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Fatal Past by Sarah Hamaker Review and Giveaway

January 31, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Fatal Past

Author: Sarah Hamaker

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: October 14, 2025

Dr. Eve Davenport has forged a life for herself far from the pain of her past. But when she foils the kidnapping attempt of Ethan Smith, she comes face-to-face with the boy’s father, Jefferson Smith—the high school sweetheart who broke her heart and left her with secrets she’s buried for nearly a decade. Jefferson can’t believe the woman who saved Ethan, his late twin brother’s son, is Eve—the girl he once loved and lost. But as the danger mounts, Jefferson and Eve must confront their tangled history and uncover who is behind the attacks targeting Ethan and Eve.

Click here to get you copy!

About the Author

Multi-award-winning and best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense, Sarah Hamaker loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s an AWSA certified writer and speaker coach, and podcaster of “The Romantic Side of Suspense.” She and her husband are therapeutic foster parents with UMFS. Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, four children and two cats.

More from Sarah

Life has a funny way of mirroring fiction at times, and that happened to me with Fatal Past—but not when I was writing it! I wanted my hero’s (and heroine’s) son to be school-age but not too old, so I picked second grade, which put him at age 7. This is such a fun age, as they are independent and inquisitive, and you start to really see their personalities develop.

Little did I know when I wrote this last fall that I would be teaching twenty-three second graders as a long-term substitute this current school year! I began in mid-September and will continue through early March while their regular teacher is out on maternity leave. It’s been challenging but rewarding as they expand their knowledge and build on their kindergarten and first-grade foundations.

Your turn—how has something you read resonated with you lately? Has a storyline mirrored something happening in your own life?

Sarah

My Impressions

“Your days are numbered.”

Sarah Hamaker’s romantic suspense novel, Fatal Past, draws me in quickly. Dr. Eve Davenport‘s peaceful, secluded days become a thing of the past when she foils a kidnapping attempt of a seven-year-old boy. Eve, of Twin Oaks, VA, is astounded to discover the boy’s father is her high school sweetheart from Boston.

Jefferson Smith despises Eve for deserting her baby years ago to follow her ambitious career path.

This is a great story of nonstop action, two very relatable people with a connected past (which makes their working together difficult) and an adorable, true-to-age little boy! Life isn’t always what we see is one lesson we learn, and we must learn to really get to know people beyond what they present on the surface! One thing I really love is something hubby and I discuss often. Do people move beyond their high school personas as they mature into adulthood, or do they cling to their stunted, not-yet- developed adult thinking? Assumptions of others’ motives, forgiveness, and a great twisty mystery make this a book I love!

Fatal Past is the first book in the Twin Oaks Secrets Series, so this is a great time to jump in! I can’t wait for the next book, Fatal Recall, due this summer!

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.

Fave Lines:

“…not hating each other was a long way from love.” – Eve

“‘How do I look at her?” “Like she’s your favorite ice cream flavor.” 💕- Ethan and Jefferson

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! There is something unique about Sarah Hamaker’s romantic suspense that always makes me feel like it could actually happen!! Scary thought!!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 31

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 1

Books Less Travelled, February 2

Stories By Gina, February 3 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 4

Texas Book-aholic, February 5

Simple Harvest Reads, February 6 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, February 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 7

Artistic Nobody, February 8 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 9

Cover Lover Book Review, February 10

Bizwings Blog, February 11

Fiction Book Lover, February 12 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, February 13

For Him and My Family, February 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card, an ebook copy of Fatal Past, a paperback copy of Truth, the limited collection of four short novels that includes Fatal Past, signed by all four authors, and Fatal Past-themed socks!!

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

https://gleam.io/k1w6L/fatal-past-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, 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

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase

Vengeance in Vienna by Sara L. Jameson Review and Giveaway

December 1, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Vengeance in Vienna (Troubled Waters Book 3)

Author: Sara L. Jameson

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: July 16, 2024

A moonlight sail. A sniper on the shore. A terrorist financier determined to kill Jacob and all he holds dear.

Interpol Special Agent Jacob Coulter and his fiancée Riley Williams set out on a moonlight sail, but a sniper turns their idyllic Austrin vacation into a deadly nightmare.

