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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, 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

Mail Order Duchess by Misty M. Beller Review and Giveaway

December 2, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Mail-Order Duchess

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Five sons of an English duke, all raised in the Rocky Mountains…

A marriage born of duty. A love neither expected.

When Enoch Balfour’s eldest brother tragically dies, the weight of family responsibility falls on his shoulders. Now this Montana rancher must train for his role as the next Duke of Clarence—and marry the mail-order bride his brother sent for. Hardened by loss, Enoch has no intention of opening his heart to a stranger, but duty demands he produce an heir.

Mandie Beaumont is a desperate young widow fleeing the sinister advances of her brother-in-law. After arriving in the Montana Territory to marry a man she’s never met, an accident leaves her robbed of her recent memories—memories that conceal a devastating secret. When she discovers she’s carrying a child conceived through betrayal and violence, Mandie fears rejection and ruin. Yet, in Enoch, she finds an unexpected protector whose fierce gentleness makes her long to trust again.

Though Mandie’s charm and resilience begin to thaw Enoch’s guarded heart, he struggles with his fear of loss. When Mandie’s past resurfaces, Enoch must risk everything to save her. If he fails, Mandie will be torn from him—and the love they’ve begun to embrace could be lost forever.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a royal family saga featuring a mail-order bride, amnesia, a secret baby, and an aristocratic marriage of convenience…all set in the rugged Montana Territory.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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

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

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

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

More from Misty

Hello Reader Friends!

I’m BEYOND excited to share a brand new series with you! This idea has been percolating in my mind for a couple years now—a mash-up of two of my favorite historical romance genres: Regency England and the rugged American West.

In the Lords of the Rockies series, you’ll meet the five sons of an English duke who were sent to the wilds of the Montana Territory for their protection when they were boys. They’ve grown up there, become ranchers and mountain men in their own right.

It’s Regency meets the Rockies as these aristocratic brothers navigate the challenges of ranch life.

I’m especially excited to introduce you to the first book in the series, Mail-Order Duchess!

Enoch Balfour is one of my all-time favorite heroes…so incredibly swoony. He’s the second son, which means he never thought he would have to return to England and take over his father’s role as the Duke of Clarence. But now his eldest brother has passed in an unexpected riding accident. And Enoch has become the heir intended.

Can you imagine how hard that must have been? Suddenly having to leave the only life you’ve ever known to take up the duties of a title an ocean away?

And then there’s Mandie Beaumont, a young widow hoping for a fresh start in Montana. But when she arrives, an accident steals her recent memories, leaving her with no idea why she left her comfortable life in Savannah to travel across the country and marry a rancher she’s never met. Or maybe her previous life wasn’t so comfortable…

Can you imagine waking up one day to find yourself in a strange place with no recollection of how you got there or what you were running from?

I don’t want to give away too much, but let’s just say Mail-Order Duchess has all the ingredients for a story you won’t be able to put down—a marriage of convenience, hidden secrets, and an unlikely romance blossoming in the face of incredible odds. I’m so excited to share this story with you!

I’ve had such fun crafting the unique premise of an English aristocratic family making their way in the American West. Get ready for more heartfelt Western adventures tinged with Regency flair as the Lords of the Rockies series continues!

I pray you love Mail-Order Duchess!

Blessings!

Misty

My Impressions

“William’s bride arrived today.” – Thomas

Such an innocuous statement. If only! Misty Beller successfully sets up another series, this one also a family of brothers needing wives. In her newest series, Lords of the Rockies, Beller combines the Old West mountain frontier with Regency romance. Book one, Mail Order Duchess, introduces us to the five brothers, minus one. William, the one who wrote East for the mail order bride, dies before his intended, Mandie Beaumont, reaches the ranch. Hop down a stair from first brother to second brother, Enoch. Raw with grief, duty-bound to take over his brother’s roles including returning to England as the next Duke, Enoch discovers communication in the West can be faulty. Now, a woman he’s way too attracted to, is staying at the ranch, and as oldest, it’s his duty to make sure Mandie stays safe. Not easy when she arrives with amnesia and secrets.

I loved getting to know the four remaining brothers a little. Each presents enough that my appetite is ready for their individual story. And of course, Enoch is our main “hurt” hero. He’s lost so many people dear to him, he now has erected walls of bronze around his heart. As Mandie comes to know him a bit, she asks him about his past. ‘It’s in the past. I’ve learned to live with it.’ ‘But you haven’t learned to live beyond it.’ ”

Could a Southern Belle really transplant well into the untamed land of Montana territory? Enoch has his doubts as he first meets Mandie. “This territory didn’t care about grit or good intentions- it chewed up the strong and the weak alike.”

Beller works her writerly magic on the words that flow, beautifully describing the open sky and mountainous scenery. If I could sketch, I could sketch a drawing of the ranch in different scenes. I could certainly imagine myself as Mandie, in the ranch cabin, laughing with the brothers, talking with Enoch, trying to reason away his resistance. Or being Enoch and trying so hard to keep his heart safe. Can God help these two get beyond themselves before they destroy any chance of happiness together?

