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The Road Before Us by Janine Rosche Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Road Before Us

Author: Janine Rosche

Publisher: Revell

Released: May 2024

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Romance

From the Back Cover

How far would you go to fix the mistakes you’ve made?
For Jade Jessup, the answer is 2,448 miles. 

Once one of Chicago’s significant financial advisors, Jade lost her credibility when her fiancé (and coworker) stole millions of dollars from their clients in a Ponzi scheme. Now she’s agreed to help one of them–an aging 1960s Hollywood starlet named Berenice “Benny” Alderidge–seek financial restoration.

Jade sets off along Route 66 with Benny and her handsome adult foster son, Bridger, who is filming a documentary retracing the 1956 trip that started the love story between Benny and her recently deceased husband, Paul. Listening to Benny recount her story draws Jade into memories of her own darker association with Route 66, when she was kidnapped as a child by a man the media labeled a monster–but she remembers only as her dad.

Together, these three travelers will learn about family, forgiveness, and what it means to live free of the past. But not before Jade faces a second staggering betrayal that changes everything.


“This dual-time journey along the Mother Road is not to be missed.”–Amanda Cox, Christy Award-winning author

“An unforgettable ride.”–Christina Suzann Nelson, Christy Award-winning author

“Janine Rosche gets to the heart of family, friendship, and love.”–Toni Shiloh, Christy Award-winning author

About the Author

Prone to wander, Janine Rosche finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into each of her women’s fiction and romance novels including With Every Memory and the Madison River Romance series. When she isn’t writing or traveling, she teaches family life education courses to college students, takes too many pictures of her sleeping dogs, and embarrasses her four children and husband with boy band serenades.

My Impressions

“people travel Route 66 for all kinds of reasons, but it isn’t just travelers on that specific road who are running. In our own way, we’re all running from or running to something. The lucky ones get to do that with someone they love at their side.”

What a great summation of this book. Janine Rosche’s The Road Before Us is a mixture of women’s fiction and romance, but it is so much more, my mind is reeling. It is going to take me a long time to process it. Rosche deals (well) with so many topics: dementia, child kidnapping, parent-child (or lack thereof) relationships, adoption, betrayal, PTSD, racism, and the list goes on.

The book takes Jade, former financial advisor-turned-traveling companion to her former Hollywood starlet client, Benny Alderidge, on a trip down Route 66 in a 55 Chevy as they relive Benny’s romance with her husband over 70 years before. Accompanying them is Benny’s grown foster son, Bridger. Bridger is a happy-go-lucky videographer who is making a documentary about the trip.

I really loved the characters and their growth. So many characters exhibited growth in different relationships, it was a joy to see. Maybe I was relieved to see a few characters hang onto their anger and bitterness! Real life, without Jesus!

The dementia aspect caught me by surprise. Not that the character had it. But that her episodes were so severe when she would have them, yet she would be so very alert and totally cognizant other times. Having witnessed a parent descend into dementia, that has been a far cry from our experience. I know every experience is different, but I would expect severe episodes to have been preceded by more general, slow memory loss across the board. So I am still pondering how Benny can impart great, deep truths one minute, share memories on command, and (at first) only have the rare episode that is so severe it is a safety concern.

I love the fact that we readers get two romances for the price of one, insights into several parent-child relationships, and sibling relationships.

If you are a woman reading this book and not half in love with Bridger by the end, you may want to check in with the coroner’s office. Swoon, indeed!

The Road Before Us by Janine Rosche may be the heavy-hitter grand-slam of the year! Don’t get caught without having read this book!

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads via Netgalley. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“You know the best part about being my age? I can speak my mind and if people agree with me, they pat themselves on the back for being on the same side as wisdom.” …

“And if they disagree with me, they pat me on the head and think, What a sweet lady with a few screws loose. Either way, I get to speak my mind.”

“People get to choose who they want to be and how they act. We aren’t responsible for adults’ choices.”

“In Korea, we all bled red no matter what color our skin was.”

“This body I can control. What I can’t control is . . . everything else. God help me.”

“Even though I try to keep the emotions in that back pocket of mine, it doesn’t stop trauma from working its way into who I am.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Look for The Road Before Us to be a Christy contender! Your emotions won’t know what hit you!! Thankfully, our lives are based on the Truth of the Rock, evident in some of these characters.

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Secrets of the Wildflowers by Sarah Talbert Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Secrets of the Wildflowers

Author: Sarah Talbert

Genre: Historical Fiction/Biblical Fiction

Release date: April 30, 2024

In the heart of ancient Ur, where the gods cast shadows and tradition weaves the fabric of life, Secrets of the Wildflowersunfolds the captivating tale of Miu, a spirited young woman determined to bloom amid the constraints of her culture, family, and the ancient deities that hold sway.

When tragedy strikes, and her beloved brother becomes a sacrifice to the gods, Miu embarks on a courageous journey to break free from the shackles of societal expectations and unearth her true purpose. Inspired by the resilient wildflowers that thrive against all odds, Miu is driven to forge her own path and create a name for herself.

As Miu navigates running her own tavern, friendship with an unlikely courier, and supporting an abandoned child, she finds herself crossing paths with Abram, a figure of significance from the Bible. In their encounters, Abram imparts profound wisdom, revealing that, like the wildflowers, Miu is created to be unique. Yet, he guides her to embrace the very boundaries that enable her to flourish.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sarah Talbert, a devoted storyteller and explorer of faith, employs her creative writing to inspire spiritual growth. Through historical fiction and other writings, she shares compelling narratives aimed at deepening readers’ connections with Jesus. Sarah cultivates community through discipleship, hospitality, and storytelling, alongside managing a copywriting business that amplifies the voices of other enterprises.

More from Sarah

Secrets of the Wildflowers: Comparing the Ancient Near Eastern Gods with Yahweh

In the ancient civilizations of the Near East, people had a fascinating relationship with their gods. They earnestly sought the blessings of the gods, such as prosperity, reputation, and fertility, but the interactions were often unpredictable. Prayers and offerings were done with a sense of expectation, but people were always aware of the capricious whims of the gods.

When examining the relationship between humans, the gods of the Ancient Near East, and Yahweh, there are two key points to consider:

-Fragile Relationships with the Gods:

Did you know that in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, people believed that the gods held power over every aspect of their lives? They turned to their gods for blessings and protection, whether it was for a great harvest or a happy family.

The main reason behind writing “Secrets of the Wildflowers” was to compare and contrast the gods of Miu’s time (the main character) with Yahweh. Miu faces difficulty dealing with the unpredictable nature of the gods while also desiring to pursue her own path, but also needing the blessings of the gods.

-Yahweh’s Guidance and Certainty:

Enter Yahweh, the God of Abram, who presented an unmistakable difference from the uncertain association between humans and the gods in the Ancient Near East. Instead of leaving humanity to figure out the fickle nature of the gods’ goodwill on their own, Yahweh intervened in a significant manner.

