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Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy by Misty M. Beller Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: April 29, 2025

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

Sampson Coulter is determined to undo his disastrous mistake that is jeopardizing his family’s future. Now he’s deeply embedded in the corrupt mining empire of the ruthless Mick McPharland, and has earned the trust of Jedidiah, the brutal right-hand man. The threat reaches much farther than his own family, and he knows he must dismantle the operation from within…or die trying.

Grieving the loss of her mother, Jewel Hampton is shocked to discover a newborn baby on her doorstep. When she seeks help from her father, Jedidiah, she never imagines he’ll force her to marry Sampson Coulter, the kind man who only gave her a ride to town. Though her father has always been willing to pass her off, at least she has Sampson’s promise to protect her and the baby. It doesn’t hurt that he’s the most handsome man she’s ever seen.

Marrying Jedidiah’s daughter adds an impossible complication to Sampson’s mission. It seems he can’t have it all—redemption for himself, justice for the victims of the corruption, protection for the innocent…and a life with the woman and babe he’s coming to love.From a USA Today bestselling author comes the gripping series finale filled with high-stakes danger, a marriage of convenience, an instant family, and love that heals wounded hearts.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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

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

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

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

More from Misty

Hello Friends!

I’m BEYOND excited to share the finale of the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series with you! This is Sampson’s story, the black sheep of the family. I thought it might be fun to give you a taste of one of my favorite scenes in the book:

***

Sampson eyed the woman he’d been told to marry. “I’d feel better if you and Ruby weren’t at the mercy of your father. I’d rather give you my name and make sure you have a nice place to live—a safe place. I’ll make sure you want for nothing.” She studied him with furrowed brow. He let his eyes plead with her as he said this last part. “Please consider it. For Ruby’s sake, if nothing else.”

Her expression didn’t change, she simply…stared at him. What thoughts churned in that mind of hers? Did she believe him?

Or did she think he was on her father’s side, trying to manipulate her into giving him control?

Show her the truth, Lord.

At last, her mouth parted as she prepared to speak. Her voice came out hesitant. “Would you expect to…live with us? Like a real husband?”

He shook his head, fighting off the burn in his cheeks at what she really asked. “You can live wherever you like. My family has a ranch a day’s ride from here. You’re welcome to move in there. Or if you want to be on your own, near a town, we’ll find a place you like.” He forced himself to meet her gaze again. They had to be honest with each, and he couldn’t let embarrassment get in the way of anything she needed to ask. “I won’t expect anything from you. Nothing like in a usual marriage.”

Her shoulders sagged a little, as if in relief. But a small furrow remained between her brows. “Why are you doing this? Why would you willingly burden yourself with us?”

He let himself consider her question. Why didhe want her to say yes so much? He didn’t owe her anything. She was the daughter of his enemy—kin to the man who stole a year’s worth of sapphires from his family.

But this woman was different. Nothing like Jedidiah. And for some reason, he craved to keep her safe. To protect her from the evil who’d sired her. She didn’t deserve to be at that man’s mercy. Nor did the sweet child.

Sampson could help her so easily. Not only did he have money from his share of the sapphires, which he’d saved for years, he also had his pay from McPharland.

He swallowed as he tried to put all this into words. “I can help you.” His voice graveled with how much he wanted to do that. And then he let himself say the real truth. “And maybe in helping you, I can make up for my own mistakes.”

***

I pray you love Sampson and Grace’s story in Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy!

Blessings!

Misty

My Impressions

“Once they arrived, she’d be back under her father’s protection. The thought almost made him spit. Jedidiah was no protector. He was a bully. A lunatic. A man without a soul.”

I’ve been waiting for this conclusion to the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch by Misty M. Beller, for a while! Saving the Mountain Man’s Legacy is Sampson Coulter ‘s story. Sampson is the Coulter brother that has gone AWOL from the family compound to work for the enemy, Mick McPharland, in his mines. None of the Coulters can understand why, nor why Sampson has refused their efforts to bring him home, out of that extremely dangerous situation. Both Mick and his foreman, Jedidiah, are known for their evil, cruel ways. 

When Sampson is out on a mission for Jedidiah, he meets a very young lady with a baby, out in the elements. She claims she is looking for her father and his protection. Only her father is Jedidiah. Having seen violent beatings and other crimes performed at the word of Jedidiah, something stirs within Sampson to provide protection for this poor, alone, young woman. Help that he is sure Jedidiah is not about to provide. 

Finding out that Sampson has rescued his daughter, Grace, and baby Ruby, Jedidiah should be grateful. Instead, he forces Sampson and Grace to marry, yet pays no attention to his newly arrived daughter. 

Knowing Jedidiah is up to no good, esp. aimed at the Coulters, Sampson walks into a bad situation.

When Sampson, determined to fix his past mistakes, finds himself in an impossible situation, he refuses to try to help Grace. He tells his brother, 

 “She needs someone better than me.”

To which his brother, wise beyond his  years, replies, “You might be right about that. But you’re her husband. Your job now is to become the man she needs.”

“None of us are ever going to be good enough. Not on our own. That’s why we need God and each other, why we’re stronger together. You can’t do this alone, so it’s a good thing you came home.”- Miles 

Grace, too, plays the independent card. If only she does this or that, she can fix the situation for Sampson and all the Coulters. After a while, I wanted to shake these two. They are surrounded by so many loving, accepting, warm, and forgiving people. Yet they insist on going it alone. It will take a lot for these two to realize Someone wants to be in on their plans, guiding their footsteps, and that He has given them lots of helpful family!

I only wished we could have had more of Miles’s story.  I really liked a totally unexpected twist as the action gets hot. I will miss the Coulters, but fortunately, Ms. Beller is starting a new series, the Lords of the Rockies. 

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

Notable Quotables:

“God loved them, from the very beginning. And He never stopped loving them, trying to reach them, even to the end. Yet He gives us free choice to accept His love or push it away.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great! I have enjoyed reading about the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch! I am sorry their stories are finished!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 31

lakesidelivingsite, May 31

Book Looks by Lisa, June 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 2

Simple Harvest Reads, June 3 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 3

Texas Book-aholic, June 4

Betti Mace, June 5

The Important Things in Life: God, books, & chocolate , June 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 7

Holly’s Book Corner , June 7

Cover Lover Book Review, June 8

Devoted To Hope, June 9

Blossoms and Blessings, June 9

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, June 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 11

Pause for Tales, June 11

Books You Can Feel Good About, June 12

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 13

Mary Hake, June 13

Giveaway

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54233

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Just Read Tours, Kindle, Kregel, Purchase

Hearts Aweigh by Shannon Sue Dunlap

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Hearts Aweigh

Series: Love Overboard #2

Author: Shannon Sue Dunlap

Publisher: Kregel Publications

Released: May 20, 2025

This witty, heartfelt romance is an absolute treat for readers.”
—Elly Gilbert, coauthor of Under the Blue Skies

Cheeky septuagenarian matchmakers, the “Shippers” are on a mission to secure a dreamy Mr. Right for Abby O’Brien, a sunny, optimistic childcare worker for Monarch Cruises. She loves her job looking after the children of vacationing parents, but harbors one unfulfilled desire: to be a wife and a mother.