Beller also adds in just enough danger and twists to keep the fingers flipping the pages. And at the end, like me, the reader will probably find themselves begging for the next brother’s story already!

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:

“She knew what it was to pretend at normalcy while your heart bled in secret.”

“Is it really better, though? To hold yourself apart, to never let yourself fully love or be loved, because you’re afraid of the pain?” – James

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Great start to new series mash-up!

Blog Stops

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, December 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 2

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 3

Texas Book-aholic, December 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 4

Devoted Steps, December 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 5

Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 6

Simple Harvest Reads, December 6 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, December 7

For Him and My Family, December 7

Books You Can Feel Good About, December 8

Lyssa Loves Books, December 8

lakesidelivingsite, December 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 9

Connie’s History Classroom, December 10

Artistic Nobody, December 10 (Guest Review from Donna)

Jeanette’s Thoughts , December 11

Melissa’s Bookshelf, December 11

Holly’s Book Corner, December 12

Mary Hake, December 12

Bizwings Blog, December 13

Cover Lover Book Review, December 13

Life on Chickadee Lane, December 14

Blossoms and Blessings, December 14

Pause for Tales, December 15

Devoted To Hope, December 15

Giveaway

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/3e364/mail-order-duchess-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

Sabotage at Cedar Creek by Janice Thompson Review and Giveaway

February 26, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Sabotage at Cedar Creek (The Little Red Truck Mysteries Book Two)

Author: Janice Thompson

Genre: Mystery/Christian Fiction

Release date: February, 2025

Who Would Sabotage the New B&B?

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

It’s summertime in Mabank, Texas, and the Hadley family’s new antique business is open and running well with Tilly, the red antique truck, as its mascot. Raelynn Hadley enjoys driving Grandpa’s truck around as she seeks out antiques for her family’s store.

Raelynn is excited that her best friend, Tasha, will soon open a new vacation rental to accommodate the area’s growing tourism, but an unexpected act of sabotage threatens to spoil all that Tasha has worked for.

Raelynn immediately gets to work sleuthing out who could be behind the crime. Could it be the bitter neighbor, intent on spoiling Tasha’s plans? Perhaps it’s a nearby resort owner, worried about the potential loss of revenue. Maybe it’s the former owner’s daughter who was left out of the will and believes the home should be hers. Or maybe it’s the squatter who had taken up residence in the home before renovations. Raelynn is determined to solve the mystery for her friend in time for opening day.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Janice Thompson hails from south Texas. She is a Christian author and mother of four grown daughters. Janice has written over forty books.

More from Janice

Travel with me to East Texas to celebrate the 4^th of July. Let’s meet at Cedar Creek Lake, a vast expanse of water tucked in and around some of the sweetest little Texas towns you’ve ever seen: Gun Barrel City, Mabank, Payne Springs, Eustace, and Seven Points, just to name a few.

Along the edge of the lake you’ll find 320 miles of idyllic shoreline, dotted with homes, campsites, and cabins for rent. And right there, on the prettiest patch of land imaginable, you’ll discover a newly renovated vacation home, recently purchased by a local gal named Tasha. Her quaint fixer-upper is just about ready for its first guests and she’s giddy with excitement.

Also thrilled is Tasha’s BFF, RaeLyn Hadley! RaeLyn has grown up near the lake and loves this place. She can hardly wait to see her bestie’s dream come true.

Of course, not everyone in the Cedar Creek area is happy to see Tasha’s new vacation rental open for business. Behind the scenes, evil lurks. Nefarious plans are already in motion, though RaeLyn and Tasha can’t yet see them.

Days before the house is listed, the beautiful home is vandalized! Clearly, someone wants to stop Tasha in her tracks. But, who would sabotage the inn. . .and why? RaeLyn won’t quit until she’s got answers, but she needs your help.

What role will you play in this tale? Visit the inn. Get to know the gals. Help them figure out the whodunit. Spend time in town with the locals, celebrating the 4^th of July. I promise, you’ll have a blast. There are quilt shows, cupcake walks, and more Texas BBQ than you can eat in one visit.

Your belly will never be empty as you set out to help RaeLyn and Tasha solve this crime. Just don’t let all of those handsome Texas fellas distract you from the task at hand. They have a tendency to do that.

Hang on for the ride, folks, because an East Texas tale is one that’s always filled with twists and turns! So, what are you waiting for? Jump into that little red truck and let’s hit the road, headed to Cedar Creek Lake!

My Impressions

“God places the lonely in families.”

The perfect cozy to read on a cold, blustery day, Sabotage at Silver Creek by Janice Thompson takes place in the idyllic, but hot, Texas countryside. Peach cobblers, pies, cookies, and all other sorts of delicious edibles parade through the pages of this second Little Red Truck who dunnit. And don’t forget the Texas Blue Bell ice cream!

