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.

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

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

September 27, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: First Comes Marriage. . .Then Comes Murder

Author: Donna Mumma

Genre: Mystery/Christian Fiction

Release Date: September, 2025

Vivien’s Bridal Creations Found at Murder Scenes

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

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

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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

More from Donna

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Impressions

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notable Quotables:

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

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

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

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 27

Vicky Sluiter, September 27

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 29

Texas Book-aholic, September 30

Lily’s Corner, October 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 2

Lights in a Dark World, October 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 3

For Him and My Family, October 4

Sylvan Musings, October 5

Blogging With Carol, October 6

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

Holly’s Book Corner, October 8

Pause for Tales, October 9

Stories By Gina, October 10 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 10

Giveaway

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

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

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

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

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom Review

August 11, 2025August 11, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: What the River Keeps

Author: Cheryl Grey Bostrom

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Released: August 12, 2025

Genre: Women’s Fiction (with notes of suspense, mystery, and a thriller)

Back Cover Copy:
Hildy Nybo is a successful biologist, her study of the Pacific Northwest’s wild fish both a passion and a career. But behind her professional brilliance, Hildy’s reclusive private life reflects a childhood fraught with uncertainty. Despite her father’s love and her mother’s sympathy, she grew up constantly losing even her most cherished belongings, unable to recall where she misplaced them. Haunted by the confusion of those early years, she now records her life in detailed diaries and clings tightly to memory-prompting keepsakes.

Then her mother’s health fails, and Hildy accepts a job near her childhood home, joining a team of scientists who will help restore her beloved Elwha River after the demolition of two century-old dams. There Hildy settles into one of the cabins on her family’s rustic resort―a place she both loves and dreads, for reasons she can’t fully explain.

When local artist Miranda Rimmer rents an adjacent cabin for her pottery studio, Hildy shrinks from such a close neighbor. But then Miranda’s carpenter brother, Luke, shows up to help with construction and captures Hildy’s attention. Now a few years beyond a tragedy that brought him to his knees, Luke recognizes a kindred soul in Hildy, and they build a relationship that dismantles the walls Hildy’s built to keep people out. As troubling pieces of the past surface, Hildy dares to wonder if she can banish the shadows that have burdened her and follow her river’s course to freedom.

Buy links:

Amazon: https://a.co/d/cL9Epn2

Amazon CA: https://a.co/d/4O1vP8e

Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/4ak264kj

Books-A-Million: https://tinyurl.com/4fn6p679

Christianbook.com: https://tinyurl.com/42dwxrp9

Bookshop.org : https://tinyurl.com/5xfy2dn5

About the Author

A keen student of the natural world and the workings of the human heart, Pacific Northwest author Cheryl Grey Bostrom captures the mystery and wonder of both in her lyrical, surprising fiction.

Her novels Sugar Birds (Christy finalist, Amazon bestseller, and Book of the Year) and Leaning on Air have won more than two dozen industry honors, among which are Christianity Today’s Fiction Award of Merit and American Fiction, Reader’s Favorite, ACFW Carol, Nautilus, Best Book, IPPY, Foreword Indies, and International Book Awards. Kirkus Reviews named Cheryl’s newest work of contemporary women’s fiction, What the River Keeps, as a Best Indies Book of June 2025.

An avid birder and nature photographer, Cheryl lives in rural Washington State with her husband and a pack of half-trained Gordon setters.

My Impressions

“‘There’s Love in that book. It’s a road map out of the dark.’ Out of her anxiety, too?”

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom is about a brilliant fish/river naturalist in the PNW who, due to childhood issues, could be considered an unreliable narrator. Hiding her true self from most people, Hildy limps solo through life, until the past comes calling and forces a return home. Will this change destroy her, or will she find the strength and courage to overcome fears of the past? Heart-wrenchingly beautiful! This book will tear you up and make you cry before it rebuilds your faith in humanity and God’s ability to take care of his precious chosen ones.

“They hush me, Daddy. Every fish I see.” At 10, Hildy is overwhelmed by the sense of the amazing, the obvious evidence of a great Creator God when she sees fish. Her father, a warm nurturer, encourages her to look for God in nature. However, her mother, quick to correct Hildy and obviously ashamed of what she deems as “quirkiness,” quickly shuts down Hildy’s searching nature.

Years later, we find Hildy as a brilliant fish biologist and river conservationist, but a person who has very few social skills and very definite oddities, stiff-arming most people.

