



3. “Perfect Light” by Angela Ruth Strong

Essential oils mogul Brendon Wise is drawn to Lacey Foster, the event planner for his huge Christmas lights festival. But when he inadvertently makes a spectacle of her on television, Lacey wants nothing to do with him. Will a chance to give gifts to those in need at Christmas be the key to discovering common ground–and maybe love?

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I loved the way each author contributed to the Christmas anthology, We Three Kings, by drawing on their strengths. Crystal Caudill writes intriguing historical fiction, easy to follow and always with a good romantic thread, including faith. We see the foundations of the Weise empire of at least family being built.

Cara Putman picks up just after WWII, with two very different individuals attempting to catalogue snd restore stolen art treasures to surviving Jewish families. One of their biggest hurts is, the people they are bending over backwards to help, would rather spit in their face. It takes much prayer, determination, and ingenuity to find solutions.

Angela Ruth Strong excels in contemporary romance. I love to read her work, because no matter the seriousness of the situation, Angela will include humor and a positive spin because of her faith in Jesus. Of course, her characters just might find romance, because, well, she loves to take the impossible and make it possible through Christ.

*************************************************

Grilled for Murder by Maddie Day

The author of Flipped for Murder serves up a culinary cozy with all “the right combos for an entertaining read”—includes recipes! (Nightstand Book Reviews).

Robbie Jordan may have had reservations about the murder victim, but she still needs to turn up the heat on a killer if she wants to keep her new restaurant open for business . . .

In the charming small town of South Lick, Indiana, Robbie has transformed a rundown country store into the runaway hit Pans ’N Pancakes. But the most popular destination for miles around can also invite trouble. Erica Shermer may be the widow of handsome local lawyer Jim Shermer’s brother, but she doesn’t appear to be in mourning. At a homecoming party held in Robbie’s store, Erica is alternately obnoxious and flirtatious—even batting her eyelashes at Jim. When Erica turns up dead in the store the next morning, apparently clobbered with cookware, the police suspect Robbie’s friend Phil, who closed up after the party. To clear Phil and calm her customers, Robbie needs to step out from behind the counter and find the real killer in short order . . .“Grilled for Murder was another good mystery from the Country Store . . . Recommended for all cozy lovers!”—Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!

Maddie Day is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-winning author, Maddie writes the Country Store, Cozy Capers Book Group, and Cece Barton Mysteries, all from Kensington Publishing.

As Edith Maxwell, she write the Local Foods Mysteries (Kensington Publishing) and the Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Beyond the Page), as well as award-winning short crime fiction.

You can find all Maddie’s/Edith’s identities and work at http://www.edithmaxwell.com. She blogs every week day with the other Wicked Authors at wickedauthors.com and every second and fourth Fridays at mysteryloverskitchen.com. Look for her as Maddie Day/ Edith Maxwell on Facebook and @edithmaxwell and @maddiedayauthor on Twitter and Instagram.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Something about the down-home, never-in-a-hurry atmosphere of the rolling hills of this area of our country attracts me and draws me in. Probably reminds me of the time I spent in Southern Ohio. So many similarities.

And a little country store/restaurant. A town where everybody knows your name… and unfortunately, your business.

Yummy food with recipes. A murder off page with almost everyone a suspect. Just good, clean fun.

************************************************

My Ratings

I gave all three books five stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Each was deserving in its genre!

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, Love Inspired Suspense, Purchase

Buried Grave Secrets by Darlene L Turner

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Buried Grave Secrets

Series: Crisis Rescue Team, #4 ( standalones)

Author: Darlene L Turner

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Released: December 2023

Standing guard…

with threats on all sides.