Miu eventually discovers that Yahweh wants a relationship with her. He has pursued her from the beginning of the story. She just needs to learn if she wants to bloom free like a wildflower, or if she wants to follow him.

By following Yahweh’s laws, Abram and his people found peace, prosperity, and a divine relationship with God. Obeying His commands blessed them with divine favor and the assurance of His presence.

In conclusion, Miu and everyone she encounters must come face to face with a god who is unlike anything they’ve ever heard of. After losing and redefining freedom, Miu discovers that true freedom is found in working together with others and utilizing her God-given skills within a relationship with a loving God.

My Impressions

“The secret of the wildflowers was they grew wherever they wanted, never to be domesticated by humans. That’s what Miu wanted. Beauty and freedom uncontrolled.”

Wow! To think I almost passed on reading this book! Sarah Talbert’s Secrets of the Wildflowers excites me for several different reasons. There is enough intrigue and suspense to keep the reader rapidly turning the pages.

Miu, a mathematically inclined 16-year-old girl from the ancient city of Ur, hates her prosperous father, a famous jewelry maker for the temple priests. Miu does much to further Badak’s business, but he is all meanness and profit at any cost.

Miu escapes Ur after a great personal tragedy and sails across the sea to the respected city of Dilmun with two sailors, Zaidu and Taku. Both end up being an important part of her life story. Finding a job in a local tavern, Miu is quick to learn, and distrustful of other people. When she finds the tavern owner is just as ambitious as her father, she looks for a way to destroy her. She will not worship the capricious gods of Ur or Dilmun, gods who needed people to serve them, but could as easily ignore or destroy people as bless them.

Taku, so opposite Miu in personality and approach to life from his new friend Miu, helps bring a bit a peace to her otherwise busy, overstressed, overly controlled world. Yet, Taku is being led away from the gods of his childhood, too. “What would it be like to look up at those stars and truly know the god that made them? Could that same god ever care about humans?”

I loved the fact that though Miu loves a few deeply, she is finally forced to see that her controlling nature and refusal to engage a loving community causes her great personal loss. But the one true God of the Universe knows she is searching and doesn’t stop dealing with her until she is ready to forfeit her absolute need to control.

We get to meet Abram and Sarai and their “strange” god. This is the part that I loved most. Not only do Abram and Sarai explain how Yahweh is different from the gods others worship, but He chooses to have a relationship with people, as opposed to being flawed and using people.

I loved that Talbert talks about the gods with the understanding the ancient people of the Middle East had.( You can read her comments in the author’s notes. Our Bible study has been accessing some of the same sources Talbert refers to, and it is so exciting to see someone else have a grip on how important it is to view the Bible from the viewpoint of of the ancient Middle Eastern culture.) This understanding includes the picture the ancients have of the “waters of chaos” and the importance an object or person obtains when it is given a name. “A god or person had ultimate control when they were able to name and call creatures into order and to teach them how to grow a society using math and science. Order gave purpose, but it also gave control and power.”

“Sometimes Miu wished she’d never been named.” – Perhaps this sentence takes on new light in that perspective. Can the Yahweh of Abram and Sarai bring hope to Taku and Miu’s tortured souls? Perhaps they will discover the true secret of the wildflowers.

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

Notable Quotables:

“no one does things alone in Ur. I have dear friends, connections, and even some family I rely on. You cannot do business, or life, without a community. “

“if any of those so-called gods wanted something from her, she’d rather die. Anyone with a god that needed a sacrifice of a child to be happy, was not a god she would worship.”

“Thinking for yourself meant defeat. It meant losing the ones you love.”

“She’d make her heart as stone cold as the gods he worshipped until nothing could get inside…She must push forward in this new life or be swallowed by her past.

“He learned to be content with sharing others’ words, even if that meant his own needed to be silent.”

“The thing was, compliments only lingered for a moment, then they were off like a feather floating in the wind. Words were empty, and Hashur and Miu both knew it.”

“There’s always more to have, Miu. It just depends on what you’re willing to do to get there.”

“Since the day I left Ur, I have had to fight for control of my own life and freedom from my father and his life. I want freedom from the gods, freedom from my father, and freedom from the priests’ evil lifestyle.”

“Why did freedom feel so lonely?”

“He who keeps fleeing, flees their own past. One day you must face your own.”

“Yahweh doesn’t need us but has decided to dwell with us. He created the land we live on for people to function and create order so we can walk with him, as they did when the world was first created. And his invitation to dwell with him is why we are leaving. For us to dwell with him, in the land he will show us.”

“Yahweh is almighty and has the strength we need. Sometimes our greatest act of strength is seen in our biggest display of weakness.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I love Talbert’s understanding of the ancient Middle Easterner’s view of the gods and the world. Very different from our Western understanding, but we can really comprehend Genesis the way the ancient Hebrews would have.

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 1

Inspired by fiction, June 2

Artistic Nobody, June 3 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 4

Texas Book-aholic, June 5

Guild Master, June 6 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 8

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 9

Back Porch Reads, June 10 (Author Interview)

Naked and Unashamed, June 11 (Spotlight)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 12

For the Love of Literature, June 13 (Author Interview)

Book Zone, June 13

Batya’s Bits, June 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a paperback 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/2c2c2/secrets-of-the-wildflowers-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Starry Nights- Out of Play- by Angela Ruth Strong Review

Babbling Becky L

(Starry Nights is an anthology of four contemporary romances. I am only reviewing one in this blog.)

About the Book

Title: Out of Play, part of Starry Nights anthology

Author: Angela Ruth Strong

Publisher: Two Dogs Publishing, LLC

Released: June, 2024

Out of Play – Angela Ruth Strong
When single mom Bex Lemaire is asked to step down as her eight-year-old daughter’s soccer coach for getting too competitive, she’s hoping the new coach will let her assist. Former child star Skylar Hayes agrees to take over the team as research for his comeback role. At first, he mistakes Bex for a raving fan but eventually realizes she’s only crazy about soccer, which gives her the skills needed to train him. She’s all work, while he likes to play, but together, they just might win.

About the Author

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

My Impressions

“I’ll coach Skylar so I can coach the Ladybugs back to victory. This will only benefit my dream of someday coaching Mia’s college team. Maybe even her professional team. While I’m dreaming, why not the World Cup?”

This promising anthology is kicked off by Angela Ruth Strong’s novel, “Out of Play,” the one I pre-read. While the novel is about an intense soccer mom coach( Bex Lemaire) living vicariously through her 8-year-old-daughter, Mia, there is so much hilarity it’s dangerous. For example, here are my first thoughts as I started Out of Play. (By the way. I was worried because it focuses heavily on a sport and I am not a sports fan. I needn’t have worried!!)

Oh, my goodness! I just started “Out of Play” by Angela Ruth Strong late tonight. I’ve been bursting out laughing loudly every couple seconds. Guess my honey won’t want me reading this on the car trip tomorrow!! We’d like to get to our destination safely! Someone said, can’t you laugh quietly? Not when Strong’s humor is this good!! ( Bex has nicknames for all the other girls’ moms, her exaggerations are over-the-top, and she and the other protagonist, child-actor Skylar Hayes, have no idea about the other’s notoriety.) If that doesn’t make for a barrel or two of laughs!!