Successfully avoiding eating ( but just barely!) while reading this twisty tale, I was happy to see RaeLyn Hadley and her tight-knit family, plus her bestie, Tasha Dempsey. It seems Tasha is ready to open her AirBnb, but sudden glitches start to arise. Poor Tasha worries about the new mortgage payments she has taken on, as RaeLyn, her boyfriend Mason, her brother Dallas, and her aunt, Bessie Mae, all rally to help Tasha.

To enjoy this book best, you need to read book one, Tracking Tilly first. Otherwise, you’ll be in for a lot of spoilers. Clayton is just as despicable as he is when we first met him, although we view some around him a little differently. Mason is an incredibly patient man, willing to see the best in everybody and give anybody a second chance. (“Sometimes people just need to be given a chance.”) He is very loyal and encouraging. One of those people who could “…foster open communication and cooperation. He also seemed to know how to address concerns and dispel problems.” Also great at unifying people.

I was a bit disappointed in the “girls,” as they were quick to lay suspicion and slow to look as carefully for multiple suspects as I wanted them to. Conner amazes me. With a less than stellar background, he could choose to become what everyone thinks he is…and that certainly would be the much easier choice. Bessie Mae is one of those aunts that few families have, but wow, she adds so much to the life of the Hadley family!

Spending time with RaeLyn and her family and friends, you will get that warm, fuzzy feeling like you have been included among family as people gather for celebrations, to plan events, or to catch culprits.

I was surprised by the reveal of the guilty. I am pleased to note there is a third book in the offing.

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:

“Oh, I’m happy. I’m very happy.” “You might want to tell your face.”

“God designed us to live in community.”

“Loneliness and bitterness can turn even the kindest heart hard.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! A fun cozy with some convicting truths!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 27

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 28

Texas Book-aholic, March 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 3

Pause for Tales, March 3

She Lives To Read, March 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 5

Blogging With Carol, March 6

Labor Not in Vain, March 6

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 7

Stories By Gina, March 8 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 8

For Him and My Family, March 9

Lily’s Corner, March 10

Holly’s Book Corner, March 11

Lights in a Dark World, March 12

Leslie’s Library Escape, March 12

Giveaway

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

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54164

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Just Read Tours, Kindle, Launch Team, PB, Purchase

Investigation of a Journalist by Danielle Grandinetti Review and Giveaway

November 19, 2024November 19, 2024 Babbling Becky L

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Investigation of a Journalist by Danielle Grandinetti, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Investigation of a Journalist
Series: Harbored in Crow’s Nest #6
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press
Release Date: November 19, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Romance/Suspense

A second chance to set the record straight, and rekindle a lost love.

Wisconsin, 1931—Buck Wilson refuses to accept failure as his reward for all he has sacrificed, but he’s kept secrets for too long to be believed. With his freedom on the line, there’s only one person he trusts to mine for the true story: the woman he left one month before their wedding.

All investigative journalist Caroline Wagoneer wants is to shine a light on the truth wherever darkness threatens to obscure it. Which is the only reason she agrees to help her ex-fiance when he begs for her to go undercover in Crow’s Nest. What she discovers paints Buck in a whole new light.

With lies and rumor hemming them in, Buck and Caroline realize their love may be doomed on the altar of altruism.

Unless love can truly conquer all.

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

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy Directly From the Author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

Also Available

About the Author

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

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

My Impressions

“The grotesque Halloween masks decorating the wall seemed to mock him. He’d been wearing a mask for so long, he didn’t know how to take it off.”

Finally! Buck and Caroline’s story is here in book 6 of Harbored in Crows Nest, Investigation of a Journalist. Ever since book one (so yes, it really helps to read these books in order ) Buck has been a stumbling block to the upright citizens of Crows Nest. David Martins, one of the first characters we learn to love, considers Buck a thorn in the flesh at best, an enemy of those who want to make an honest living.

As we finally meet Caroline (Carrie), the Chicago journalist who Buck dropped like a hotcake a month before their wedding, some blanks in Buck’s past begin to be filled in. (There will be some blanks in your understanding, too, if you skip this prologue!) What happened to the wonderful man Carrie thought Buck was, before he broke their engagement and disappeared to Crows Nest?

On procuring info of a counterfeiting ring and being asked for help by Buck himself, Carrie goes undercover in Crows Nest. What she and Buck uncover will either incriminate Buck and send him to prison or prove him innocent and uninvolved with the irregularities occurring in the Conglomerate.

This is a fast-paced, historical romantic suspense-mystery with faith nuggets and wisdom seamlessly woven in. There may be a few swoon-worthy moments as well. “You can count on me to fight for you. Forever.” [ Buck] *Le Sigh*

Will Carrie and Buck glean enough information to prove Buck innocent? Can they do so without sacrificing one or both of their lives? Get your copy of Investigation of a Journalist today!

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher. I also bought both an ebook and a paperback for the keeper shelf. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“…tonight she’d gain entrance into the world that had destroyed her marriage before it had the chance to begin.”

“Fighting for truth, for justice, for good to prevail always has a cost.” Her words were quiet. “How can we expect not to pay a price when we follow a God willing to send His Son to vanquish evil with His life?”