When bones are found at an unmarked grave site—and then shots are fired—forensic anthropologist Jordyn Miller knows someone wants old secrets to remain buried. She’ll do anything to uncover the truth about these suspicious deaths, including accepting the protection of her ex-boyfriend, Constable Colt Peters, and his K-9. But with targets on their backs, can Jordyn stay alive long enough to bring a serial killer to justice?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Crisis Rescue Team

Book 1: Fatal Forensic Investigation
Book 2: Explosive Christmas Showdown
Book 3: Mountain Abduction Rescue
Book 4: Buried Grave Secrets
Book 5: Yukon Wilderness Evidence

About the Author:


Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at http://www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

My Impressions

“…forgive yourself first…It’s time to put the darkness behind us. Until light shines again, we’ll never move on…”

I would never want to live in this book, Buried Grave Secrets, by Darlene L. Turner. Yet, I sure enjoyed visiting Charock Harbour, Maine, from the safety of my armchair. Dr. Jordyn Miller is a part-time forensic anthropologist who is struggling to succeed without using her political father’s name. She would rather not have the protection he provides, either, especially when it comes in the form of Constable Colt Peters, whom she dated previously, and his K-9 co-worker.

Danger abounds. Lynx are at large. An unknown shooter takes aim. Bones threaten to reveal a past reality no one wants. Weather makes for even more suspense. Then there is the danger to two hearts, feeling betrayed and lonely.

I take notes when I read a book. This time, I was also jotting down names and alibis, or lack thereof. Besides the constant terror on the page and families in turmoil, could I flush out the killer before he or she was revealed? Ms. Turner led me on a frightening chase that involved so many twists and turns! I was very satisfied with the complexity of novel and crime. Buried Grave Secrets has risen to be one of my fave LIS books!

I challenge you to take your turn reading this book, as if your deduction skills will save the main characters or not! Be assured- The Bonedigger is watching!!

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:

“Your job puts your family in jeopardy.”

”God, where are You? I have to see Your light. The rattling continued. The room remained still. A verse from her childhood emerged… I am the light of the world.“

“You’ve had so many bumps and potholes in your life, love. But God has been right beside you all the time, shining His light. You’ve just snuffed it out. Don’t be so scared of the dark, because sometimes the best things come from within our darkest places.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My fave Darlene Turner novel so far. Maybe also my fave LIS novel. A bit of a psychological thriller.

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

The Gilded Curse by Marilyn Turk

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Gilded Curse

Author: Marilyn Turk

Genre: Historical Suspense

Release Date: July 31, 2023

In early 1942, a mysterious telegram draws Lexie Smithfield back to the island her mother thought was cursed. Now the only heir to the dwindling family fortune, Lexie plans to sell the family’s vacation “cottage” in the Millionaire’s Village on Jekyll Island. But someone else is interested in the cottage and is getting more desperate to find what they’re looking for, even to the point of murder.

Lexie’s childhood friend, Russell Thompson, is now the Jekyll Island Club’s superintendent and the keeper of members’ secrets, especially one that would shatter Lexie. When he learns Lexie is in danger, he stays close to protect her, but soon discovers an attraction to Lexie he didn’t expect.

Could the danger be from someone they know or is it possible that the threat of Nazi invasion on their coast is a reality? Or is the island really cursed?

Russell and Lexie must work together to discover the real danger and keep from getting hurt or killed in the process.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Award-winning author Marilyn Turk writes historical and contemporary fiction flavored with suspense and romance. Marilyn also writes devotions for Daily Guideposts, Walking in Grace, and contributes to other Guideposts publications. She and her husband are lighthouse enthusiasts, have visited over 100 lighthouses and also served as volunteer lighthouse caretakers at Little River Light off the coast of Maine.

When not writing or visiting lighthouses, Marilyn enjoys reading, walking, boating, fishing, gardening, tennis, and playing with her golden retriever. She also sings in the choir at her church and leads a women’s Bible study group. Marilyn and her husband have a combined family of four sons, one daughter, and four grandsons. She’s still hoping for a granddaughter someday.

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Word Weavers International, and the United States Lighthouse Society.

Marilyn is also the director of the Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference.