There are also some very solid, faith-based messages imbedded in the story. Bex is not allowed to coach Mia’s soccer team this summer because she broke too many rules last season. So, Mia’s best friend’s uncle, Skylar, is roped into coaching the team, although he knows nothing about soccer. Bex finagles her way into becoming his assistant coach. A push-me-pull-you coaching relationship ensues, and so does a reluctant friendship and God’s refining. Slowly, but surely. “She isn’t interested in me or my autograph after all. She’s simply this excited about soccer. I’m an idiot with a huge ego.”– [ Skylar] As Bex hears Skylar’s story, she begins to understand why Skylar might have made mistakes, “Though does anyone make mistakes from a place of fulfillment?” Skylar goes on to add these important thoughts: “When I yelled, ‘Why did you make me unlovable?’ I immediately heard the words to Jesus Loves Me in my head.” Bex, on her part, has a lot of rethinking to do about her own attitudes as the story moves through practices and some intense and surprising games. How has her background shaped or misshaped her? Can she and Skylar both allow God to fill them with His love and gratitude, so they can give to others out of a place of fullness, rather than trying to give out of an empty heart? I love this, because this is something we can all check our attitudes against!

Some twists really caught me off guard. Others just made me lol! I highly recommend this book for its humor and for the character growth shown. Because we can all learn from the lessons Bex and Skylar learned.

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher. I also purchased my own ecopy. No positive review is required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“It’s a pretty face except for the bump on bridge of her nose, which, in this case, reminds me of the horn on a charging rhino.”

“Bex. She may be crazy, but that’s a sign of not caring what others think. She’s doing what she loves because she loves it. We should all be so crazy.”

“My endorphins throw a party.”

“We’re not here to win. We’re here to have fun.”

“And I realize that for us to win, he and I are going to have to continue to play the roles of good coach/bad coach. He’ll be the fun one. Meanwhile, I’ll lead the team to another victory.”

“Skylar’s eyes lift from my nose to my gaze. They lighten from a bitter espresso to delicious mocha, and I turn away before drinking them in. Somehow, my skin still buzzes with his unique brand of caffeine.”

“But if I was going to blame God, then apparently I believe in Him, right?”

“I want to give my daughter all the good things in the world, but no matter how hard I try, I’ll never be enough. She’s going to have to rely on God to fulfill her emptiness too.”

“Crazy good works. It’s how I feel when I’m around her.”

“I lied because I didn’t feel like I’d had a choice, but the truth is that I had choices, I just didn’t like them.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Guaranteed to make you laugh as you think about how you do life!

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Love on a Whim by Suzanne Woods Fisher Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Love on a Whim

Series: Cape Cod Creamery, Bk 3

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publisher: Revell

Genre: Contemporary Clean Romance

Released: May 2024

Brynn Haywood’s impulsive marriage to a man she’d known less than 24 hours leaves her with deep regret. She flees to Cape Cod, finding refuge with her loyal friend, Dawn Dixon. As Brynn grapples with her emotions, Dawn acts swiftly, eager to help secure a lawyer for her through her mother Marnie’s good friend, Lincoln Hayes. However, Lincoln’s preoccupation with his daughter’s lavish wedding brings unexpected challenges.

The arrival of Lincoln’s estranged son, Bear Hayes, stirs the waters further. Alarmed by his father’s extravagant generosity toward the Dixon family, Bear ignites friction between Marnie and Lincoln. As the wedding day arrives, Lincoln vanishes–and an unwelcome guest makes a surprise appearance.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delights with this sweet story of love, family, and the unpredictability of life.

About the Author

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

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

My Impressions

“If only love had a recipe. Love was a hot mess.”

Of the three Cape Cod Creamery books by Suzanne Woods Fisher, Love on a Whim is definitely my fave! I think perhaps because by this third book, the town of Chatham on Cape Cod is a familiar setting. Marnie, Linc, Dawn, and Kevin, plus Leo, Bruno, and Callie now all seem like old friends. And, just in case you’ve forgotten who’s who, there is a character list that will prepare you for certain personality quirks! Yay!! Plus, double yay, a glossary at the front, not the back after the book is finished! That being said, these books really need to be read in order, so you can build your understanding of this Creamery world.

Brynn Haywood, Dawn’s best friend and college roommate, flees to Chatham after waking up married to a near-stranger, something the “Sensible Sisters” would never, ever do in their wildest dreams. Yet, Brynn has committed the deed and is now mortified. Dawn, an inveterate “fixer,” spends her energy plotting how to get Brynn’s marriage annulled, even as Dawn frets over infertility issues of her own.

This book sees the ultimate planner, Dawn, pitted uncomfortably against her more easy-going, empathetic, listener mother, Marnie. Some of the conflict we saw between the two in book one is back in play as Dawn is bound and determined to “take care of things.” Marnie urges Brynn to slow down and listen to her heart. What does Brynn really want?

To add to this initial situation, Linc’s family is coming to town for his daughter’s wedding. Linc is not acting like the Linc we know, but possibly like he described himself in the past. What exactly is up with that?

When the family arrives, the ex is making the wedding a circus, and it will take all hands on deck to pull it off. Not only that, but Bear, the son, is the epitome of what his father used to be: concerned only about himself, too busy for others, unkind, just not the kind of person you want to be around at all! And he holds a giant grudge against his father and Marnie and anyone Linc helps.

If you’re not salivating for ice cream ( double fold vanilla, esp.) by the end of this book, you either aren’t human, or you may have read way too fast!

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

Notable Quotables:

“even the best marriage requires forgiveness. And forgiveness takes practice. It comes in fits and starts. It’s a lifelong work. Sometimes I think we’re all beginners at it. But as long as you’re trying to forgive, you’re forgiving. It’s only when we don’t even try that bitterness sets in.” [ What wonderful advice!]

“I am turning into, Heaven save me, my mother.” -[How many of us think this might be a fate worse than death?!!]

“Most problems could be solved, as long as they were addressed and not ignored. If you ignored a problem, you’d regret it. And if you didn’t, the Internal Revenue Service would help you regret it.” [Just one reason in the book to laugh!]

“Giving thanks was the lifeboat in any crisis.”

I had the amazing opportunity to meet Suzanne a few weeks ago at a readers’ convention in Grand Rapids, MI. Fiction Readers Summit was sponsored by Baker Book House. We were blessed to be able to have several conversations. Suzanne is as sweet as her books!

( Forgive the black eye. I fell the week before at work and hit the floor very hard. Ugh! I needed some good books to distract me from the black eye in the mirror!!)

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!! While you may have a good guess where this novel is going, it is a lot of fun to see how Fisher is going to lead you there!

