ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, NetGalley, PB, Purchase

Fires of Injustice by Kendy Pearson Review and Giveaway

April 20, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Fires Of Injustice

Author: Kendy Pearson

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: April 15, 2026

She is fighting for the innocent.

He is fighting for a second chance.

Yakira Mitchell has spent her life rescuing the forgotten from the clutches of exploitation and dreams of one day opening her own mission home for Chinese girls. But that dream is hard fought when she becomes a lightning rod for trouble as anti-Chinese mobs protest, and towns expel immigrants in “peaceful” purges across the West. Her heart is to build a home for the broken, but as revelations about her past erupt, the truth threatens to crumble her own foundation.

Attorney Grant Campbell, the boy who once held Yakira’s heart, returns to San Francisco after a long absence to make amends and seek forgiveness. He is determined to defend Chinese immigrants and to reconcile with his family and Yakira. But as old feelings flare—so do old wounds.

As flames of injustice consume communities, violence rages, and lives hang in the balance. Yakira must face the truth of who she really is—and who God has called her to be. In the ashes of hatred, Yakira and Grant both discover a love stronger than fear and a purpose forged in fire.

A story of resilience, redemption, and love, FIRES OF INJUSTICE blazes with the courage of those who dared to stand against the darkness.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Kendy Pearson is a musician and veteran high school teacher who loves to discover a pocket of American history missing from the schoolbooks and turn that pocket inside out. Her novels lead fictitious characters through historical events and settings, engaging with period personalities. And she always includes a romantic thread to warm the heart. Every story is a journey through tragedy, secrets, regrets, and God’s undeniable grace.

She is the author of the award-winning series, West Virginia: Born of Rebellion’s Storm. When she finally gets away from her computer, she relishes ice cream, snowy days, fireplaces, and maple trees. Kendy is the mother of four grown children and lives with her sweet hubby and two amusing miniature dachshunds.

More from Kendy

I just love discovering fascinating new pockets of history. For years I taught high school history, and I realize there is a lot of valuable information that didn’t make it into the curriculum. One of those little history pockets spurred the idea for Fires of Injustice.

I grew up in the Midwest learning about Jesse James, the Plains Indian Wars, frontier violence, the Civil War, the Great Depression, and all things Missouri and Mississippi River. Boy, did I get an education when I moved to the West Coast! The first time someone mentioned “Chinese Underground,” I had to find out more.

Six years ago in Pendleton, Oregon, I first learned about America’s Forgotten War and the expulsions that occurred along the West Coast. I knew thousands of Chinese laborers built the western half of the Transcontinental Railroad. But I didn’t know 300,000 Chinese immigrants came to America between 1852 and 1888. Drawn first by gold, then by opportunities in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and the service trades.

And the girls came. “Go‑away girls” were daughters of impoverished families in southern China. Families sent or sold these girls into domestic servitude or, tragically, into trafficking networks that reached as far as America.

What began as the exploitation of vulnerable Chinese girls and laborers soon hardened into a wider climate of fear and resentment. That same prejudice—left unchecked—grew into the mob violence and expulsions that later tore entire communities apart.

This was a dark chapter in American history. But there were those who cared about these girls and wanted to protect them at all costs. A story of resilience, redemption, and love, FIRES OF INJUSTICE blazes with the courage of those who dared to stand against that darkness.

My Impressions

“…you would see that people are people everywhere, regardless of how they look or what they do or from whence they’ve come.” – Yakira

Wow!! Fires of Injustice by Kendy Pearson will light a fire of emotions in your soul. Fire can be a very positive thing, as it motivates one to action. Emotions will blaze high as you read this book. They did for me, both positive and negative. Pearson’s book certainly makes one think about the grave unfairness and injustice of the Chinese expulsions in our country. I could feel the anger and helplessness of Avery, Yakira, Grant, Azalea, and Lara. How I wish we could go back and have a redo at history!

Fire can make one uncomfortable. And so this book made me uncomfortable, grappling with my emotions. I did feel there were strong inferences to the treatment of immigrants today. The book seemed designed to point out comparisons between then and our country’s issues with immigrants today. I truly get that we don’t want to repeat history! I most definitely agree unkindness, hatred, and torture is never right, and cannot be tolerated. What I didn’t like was that the book seemed to emphasize and almost lump all Caucasians together in the horrible atrocities and attitudes, until I was ashamed of being part of that race. I’m not sure that is helpful. But perhaps, Kira and Grant felt that way as well? I will admit, the topic got so heavy, I had to put aside the book for lighter fare for awhile.