On temporary assignment to the Vienna Interpol office, Jacob must apprehend a notorious terrorist financier and uncover his operations in Austria. But the financier is determined to destroy all Jacob holds dear. And that includes his kid sister and his fiancée, Riley Williams.

Opera singer Riley Williams is tired of dodging terrorist attempts on her life. When she insists on helping Jacob catch the financier and his henchmen, she gets into more trouble than she bargained for.

But the financier’s tentacles of evil reach far deeper into the Austrian economy than Jacob and Riley suspected. What they uncover appalls them. The clock is ticking. Can Jacob find them before it’s too late?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sara L. Jameson won Scrivenings Press’s grand prize publishing contract in January 2021. They released her debut romantic suspense novel, Cruise to Death, in June 2021. Death in High Places, (Book 2 in the Troubled Waters series), released February 2023, followed by Vengeance in Vienna, July 2024. She is currently working on books 4 and 5 of the Troubled Waters series for Scrivenings Press.

In real life, Sara is a multi-published former university professor who has also written non-fiction under her real name and edits book manuscripts for other authors. She also pens WWII historical novels. When not at her computer, she enjoys reading, swimming, cooking, and dog-sitting.

More from Sara

Ever since childhood, I’ve loved to travel. Memories of family cross-country car trips still make me smile. Breakfast and lunch prepped from goodies chilled in the ice chest. Kellogg’s single-serve cereals or cake doughnuts with milk and juice. (Rare treats in our household.) A sandwich prepared at a roadside picnic table for lunch. As an adult, their lack of nutrition makes me shudder.

These days, my tastes have grown more sophisticated. Scrumptious buffet breakfasts in European or Asian hotels make my mouth water. Local dishes creep into my books. And no trip to Antwerp, Belgium is complete without a serious stop at a delectable chocolate shop. Naturally, for the reader’s sake, Sampling these treats for authenticity in the novel is a must, right?

While tempting the palate with sumptuous Viennese pastries at Heiner’s, my favorite Konditorei (pastry shop), Vengeance in Vienna whisks readers through the stunning Austrian countryside with assassins at Jacob and Riley’s backs, and a terrorist financier determined to destroy them. Dehmel’s is another Konditorei readers might want to visit. Both Konditoreien are steeped in history, atmosphere, and Old-World charm. Are you salivating yet?

Better yet, grab a copy of Vengeance in Vienna and curl up for a nail-biting armchair trip to beautiful Austria filled with heart-pounding romantic suspense.

My Impressions

“That verse in Psalm 92, God gives us the ability to stay calm in the time of adversity until the wicked have been caught. Right now, he needed an overdose of Godly calm.”

Kudos to Sara L. Jameson! In her third book of the Troubled Waters series, Vengeance in Vienna, Jameson totally changed my attitude towards the main characters.

First, a little catch up. Riley, an opera singer, and her fiancée, Jacob, an Interpol agent, are on a-separate-rooms vacation in Austria. But that is also a cover for Jacob’s team to sniff out international terrorist financier Armand and his money laundering businesses. Unfortunately, Armand seems to be one step ahead of Jacob and Riley, and he doesn’t allow betrayers or enemies to survive. Thus, Riley and Jacob race around Vienna and the rest of Austria trying to both elude and capture Armand.

Plus there are a few problems on the home front. Jacob’s jealous coworker, Margot, dislikes Riley and seems determined to get Jacob off the job. Jacob’s parents are not happy with him… and neither is his much-younger teenage sister for whom he is supposedly guardian. And Riley insists on helping Jacob in his cases ( not so bad), but doesn’t listen to his direction ( not so good at all)!

Riley’s attitude became tiresome for me.“My dad is overprotective. He likes to rule the roost, tell us how to think, what to wear, what to do.” She stabbed a scallop. “And not to do.” I could understand it. But it came into play way too often and I wanted to ask her if she’d really considered what effects her attitude and action might have on Jacob’s job? Yikes, for being engaged, this couple has some issues to work through.

I liked seeing Riley’s character growth arc, especially as she emerges into a spiritual helpmeet for Jacob.

I did like that Jameson shows their strong faith by their frequent prayers, Bible verse repetitions at appropriate times, and just crying out to God in times of danger. I did have to laugh- Riley is able to squash many of her fears by recalling a certain Bible story and taking strength from that Biblical hero’s faith.