With his shy five-year-old daughter in tow, divorced elitist lawyer Spencer Randolph Masterson has anything but romance in mind. His goal on the MS Buckingham is to persuade his mother, Daisy, to leave her ridiculous cruise ship lifestyle and return to New Orleans. But Daisy isn’t interested in life on land. Besides, she and her matchmaking posse have a marriage to arrange.

When a secret from Daisy’s past surfaces and threats of blackmail start flying, the Shippers must protect their own while attempting to convince Spencer’s scarred heart to weigh anchor and boldly set sail for a future with Abby.

“Inspirational romance readers will relish every cozy moment they spend with the Shippers!”
—Bethany Turner, author of Cole and Laila Are Just Friends

My Impressions

“One voyage wasn’t long enough to fix the things that were wrong with this man.” 

Hearts Aweigh by Shannon Sue Dunlap is such a cute multi-generational rom-com!! The Shippers, 4 elderly ladies who practically live on the cruise ship, are back. (Yes, this is book 2 in the Love Overboard series. I felt like reading bk 1 first was helpful, but not entirely necessary to understand this one.) With one highly successful match under their belts, these fearsome ladies are ready to tackle victim ( I mean, client) number 2.    

I love the Shippers! We get to know each of the four a little more on this cruise on the MS Buckingham. Daisy, the Southern, genteel lady of the group, has secrets that nobody knew. And this cruise brings her some big surprises. 

I love that the Shipper’s target in this novel, Abby, a Kids Kingdom worker aboard ship, has asked for their help. “it’s lonely by myself. I’d rather have a partner. Someone to share things with. That guaranteed one person who’s always on my side. My best friend.” Of course, the Shippers eventually settle on stuffed shirt, workaholic lawyer Spencer as a possible match for Abby. Abby’s response is noted at the beginning of the blog!! 

A sunshine vs. Mr. Grumpy, a “child-whisperer” vs. a father who has no idea how to be a real dad. Someone who adores Daisy vs. someone who definitely does NOT!! How can this match ever work? And so begins a very trying back-and-forth, unpredictable romance. Will it be or won’t it? The one thing that IS predictable is the laughter!

Plus the adorable factor. That would be Spencer’s daughter, 5-yr-old Madeleine, afraid to speak, play, or move a muscle. How can Abby help this sad little girl out of her shell? But, Abby, being the Pied Piper that she is, has Madeleine playing and giggling and beginning to experience being a child. “Certain children claimed a room in a person’s heart and lived there.” As Maddie claims this spot in Abby’s heart, Spencer finds her invaluable. But he waffles on why he needs Abby near. 

With that romance teetering, the Shippers also have a blackmailer to catch. I love how all that works out, and I foresee another Shipper’s story coming out in a future book. 

If you like romcoms, this is a must-read! 

I received a copy of the book from Just Read Tours, and I also bought my own copy. No positive opinion was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“A well-stocked library is as close as we get to heaven on earth.”– Seamus

“Once you repent, it’s under the blood. The Bible promises complete forgiveness. Feeling guilty isn’t part of the deal.”

“Faith is for when we don’t understand God’s plan. Sometimes we have to walk in the dark awhile and hold tight to his hand.”– Althea

“Dad gave her everything she needed.”“Not the things she needed most. Love, understanding, acceptance.”

“The greatest weapon you can wield is silence. When you say nothing, people rush to fill the awkward void. The one who speaks first relinquishes control of the conversation to the other person. Don’t be in a hurry to answer.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! Quadruple the busybodies, quadruple the fun! Never a dull moment with the Shippers at work!

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

The Angel of Second Street by Barbara Tifft Blakey

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Angel of Second Street

Author: Barbara Tifft Blakey

Genre: Christian Fiction/Romance/Historical Fiction

Release date: May 1, 2025

How Can Compassion be Considered Wrong?

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

Ida Dempsey has grown up in a privileged life of luxury thanks to her aunt and uncle. Although Second Street—where women of ill repute ply their wares—is off limits to respectable citizens, her heart of compassion compels her to frequent the area, hoping to make a difference in their lives. Ida has also befriended Qui Shau, a Chinese woman who keeps house for her family, but friendships between the whites and Chinese are taboo in Eureka. Ida tries to keep secret her forbidden compassion, but someone is watching and will use it against her.

When Blaine Prescott meets Ida at a church picnic, his parents warn him away from any relationship with the young lady who has been seen on Second Street in the company of a Chinese woman. But how could such a kindhearted, lovely young woman be anything but good? But when riots break out in Chinatown and Ida disappears, Blaine will do anything to find out where and why she has gone.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Barbara Tifft Blakey lives in the Pacific Northwest on five wooded acres with Terry, her husband of forty-plus years. She is best known for her award-winning, literature-inspired, language arts program, Total Language Plus, which she created over twenty years ago, and is used by thousands of homeschoolers. Barbara teaches Sunday school and enjoys speaking on various topics to Christian women’s groups. She and her husband have four grown children and five grandchildren. She enjoys camping at the ocean and is an avid soccer fan. During the day-light challenged winter months, she reads, crochets, bakes, and plots her next novel.

More from Barbara

As the birthplace of my mother, Eureka, California holds a special charm for me intensified by my grandmother’s stories of the area. Every visit I’ve made has encouraged me to dig deeper, to learn more, to experience this small, coastal town’s magnetism.

Its history includes the Wiyot’s massacre on Indian Island which can be viewed from the harbor and the expulsion of the Chinese population from Humboldt County. Carson’s Mansion is the most photographed Victorian dwelling in California, and possibly the United States, built to keep the lumber baron’s loggers employed during a downturn in the timber industry. Because of the numerous brothels, an entire section of Second Street located in the heart of the community was deemed out of bounds for children.

Both hero and heroine in Angel of Second Street are fictional, but my cast of characters includes real-life people such as Reverend Huntington, David Kendall, and Wei Lum and real historical businesses such as Wells Drug Store and Kitty Farris’s Joy Emporium.

I first wrote a version of this story more than a decade ago, but who can argue with God’s timing? Events that happened over 150 years ago feel current in today’s political climate where fear tactics dominate debates and spur regrettable actions. I didn’t set out to make a political statement, only to tell an engaging, thought-provoking love story, but in the midst of relating historical events, a deeper truth emerged as relevant today as it was in the mid 1800s.