When I returned to Fires of Injustice, I came back realizing that eventually Hope would break through the darkness, because the novel is billed as a story of “resilience, redemption, love.” As I began to look for that Hope, I began to see it emerging, even amid the ashes of the bitter reality of history. I was glad to see a few strong people take up the mantle of faith and to continue to support those in desperate need! It was amazing to see how hard people like Yakira’s father, Avery, and her aunt, Lara, both Scottish immigrants, worked to help protect the Chinese. And Yakira with her great, burning desire to help Chinese women out of human slavery. As I rehash the story in my mind, I begin to see sparks of Hope in different people, not particularly major characters, throughout the story, that God brings into Kira’s and Grant’s lives. I also began to see how, just perhaps, I can stand against what may be atrocities today without totally giving a free ride to all of any race, just because they are immigrants.

I was grieved to see some people, pillars in the church, community, or government, determined to do extreme evil to people because they look , speak, and act differently than them! And the sad thing is, that good, churchgoing people turn cruel and malicious as they get caught up in the emotions of the crowd. I read this through many tears. I wanted to pray for the wicked to be stopped and the abused to be saved!

One aspect I loved about the book. Frequently, when faced with hard decisions, the reply comes back, “We must pray, seek wisdom.” How many times do we fail to pray, or to pray in faith, believing?

So many story threads here. Yakira has been adopted by her parents as they fled China years before. Her cousin, Azalea, is also adopted. But only one girl knows the truth of her parentage. While Yakira has always held her cousin Grant as special in her heart, he loses that respect when he abandons the families when he turns sixteen. Yakira and her widower father work alongside widowed Aunt Lara in ministering to the Chinese in California. Grant had actually secured a job in a similar vein, working as an attorney for Six Companies, representing the Chinese for them. But will Six Companies truly keep the Chinese individual’s interests first? Can Grant ever attempt a return to the family he abandoned in their hour of need? God does give Grant a special, surprising blessing and help! More tension and mystery to the story! Will Yakira ever get the desires of her heart, to run a successful rescue home for s*x trafficked Chinese women who want to escape, plus a love of her own?

Don’t miss this historical book that will bring to light history that you may never have been taught. It will definitely cause you to evaluate how you think, treat, and support others in desperate need!

Notable Quotables:

“You are my laotong—we are sworn sisters for life.” – cousin Azalea

“What if God’s plan simply looked different from what she’d always imagined?”

“Curiosity never trumped a person’s right to privacy.”

“God knows your heart, son. ‘Tis what’s important. Turn it always toward Him, and no matter what others see, He will use you.” – Grant’s Mither

“This Home, nae, this ministry belongs not to you, but to our Heavenly Father. He willna see it come to naught, you can trust that.”– Aunt Lara

“An entire population of people is either invisible, or the cause of every problem in Truckee. No in-between. And the newspaper reports only one side of the whole affair. They paint the Chinese as base, thieving, murdering pariahs with no rights-who don’t belong here.” – Charles Crocker

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Superior!! Fires of Injustice will light fires of emotions in you. It will make you wonder how far you are willing to go to protect someone unlike yourself.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 16

Sydney Schmied Books, April 17

Stories By Gina, April 18 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, April 18

For Him and My Family, April 19

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 20

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , April 21

Guild Master, April 22 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 22

Betti Mace, April 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 25

Connie’s History Classroom, April 26

Holly’s Book Corner, April 27

Fiction Book Lover, April 28 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kendy is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback 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/zg8t0/fires-of-injustice-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG

Stronger Than the Storm by Deena Adams Review

April 14, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Stronger than the Storm

Author: Deena Adams

Publisher: Scrivenings Press

Genre: Christian Women’s Fiction

Releases: April 28, 2026

A runaway teen. A wife’s devastating secret. A family’s reckoning.

Beth Holbrook has spent years building a life centered on faith and family. As a pastor’s wife, mother of three, and respected parenting coach, she’s devoted herself to helping families raise godly children. Now, with a publishing contract within reach, Beth stands on the verge of realizing a lifelong dream.

