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Fighting for You by Robin Patchen Review and Giveaway

January 23, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Fighting for You

Author: Robin Patchen

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: January 6, 2026

She’s running from her past. He’s protecting his future. Together, they must fight for what matters most.

Delaney Wright has always believed the best of everyone—even when she shouldn’t. After her ex-boyfriend’s shocking betrayal, Delaney flees Shadow Cove, determined to rebuild her shattered confidence. She lands a nanny position in Virginia, caring for precious four-year-old Charlotte. Her new employer is everything she should avoid—wealthy, worldly, and far too handsome for Delaney’s peace of mind. But this job is not the haven it seems.

Noah Aylett is desperate to hang onto his family’s legacy, despite a stalker who’s getting bolder every day. When his brother abandons his daughter, Noah takes in Charlotte, hiring a live-in nanny to give his niece stability. Though Delaney is young and attractive—the worst combination for a man trying to avoid scandal—her gentle touch breaks through Charlotte’s grief. But Noah needs more than just a nanny to secure his niece’s future. He must complete a business merger amidst compounding danger. Someone is determined to sabotage the deal…no matter what it takes.

When threats close in on all sides, Noah and Delaney must join forces to protect the little girl they both love. Trusting each other might be the only way to save Charlotte—and themselves.

A heart-pounding suspense and a swoon-worthy romance as Noah and Delaney discover that some battles can only be won with the right person at your side.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Robin Patchenis a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Coventry Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. Working in marketing, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while homeschooling her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet.

More from Robin

The Nanny Who Became a Hero: Why I Love Writing Ordinary Women in Extraordinary Circumstances

When I first introduce Delaney Wright to readers, she doesn’t look like much of a hero. She’s standing on the porch of a beautiful Victorian home in coastal Virginia, wearing a borrowed blouse that’s too big and reeking of cigarette smoke from the shelter where she’s been staying. She’s broke, far from home, and desperate to be hired for this nanny position because she has exactly forty-seven dollars in her wallet.

This is my heroine.

And I absolutely love her.

The “Ordinary” Woman

Delaney is the fourth of five sisters, and she doesn’t believe she measures up to any of them. Alyssa is brilliant. Brooklynn’s a gifted photographer. Cici owns a business, and Kenzie’s sailing the world. Meanwhile, Delaney’s one attempt to build a career was a spectacular failure.

Her ex-boyfriend turned out to be a criminal. Her own father expects her to fail. She’s terrible with adults, but at least she’s good with kids. That’s her one and only talent.

When the man seeking a nanny sees her, he takes one look and says, “It’s not going to work.” Too young. Too disheveled. Delaney is just not enough.

She doesn’t fight for the job because deep down, she believes it too.

What Makes Her Extraordinary

But Delaney’s superpower is fierce, protective love.

At sixteen, she was babysitting two boys during a tropical storm when the seven-year-old chased the family dog out into dangerous conditions. She had to secure the toddler before she could chase them. The 911 operator told her to stay put, but Delaney ran into the storm, found the terrified child and the dog, and brought them safely home.

When Delaney was praised for her bravery, she brushed it off. “I’d lost a kid and his dog,” she said. “Nothing brave about that.”

The Progressive Acts of Bravery

Delaney’s heroism isn’t a single dramatic moment but a series of choices, each one building on the last, each one requiring her to push past her own fears and insecurities.

When she encounters a little girl nearly wander into traffic because of an inattentive nanny, Delaney confronts the woman, even though conflict makes her uncomfortable. She puts that child’s safety above her own desire to avoid confrontation. (Her bravery ended up getting her a job.)

I don’t want to give too much of the story away, but Delaney proves, over and over, that she’ll do anything to protect the child in her care. She’ll put herself in danger. She’ll even step in front of a bullet.

Why This Character Archetype Matters to Me

I’m drawn to writing everyday heroines because I know so many of them, women who don’t believe they’re special. Women who work ordinary jobs—as nannies, teachers, nurses, caregivers—jobs that society often undervalues but that change lives. Women who doubt themselves, who’ve been hurt, who wonder if they’re enough.

Most of us have felt like Delaney at some point in our lives. We compare ourselves to others and come up short. We’ve made mistakes that haunt us. We’ve been betrayed by people we trusted, and it’s shaken our confidence in our own judgment. We wonder if we matter.

I think many of us women need the reminder, so just in case you do, I want you to know this: You matter. You’re gifted, you’re beautiful, and you matter.

Delaney’s journey isn’t about becoming a different person. She doesn’t suddenly gain superpowers or discover she’s secretly royalty or transform into someone unrecognizable. Her journey is about recognizing that she was always enough. That love—the kind of selfless, sacrificial love she’s capable of—is the most powerful force in the world.

Coming Full Circle

By the end of Fighting for You, Delaney has learned to trust her own judgment again. She’s proven to herself—and to everyone who ever doubted her—that she’s capable of far more than she believed. But she’s still the gentle, nurturing caregiver who reads bedtime stories and makes apple-peanut-butter sandwiches and knows exactly what a frightened child needs. Her heroism didn’t require her to become hard or cynical or tough. She saved the day by being exactly who she is—a woman who loves fiercely and protects those who can’t protect themselves.

At the end of the day, Delaney isn’t a superhero. She’s a nanny who became a hero because love compelled her to act.

And isn’t that the best kind of hero?

Who are the “ordinary heroes” in your life? The people who show up, who protect, who love without counting the cost?

Do you undervalue your own gifts and strengths? Maybe it’s time to remember you are who God created you to be, and that makes you beautiful.

My Impressions

“It wasn’t her experience. It was… her. She simply wasn’t good enough.”

It’s always a pleasure to read one of Robin Patchen’s Wright Heroes of Maine novels. Book #8, Fighting for You, has progressed to Delaney Wright. The third of four sisters of a famed former CIA agent, Delaney is out to prove that she can survive on her own merits. Sans her father’s money or the name recognition the Wright name would open doors for in Maine.

So, recalling the wealth of the Wright family, it is particularly interesting to see Delaney so determined to make it on her own, that she has to take refuge in a shelter. Delaney had always felt overlooked in her family of origin. She grew up feeling responsible for her younger sister, and somehow believes that her needs are always secondary to others’. Plus, she can see the obvious skills that each of her sisters possess that allow them to land great careers. And Delaney? She has one talent. Watching after children. She can nanny. Not exactly an enviable career choice to impress the great Gavin Wright, her father.