“You must trust me. You must trust that God will protect me. And if He does not, if I do not make it, then He will be there to catch you.”

“Hope was as fragile as a leaf. One day green and bright, the next it died, fell, and curled to a brittle paper to be crunched under a shoe.”

“Yeah, she had a heart condition, too. Broken, shattered, and still in love with the man who’d devastated it.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Grandinetti remains one of my fave historical romantic suspense authors! An auto-buy!

Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each win a paperback copy of Confessions to a Stranger, a Crow’s Nest tote bag, and a Crow’s Nest Journal!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 19, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 26, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

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

Justice Delayed by Sarah Hamaker Review and Giveaway

September 6, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Justice Delayed

Author: Sarah Hamaker

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: May 15, 2024

Journalist Brogan Gilmore had been a rising star when an unethical shortcut on a story leads to his fall from grace. A chance encounter with convicted murderer Melender Harman a few months after her release from prison provides Brogan with a chance for career redemption—if he can land an interview with her.

After serving her 17-year sentence, Melender has one objective: To uncover the truth about what happened to her cousin the night the toddler disappeared. When Brogan pursues her for an exclusive story, she reluctantly agrees if he’ll help her reexamine the original investigation into Jesse’s presumed kidnapping and murder.

While re-investigating the case, Brogan struggles to keep his objectivity as he begins to believe Melender is innocent of the crime—and starts to envision a possible future together. Then a shocking discovery throws their relationship—and investigation—into turmoil.

As Brogan and Melender come closer to solving what happened to Jesse, will their budding relationship survive the truth?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

An 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.” Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, four children and three cats.

More from Sarah

When Stories Teach Us Valuable Lessons

As a rather shy child, books became both my friends and teachers. While I had a few close friends, I spent hours of my childhood and teen years reading a plethora of books. I visited far away places and long ago times. I met famous people and viewed historical events. I solved my share of mysteries and wept with the characters over losses. I fell in love with heroes and rooted for heroines to save the day.

Researchers have discovered that literary fiction can improve your capacity to understand what others are thinking and feeling. Literary fiction also teaches us about social behavior, including how to view the world through other people’s eyes. In other words, reading fiction helps us develop empathy as well as allows us to experience the ups and downs of someone else’s life and thus become more able to handle similar situations in our own lives.

While I didn’t set out to write Justice Delayed with this research in mind, early reviews of the book have touched on that theme. For example, one reader said, “One of my favorite quotes is when [Melender, my heroine] defends her action of true forgiveness to [Brogan, my hero], ‘It was for my good and His eternal glory that I went to prison for a crime I didn’t commit. That didn’t mean I gave up trying to find justice in this world-it meant I didn’t despair when justice didn’t come.’ Wow! What a lesson in forgiveness and letting go of bitterness which in turn provided a peace that cannot be matched. She never allowed bitterness to take hold of her heart.”

Another reviewer said this: “Greed, politics and outright evil are a part of story, but the truth and goodness shine through it all as the walls start crumbling down, and you learn what truly happened that night. This was one of the best inspirational suspense books that I have read in quite some time. It left an impression on me, even if the message came from a fictional character.”

And another pointed this out: “Not only did Melender teach those around her how to forgive, but Melender taught me that lesson at well.”

While I had written Justice Delayed five years ago, I recently finished reading the late Tim Keller’s last book, Forgive, which touched on themes I explore in my book. Today, we so often ignore forgiveness as being too hard, too messy to offer and much too difficult to receive. Melender’s story is one example of how you can extend forgiveness even when it’s not been requested and to live a life of forgiveness in extremely arduous circumstances. Keller’s book has challenged me in many ways to forgive more without strings attached.

What have you learned from a book recently?

My Impressions

“Sometimes, the path to redemption takes some strange turns,” she said softly.”

“Brogan, I believe with all my heart God graciously put me in circumstances designed to strengthen my faith.”

Where do I start gushing about Delayed Justice by Sarah Hamaker? I totally identified with Melender, the 35-yr-old woman, who claims complete innocence of the heinous crime of which she’s been tried, convicted, and served her complete sentence. I also totally understood the thoughts of the disgraced, reformed investigative reporter, Brogan Gilmore, who agrees to help Melender for his own gain. Yet, as he investigates the past with her, more doubts, dangers, and inconsistencies arise. Is this woman he’s falling in love with, as innocent as she claims?

At times, due to Hamaker’s skillful and honest characterizations, I even felt empathy and sympathy for each of the angry, vindictive family members who want nothing more than to ruin the rest of Melender’s life. What amazed me, though, was Melender’s ability to forgive.

Grandmother Sudie, long dead, is a veritable influence for Jesus’s perfect forgiveness that Melender clings to in prison and lives out. “Child, when we allow anger over wrongs done to us to take root in our hearts, we’re saying to God Almighty that crimes committed against us are worse than crimes committed against Jesus. Our crimes against Jesus were nailed to the cross. How can we hang on to unforgiveness when our Savior does not?”