I loved Junie and her hubby Otis who love the family and serve the family business selflessly. While they love unconditionally without judgement, Otis does tell Hildy, “‘You want to get free a those chains a yours? All that anxiety?’ Here we go again. ‘You know I do.’ ‘Then—‘ ’Stop, Otis. You’ve told me fifty times.’ Maybe not fifty, but while Fourth of July campers had settled into the resort’s quiet hours, he’d repeated himself so often she could hear him in her sleep: ‘Do some diggin’. Find the lie.’”

Against incredible odds, when Hildy meets new cabin renter Miranda’s brother, Luke, a gradual rapport develops between the two. Luke’s had losses in the past, but he has learned to turn them over to God, so he can have the strength to move on. Hildy and Luke dance around a relationship, with Hildy’s issues rising up like a monolith dam to separate them. Luke wants to face Hildy’s stunting emotional issues with her- will she allow him that close? Will Hildy be able to accept that someone could love her wholeheartedly, and how will surprising revelations from her past affect or stall her growth?

Bostrom creates Hildy, a character so full of anxiety and fear for her own sanity, that I thought she’d be hard to relate to. Instead, I learned to love her deeply. I wonder how many other people may be out in our world, limping by on their self-made crutches when God wants to heal the source of the problem.

One of my top books of 2025!

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

Notable Quotables:

“That locust verse I promised to send you, different version: ‘I will give you back what you lost.’” – Luke

“Some lies get handed down, become strongholds kids are raised with.” – Luke

“That cabin’s a big old stove, darlin’, with stories still cookin’ inside…I trust those memories will make sense to you once they’re baked. Some will even be beautiful.”– Junie

“I’ve spent the better part of my life hiding the fact that I’m crazy, Luke. Crazy. If people knew what goes on in my head, I’d lose what little credibility I have.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superior!! I just want to rise and give a standing ovation!

ARC, BLOG, Favorite, Just Read Tours, Kindle, Kregel, NetGalley, New-to-Me Author, Purchase

Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go to Funerals by Sharon Mondragon Review and Giveaway

February 12, 2025February 11, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go To Funerals
Author: Sharon Mondragon
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: February 11, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Something is brewing in Raeburne’s Ferry, Georgia–and it’s not sweet tea.

In a small town where gossip flows, bedridden Mary Ruth McCready reigns supreme, doling out wisdom and meddling in everyone’s business with a fervor that would make a matchmaker blush. When her best friend has her world rocked by a scandalous revelation from her dying husband, Mary Ruth kicks into high gear, commandeering the help of her favorite granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth, in tracking down the truth. Finding clues in funeral condolence cards and decades-old gossip dredged up at the Blue Moon Beauty Emporium, the two stir up trouble faster than you can say “pecan pie.”

But just when things are starting to look up, a blast from the past waltzes in with an outrageous claim. But as Grandma Ruth always says when things get tough, “God is too big.” With him, nothing is impossible–even bringing long-held secrets to light. Grandma Ruth and Sarah just might have to ruffle a whole mess of feathers to do it.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook

About the Author

Sharon J. Mondragón is a Southern girl at heart, having spent most of her adult life where tea is sweet and mac and cheese is a vegetable. Settled in Midlothian, Texas, she writes, facilitates the prayer shawl ministry at her church, and teaches at the local yarn shop. She’s the author of the Purls and Prayers series, and her work has earned recognition from The Saturday Evening Post, ACFW, Foreword INDIES, and the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

Connect with Sharon by visiting sharonjmondragon.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

My Imprssions

“…things are not always, or even often, as they seem.” – Father David

Wow! What a fun ride this book, Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go to Funerals, is! This is my first novel by Sharon Mondragon, but her others just moved way up my TBR. Grandma Ruth is a bed-ridden Southern matriarch whom no one can deny and whose specialty is “meddling love”…though she would call it staying informed about her friends and loved ones. Grandma Ruth has a great understanding of the human psyche and uses that and her respected age to her advantage.

Her twenty-four year old granddaughter, Sarah, our narrator, finds herself Grandma Ruth’s personal *assistant* and co-conspirator, representing the older lady at social events, esp. funerals. Sarah is caught between showing her grandmother proper respect, obeying her grandmother, and proving she can make her own decisions, including who to date.