I pray you’ll journey with Ida and Blaine through the turmoil of their times and be enriched to face the trials of today with renewed hope.

My Impressions

“On my way to the picnic yesterday, I asked God to show me the woman He’d chosen to be my wife, someone who loves Jesus as much as I do. I saw you first.”

Wow! Barbara Tifft Blakey held me spellbound as she wove the historical story of 1884 Eureka, California, and its Chinatown. While I love to read historical romances, I am finding they are often not something I would want to live through. The Angel of Second Street tells of two young people who are immediately attracted to each other upon meeting. Rich, eligible Blaine sees beautiful Ida as a direct answer to his prayers for a godly mate. His family puts up every roadblock possible to keep the two apart, including throwing a family friend’s daughter into his path repeatedly. 

I love Ida and Blaine. Both truly want to do more than follow society’s rules and make their families happy. Ida’s biggest wish in life is to tell others about Jesus. “God had opened the eyes of her heart, and everywhere Ida looked she saw hurting people. Even Mrs. Prescott.” She has a purpose, a mission, and a passion. She doesn’t give up. But she does battle within herself, having to deceive in order to carry out her definition of doing right. “Was anything more important than telling the lost about Jesus? But also important were the scriptural directives to obey one’s parents. In her case, didn’t that mean her aunt and uncle? Never before had she been forced to choose between two equally indispensable commands.” Blaine has his own struggles with his shipping tycoon father who has no interest in anyone’s true well-being. 

Whew, it’s incredible the mental struggles both Ida and Blaine must wade through, accompanied by much prayer, to figure out the right path. Sometimes the paths they choose are funny. Sometimes the resulting paths are loaded with strife. I wondered if I’d be brave enough to choose some of the paths they did, or would I choose to please people and just make life easy? 

I loved seeing the growth of thinking in both Ida and Blaine.

Some characters are surprising. How fun it was, to discover characters acting quite differently than what I expected of them! Great twists! 

My fave character is Reverend Huntington. It took me a while to figure out how he feels about the workers from Chinatown that the town wants to expel, or the ladies of Second Street that Ida is determined to help. At first he is unwilling to encourage Ida in her endeavors. Eventually, we see him in another light. 

It is so sad to see the general attitude of the town’s affluent businessmen. While their households and sometimes businesses benefit greatly from the Chinese workers, they despise them immensely. “Less than.” That is the rich, white opinion towards the Chinese. Blaine is like Ida in his disregard for class. He understands  the prejudice he is  seeing, directed at the Chinatown residents. “The way he saw it, the problems discussed were symptoms of underlying issues. Tackle those, and the contemptible manifestations would take care of themselves.” Hmmm… makes one think about today’s atmosphere of cancelling whole groups of people for the actions of a few. 

This is long, I know. If you’re still with me, I have to comment on Blaine’s revelation to Ida of his prayer for God to show him a woman at the picnic who loved Jesus as much as he did. My husband relates a similar tale. He says God told him his future wife would be at his baptism. There were only two of us girls there that day near his age, and I was moving 5 hours away in a couple of months! We didn’t start seriously dating until 5 years later because of the distance, but, wow. I sure am glad he didn’t blurt out that declaration when he first was baptized!!😂

Notable Quotables:

 “My heavenly Father is responsible for my joy—and for yours. You cannot protect me from this world’s trials. You don’t need to, because I have His defense and refuge.”- Ida

“If a man lost integrity, what did he have left?”

“I believe God is calling me to act, and I’m willing.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! My mind is whirling with the thoughts and implications of this story. Looking forward to the next!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 29

Pens Pages & Pulses, May 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 31

Texas Book-aholic, June 1

Stories By Gina, June 2 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 4

Simple Harvest Reads, June 5 (Guest Review from Donna)

For Him and My Family, June 6

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, June 6

Holly’s Book Corner, June 7

Pause for Tales, June 8

Cover Lover Book Review, June 9

Book Butterfly in Dreamland, June 9

Devoted To Hope, June 10

Bizwings Book Blog, June 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Barabara 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.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54231

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

Capture the Moment by Suzanne Woods Fisher Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Capture the Moment

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: May 6, 2025

Kate Cunningham is facing the opportunity of a lifetime. As a zoo photographer, she’s spent years photographing animals in carefully controlled environments, but now National Geographic has dangled an irresistible prize: If Kate can snag a unique photo of a legendary bear in Grand Teton National Park, they just might publish it. It’s the kind of challenge Kate has been waiting for, and she’s eager to prove herself in the wild.

With more enthusiasm than experience, Kate soon realizes that capturing an image of this bear isn’t as simple as she hoped. Fortunately, she crosses paths with Grant Cooper, a seasonal park ranger who knows the terrain–and the bears–better than anyone. His tracking skills could be exactly what Kate needs to succeed, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes. But they’re not the only ones with an interest in the park’s most famous bear. And his motives are far from innocent.

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, Amish romance, and women’s fiction. She and her husband live in a small town in California. Most friends act a little nervous around Suzanne 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

A Spark that Lit a Story 

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Capture the Moment (Revell—May 6, 2025)

Inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places—like a gift shop in Grand Teton National Park. While browsing, I struck up a conversation with a college student who had never set foot outside Alabama until her mom dropped her off for a summer job in the park. One minute, she was home in the Deep South; the next, she was surrounded by towering peaks and moose crossings. Talk about a culture shock.

That conversation lit a spark that eventually became my National Parks Summers series. I couldn’t stop thinking about the fascinating mix of people who work seasonally in national parks. You’ve got fresh-faced college kids on their first big adventure, retirees finally living their bucket-list dreams, and everyone in between. These parks aren’t just natural wonders—they’re crossroads for people from all walks of life, all chasing something unique.

In Capture the Moment, I wanted to explore what happens when people and landscapes collide. Kate Cunningham, a determined zoo photographer, swaps enclosures for the wilds of Grand Teton, chasing an elusive bear and her own sense of purpose. Along the way, Kate meets Grant Cooper, a rugged park ranger with a knack for tracking and a talent for keeping her on her toes.

National parks are more than just beautiful backdrops—they’re places where people find themselves, lose themselves, and sometimes stumble into something extraordinary.

Maybe even love.

My Impressions

“399…Queen of the Tetons…”

“‘A living, breathing legend.’ ‘Exactly. She’s a symbol of the wild, a reminder that even in the heart of nature, there are stories, personalities, and connections waiting to be discovered.’”

And…we’re off on a journey to visit some of our nation’s great national parks with Suzanne Woods Fisher, told in her gentle, heart-warming style. First stop in this new series, National Parks Summers, is Grand Tetons National Park, in Capture the Moment. 