Somewhere along the way, the very real social evils that Jameson deals with, and the faith they use to combat it, move her characters from the two-dimensional world into our three-dimensional world. I could barely turn the pages fast enough at that point.

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

Notable Quotables:

“Character had to be built, not bought.”

“ ‘Nevertheless, we must forgive others.’ The wetness from her tears dribbled onto his face. ‘And if we don’t forgive ourselves, guilt, shame, and condemnation will destroy us from the inside out.’ “ – Riley

“We’ve prayed about this. We must believe God has a solution.” – Riley

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I was all in this romantic suspense mystery, plus I picked up some Truths for my life today!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 1

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 3

Texas Book-aholic, December 4

Simple Harvest Reads, December 5 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, December 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 6

Happily Managing a House of Boys, December 7

For Him and My Family, December 8

Artistic Nobody, December 9 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, December 10

Betti Mace, December 11

Lily’s Corner, December 12

Fiction Book Lover, December 13 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, December 13

Blogging With Carol, December 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sara is giving away the grand prize of a $75 Amazon Gift Card and a print copy of the book!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3e35d/vengeance-in-vienna-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder Review and Giveaway

November 20, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Red Cottage

Author: Hannah Linder

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical / Regency Romance

Release Date: November, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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

More from Hannah

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

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

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

Who laughs at the things you laugh at.

Who speaks to you in a language your soul understands.

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

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

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

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

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

They would have loved each other anyway.

We’re all made for someone.

My Impressions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notable Quotables:

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

“We all require friendship.”- Meg

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

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

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 21

Devoted Steps, November 21

Sydney Schmied Books, November 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 22

Sylvan Musings, November 22

Texas Book-aholic, November 23

Min Reads and Reviews, November 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 24

Books You Can Feel Good About, November 24

Lily’s Corner, November 25

She Lives to Read, November 25

Melissa’s Bookshelf, November 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 26

For Him and My Family, November 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 27

Stories By Gina, November 28 (Author Interview)

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

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 29

Cover Lover Book Review, November 29

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 30

The Mommies Reviews, November 30

Betti Mace, December 1

Book Looks by Lisa, December 1

Bizwings Blog, December 2

Mary Hake, December 2

Holly’s Book Corner, December 3

Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 3

Pause for Tales, December 4

To Everything There Is A Season, December 4

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, December 4

Giveaway

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

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

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

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

The Daughter of Shiloh by Terri J. Haynes Review and Giveaway

October 31, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Daughter of Shiloh (Enduring Hope Book Three)

Author: Terri J. Haynes

Genre: Christian Fiction / Romance / Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 1, 2025

A Stampede Tramples Hopes

Collect a series of six historical romances. When life seems weighed down by challenges, there are always pillars of enduring hope and love to be discovered.

Lealie Bevard, a determined Tuskegee Institute student, attends the Shiloh Baptist Church convention in Birmingham on September 19, 1902, to request a scholarship for continued education at Harvard. But a beautiful gathering turns tragic when a stampede breaks out and Lealie is injured. While convalescing at the home of fellow Tuskegee student Milton Rafferty, Lealie’s concerns for her future are set aside to help Milton uncover a mystery revolving around missing church funds and a possible murder. Perhaps a pause in Lealie’s well-laid plans can be used for good and lead to love.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Terri J. Haynes, a native Baltimorean, is a homeschool mom, writer, prolific knitter, freelance graphic artist and former Army wife (left the Army, not the husband). She loves to read, so much that when she was in elementary school, she masterminded a plan to be locked in a public library armed with only a flashlight to read all the books and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. As she grew, her love for writing grew as she tried her hand at poetry, articles, speeches and fiction. She is storyteller at heart. Her passion is to draw readers in the story world she has created and to bring laughter and joy to their lives.

Terri is a 2010 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest finalist, and a 2012 semi-finalist. She is also a 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarterfinalist. Her publishing credits include: Cup of Comfort for Military Families, Crosswalk.com, the Secret Place Devotional, Urbanfaith.com, Vista Devotional, and Publisher’s Weekly.

Terri holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, a Master’s degree in Theological Studies and a certificate in creative writing and graphic design, meeting the minimal requirements of being a geek. She and her husband pastor a church where she serves as executive pastor and worship leader. Terri lives in Maryland with her three wonderful children and her husband, who often beg her not to kill off their favorite characters.