What You’ll Want to Read First

The Sweet Life,

Cape Cod Creamery Bk 1 by Fisher

The Secret to Happiness,

Cape Cod Creamery, Bk 2 by Fisher

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The Girl from the Hidden Forest by Hannah Linder Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Girl from the Hidden Forest

Author: Hannah Linder

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical / Regency Romance

Release date: May, 2024

The nightmares may free her…but destroy the man she loves.

Enjoy another Gothic Style Regency from Hannah Linder.

Eliza Ellis has stayed hidden in Balfour Forest for as long as she can remember. Perhaps her only friends are the trees, or her little dog, or her story-telling father called Captain. But at least she is safe from the cruel world outside, a world Captain has warned her against and protected her from.

That is, until a handsome stranger named Felton Northwood invades her quiet forest and steals her away. Why does he tell such lies? Why does he insist that her name is Miss Eliza Gillingham, daughter of a viscount, who disappeared fourteen years ago after the murder of her own mother? A murder Eliza is said to have witnessed.

When Felton returns Eliza to Monbury Manor and reunites her with a man who is told to be her father, all she remembers are the strange nightmares that have plagued her since childhood. Why have they suddenly grown worse? Are the answers hidden inside her own mind?

As danger mounts and lethal attempts are made on her life, Eliza and Felton must work together to uncover the identity of a killer who has stayed silent for fourteen years. When she finally uncovers the horrendous memories trapped in her mind, will divulging the truth cost her the man she loves—and both of their lives?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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

More from Hannah

Everyone has been asking me for years: “Can you see yourself in any of your characters?” I guess I’m in everything, interwoven in all of the sentences. Pieces of me are scattered in the settings. Traits and quirks and secret thoughts are dispersed into the minds and souls of my characters.But I always felt the need to say no. I don’t see myself in my characters.

Perhaps because, in the past, so many of my heroines have been so different than me. Ella Pemberton (Beneath His Silence)—outlandish and stubborn and daring, apt to speak her mind, bold in her manner and flawless in her dance. Nan Duncan (When Tomorrow Came)—injured and worrisome, voice like an angel, childishly sweet, yet too eager to please. Isabella Gresham (Garden of the Midnights)—spoiled and excitable, with raven black hair and an art for entering social circles with impeccable grace and exquisiteness.

I love them, sweet characters of mine.

But I don’t understand them. We’re too different. Like sand and sea, we meet, we touch, we sweep back and forth together but we’re of different substance.

But Eliza Ellis—rather, Eliza Gillingham—is the first character I truly resonate with. Not on purpose. In no wise did I pen her with conscious hints back to myself. But as the story progressed, I found my heart reaching out to her, settling into her.

Because she was the same.

The way she thought, the things she imagined, her forest and her pet and her stories. I comprehended what made her hurt. I understood the dream world she lived in, because I live in a dream world too.

So, if anyone asks me, “Do you see yourself in any of your characters?”, I’ll pull The Girl from the Hidden Forest from the bookshelf and hand it to them. I’ll tell them Eliza and I are like kindred spirits, that we’ve bridged a friendship between reality and fiction.

Whether you’re a reader or a writer, I hope you stumble upon a character one day that feels like you. It’s a strange and special feeling indeed.

My Impressions

“Northwood is a bloody name, Miss Gillingham—and you’re the only one who can cleanse it.”

Wow!! Just Wow!! Hannah Linder is really making a name for herself in the world of Christian Gothic Regency Romance! The Girl from the Hidden Forest is one of my newest faves!!

In the year 1812, Eliza Ellis, 19, has been sequestered away in Balfour Forest, Northumberland, with only her father, whom she refers to as “Captain,” and her beagle, Merrylad.

Having enjoyed a wild, carefree life in the woods with only the dog and trees for friends, her father is everything to her, telling her fanciful stories of wondrous worlds that fill her heart. Suddenly, she is kidnapped by young Felton Northwood,

taken to a castle far away, and delivered to an “older” member of the gentry, Lord Gillingham. Told Gillingham is her father, Eliza is thrust into a strange, lonely, and judgmental world. At times she believes Felton is becoming a friend, but other times, it is obvious she is not good enough for him. Talk about relatable characters! So many people can relate to inferiority when compared to others, or seeing a friend who needs help, but being afraid to stand against society for them!

As Eliza is trapped at the estate, she finds her memories from early childhood beginning to match her lifelong nightmares. Will she be able to remember what Felton wants her to, and this clear the taint on the Northwood name, or will the monster of her dreams destroy her first?

Eliza is a great character, who has a tender heart towards others. I love how she befriends Minney, who is physically deformed and possibly has other issues as well. Minney delivers the most frightening message to Eliza. “Ye watch’eeself. Ye watch well. People die. Some people die in this house. And other places. Miss Gillingham?” She clasped her hands to stop the tremble that rushed through her. “Yes?” “I don’t think’ee can trust the ones’ee think’ee can.”

I liked Felton, mostly. His indecision drove me mad. Sometimes he is purely selfish, sometimes he is a true friend and hero, sometimes he can’t seem to make the best choice! But then, he comes from a very dysfunctional family. The Northwood family lives in a world of pretend. His mother pretends war is fanciful thing, that there is no danger. His father pretends his wife is not unhealthy. Both parents pretend that the whispers about Mr. Northwood do not bother them.

One theme that stood out to me is that people aren’t all good or all bad, but rather very complex. Thought that struck me as I was searching with Eliza and Felton for the killer ( yes, I felt that invested!!). We see this ironic juxtaposition in so many different people, but Captain is certainly a prime example. “Captain would have smiled. Or laughed. Or cried when she cried. He would have told her to keep her chin up, and even without telling him of her nightmares, he would have assured her the beast could always be fought.”We all need friends like Captain. To listen well, emote with us, give us sound advice, and make our fears manageable. Yet, Captain is also a very troubled man, for very valid reasons.

For fans of Michelle Griep, Kimberley Woodhouse, and Jaime Jo Wright. Historical, with a Gothic air, this a highly suspenseful mystery with a twist you’ll never see coming! Also with shades of Nancy Mehl and Susan Sleeman danger and psychological insights into the killer.

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

Notable Quotables:

“He was no enemy, this man, no matter how different their sides and hopes. No, Felton Northwood was her friend. Her first friend.”

“What God has given you less of in one place, He has given you more of in others.”

“You are good and noble and brave, or so I’ve imagined you. Funny thing about me. Once I imagine something for so long, I start to believe it. I guess I’ve believed it of you all along.”

“We seldom deserve what we are or what we are given.”

“They are only fools, Northwood, who continue in their folly.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!

Blog Stops

Devoted To Hope, May 30

Inspired by Fiction, May 30

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 31

Sylvan Musings, May 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 1

Texas Book-aholic, June 2

Mornings at Character Cafe, June 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 3

Blogging With Carol, June 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 4

Betti Mace, June 5

For Him and My Family, June 5

Alena Mentink, June 6

Splashes of Joy, June 6

Stories By Gina, June 7 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 7

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 8

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, June 8

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 9

Cover Lover Book Review, June 9

Book Looks by Lisa, June 10

The Lofty Pages, June 10

Holly’s Book Corner, June 11

Pause for Tales, June 11

Lily’s Corner, June 12

To Everything There Is A Season, June 12

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Hannah is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a print 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/2bbf6/the-girl-from-the-hidden-forest-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

When Hope Sank by Denise Weimer Review and Giveaway

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: When Hope Sank

Author: Denise Weimer

Genre: Christian / Historical / Romance

Release date: May, 2024

Can Hope Resurface After Evil Tries to Drown It?