I had a perma-smile on my face and often broke out in laughter as I read. Grandma Ruth is such a force to be reckoned with. She refuses to allow her granddaughter to listen to gossip, but is quite willing to “gather information” by listening to others’ opinions of facts. In this novel, Grandma Ruth wants most to comfort her newly widowed best friend and to set up Sarah with her best friend’s grandson. Cookies and brownies are a sleuth’s best friend, in Grandma Ruth’s case! Plied with enough, a visitor to Grandma Ruth’s room would soon be spilling the beans.

The novel zigs and zags along as it rollicks towards its rather surprising and totally satisfying conclusion. I personally hope Meredith somehow merits her own story.

Get your copy ASAP! You won’t be sorry!

I have to insert… the novel takes a good look at eyes. As in eye crinkles, eye rolls, kind eyes, etc. Obviously Mondragon and Grandma Ruth are firm believers that “eyes are the windows to the soul.”

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

Notable Quotables:

“Miss Charlotte had the right idea, I mused. It was better to know the truth, even if it hurt, than to eat your heart out over suspicions and possibilities.”

“God was indeed too big—too big for me ever to have imagined what he had in store for me.”

“It’s about time you learned that meddling upsets the innocent as well as the guilty.”

“It’s better to leave the past in the past and get on with life.”- Grandma Ruth

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go To Funerals and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 12, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 19, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

Honeymoon’s Over by Carol McClain Review and Giveaway

January 9, 2025 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Honeymoon’s Over

Author: Carol McClain

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Release date: September 27, 2023

Honeymoon’s Over

For better or worse.

Easy vows for newlyweds Chantel and Charlie. Having been widowed, they knew the worst of love was years away. Furthermore, at fifty, they wouldn’t live long enough for the bad to blossom.

Then they came home from their honeymoon.

Chantel’s pregnant daughter Sissy, living with them during her husband’s deployment, must remain on bed rest. Histrionic and bored, she’s a … challenge.

Chantel’s vegetarian son Graham moves in for a few weeks to help with his sister, but something doesn’t seem right. He never got along with his military-loving, meat-eating sibling. He didn’t have ulterior motives for coming to help, did he?

Charlie’s married daughter, Margo, could certainly enumerate the issues these adult children her father’s new wife had. On top of everything, how could her father have chosen that woman?

Then there’s Charlie’s father—lost in old-age absentmindedness. Certainly, he was only forgetful.

Thank heavens for jobs they love that get them out of the house. Except …

Should they have vowed for worse or better?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Carol McClain is the award-winning author of five novels dealing with real people facing real problems. She is a consummate encourager, and no matter what your faith might look like, you will find compassion, humor and wisdom in her complexly layered, but ultimately readable work.

Aside from writing, she’s a skilled glass artist who has just made a foray into creating high-end jewelry. She’s also an avid hiker. She teaches Bible studies and mentors teens.

She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and too many animals to mention.

More from Carol

Disclaimer #1: Beware.

If we get to know each other, the humor of your life is liable to become fodder for my work. (Of course, with permission. Occasionally!) But don’t worry. I don’t write suspense, so you’ll never be in danger.

Background:

My brother married a widow when they were in their fifties.

He was a meatatarian. “Vegetables have rights,” he’d declare as he reached for a second round of bacon. He’d then heap on fried potatoes. The tubers were his nod to vegetables.

His wife was gluten intolerant and a health food lover of all foods green.

When he moved in with his wife, so did his vegan son who lived on gluten (and very few veggies). Gluten found its way onto her countertops, her refrigerator shelves, and dishes he didn’t wash.

Her son lived with her as well and came arrayed with the eccentricities my nephew lacked. The two sons made a complete, chaotic pair.

Add to them a diabetic mother who was starting dementia and my bet was on the fact this marriage was doomed.

Fortunately, I’m not prophetic. They remained happily married—despite my brother’s eating predilection. However, their situation made me laugh and became the fodder for Honeymoon’s Over.

Disclaimer #2: no HIPPA rules or privacy issues or personal matter have been disclosed. Names have been changed to protect the guilty (just don’t read the dedication, then the name change is mute.)

Disclaimer #3: If you’re expecting a sad, tearjerker, you’ll be disappointed. Oh, you will cry—tears of laughter. You’ll chortle throughout Honeymoon.

My Impressions

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Magnificent! Mid-life at its best and worst!! Don’t miss this barrel of laughs full of important lessons!!