If you are a fan of nature, underdogs, Suzanne Woods Fisher, plot twists, and gentle reminders to listen to the still, small voice of God, this is a must-read.

I adored the novice photographer, Kate, who thought she would get the original photo that no one else had. What a shock she gets when she arrives at the best viewing spots for the old grizzly, 399, only to discover a great crowd of disdainful professional photographers ahead of her. Fortunately, Kate is willing to learn from her mistakes and not wallow in her failures. ( And being a city-slicker, there are plenty!) “She reminded herself that mistakes were a natural part of the learning process. “Each one has a lesson to teach,” she said to herself.” Another verse that helps her when she is amazed at her own obtuseness( and don’t most of us have blinders on in some area of life?) is “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it?” What I love about this moment is that Woods points out this is a verse God brings to Kate’s mind because she had hidden it in her heart long ago. Do we have verses like that? Second, are we, as we age, still working on memorizing, so God can bring those verses to mind?

Woods populates her novel with so many other wonderful characters! Of course, everyone will love Coop! How can you not! Handsome, knowledgeable,  expert on bears, and compassionate. He champions Kate, the underdog, plus he understands and mentors the impossibly belligerent Frankie. This is no small feat, because it is obvious he would rather not have this sidekick 24-7! And, he is unafraid to tell the truth as it is… to those that need to hear it… which his acting director, Sally, tries to silence.

Sally. She is acting director of the park, and a piece of work! I was surprised to find that I didn’t like her any more after a night of “sleeping on it” than I did when I finished the story. 

And Tim and his granddaughter, Maisie! To meet Tim is to love him, unless you are Frankie. Such a wise, thoughtful, man rooted in faith. His granddaughter, Maisie, who frequently gets dumped on him? She’s 13, loquacious, loud, and goes non-stop 24-7. Everyone seems to have a love-avoid her relationship with her. Maisie wants so hard to be accepted, loved, and seen as special. Pops finally tells her on one occasion when she takes imitation overboard, “a tulip doesn’t struggle to be different from a rose.”

Bonus note: With a great detailed map of the park at the beginning and a list of the most important characters also at the beginning, I felt well-armed to tackle the book. 

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

Notable Quotables:

“she realized that seeing things differently was a gift, not a burden.”

“But holding on to anger isn’t doing you any favors.”…“It’s like a poison.”…“Forgiveness is the antidote.”

“what you’re looking for can’t be found within. Only outside ourselves. Only in God.” 

“…he didn’t have to hang on to that hurt anymore.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! National parks story told in Fisher’s heart-warming, feels-like-a-hug-style, complete with a grizzly, romance, humor, faith, and a bit of mystery.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 22

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 22

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 22

By the Book, May 23

Carla’s Book Crush, May 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 24

Devoted To Hope, May 24

Book Looks by Lisa, May 25

Texas Book-aholic, May 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 26

lakesidelivingsite, May 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 27

The Avid Reader, May 28

Blossoms and Blessings, May 28

Southern Gal Loves to Read, May 28

Stories By Gina, May 29 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 29

Blogging With Carol, May 30

For Him and My Family, May 30

Cover Lover Book Review, May 31

Karen Baney Reviews, May 31

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 1

Holly’s Book Corner, June 1

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 2

Books Less Travelled, June 2

She Lives To Read, June 3

Pause for Tales, June 3

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 3

Lily’s Corner, June 4

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, June 4

Giveaway

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54226

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

To Kiss a Knight by Grace Hitchcock Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: To Kiss a Knight

Series: Best Laid Plans, Bk 2

Author: Grace Hitchcock

Publisher: Kregel

Released: May 20, 2025

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

When everything is going right, something must go wrong

Vivienne Poppy’s plans are working out quite well. She’s run away from her family and the prospect of a horrid marriage of convenience and plans to spend her time writing under her pseudonym, Lady Larkby. Until she discovers the old Larkby title is not as dead as she thought.

Yeoman of the Guard and recently knighted Sir Sebastian Larkby is stunned to discover a Lady Larkby that he does not remember marrying. Suddenly Vivienne is left with a choice: relinquish her pen name, expose her true identity, and break Sebastian’s dying grandmother’s heart—or feign marriage to Sebastian to keep the title and fulfill the old woman’s wishes.

This witty novel from award-winning author Grace Hitchcock is filled with scandal, mishap, and just the right amount of romance.

“A rollicking Regency with romance, danger, humor, and unexpected plot twists you won’t want to miss!”
—Crystal Caudill, Christy Award–winning author of Written in Secret

Get your copy by clicking below!

https://mybook.to/QPVfA

About the Author

Grace Hitchcock is the award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in the New Orleans area with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.

My Impressions

“You should know that I was born with an extra dose of curiosity. It has never been kind to me, and no matter how hard I try to tame it, I fail when it matters most.”

Ah, travel back to the merry land of England in Victorian times.  Grace Hitchcock has captured the essence of the era well in her novel, To Kiss a Knight. All is genteel and well, unless one is…well, actually, one of several people in this book! The first is rather day-dreamy authoress Vivienne, who unexpectedly finds herself in a jam. Trying to escape an arranged marriage, her stagecoach is hijacked by a highwayman. She comes to consciousness, finding herself slung over his shoulder, traveling horseback. While looking for an escape, our intrepid heroine is thrilled for new ideas for her next book, which, of course, is written under a pseudonym,  “Lady Larkby.” After being delivered home by a very kind highwayman (“Goldie the Highwayman,” though he prefers the name Bash),  Vivienne begins to plan times for the community of Bath, to get to know her as her author alter-ego. 

This is well and good, (and worth plenty of smiles) until the Highwayman also is found to have an alter-ego. His is Sir Sebastian Larkby, which would make him the husband of our authoress. And so, this lark of a tale gets more tangled. When Sebastian’s ill grandmother hears from a gossip that he has married, she rallies. What will happen to her health, precarious as it is, if she hears that it is all a ruse? 

This novel has lots of Victorian atmosphere, many laughs, and of course, romance between two unlikely people, plus a dab of suspense. I enjoyed a few twists that Hitchcock threw in. I’ll be going back to read the first novel in the series, To Catch a Coronet, and I’ll be anxious for the third to come!

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

Notable Quotables:

“Some adventuring pays in dividends, and others in disaster.”– Bash

“After all, a fictitious wife required a fictitious romance.”

“A thief who cared for the poor and a lady’s honor was a conundrum.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Great Victorian atmosphere, with plenty of clean romance, secrets, and suspense!