Introducing a series of 6 exciting novels featuring historic American disasters that transformed landscapes and multiple lives. Whether by nature or by man, these disasters changed history and were a day to be remembered.

The Civil War has taken everything from Lily Livingston—her parents, her twin brother, her home. Now she works at her uncle’s inn and keeps her head down. Speaking up for her beliefs proved too costly in a part of Arkansas split by conflicting loyalties and overrun by spies and bushwhackers.

Emaciated in body but resilient in spirit, Lieutenant Cade Palmer is crowded onto the Sultana with other paroled Andersonville and Cahaba POWs for the journey north. But a fiery explosion on April 27, 1865, rends the steamer and empties two thousand men into the frigid Mississippi River.

Recovering from wounds that might end his career as a surgeon but clinging to his faith, Cade threatens both Lily’s defenses and her heart. How can she tell him she might’ve prevented the tragedy if only she’d reported a suspected saboteur’s claims? And when the man returns to town and encoded messages pass through the hotel, will Lily follow her convictions to prevent another tragedy?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Denise Weimer holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University. A former magazine writer, Denise authored romantic novella Redeeming Grace, as well as The Georgia Gold Series (Sautee Shadows, The Gray Divide, The Crimson Bloom, and Bright as Gold, winner of the 2015 John Esten Cooke Award for outstanding Southern literature) and The Restoration Trilogy (White, Widow and Witch) with Canterbury House Publishing. A wife and swim mom of two daughters, Denise always pauses for old houses, coffee and chocolate, and to write any story the Lord lays on her heart.

More from Denise

The first novel I ever wrote was set during the Civil War, inspired by travels to historic sites of the Southeast with my parents and scribbled in my eleven-year-old hand in spiral-bound notebooks. Fresh out of college with my new degree in journalism with a minor in history on my shelf, I narrowly missed signing a contract for another Civil War series. Fast forward another decade or so. I was a young mom writing for magazines and directing a volunteer 1800s dance group when my Georgia Gold Series, literary-style historical fiction set between the Cherokee Removal and Reconstruction, found a home with Canterbury House Publishing. Since then, I’ve written everything from Hallmark-style contemporaries to Revolutionary War romances (including my current Scouts of the Georgia Frontier Series with Wild Heart Books, where I also work as an editor). Everything but Civil War-era stories … until this one.

It feels a lot like coming home.

Some of that also has to do with the fact that I love writing stories that illustrate how God can bring healing and redemption out of the most difficult circumstances. I also endeavor to work as much real history as possible into the plots of my novels. And I love finding a little-known aspect of the past to center a story upon. When Hope Sank embodies all those things.

Reeling from the loss of over 600,000 men in the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln just the week prior, the nation hardly noticed when a steamer carrying a couple thousand U.S. prisoners of war exploded in the Mississippi River on April 27, 1865. Over eleven hundred perished in the icy waters that swelled several miles past the normal embankments at flood stage, making the sinking of the Sultana the most crippling maritime disaster in the nation’s history.

The former POWs on their way to muster out at Camp Chase, Ohio, were already emaciated and ill from imprisonment at infamous Andersonville and Cahaba prison camps. A number were badly burned when the boilers exploded, and many did not know how to swim. You can imagine the scene that ensued. While the steamboats docked at Memphis—which had been under Union occupation since the summer of 1862—got up steam, local citizens hurried to help, even those on the Arkansas shore who had fought for the Confederacy. The towns of Hopefield, Marion, and Mound City had suffered harsh reprisals for harboring Confederate guerillas. The area was well-known as a hotbed of spies and saboteurs intent on disrupting Union shipping on the Mississippi.

From this cauldron of chaos, discontent, and pain, an emotionally rich story was born. Focused on survival for herself and her little brother, Lily works at her uncle’s inn and keeps her Union sympathies to herself in her family of Southern sympathizers. The Yankee lieutenant she pulls from the river needs emotional healing even more than physical, though his wounds may compromise his ability to practice as a surgeon. The bond that forms between them from their shared faith and allegiances makes Lily question if she might have another option besides marrying her childhood sweetheart, a former partisan. And when coded message pass through River’s Rest, Lily struggles to find the courage to do what she didn’t the first time—speak out to save lives.

While the sinking of the Sultana may be the inciting event in When Hope Sank, it’s not the main focus. The reactions of the characters in the aftermath are. In our lives as followers of Christ, isn’t that where the real focus should lie? How we respond to tragedy? How we learn to reach for God instead of blaming Him? How, when we walk with Him, He brings beauty out of our ashes? It’s my prayer that the message of When Hope Sank settles deep in your heart.

My Impressions

“Who said anything about love?” She stepped around him, passing close as she reached for the door. “It’s not something I’ve dared to even hope for … until now.”

Barbour has come out with some of the best series! This one, A Day to Remember, involves six different obscure American tragedies. Each can be read without reading the others, but if you read one, you’ll want to read the rest!

Book three, When Hope Sank, is NOT about the Titanic! Rather, Denise Weimer recounts the disastrous 1865 journey of the steamboat the Sultana. The Sultana is carrying pardoned Union POW soldiers from Southern prisons up the Mississippi River. Cade Palmer, a doctor, and his close friend, James Caldwell, are two men on that ill-fated, massively overloaded boat, made to carry 500, but carrying over 2,000. A sudden explosion sends many men straight into eternity. Others are lost in the flaming boat and river debris as they try to escape.

Lily Livingston, living with her strongly Southern sympathizing aunt, cousin, and more moderate uncle, finds herself helping to rescue Cade and James from the river. As she cares for Cade’s injuries, she begins to care for the man himself.

Personal growth comes for both Cade and Lily, but painfully, slowly. Cade comes to realize evil is not just in those whose hatred causes untold death and destruction, but even in his own choices he makes that are self-serving. “…God allowed people a choice, and many in every generation chose evil. Because serving oneself was, in reality, serving evil instead of God.”

“He always thought his optimism and good works would get him into heaven. He never seemed to realize there are no good people, just as my father used to say, only bad people who can either choose justice or grace.” I found this quote from Cade describing someone else ironic. Yes, Cade has already chosen God’s grace of salvation. But… the crux of the novel is… will he choose to extend God’s grace or try to visit His wrath on others he deems unworthy?

Conflict and great personal angst threaten as Lily and James deal with things they failed to do in the past. Their failures affect the people around them and guilt bears down. Will their faith rise to the occasion or will they sink under the enormity of all they’ve lost? Can God really use such a horrendous tragedy for good?