I understand these words in my head. I have repeated them, and used them in my own life. But… could I really draw on His power to employ them against such extreme evil done against me by those that should have my best interest at heart?! I am challenged to check my heart against the little foxes, so if there ever is a time when something this extreme were to happen, it will require no big change in my heart.

Life lessons, drama, fear, ( um, terror, should I say) very even pacing of suspense all the way through the novel had me enthralled. I only put down the book when life forced my hand. This was my first Sarah Hamaker novel, but I am thrilled to see it is also the first in its series! Hamaker’s combination of all the above factors with glorious reminders of life-changing truth could easily elevate romantic suspense to one of my fave categories!! Well done, Ms. Hamaker!!

Fave secondary character? The already passed away great-grandmother Sudie for her great wisdom, and spiritual admonitions given with heaping helpings of love and approval!

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:

“Find a young man who loves the Lord more than he loves you, and you won’t go wrong.”

“It was for my good and His eternal glory that I went to prison for a crime I didn’t commit. That didn’t mean I gave up trying to find justice in this world. It meant I didn’t despair when justice didn’t come.”

“life isn’t fair, especially to those who haven’t the ability to ensure an equal playing field.”

“Child, just when you think the Almighty has forgotten about our needs, He sends someone or something to remind us of His provision and His promise to never leave us nor forsake us. You remember that when you feel abandoned by Him.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!! Justice Delayed just knocked out other fantastic romantic suspense novels for my fave in this category that I’ve read in 2024!!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 4

Inspired by Fiction, September 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 5

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 6

Texas Book-aholic, September 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 10

For Him and My Family, September 11

lakesidelivingsite, September 12

Holly’s Book Corner, September 13

Pause for Tales, September 14

Cover Lover Book Review, September 15

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, September 15

Lights in a Dark World, September 16

Stories By Gina, September 17 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sarah is giving away the grand prize package of a $75 Amazon Gift Card, a print copy of Justice Delayed, and the following Justice Delayed-themed swag: Canvas Tote, Notebook and pen, Drink Coaster, Bookmark, and Sticker!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5431

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

Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox

July 19, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Between the Sound and Sea

Author: Amanda Cox

Publisher: Revell

Releases: August 6, 2024

Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Historical, Mystery

Every family has its secrets. Josephina Harris wouldn’t mind if her family still had a few of their own after a lawsuit tarnishes their name. When an opportunity opens to become a temporary keeper of a decommissioned lighthouse on a North Carolina island, she jumps at the chance to escape her small town to oversee its restoration.

As the work begins, “Joey” discovers strange notes tucked deep in the crevices of the old stone walls–pages torn from a lighthouse keeper’s log signed by someone named Mae who recounts harrowing rescues at sea. Fascinated by a woman lighthouse keeper, Joey digs into the past only to discover there’s never been a record of a lighthouse keeper by that name.

When things start to go amiss on the island, locals are convinced that it is the ghost of the lighthouse keeper and his daughter who were lost at sea during World War II. As Joey sifts through decades of rumors and legends and puts together the pieces of the past, what emerges is a love story–one that’s not over yet.

Multiple Christy Award winner Amanda Cox is your guide upon the raging seas of young love, heartbreaking loss, and learning to risk it all for a chance at happiness in this timeless novel.

About the Author

Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda Cox spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read.

A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 18 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee. She’s addicted to both.) You can stay connected with her latest writing updates at http://www.amandacoxwrites.com. You can find her on social media by searching Amanda Cox Writes

To get a free short story featuring characters from The Edge of Belonging visit: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/fuj7mlfd83

My Impressions

“Regret is a strange animal, son. It makes you create alternate realities inside your head with hindsight as your guide. You long for those imaginary outcomes until it’s a sickness. But there’s also another side to regret… I knew how much it cost to get it wrong.”

Indeed, this twisty, dual-time novel of Amanda Cox, Between the Sound and the Sea, is full of regrets. Walter is desperately trying to make up for his regrets from 60 years earlier. Finn doesn’t know how to step away from his broken past into a safe life. And Joey thinks she can somehow solve her problems by proving her worth to a town who has rejected her. Can these three work together to restore an old Outer Banks lighthouse and solve the mystery of the light keeper and his daughter who disappeared years ago?

Cheers for obscure history revealed! Never would I have guessed WWII was this close to our mainland! Why weren’t we taught this in US history?!

I found myself with the characters saying in my head, “I wish this or that would happen, or wouldn’t have happened.” Or I was guilty as I read, of saying, “Why? Why did [character] do that?!” Whether in reading or real life, it’s so easy to get caught up in the “if only” rut. You can see Amanda Cox’s background as a therapist come through as she explores the characters’ actions and feelings. “It was past time to leave behind the ‘if onlys.’ ‘I’m not sure going backward is ever the answer. We learn what we can from the hard times and keep moving forward.’”