More from Marilyn

When my agent told me a certain publisher was looking for Southern Gothic novels,

I wondered what those were.  What I found out was that they were gothic-style novels set in the South, usually an old antebellum mansion, for example, “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte.” Think “Jane Eyre” or “Wuthering Heights” set in the southern United States. I had just visited Jekyll Island, Georgia and toured the Millionaires’ Village there, so those mansions came to mind.  These homes, which were actually vacation “cottages” of the rich and famous, were built in the Gilded Age of the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is said that the 100 members of the club represented most of the wealth in America at that time. However, the members aged and passed away, leaving their wealth or debt to their descendants, the Great Depression caused many to lose their fortunes, then two world wars wreaked havoc on the country, so most of those homes were abandoned. Thanks to ongoing renovation efforts by the state of Georgia, many have been rebuilt. My main character in The Gilded Curse, Alexandra Smithfield (Lexie), inherits one of those abandoned mansions right at the start of World War II. The family fortune gone, she intends to renovate and sell the mansion she hasn’t seen since childhood since her mother believed the island cursed, due to some tragedies that happened to their family while there. So Lexie is “cursed” in two ways – by inheriting something she can no longer afford to keep and by the imagined curse her mother believes. When suspicious events happen around her cottage, she wonders if her mother was right.

Today, you can take tours of the Millionaires’ Village and see the former “cottages” of Pulitzer, Vanderbilt, J.P. Morgan, etc. You can also stay at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, renovated and now part of the Jekyll Island Club Resort. Some of the characters in my book were real people who lived in 1942, particularly the Maurice sisters, two single sisters who loved the island and never wanted to leave it, even when the President of the United States wanted the island vacated during the war. One interesting thing about the Maurice house: efforts to renovate it have met one obstacle after another, leading some people to believe the sisters’ spirits are still there and very particular about what they want done to their house.

My Impressions

“Lexie was beginning to believe there were too many secrets on the island, including those that involved her. She promised herself she’d discover the truth and trust Russell to help her. Unless he was too busy keeping his own secrets.”

Marilyn Turk combines romance, suspense, mystery, and WWII to bring us the first book in the Suspicious Shores series, The Gilded Curse.

In 1942, Lexie Smithfield has returned to the summer playground of the rich and famous, Jekyll Island, to dispose of her family’s dilapidated cottage. Having lost her father to an accident, her mother to dementia, and her brother to the war, Lexie has no one to rely on but herself.

When Lexie returns, she finds a childhood friend, Russell Thompson, superintendent of the club, waiting for her. She also encounters former unwanted acquaintances, a surly gardener, and rumors of ghosts in her cottage.

The cottage has secrets and is most forbidding. Yet, someone is after something valuable in the old cottage. As things go from bad to worse, Lexie hears over and over in her head her Mother’s voice, claiming the curse of Jekyll Island has ruined their family.

With strange sightings off the coast and strange happenings in the cottage, can Lexie and Russell work together, overcoming social barriers, to find the truth before the curse claims its last victim? Can Lexie find her way back to God, or is He angry at her because she has ignored Him for so long?

I loved the topics broached in this touching story. PTSD, mental illness, respect for veterans, better treatment for mentally ill, social barriers, fears, fear of God. All are a natural part of the story.

And the history! I love learning new things, and I never knew some of these facts about WWII and our own shores.

I highly recommend this book. I immediately went to my fave retailer and bought the sequel, Shadow of the Curse, for more adventures with Lexie and Russell.

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

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!! I’m ready to visit Jekyll Island!!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 11

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 11

Pause for Tales, December 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 13

Mary Hake, December 13

Betti Mace, December 14

Texas Book-aholic, December 15

Min Reads and Reviews, December 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 16

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 17

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 18

Holly’s Book Corner, December 18

Blogging With Carol, December 19

Cover Lover Book Review, December 20

For Him and My Family, December 21

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, December 22 (Author Interview)

Little Homeschool on the prairie, December 22

Connie’s History Classroom, December 23

Lily’s Corner, December 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marilyn is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 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/293d1/the-gilded-curse-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

When Love Comes by Penny Zeller Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: When Love Comes

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: December 5, 2023

Can love be found amidst broken hearts and unexpected loss?