I highly recommend this novel! I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Pain is pain. It just hurts.” … “But it hurts a little less if you share it.”

“It’s hardly a crime to want others to think well of you.” He dropped her hand and lowered his gaze. “Not until you want it so much you put that above what God thinks.”

“By her own admission, she shared his ideals, and more importantly, his faith. Both of them clung to their spiritual heritage despite all they’d been through, and somehow, they strengthened each other in it. Believed for each other where they no longer could do so for themselves.”

“Better to be alone than to keep company with the wrong people.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 28

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 28

Bizwings Book Blog, May 29

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 29

Alena Mentink, May 30

Lighthouse Academy Blog, May 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Betti Mace, May 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 31

Texas Book-aholic, June 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 2

Book Looks by Lisa, June 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 3

Life, Love, Writing, June 4

Blogging With Carol, June 4

The Lofty Pages, June 5

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 5

For Him and My Family, June 6

Blossoms and Blessings, June 6

Stories By Gina, June 7 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 7

Cover Lover Book Review, June 8

Connie’s History Classroom, June 8

Holly’s Book Corner, June 9

An Author’s Take, June 9

Pause for Tales, June 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and 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/2bbf4/when-hope-sank-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

Love Overboard by Shannon Sue Dunlap

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Love Overboard: A Novel

Author: Shannon Sue Dunlap

Genre:Christian Romcom

Release date: May 21, 2024

When four quirky friends retire on a never-ending round of cruises, their attire consists of more than floral shirts and gaudy skirts. Armed with walkie-talkies and battle plans, these relationship experts—who’ve dubbed themselves the “Shippers”—target hostess Lacey Anderson and director Jonathan King in their romantic schemes. However, the young couple is determined not to play along, having previously sailed the tumultuous seas of love only to witness their relationship crash and burn.

Boss matchmaker Emily Windsor has orchestrated multiple romantic successes, and these two upstarts certainly won’t get the best of her. The chemistry between Lacey and Jonathan is obvious, but the couple rebuffs every outlandish plot and “coincidental” meeting, forcing the Shippers to chart a new course to true love—all while inadvertently thwarting drug smugglers threatening to ruin their floating home.

Can they untangle the mess of romance and intrigue before it’s too late, or will their journey end in heartbreak and disaster? Shannon Sue Dunlap’s enthralling new series unfolds a tale where love, laughter, and danger converge in an entertaining maritime adventure.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Shannon Sue Dunlaplives in hot and humid Houston, Texas where she writes love stories with a laugh-out-loud center. She enjoys traveling around the world, singing tunes from classic musicals, and drinking Dr. Pepper. Shannon is a die-hard fan of happy endings and believes God has designed one for each of us.

More from Shannon

My attention zeroed in on the tv screen where a darling elderly woman happily danced with a man in a captain’s uniform. The feature report told how she’d forsaken the nursing home and chosen to live her retirement on a cruise ship instead. Afterward, the wheels in my brain started to churn. What if there wasn’t just one woman, but a whole group? And what if they amused themselves by matchmaking the young people around them? Thus, the idea for Love Overboard started to form.

I related to my wandering heroines. Traveling is “in my blood.” I was three months old when my parents hit the road. (Or so they tell me. I really don’t remember.) It was the 70s and Dad was a traveling preacher called an evangelist. He and mom started out with their newborn baby in a Toronado Oldsmobile. And even after we made a permanent home in Virginia, they kept traveling.

No wonder my feet itch.

In those many journeys, of course there were books. Daydreams of detectives and western heroes and ladies in fancy dresses kept me company in the backseat. I’d finish the stack of novels I brought with me, and my parents would stop at whatever town we were near and look up a Christian bookstore to restock my supply.

Now, it tickles my fancy to think my stories might be keeping someone else company in their plane seat or deck chair. As I write, of course, I keep traveling. I’ve taught school in Botswana, driven on the left side of a rain-slicked Scottish road, twirled in front of Mr. Darcy’s Pemberly (the Colin Firth version), visited Prince Edward Island for the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables, and been serenaded by an opera singer on a European river cruise. (I don’t mean in the audience. He took me from my seat, wrapped his arms around me, and let the crescendos fly.) Learning about the history of places and trying crazy new dishes makes life more interesting. The most unique thing I remember eating is Mopani worm in Zambia. (It tasted like crunchy dirt.)

As Love Overboard releases, I’d like to give a big shoutout to that daring little old lady that lent me inspiration. Perhaps I’ll follow her example when I reach my 80s. No matter how long is ordained for my time on this planet, I hope books and traveling will always play a part in my story.

My Impressions

“The Shippers are after me.”

Love Overboard by Shannon Sue Dunlap is a hilarious, LOL a minute cozy mystery. While the main protagonists are Lacy Anderson, the cruise ship’s hostess, and Jonathan King, the new cruise director, it is the Shippers that are the scene stealers.

Four Septuagenarians, all widowed or never married, led by Emily Windsor, live on the Monarch cruise line ship and occupy their time on board by targeting various people to become a successful product of the matchmaking shenanigans. And Emily and her posse are an impossible force to reckon with!

You get an idea of Emily’s personality quickly as the novel starts out and she thinks of the first mate, Peter. “His frowsy white-blond hair and pasty complexion combined with his pristine uniform to give him the appearance of a skinny, befuddled ear swab.” Oy, vey, you know these ladies are going to be a hoot!!

Lacy and Jon had dated a few years prior, but Lacey suddenly disappeared from the relationship, and when Jon requires an answer as they re-acquaint, her reply is that they were only friends. Even as the over-the-top, extremely creative and invasive machinations of the Shippers throw Lacy and Jon together in situations that should encourage a romance, Lacey gives out mixed signals. Why is she acting interested one moment and like an ice princess the next?

Jon, for all his determination that Lacey is the one for him, is hiding a few secrets.

Why he is really on this particular ship as cruise director? What is his relationship with his boss? I hear the song, “Honesty”by Billy Joel in my head for background for these scenes.

And the mystery is just right for a cozy. Drugs are somewhere are the ship, but where? Who deserves the retired FBI agent’s suspicions and who is a waste of his time following? And, in Jon’s opinion, how does such a bumbling detective deserve the important task given him?

One more thought. There is a faith element in this book, with a great question posed more than once by snoopy Emily, “ Did you pray about it?” Simple, direct, and convicting! I also loved that Dunlap presents swearing, a lot, but cleanly, creatively, and effectively! Amante, a troublesome passenger and known online reviewer, releases plenty of blue streaks to describe dissatisfaction with any little or big imposition. “Words poured from his mouth like dirty water from a sanitation hose. If he were on television, the censor’s finger would tire of pressing the bleep button.” “Did this guy swallow a four-letter dictionary?”I really love it when writers describe swearing so well, yet the reader doesn’t have to read actual cuss words!

I also love that by the end of the novel, we are not left with a cliff-hanger, but we are given enough of a preview of the sequel that I am salivating for that one!!

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

Notable Quotables:

“There are two things you can’t avoid in life: love and death. Be prepared for whichever one comes first.”