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

When Heaven Thunders Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: When Heaven Thunders (West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm #2)

Author: Kendy Pearson

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: October 1, 2024

When the devil wears Blue and Gray,

doing the right thing can be a thorny matter.

His family is missing. Bushwhackers are sleeping in his bed. This war just got a heap more personal for Union Sergeant Fin Dabney.

Fighting guerillas in your own neck of the woods comes at a high price. Neighbors, kin, and even Fin’s best friend are on the wrong end of a rifle. But not all battles are fought amid smoke and blood. When Fin faces a murderer from his past, flesh and spirit collide, but only one can prevail.

Melinda Jane has waited a lifetime for Fin to declare his intentions. But now she has moved on to other interests—with disastrous results. Her choices have cost her Fin’s love and possibly her life.

Why was it he could draw down on the enemy and look death in the eye, but he could not bring himself to deal plainly with Melinda Jane?

He never told her how he feels. Now he may never get the chance.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kendy Pearson is a worship leader, Bluegrass fiddler, and Civil War reenactment enthusiast. As a veteran high school teacher, she 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 has received multiple lit awards and enjoys public speaking and teaching writing workshops. When she’s not clicking away on the computer or scaling mountains of research, 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

Research and writing are so much fun! I always have some kind of theme in mind for every book I write. In keeping with my brand, Heart of History, I am turning two history pockets inside out with this second story of the “West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm” series. When Heaven Thunders is the eldest Dabney sibling’s story and brings two factors to light that are not commonly known about the Civil War.

First, Fin, the hero, faces various moral dilemmas just trying to carry out orders. He witnesses historically accurate atrocities and unfair tactics perpetrated by both Union and Confederate commanders and soldiers. Fin is in the thick of rooting out bushwhackers and guerillas who bring the battle to not just the soldiers, but to civilian homes and families, including his own.

Fin is a moralist, working desperately to find a way to do the right thing even when all his choices seem so very wrong. Can you imagine meeting your best friend on the battlefield and he’s the enemy? I tried to wrap my mind around the idea of neighbor against neighbor and lawless vigilantes molesting plain folks in the name of a cause. “We are in a war, yes, but it needn’t strip a man of his humanity or God’s favor.” (Col. Joseph Lightburn, Fin’s commander)

Secondly, Melinda Jane, the feisty family friend (who definitely wants to be more than Fin’s friend) represents another little-known pocket from history. I took a bit of my own heritage to heart for her background. For most of my life, I definitely resembled my kin of Irish ancestry. However, like Melinda Jane, I have Native American and African American genes also. We don’t think much about mixed race nowadays—it’s the fabric of our wonderful country! Unfortunately, many folks were not as accepting during the Civil War period. At that time, a variety of ethnicities were actually enslaved, which we seldom see represented in Civil War movies and stories.

My second main character’s “secret” lends to her heart of gold and a compassionate nature that shines through everything she does. “Izzy taught me we’re all born into bondage. It matters not a whit what color a man’s skin is or the color of his horse or house—we’re all in shackles and only Master Jesus holds the key.”(Melinda Jane)

Oh boy, did I enjoy working with Fin and Melinda Jane—and watching sparks fly! I hope they’ll make you smile as well.

Blessings from the Heart of History, my friends!

Kendy

My Impressions

“He was wrong,” Fin rasped…“My pap.” He lifted his eyes. “He said this isn’t our war to fight. It is. My family. My home. My war.”

I’ve always loved historical fiction. I have found Civil War times are somehow so interesting to read about. Yet, Kendy Pearson forces you to do more than read *about* the Civil War in her well-researched and beautifully expressed book, When Heaven Thunders ( book 2 of West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm). No, Pearson forces you to *live* the horrifying times of the war. So many scenarios are tied together to make one tight narrative. We see that young Fin Dabney has joined up with the Federals. He leaves behind several siblings and his secret love, Melinda Jane. She has lived with the family since she was young- yet Fin wishes Melinda Jane viewed him as more than a brother. We watch the difficulties the Dabney family faces in an area that holds both Reb and Union sympathies, but where letting one’s true colors show can mean shunning, jail, or death. 

We see Fin and his army friend, Noah, as they participate in scouting out land and bushwhackers. We see examples of family pitted against family, friend against friend. Pearson makes this divide both very real and very painful. 

We get a healthy dose of history lessons on the birth of the state of West Virginia. Plus the Civil War battles that hotly contested who would control this area of the country. Pearson doesn’t shy away from some of the atrocities that were committed by greedy, cruel humans towards their brothers and sisters in the name of war. Will Fin see the war as an excuse to vengefully purge the earth of those who so spitefully misuse power, or will he follow his superior’s opinion of him: “You have a keen sense of justice, but you don’t count yourself the judge.”

Will Fin and Melinda Jane ever both be able to admit their love for each other before it’s too late- one way or another?

I loved how Melinda gives so unselfishly of herself to everyone around her. She gives until it hurt, then gives some more. Only her understanding of who she and others truly are, could cause her to care so much for others. many less fortunate than herself. “Did they not share the same Father? Doesn’t that same Father hurt for us and love us the same?”  I had to ask myself, in this situation, would I have gotten this involved, knowing it could be so dangerous to my own person? 

A fave secondary character is probs Col. Joe. He is so spot-on with his faith and refusal to become mercenary as a soldier or vengeful. He encourages the troops to belief. He fights to win- yet he is fighting a best friend and close relatives. 

Do read the prologue and author’s notes for the best understanding of this insightful novel. Definitely read these three novels in order!

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

Notable Quotables:

“He gave me a second chance. A chance to live the life He wants me to live—one tethered to His grace instead of my own bitterness.” -Doc James

“The cannon blasts had increased, pecking a hole in her peace like a woodpecker on a tree trunk. “

“Izzy taught me we’re all born into bondage. It matters not a whit what color a man’s skin is or the color of his horse or house—we’re all in shackles and only Master Jesus holds the key.”– Melinda Jane 

“We are in a war, yes, but it needn’t strip a man of his humanity or God’s favor.”- Col. Joe

“God is bigger than all our problems rolled into one big riled mess. He’ll make a way…”

“There’s wicked men on both sides, brother. We got ’em, you got ’em.”

“Seems this entire war has brought with it a waterfall of misery.”– Fin 

“But regret was a lone hawk, forever circling above.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! This is a Civil War saga not to be missed!!

Blog Stops

Book Looks by Lisa, May 14

Stories By Gina, May 15 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 16

Simple Harvest Reads, May 17 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, May 18 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 18

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 19

Devoted Steps, May 20

Guild Master, May 21 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 23

Fiction Book Lover, May 24 (Author Interview)

Inklings and Notions, May 24

For Him and My Family, May 25

Blossoms and Blessings, May 26 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, May 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kendy is giving away the grand prize of a $40 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.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54234

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

Unexpected Hope by Pam Green Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Unexpected Hope (Sully Parkway Comfort Dogs Book One)

Author: Pam Green

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Release date: October 15, 2024

When Jack Shelton hightails it out of Lexington, Virginia, for the suburbs of Washington, DC, he just wants out. Now. First on the agenda: put mountains and miles between him and his hometown memories. Second: find a job as a reporter. Fast.