Blog Stops

Girls in White Dresses, January 8

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 9

Stories By Gina, January 10 (Author Interview)

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, January 11 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 11

Artistic Nobody, January 12 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 13

Guild Master, January 14 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Acdemy, January 15

A Reader’s Brain, January 16 (Author Interview)

Back Porch Reads, January 17 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, January 17

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, January 18 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 19

Fiction Book Lover, January 20 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, January 21 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carol 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.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54126

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase

‘Tis the Time, ‘Tis the Season by Chris Posti

November 24, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: ’Tis the Time, ‘Tis the Season (Next Act Series: Book Three)

Author: Chris Posti

Genre: Women’s Fiction with Elements of Faith & Later-in-Life Romance

Release date: October, 2024

Welcome to tiny Port Mariette, Pennsylvania, where three women in their late fifties reunite at Christmastime, facing tangled relationships with one another and the men in their lives.

Marla rushes from Manhattan to her daughter’s side in a quiet Port Mariette hospital, determined to strengthen their relationship by backing her daughter’s dream project, no matter the cost. She wins support from the town’s general contractor, but fierce local opposition arises, spearheaded by her longtime friend Rachel.

Meanwhile, newlywed Suzanne, scarred by fears and heartbreaks, returns to Port Mariette from California, where the earth subsiding beneath her home threatens both her retirement savings and her marriage. Seeking refuge in the familiar embrace of friends, Suzanne finds herself boxed into a financial corner while navigating the delicate dynamics of friendship and rivalry.

Amidst the holiday cheer and twinkling lights, Rachel stands as a pillar of the community, deeply rooted in the small town she’s never left. Yet her steadfastness falters as she grapples with her own insecurities and desires. Unwittingly, she stirs a pot of conflict that strains her relationships with everyone who matters to her.

In this small town tale of love, friendship, faith, and forgiveness, these women will discover growth can emerge from the ashes of the past and that change is possible at any age.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Chris Postiwrites award-winning fiction about real-life women experiencing the joys and challenges of friendships, families, careers, and later-in-life romances. Before pivoting to novels, she was a self-employed career & executive coach, newspaper columnist, and nonfiction author.

More from Chris

I wrote “’Tis the Time, ‘Tis the Season” (third book in the “Next Act” series) for women in the second half of their lives – age 50 to 100 – who want characters they can relate to, women who are facing challenges and overcoming them – along with a mix of faith, fun, and later-in-life romance.

When the Lord gave me the idea for the first book in this series, I had no idea it would morph into a trilogy. That’s the way it is with our Lord. He lights our path, we keep walking. Now, He has directed me to write a pilot for a TV series, and that’s what I’m working on right now. I pray one day you will see these characters come to life on your television screen. If you have a moment, would you offer up a prayer right now for that to happen? Thank you so much.

My Impressions

“Give up your life to gain everything that’s important. God will guide you all the way, if you just give up control.”

While these words are spoken to only one of the three *mature* friends in Chris Posti’s novel, ‘Tis the Time, ‘Tis the Season, they could have been spoken to any of them. Marla seeks to gain her biological daughter’s love by using her great wealth and business acumen. Suzanne and her new husband are having financial difficulties that are causing Suzanne to worry, fret, and scheme. And Rachel? As the new president of Port Mariette’s Business Association, she is busy schmoozing with the local business owners and townspeople, becoming quite self- important in her own eyes. How will the women’s life bumps affect their friendship and their separate romances?

Mitch gets my vote for fave secondary character. He is so patient and wise. He is quiet, yet strong, able to put life to Marla’s construction needs. He gently probes with his questions, but is not accusatory. He seems a very comfortable person to be around, one with whom you can be yourself without being judged.

I especially enjoyed this story because I read it within a month of reading its predecessor, Maybe Now, Maybe Never. Maybe this series should be binge-read, but it certainly would avoid spoilers if read in order!

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:

“dishonesty is like weaving a spider web. Eventually, you get caught in your own lies.”– Penny

“Words come from the heart,” -Mitch

“God has a way of taking care of everything. Even our mistakes.”-Grace

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I loved seeing the friends’ initial reactions to negative life events and was anxious to see if they would grow or implode on their life journey.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 24

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 26

Stories By Gina, November 27 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, November 27

Artistic Nobody, November 28 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 29

Karen Baney Reviews, November 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 1

For Him and My Family, December 2

The Avid Reader, December 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 4

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 5 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, December 6 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, December 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chris is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of the book, and bookmarks!!