More from Terri

Growing up in inner-city Baltimore as the fourth daughter of five, money was always tight. Each school year, my mother paid for one field trip because that was all she could afford. With only one shot, I had to pick wisely.

I choose museums every year.

Some years, it was the Walter’s Art Gallery. Others, The Baltimore Museum of Art. I passed up the amusement parks and sports games to go walk through history. My history walking hasn’t changed now that I’m an adult. If I’m traveling, I’m always checking to see what museums are nearby.

History, for me, isn’t just about learning about old things. It’s about learning about old struggles, victories, and modern applications of those things. When I first learned about the Shiloh Baptist Church disaster, it struck me as horrifying and hopeless. As I began to research, however, I saw that this moment in history had a lesson to teach.

The Shiloh Baptist Church stampede is a story of resilience. It gives a snapshot of people, in the worst moment of their lives, figuring out how to move forward. I was moved by the community coming together to care for the victims, many of them total strangers. How local business owners donated to the care of strangers or to cover funeral costs.

History walking informs. It showed me, from a young age, strength and hope. It taught me lessons from ancient texts that helped me through the dark days I encountered in my personal life while writing this book. I wrote this book informed by history that I could face hard times because others did decades ago.

So if you are feeling like there are hard days ahead for you, do a little history walking. Hit the museums or the books. Learn history’s lessons. They are rich and priceless.

My Impressions

“you are their beloved daughter, and I am their troublesome son.”– Milton

The Daughter of Shiloh by Terri J. Haynes is a story of conflict, opposing opinions, and people uniting to work together despite their differences. Herein lies the hope of a story that recounts years of prejudice, discrimination, and a true tragedy of that occurred in a Birmingham church. I was somewhat uncomfortable reading of some of the prejudice that I cannot correct. Yet the story needs told, and I was thankful that the characters looked beyond their problems ( not denying them) to find Hope in following Jesus.

Lealia Bevard is highly intelligent, beautiful, and does exceptionally well at Tuskegee. She is on the fast track for a scholarship to Howard. She believes this is her and her family’s path out of poverty. She agrees to accompany Booker T. Washington to the Baptist convention in Birmingham at her former home church, Shiloh Baptist Church, because there she will be awarded the scholarship. A wise friend tells her, “I know you have hopes of how things will go in Birmingham, but remember, God may have other plans. His ways are not our ways, you know.”

Not if Lealia has anything to do with said plans!

Milton Rafferty, our other key player, is also a product of Shiloh Baptist Church. But his is not a love story. A continuously drunk father, an ill-timed event, and wagging tongues conspire to make Milton and his mother pariahs. The same people who are blessing Lealia are cursing Milton. As Lealia slowly gets to know Milton, she begins to see what a rock-steady nurse and man of character he is, because of his faith. Lealia is attracted to Milton, even as he hides his secret from her, and she becomes more and more involved in Shiloh Baptist Church.

What will it take for Lealia to shake off her arrogance and personal ambition to align with God’s will? What will it take for the members of Shiloh to accept Milton back into their midst? Can Lealia and Milton work together to help a hurting community and keep a church from being decimated in a totally different way?

One of my fave characters is Milton’s mom. She sloughs off insults like water off a duck’s back. She understands that “People who are afraid can sometimes act in very cruel ways.” Mrs. Rafferty still speaks kindly of the Shiloh people and treats them with respect. “You can’t change other people’s fears, Milton. But you can change yours.” (However, she also recognizes a quack!)

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

Notable Quotables:

“That’s why it’s called faith. Sometimes you don’t know if something is going to work or if you’re going in the right direction. You have to trust that God has a bigger plan for you than where you are right now.” -Mrs. Rafferty

“The Talented Tenth will show the way to the future.” -DuBois

“Going back to Shiloh was going to hurt. He could feel it.” – Milton

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Food for thought in many ways, plus an excellent example of how people who may not agree can still work together in unity!