This mesmerizing novel will have you reaching for the Kleenex more than once as Cox visits themes of regret, fear, and heartache. Is there a path for these characters I now love to find peace, forgiveness, hope, and restoration?

Because I love to spotlight secondary characters, I will name Pete as my fave such character. I loved how God used him in the narrative and also how he grew!

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

Notable Quotables:

“But that’s the beauty of love and grace, Cay. The real kind. We don’t have to earn it.”

“God meets us right where we’re at. And maybe things in our lives get broken down and beaten up along the way. The good news is restoration work is kind of His specialty.”

“When people are hurt and scared, they aren’t always able to reason through things well. They can’t see past the pain and fear.”

“I feel like I’ve slipped and fallen into an episode of Scooby-Doo. Send help.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! Cox proves once again why she is a multiple Christy award winner!

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

Shoot at the Sunset by Kathleen Denly Review and Giveaway

May 10, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Shoot at the Sunset

Author: Kathleen Denly

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: April 9, 2024

Will love survive when truth takes aim at their secrets?

Sharpshooter Preston Baker has spent a lifetime confronting danger head-on. So when a heartfelt letter arrives from his big sister asking for help, he doesn’t hesitate to put his traveling show career on hold and journey to her remote desert ranch, determined to make amends for past failures. What he doesn’t expect is to discover his long-lost little sister and her best friend, Lucy, are both hard at work on the ranch.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Lucy Arlidge’s decision to travel to a remote desert ranch was born as much from desperation as friendship. Fleeing San Francisco may have saved Lucy’s life, but the decision left others in danger. To thwart the evil plans of those who pursue her and her family, Lucy must keep her new gem-mining operation concealed and her secrets safe.

Preston is drawn to the mysterious woman, despite her plans to marry the neighboring rancher. Lucy’s quiet strength and undeniable beauty beckon him like a campfire in the wilderness, offering light amidst the dark memories and deepest fears resurrected by the presence of his sisters. But as danger closes in, Preston and Lucy must confront their pasts to save not only their own futures, but the lives of everyone they love.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kathleen Denlylives in sunny California with her loving husband, four young children, two dogs, and ten cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

More from Kathleen

One of the primary themes of Shoot at the Sunset is secrets and the fears that sometimes drive us to keep them. Did I mention there’s even a secret signal used in the book? So today I thought it would be fun to play with a secret code. Using the key provided below, see if you can reveal the hidden message.

My Impressions

“Keeping secrets only led to haunting regrets.”

Kathleen Denly pens yet another exciting historical romance novel, Shoot at the Sunset, that is part of her Chaparral Hearts Series. If you enjoy Westerns, action, romance, and Biblical truths woven into an engrossing story, you won’t want to miss this one!

I loved that the author gives a trigger warning for various situations( carefully discussed in the book) including abuse, addiction, rape, and PTSD. I also loved that the backstory was smoothly and interestingly related, at no point feeling like an information dump. With several years between stories, it can be easy to forget who’s who without extra help to jog your memory.

Just as there is a strong attraction between Lucy Arlidge and Preston Baker, I was definitely drawn to this couple and the story Denly deftly weaves as well. We discover Lucy, a good friend and travel companion to Biddie Davidson, agrees to travel to Ginny Baker’s ranch partly out of desperation and fear. “Though of no blood relation, Henry and Cecilia Davidson had long treated Lucy as though she were their daughter. But could such a love withstand so much loss? Or would the only family she had left reject her as Mama had?” With these motivating thoughts in mind, and a desire to keep the people she loves safe, Lucy makes some choices that I just wanted to say, “Get some wise advice.” Or, “Talk to the other person(s) involved. But Lucy is determined that secrets revealed could mean loved ones hurt or killed.

Preston, a sharpshooter at a traveling show, has responded to his big sister Ginny’s letter for help on the ranch. Memories, guilt, and a family sin pattern plague him, keeping him from being the man he wants to be. What will it take for Preston and Lucy to stop depending on theirvoen wisdom and seeking that of the Lord’s, instead?

Forgiveness, trust, second chances, and God’s ability to change a person are all themes of this memorable book.

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

Notable Quotables:

“You are your own person, and you get to decide who you want to be.”

“God’s timing, though occasionally mysterious and frustrating, is always best in the end.”

“Truth’s truth no matter how you dress it up.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 11

For Him and My Family, May 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 12

Texas Book-aholic, May 13

The Lofty Pages, May 13

Lakesidelivingsite, May 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 15

Blossoms and Blessings, May 15

Alena Mentink, May 16

Devoted To Hope, May 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 17

Karen Baney Reviews, May 18

Melissa’s Bookshelf, May 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 19

Connie’s History Classroom, May 19

Bizwings Book Blog, May 20

Book Looks by Lisa, May 21

Holly’s Book Corner, May 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 22

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 23 (Author Interview)

Books You Can Feel Good About, May 23

Pause for Tales, May 24

Cover Lover Book Review, May 24

Giveaway

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

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/2b594/shoot-at-the-sunset-celebration-tour-giveaway