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/00adcf54106

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

Maybe Now, Maybe Never by Chris Posti Review and Giveaway

November 11, 2024November 11, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Maybe Now, Maybe Never

Author: Chris Posti

Genre: Women’s Fiction with Elements of Faith & Later-in-Life Romance

Release date: October, 2024

At 57, Suzanne is marrying the man of her dreams, confident he won’t disappoint her like every other man from her past, but a phone call during the ceremony makes her wonder if she’s made yet another mistake. Widowed Rachel attends the wedding on what would have been her fortieth anniversary, wearing a wig on her head and emotions on her sleeve, when her neighbor blurts out a proposal for a wedding of their own. Uber-rich Marla captures the attention of everyone in the pews as she sings a surprise solo, yet her efforts to impress have little effect on the one person who matters the most.

While navigating relationships with each other, their grown children, their aging mothers, and most of all, the men in their lives, the women unite to rescue their hometown and their own businesses from a spate of malicious online reviews that are suddenly jeopardizing everyone’s future.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Chris Postiwrites award-winning fiction about real-life women experiencing the joys and challenges of their friendships, families, careers, and later-in-life romances. Before pivoting to novels, she was a self-employed career & executive coach and wrote three nonfiction books. For 20+ years, she also penned a Sunday newspaper column.

More from Chris

In all the contemporary women’s fiction you’ve ever read, can you think of a single novel that features three women over 55 as the main characters?

Hmm.

Still thinking?

Until I wrote my series, I hadn’t come across any, either.

Being over 55 myself, I decided to fill that void by writing about older women who still have a lot of juice left in them—women who stick by their friends, overcome challenges, care for aging parents, grow in their faith, champion their hometown, and have second chances at love.

In other words, Maybe Now, Maybe Never is all about characters I relate to, and if you’re a woman of a certain age, I believe you will too.

This is the second book in the Next Act trilogy. The first, Falling Apart, Falling for You, was released in 2022, and the third, ’Tis the Time, ’Tis the Season was just released in October. It will also be on a blog tour starting November 22.

Come alongside these women. I think you’ll enjoy their journeys.

My Impressions

“God has a plan for your whole life, not just until you reach a certain age. If you’re a willing servant, the Lord still has many adventures in store for you.”

I found Chris Posti’s Maybe Now, Maybe Never to be a very enjoyable read about a group of three single ladies over fifty-five and their friendship with each other as well as their relationships with men and other people. I had never read Posti’s work before, but I look forward to reading more. I enjoyed how each woman was very different, and how they complemented each other and occasionally rubbed each other the wrong way, too.

Port Mariette is a little town all three have returned to, at least temporarily. Rachel, who lives there, has been widowed for a year. She runs a gas station-combo-restaurant with her adult son and dates her neighbor. Life is comfortable, but not exciting until her neighbor wants more and a discovery leaves her devastated.

Suzanne gets married to psychologist Rob, promising “I choose to be yours for the rest of my life.” Little does she foresee how that commitment will be tested in the days ahead, or how she will be involved with her old town’s progress.

New Yorker Marla comes for Suzanne’s wedding, but also to strengthen her bond with her birth daughter. Being a mover and a shaker, can she survive her visit in this slow, little town? Will she have any friends left after she operates like the New York businesswoman that she is, in a town used to slow change and neighborliness?

I loved how each woman grows throughout the book in her faith and in her treatment of others. Only trusting God could get them through some of the very real and relatable life events that happen to them!

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

Notable Quotables:

“Love people as they are, not as you want them to be.”

“the only behavior we can change is our own…What do you think you could do differently to get a better outcome?”- Rob

“You are not nothing. You were created in God’s image. He loves you as much as he loves me.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! A great contemporary later-in-life women’s fiction!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 12

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 13

Inspired by Fiction, November 14

Stories By Gina, November 15 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, November 15

Simple Harvest Reads, November 16 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, November 17 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 17

Guild Master, November 18 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 19

Fiction Book Lover, November 20 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 21

Back Porch Reads, November 22 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 23

For the Love of Literature, November 24 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chris is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of book, and bookmarks!!

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/00adcf5495

Barbour, BLOG, Favorite, Kindle, New-to-Me Author, Purchase

The Women of Wynton’s by Donna Mumma Review and Giveaway

August 1, 2024August 3, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: The Women of Wynton’s

Author: Donna Mumma

Genre: Mystery/Christian Fiction

Release date:July, 2024

Mid-Century Glam Meets Murder Mayhem

Get swept away to the glamor of a 1950’s department store where four women’s loyalties, vanity, friendship, and detective skills are put to the test.