Determined to heal her broken heart, Charlotte Eliason visits her aunts in Prune Creek, Wyoming. What should be a time of peace and calm becomes one of chaos and unwelcome surprises when she discovers her longtime foe, Tobias Hallman, is the new blacksmith. To make matters worse, her two meddlesome aunts are constantly inviting him to supper and encouraging friendship between the two sworn enemies.
Tobias Hallman has always wanted to be a blacksmith, so when an opportunity arises to own his own shop in Prune Creek, he seizes it. However, he doesn’t expect to cross paths with his childhood nemesis, the annoying Charlotte Eliason.
When tragedy strikes, close proximity soon forces two reluctant hearts to become allies in a quest to rescue Tobias’s orphaned niece. Can Charlotte and Tobias put aside their preconceived disdain for each other and find love in the midst of challenging circumstances? Does God have a plan for them and for a young girl grieving the untimely loss of her parents?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of nearly two books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.

When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.

More from Penny

One of the most exciting things about writing a book is creating memorable characters. I couldn’t wait for Charlotte and Tobias to have their own story—and to revisit Aunt Myrtle and Aunt Fern. I hope you enjoy this short excerpt from When Love Comes.

Blessings,

Penny

“Charlotte! Oh, Charlotte!” Two jubilant voices garnered her attention. Aunt Myrtle and Aunt Fern waved at her from the north end of the boardwalk. Charlotte bustled her way through the crowds and toward the aunts.

My, but if they hadn’t begun to have a strong resemblance in their older years. Both had completely gray hair, and while Aunt Fern wore spectacles, her round face and pert nose matched her sister’s.

“Best not ever say they resemble each other,” Ma told her before she embarked on this trip. “Even if they do. For you might find yourself sleeping in the chicken coop for such a comment.” Ma and Charlotte had laughed over that, even as Ma insisted it would be detrimental to suggest their likeness.

“Look at you! You’ve grown into such a lovely young lady,” Aunt Myrtle wrapped her arms around Charlotte. “We’re so glad you’re here.”

Aunt Fern gave her a hug next. “Yes, we are. It’s been too long since an Eliason was here in Prune Creek. The buggy is thisaway. It’s a slight bit too far for us to walk to the Peabody house these days.”

“Too far for you, maybe,” chided Aunt Myrtle. She fingered her decorative hat. “What do you think about my hat, Charlotte? Mrs. Peabody was about to discard it when I salvaged it.”

Since she was taller than Aunt Myrtle, Charlotte could see the top of the hat and the fake bird immersed in a portable flower garden. “It’s lovely.”

“Well, it is not,” declared Aunt Fern. “Who wears a hat with a bird on it?”

Aunt Myrtle lifted her chin, nearly causing the hat to topple from her head. “Women of high society who take a fancy to the latest and most elegant fashions.”

“But you’re neither.”

“Pshaw. Hush, Fern.”

They walked down the boardwalk on the way to the buggy. As they passed the barbershop, a balding man with the thickest spectacles Charlotte had ever seen perched in the entryway. “Well, hello, Fern. Would you like a haircut?”

“You know full and well, Mr. Gorman, that I do not need a haircut.” Aunt Fern fluffed her gray curls and tossed him a disgusted look. “That vexing man asks me if I would like a haircut every time I walk by the barbershop. Far be it from me to allow someone with magnifying glasses for spectacles to see well enough to fashion my coiffure.”

My Impressions

“Sometimes the Good Lord places folks in our lives who become far more than mere friends.”

Penny Zeller takes us back in time to Prune Creek, Wyoming, in 1895. Charlotte Eliason has had her heart broken, and has traveled to live with her two perpetually bickering aunts.

