Murder in Blackfriars by Jennifer Ashley

Murder in Blackfriars
by Jennifer Ashley

ISBN-13: 9798217187058
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: August 11, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Kat Holloway’s beau, Daniel McAdam, has always had a past shrouded in mystery. He knows nothing about his origins, only that a kind man rescued him from the streets all those years ago. So when a man claiming he knows where Daniel comes from turns up dead moments before meeting with them, Daniel goes on the hunt for the killer. Kate's determined to figure out who Daniel truly is and where he came from. She'll do whatever it takes to protect the man she’s come to love. The quest takes Kat and Daniel deep into the East End, where they face dangerous foes from Daniel’s rugged past.


My Review:
Murder in Blackfriars is a mystery set in 1884 in London, England. This is the 9th book in the series. Street-raised, clever Daniel became incompetent in this book. A man offered to tell him information about his past. Daniel paid him but basically said, 'I need my girlfriend to tell me if you're telling the truth or not, so don't tell me anything until we can meet with her.' There was no reason why he couldn't have heard the information right then. Of course, the fellow was killed before telling the information.

Kate never met him but assumed he was a kind, well-meaning fellow and they should solve his murder. Even though the fellow said that it was seeing Daniel's teenaged son that brought the connection to mind, Kate assumed his information must be about when Daniel was a toddler. She also treated Daniel like a child, forbidding him from doing anything dangerous, though it was fine for her to do the same dangerous activity.

Kate was just so arrogant. She kept thinking about how she ought to tell various cooks how to make their food better. Though there was no reason for her to be involved and her presence could be used against Daniel, she insisted on confronting a criminal overload in his own home and not only insulted him but told him what he ought to do. Um, are you insane? How did that make anything better?

Most of the story was about Kate getting her food stand going and dealing with her daughter moving away for a while. Much of the investigation was handled by others while Kate suggested things to look into. It didn't feel much like a mystery but rather a historical fiction following the lives of all the characters from previous books.

Historical details were woven into the story. There was no sex. There was occasional use of of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical to fans of the series as we finally do learn the mystery of Daniel's past.


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.

Vanished in Montana by Jenna Night

Vanished in Montana
by Jenna Night

ISBN-13: 9781335919144
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Released: August 25, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
While delving into a mother-and-daughter disappearance, true crime podcaster Julia Crane receives an ominous threat at knifepoint: Stop the investigation or else. Narrowly rescued by Deputy Max Lone, Julia is more determined than ever to solve the ten-year-old cold case, now with the military veteran by her side. But as the new partners track down clues, the relentless attacks by unknown assailants go from dangerous to life-threatening. With dwindling hope that the missing victims are alive, can Julia and Max uncover the truth?


My Review:
Vanished in Montana is a Christian romantic suspense. Julia does true crime podcasts, yet she picked a case that no one's sure that a crime even happened. A mother and daughter at a homeless shelter were finally able to afford a home, but then they disappeared, leaving their things behind. Julia announced on her podcast that she was going to look into the case and where she was staying (so potenial informats can find her), but then she's attacked and told to not investigate. Deputy Max saved her and decided to spend his down time helping her solve the case. Julia's able to get some people to talk that hadn't in the past and uncovered what happened, passing on information to the detective in charge of the case. However, she didn't figure out whodunit until the final ambush exposed the culprits.

Max and Julia came to care for each other as they spent time together. The suspense came from repeated attacks on them, at first in warning and then to kill. Max had a military background and police training but didn't act like it. Instead of using a gun holster, he kept putting his gun in his waistband or on the truck's seat (while driving in a way that could make it slide off). He also had no faith in his aim to the point that he avoided taking a shot when the bad guy was exposed because Julia was nearby. But then he rammed his truck into the car that Julia was in, like that was safe. Anyway, they story was interesting even if a few bits were insonsistant.

Both Julia and Max were Christians who leaned on their faith to deal with life's struggles. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.


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 Reluctant Healer of Halifax by Terrie Todd

The Reluctant Healer of Halifax
by Terrie Todd

ISBN-13: 9798891514027
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Released: August 1, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Three days ago, Pearline Campbell's family was whole and Oliver Hamilton had come home from the war. But disfigured and shellshocked, Oliver ended their relationship. Then came Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the Halifax harbor was leveled by a tremendous explosion. Her parents are dead, her brother is missing, and her sister refuses to speak. Pearline must open her home to needy orphans, including an unidentified baby. Where can she find the strength for each new day as misery grips the city?


My Review:
Halifax is a historical set in 1917 in Halifax, Canada. As the only healers were minor characters, I'm not sure what the title's referring to. Anyway, this was the story of the explosion of a ship full of munitions in the Halifax harbor. The main characters managed to be everywhere interesting and learned about all of the details of the explosion, so it's basically a history lesson seen through a fictional frame. Pearline's home was far enough away from the harbor that it suffered minimal damage, so she took in orphans from the disaster while looking for her missing family.

