Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble; Rick Acker

Where Secrets Lie
by Colleen Coble;
Rick Acker

ISBN-13: 9781400345700
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Released: June 3, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
College professor Savannah Webster is ready to give her ex-husband, Hez, another chance, and she believes he's finally ready for them to face their many past trials as a team. But when Savannah finds evidence that points to Hez's old demons resurfacing, the fragile trust they've built begins to crumble. And it's not just their relationship that hanging in the balance--the survival of the university Savannah's family poured their lives into is also under threat.

Hez is determined to put his past mistakes behind him with his new role mentoring law students at Tupelo Grove University's legal clinic. His primary focus with the clinic is to help Savannah pull the university out of a pit of debt and bad decisions made by the previous leadership, including her father. But their quest for stability takes a dark turn as they try to root out the dangerous smuggling ring the university is entangled in, and their investigation puts them in the crosshairs of criminals who will stop at nothing to eliminate any obstacle in their path.


My Review:
Where Secrets Lie is a Christian mystery/suspense. It's the 2nd book in the series and continues the story from the first book. Savannah's still frustrating. She blindly trusted someone she knew was trying to break her and Hez up, and she didn't trust Hez even though she stated that he's never lied to her. Even at the end, she's so blindly loyal to her sister that she didn't connect the obvious dots. (We know Savannah's sister is working against Savannah's and Hez's efforts to save the university, but we don't know who she's working with.)

Hez was a clever investigator/attorney, but he suffered a head injury that made it hard for him to catch things. Some students were helping him, though, and he pulled off a clever strategy at the end. Savannah finally stood up to her father and also recognized that she had trust issues that she needed to deal with if her marriage to Hez was going to have a chance. Still, it didn't feel like she had really changed. The main characters came across as realistic, complex people, but I just don't like 'spending time' with Savannah.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting suspense even if Savannah's behavior frustrated me.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz

The Lawyer and the Laundress
by Christine Hill Suntz

ISBN-13: 9798400507755
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Released: June 1, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Canada, 1837. Widower James Kinney knows his precocious daughter, Evie, needs more than his lessons on law and logic, but Toronto offers few options. Classes with a couple other children seem ideal until James discovers Evie is secretly spending her time with Sara O’Connor, a kind and mysteriously educated servant. For propriety’s sake, James forbids their friendship. But then Evie falls victim to the illness ravaging the city, and James must call upon Sara’s medical knowledge and her special bond with Evie to save his daughter’s life.

When Sara’s presence in his household threatens scandal, however, James asks her to become his wife, in name only, and help him raise Evie to be a proper young lady. Sara isn't sure she can ignore the sparks she feels when they’re together. But soon, the forces of rebellion threaten their arrangement: James is accused of treason. Sara must find the courage to face a past that could save her husband’s life.


My Review:
The Lawyer and the Laundress is a Christian romance set in 1837 in Canada. James struggled to raise his daughter properly while trying to keep his law partner out of trouble. He's joined the rebels who want to violently overthrow the oppressive government. James feels it's still possible to create needed change legally. Sarah was disowned by her rich father when she married a poor man. Now a widow, she does laundry for an inn where James's daughter is getting tutored along with the owner's daughters by a strict, harsh woman.

James was initially prejudiced against Sarah because of her obviously lowly station, but he recognized that she had manners and education far above that of most common laborers. Plus she built his daughter up and supported her against bullying. As James and Sara spent time together, they grew to respect and care for each other. The marriage proposal didn't come until nearly the end, and it forced both of them to face the problems in their past relationships. The characters were engaging, well-developed, complex people who acted realistically. The bad guy was subtly manipulative, and it took courage from Sarah and James's daughter to expose his lies.

Sarah struggled with why God didn't heal her sick husband and allowed her so many sorrows. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this excellent historical romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Missing in Texas by Virginia Vaughan

Missing in Texas
by Virginia Vaughan

ISBN-13: 9781335980649
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: May 27, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The moment FBI agent Christy Williams arrives in Mercy, Texas, determined to solve her friend’s disappearance twelve years ago, she becomes a killer’s number one target. Ignoring the threats on her life, she partners with Deputy Mike Tyner, the cousin of one of the chief suspects and the last person to see her friend alive. As they work to investigate this cold case together, it becomes clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the past hidden. With time running out, can Mike keep Christy alive long enough to find justice for her friend?