Then her daughter runs away.

Eighteen-year-old Leesa is tired of living under expectations she feels she can never meet. One impulsive decision sends her fleeing to Myrtle Beach, determined to take control of her life. But when she returns home weeks later with shocking news, the fragile peace inside the Holbrook family fractures.

As tensions rise, Beth struggles with growing conflict in her marriage, painful criticism from her mother, and the crushing realization that the advice she’s given other parents may not save her own family. Worse still, the secret she’s hidden for nearly two decades threatens to destroy the very foundation of her life.

When a powerful hurricane barrels toward their Virginia Beach home, the Holbrooks must confront the storm raging inside their hearts.

Can grace and forgiveness rebuild what secrets and betrayal have broken—or will the truth tear their family apart?

Perfect for readers who love Christian women’s fiction filled with emotional depth, family drama, and themes of redemption and healing, Stronger than the Storm is a powerful story of faith, forgiveness, and the courage to face the truth.

Fans of Nicole Deese, Karen Kingsbury, and Amanda Cox will love this compelling and heartfelt novel about family secrets, healing after betrayal, and God’s power to restore broken lives.

Get ( or pre-order)your copy here!

https://www.amazon.com/author/deenaadams

About the Author

As a Jesus girl for over thirty years, and a pastor’s wife for most of those, Deena Adams has a wealth of experience counseling women who’ve navigated unimaginable adversity. Through these interactions she’s gained great insight into topics women relate to, which fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true-life stories.

Three-and-a-half years as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer and completion of the Certified Mental Health Coach program through Light University have equipped her to write stories that address deep family-related themes with authenticity, wisdom, and compassion.

She is an active ACFW member, a six-year ACFW Virginia board member, and founder of the Marathon online writers group. Her writing awards include: 2019 Foundations Award finalist, 2019 ACFW First Impressions double finalist and winner, 2021 ACFW Genesis finalist and ACFW Virginia Crown Award winner, 2022 Cascade Award finalist, 2023 ACFW First Impressions finalist, 2024 ACFW Genesis double semi-finalist and winner, 2024 Foundations Award finalist, and 2025 ACFW Genesis finalist. She also enjoys promoting hope-filled fiction authors on her blog.

Deena lives with her husband near the coast in beautiful Virginia. When she’s not writing, reading, or serving in her church, you’ll find her hanging out with family and friends, playing board games, and doting on her seven grandchildren.

Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, BookBub, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

My Impressions

“God’s power can turn messes into ministry and trials into a testimony when we entrust our hurts to him. I’m living proof.”

Stronger Than the Storm by Deena Adams is a women’s fiction story I found more relatable than I would like. My family’s situation was not the same in many respects, yet I understood the pressure of living in a glass house because of being in a pastor’s family. Both Kevin, a pastor, and his wife, Beth, have hopes for the future based on their performance- Kevin hopes to advance to senior pastor of the church, and Beth hopes to publish her first book as a parenting expert.

Their dreams begin to crash around them like the winds of the hurricane that later attack the house. Their oldest daughter runs away, and when she does return, continues to make life choices that are both hurtful and dangerous. I found it interesting that Beth is the strict parent who wants firm rules and apologies from the errant young adult child. “God is full of grace and love, but His Word makes it clear there are consequences for sin. How will Leesa ever learn from her mistakes if we rescue her at every turn?” Kevin, much easier going, would rather “err on the side of grace.” “I’m more willing to offer grace and unconditional love.” And he does! Guess which parent Leesa gravitates towards? I wonder, if, in many marriages, there is a child-rearing theory conflict like this, each thinking themselves following God’s will and Word?

Things gets worse and stormier before they get better. The family is on the verge of total collapse. A secret kept for years. A grief that almost kills the marriage. I loved the fact that the two consider a Christian counselor to help. But one still needs to listen to any sound advice, pray a lot, and determine to obey God. Both Kevin and Beth are amazed by what they find when they take a look at their individual hearts. Will they have the strength to pursue reparation for their marriage and family? What about Leesa, who feels her life has ended before it has barely begun?

Isaac, Megan, Tyler, Jackson, and Teresa are all secondary characters with major influences on the three main characters. I love how accepting and helpful Jackson and Teresa are especially, but all are essential in this family drama.