Those two things—no other expectations. If he gets that far, maybe he’ll make room for God in his life again.

Then Jack wanders into the Church on the Parkway, and a case of mistaken identity entangles him in ministry with a team of broken people and a golden retriever puppy.

Can Jack get back on track with his new career plans, or will he find something unexpected as he travels Sully Parkway with Team Hope?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Pam Green made her writing début in fifth grade when drafted to write the class play, Ghosts! Ghosts! Ghosts! At twelve, she fell in love with the French language. After a satisfying teaching career, she still peeks in the windows of empty schools while traveling and lingers in school supply aisles in August. Her stories show that God is always working in the lives of His children and seeking new members of His family.

More from Pam

“Sully Parkway? Where’s that? I’ve never heard of the Church on the Parkway either. This area is changing so fast nobody can keep up!”

Life in the Virginia suburbs outside Washington, DC reflects the fast pace of our nation’s capital, and I know I’ve fooled some residents by sticking Sully Parkway and its non-denominational megachurch somewhere—and everywhere—in the area.

Welcome to my world! Sully Parkway is anywhere I want it to be!

You’ll have no difficulty recognizing the Church on the Parkway, or COP. Maybe it’s your church, with all its shortcomings, victories, quirky characters, inspiring leaders—and comfort dogs?!

Yes, COP takes its outreach responsibilities seriously, and they started a comfort dog ministry!

What Christian hasn’t struggled in situations where words fail to soothe a hurting soul? Real life comfort dogs, such as the 100-plus golden retrievers deployed by the Lutheran Church Charities, are ambassadors of Christ’s love in a range of challenging situations, from the minor anxiety of learning to read aloud to the unthinkable tragedy of a school shooting, and everything in between.

I fell in love with these sweet creatures of God who know intuitively how to reach out to hurting humans. Find out how Hope, COP’s golden retriever puppy, grows into her mission.

You’ll discover that some of the hope she brings is completely unexpected!

My Impressions

“Hi, everybody! It’s Hope! I’m a working dog—comforting people is my job. My handlers call me Jesus’ face and paws. I listen to people and let them pet me when they’re sad or anxious.”

Unexpected Hope by Pam Green was a delight for me to read on a couple of levels. I enjoyed seeing Jack move from his “Nobody wanted Jack Shelton these days, ” to a full- circle faith in the God he’d once served. What a journey! And God uses a special therapy dog, Hope, whose mission is, as stated above, “ to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” To bring hope to those in trauma and emotional need. 

Classified as contemporary Christian  fiction, this is not a fast- moving story, but it is character-driven. Dog- character and people-character. Jack, with nothing better to do, camera around his neck, follows a crowd into a church parking lot. Mistaken for the tardy photographer for their new “Team Hope” group which will use a young golden to comfort people in crisis, Jack plays along. 

Against his will, but certainly not outside of God’s knowledge, Jack is slowly drawn into this warm group of believers who are training and using dogs to provide comfort or even just emotional support during hard times. Jack has his reservations, though, because his goal is a full-time newspaper photo-journalism job. Plus, he and God aren’t exactly on speaking terms after a tragedy shook his faith’s moorings. 

I loved seeing how God gently and slowly works out every step in Jack’s life until he knows which path God is calling him to. It is fun to get to know all the characters of Team Hope. I am quite sure we will be focusing on others of the group in future books. Also, having gone to puppy trainging classes, plus watched my daughters train dogs for 4-H, then seeing these same leaders bring dogs into our school as therapy dogs, this whole idea is very dear to me. Ms. Green certainly seems to know her dog training! But, to circle back around, she also knows the love of God and how He keeps after those who are His, until they are ready to return back to Him! Very inspirational! 

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

Notable Quotables:

“God knows more than we do. He has a master plan, and our lives fit into that plan, whether we understand what He’s doing or not. But He loves us, wants what’s best for us, and He doesn’t waste any of our experiences.”

“There are no shoulds in grieving.”

“Maybe if the trauma groups had a comfort dog, more people would want to talk.”

“While you are busy comforting other people, you’ve gotta watch out for yourselves. You never know when something might lead to a blowout—even on the team.”

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After further consideration, I realized I liked the concept of this book enough to upgrade the rating I originally gave it. I hope more churches actually flesh out this comfort dog concept!!

Blog Stops

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 15

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 16

Vicky Sluiter, May 17

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 18

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 19

Stories By Gina, May 20 (Author Interview)

Roads to Everywhere, May 20

For Him and My Family, May 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 22

Simple Harvest Reads, May 23 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, May 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 25

Holly’s Book Corner, May 26

Texas Book-aholic, May 27

Artistic Nobody, May 28 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, May 28

Giveaway

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54223

ARC, Bethany House, BLOG, Favorite, Just Read Tours, Kindle, NetGalley, Purchase

The Shop Down the Lane by Leslie Gould Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Shop Down the Lane by Leslie Gould, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Shop Down the Lane
Series: Letters from Lancaster County
Author: Leslie Gould
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Genre: Amish Romance

Leslie Gould delights in this sweet and humorous Amish romance reminiscent of The Shop Around the Corner and You’ve Got Mail.

Lois Yoder has always found solace in the quiet life of Paradise, Pennsylvania, where she manages a gift shop that reflects her Amish community’s simple values. Her tranquil world is upended when Moses Lantz, a former Amishman turned Mennonite and the man who broke her heart, buys the shop with ambitious plans to transform it into a tourist hub–a move that Lois fiercely opposes.

Seeking a distraction, Lois joins a bird watchers’ circle letter under an alias. But unknown to her, Moses does the same at the urging of a friend. While their correspondence blossoms into a tender romance, the enmity between Lois and Moses in real life only intensifies. Can they overcome their animosity and embrace the love they’ve found through their letters, or will their stubborn hearts keep them apart forever?

This heartwarming Amish romance includes themes of bird watching, correspondence by letters, enemies to lovers, and family secrets for readers of Beverly Lewis, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and Shelley Shepard Gray.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Bethany House | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

About the Author

Leslie Gould is a Christy Award-winning and #1 bestselling author of more than 48 novels, including four Lancaster County Amish series. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and an MFA in creative writing. She enjoys church history, research trips, and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, and have four adult children and two grandchildren.

Connect with Leslie by visiting lesliegould.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.