“verbal atomic bomb” [ Ha, I want to remember and use this one!!]

“He watched her leave. Again. Like they were stuck on a sick, twisted carousel, going around and around but never getting anywhere. What were the secret words that would make her stay?”

“But pushy people can also push others away.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!! Only read if you love to laugh yourself silly!!

Blogs Stops

Pause for Tales, May 24

Wishful Endings, May 24

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 25

Texas Book-aholic, May 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 27

Stories By Gina, May 28 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, May 28

The Sacred Line, May 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 31

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 1

For Him and My Family, June 2

The Lofty Pages, June 3

Labor Not in Vain, June 4

Holly’s Book Corner, June 5

She Lives To Read, June 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon Sue 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/2b9d5/love-overboard-celebration-tour

BLOG, Favorite, Just Read Tours, Kindle, Launch Team, PB, Purchase

Sheltered by the Doctor by Danielle Grandinetti Review

Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Sheltered by the Doctor by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Sheltered by the Doctor
Series: Harbored in Crow’s Nest #5
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press
Release Date: May 21, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Romantic Suspense

A fake relationship might keep her safe, but will it break their hearts?

Wisconsin, 1931—Mindy Zahn can’t understand why her parents deserted the family farm, leaving her mute younger sister in her care. Until her mother’s cryptic warning to keep her sister safe becomes a life-threatening task.

Searching for that elusive something to ease his weary heart, Dr. Nick Matrone is drawn to the cheery Mindy. He would never presume to bring such a sweet woman into his beleaguered past, so friendship is all he can offer. Except, he doesn’t expect needing to save her life.

As the danger grows, they both must battle through physical and emotional wounds to have a hope of their counterfeit relationship becoming true.

Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books in This Series

     

About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea and books. As a FHLCW Reader’s Choice and Selah Award Finalist, she mixes romance, suspense, and history to bring her stories to life. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Find her online at daniellegrandinetti.com.

Connect with Danielle at daniellegrandinetti.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

My Impressions

“Fake relationship, Matrone? Only pretend part about it is what you’re telling yourself.”

Finally! Sheltered by the Doctor, by Danielle Grandinetti, is out in the world! Why is this cause for celebration? Because I love historical fiction, set in a small town with a bit of romance and suspense. Because this is Nick and Mindy’s story. If you have read Grandinetti’s other Harbored in Crow’s Nest books, you met waitress Mindy, who is such a sweetheart, in the first book. But alas, David, her good friend, did not fall in love with her. So I’ve been waiting for Mindy’s turn!

Dr. Nick Matrone has moved to small-town Wisconsin (Crow’s Nest) to escape the prejudice and danger of New York City. Unfortunately, being an Italian at this time is bad, as Al Capone has just been arrested and Mussolini is gaining power in Italy. “A few bad apples, who newspapers and bigots used to paint the entire Italian community, shouldn’t make him ashamed of who God made him.”

Many townspeople refuse to seek out Nick’s doctoring ability because of his obvious heritage. People, as always, find reasons to look down upon a group of people who look, act, or speak differently. When will we ever learn to each other as God sees us, from the actions motivated by the heart, which are changeable, instead of skin color, which is unchangeable?

Mindy has a few problems of her own. Working hard as a waitress to support herself and her family, she is seen as a loose woman because of her profession. When she draws repeated unwanted attention from a certain customer, she claims in desperation that she and Nick are an item.

Mindy harbors a secret and also has a very unexpected responsibility thrust upon her. Added to that, the unwanted suitor is hanging around, ready to stir up trouble, and danger is galloping at Mindy from another direction she couldn’t predict.

I was happy to see old friends and more of Buck, who is rather an unknown quantity. Opinions are divided among Mindy and Nick and friends about Buck’s trustworthiness.

There are some great twists in this book! I loved that. However, there were a couple of issues that were given a lot of time in presentation, that I felt maybe weren’t wrapped up satisfactorily. They just needed more explanation than I felt they received. Overall, still a fave book in a great series by a fave author! Don’t miss it!

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

Notable Quotables:

“You’ve found peace?” Mindy wanted it, wasn’t sure she’d ever had it. “Not yet.”

“…I’m searching for it, and this seemed like the place to find it.”

“…Do you think God hears us?”

“…I pray the answer is yes, or we’ll be searching for a lifetime.”

“He didn’t intentionally do anything of which he was accused. It was simply inherent to who he was. He was simply too dark. Too not-American. Too much of a physician. He was too much of the wrong things.”

“I’m not worthy, but You never asked us to be worthy.”

Everyone here knew the truth about their fake relationship.

“I firmly believe that, no matter a person’s actions, they are loved by God and deserve expert medical care. If only that they might live another day to experience the love and mercy He shows.”

“She should feel safe, cared for. Instead, her heart cracked open. Would she ever be loved, truly loved, simply for being herself?”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a Crow’s Nest Prize Bundle which includes a print copy of Confessions to a Stranger, a Crow’s Nest canvas tote, a Crow’s Nest paperback notebook and Crow’s Nest stickers!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 22, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 29, 2024. 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!

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

Mabel and the Little Green Men by Susan Kimmel Wright

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Mabel and the Little Green Men

Author: Susan Kimmel Wright

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release date: October 5, 2023

The last thing Mabel needed was a flying saucer, not to mention a rash of similar sightings all over town. Her life’s already been upended by getting fired and moving to Grandma’s old house in Medicine Spring. So far, the deceptively sleepy village has delivered several murders—and romance with a handsome private investigator. Are little green men next?

While Mabel tries to get to the bottom of the apparent space invasion, she also gets herself caught between competing candidates for township supervisor. Small-town politics call for more diplomacy than she has—not to mention the ability to duck, run, and hide.

And unfortunately, her UFO investigation only raises more questions. Long-buried secrets surface, all tied to one night in 1958 and another seeming alien attack. But something more troublesome than any Martian invasion is on its way. A film crew descends, bent on producing a documentary on the historic UFO crash. Hordes of tourists follow, all infected with flying saucer fever. When an all-too-human body turns up at the alleged alien gravesite in a local cemetery, Mabel realizes murder is bound to follow her, whether of this world or not.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Susan Kimmel Wright began her life of mystery as a child, with reading. That led to writing kids’ mysteries and eventually to Medicine Spring with Mabel. A longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, Susan’s also a prolific writer of personal experience stories, many for Chicken Soup for the Soul. She shares an 1875 farmhouse in southwestern PA with her husband, several dogs and cats, and an allegedly excessive stockpile of coffee and tea mugs.

More from Susan

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a…UFO?

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and seen something you couldn’t explain? What did you—or would you—do? Call a friend? The police department? Post a picture on social media? Or maybe you’d keep it quiet, trying to convince yourself it was a figment of your imagination.

In Mabel & the Little Green Men, I had so much fun giving Mabel a UFO encounter and then seeing where it led her, while more sightings and the arrival of a TV documentary crew turned the small town of Medicine Spring topsy-turvy. Wacky characters and situations kept surprising me too!