Oliver has known Pearline for years and loves her, but his pride can't handle the pity and disgust he's sure he'll receive from people due to damage to his face and a missing eye. He broke off their unofficial engagement for her own good, so she won't feel embarrassed by him (though he claimed it's because she won't be able to handle the sight). He woefully underestimated Pearline time and again, and he kept making decisions for her (mostly, keeping distressing information from her) because he thinks she can't handle it. She kept forgiving him and hoped he'd finally come back to her. As even his own mother was exasperated with him, it's hard to call this a romance even if he did come to appreciate Pearline's emotional strength and integrity.

There was no sex or bad language. The ongoing gore was only minimally described, with the focus more on how people were impacted by what they witnessed. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical.


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 Heiress and the Woodsman by Christine Hill Suntz

The Heiress and the Woodsman
by Christine Hill Suntz

ISBN-13: 9798400507984
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Released: August 11, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Canada, 1837. Charlotte is determined to hold onto her family’s crumbling estate—the last vestige of their former place in Toronto society before her mother’s death and her father’s financial ruin. But when her missing brother Simon is suspected of aiding a political rebellion, Charlotte heads north to find him before his impulsive decisions ruin what’s left of their family’s standing and break her ailing father’s heart.

Joshua has worked tirelessly to carve a home from the wilderness for the younger brother he was forced to leave behind, only to learn his first harvest is nearly worthless and his brother has been sold into an indenture Joshua can’t afford to redeem. When a stranger offers him work tracking down a settler in the bush, he’s desperate enough to agree.

Nothing has prepared Charlotte for the challenges of surviving the wilderness. When Joshua comes to her aid, she offers to pay him for guidance through the bush. Though he knows a spoiled city girl will slow him down, he can’t refuse the money. As Charlotte and Joshua face the dangers of travel through rough terrain, admiration and friendship grow, even as class divides and hidden truths complicate their bond. But when they are caught in the crossfire of rebellion, they must decide if the futures they’ve fought for are truly their hearts’ desire—or if something unexpected awaits.


My Review:
The Heiress and the Woodsman is a romance set in 1837 in Toronto, Canada. Charlotte's been slaving away to keep the family estate running with the help of one elderly servant after her father lost their fortune. It's her duty to preserve the estate for her brother, the future heir. A neighbor says he'll claim her brother is a rebel so he'll be arrested and hanged. Her brother's off homesteading in a remote area, so impulsive Charlotte headed off with a poorly drawn map to find her brother, determined to get him to return with her. Joshua needed the money and was homesteading in the same area, so he agreed to guide her to her brother--and make sure she survived to see her home again.

This story just didn't feel realistic. For one thing, the author kept forgetting things she'd previously said. Like Joshua got down from his wagon, then suddenly he's back in the driver's seat. The author also had unrealistic things happen, like Joshua carried Charlotte in his arms while climbing a ladder. I read an Advanced Reader Copy, so some of this will hopefully be fixed in the final book.

Finally, I just didn't bond with the main characters. Charlotte played her role of thoughtless damsel in destress to the hilt. Charlotte gave away all of the food Joshua had for the winter and constantly put his life in danger with her impulsive stunts, yet that's easily forgiven. Probably because he wanted to be a hero to someone. And he's a gifted woodworker, but instead he focused on raising crops (very poorly) and didn't even realize that he needed to keep some seed for his own use rather than buying seed and flour back at a higher price.

To top it all off, Charlotte did come into money at the end, but Joshua--while claiming he'll be the one person to put her first--refused to let her spend her money on improving their life once they got married. He was determined to keep on slaving away as a failing farmer rather than use his woodworking gifts or her money. Pride! I know, people who make mistake after mistake without learning much deserve love, too, but it's not what I care for in a romance. There was no sex or bad language.


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.

In Too Deep by Susan May Warren and Tari Faris

In Too Deep
by Susan May Warren
and Tari Faris

ISBN-13: 9780800747619
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: June 30, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Weeks after the first Roosevelt treasure cache was discovered, the Grand Canyon has become a madhouse. Reckless treasure hunters swarm the park and a young college student dies. For Dr. Meg Lewis, the chaos hits close to home. She came to the park to stitch up cuts and wrap sprains—not dive back into a world of live-or-die medical drama that triggers her panic attacks.

Ranger Director and widower Noah Wilde, has spent years keeping everyone at arm's length, terrified that loving again will only lead to grief. He's not about to let any more deaths happen on his watch.

When another group becomes trapped in the dangerous Tapeats cave system, Noah assembles a rescue team with Meg as medical officer. But what they find underground isn't an accident. Someone has turned the caves into a death trap—and now the rescue team itself is the target.