Blog Stops

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 30

Texas Book-aholic, October 31

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 3

For Him and My Family, November 4

Devoted To Hope, November 5

Stories By Gina, November 6 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 6

Simple Harvest Reads, November 7 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, November 8

Book Butterfly in Dreamland , November 9

Cover Lover Book Review, November 9

Pause for Tales, November 10

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 12 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3d288/the-daughter-of-shiloh-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

Mistletoe and Mayhem by Janice Thompson Review and Giveaway

October 3, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

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

Author: Janice Thompson

Genre: Mystery/Christian Fiction/Christmas

Release Date: September, 2025

A Wildfire Races toward the Hadley Ranch

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Janice Thompson, who lives in the Houston area, writes romantic comedies, cozy mysteries, nonfiction devotionals, and musical comedies for the stage. She is the mother of four daughters and nine feisty grandchildren. When she’s not writing books or taking care of foster dogs you’ll find her in the kitchen, baking up specialty cakes and cookies.

More from Janice

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

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

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

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

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

Blessings on you all,

Janice Thompson

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

Isaiah 43:1b-3

My Impressions

ISAIAH 43:1–3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notable Quotables:

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

“A hug could solve a thousand problems,”

[my personal fave quote, next to Isaiah 43]

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 3

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 5

Texas Book-aholic, October 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 7

For Him and My Family, October 8

Blossoms and Blessings, October 9 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 9

Leslie’s Library Escape, October 10

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 11

Holly’s Book Corner, October 12

Lights in a Dark World, October 12

Bizwings Book Blog, October 13

Pause for Tales, October 14

Cover Lover Book Review, October 15

Labor Not in Vain, October 16

Giveaway

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

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

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

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

First Comes Marriage… Then Comes Murder by Donna Mumma Review and Giveaway

September 27, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: First Comes Marriage. . .Then Comes Murder

Author: Donna Mumma

Genre: Mystery/Christian Fiction

Release Date: September, 2025

Vivien’s Bridal Creations Found at Murder Scenes

Mid-century glam meets murder mayhem in a series of cozy mysteries at Wynton’s Department Store.

It is 1956 in Levi City, Florida. Vivien Sheffield, renowned bridal gown designer and consultant for Wynton’s Department Store, is facing the greatest challenge of her career. Someone has been killing brides who wore one of her custom gowns in their wedding! Vivien’s fellow employees and close friends—Audrey, Mary Jo, and Gigi—and her assistant Mirette spring into action to save Miss Vivien and the young brides of Levy City before the murderer succeeds at destroying Vivien’s business at Wynton’s. . .and her reputation.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Donna Mumma perfected storytelling in her first grade classroom, spinning tales exciting enough to settle a roomful of antsy six-year-olds. She is an award winning author who loves to blend history, mystery, and a dash of hope in stories that explore ordinary people who learn extraordinary life lessons. Donna is an active member of Word Weavers International, serving as president for the Tampa chapter as well as a mentor for chapters around the country. She was recognized as the Word Weavers traditional groups president and mentor of the year in 2022. She also serves as a line editor and contributor for Inskpirationsonline.com, a site featuring devotions written for writers by writers. An avid believer in education, Donna earned her M. Ed in elementary education and writes educational blogs and articles to assist teachers overseas for the International School Project. A native Floridian, she loves sharing life with her husband and her energetic collie, Duke.

More from Donna

Til death do us part comes sooner than expected in Levy City, Florida. In Vivien Sheffield’s bridal salon at Wynton’s Department Store, the goal-of-the-day is to make her brides happy. But since all brides were not created equal, some days she leaves for home with a smile, while others send her straight to the mirror searching for new gray hairs. It’s the life of a wedding gown designer and bridal consultant. Miss Vivien, along with her dearest friend and assistant, Mirette, are ready for all the surprises that come with helping girls down the aisle to their happily-ever-afters. That is until someone decides to start killing her brides.

It wouldn’t be Wynton’s department store without some sort of drama going around. Miss Vivien’s friends Audrey, Mary Jo, and Gigi are no exception and must work around their own troubles when they jump in to help save Levy City’s brides. Audrey has been promoted and works to find a suitable replacement for her old job as Mr. Wynton’s secretary while her new position takes her back to the heart of the fashion industry, a world she turned her back on. Mary Jo battles to keep her family together amidst trying to honor the needs of her parents and fulfilling her duties as a clerk at Wynton’s. Gigi has been given a golden opportunity to work her way up in the store, but her deep insecurities may ruin her dreams of success. Miss Vivien faces public scorn and distrust. She wonders if the time has come for her to follow society’s rules for women her age and just be a grandmother.

Not ones to bow to trouble, the women of Wynton’s lean on the bonds of their friendship while working together to try and make sense of the strange clues the murderer leaves behind.