Highly recommended! For mature readers, but possibly teens, depending on their exposure. For church people, to see what their expectations and gossip can do to their leaders. For leaders, to carefully re-evaluate the inner motives and transparency. And, of course, for parents of prodigals! Discussion questions at the end would make this book ideal for a book club.

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

Notable Quotables:

“Perhaps embracing every seemingly insignifcant moment with those you love transforms normal into extraordinary.”

“You know going against God’s Word is never His plan, but He can and will use anything for good. Even our worst mess-ups.” – Jackson

“We all need second chances … and third, fourth, and “fifth.” – Kevin

“I’m learning relatability is more important than a perfect reputation. It’s hard to point people to hope if we hide our messy stuff.” – Beth

“We do what we think is right in the moment. If we learn from our mistakes, they’re never wasted”…“When we give our regrets over to God, He can redeem them in ways we could never imagine.” – Beth

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior!! Hard to believe this is Ms. Adams’s debut novel! She deals with such difficult, gritty topics so sensitively, connects with the reader’s emotions and shows how Hope can break through the storm.

BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, Kregel, Launch Team, NetGalley, PB, Purchase

Sung in the Shadows by Crystal Caudill Review

March 18, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Sung in the Shadows

Series: The Art of Love and Danger, #2

Author: Crystal Caudill

Publisher: Kregel Books

Released: March 17, 2026

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

When past darkness prowls, will stepping into the light lead to a brighter future?

In nineteenth-century Cincinnati, fear keeps Nora Davis caged with secrets and lies. Her true identity as the daughter of a famous opera singer is too dangerous to reveal with her former captors still on the loose. But weekly singing lessons at Longview Asylum—her paranoid mother’s permanent residence—light a flame in Nora, and it’s one she can avoid fanning for only so long.

With his suicidal ma in the asylum, Ezekiel Beaumont’s soul is weary, but Nora’s presence at the asylum intrigues him. As a Pike’s Opera House employee, Ezekiel thinks Nora might be cut out for the stage. He also begins to wonder if Nora’s ma is really the famed Constanza Brisbane, who went missing mid-performance. He’s determined to find out.

Though Ezekiel brings the performance world a little too close for comfort, Nora is drawn to his warm personality all the same. The two of them steadily grow closer, but then Nora begins to fear she’s being watched, and her own paranoia blooms.

As the line between what’s real and false grows fainter, will Ezekiel’s and Nora’s faith and love overcome?

“From the haunting halls of Longview Asylum to the dangerous secrets of Nora’s past, Sung in the Shadowsdelivers a riveting blend of romance, mystery, and redemption.” —Misty M. Beller, USA TODAY best-selling author of the Sisters of the Rockies series

Grab your copy here:

https://mybook.to/OTwvO

About the Author

Crystal Caudill is a tea-drinking, book-hoarding, history nerd. Her award-winning stories are ripe with history, danger, love, and hope. When not writing, Crystal can be found playing board games with her husband and boys, caregiving for loved ones, hiding in a book, drinking copious amounts of hot tea, or connecting with readers. You can connect with her at http://www.crystalcaudill.com or by joining her newsletter crew at bitly.com/CaudillNews.

My Impressions

“FEAR WAS A CAGE, AND it had Nora Davis’s family trapped and hidden beneath a canvas of secrets and lies.”

Crystal Caudill takes us back to the Gilded Age in 1869 New York , then 1881 in Cincinnati. Just as the cities as separated by vast miles and differences, the plight of the Davis family has changed from one extreme to another. In New York, Constanza Brisbane, famed soprano opera singer, is at the height of her career. Suddenly, following the kidnapping of her 11-year-old daughter Eleanora, the little family moves halfway across the country, assumes aliases, and embark on totally different lives. Music, once an integral part of their lives, is forbidden, as is the opera. As we see the little family 11 years later, it is now very dysfunctional. “Mr. Davis” is distant emotionally and often gone, “Mrs. Davis” has been placed in a mental asylum suffering from paranoias and dementia, and “Nora” has tired of her father’s restrictive rules.