When Delaney happens to save little 4-yr-old Charlotte from disaster at a park, Charlotte’s grateful custodial uncle Noah hires Delaney on the spot. It is endearing to see just how well Delaney deals with little Charlotte and helps her to progress out of her trauma-based shell. Just as Delaney and Noah begin to realize that they share an attraction, Noah puts on the brakes to protect his upcoming merger. It saddened me to see Noah’ s priorities. He believes he needs to protect his legacy- his business and his house – to the detriment of the most important relationships around him. Delaney sets him straight and I can hear her indignant voice now! “‘That little girl upstairs?’ Delaney pointed toward the ceiling. ‘She’s an Aylett. She’s your family’s legacy.’ Delaney straightened, emboldened by the truth she felt in her bones. ‘Not this house. Not your business. Those are just your pride or some misguided sense of loyalty to dead people.’” Even a surprising character understands this truth about Noah.

The characters are very relatable. Delaney’s character doesn’t have a highly skilled job. Yet, I love how Robin Patchen shows how valuable nannies, childcare workers, and Moms are! I also loved that she shows us through Delaney that we can’t always compare ourselves with others. We’ll rarely see ourselves in a good light. ( Nor do you want to compare yourself like Noah did- based on status or “class”. You’ll rarely see the real person that way.) I also liked that Delaney realized maybe not everything in her childhood was as she perceived it. In addition, her father is learning even now, to be a better father.

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

Those who like plenty of action, a loveable child, & romantic suspense with both faith and humor, will want to give this series and novel a read.

Notable Quotables:

“Sometimes, all we can do is our best and then trust the Lord with the rest.”

“Children need to be protected. You’ve got to trust grown-ups to figure out their own lives.”

“He’d never been a dog person. Or a kid person, for that matter. He loved Charlotte, obviously, but kids should come with an instruction manual. And a self-cleaning mode.” – This one cracked me up!

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I always enjoy the Wright family adventures!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 22

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 23

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, January 23

Betti Mace, January 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 25

Mary Hake, January 25

Texas Book-aholic, January 26

lakesidelivingsite, January 27

Bizwings Blog, January 28

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 30

For Him and My Family, January 31

Blogging With Carol, February 1

The Bookish Pilgrim, February 1

Holly’s Book Corner, February 2

Cover Lover Book Review, February 3

Blossoms and Blessings, February 3

Pause for Tales, February 4

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/4YjqX/fighting-for-you-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

Fatal Invitation by S. F. Baumgartner Review and Giveaway

January 19, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Fatal Invitation

Author: S.F. Baumgartner

Genre: Crime Thriller

Vanished women. A rising body count. A detective who won’t quit.

Detective Kylie “KC” Cassidy thought Major Crimes would be her big break. Instead, she’s chasing the brutal murders of young women—and the trail keeps circling back to Assistant State Attorney Gavin Watkins and his elusive ally, Kozlov.

Each lead vanishes before her eyes, every step forward dragging her deeper into danger. And when Kozlov’s men come after her, KC must rely on her instincts, and on the few people she can trust, to survive long enough to expose the truth.

But when KC gets too close to the truth, she becomes the target. Will KC survive the trap and bring down the predators or become their next victim?

If you like the relentless pursuit of justice in Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series, the sharp investigative instincts of Lisa Gardner’s D.D. Warren, then you’ll be captivated by Fatal Invitation, a gripping, fast-paced crime thriller.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

S.F. Baumgartnercrafts fast-paced Christian suspense thrillers, weaving tales of complex characters, secretive operatives, and relentless agents. Her gripping storytelling has earned acclaim, with Living Secrets and Forgotten Secret—Books 1 & 2 of her Mirror Estate series—named Top Picks in the thriller & suspense categories, respectively, at Killer Nashville, and Tangled Secrets—Book 3 of Mirror Estateseries—won couple of awards in the Christian Indie Awards and the Incipere Awards. 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.

A New Adventure Begins: Introducing the Detective Kylie Cassidy Series

I’m thrilled to announce that Fatal Invitation, the first full-length novel in the Detective Kylie Cassidy series, is here!

If you’re new to Detective Kylie “KC” Cassidy, I recommend starting with Christmas Murders to get acquainted with this compelling character. And here’s a treat: there’s a free story called Orlando Prime – Origins available under the Freebie tab on my website at sfbaumgartner.com. This story introduces you to the elite crime-fighting unit and the team members who work alongside KC. Both KC and Orlando Prime take center stage in Fatal Invitation.

Writing this book has been an absolute blast! Unlike my Mirror Estate series, the Detective Kylie Cassidy series features self-contained stories in each book—think of it like your favorite TV crime drama where each episode (or book) solves a complete case. While there may occasionally be an overarching storyline, you can jump in at any point and enjoy the mystery. And as always, my books are clean reads.

Since this is a spin-off of the Mirror Estate series, longtime readers will enjoy spotting familiar faces. A few beloved characters get mentioned, and some may even guest-star in future books!

I truly hope you’ll fall in love with this new series as much as I’ve loved creating it.

Happy Reading!

My Impressions

“KC felt the familiar chill that came with recognizing a pattern. A beautiful influencer. A too-good-to-be-true opportunity. A young woman who trusted the wrong person.”

Whew! I escaped alive out of that crime thriller! S.F. Baumgartner writes in such a compelling way, I thought I was present in the scenes of Fatal Invitation. This series is a spin-off of the Mirror Estates series. Each book in the series can be a standalone. Kylie “KC” Cassidy is a small town detective who has just moved up to the Orlando Police Department. Still, the very first murder victim she investigates is one from her small town where she used to live with her Aunt Mae.

When a second victim with a similar MO is found shortly after, KC and her partner fight to keep jurisdiction from turning over to Orlando Prime, the city’s elite crime fighting organization. One aspect of the book is following KC and her new partner, Spaulding, to see if they can learn to work together and trust each other. After so long working by herself, can KC adjust to not only having a partner, but sharing her case with a whole nother unit?

Another is getting an overview of the Orlando Prime team, headed by Commander Frank Travers and his gang that is almost like family. I enjoyed meeting all of these individuals, and getting a feel for their place in crime solving. Jack has to be the comic relief of the team, in a sense. He is so very intelligent, but can he ever bird-walk. I could feel the whole team groaning whenever it was time for him to report in!

KC and the Orlando Prime team first believe they are tracking a serial killer. But what they eventually uncover is something more planned, more pervasive, and more deeply rooted than they could have imagined. Do they have the skills and resources to expose something so sinister before it takes them, especially KC, out?

Be ready for lots of characters, fast action, nail-biting tension, and a few twists. I will be looking forward to reading the rest of this clean, crime fiction series!

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

Notable Quotables:

“And men under pressure do two things.” Eli’s voice lowered. “They break, or they double down.”

“He’d thrown away his medical license, his marriage, his self-respect. But maybe, just maybe, he could throw away his fear too.”