Charlotte is shocked to discover that the young smithy her aunts want to set her up with is none other than Tobias Hallman, her childhood nemesis.

This old West romance is perfect for those who like the enemies-to-friends-to-more trope. Expect the meddling aunts to provide tons of humor. You’ve just got to love Myrtle and Fern! And little Lanie will both become endearing and break your heart! One of the best things about this book, is that it really can be read as a stand-alone, even though it’s part of a series. (But honestly, the books are too good to miss any.)

I think I would truly have enjoyed living in this town and having a front row seat to the romance and hilarity. I might forego an invitation to supper, though!

One thing Tobias doesn’t understand is how Charlotte can re-read a book four or more times, and he can’t resist needling her. “I do know, however, that if I read a book once I can be assured it will end the same way should I read it a second time. Now on the fourth time, the ending might change.”

One of my fave lines shows Charlotte’s maturity and trust in God. “God wasn’t caught unaware. He knows this is happening and the repercussions…We need to begin collecting prayers.” Sounds simple, but life is being turned topsy-turvy as she proclaims her faith, and encourages another to stand on her faith plateau.

I highly recommend When Love Comes. I received a copy from the author, and from Celebrate Lit, and I bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“I don’t regret the life God chose for me. What I do regret is the bitterness.”

“Don’t be like I’ve been. Forgive, move on, and await with anticipation the life God has planned for you.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I always enjoy Penny Zeller’s historical romances!! And we get a heaping helping of the hilarious great aunts in this one!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 6

lakesidelivingsite, December 6

Alena Mentink, December 7

She Lives To Read, December 8

Vicky Sluiter, December 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 9

Texas Book-aholic, December 10

EmpowerMoms, December 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 12

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 13

Devoted To Hope, December 14

Cover Lover Book Review, December 14

For Him and My Family, December 15

Holly’s Book Corner, December 16

Connie’s History Classroom, December 16

Splashes of Joy, December 17

Pause for Tales, December 18

Life on Chickadee Lane, December 19

Mary Hake, December 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Penny is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift and a signed 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/2924a/when-love-comes-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Kindle, Love Inspired, Purchase

The Cowgirl’s Last Rodeo by Tabitha Bouldin Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book:

Title: The Cowgirl’s Last Rodeo

Author: Tabitha Bouldin

Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance; Western

Releases: November 28, 2023

She left home to chase her dreams

Now she’s back seeking a second chance…

When Callie Wade’s horse goes blind, there’s only one man who can save her barrel racing career. Brody Jacobs is the best horse trainer she knows—if he’s willing to help. She broke his heart when she left him behind to go after rodeo stardom. This time, will they put their hearts on the line to reach the championship…and a future together?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

About the Author:

Tabitha Bouldin has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing/English from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and has been writing since 2015. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, you’ll find her curled up with a book. Tabitha’s genre of choice is Contemporary Christian Romance which she describes as: Adventure with heart.

My Impressions

“I’m here and I’m helping. You can’t stop me.” Truer words had never been spoken. If he could stop her, she’d have never left him.”

In the Cowgirl’s Last Rodeo by Tabitha Bouldin, we are introduced to two very headstrong former lovers who have been separated by life. When Brody Jacobs’s dad had a life-altering accident 10 years ago, it changed Brody’s life plans, too. Instead of being a traveling, renowned horse trainer, he chooses to stay at the ranch to support his family.

Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Callie Wade, whom his family “adopted” because of her parents’ indifference, left about that time to follow her dream of being part of the rodeo circuit.

Ten years later, Callie is desperate for Brody’s help to retrain her beloved horse, Glow, so she can return to the rodeo circuit. What follows is a good look at two individuals who are trying to work life out for themselves, trusting no one but themselves. Secrets, heartache, and pain become patterned ruts. I liked this book because I got disgusted with both characters’ short-sightedness. But you know what? That is so typical of real people, trying to maneuver through life on their own, without others or God. So the characters’ flawed lives are fitting!