Nora meets Ezekiel Beaumont, a composer and opera stage manager, in her visits to her mother at the asylum. Ezekiel’s mother suffers from her own severe mental health issues, and Ezekiel is at wits’ end how to help her. Surprisingly, Mrs. Beaumont takes well to both Nora and Nora’s mother. She even tries to encourage Nora’s mother’s floundering faith, and her need for forgiveness. But God… can use anybody. He not only uses Mrs. Beaumont in her weaknesses, but He uses the mind of a so-called crazy patient to challenge Mrs. Beaumont! “So God can abandon you, but He cannot abandon me? Are you the exception? Because if you’re the exception to His promise not to abandon, then maybe I’m the exception to forgiveness.” “There are no exceptions to His promises-”

As Nora and Ezekiel begin to form a bond and work together, of course the protective and rather hilarious Guardians group tries to help along the romance ( read: interfere) When spectres from Nora and Mrs. Davis’s past threaten to obliterate all their hopes for a return to normalcy, will God intervene?

I absolutely loved the tension of the story, as it builds throughout. I loved the tender love both Nora and Ezekiel hold for their mothers who are struggling. And their realizations help me in my real-life situations, too. “If there is one thing I’ve learned through Mum’s illness, it’s that her choices are hers alone. We can do everything in the world to protect our loved ones—put rules in place, hide them from the dangers posed, shield them from pain—but we were never meant to bear the burden of saving them from themselves. We cannot even save ourselves.” Thank goodness, Nora and Ezekiel begin to realize, as I am, that the burdens we bear for others are never meant to be a strangle-hold of responsibility, but an opportunity to turn that burden over to the One Who truly holds our our loved one in His hands.

Mrs. Jensen and Tristan are my fave secondary characters. They make me smile. Mrs. Jensen for her soft, witty, reasonable ways. Tristan, because he is sooooo bad and still a comfort to many!

Sung in the Shadows will dwell in the recesses of my mind for a long time, as a particularly great marriage of historical fiction, true tragic events of our pasts, great storytelling, romance, and inescapable Truth! Thank you, Ms. Caudill!!

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

Notable Quotables:

“My souls needs to sing. Music is as much a part of me as it is Mum.”– Nora

“Keeping secrets from those who loved her wasn’t a protective shield. It was an isolating cage that cast a debilitating shadow of fear, shame, guilt, and distrust over the relationships that mattered most.” ( Nora)

“We can do everything right and it still not be enough. Only God is enough, even though sometimes it doesn’t feel like He is. I don’t understand why He is allowing this. It feels wrong and unjust. I’m angry with Him, and I’m scared of what the future holds. I don’t want this burden He’s given us, but I know it’s not our fault. I know it’s not our job to save them.”– Nora

“Hiding your pain and thoughts doesn’t

make you a stronger person. It makes life lonelier to walk through. “- Ezekiel

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! This novel checks all the boxes for me!

ARC, BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Launch Team, NetGalley, PB, Purchase, Revell

Raging Waters by Dana Mentink Review and Giveaway

March 2, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Raging Waters

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release Date: March 3, 2026

As the dam crumbles and water sweeps across the terrain, their battle for justice and survival is just beginning.

When Mackenzie Bardine’s brother Aaron was murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, she started a true crime podcast dedicated to exposing “Bullseye,” the drug kingpin responsible. But her protective heart has never let go of the blame she places on herself and Aaron’s best friend, Gideon Landry. On the run to the wilds of Washington to chase a recent lead, she meets none other than Gideon himself.

While conducting a wilderness survival class in remote Washington, Gideon never expected to cross paths with Mackenzie, and he’s certainly not interested in helping her after he’s already declined to participate in her vigilante podcasting. He carries a mountain of guilt about Aaron’s fatal choices, but not for the reasons Mackenzie suspects.

As killers begin to circle Mackenzie like sharks, it’s clear to Gideon she’s in over her head, and in light of his troubled past with her brother, he can’t bring himself to ignore her perilous situation. Then a flood threatens the town, turning their investigation into a race to escape the raging waters and the wrath of a powerful kingpin who wants to sink them both.

A gripping, clean romantic suspense featuring enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, and high-stakes investigations set in small-town Washington, sweeping readers away on a turbulent wave of thrills and chills. Perfect for fans of forced proximity, wilderness survival, protective heroes, and justice-driven heroines.

