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

When the Sky Burned by Liz Tolsma Review and Giveaway

March 26, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: When the Sky Burned (A Day to Remember Book 6)

Author: Liz Tolsma

Genre: Christian Fiction / Romance / Historical Fiction

Release date: March 1, 2025

A Tornado of Fire and Embezzlement Sweep through a Community

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

Promising painter Mariah Randolph longs to have her canvases displayed in the world’s best museums, and Hollis Stanford, the heir of a railroad tycoon, is her ticket to success. The railroad’s bookkeeper, Jay Franklin, discovers discrepancies and is convinced that Hollis is stealing from the company. But any proof of his dirty dealings go up in smoke when fire utterly destroys the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, October 8, 1871.

The fire leaves Mariah blind, but Jay befriends her and even helps her to start painting again. But a trip to Chicago to return Hollis’s daughter to him could put both Mariah and Jay in more danger than even the fire that devastated the town and their lives.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. She is also the host of the Christian Historical Fiction Talk podcast.

More from Liz

My Impressions

“Disaster, though, rarely announces its arrival. Rather, it bursts through the door and refuses to leave until it has finished ravaging everything and everyone inside.”

This whole series by Barbour, A Day to Remember, is one of calling to remembrance great American disasters that many have never heard of. Liz Tolsma’s novel, When the Sky Burned, book six, is certainly an enlightening, faith-based, romantic and compelling story about the Peshtigo, WI fire of 1871.

When we first meet Mariah Randolph, she is a talented, aspiring painter in the small town of Peshtigo, painting the skies colored by the fires surrounding the village. No one is especially worried about the fires at this time, going about business as usual in the small railroad town.

Unfortunately, the bookkeeper for the railroad, Jay Franklin, is worried. But he is worried about discrepancies he is finding in the railroad’s books, and his boss, Hollis Stanford, accuses Jay of making mistakes and belittles him. Hollis is the son of the railroad owner and is engaged to a friend of Jay’s, Mariah. Unfortunately, the ugly side Hollis shows Jay is not what Mariah sees. She sees Hollis’s very wonderful six-year-old daughter who needs a mother and lofty promises of grandeur and art gallery showings.

Just as Jay begins to gather physical evidence against Hollis, the fire engulfs the town. The tragedy is unthinkable. I won’t describe it here, but it can be a little difficult to read. (Interestingly enough, this Peshtigo fire killed thousands in a town of only 7,000. This compared to the Great Chicago fire, which occurred the same night, but whose victims, though as precious, numbered only in the hundreds.)

The fire changes everything. Hollis’s true nature begins to emerge as he attempts to cover up his gambling debts and deceit and selfishness. Hollis’s daughter is sweet, but is beginning to have a change in personality as she undergoes all the trauma surrounding the fire. Mariah has suffered horribly, losing people near and dear to her, and losing the one ability she values as essential to her painting. Her faith teeters. “Why would God allow such misery to befall us all? Where was He on that terrible night? What did we do to deserve His judgment?”

Some characters in this book are so much less than they present themselves. Some surprised me in this regard. Some seem to rise from mediocre or average to far above by their choices. As Stanford, Sr., tells Jay, “It’s a daily choice that I make to walk with the Lord. Prayer and studying His Word help a great deal.”

I loved the character of Angelina. I felt so badly for her. Hollis barely knows her. “No matter what kind of person he is, every little girl deserves affection from the first man in her life.” I would amend this to say, every little girl *desires* the attention and affection of the first man in her life, whether he is a good man or not.

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:

“I suppose if you shy away from doing what is right out of fear of the consequences, then you have lost your integrity and have compromised it for an easier path. By definition, integrity acts despite what might happen.”

“The path of righteousness is a narrow one, fraught with stumbling blocks and obstacles. God never promised it would be simple or would come without pain.”

“They were his friends, these numbers. His constant, always either right or wrong. There were no gray areas, no shades of black and white. No in between.”

“But she hadn’t brought her cares and sorrows to the one who understood. She hadn’t sought refuge or solace within her heavenly Father’s arms.”

“Don’t be sad, even though it’s hard not to be. Nanny says that Jesus is always with us. Like even when Papa has to go away. When Mama died. Sometimes I get afraid, but then I remember Jesus is next to me. I like that.”