“But some of the most dangerous predators operated in plain sight, hiding behind credentials and public trust.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent. S.F. Baumgartner knows how to get the reader’s heart pumping into overdrive!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 20

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 20

Bizwings Blog, January 21

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 22

Fiction Book Lover, January 23 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, January 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 24

Texas Book-aholic, January 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 27

For Him and My Family, January 28

Blogging With Carol, January 29

Betti Mace, January 30

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 31

Simple Harvest Reads, February 1 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, February 2 (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.

https://gleam.io/EvrUy/fatal-invitation-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

Scars of the Revolution by Megan Soja Review and Giveaway

January 18, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Scars of the Revolution

Author: Megan Soja

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Some scars are born from duty, others from rebellion—theirs were carved by both.

Libby Caldwell has been in love with Isaac Harrison for years, ever since her late father befriended him. While her head knows there is no hope of sharing her life with a British soldier, her heart is much more difficult to convince, especially now that he is quartering in her home. With Boston under siege and battle looming, each day together forces her to recognize how deep her feelings truly are…and how forbidden.

Bound by duty to both his family and country, Isaac is determined to serve honorably in the King’s army, despite never wishing to be a soldier. But quartering with the widow and daughter of his old friend places another obligation on his shoulders—that of their well-being. The more time he spends with Miss Caldwell, the more that duty begins to feel like something personal, something he cannot allow.

As the siege of Boston tightens, Libby finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of espionage that could save the Patriot cause—and destroy any chance of a future with the man she’s growing to love.

Will betrayal and war keep their two worlds forever apart? Or will they look to the One whose love knows no bounds to bring them healing and a future?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Megan Sojais a multi-award-winning author who writes stories with strong faith, rich history, and sweet romance. She lives in western NY with her husband and two daughters and loves having adventures, both big and small, with her family. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, and playing French Horn.

More from Megan

One of the things I love about reading and writing Christian fiction, is being able to see God’s truth woven into the story. Even though the characters and their experiences are fictional, the truth of who God is and how He loves us is very real.

In Scars of the Revolution, my heroine, Libby Caldwell, wrestles with understanding God’s goodness in the face of loss and hardship. Libby is grieving the death of her beloved father, while also facing the siege of her hometown and the worsening fight between the Patriot colonists and the British Army stationed in Boston. Her growing love for one of the British officers further complicates matters, and makes it hard for her to discern what God is doing in her life.

Her questions and struggles reflect much of my own faith journey. When my husband and I lost our first baby just after birth, I spent months trying to reconcile what I thought I knew of God with the tragic loss we had experienced. I wasn’t angry at God, but I was utterly confused as to how to understand His goodness in the midst of something that felt anything but good.

It wasn’t easy, but when I look back now, I see how God led me through my grief into a deeper understand of His character and a stronger reliance upon Him. I can truthfully say, as Libby’s mother does in Scars of the Revolution, that it was “in the hardest times, when God has seemed utterly incomprehensible, that my faith has grown the most.”

If you have ever walked through a painful experience that made you struggle to understand God’s purpose or even doubt His love, I hope that Libby’s journey will inspire your own faith. Or maybe your experience is more like that of my hero, Isaac Harrison, whose life has revolved around duty for so long, that it is hard for him to comprehend a God who freely gives His love and forgiveness, even when we don’t deserve or cannot earn it. I won’t give any spoilers as to how Isaac’s understanding grows and changes, but I hope you’ll be encouraged when you read it.

Libby and Isaac’s story is one of love against all odds, set against the backdrop of the Battle of Bunker Hill and a complex web of espionage. But it is also a story of faith in the God who is able to turn our scars into something beautiful. I pray you will find that truth in the pages of Scars of the Revolution.

My Impressions

“We all bear scars of some sort, whether visible or hidden far beneath the surface. But instead of seeing the loss and sorrow in them, what if there is good that comes as a result? What if your scars have brought you exactly where God wants you to be?”

Have you ever finished a book, and wished you had the time to go back and reread it immediately? This was my reaction to reading an ARC of Megan Soja’s latest Revolutionary War era novel, Scars of the Revolution, Book three of her series, Harbor of Spies. It is so delicious to my reading palate. I must admit I have read book two, but missed book one. But with that background and enough small references in this novel, I had no trouble following the action.

My heart yearned for Libby Caldwell. Always close to her now-deceased doctor father, she becomes infatuated with the British soldier, Lt. Isaac Harrison, who had developed a close friendship with her father. When Harrison returns a few years after her father’s death, he finds himself billeting at the Caldwells to protect the doctor’s widow and his now-grown daughter.

The novel provides plenty of tension as we see the conflict between the colonists and the British heat up from disagreement to actual conflict. Libby and Harrison, aided by proximity, fight their growing attraction for each other as their loyalties are firmly opposed. Sometimes, they are able to see past their differences. Picking up his uniform coat, Libby tells Isaac, “Because this alone is not who you are.” “How he wanted her words to be true, that he would be defined not by his position in the army but by who he was as a man.” Obvious evidences of love (obvious to everyone but theirselves) are overshadowed by duty, alliances, and secrets. My heart felt like it was being torn in two so many times. And putting myself in each of their shoes- could I have made different decisions?

But God enters the story often and so well. Libby’s father was a firm believer who knew how to share his faith. His words, posthumously, greatly affect both Libby and Isaac. Can I have a fave unalive character?! And Libby’s mom is another fave character. She quietly supports her daughter, but isn’t afraid to gently challenge or confront her, when the need arises. “…pray first. Do not act on emotions alone, for they are not to be trusted. Seek God’s guidance and listen to Him, above all else.” Faith is a very present element of this book. The setting may be centuries old, but the Truths are so applicable today!

Soja writes knowledgeably of the siege of Boston and proves she did her homework well. The reader is sure to learn more history than what they knew before starting the book! ( I love books that do that well!) And Soja throws in twists, and enough glimpses of other characters that I am begging for book four ASAP! This family/friend saga is not over!

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

Notable Quotables:

“Tis a sacrifice of some sort with either decision. Be it duty or rebellion, in both there is something to gain, and something to lose.” – Isaac

“…church is not the only place to meet with God. God is just as present with you in your everyday life as He is within those walls.” – Mrs. Abbott

“I have found ’tis in the hardest times, when God has seemed utterly incomprehensible, that my faith has grown the most. For in those struggles, He has shown me that it is not my grasp of Him that matters, but rather His hold on me.” – Libby’s mother

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! This had to be the best of the three books in this series! And there is more yet to come!! Yay!!