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

Love’s Promise by Penny Zeller Review and Giveaway

April 11, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Love’s Promise

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 19, 2024

Can one man’s love win a fragile woman’s heart?
After Amaya Alvarado lost her fiancé to a senseless tragedy, she vows never to love again. Two years later, at her grandmother’s request, she travels to Poplar Springs to assist with the mercantile and help care for her ailing grandfather. During a stagecoach accident and a confrontation with nefarious outlaws, she crosses paths with a man named Silas McFadden who rescues her and the other passengers. A bond between them soon forms.
Silas is not the man he once was. After a stint on the wrong side of the law, he’s now a respectable rancher in Poplar Springs, Wyoming. After becoming a man of faith, he determines to live his life for the One who gave him a second chance. He just never imagined that second chance might include Amaya. Now all he has to do is ensure his past doesn’t return and destroy his and Amaya’s fragile relationship.
Amaya’s and Silas’s friendship soon grows, and she begins to trust him with everything but her heart. Can she push her growing feelings for him aside? After all, isn’t it betraying her fiancé to care for another man the way she has grown to care for Silas?
When the past comes back to haunt him and revenge is sought, can Silas protect the woman he has come to love?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is the author of nearly two dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.

When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, bicycling/cycling, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.

She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers.

More from Penny

In Love’s Promise, one of the tender memories main male character, Silas McFadden, recalls is, as a young’un, making his Oma carrot cake for her birthday from her favorite recipe.

Big clumsy hands weren’t helpful when it came to cracking the eggs and scooping the batter into the pan. He’d opened the oven door at least twenty times in the course of the cake baking just to be sure he didn’t burn it. For if he did, there were no more ingredients.

The icing was runny, but Oma hadn’t minded. When she finally returned home, Silas had the cake waiting for her. She had cried, told him how much she loved him, and then together, they’d eaten the entire cake that evening.

I’d love to share with you Oma’s recipe, which in actuality, is a family recipe.

Oma’s Carrot Cake

2 c. flour, sifted

2 c. sugar

2 tsp. soda

2 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Sift together the above ingredients and set aside.

3 c. grated carrots

4 eggs

1 ½ c. oil

Mix well 1 c. carrots with 1 egg and ½ c. of oil. Repeat twice and add extra egg with last mixing. Combine with dry ingredients. Mix well.

Pour into greased pan and bake at 350º for one hour. Cool. Frost if desired.

My Impressions

“But I know without a doubt that the Lord is the giver of second chances, and He gave me a second chance. My Oma never once stopped praying for me.”

Penny Zeller always draws me into her historical romance novels that are peppered liberally with faith and humor. The faith aspect isn’t overbearing, just right for the situation. The humor keeps me in stitches, and the clean romance keeps me reading. This is Love’s Promise, book four of the Wyoming Sunrise series. It could be read as a standalone, but old friends appear to help flesh out the book.

The year is 1897. Loner Silas McFadden has a ranch outside town, but often rides with the Poplar Springs, Wyoming, posse when trouble arises. “Grandmama” Alvarado, a good friend who with her ailing husband owns a mercantile, asks Silas to meet her granddaughter’s (Amaya’s) stagecoach. Silas is amazed at what he finds when he first meets Amaya.

Amaya and Silas develop a friendship and more as they work to help Amaya’s grandfather’s health improve and also help a very-worn out “Grandmama.”

There are so many humorous moments in the book. When I realized again just who Sheriff Ambrose Miller Eliason is, along with his friend, Grumbles. How seriously Ambrose takes his position! When Silas goes (of course, only as moral support) with his lovelorn friend to the town matchmaker! That whole thread is a hoot!!

There are also some very sad times, as we see into both Silas and Amaya’s respective pasts. One is not sure of acceptance from people or God, and finally gets this great advice: “When we are truly His, nothing and no one can snatch us from His hand. When you make mistakes, and you will, you will remain His. Held forever in His grasp from now through eternity.”

In the meantime, both Silas and Amaya have lost someone very dear to them, and that influences their future steps. Unfortunately, the past catches up with Silas, before he is ready to share it with his new friends in this new town.

If not Ambrose, my fave characters would be the three orphan siblings who are discovered outside of town. Their story thread is tragic and uncertain. Grandmama has to remind Amaya, “God will take care of them, Amaya. He loves them even more than you do.” This is a great reminder for any of us who worry about loved ones of any age. We need to pray and do what we can, but refuse to fret, realizing the Almighty holds our loved ones in His loving Hands.

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

Notable Quotable:

“If you keep your eyes on Jesus, you’ll have no room for fretting.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blog Stops

Madi’s Musings, April 2

The Lofty Pages , April 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 3

lakesidelivingsite, April 4

She Lives To Read, April 5

Connie’s History Classroom, April 5

Alena Mentink, April 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 7

Holly’s Book Corner, April 7

Texas Book-aholic, April 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 10

Pause for Tales, April 10

Books You Can Feel Good About, April 11

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 12

Cover Lover Book Review, April 12

For Him and My Family, April 13

Devoted To Hope, April 13

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 14 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 14

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 15

Splashes of Joy, April 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Penny is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/2ac73/love-s-promise-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, PB, Purchase, Wild Heart Books

A Not So Peaceful Journey by Sandra Merville Hart Review and Giveaway

June 21, 2023 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: A Not So Peaceful Journey

Author: Sandra Merville Hart

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 13, 2023

Dreams of adventure send him across the country. She prefers to keep her feet firmly planted in Ohio.