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

I’m afraid of deep water. There. I’ve said it. I live in California, famous for beaches sand and surf. If that’s not enough, there are swimming pools aplenty. I should be enjoying the surfing, boating, kayaking, sailing culture, but I’d much rather sit on a deck somewhere and watch others partake. So what’s a gal like me doing writing an adventure that takes place as a dam rupture overwhelms a town? I love to write that type of wilderness story, where stakes are high and the help is scarce. Similar to the previous book, Fire Mountain, the characters will have to dig deep of their strength and faith to survive. And you and I can enjoy it from the safety of our decks! Are you ready? Grab your book and your cuppa and let’s go!

My Impressions

“Being around Mackenzie Bardine was hazardous to a man’s health.”

When Dana Mentink publishes a new Romantic suspense, I run, not walk, for my favorite bookstore! This newest series of hers, Elements of Danger, now includes bk #2, Raging Waters. As someone who has only experienced being on the edges of a hurricane, Mentink’s descriptions of a violent storm, waterlogged earth, and threatened dam break were terrifying. But in a good way. The kind of terrifying of watching a scary movie or choosing a wild ride at the fair. Adrenaline pumping fast, I made sure I was breathing air, not choking on water, as I swiped my pages hoping that MacKenzie ( Zee) Bardine and Gideon (Gid) Landry could learn to get along. Maybe that would make the job of staying alive and out of the enemy’s crosshairs a tad bit easier.

Unfortunately, MacKenzie, now a cold crimes podcaster, has lost her brother Aaron a few years back. After helping police solve a few other cold cases with her results, Zee takes on her brother’s murder. She is upset when Gideon won’t help her in her endeavors, as he was Aaron’s best friend. “Their rapport since Aaron’s death had been at the matches and gasoline type of reactivity level.” Will the secrets that Gideon is hiding protect MacKenzie or will they backfire and leave her ripe for attacks? Fighting the awesome power of nature, some extremely powerful people, their own secrets, plus their attraction for each other…Whew! That’s a lot of conflict that makes for a very fast-moving, nail-biting suspense. Every character they meet is suspect. Can they trust anyone they meet? Can they trust each other? Most importantly, can they trust God?

Great twists! I loved the faith arcs, and loved how Gideon chooses to be present for MacKenzie even when he doesn’t feel like she has all the information, and she can treat him like a heel at times. As Gideon tells Zee, “I have a choice in all this, too. I choose to stay.” Sometimes I thought he was crazy! I was grateful to still be on dry land when the book was done, feeling safe and satisfied with the mystery of the novel worked out.

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

Notable Quotables:

“In that moment he knew she was trapped, unable to free herself any more than her brother could from his torment. She was bound to this man by her need for revenge. It would blind her.

It would kill her.” ( Gideon)

“How easy it would be to kiss him properly, to let the feeling seep into her fragile glass heart that hadn’t beat right for a very long time. But there was such a thin coating around that battered organ. One crack, one tiny fissure and it might disintegrate into a pile of useless shards.”

(MacKenzie)

“Whom to trust? The environment might be hostile, but it was nowhere near as dangerous as a human enemy, the kind pretending to be a friend.”

“God will bring justice in this world or the next. In His time, not yours.”- Gideon

“Ugly and vengeful . . . Mackenzie wondered suddenly if that described her too. She shook the thought away. Maybe it had until Gideon convinced her otherwise. She’d let that be her core for way too long. That wasn’t the identity God meant for her, and he’d used Gideon to deliver the message.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent!! Sometimes who we think we are and who God shows us we are, are exact opposites!! What a lesson!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 3

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 3

The Avid Reader, March 3

The Sacred Line, March 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 4

She Lives To Read, March 5

Texas Book-aholic, March 5

Leslie’s Library Escape, March 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 6

Lily’s Corner, March 7

Pause for Tales, March 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 7

Devoted To Hope, March 8

For Him and My Family, March 8

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 9

Melissa’s Bookshelf, March 9

EmpowerMoms, March 10

Blogging With Carol, March 10

Just Your Average reviews, March 10

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 11

Simple Harvest Reads, March 11 (Guest Review from Donna)

Lyssa Loves Books, March 12

Blossoms and Blessings, March 12

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, March 12

Cover Lover Book Review, March 13

Labor Not in Vain, March 13

Betti Mace, March 14

Bigreadersite, March 14

Life on Chickadee Lane, March 15

Lights in a Dark World, March 15

Holly’s Book Corner, March 15

Stories By Gina, March 16 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a signed 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/OQ5p4/raging-waters-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, Kindle, Purchase

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, Purchase

Blaze of Courage by Avrie Swan Review and Giveaway

January 26, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Blaze of Courage

Author: Avrie Swan

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: January 13, 2026

A mysterious locket brings a fire survivor and a wounded veteran together, but their growing feelings might be more dangerous than the men pursuing them.