Female friendships is a strong foundation for this story. We girls all know when you’ve found your special circle, no matter how large or small, you can count on them to come behind you when life throws you a bouquet of rotten flowers. I’m blessed to have a group of friends I met in college almost forty years ago who have supplied me with wonderful building blocks to use for the ladies of Wynton’s friendship.

Because we’re scattered across the country, we don’t see each other often. So, a few years ago, the organizer of our bunch decided we needed to have a yearly reunion. For a week, we get together to eat, laugh, share life-stories, and love on one another in the special way only dear friends can. We have a motto, “You can’t make old friends.” There is something wonderful about being around the women who knew you when you were young and fresh yet still love you when life has started to trace a roadmap of wrinkles across your cheeks and brow. We’ve been there for each other during the blessed times, and there when life steam-rolled one of us and flattened us on the ground.

There are seven of us, from different backgrounds, countries, races, careers, and opinions. We met when we all lived in an old, non-air-conditioned dorm at the University of Florida, where we laughed, sweat, and helped each other grow up a little. Three of us married guys who also lived in that dorm.

Like my ladies at Wynton’s, we know each other’s warts, and we love past them to the greatness we see in each other. There is something special about long-standing female friendships, where that same mama-bear ferocity we had for our children spills over to those select sisters God brought into our lives. And like Miss Vivien, Audrey, Mary Jo, and Gigi, we will rush in without fear to help us get through the worst of times.

These are the women who help me grow up, shape up, and live up to who God meant for me to be. They are a gift. They are my tribe.

They are my friends. And for that, I’m eternally grateful.

My Impressions

“I squeeze the juice from every story until we get to the seeds of truth.”– Robbi

Donna Mumma’s historical mystery, The Women of Wynton’s, set us up for this warm-hearted sequel, First Comes Marriage… Then Comes Murder. I will say while I believe this second book is richer for having read its predecessor first, I don’t think it is a deal breaker. Mumma gives enough explanation to catch a new reader up with the five friends, who all work at an upscale Florida department store in the 1950s.

However, “You can’t make old friends!” These ladies: Audrey, Vivien, Mirette, Mary Jo, and Gigi are so different in background, personality, and life experiences. Yet, they gather around each other in their various difficulties. Audrey, the polished one, lends Gigi her expertise and advice as Gigi gets a promotion in the store that seems out of her league. Gigi is especially supportive of Mary Jo during her difficult family time. Even when all have issues, all come together to defend and protect Vivien, whose brides are being picked off one by one. Will they be able to discover who the murderer is before Vivien’s name and that of Wynton’s Department Store is forever tarnished? I loved these unlikely relationships!

There were a few characters I could have done without, but they certainly helped to create conflict. Mary Hadley Bell is quite the Bridezilla, and Mama is no better. Robbi Dever is a reporter who claims to be visiting the bridal salon to write a positive story on it, but every story she prints ratchets up the guilty stain on Vivien’s name. Then there is the businessman who has vowed to exact revenge: “but I’m not going to let you ruin our business. I’ll ruin yours first.” Plus, a few sleezy folks we meet here and there, looking to make a quick buck.

One part of this book stands out as painful from the rest, because it was so sadly true of the times. That is the depiction of the segregation of races. Hard to imagine people believing it was ok to treat others in this way, as less than, so much inferior. Indeed, “beauty was only skin deep, but ugly went all the way to the bones.”

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

Notable Quotables:

“God made each of us unique for a reason.” – Audrey

“‘Sadness does strange things to people, doesn’t it?’ ‘It’s more than that…It’s sadness that doesn’t see any hope on the other side.’”

“You are your own worst enemy, and only you can change how you feel.”– Audrey

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! These women are such a treasure to each other, and a treasure to read about!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 27

Vicky Sluiter, September 27

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 29

Texas Book-aholic, September 30

Lily’s Corner, October 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 2

Lights in a Dark World, October 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 3

For Him and My Family, October 4

Sylvan Musings, October 5

Blogging With Carol, October 6

Simple Harvest Reads, October 7 (Guest Review from Donna)

Holly’s Book Corner, October 8

Pause for Tales, October 9

Stories By Gina, October 10 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 10