Rennie Hill has no illusions about the hardships in life, which is why it’s so important her beau, John Welch, keeps his secure job with the newspaper. Though he hopes to write fiction, the unsteady pay would mean an end to their plans, wouldn’t it?

John Welch dreams of adventure worthy of storybooks, like Mark Twain, and when two of his short stories are published, he sees it as a sign of future success. But while he’s dreaming big with his head in the clouds, his girl has her feet firmly planted, and he can’t help wondering if she really believes in him.

When Rennie must escort a little girl to her parents’ home in San Francisco, John is forced to alter his plans to travel across the country with them. But the journey proves far more adventurous than either of them expect.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Sandra Merville Hart, award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of inspirational historical romances, loves to discover little-known yet fascinating facts from American history to include in her stories. Her desire is to transport her readers back in time. She is also a blogger, speaker, and conference teacher. Connect with Sandra on her blog, https://sandramervillehart.wordpress.com/.

More from Sandra

It was fun to invite readers on this book’s journey!

To those who lived in the 1880s, venturing into this newly-settled and largely-unsettled West had become much safer—though not without danger—with the system of railroads already in place. I enjoyed taking readers to Chicago, Omaha, Oakland, Ogden, and Sacramento, as well as frontier towns along the journey such as Cheyenne.

Our heroine is a telegraph operator. She temporarily leaves her job to escort a little girl to her ailing mother in San Francisco.

My research about telegraph jobs taught me quite a bit of terminology.

For example, a clatter arises when another operator “calls.” The call begins with something like “B m—X n”, which means the B m is the station receiving the call and X n is the caller.

B m must signal a reply that she’s ready to receive the call.

The Sounder receives sounds of the alphabet in dots and dashes. Some operators sent messages too rapidly to understand. When this occurs, the receiving operating asks for it again with a Break (she opens her “key” to break the circuit) and interrupts with “Please repeat.”

“G.A. the—” means “Go ahead” and “the” was the last word she understood.

Operators end every message with his/her own private “call” as well as the office’s call and “O.K.” at the end of each message.

Wired Love, which was written by telegraph operator Ella Cheever Thayer in 1879, provided many insights about the job’s daily tasks.

One of them was the lack of privacy on the lines. She can hear the messages sent to other wires but only offices on the same wire. In Wired Love, operators heard messages sent to and from twenty offices.

By the way, the public grew so fascinated with the role of women in telegraphy that it became the topic of romance novels and short stories, creating a new genre called “telegraphic romance” in the latter 1800s. That’s a little-known fun fact for you!

I enjoyed writing this series. I invite you to read the whole “Second Chances” series beginning with A Not So Convenient Marriage, Book 1, A Not So Persistent Suitor, Book 2, and A Not So Peaceful Journey, Book 3.

My Impressions

“Her feet were firmly planted on the ground. John’s head was nearer to those stars lighting the sky.”

The third book in her Second Chances series, Sandra Merville Hart captured my attention with A Not So Peaceful Journey. While set in the late 1800s, this fictional book was so real to me because of the struggle the heroine and hero go through. This novel is great for those who have been married many years and will understand the struggle, and great for soon-to-be-married or recently married who want a fun look at the harmony and understanding necessary for a couple to last.

Rennie Hill is practical, solid, and down-to-earth. She’s also very frugal with her money and has her life mapped out. Her beau, John Welch, quits his dependable job to become a writer. “If you don’t work at a job that fulfills you, every day can be drudgery.” In order to fulfill that dream, John wants to travel West.

Afraid for the future of their relationship, Rennie does everything possible to convince John to stay in Ohio. Then Rennie herself has a chance to travel West with her sister and a little girl. John decides to accompany the three, but no one could have imagined a journey like theirs.

I loved this book for the beauty of it. The cover itself is intriguing, but it is the descriptions of the land, the hotels, depots, and towns, plus the varied countryside that paints pictures in one’s mind.

Mostly, though, I loved the beauty of the growth of both Rennie and John. At the book’s beginning, their goals and aspirations are so different. This book will make you think. How different can two parts of a couple be? While no two people can be, nor should be, exactly alike, can the unity of the couple survive such differences? What part does God play in Rennie and John’s journey emotionally or any couple’s successful journey? I highly recommend this book, which can be a stand-alone.

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

Notable Quotables:

“We have to trust God because some things we just can’t control.”

“Rennie didn’t understand that part of him—his creative side—would die first if he wasn’t able to express himself on paper.”

“The world won’t miss what it doesn’t have.” “Then give it to them.”