Audrey Penault once led a glamorous life as a model but now works as devoted secretary to Mr. Wynton. To her fellow employees, she is too vain and uppity.

Mary Jo Johnson, a wife and mother, longs to find her worth in the cosmetics department, but it may take a while for the shy housewife to discover her voice.

Vivian Sheffield owns and runs the bridal salon within Wynton’s. She is proud of her accomplishments and won’t let anyone take them away.

Gigi Woodard dislikes her job as waitress in the store’s lunchroom, but she is determined not to let her secret shortcomings cause her to lose the position.

These four women have much to dislike about each other, but they unanimously agree that Mr. Wynton is the best of employers and must be protected at all costs from someone who seems determined to see him gone for good. When other employee deaths occur, can the women band together to solve the murders, or will they discover it is one of their own bent on destroying Wynton’s from within?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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

More from Donna

Two models posed in red, flowy iconic 50’s dresses, white gloves, and classy hats. Perfect makeup and hair. Years ago, this picture hung in the dressing rooms of my favorite clothing store.

I was hooked.

Every time I entered the store, I’d walk to the dressing rooms to stare at the picture whether I had something to try on or not. There was something about that image that drew me in.

A few years later, I happened upon the same picture from the store on a social media page I’d joined featuring fashions from the 1950’s. I discovered my beloved photo came from a cover of Vogue magazine issued in 1955.

Then my imagination started churning. Every movie I’d watched with Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Kim Novak came to mind. I pictured four women, wearing the classy, tailored suits, full-skirted dresses, and the beautiful gowns from the 50’s. They were going to work in a department store because I grew up on a dairy farm, way out in the country of central Florida, and the big department stores like Burdines, Maas Brothers, and Robinsons were the most glamourous, luxurious places I’d ever seen.

These women were going to have to deal with a few murders. And the fact they don’t care much for each other.

As I researched, departments stores, history, fashion, and life in Florida in the 1950’s these characters came alive. First was Audrey, a former fashion model and the personal secretary to the owner of Wynton’s Department Store who may be the most hated woman around town. Miss Vivien, the owner and designer for Wynton’s bridal salon, who fights being set aside because she’s growing older. Mary Jo, a young wife and mother who longs to be at home but must take a job at Wynton’s to save her family. Lastly, Gigi, a girl who’s tired of the tough breaks in her life and hopes a new job at Wynton’s will bring her better fortune.

I wanted their experiences in the story to be true-to-life for that period and drew from stories and memories my own mother shared with me when I was growing up. I had so much fun writing about The Women of Wynton’s as they worked their way through mayhem, murders, and a Christmas parade, but also learned much about the women in this period of history. It is my hope my readers will too.

My Impressions

“But when my life fell apart, Mirette helped me pick up the pieces and glue them back together. Because that is what we southern women do for one another. We pull up our stockings, forgive one another, and hold our friends close no matter what. Understood?”

Welcome back to the 1950s. It is a time of huge department stores, and women are starting to work outside the home. Still, a majority of women are housewives. Segregation is still in effect. The Women of Wynton’s by Donna Mumma brings all these things into sharp focus.

Four very different women are brought together through Wynton’s department store. Audrey is the secretary to Mr. Wynton, the store owner. Having been away from Levy City, FL for many years in NYC, Audrey is back, in a place of authority, and few of the store employees like her. Gigi is rough around the edges, works in the cafeteria, and feels that she doesn’t measure up to those around her. Mary Jo is a housewife and mother who must work because of her husband’s disabling accident. Her dearest wish would be to stay home with her daughters. And lastly, Vivien is an older woman who has a successful wedding salon inside of Wynton’s. Yet, Vivien is feeling like some may want her replaced with a more youthful salon owner.

When we meet Audrey, she is rich, educated, and traveled, but unliked. However, the interactions we see her have with others like Nelson, Mr. Wynton, and Mary Jo do not match the vicious rumors concerning her that fly faster than super sonic jets around the store. All the gossip going around makes me sick. One can see that there are two diametrically opposed sides in this battle- yet some of the workers can’t seem to decide which side of the fence to land on. I wondered why the women aren’t better judges of character- and then realized that real life is so often like that! Sometimes the truth is hard to ferret out. “People aren’t always what they seem when you’re standing too close.”