As floodwaters rise and the cave ceiling collapses, their enemy hunts them. With no communication and innocent lives hanging in the balance, Meg must push past her past to figure out how to save lives and Noah must find a way out.


My Review:
In Too Deep is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the second in a series but works as a standalone. Noah felt like he had to be in control as if everything depended upon him. He had to lead the rescues, and surely his wife and unborn baby wouldn't have died in a car accident if only he'd been driving. Meg loved healing people, forming relationships. But she froze during life-or-death situations as a young child and similar medical situations trigger her old panic attacks. When she's forced to deal with emergency situations in the field, she reconsiders a job offer in a research position. Though Noah can help Meg stay calm in medical emergencies, he acts on his attraction to her only to pull back, driving Meg to distraction with his hot/cold act.

Between volence due to the gold rush, young people needing rescue, storms, eathquakes causing cave-ins, medical emergencies, and attacks, the suspense stayed high throughout the story. The characters were complex, realistic people, and I cared about what happened to them. Once Noah and Meg came to realize that God's in control so the situations didn't depend solely on them, they both were able to accept risks that used to overwhelm them. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful novel.


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.

City of Promises by Victoria Thompson & Ellen Thompson

City of Promises
by Victoria Thompson
and Ellen Thompson

ISBN-13: 9780593816516
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: July 28, 2026

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Famed former police detective turned private investigator Frank Malloy and his wife, Sarah, come to Gideon Bates desperate for legal guidance. The Malloys’ adopted daughter, Catherine, a burgeoning star of the stage, has announced her engagement to a man she barely knows. Catherine has recently gained access to her trust fund, and Sebastian Talbot appears very eager to marry her as quickly as possible.

As Gideon and his wife, Elizabeth, investigate, it becomes all the clearer that Talbot may not be who he says he is. As a former con artist herself, Elizabeth suspects one may be in their midst. Undeterred by her pregnancy, she must pull out all the stops to save another woman from ruin.


My Review:
City of Promises is a historical set in 1920 in New York City. This is the 8th book in the series, and it also included the characters from the Gaslight Mysteries, 20 years later from their timeline. Catherine has grown up, become a famous actress, and she let slip that she had inherited money. A con man has her convinced she's found true love, and no one thinks she believe them if they simply confirm he's a con man (which Elizabeth does) and tell her. So Elizabeth set up this overly complicated "con" where another woman catches the con man's attention to divert him from Catherine.

While I enjoyed the fun story, it seemed like the characters lost focus on what they were about at times. We got a funny sequence about Elizabeth trying out to play in films. Elizabeth could have just asked various actresses about how much film actresses made, or, really, that whole section could have been removed without anyone noticing. It ended up playing no role in the actual "con." Also, her brother Jake was an experienced con artist, yet he kept getting distracted mooning over the married woman playing the rich widow decoy. Mother Bates somehow changed from a strong suffragist to drinking gin (during prohibition and behind her son's back) to calm her nerves.

The historical details were woven into the story to create a sense of the specific time and place and brought the story alive. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this entertaining historical novel.


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.

Rodeo Witness Protector by Sami A. Abrams

Rodeo Witness Protector
by Sami A. Abrams

ISBN-13: 9781488238895
Audiobook, Unabridged: 208 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Released: July 28, 2026

Source: audiobook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from NetGalley:
While stopping an attack near the rodeo grounds, bullfighter and part-time deputy Daniel Sinclair is stunned to see his high school sweetheart attempting to save a stabbed undercover deputy. As a witness now in possession of crucial evidence about a narcotics investigation, new rodeo doctor Annie Davis needs Daniel’s protection—for her and her missing four-year-old daughter. And the stakes only grow higher when the girl’s babysitter is found murdered and the recovered child refuses to speak. To safeguard the targeted family, can Daniel uncover who is behind it all before a drug ring silences them for good?


My Review:
Rodeo Witness Protector is a Christian romantic suspense. Deputy Daniel was once unable to save a child and now feels like he can't be trusted to watch over any child. When his high school sweetheart returns to town with an adopted 4-year-old, he finds that both mother and daughter need his protection. Not only did Annie testify against a fellow doctor who was illegally selling drugs, but she was just handed evidence by a dying undercover agent who was trying to uncover a drug dealer ring that used the rodeo and carnival circuit. Local law enforcement worked to figure out the evidence while Daniel helped protect Annie and her daughter.

The suspense came from the attacks on Annie and her daughter and trying to find the daughter when she went missing. The main characters were engaging and reacted realistically to events. Annie and Daniel got to know each other again as they spent time together and quickly renewed their friendship. Daniel and Annie prayed for guidance and safety. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable suspense novel.

The narrator of the audiobook did a good job, making it easy to follow who was talking and what was going on. She used different voices for the different characters and narrated the story in a way that allowed me to become immersed in the story.


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.