My best friend has had UFO encounters—twice. Once, while sitting at her desk studying, she looked out to see a strange light hovering beyond her window. Another time, she spotted a large object in the sky ahead of her while driving home alone from a movie. Alas, though I’ve scanned the skies for years, this has never happened to me!

My friend is far from the only sane person to report seeing a UFO. Every year, hundreds of sightings are reported in the US, including many from police, ministers, military pilots, and others not known for fabrication or flights of fantasy. The term UFO (unidentified flying object), as well as the now-preferred term UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon), both simply refer to an airborne object that can’t be readily identified. Neither term has anything whatsoever to do with flying saucers or “little green men.”

Most UFOs are eventually explained—some as atmospheric events, deflated balloons, or experimental aircraft. But the mystery fascinates me—especially for the handful that have never been satisfactorily explained.

While I’ve never personally seen a UFO, many people in my area reported the 1965 crash of the Kecksburg “space acorn,” an event now celebrated with an annual festival benefiting the fire department. Do you have a UFO story in your town?

My Impressions

Mabel and the Little Green Men by Susan Kimmel Wright is such a fun cozy! I laughed my way through, loudly, from beginning to end. I think this may be the most realistic cozy series I‘ve read, while still being hilarious.

Mabel herself is such a relatable, yet entertaining heroine. A fifty-something spinster, on the frumpy side, success is not her friend. Unless you count the murders she’s solved in previous books. Somehow she does this while muddling her way through life. Her boyfriend, John, and friend, Lisa, help ground Mabel a bit.

While the murder doesn’t occur until well into the second half, there is no shortage of emotion, temper, or action in the whole novel. Very evenly paced and compelling as you try to figure out who or what force is behind the 1958 UFO event, and why Medicine Spring is the sudden hubbub of UFO( although the book gives it a more up-to-date term) activity.

I sure would like to see a book four!

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

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!! I love bungling Mabel and her adventures! I hope there will be many more to come!!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 17

Stories By Gina, May 18 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, May 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 19

Texas Book-aholic, May 20

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 21 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 22

Blogging With Carol, May 23

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 24

Vicky Sluiter, May 25 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, May 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 27

Lily’s Corner, May 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 29 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize package of $50 Amazon gift card 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/2b7cd/mabel-and-the-little-green-men-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

Darkness Calls the Tiger by Janyre Tromp Review

Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Darkness Calls the Tiger by Janyre Tromp, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Darkness Calls the Tiger: A Novel of World War II Burma
Author: Janyre Tromp
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: May 14, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Imperial Japan devours the southern portion of Burma, intent on taking over mainland Asia. Unaware of the coming darkness, Kailyn Moran drifts in her role as the only daughter of a widowed missionary.

As whispers of war snake through the Kachin mountains, Kai’s father is convinced God will protect the mission. He entrusts the village to her and the kind yet inexperienced new missionary, Ryan McDonough, while he makes routine visits to neighboring villages.

War descends like a tempest upon the mountain peaks, and an unbreakable bond forms between Kailyn and Ryan as they unite to provide solace to both villagers and the flood of refugees. Despite their tireless efforts, a brutal enemy shatters almost everything they love, pushing Kailyn to embark on a path of unrestrained vengeance.

Afraid he’s losing the woman he loves, Ryan fights to protect Kai from the deadly consequences of her choices. But in the face of destruction, can he convince her of the power and freedom of forgiveness?

“Evocative and transportive, filled with nuance and spiked with the violence of war, Darkness Calls the Tiger is a story of redemption in the midst of hopelessness.” –Tosca Lee, New York Times best-selling author

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

About the Author

Janyre Tromp is a developmental book editor who has worked in the publishing industry for more than twenty years, spending time in both marketing and editorial. She’s the author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and contributor to It’s a Wonderful Christmas, a Christmas novella collection with other award-winning authors, including Julie Cantrell and Lynne Gentry. When she isn’t writing, she’s a Bible study leader, writers conference speaker, ACFW member, wife, and mom of two kids and their menagerie of slightly eccentric pets.

Connect with Janyre at janyretromp.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

My Impressions

“You have no control over what’s happening around you. The only thing you can do is make a choice about how you’ll respond now. Revenge or love. Anger or trust.”

Janyre Tromp brings us a unique WWII story, Darkness Calls the Tiger. Focusing on the China-India-Burma theater of the war is something I’m not sure I’ve ever done, as most of the US focus seems to naturally involve Europe. Tromp brings the sights, smells, sounds, and fears of the jungle to life.

Young Kai’s amber eyes stir up suspicion among the villagers, and the old traveling storyteller affirms these suspicions with a frightening prophecy. While Kai’s missionary family believes in Karai Kasang, the Supreme God, a series of tragedies unfold over the next years that leave Kai reeling and alone. How can she trust in a supposedly loving God who would allow so much evil? Perhaps it is up to Kai to attempt to protect the jungle village from the encroaching Japanese invaders, perhaps finding love and acceptance in her sacrifice.

Slightly older, much newer missionary Ryan is a character I really enjoyed. He can see that underneath Kai’s tough exterior is a very capable, fun, and intelligent young woman. As Ryan takes over the responsibility of warding the Japanese away from his adopted village, he finds Kai beginning to work with him until an ultimate tragedy. Then, their worlds are rocked, shaken, and totally re-directed. Will Ryan find Kai again? Is she the person he believes he is hearing rumors about?

This is a very emotional story, touching on many issues that could be triggers for some readers. At the very least, my heart cries for Kai, the young girl who suffers loss that leads to isolation; Kai, the young woman who disappears but is actually on many lips and in many thoughts.

Choices. John Moran’s choices severely affect Kai, and her perception of the Heavenly Father. “I had memorized the verses saying Karai Kasang loved me, but it was Papa’s angry eyes I saw when I imagined God on heaven’s throne.” Kai makes choices over and over again as she seeks retribution for her people. But, can she find the power to deny the call of darkness that she has given such a stronghold on her life, or will she forever be alone, unloved, and unforgiven?

What I loved most about this book was the redemption aspect. The novel can be so dark. But when the light of God enters a life, that life turns around so spectacularly that I want to cheer for God, and shake Kai into belief. As if! So my fave secondary character is one who totally shocked me. The grace of God is amazing, and this character proves it.

I received a copy of the book from JustRead tours via Netgalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“…I had two choices—be consumed in my anger and bitterness or  .  .  .Or choose forgiveness and trust. At some point I realized that my anger only fed the evil.”

“It took bravery to be kind. Courage to be gentle. Strength to restrain. And I’d chosen the wanton anger and revenge of Sharaw instead.”

“Love wasn’t measured in how well a person followed rules, especially when they were ever-moving lines.”

“…trusting life to be good in the light ain’t nothing. But if you have to trust in the dark, well now, that is faith.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!!

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a signed copy of Darkness Calls the Tiger, a bookmark, and other book-themed goodies!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 13, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 20, 2024. 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!