Blog Stops

Devoted Steps, January 17

Bizwings Blog, January 17

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 18

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 18

Books Less Travelled, January 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 20

Texas Book-aholic, January 21

Betti Mace, January 22

Holly’s Book Corner, January 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 23

Connie’s History Classroom , January 24

Books You Can Feel Good About, January 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 26

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 27

The Bookish Pilgrim, January 27

Simple Harvest Reads, January 28 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Cover Lover Book Review, January 29

Pause for Tales, January 30

Blossoms and Blessings, January 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Megan 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.

https://gleam.io/nSWnS/scars-of-the-revolution-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

The Silver Lode by Suzanne J. Bratcher

January 12, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Silver Lode

Author: Suzanne J. Bratcher

Genre: Mystery

Release Date: 2020

JEROME, ARIZONA:

Billion-dollar copper camp alive with rags-to-riches tales

Beneath the ghost town that clings to the side of Cleopatra Hill, a maze of abandoned mine tunnels conceals a vein of silver ore mixed with pure gold. Seventy years ago, the discovery of that silver lode caused a murder. Are more coming?

Historian Paul Russell is about to lose his job and the woman he loves. He doesn’t have time to search for the legendary silver lode. But when a student drops a seventy-year-old unsolved cold case on his desk, a murder connected to the silver lode, the mystery offers Paul the perfect opportunity to work with Marty Greenlaw and win her back.

As Paul and Marty search for the silver lode, suspicious deaths begin to happen. When Paul’s son disappears, the stakes become personal.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Suzanne J. Bratcher, Ph.D., delights in writing contemporary mysteries sprinkled with history. Her award-winning novels are set in the very real ghost town of Jerome, Arizona as well as the Four Corners states: New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. Bratcher lives in Phoenix, Arizona. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading with her granddaughter, laughing at her rescue cat, and piecing colorful quilt scraps.

More from Suzanne

When readers ask me where I get my ideas, I sometimes wonder if they expect me to reveal a secret process for starting a book. I only wish I could. But far from proceeding along the steps of a process, each of my books begins with nothing more than a spark that catches my imagination like a match catches a piece of kindling. I pile ideas on the spark and when I have enough for a blaze, I start to write. The spark for The Silver Lode was a 3-D display of the myriad abandoned mining tunnels that crisscross the hill beneath the ghost town of Jerome, Arizona.

The idea for The Silver Lode came to me while I was still an English teacher. So, what was I doing studying a model of a long defunct copper mine when I should have been reading William Faulkner or e.e. cummings? The reality was-at the time, I had no idea I was studying a copper mine. I thought I was visiting an old house.

The first time I turned off Arizona Highway 89A to visit Jerome State Historic Park, I wanted to tour to the Douglas mansion, the park headquarters. I love old houses. I’ve visited Thomas Jefferson’s home, George Washington’s, numerous antebellum mansions scattered throughout the South, and the family homes of many famous American writers. The Douglas Mansion, then, was a natural stop. But besides old houses, I also love research-learning simply for the sake of learning. I don’t have to have a specific goal in mind to enjoy adding bits of information to my hodgepodge of knowledge.

So…as I strolled through the high-ceilinged rooms in the Douglas mansion, I found myself drawn into the history of copper mining in Jerome. In addition to the three-dimensional display of the mine tunnels, I saw shelves of rocks and minerals bathed in ultraviolet light, a wall of photographs of the Douglas family that included one of Winston Churchill’s sisters, and a video that told the story of the ghosts of Cleopatra Hill. My interest piqued, I plunged more deeply into research. I bought books and read firsthand accounts of life in the billion-dollar copper camp. I visited the Jerome Historical Society and read yellowing newspapers. I ventured into the Mining Museum and wandered through a reconstructed mineshaft. I searched the internet for information about mining in the late 1800s and early 1900s, whether for copper, silver, or gold.

By now I was actively working on a plot that would revolve around mining for silver in Jerome. Because The Silver Lode was the second book in my trilogy of Jerome mysteries, I already had the main characters for the story. In my head I could see Scott, a young teenager, exploring those interlocking tunnels under the town. But I didn’t know what he was looking for. I needed another spark to start that fire.

I ran across it quite accidentally as I was reading about a large deposit of silver mixed with gold discovered in Virginia City, Nevada in 1859. Dubbed a silver lode, it was one of the richest deposits of its kind ever discovered. Of course, the Comstock Lode had nothing to do with mining in Jerome between the two World Wars. Nor did the history of Nevada influence the history of Arizona in the 1920s. Still, as I read about a large deposit of silver mixed with gold called a silver lode, I knew I had found both the treasure and the title for the story I was working on.

The next big story question was “Who else is looking for the silver lode?” In other words, “Who is the villain?” It was clear I needed secondary characters to drive the search for my imaginary silver lode buried deep in Cleopatra Hill. These characters came from my research into the families who built the town of Jerome and spread down the hill to build Clarkdale. I had my ideas.

Now…back to the question my readers sometimes ask: where do I get the ideas for my mysteries? The answer is as simple as it is complicated: I get my ideas from research. As I write, I use these ideas as a springboard so that they appear in camouflage. When you read The Silver Lode, I hope you find these nuggets of fact buried deep in the imaginary story of the long ago murder of a college student’s grandfather, a contemporary search for a legendary silver lode, and a desperate rush to save a child’s life.

My Impressions

“When I’m facing something I know is bigger than my strength, I repeat Philippians 4:13 three times, adapted a bit. ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, even __.”

Who hasn’t, at one time or another, wanted to uncover a long-buried treasure or solve a mystery that has eluded people for decades? Suzanne J. Bratcher, a new-to-me author, takes both of these ideas and skillfully melds them together, along with great faith lessons, in The Silver Lode.

Dr. Paul Russell assigns his college students to interview a family member about an important historical event of their lifetime. Alex Reyes’s take on that assignment leads Dr. Paul Russell and his family and friends on a quest for the truth about a rumored silver mine in the area and a suspected murder 70 years old.

It was nice to read about a conflicted romance such as between Marty and Paul. Nice because Marty’s hesitation to accept Paul as a serious suitor is grounded in the reality of one considering becoming a step-parent to a teen. Not an easy decision.

It is also interesting to see the growth in Scott, the teen son of Paul, as he emerges from mourning his mother’s death. We get to see how his relationships with his dad, a friend who needs a dad, and Marty, his dad’s potential girlfriend, develop. Will Scott cling to the familiar, or will he allow room for relationships to grow, to change, or even new ones to develop?

I’m sure I had sweaty palms and short breaths a few times as I read about the dangers that are inherent in exploring a possible murder. Or an old mine shaft. The action kept me glued to my seat. The romance, the job anxiety, the relationship angst, and the four-year-old fundraiser recipient all tightened the weave of the story into a very beautiful tapestry.