These two act like thornbirds, getting close, backing up, running away, hurting each other. “I’ll help Glow. On one condition.”…

“We don’t talk unless we’re training.”

“The Jacobses were like family to her, and she’d abandoned them, left them behind as though they had no value to her, and she’d never looked back.”

Can these two find a reason and the power to stop the cycle?

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

Notable Quotable:

“Some things about people change, but usually, who they are at their core…that stays the same.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent. The characters are so flawed, but, oh, so true to real life!!

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

Forever, Lovely: Forever in Time, Book Two, by Linore Rose Burkhard Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Forever Lovely: Forever in Time, Book Two

Series: Forever in Time

Author: Linore Rose Burkhard

Genre: Inspirational Romance, Time-Travel

Release: November 28, 2023

Note: This sequel can be read as a stand-alone.

When Miss Margaret Andrews travels to the future to find her missing sister, she never expected to find true love. In 1819 England, Margaret is a bluestocking with dreams of becoming an inventress, but when the Tallit, a magical time-travel shawl, goes awry she finds herself stranded in 21st Century Manhattan. At a Jane Austen conference, she meets Stewart Russell, a grad student studying early British female writers. Stewart is immediately taken with Margaret and her effortless use of the speech and manners of Jane’s day—until she claims to be FROM Jane’s day! Worse, due to a mix-up, he is a wanted man and the clock is ticking. Margaret must find a way to get them both back to 1819—before the unthinkable happens.

If you enjoyed the time-travel romance of Outlander, then you’ll love Margret and Stewart’s story in Forever Lovely. Buy now before the price changes!

About the Author

Linore Rose Burkard is a serious watcher of period films, a Janeite and hopeless romantic. An award-winning author best known for Inspirational Regency Romance, her first book with Harvest House (Before the Season Ends) opened the genre for the CBA. Linore is a magna cum laude English Lit. grad from CUNY, but now resides in Ohio with her husband and family, two cats, and a Shorkie. Active in church and in two monthly writers’ groups, (one of which she is president of), Linore loves to craft stories that fill a sweet spot for readers who, like herself, savor a happy ending. Influenced by Georgette Heyer, Linore’s historical romances, steeped in Regency authenticity, provide the light-hearted, comedic effects that first sparked her love for the genre. Besides romance, Linore writes young adult apocalyptic suspense. (The Pulse Effex Series, as L.R. Burkard, her alter-ego!)

Sign up for Linore’s newsletter to follow her writing life, book sales and promotions. Upon sign-up, you’ll get a short Regency flash fiction tale in your inbox! (No links allowed here- visit her on the web.)

My Impressions

“You don’t need an invention; in fact, you already have one, for you’ve reinvented yourself.” “That is hardly an invention, as I have not actually done anything but changed the poor opinion of myself that I was accustomed to keep.” “That is no small thing,” he said quietly. “Many people never manage it.”

Forever, Lovely by Linore Burkhold is a time-travel novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. While it would be helpful to have read Forever, Lately, first, there is enough backstory presented that Forever Lovely can stand on its own.

Margaret Andrews, 18, has traveled from the 19th century into 21st, with a relative , hoping to see her sister Clarissa who has forsaken the 19th century for a new life in the future. Mostly, Margaret, convinced she will be both poor and a life-long spinster, wants to bring back to the 19th century an invention to bring her fame and fortune. “Becoming an inventress would change everything!”

The juxtaposition of the two centuries, or the knowledge and customs of each, makes for many a great laugh. I loved the way Burkhold works and actual bookish event into the story as an important part! The tallit, or shawl, is quite mysterious. Burkhold weaves the faith message into her story in a very unique way.

Stewart Russell is a unique individual, rather an outcast among his peers. Studying 19th century women writers, he dresses for a special convention, never dreaming how his life is about to change. Can he accept that change, or will it be too much for his sensibilities?