Some of the characters I just downright despised. Will poetic justice have its way, and the guilty be caught, or will the schemers be successful? One character surprised me! Plot twist! It was a good one!

I appreciated the look at segregation, though it was painful. To realize that some people couldn’t have the same rights as others based on skin color. Yet, others knew that was wrong, but were afraid to make their voice heard and buck the system.

Mumma does a good job of keeping the mystery going until very near the end. While you may figure out who the culprit is, the question quickly becomes one of suspense, will they be caught in time? I was on pins and needles, trying not to bite my fingernails as we closed out the novel.

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

Notable Quotables:

“Sure you made some mistakes in your life, but who cares? God forgives all of us, rich or poor.”

“It’s 1955. Things shouldn’t be that archaic.” “Lotta things not the way they should be right now.”

“Avoiding foolishness doesn’t make it stop.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Magnificent! A historical murder mystery, plus a look at friendship’s bonds

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 2

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 2

Stories By Gina, August 3 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 3

Pause for Tales, August 4

Texas Book-aholic, August 4

Inspired by fiction, August 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 7

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, August 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys , August 8

Books You Can Feel Good About, August 9

Simple Harvest Reads, August 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Paperbacks and Throwbacks, August 10

Book Looks by Lisa, August 11

Cover Lover Book Review, August 12

For Him and My Family, August 13

Lights in a Dark World, August 14

Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 14

Labor Not in Vain, August 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Donna 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 nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2d090/the-women-of-wynton-s-celebration-tour-giveaway

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The Road Before Us by Janine Rosche Review

June 14, 2024June 14, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: The Road Before Us

Author: Janine Rosche

Publisher: Revell

Released: May 2024

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Romance

From the Back Cover

How far would you go to fix the mistakes you’ve made?
For Jade Jessup, the answer is 2,448 miles.

Once one of Chicago’s significant financial advisors, Jade lost her credibility when her fiancé (and coworker) stole millions of dollars from their clients in a Ponzi scheme. Now she’s agreed to help one of them–an aging 1960s Hollywood starlet named Berenice “Benny” Alderidge–seek financial restoration.

Jade sets off along Route 66 with Benny and her handsome adult foster son, Bridger, who is filming a documentary retracing the 1956 trip that started the love story between Benny and her recently deceased husband, Paul. Listening to Benny recount her story draws Jade into memories of her own darker association with Route 66, when she was kidnapped as a child by a man the media labeled a monster–but she remembers only as her dad.

Together, these three travelers will learn about family, forgiveness, and what it means to live free of the past. But not before Jade faces a second staggering betrayal that changes everything.

“This dual-time journey along the Mother Road is not to be missed.”–Amanda Cox, Christy Award-winning author

“An unforgettable ride.”–Christina Suzann Nelson, Christy Award-winning author

“Janine Rosche gets to the heart of family, friendship, and love.”–Toni Shiloh, Christy Award-winning author

About the Author

Prone to wander, Janine Rosche finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into each of her women’s fiction and romance novels including With Every Memory and the Madison River Romance series. When she isn’t writing or traveling, she teaches family life education courses to college students, takes too many pictures of her sleeping dogs, and embarrasses her four children and husband with boy band serenades.

My Impressions

“people travel Route 66 for all kinds of reasons, but it isn’t just travelers on that specific road who are running. In our own way, we’re all running from or running to something. The lucky ones get to do that with someone they love at their side.”

What a great summation of this book. Janine Rosche’s The Road Before Us is a mixture of women’s fiction and romance, but it is so much more, my mind is reeling. It is going to take me a long time to process it. Rosche deals (well) with so many topics: dementia, child kidnapping, parent-child (or lack thereof) relationships, adoption, betrayal, PTSD, racism, and the list goes on.

The book takes Jade, former financial advisor-turned-traveling companion to her former Hollywood starlet client, Benny Alderidge, on a trip down Route 66 in a 55 Chevy as they relive Benny’s romance with her husband over 70 years before. Accompanying them is Benny’s grown foster son, Bridger. Bridger is a happy-go-lucky videographer who is making a documentary about the trip.

I really loved the characters and their growth. So many characters exhibited growth in different relationships, it was a joy to see. Maybe I was relieved to see a few characters hang onto their anger and bitterness! Real life, without Jesus!