My Review:
Missing in Texas is a romantic suspense novel. Although a part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone. Mike has worked a cold case that haunts him: the disappearance of his cousin's girlfriend. He saw her shortly before she disappeared. Christy, her roommate, chose to take a vacation with a boyfriend rather than go home with her roommate like she'd promised. Feeling guilty and unable to date again until this case is solved, she's investigating the case for herself. Christy thinks Mike's cousin is the obvious suspect as his girlfriend was going to break up with him. Mike's certain that it must be someone else. They team up, hoping their knowledge of the case and conflicting views about what likely happened will help them consider all of the possibilities.

Christy and Mike generally worked well together. They questioned people, considered various possibilities, and followed up on leads. Then Christy went off on her own (without telling Mike) to follow up on a lead and ended up needing to be rescued. But, hey, they did solve the case, complete with evidence. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romantic suspense.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Telegram from Le Touquet by John Bude

A Telegram from Le Touquet
by John Bude

ISBN-13: 9781464230554
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Released: May 20, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
With some trepidation Nigel Derry approaches the country house of his enigmatic and unpredictable Aunt Gwenny for an Easter holiday visit. After a tense few days in which her guests' interactions range from awkward dinners to a knife fight, a disgruntled Aunt Gwenny departs for Europe. Receiving a telegram from Le Touquet inviting him to join Gwenny in the south of France, Nigel arrives to finds out Gwenny has been murdered.

Enter Inspector Blampignon of the Sûreté Nationale, whose problems abound as the case suggests that the crime may have occurred hundreds of miles away from where the victim was discovered. Undeterred, the formidable French detective embarks on a thrilling race to discover the truth.


My Review:
A Telegram from Le Touquet is a mystery set in England and France, which was first published (and is set) in 1956. The story started in England and in Nigel's viewpoint, so we saw what occurred leading up to the murder. Once the body was discovered in France, we switched to the viewpoint of the detective. Some clues were hidden (but guessable) because Nigel didn't witness them. The detective asked good questions and followed up on leads, but the clues were confusing. We pretty much got what the detective did until the end, when he confronted whodunit and got a full confession. While I didn't guess exactly how it was done, I did guess parts of it (like whodunit had an obvious motive) and certain secrets. So it felt like a fair puzzle mystery.

Though the mystery was completely solved and made good sense, the ending was pretty abrupt. We never learned how certain things played out as some things were left unresolved. It felt like we were missing the final chapter. There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this intriguing mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

A Lesson in Propriety by Jen Turano

A Lesson in Propriety
by Jen Turano

ISBN-13: 9780764243851
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: May 20, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
With her father dead, her fortune stolen, and her fiancé casting her aside, Miss Drusilla Merriweather's privileged life has been upended. She is left with only one option: to provide for her family by opening a finishing school in the allegedly haunted castle she's inherited from her eccentric aunt. However, her plan is immediately threatened by unscrupulous developers keen on claiming the coveted estate for themselves, by any means necessary.

Mr. Rhenick Wittenbecker, a dashing architect with a tendency to charm his way out of trouble, is convinced he can protect Drusilla but is challenged by her fierce independence. Yet when strange occurrences--walking suits of armor and unexpected ghostly visitors--arise within castle grounds, Drusilla must decide whether to risk her family's safety and her school on the gallant architect who seems to have found his way into her heart.


My Review:
A Lesson in Propriety is a romantic comedy set in 1885, mostly in Chicago. Drusilla has learned to be extremely proper in matters of etiquette, so much so that her 'friends' have said that she reminded them of a finishing school teacher. Her ex-fiancé was always more interested in other women, too, making it hard for her to accept that Rhenick is immediately smitten with her beauty, courage, and willingness to be practical rather than proper. It's just not how she sees herself (even if he's seeing the truth). He helped her get the inherited castle remade into a finishing school and backed her up when she needed friends to stand against those who wanted to buy the property (and weren't afraid to use tricks and bullying to get it).