My Impressions

“She should have quit when Moses first bought Paradise Found, which was Paradise Lost now to her.”

Leslie Gould gives us a humorous remix of “You’ve Got Mail” and “The Shop Around the Corner” in The Shop Down the Lane. When her mentor Scotty sells the Amish souvenir shop she manages, Lois Yoder is doubly upset to discover the new owner. He’s none other than Moses Lantz, former Amish turned Mennonite, and one with whom she shares a past. Unable to bring themselves to be civil to each other, tensions escalate between the two while their individual woes pile up as well. Both Lois and Moses join an Amish birding circle letter separately, under assumed names. As their real life relationship crumples, their friendship on paper becomes a beacon of hope. Gould applies some good twists to this story, and uses birds to teach valuable lessons as well. 

Casey and Amy probably tie for my fave secondary characters. Both are incredibly perceptive and wise. Without Amy, Lois probably wouldn’t have had the strength to remain in the Paradise community. Amy may be the closest thing to family Lois has. Casey is a good friend to Moses, but he also holds him accountable for his actions, and makes Moses think about his life’s direction. Casey is also a supportive friend to Lois.

Since I love birds, and novels with twists, this book hit some sweet spots for me. I loved how many different birds are mentioned, along with their descriptions, habits, and habitats. Such a treat for any birder! And Teresa, the Amish woman who initiates the birding circle letter, loves to compare birds to people. “They live by their values, something we would do well to emulate. Everything they do is for a purpose, from their singing to nest building to hunting.” A few times Lois has to stop and consider as she reads these lines, she is not living by her values. 

At one point John rather glibly replies to a statement, saying that God had worked out all things. While this may be true, Lois is hurt. Sometimes we hurt others, spouting off Scriptural thoughts blithely, ignoring the pain a friend is presenting. Yes, God does work things out, however-

“Sometimes there was quite a bit of pain before “things” worked out. Sometimes people were stuck in the middle of something for years before it did work out. Or perhaps it never worked out in the way you hoped and you simply moved on, knowing Gott still had a plan.”

God, help me to be careful in offering empty ( albeit true) platitudes!

I recommend this novel!

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:

“Nurture others, she’d written. But depend on their strengths too.” – Teresa

“Everything we do is motivated by either love or fear,” he said. “We must decide which will motivate us before a trying situation arises. Will we be motivated to love our neighbors or fear them?”

“it was up to management to educate employees into the workers the business needed.”

“Gott made you, just as He made every single bird, to be YOU. Let others see the beauty He created in you, both internal and external.”

“God’s creation is what gives me hope. There’s so much beauty and joy, tragedy and trauma, harmony and hope. No matter how difficult life is, I feel at peace when I’m birding.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! If you enjoy Amish romance or birding, you will enjoy this novel.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and a print copy of The Shop Down the Lane!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 13, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 20, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

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

Shadowed Secret by S.F. Baumgartner Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Shadowed Secret (Mirror Estate Series Book 5)

Author: S.F. Baumgartner

Genre: Christian Suspense Thriller

Release date: May 13, 2025

In a world of secrets and shadows, a priest, two accountants, and an elite task force must protect what’s hidden or risk it all.

Fr. Phil, a former Navy SEAL turned priest, finds his quiet life at Mirror Estate shattered when a priest from the Vatican pays him a visit. Asked to retrieve a secret book before it’s auctioned on the dark web, Fr. Phil must face lethal adversaries and race against time, knowing his life is on the line.

Tommy Rivers’s date with Mia Granger turns deadly when they’re attacked upon discovering a colleague murdered at the office. Assuming they have the book, ruthless operatives have Tommy and Mia in their sights.

With the exposure of the secret book threatening the lives of countless operatives, Fr. Phil, Tommy, Mia, and an elite FBI task force must prevent a catastrophic intelligence leak before time runs out.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

S.F. Baumgartner crafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets—Book 1 of her Mirror Estate series—named a Top Pick in the thriller category at Killer Nashville, 2024. When she’s not plotting her next twist, she’s binge-watching crime TV shows, like NCIS or playing with her cats. Fans of James Patterson’s style, especially those who appreciate short, punchy chapters, will find much to love in her work.

More from S.F.

Unraveling Secrets: The Journey of Writing This Book

Some books come together effortlessly. Others take their time, demanding patience, persistence, and more rewrites than I care to admit. This latest installment falls firmly into the latter category. The story simply didn’t gel the first couple of times I attempted to write it. I knew where it needed to go, but the journey to get there felt off. Characters resisted the paths I initially set for them, subplots unraveled at the seams, and the pacing never quite clicked the way I wanted it to.

It took several drafts and a fair amount of frustration before things finally started falling into place. Looking back, I realize that part of the struggle was that this book needed to do more than just continue the story—it had to weave together past threads while setting the stage for what’s to come. That’s a delicate balance, and it wasn’t something I could rush.

Why I Wrote This Book

The simplest answer? It’s the next chapter in the story. After everything that has happened in previous installments, there were lingering questions that needed answers, loose ends that needed to be tied up—or, in some cases, unraveled even further.

This story is about Fr. Phil. He’s no longer just the priest of Mirror Estate’s chapel; he’s once again being pulled into the shadows of his past. Old alliances resurface, and new threats emerge. At the same time, Olivia and Simon’s upcoming wedding adds a deeply personal layer to the story. In many ways, this book is about past decisions catching up with the present—whether in matters of faith, espionage, or personal relationships.

And then there’s the Ghost. Marge Beaumont remains as enigmatic as ever, and while she’s playing by the rules—for now—it’s clear she’s still ten steps ahead of everyone. The question isn’t just whether she can be trusted, but whether anyone can truly outmaneuver her.

The Challenge of Getting It Right

What made this book particularly challenging was the complexity of the narrative threads. There’s a missing book that may or may not contain dangerous secrets. There’s an auction on the dark web that threatens national security. There’s a decades-old mystery involving hidden treasure. And, of course, there’s the ever-present undercurrent of trust and betrayal—who’s telling the truth, who’s working an angle, and who’s about to make their next move?

Balancing these elements while keeping the pacing tight and the stakes high took longer than expected. Some subplots had to be reworked entirely, others had to be trimmed down, and a few surprises emerged that even I didn’t see coming in the early drafts.

What’s Next?

Now that this book is finally complete, I can say with confidence that the struggle was worth it. The twists, the revelations, and the character moments that emerged from this process have made it stronger than I initially imagined.

For readers who have been following this series, I hope you enjoy the ride. Expect high stakes, hidden agendas, and a few moments that might just leave you breathless. And as always, thank you for sticking with me on this journey—because the story is far from over.