Giveaway

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

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

https://sweepwidget.com/c/92610-liztun9g

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

Detecting Concealed Evidence by Dana Mentink Review and Giveaway

September 23, 2025September 23, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Detecting Concealed Evidence (Security Hounds Investigations Book 5)

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release Date: August 6, 2025

A panicked call sends detective Chase Wolfe and his search-and-rescue bloodhound, Tank, racing right into the path of his neighbor—who’s just barely escaped an abduction. But Pilar Alonso has no idea who’s after her or why. Now she must rely on Chase to keep her safe while they work together to track down the unknown assailants targeting her. Only, their investigation reveals layers of a much more sinister agenda, and danger is rapidly closing in. Drawn into a web of deceit, can they untangle the mystery…before they’re permanently silenced?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a 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

Those bloodhounds are galloping on through this Security Hounds series, aren’t they? Here in book #5, we have Chase and the unbelievably chill Tank. They couldn’t be more opposite. Tank is the kind of dog who only leaves his sunny napping spot when there’s an urgent need to do so. Chase is an energetic, unrestrained, human who gets caught up in the life of the reserved Pilar, a cello player who is simply trying to earn a few extra dollars when her delivery van is forced off the road and she’s kidnapped. That’s only the beginning of the adventure. I hope you will enjoy Tank, who falls deeply in love with Pilar’s cello music, and Pilar and Chase, who definitely got off on the wrong foot when they first met. And what is the object the killer is desperate to get his hands on? Hope you enjoy the ride!

My Impressions

“Panic crawled along Pilar Alonso’s nerves like an army of ants.”

And so best-selling author Dana Mentink begins another taut romantic suspense novel, Detecting Concealed Evidence. Somebody help me! I feel like I may be becoming a romantic suspense fiction junkie! I swear that’s not my fave genre, but I sure am getting more and more drawn into it, and expert writers like Mentink are largely responsible!😊

How can one not like a novel that deals with a clueless courier ( Pilar) who only wants to protect her father, whose personality has drastically changed, becoming more paranoid and unreasonable. Indeed, “…each week, he seemed to be floating away from her, like a boat improperly anchored.” Score one point for Mentink. Readers who deal with a loved one with dementia will identify with Pilar’s lonely journey.

Dogs. Put dogs in romantic suspense, and I believe many readers’ ears perk up. I know I sit up and take notice. Each hound in this series, Security Houndd Investigations, is a valued member of the Wolfe family business. But Mentink infuses new life into these hounds. Each hound also has special personality quirks. Detecting Concealed Evidence presents Chase’s dog, Tank. With a heart as big as his name and a floppy body to match, just imagining Tank and his attempts at heroic rescues are enough to set me into gales of laughter.

Unfortunately, Chase, Tank’s human and Pilar’s irritating neighbor, has a great desire to help people, but he tends to be controlling. He runs roughshod over others’ abilities to think or plan. His sister Stephanie tells Chase one time he has run Pilar off, “Your heart’s always in the right place, but you have to let people make their decisions, even if they might get hurt.” Can Chase step back enough to allow God room to direct people’s paths?

Can Pilar, running from several different people, with no idea why, trust both Chase and God to take care of her and her unpredictable father? When Pilar feels beholden to Chase, he shows his best side: “…this is what people do who care about each other. There’s no price tag on that. We’re helping.”

I enjoyed this mystery, with its humor, character growth, dementia moments, mystery, faith, and twists! I am sad that there is only one more book in the series left.

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

Notable Quotables:

“Seems like you’re ready to step into a real big-boy relationship. This one’s about character and being who you were meant to be, and sometimes that isn’t all roses and laughter. It’s about how you move together through this life with God, regardless of the feels.” -Garrett

“Perhaps the one thing about having memory issues that might be at all positive was you could forget the scary stuff too.”😢🙂

“being strong didn’t mean a person didn’t feel overwhelmed and sad and frustrated and the millions of daunting emotions that came along too.”