Charlotte Clarke survived the flames that destroyed her town and took her family, but at what cost? Left injured and alone, she seizes the chance for a fresh start when a dying friend asks her to take a locket to a relative in Kentucky. But she has no means to reach her destination until she meets a handsome horse trainer headed south and convinces him to let her travel with him.

Haunted by his years in the cavalry and desperate to save his family’s failing stables, Stefan Roberts is focused on transporting his father’s racehorses to Kentucky for the spring races. He isn’t looking for complications—especially not in the form of a determined young woman with secrets of her own. Yet as they travel together, Charlotte’s courage and determination begin to crack the walls he’s built around his heart.

When a shadowy pursuer closes in, Stefan and Charlotte must face the pasts they’ve been running from, and the faith they thought they’d left behind, before their fragile hopes for the future go up in smoke.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Avrie Swan is a Christian author and avid reader with a love for all things historical. Having grown up exploring antique stores and museums, she eventually decided to combine her interest in history with her love for writing and began working on her first full-length novel at the age of fourteen. She especially enjoys writing stories that focus on themes of family, faith, and growth through difficult times.

When Avrie is not writing, she is watching old movies, collecting antique books, and hunting for agates. A native Wisconsinite, she enjoys spending the cold winters indoors with her cat on her lap and a good book in her hand.

More from Avrie

Hello, folks!

When I wrote Blaze of Courage, I wanted to create a story centered on three things I love: adventure, faith, and horses. I adored horses as a kid, and although my family didn’t have the time, space, or money for a big animal, my mom managed to enroll me in a horseback riding camp when I was around nine or ten. I was over the moon! Since then, I’ve had more chances to interact with and learn about these loyal, graceful (and sometimes ungraceful) creatures. Blaze of Courage wouldn’t be complete without them!

In addition to everything related to horses, Charlotte and Stefan’s journey in Blaze of Courage centers on the theme of returning to Christ. Unlike Carina, who held onto her faith despite her struggles, the fire and its aftermath severely challenged Charlotte’s beliefs. Have you ever felt like hiding from everyone after being hurt? It’s often easier to hide our feelings and blame others rather than face what truly bothers us, and in Charlotte’s case, this includes trying to hide from and blame God. Of course, hiding from God is a strategy doomed to fail. What happens once Charlotte realizes this is something for you, dear reader, to discover.

The characters in Blaze of Courage are some of my favorites, and I thought it would be fun to create a little game based on them! Feel free to check out the link below and take the quiz to see which of the four group members you resemble most. If you play, share your results on social media or leave a comment on my Instagram! I’d love to see what you get. As always, God bless!

https://take.quiz-maker.com/QNUD28ZQX

Sincerely,

Avrie Swan

My Impressions

“But scars are nothing to be ashamed of. In your case, they will be a mark of bravery. A sign that you survived what many others did not.”

Avrie Swan draws another (short) horrifying picture of the Peshtigo fire of 1871 in Blaze of Courage, her second novel in The Peshtigo Fire Chronicles. While her rescue is nothing short of miraculous, Charlotte (Lottie) Clark wants nothing to do with a God who could have prevented the whole event… or at least saved her family.

I loved the way that Swan gives such human frailty and emotions to her characters. I just couldn’t help but love them. While we see flawed characters, we see endearing traits in Charlotte, Stephan, and the twins, Bastian and Tom. Charlotte has promised a dying friend to return a gold locket and an apology to the friend’s parents in Kentucky. Stephan’s past causes him to treat people brusquely, yet he proves his inner softness as he graciously accepts first Charlotte, then the twins as travel companions. The twins are a study in opposites, alone and seeming mischief-makers at best. But it quickly becomes apparent they are hard workers, looking for acceptance, and an escape from their own past. It is amazing to see how God brings each of them into the others’ paths.