My Impressions

“It was about discernment. About seeing beneath surfaces. About understanding that even the holiest façades could conceal the darkest intentions.”

Just how often can you come in on a thrilling psychological series in the middle or end, yet not feel totally befuddled? Kudos to author S.F. Baumgartner, author of Shadowed Secret, Book 5 of Mirror Estate Series!! I was fit to be tied when I discovered I was reading a new-to-me author, a psychological mystery that definitely builds book to book, and I was coming in fresh on book 5 , a 500 page book at that. Plus, the list of characters is enough to make your head spin!!

But Baumgartner is a writing wizard!! She starts out Shadowed Secret with a recap of each of the previous books! Not only that, but the books are a tangle of relationship connections- and at the FRONT of the book are several pages of relationship maps. Often, if there is such a thing, it is relegated to the back, and what help is that then?! Plus, a map of the estate. Now, I’m only left with two objections to reading the book: a massive 500 pages and how on earth am I going to keep so many different people’s story threads clear in my head?!

Again, Baumgartner has done her due diligence in editing her book, pulling making sure all threads tie together. And she does so in such a thrilling, compelling way, I couldn’t put the book down until 1:30 am. Because of clear, concise wording, and short sentences and chapters, one can speed through the book. And you will be so anxious to follow the thrills and chills you will need to! 

As I mentioned, I put down the book at 1:30 am. I thought I left my new friends, Dylan, Lily, Olivia, Fr.Phil, and others in a relatively safe place after progressing through more incredible twists than I thought possible. WRONG! I’m left wondering if this is truly the final book!! I will be picking up the books I missed ASAP and already picked up the first of the spin-off series, Mirror Estate Psychological Thrillers!

I am blown away by this book! If you like psychological thrillers. S.F. Baumgartner is a master! 

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

Notable Quotables:

(Please note: these are not all life- inspiring!!)

“It’s not about faith. It’s about power, and power comes with wealth.”

“You know what will help?” “What?” “Pray. Let’s pray. You can just say what you want from the heart. Don’t worry about any prayers.”

“Don’t assume you’re safe just because you don’t see the threat.”

“Remember it’s not the medal itself, but the power comes from God.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior- My version of six stars!!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 10

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 11

Stories By Gina, May 12 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 13

Texas Book-aholic, May 14

Simple Harvest Reads, May 15 (Author Interview)

Betti Mace, May 16

Artistic Nobody, May 17 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 18

Blogging With Carol, May 19

Guild Master, May 20 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 21

For Him and My Family, May 22

Fiction Book Lover, May 23 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54216

BLOG, Just Read Tours, Kindle, New Author, Purchase

Perfect by Kimberly Keagan Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Perfect by Kimberly Keagan, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Perfect
Series: Hearts on Display #1
Author: Kimberly Keagan
Publisher: Ventana Publishing, LLC
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Genre: Historical Romance

In the glittering era of the Gilded Age, the heirs of Philadelphia’s Denwall Department Stores navigate family expectations, relentless ambition, and unexpected love.

William Walraven’s picture perfect life is turned upside down when his fiancée jilts him for an English aristocrat and his father refuses to name him as his successor. To prove he’s worthy of leading Denwall Department Stores, Will must open their first New York store under budget and before the Christmas shopping season.

Overwhelmed by disappointment and a nearly impossible deadline, Will has no time for distractions—especially not the captivating bookseller he saves from being crushed by a beer wagon.

Ivy King and her aging grandmother are barely keeping their struggling bookshop afloat. Though drawn to the charming, enigmatic man who saved her life, Ivy has no illusions about her place in the world. It certainly isn’t beside a department store heir whose dazzling emporium threatens to close her family’s business.

Brought together in the wake of an attack on Will’s brother, Will and Ivy find themselves at a crossroads—torn between the expectations that define them and a future neither expected.

Perfect is a clean, wholesome historical romance featuring opposites-attract tension, class differences, a touch of mystery and humor, and an inspirational journey of faith and love.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

About the Author

Kimberly Keagan discovered her love for romance novels at thirteen, often choosing a book over chores. She believes there’s nothing like being transported to another time and place to find a happily ever after.

Kimberly is blessed to have her own handsome hero husband and two wonderful children. After earning a degree in accounting, she enjoyed a career in investor relations, writing financial reports and press releases—terrific jobs, though not very romantic.

Now, she’s pursuing her dream of writing historical romance. Her short stories have been published in Spark Flash Fiction and Short Fiction Break. Kimberly’s debut novel will release in 2025.

When not reading or writing, Kimberly enjoys baking, gardening, watching sports, and researching her family tree.

Connect with Kimberly by visiting kimberlykeagan.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

My Impressions

“Remember, you’re a work of God’s hands. Perfect, just as you are.”– Gran

I think this may be a message every person needs not only to hear, but to assimilate deep in their heart. So many of us feel lacking in some way or another. Ivy King, Kimberly Keagan’s heroine, lacks in many ways. She has a physical disability. She is a lowly shop girl, not of the upper society that William Walraven belongs to. This is important in a time known as the Gilded Age, when old money means everything. I was so saddened to see how far some would take the importance of societal standing, at great cost to themselves or others. 

Gran is such an encouraging, wise character, even if she can tend to be a matchmaker. She has to be my fave supporting character. Another  character’s behavior arc really surprised me. 

After a chance meeting, Will and Ivy meet again and begin to spend time together, even though they realize their attraction would be a forbidden romance. Will sees the notice in Ivy’s small bookstore that encourages small businesses to fight against large department stores. Afraid that Ivy will reject him if she realizes his purpose in being in NYC, he simply tells her that he and his brother Bert are there on business. What will happen when the full truth is revealed? Will both Ivy and Will endure a second case of shattered hearts?

Will’s father is spectacularly hard to please. One of my fave moments of the book happens when Will worries about his father’s heart when Charles finds out Will’s true desires. Bert informs Will, “You give yourself too much credit. God is in control of that situation, not you.” Will Will’s family be able to force him into their expectations? 

A very satisfying debut novel from Keagan. 

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

Notable Quotables:

“We must strive to align our actions with the higher moral principles that God has set before us. This requires honesty, integrity, and the courage to face the truth, even when it is uncomfortable.”

“Oh, dear girl, you’re more than your boots or those practical dresses you wear.” 

“I’ll grant that you may not have lied outright, but you purposefully hid the truth. It was a lie of omission.”

“Here he was, trying to prove himself worthy of his inheritance, and instead, he’d managed to alienate the one person—the one woman—who’d made him feel like more than just his father’s son.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will receive a “Perfect” Tea Time Bundle which includes a lovely tea set, a signed copy of Perfect, and other cozy reader treats—like a candle, stickers, coaster, and bookmark!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 6, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 13, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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