The characters were nice people with interesting personalities. The comedy was mainly silly situations that Drusilla and her family (and friends) had to deal with. Drusilla and Rhenick got along well, respected each other, and I understood why they were attracted to each other. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun romantic comedy.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

An Unexpected Grace by Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse

An Unexpected Grace
by Tracie Peterson &
Kimberley Woodhouse

ISBN-13: 9780764239014
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: May 20, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After a decade away, Parker Bennett returns home with a traveling troupe to perform a play based on Uncle Tom's Cabin at the Kalispell Opera House. Parker has relished his life on the road, but being home awakens long-buried emotions when he encounters his first love, Johanna St. John. He can't help but wonder if there might still be a place for him in her heart.

Widowed for three years, Johanna's husband's father is determined to marry her despite her repeated and clear . devotes all her time to a demanding toddler, an injured father, and a successful millinery business. After the loss of her husband, she's unsure of what lies ahead. Both committed to God's distinct calling on their lives, Johanna and Parker struggle to see how their futures can unite.


My Review:
An Unexpected Grace is a Christian romance set in 1905 in Montana. This is the 3rd book in the series but can be read as a standalone. Ten years before, Parker went to seminary, intending to marry Johanna and become a preacher in Kalispell when he finished. Without consulting anyone, he quit school and accepted a position as an actor in a travelling acting troupe, mainly performing Shakespeare. He expected Johanna (whom he knew felt called to marry a preacher) to happily marry him--love is enough!--and create their family on the road. She's shocked. That wasn't what she agreed to, and she called off their engagement.

When he returns 10 years later, he's growing tired of traveling, misses his family, and realizes that fame hasn't presented him with the opportunities to present the Gospel that he'd expected. Johanna's still wonderful, and her daughter's charming. He once again made his decisions about his future without consulting anyone, which made things hard on Johanna, who loved him but thought a relationship meant she'd have to join his traveling lifestyle with a toddler and a father who needed her help.

At the same time, Johanna's dead husband's brother was determined to marry her despite her repeated and clear statements that she would never marry him and didn't trust or like him. He's determined to force her into accepting him, either from financial need or to stop his threat of accusing her of being a poor mother and so take her daughter from her. Happily, Johanna asked for help from the Judge (her friend) and had friends in the community. The villain descended into insanity, determine to kill those she loves--like that would convince her. The end got a little far-fetched. Also, the villain's ability to prevent Johanna from learning of her inheritance (which he wanted) seemed unrealistic to me.

The romance was predictable but enjoyable. The villain thought himself very clever but was illogical and stupid. I liked Johanna, but I was exasperated that Parker didn't learn from the past and discuss with Johanna his changing feelings about life as a traveling actor. Johanna trusted God despite the hard things happening to her family. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this book to fans of the series.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Dead Or Alive by Bill Kitson

Dead Or Alive
by Bill Kitson

ISBN-13: 9781805730958
Kindle: 272 pages
Publisher: Joffe Books
Released: May 13, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.


Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Two dead bodies, locked in a disused mortuary in the basement of a hospital that shut its doors over twenty years ago. The victims have been shot in the head, execution style, leaving no evidence and no solid leads for DI Mike Nash to go on.

The deeper Nash digs, the more he realizes that these bodies are tied to a dark history of crime and betrayal, and a past case with more loose ends than Nash cares to remember. It’s not long before a third body surfaces. This time the scene’s awash with DNA, belonging to a man who died decades ago. Now Nash must face the chilling possibility that his oldest adversary is behind it all, watching and waiting to take his own brand of deadly vengeance .


My Review:
Dead Or Alive is a police detective mystery. It's the 18th book in a series and ties up loose ends from a previous mystery, but it can be understood even if you haven't read any of the other books (like me). Nash heads a team of detectives, and they solve a series of crimes (thefts of oil, cars, jewelry) while working on several murders that appear to be linked. The story focused mostly on the investigation (asking questions, following up leads, etc.) rather than on developing the characters or the setting. There were some scenes from the point-of-view of the bad guys, so the reader has more idea of what's going on than the detectives. It's not really a puzzle for the reader, just reading to discover how Nash and his team will solve the crimes.

There was a minor amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes (though there were several references to couples sharing a bed or finding comfort in each other). Overall, I'd recommend this mystery to fans of action-focused detective mysteries.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.