I’m going to award favorite secondary character to Sophia, who knows the Russell family from years prior. She is a sweet and wise woman who is also a good friend to Marty. She is able to listen to Marty’s misgivings and give godly advice. “…sometimes God makes something different out of our lives than we expected. It’s kind of hard when that happens because we find ourselves in territory we don’t have a map for.” Amazing when God steps into our lives and opens our eyes with apt words from a friend! I also loved how this theme of leaving behind the old expectations we have for our lives and accepting a new direction God is sending us in, plays out in so many different characters’ lives in different aspects.

I enjoyed seeing a bit of the antique business as Marty is shown at work, as she develops her showroom.

The twist!! When we are out of options, Bratcher throws in a great twist!! I liked that almost as much as I enjoyed the unique ending of the novel, that I could see some creatives actually doing.

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

Notable Quotables:

“Commitment meant work.” ( Paul)

“…the best opener” [in a conversation] “was the truest thing he knew about himself.” (Paul)

“God creates new things.” – Sophia

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I now need to go back and find the other two books in this series!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 8

Simple Harvest Reads, January 9 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol , January 9

Bizwings Blog, January 10

Artistic Nobody, January 11 (Author Interview)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 12

Guild Master, January 13 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Corner, January 14

Fiction Book Lover, January 15 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 16

A Reader’s Brain , January 17 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 18

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, January 19 (Author Interview)

Books Less Travelled, January 20 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 20

History, Hope & Happily Ever After, January 21 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/n6moC/the-silver-lode-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

The Belle of Chatham by Laura Frantz Review

January 9, 2026January 9, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Belle of Chatham

Author: Laura Frantz

Publisher: Revell

Releases: Jan. 20, 2026

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

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

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

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

About the Author

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

My Impressions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notable Quotables:

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

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

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

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

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

BLOG, Favorite, JustRead Tour, Kindle, Purchase

Bernadette by Jennifer Lynn Cary Review

December 23, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Bernadette

Series: The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue #8

Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

Publisher: Tandem Services Press

Released: Aug. 4, 2025

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

She’s supposed to be a small-town girl…

…He’s billed as America’s biggest heartthrob.

What could possibly go wrong? How about everything?

Tiny Bernie Sawrey is perfectly happy fixing carburetors until her stepmother ambushes her with a blind date. The catch? It’s with movie star Garrett Lomas, Bernie’s secret celebrity crush and the reason she’s haunted the drive-in alone her entire adult life.

There’s just one teensy problem: Bernie’s about as Hollywood-ready as a rusty muffler.

But when her dad’s garage faces financial ruin, suddenly playing Kokomo’s answer to the girl-next-door doesn’t seem so impossible, if it will help. How hard can it be to fake being normal for a few weeks?

Meanwhile, Gabe Lomas thought being his identical twin’s stunt double only involved driving race cars—not impersonating him at charity events in small-town Indiana. But when the movie studio execs set up the deal and Garrett’s fiancée says no way, Gabe trades his helmet for a fake smile and a very real problem.

The problem? Bernie Sawrey, all five-foot-nothing of her, with enough quirk and innocence to charm the grumpiest producer. That’s the problem.

Gabe is falling for her hard, only she thinks he’s his famous brother.

And she just might be falling for him too.

Now he’s caught between protecting his brother’s career and protecting his own heart. Because telling Bernie the truth might send her racing away—but not telling her guarantees he’ll lose her when she finds out.

Return to 1973 Kokomo, Indiana, where the cardinal in the sycamore knows that love—like a good engine—runs best when all the parts are genuine. A sweet, hilarious tale of mistaken identity, small-town charm, and finding love when you’re not even being yourself.

You will enjoy this sweet, quirky tale of secret twists, because sometimes the best love stories start with a little white lie and maybe a bit of motor oil.

Get your copy here!

Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

About the Author

Historical Christian romance author Jennifer Lynn Cary likes to say you can take the girl out of Indiana, but you can’t take the Hoosier out of the girl. She is also a direct descendant of Davy Crockett, which along with her Indy upbringing, adds fodder to her sweet/clean books. She and her husband make their home in Arizona where she shares her tales of heritage and small town life memories with her grandchildren. You can contact Jennifer via her website http://www.jenniferlynncary.com

My Impressions

“In this business, things look a lot different from what they are in reality. It’s all about the show, the magic, and the misdirection.”

I just love reading each successive novel in the Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue by Jennifer Lynn Cary. I think I enjoy each one even more than the last. All the books are set in Kokomo, IN, in the 70s. Now we’re on book #8, Bernadette, about a young female grease monkey who poses to strangers as a male for safety and acceptance reasons. After all, women are not supposed to be interested in automobiles and their innards, how they work, and to beat all, how fast they can go around a speedway!

Our unorthodox car mechanic meets the race car driver of her dreams, Garrett Lomas, a Hollywood movie star. He and his entourage come to Kokomo to produce his newest racing movie, since Indy is close by. With a mind of her own, Bernie resents her “distant” step-mother’s insistence that Bernie help the town image by appearing at several public events with the movie star.

Just as Bernie has her secrets, so does Garrett. Garrett’s secrets don’t just belong to him, however. They’re shared, and the keeping and the revealing will surely hurt more than just himself!

This mental drive back into the 70s was so much fun. I tried hard not to sing along to “Bad, Bad, LeRoy Brown” with Jim Croce ( and failed, of course)! How Cary keeps coming up with new 70s references always amazes me, but they’re always spot on and bring such warm fuzzies on remembrance! Here’s looking at you, HoJo’s!

What really makes me love this book and Cary’s others, is the spiritual depth. “If God is in it, there’s no such thing as a little thing. He can make the amazing and astonishing even out of the tiniest offering. Just trust Him.” So says Roberta, Bernie’s stepmother. Roberta truly does care about Bernie, which Bernie begins to see as she lowers her defenses and listens.

Certainly, our two main characters must trust God to guide them, many times out of troubles of their own making. Many times each prays earnestly for guidance in their confusing circumstances.

Overall, I loved this novel. It has a great spiritual growth arc and is basted in historical romance and sprinkled with humor.

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

Notable Quotables:

“ ‘Bernadette, you are a breath of fresh air.’ But how would she feel if she learned what a phony he was?”

“…he’d told the truth, but all in an arena of lies.”

“…the only place she felt valued and understood was her dad’s garage. Everyone there accepted her. No one expected her to get all girly.”

“You are who you are. No mistakes.”

“This was Benjamin Franklin with the kite and the key level of electrical excitement.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! I am loving each of these 70s historical romances even better than the ones before!

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

Love in Time by Penny A. Zeller Review

December 16, 2025December 21, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Love in Time

Series: Hollow Creek Series, Bk #3

Author: Penny Zeller

Publisher: Maplebrook Publishing, LLC

Released: December 16, 2025

Genre: Christian historical romance

He’s running from his past.
She’s seeking a better future.