The dementia aspect caught me by surprise. Not that the character had it. But that her episodes were so severe when she would have them, yet she would be so very alert and totally cognizant other times. Having witnessed a parent descend into dementia, that has been a far cry from our experience. I know every experience is different, but I would expect severe episodes to have been preceded by more general, slow memory loss across the board. So I am still pondering how Benny can impart great, deep truths one minute, share memories on command, and (at first) only have the rare episode that is so severe it is a safety concern.

I love the fact that we readers get two romances for the price of one, insights into several parent-child relationships, and sibling relationships.

If you are a woman reading this book and not half in love with Bridger by the end, you may want to check in with the coroner’s office. Swoon, indeed!

The Road Before Us by Janine Rosche may be the heavy-hitter grand-slam of the year! Don’t get caught without having read this book!

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads via Netgalley. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“You know the best part about being my age? I can speak my mind and if people agree with me, they pat themselves on the back for being on the same side as wisdom.” …

“And if they disagree with me, they pat me on the head and think, What a sweet lady with a few screws loose. Either way, I get to speak my mind.”

“People get to choose who they want to be and how they act. We aren’t responsible for adults’ choices.”

“In Korea, we all bled red no matter what color our skin was.”

“This body I can control. What I can’t control is . . . everything else. God help me.”

“Even though I try to keep the emotions in that back pocket of mine, it doesn’t stop trauma from working its way into who I am.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Look for The Road Before Us to be a Christy contender! Your emotions won’t know what hit you!! Thankfully, our lives are based on the Truth of the Rock, evident in some of these characters.

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Kindle, Purchase

Tangled Lies by Carol McClain Review and Giveaway

January 11, 2024 Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: Tangled Lives

Author: Carol McClain

Genre: Women’s fiction

Release Date: July, 2023

Two sisters and one man. Both women love him, but only one is meant for him.

Crystal Snow struggles with the paralysis caused by her biological parents’ drug use. She convinced herself no one will ever love her. Roxie, devastated by chronic childhood rejections, knows anyone who loves her must be intrinsically flawed. Both want only what is right for their sister who is also their best friend.

Dreams upend careers. Destroy friendships. End love.

When searched out by their biological grandmother, the past tangles with the present. Issues the girls wished to forget resurrect and threaten their dreams.

Who gets the man and career of her dreams?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Carol McClain is the award-winning author of five novels dealing with real people facing real problems. A fifth book will be out next summer.

She is a consummate encourager, and no matter what your faith might look like, you will find compassion, humor and wisdom in her complexly layered, but ultimately readable work.

Aside from writing, she’s a skilled stained-glass artist, a budding glass fuser. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband who finally gave into her dreams. They own five goats—three of them does who she milks from which she makes yogurt and cheese and butter. She’s raising bunches of chickens.

More from Carol

Have you ever:

Had a crush on your sister’s boyfriend?
Loved your sister beyond measure?
Hated your sister beyond measure?
Been confused about your career?
Waylaid by your past?

If your life’s been tangled, you’re not alone. You laugh at, root for, and not be able to put Tangled Lives down.

My Impressions

“Crystal’s school-girl crush was more than infatuation. She loved Jesse too. The minx. Roxie would make sure Crystal understood, Jesse was the real deal. Her real deal.”

Wow! Carol McClain’s Tangled Lives is a realistic, somewhat gritty look at two sisters’s complicated relationship with each other, then those around them.

Sisters Roxie and Crystal love each other deeply, but both are damaged by their past and their circumstances. Roxie will always feel like she can never attain her goals, only come in second best. Crystal is hampered by her fear of rejection, causing her to be a people-pleaser. What will it take for the girls to see themselves as God does, and value themselves accordingly?

I found Crystal very easy to like with her sweet, compassionate ways. I would love to hear her fiddle! On the other hand, Roxie is mercurial and abrasive, and I didn’t like Jesse much better. I wanted to put those two in separate corners many times.

I appreciated that all of the main characters are Christians, but I was disappointed by how often they don’t find living out their faith important. If you are looking for a women’s fiction book that shows lots of temptations and how the characters deal with them, you will like this book very much. I would have preferred some temptations not be so well described.

This could possibly be a good book club choice. I know I have a lot of thoughts about different events or actions in the book that it would be fun to get others’ opinion on.

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

Notable Quotables:

“Boors don’t understand that beneath crutches or skin or mental status, we’re all the same. All important to God.”

“She…was fearfully and wonderfully made, created from the womb to be who she was. Being best was nothing but pride. “

“Seemed God valued people no matter how often they fell. Could I …?”