The journey from Illinois to Kentucky is fraught with danger, intrigue, secrets, and uncertainty. Highwaymen make the trip extremely dangerous. Somehow, our little group of four begin to work together, almost like a family. But families have problems, too. The twins have a huge falling-out, and Charlotte is a great counselor. “…you also must remember that your brother is allowed to have differing opinions from your own. You’d be wise to ask his thoughts before making assumptions.” Hm, seems to me that all of us would be wise to heed these words.

I loved the uncertainty about which characters are trustworthy. And then the way the little family group works as one to solve a problem so big, it seems insolvable. But, will Stephan and Charlotte decide to trust their hearts to each other, or will this odd group break up either by danger or by choice?

This book is certain to delight historical romance readers, horse lovers, and those with a heart for the trauma-damaged.

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

Notable Quotables:

“If Stefan didn’t find a way to overcome the darkness inside him, it would very likely consume him.”

“He knew all too well what it was like to want to run from the past. And he knew that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape it forever. Nobody could. It had a funny way of coming back to haunt a person.”

“…my opinion isn’t the only one that matters.” -Tom [ Oh, I am re-learning this at this stage in life!]

“Who knew such a beautiful thing could cause such ugliness?”

“He is building you up, preparing you for something that you can’t yet see. God has a plan for you, son. You can rest easy knowing that.” -Remus

“Though we are surrounded by the ugliness of the world, you must not forget to look for the beauty.” -Remus

“…blaming yourself for something you can’t change will never do any good. What matters is who you are now, and who you are now is a person anyone would be honored to know.”

My Rating

Magnificent! I enjoyed it all- the horses, the intrigue, the romance, and the Truth nuggets!

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, January 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 25

Books Less Travelled, January 25

Simple Harvest Reads, January 26 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 27

Inkwell Inspirations , January 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 29

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 30

Holly’s Book Corner, January 30

Devoted Steps, January 31

Life on Chickadee Lane, February 1

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, February 1

Betti Mace, February 2

Cover Lover Book Review, February 3

Pause for Tales, February 3

For Him and My Family, February 4

Stories By Gina, February 5 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope, February 5

Connie’s History Classroom, February 6

Giveaway

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

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

https://gleam.io/G0Oie/blaze-of-courage-celebration-tour-giveaway

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

Scars of the Revolution by Megan Soja Review and Giveaway

January 18, 2026 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Scars of the Revolution

Author: Megan Soja

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: January 6, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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

More from Megan

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Impressions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notable Quotables:

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

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

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

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

Blog Stops

Devoted Steps, January 17

Bizwings Blog, January 17

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 18

Life on Chickadee Lane, January 18

Books Less Travelled, January 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 20

Texas Book-aholic, January 21

Betti Mace, January 22

Holly’s Book Corner, January 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 23

Connie’s History Classroom , January 24

Books You Can Feel Good About, January 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 26

Leslie’s Library Escape, January 27

The Bookish Pilgrim, January 27

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

Cover Lover Book Review, January 29

Pause for Tales, January 30

Blossoms and Blessings, January 30

Giveaway

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

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

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

BLOG, Favorite, JustRead Tour, Kindle, Purchase

Bernadette by Jennifer Lynn Cary Review

December 23, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Bernadette

Series: The Weather Girls Wedding Shoppe and Venue #8

Author: Jennifer Lynn Cary

Publisher: Tandem Services Press

Released: Aug. 4, 2025

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

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

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

What could possibly go wrong? How about everything?

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

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

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

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

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

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

And she just might be falling for him too.

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

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

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

Get your copy here!

Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

About the Author

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

My Impressions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notable Quotables:

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

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

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

“You are who you are. No mistakes.”

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

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

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

Love in Time by Penny A. Zeller Review

December 16, 2025December 21, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Love in Time

Series: Hollow Creek Series, Bk #3

Author: Penny Zeller

Publisher: Maplebrook Publishing, LLC

Released: December 16, 2025

Genre: Christian historical romance

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paperback version coming soon.

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

Other happily-ever after romances by Penny Zeller:

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

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

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

About the Author

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

My Impressions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notable Quotables:

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

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

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior! All the feels, all the Truth!

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

Love in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell Review and Giveaway

December 7, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

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

Author: Ann Swindell

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release Date: October 15, 2025

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

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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

More from Ann

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Impressions

“You cannot lose what you already possess.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notable Quotables:

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

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

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

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

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