After a long and debilitating illness that leaves Arrosa Chapman with severe weakness necessitating the use of a cane and the threat of future health issues, she determines to make a new life as a nanny for Thad and Emilie Evanson in Hollow Creek, Montana. Away from the city that holds family secrets, Arrosa is content to begin a new life caring for children since she will most likely never marry and have any of her own. She doesn’t expect to meet a handsome and rugged ranch hand named Malachi Callahan, whose kind and gentle nature is just what she longs for after suffering a broken heart.

Malachi Callahan has been given a second chance. He works hard on the Evanson Ranch to prove he’s nothing like his father. What he doesn’t expect is to meet a beautiful and compassionate woman named Arrosa Chapman. It’s not long before his feelings for her go beyond friendship.

When someone from the past finds Malachi and threatens him and the woman he loves, Malachi finds himself in the fight of his life to save them both.

Love in Time is a tender love story that reminds us that God’s timing is always perfect.

Enjoy Love in Time after reading Love in Store and/or Love in Disguise, or enjoy it as a standalone.

Paperback version coming soon.

*Please note: Love in Time is a faith-filled Christian historical romance.**

Other happily-ever after romances by Penny Zeller:

Historical Romance
Love’s New Beginnings
Forgotten Memories
Dreams of the Heart
When Love Comes
Love’s Promise
Once Upon a Christmas
Over the Horizon
Dreams on the Horizon
Beyond the Horizon
Love on the Horizon
Love in Disguise
Love in Store
Love in Time
Love from Afar
Love Unforeseen
Love Most Certain
Levi’s Vow
Heart of Courage
A Christmas to Remember
A Promise to Keep
McKenzie
Freedom’s Flight
An Unexpected Arrival (newsletter subscribers)

Contemporary Romance
Love in the Headlines
Recipe for Love
Under the Mistletoe
Blueprint for Love
Love Under Construction
Henry and Evaline

Romantic Suspense
Unexpected Witness
Unexpected Danger
Unexpected Target
Forgotten Identity
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Schemes

About the Author

Penny Zeller is known for her stories of faith-filled happily ever afters with tender romance, humor, and memorable characters. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications. Today, Penny is a multi-published, award-winning author of over three dozen books. She is also a fitness instructor, loves the outdoors, and is a flower gardening addict. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, birdwatching, reading, running, and playing volleyball. She resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers on social media and through her website.

My Impressions

“Maybe what he really sought was a place to belong. A place where those around him accepted him. Even cared about him.”

As with others of Penny Zeller’s Christian historical romances, Love in Time is a poignant story of two souls with different soul needs, wondering if they dare bare their hearts to another. Told with an easy-going style, humor, and real faith lessons that can be applicable to life today, Love in Time captured my heart.

Secrets from the past is something both Malachi and Arrosa have in common. Why does Arrosa have the manners and memories of high society, yet need to work as a nanny? Why can Malachi never seem to open up about his boyhood experiences to Arrosa, no matter how much she shares with him?

Family. Such an important part of this story. Arrosa is very close to her sister and mother, and even her absent father. Each affects how Arrosa ends up in Hollow Creek. I loved those connections and those of the Evanson family, and how they treat their workers as part of their family. What a positive influence! And then there is Malachi. Doing his best to break free from his original father, he has been searching for belonging ever since. Will he find it on the Everson ranch and with his close friend, Arrosa?

I loved how there are people with physical limitations in the book. This gives the characters a special need to develop perseverance and grit ( and do they!). It also gives others an opportunity, esp. our hero, Malachi, to look for ways to be a special and effective helper.

There were a few heartbreaking scenes in the novel, plus a few twists that caused me quite a bit of consternation, let alone the characters affected!!

But what I loved best of all, was couched in this gentle western romance, are Truths the characters learned that we would do well to heed today. “Why was it such a challenge to forget the past? The Lord had given him a future.” This particular truth would’ve been a whole lot easier for Malachi to practice if he didn’t feel tied to his past, and if it didn’t come back to strangle him! And as Arrosa says, thinking of her past health challenges and how they could affect her future, “I find myself entrenched in trepidation, even though I know the Lord will carry me through whatever I may face.” Arrosa also personally gives me new insight into how frightened my own mother must have been years ago when she contracted Arrosa’s disease.

I must say, my fave secondary characters are the children, but especially little Mamie. And the barn scene ! Le sigh! True love causes us to do strange and wonderful things!!

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

Notable Quotables:

“I do know the Lord does have plans for him. He is the God of second chances.” -Arrosa

“And just remember, you, with the Lord’s help, will make choices in this life. Choices to be like your pa or choices to be just the opposite.” – Barnabas

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! All the feels, all the Truth!

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, Love Inspired Suspense, Purchase

Scent of Sabotage by Dana Mentink Review and Giveaway

December 15, 2025December 18, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Scent of Sabotage

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release Date: December 30, 2025

Detective Beth Wolfe’s reunion with investigative journalist Jack St. James is a matter of life or death—and when a masked assailant attacks them, a severe blow leaves Jack with amnesia. Beth and her K-9, Arthur, are determined to keep Jack safe while he regains his lost memories. Was he targeted due to a case he was working on…or does it have something to do with the son they placed for adoption decades ago? When their investigations lead them inside a booby-trapped amusement park, it’s a race against the clock to put all the pieces together and uncover the park owners’ nefarious plot…or die trying.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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

More from Dana

How could we be at the end of a series? I’ve been having a wonderful time with the Wolfe family and their house full of hounds. The last book is finally Beth’s story. She’s the matriarch of the family who has experienced the loss of a spouse. In this story, she will meet the son she never knew and explore the idea of learning to love again. I feel especially fond of this book because Beth is an older heroine who has some living under her belt. She’s learned how to carry on, with her old dog Arthur, and stand faithfully in the face of adversity. Now that’s a heroine I can root for! I hope you enjoy this final installment of the Security Hounds series!

My Impressions

“A wound she’d carried for thirty-eight years had broken open, and she wasn’t sure how to bind up the ragged edges.”

Aw, the final chapter ( book) in the Security Hounds Investigation series by Dana Mentink. How bittersweet! Scent of Sabotage is a welcome and fast-paced addition to the series, featuring matriarch Beth Wolfe, who has been the backbone of the family and their bloodhound team leader. A widow of several years, Beth is shocked to get a text out of the blue from Jack, a man she hasn’t seen in 30 years.

Jack’s sudden request to see her brings to the surface a multitude of unwelcome memories and emotions. None of Beth’s family are aware of this part of her past, except her deceased husband . Before Jack can confirm Beth’s fears, though, the attacks begin and Jack and Beth begin to run for their lives.