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

Notable Quotables:

“As you know, I am called a bluestocking times at home, a wallflower, and utterly ignored. Soon I will be considered a spinster, an ape leader! In short, I have no prospects at home that cannot be equaled here or possibly exceeded.”

“you seem to enjoy the illusion of being unattractive.”

“We all like to put God in a box and assume He can only work in such-and-such a way, or through this or that means. But He is the Master of time. He lives outside it, He created it, He is beyond understanding and works in mysterious ways. The only way to judge whether something is of God or not is His Word, the Bible, not our preconceived ideas.”

“You will always be lovely, forever lovely.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Almost makes me want to time-travel!

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

When Love Comes by Penny Zeller Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: When Love Comes

Series: Wyoming Sunrise #3

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Releases: December 5, 2023

Can love be found amidst broken hearts and unexpected loss?

Determined to heal her broken heart, Charlotte Eliason visits her aunts in Prune Creek, Wyoming. What should be a time of peace and calm becomes one of chaos and unwelcome surprises when she discovers her longtime foe, Tobias Hallman, is the new blacksmith. To make matters worse, her two meddlesome aunts are constantly inviting him to supper and encouraging friendship between the two sworn enemies.

Tobias Hallman has always wanted to be a blacksmith, so when an opportunity arises to own his own shop in Prune Creek, he seizes it. However, he doesn’t expect to cross paths with his childhood nemesis, the annoying Charlotte Eliason.

When tragedy strikes, close proximity soon forces two reluctant hearts to become allies in a quest to rescue Tobias’s orphaned niece. Can Charlotte and Tobias put aside their preconceived disdain for each other and find love in the midst of challenging circumstances? Does God have a plan for them and for a young girl grieving the untimely loss of her parents?

A woman with a broken heart. A man struggling with the loss of his brother and the subsequent care of his young niece. And two silly aunts who discover it’s never too late for true love.

About the Author

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is a multi-published author of over a dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.

When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.

Penny is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her website, http://www.pennyzeller.com, her blog, http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks. To sign up for her monthly newsletter with book news and other fun morsels, go to https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/262119/74964679867237940/share

My Impressions

“Sometimes the Good Lord places folks in our lives who become far more than mere friends.”

Penny Zeller takes us back in time to Prune Creek, Wyoming, in 1895. Charlotte Eliason has had her heart broken, and has traveled to live with her two perpetually bickering aunts.

Charlotte is shocked to discover that the young smithy her aunts want to set her up with is none other than Tobias Hallman, her childhood nemesis.

This old West romance is perfect for those who like the enemies-to-friends-to-more trope. Expect the meddling aunts to provide tons of humor. You’ve just got to love Myrtle and Fern! And little Lanie will both become endearing and break your heart! One of the best things about this book, is that it really can be read as a stand-alone, even though it’s part of a series. (But honestly, the books are too good to miss any.)

I think I would truly have enjoyed living in this town and having a front row seat to the romance and hilarity. I might forego an invitation to supper, though!

One thing Tobias doesn’t understand is how Charlotte can re-read a book four or more times, and he can’t resist needling her. “I do know, however, that if I read a book once I can be assured it will end the same way should I read it a second time. Now on the fourth time, the ending might change.”

One of my fave lines shows Charlotte’s maturity and trust in God. “God wasn’t caught unaware. He knows this is happening and the repercussions…We need to begin collecting prayers.” Sounds simple, but life is being turned topsy-turvy as she proclaims her faith, and encourages another to stand on her faith plateau.

I highly recommend When Love Comes.

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

Notable Quotables:

“I don’t regret the life God chose for me. What I do regret is the bitterness.”

“Don’t be like I’ve been. Forgive, move on, and await with anticipation the life God has planned for you.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I laughed (so hard!!) my way through this book, but also saw things to change in my own life!