“Her emotions were a cascading bunch of dissonant notes without any rhythm or cadence.” -Pilar

“Unscarred meant you were untested. He didn’t want to go through life not giving his all. He suspected Pilar felt the same way with her music.”- Chase

My Rating

Magnificent!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mentink at her finest!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 23

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 23

The Avid Reader, September 24

Devoted To Hope, September 24

She Lives To Read, September 25

Blossoms and Blessings, September 25

Betti Mace, September 26

Texas Book-aholic, September 27

Labor Not in Vain , September 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 29

Holly’s Book Corner, September 29

Bizwings Blog, September 30

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 1

Pause for Tales, October 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 2

For Him and My Family, October 3

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, October 3

Blogging With Carol, October 4

Simple Harvest Reads, October 5 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Lights in a Dark World, October 5

EmpowerMoms, October 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away 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://sweepwidget.com/c/92607-ugsyewij

BLOG, Favorite, Just Read Tours, Kindle, Purchase, Tyndale

Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills Review and Giveaway

September 11, 2025 Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Canyon of Deceit
Author: DiAnn Mills
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Release Date: September 9, 2025
Genre: Romantic Mystery & Suspense

A rescue team searches for a missing young girl and suspects all is not as it seems in this high-stakes romantic suspense novel from the author of Lethal Standoff and Facing the Enemy.

When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese’s help finding her. She’s sure Rurik hasn’t given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child’s life hanging in the balance, Therese can’t turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can’t do this alone.

Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane’s specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik’s terms to keep Alina’s disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won’t distract from their mission to save Alina.

Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina’s last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they’re receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot—no matter the risk to their own lives.

About the Author

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels with threads of romance. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards, the Selah Award, and the Golden Scroll; and been finalists for the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award and the Carol Award.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and an active member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on social media or her website, diannmills.com

My Impressions

“Hope is a reason to live when the world erupts into madness.”

This quote is an absolute fave, and given the timing I read it, it applies super well in multiple ways to our country and world today! Diann Mills’s Canyon of Deceit is billeted as a romantic mystery and suspense, but I would also add the category of political thriller. Expecting romantic suspense with lots of continuous action, I felt the storyline didn’t move as fast as I expected at first. Being such a politically-based novel, there were a lot of mental gymnastics to work through in this 1st person , alternate narrator pov. Blane, a Texas Ranger and top-notch negotiator, and Therese, the best wilderness survival guide, must locate a kidnapped Russian child in Fog Canyon, a dangerous part of the Guadalupe National Park. Their former attraction rears its head, as do their painful pasts. But what set my mind spinning ( and theirs) was whose intel to trust. Trusting the wrong person will cost them time, but most likely their lives, that of 8-year-old Alina, and ultimately, possibly untold others.

Twists!! As I stuck with the story, I began to be able to sort out the multiple characters, see the need for so many, and was totally surprised more than once just as I thought I had the “bad guy head honcho” figured out!!

By this time, I was well-invested in the characters! I wanted Blane to do more than blame God for tragedy in his past. His honest thought is one that I find interesting, and I have personally heard from another non-believing friend. “A bit ironic to blame someone I didn’t believe in.” Blane knows God is after Him… but does he want to forgive God- or himself?

Interestingly enough, Therese also is dealing with her fear of failure from the past, plus fear. Can she trust God enough to forgive herself? I love that she keeps returning to her Source of strength, even in the midst of impossible odds. “God understood my doubts, and He’d help me.” Another thought she shared with Blane until he was tired of her God talk!

“You’re not afraid?” “Depends on how you define fear. For me exploring new territory and revisiting special places is a type of respect, a mix of love and fear.” I swung another look at the sky. “Like how I feel about God.” But the one that personally shores me up, I will share below.

While I was uncertain about how invested I could become in these characters, I found that the political aspect just needed more time to establish the character’s uncertainties and complexities that made for great action and twists once we had enough information in our arsenal. The inclusion of a wonderfully brave, sweet, 8-year- old certainly drew me into the story with tattered heartstrings!

I bought my own copy of this book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Every problem has a solution, and it usually involves teamwork.”– Sergio

“It’s not what we lose that defines our character—it’s what we learn.”- Therese

“We called this fence-coffee on the ranch. The only thing available when riding fence. Tastes like it was brewed over a pile of manure.”– Blane (just for laughs)

So many times I’d asked why evil and injustice exist. But if I had the answers, God wouldn’t be God.” – Therese

“I sent a silent prayer to the One who routinely out-negotiated the devil.”– Therese- (what comfort that sentence brings!)

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!

Mills won me over with her great political intrigue and complex mystery with unexpected twists!

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Canyon of Deceit and $25 gift card to winner’s choice bookstore!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 9, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on September 16, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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