One reason Beth and Jack are largely on their own, is Beth’s reluctance to let go of her hidden past. She has many talented adult children who are people seekers along with their bloodhound counterparts, yet Beth keeps them out of the loop. “…maybe because she didn’t want them to have a chance to ask him too many questions about their past? Her scars were deep. His too.”

So many times, my heart ached for the help that could have been theirs with a little more forthcoming with Beth’s family. But don’t we act like that in real life sometimes? Trying to find our way on our own, without the help of others, because of fear of what they may think of us?

I give Jack points for being wise. Although he originally tells Beth, “…I don’t need a wingman,” he quickly realizes he is not going to dissuade Beth from joining his investigation. At that point, he doesn’t waste a lot of time trying. When Beth gets upset at him over matters, he doesn’t take it personally, but realizes that her reaction is normal. This patient man will go far!

And the requisite goofy bloodhound. Meet old, arthritic Arthur. He could only be a liability, right? But no, this elderly dog is an unexpected hero to both canine and people alike. I was amazed.

The mystery is well-plotted. I loved the amusement park setting and the twists certainly surprised me. I would not have survived this adventure, pure and simple!!

And, of course, Mentink made me feel like I was in the middle of the action with Beth and Jack. Fortunately for me, the reader, Mentink inserts some humor and witty comebacks that break the tension. Otherwise, this story will really cause the blood pressure to skyrocket!

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

Notable Quotables:

“God has a way of growing people up, doesn’t He?” – Jack

“She wasn’t his. She never was and never would be, but during occasional sleepless nights, he allowed himself to stray to the “what could have beens.” Deadly and depressing. God didn’t want him to dwell in the past.” (Jack)

“…everyone’s an enemy until we’re shown otherwise.” – Jack

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! Action, twists, faith, romance, humor, and dogs! I will miss the Wolfes and their bloodhounds!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 16

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 16

The Avid Reader, December 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 17

Pause for Tales, December 18

EmpowerMoms, December 18

Bizwings Blog, December 19

Texas Book-aholic, December 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 20

Alyssa Amey, December 20

Life on Chickadee Lane, December 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 21

Leslie’s Library Escape, December 22

For Him and My Family, December 22

Devoted To Hope, December 23

Blogging With Carol, December 23

Because I said so, December 24

Artistic Nobody, December 25 (Guest Review from Donna)

Lily’s Corner, December 26

Mary Hake, December 26

Labor Not in Vain, December 27

Blossoms and Blessings, December 27

Holly’s Book Corner, December 28

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, December 28

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, December 29

Lights in a Dark World, December 29

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/T2I2F/scent-of-sabotage-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

Love on the Horizon by Penny Zeller Review and Giveaway

December 10, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Love on the Horizon

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Will she find a fresh start in Horizon?

Magnolia “Mags” Davenport has not had an easy life. When the opportunity arises for her to move halfway across the country from Chicago to Horizon, will she get the new beginning her heart craves?

Four things of importance matter in Timothy Shepherdson’s life—faith, family, farming, and food. After a difficult start, will a beautiful newcomer to Horizon be added to his list?

Return to Horizon, Idaho, for Timothy Shepherdson’s story and meet newcomer, Mags, in this tender romance that reminds us that God is the author of new beginnings.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Penny Zeller is known for her stories of faith-filled happily ever afters with tender romance, humor, and memorable characters. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications. Today, Penny is a multi-published author of over two dozen books. She is also a fitness instructor, loves the outdoors, and is a flower gardening addict. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, birdwatching, reading, running, and playing volleyball. She resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers.

More from Penny

Sneak peek into Love on the Horizon

The best dreams were the ones that came true.

And Magnolia Davenport’s dreams were about to come true. She could feel it in her bones, as old Mrs. Fryman used to say.

She took a step back and scanned the bustling city. Hadn’t she read in a discarded newspaper that Chicago had reached over a million people? Yes, her decision to travel West would be a good one.

The train depot beckoned her, and she entered the stately brick Dearborn Station with its enormous clock tower. Folks hurried in every direction. Hopefully, with twenty-some railroad lines and countless departures, one of those departures would surely lead her to the new life that awaited her.

No one would be the wiser that a twenty-three-year-old woman would be boarding for free.

For what could she do? The two dollars she’d saved would only be for absolute necessities.

The lines to purchase tickets meandered through the building. Mags stood on tiptoe to see the departure signs when she noticed a wealthy couple in front of her in deep conversation.

“I anxiously anticipate seeing our grandchildren again,” the woman, who wore an elegant dress of the latest fashion, said.

“Yes, well, I’m never fond of visiting Horizon, but I know how much it means to you, and it’s been all of two months since we saw the grandchildren.”

“Indeed, Bertram. I miss them the second we board the train for Denver, and this time, having been in Maryland, I miss them all the more. Besides, Horizon is such a lovely place, and the people are so kind. I’ve actually made a few friends there.”

The man named Bertram, in the finest of silk hats, grunted. “Yes, Gladys, we all know you’ve made friends in Horizon.”

The topic that Bertram and Gladys spoke about intrigued Magnolia, and she stepped closer. Horizon sounded like just the place she’d like to live, especially if people were kind. Goodness knows she’d had her share of spiteful and cruel people in Chicago—many of whom were related.

My Impressions

“The best dreams were the ones that came true.”

A breath of fresh air. Penny Zeller’s historical romances set in the West are always a joy to read. A gentle romance, soaked in faith, coated with humor, and easy to read, Love on the Horizon is the fourth novel in the Horizon series. This is Mags’ and Timothy’s story. And what a story it is! With a vibe akin to the Little House series on TV, we see hurting hearts longing for belonging.

Mags is the most prominent hurting heart. Little by little, her childhood trauma is laid bare. We see her desperation to be on her own, so much that she would attempt to ride the rails (without paying) all the way from Chicago to Idaho. Much humor results, and Mags is amazing in her quick-wittedness and her ability to con people. But her conscience is calling. Or is that the God Mags has decided isn’t listening to her prayers?

I loved the other main character, Timothy, and how his family is so warm and loving. And loud, and nosy, and concerned that Timothy needs a beau! And spectacles! Interesting view on spectacles back then. I’m glad times have changed, or I think there’d be a lot of near-sighted people stumbling around! Timothy’s best quality may be that he cares for others in need. And he takes action.

Not only does Mags originally come to his attention this way, but so does my fave secondary character, Ozias. Part young boy, part entrepreneur, part shyster, and part provider, it’s impossible not to love this imp as Zeller draws him. “If we see a way we can make a difference, then the Lord expects us to step up and do so.” I am amazed at the results a caring man, family, and town can make.

Will Mags be able to accept that God has not answered all of her prayers as she wanted, but He still loves her and is giving her a second chance? Will Timothy overcome his pride to accept his limitations and the help available?

I definitely hope that there will be one more book. Ozias deserves his own story!

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

Notable Quotables:

“Honesty is always best.”

“When we surrender our lives to Him, it doesn’t mean our lives will be easy. Or that we won’t struggle. Or that we don’t grieve.”- Mrs. Shepherdson

“Isn’t it true that our God is a God of second chances and third chances and fourth chances? – Mags

“We never walk through those painful times alone. In His Word, God tells us He never leaves us. He walks through those times with us, that He is close to the brokenhearted.” – Mrs. Shepherdson

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! My heart is refreshed after reading this fun novel!

Blog Stops

Madi’s Musings, December 4

lakesidelivingsite, December 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 7

Artistic Nobody, December 8 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Pens Pages & Pulses, December 9

Texas Book-aholic, December 10

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , December 11

Cover Lover Book Review, December 12

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 13

Devoted To Hope, December 14

A Reader’s Brain , December 15 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, December 15

Connie’s History Classroom, December 16

Holly’s Book Corner, December 17

Pause for Tales, December 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Penny is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3e36f/love-on-the-horizon-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

Love in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell Review and Giveaway

December 7, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Love in the Castle Library (In the Castle Library Book 2)

Author: Ann Swindell

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release Date: October 15, 2025

Predictability and efficiency have marked Delphine DuVert’s orderly life as Castle Stewardess in the small European country of Lethersby—until she is tasked by the monarchy to hire a British researcher. Lethersby needs help solving the 100-year-old mystery of their Lost Queen, a young royal who disappeared into the night during World War I.

Delphine’s split-second decision to hire Jack Worthington, a doctoral student at the University of Oxford, has long-lasting consequences when he steps in to protect her from an angry colleague determined to ruin her life. The only catch? That protection looks like Jack posing as her beau.

Jack Worthington believes that his instinct to protect Delphine was the right one, but he’s determined to stay focused on his research for Lethersby—and keep his emotional distance after reeling from a broken heart. Yet as the clues to discovering the Lost Queen’s story unravel and the Delphine’s future hangs in the balance, both Jack and Delphine must step out in faith, choosing to trust that what God has ahead for them is worth any risk.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

ANN SWINDELL writes stories that point to Christ’s presence in our day-to-day lives and the hope He brings to our hearts. She is the award-winning author of multiple books and the owner of Writing with Grace, where she teaches Christ-centered writing classes for women. Ann lives in West Michigan, and she enjoys adventuring with her family…usually with a cup of Earl Grey tea in hand.

More from Ann

Love in the Castle Library is set in two of my favorite places—one imaginary, and one real. When I started the In the Castle Library series, the main character’s journey in book one (Christmas in the Castle Library) takes her to Lethersby, a small, fictional European country full of tradition, beauty, and charm. I tried to put much of what I love about Europe into this fictional country that I wish existed. From what readers have told me, they wish it was real, too!

Book two, Love in the Castle Library, is also set in the castle in Lethersby, but I decided to make my hero and heroine take a jaunt to Oxford, England—my favorite real country outside of the USA.

I spent a summer in college studying abroad in England, and Oxford was the city that captured my heart. The “city of dreaming spires” is ancient, beautiful, and academic—a heady mix for a nineteen-year-old girl who traveled there for the first time. I even gave a nod to one of Oxford’s most well-known professors through the hero’s name, Jack.*

I had the gift of getting to go back to Oxford with my family over a decade ago, and while I’m aching to go again, including some of my favorite places in Love in the Castle Library helped me to enjoy the city vicariously through my characters. Look for some of my favorite places to eat—including Ben’s Cookies and the King’s Arms—when the characters visit. And if you ever have the opportunity to make it to Oxford, make the effort to buy one of those cookies (they’re sold by weight!) and enjoy some ice cream at G&D’s…the hero recommends chocolate of any kind (and so do I!).

I hope you love this story as much as I do, and that these tastes of beautiful places, both real and imagined, point your heart to the beauty of Christ that is at the heart of every story I write.

*Jack was C.S. Lewis’s nickname, and he taught at Magdalen College in Oxford from 1925-1954.

My Impressions

“You cannot lose what you already possess.”

Where was this book when I needed it many years ago?! Now I know what all the hype is about concerning Love in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell. While I appreciated having read the previous book, Christmas in the Castle Library, I believe Love in the Castle Library could stand by itself.

This book is a Christian Princess Diaries-type book, with romance, liberal Scriptures sprinkled in, and a bit of castle fairy dust.

The small country of Lethersby is still looking for answers regarding its Queen Alma who abdicated during the Great War. While characters in the last book began unraveling her secrets, many more exist. Castle steward Delphine fears for her job as a vindictive researcher looks for a way to remove her. Having succeeded her father in this role, her job, done perfectly, means everything to Delphine. The Queen once tells Delphine,“Your work does not need to be perfect to be successful.” Yet, Delphine’s need for approval from a cold, “job-first” father causes her to push herself beyond reasonableness and ability to relax.

The castle library, with its one-of-kind books, old volumes, and even a spiritual atmosphere is again a setting for romance. This time, the hero is a British WWII nurse researcher that Delphine herself hires to help Lethersby find Alma. Jack has great instincts, and isn’t afraid to stand up to the resident bully. To help Delphine save face in crisis, Jack offers to be her fake beau. We all know those arrangements lead to misunderstandings and heartaches!

The idea that touched me the most, though, was the great asset that a loving father is. And what an impediment when one has a father who is cold and distant. We are treated to see two different fathers. One blesses his child by showing how a Heavenly Father can then love. One curses his child by making the Heavenly Father’s love difficult to understand and receive.

I loved how Jack realizes he cannot solve the Lethersby mystery on his own, but frequently prays to God for help. “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” is one verse Jack remembers when the research seems to stall. So many verses are important in this story, but another one that goes along with Jack’s impossible puzzle is this verse: “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”

I add my voice in highly recommending this wonderful book. All the feels, and then some. And lots of Truth packaged in, as well! I can’t wait for book three!

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

Notable Quotables:

“You’re good at finding lost things, God. You see where they are. Nothing is really lost to You.” Please, Father, give me your eyes to see.” – Jack

“God was not only greater than her worries; the Bible said that He lavished his love on her as His child.” – (Delphine)

“History has been broken by men who refused to stand up to bullies. That won’t be said of the Worthingtons. We defend the helpless, protect the weak, and fight against evil in any form.” – Jack’s father

“I know what it’s like to seem very put together on the outside but still be a mess on the inside.” – Jack

“…sometimes our wounds are the very thing that heals us.” – Kent